Fall 2011 - Willis-Knighton Health System

vim&
FALL 2011
Recover quicker
after heart surgery
THE EPITOME
OF TOWER
HOSPITALITY
Keeping
blood pressure
in check
A
Healthy
Tune
THE OAKS’
MANY
UNIQUE
FEATURES
page 4
Country megastar CARRIE UNDERWOOD
shares her top diet and exercise tips
FdVVFA1193_00_Cover.indd 1
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CONTENTS
SPECIAL
The Kindest
SPECIAL
Cut
of All
Clyde Thomas
Special
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heart surgery.
location.
50
DEPARTMENTS
2 First Things First
Exciting times
continue at our
campus.
3 News You Can Use
The latest buzz about
Willis-Knighton and
The Oaks of Louisiana.
52 Food for Thought
Two orange-colored
desserts are perfect
for fall.
53 Life at The Oaks
Meet the alwayssmiling Tower at
The Oaks concierge,
Danna Jacobs.
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLIFF WATTS, ICON INTERNATIONAL
54 Focus on Fitness
Get your heart in
shape with cardiac
rehabilitation.
55 Accolades Employees
make a difference at
WK and around the
community.
56 Parting Thoughts
Check out some
health and wellness
events available this
summer.
4
6
8
10
14
20
FEATURES
A Vision Comes to Life
Discover how The Oaks of Louisiana
came to be a template for active,
healthy and maintenance-free living
in the Southeast.
High-Pressure Problem
Find out why hypertension is cause
for concern, plus what you can do
about it.
Never Too Old to Learn
At 86 years young, one Tower resident
is a familiar face at activities planned
for The Oaks of Louisiana.
Healthy Hues
Feeling blue? Or green with envy?
Here’s how to improve your life
through the deliberate use of color.
The New Survivors
Meet three inspiring survivors
who share their hard-won words of
wisdom on how to beat cancer.
24
36
40
42
46
Find Your Groove
Turn your exercise routine into a
three-member band for maximum
results. We show you how.
Stay in Circulation
Protect yourself from these six
common vascular diseases.
‘X’ Marks the Spot
If your body veers off course, your
doctor may need this high-tech road
map to discover what ails you.
Pregnancy Predictors
Beyond the baby bump, pregnancy
has some surprising things to say
about an expectant mom’s health.
Play It Safe
Don’t let these five misconceptions
about hospital safety prevent you
from getting the care you need.
First (Aid) Things First
If you’ve ever wanted to be a lifesaving
action hero, follow this advice of
a veteran firefighter and EMT.
30
ON THE COVER
Nearly six years after becoming a country megastar,
Carrie Underwood has never abandoned her small-town
roots—or four health practices that keep her going.
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FIRST THINGS FIRST
Live Your
Best Life
Join a vibrant community that you
can’t find anywhere else in town
L
James K. Elrod
ife at The Oaks continues to be exciting.
New residents have moved in at the Tower
and at Live Oak this summer. We are welcoming new people who want
to remain active and engaged in the community but just don’t want the
hassles of home ownership anymore. They’re getting the best of life at The Oaks.
We also had such great response to Savannah at The Oaks, our assisted living
option, that we are beginning designs for Phase II. Because we are a neighborhood
that allows people to age gracefully, our health center has also needed expansion.
We look forward to the completion of the North Pavilion this fall. You can read
about the vision for The Oaks in the feature on page 4. Our goal has been to offer
something unlike anything else in town—all in one location.
As August begins, we look forward to the end of the 100-degree days that keep
us cooped up in air-conditioned comfort. The hot temperatures have not affected
residents at The Oaks of Louisiana, where the indoor pool allows them to enjoy a
nice swim without worrying about the heat or sunburns. Actually, residents at the
Tower at The Oaks don’t worry about much, thanks to the concierge who serves
there. You’ll learn more about that in Life at The Oaks on page 53.
On the Willis-Knighton front, we are extremely excited about the many minimally invasive surgical procedures offered throughout our campuses. Who would
have ever believed cardiac surgery would be available as minimally invasive? In
“The Kindest Cut of All” (page 50) you’ll learn more about this amazing procedure.
One of the most common health problems is high blood pressure. Thanks to
great pharmaceuticals, we are not likely to consider just how serious it can be.
You’ll become more knowledgeable about blood pressure when you read “HighPressure Problem” on page 6.
We are also pleased to have launched Spirit of Women this summer. When you
join WK Spirit of Women, you position yourself to be more knowledgeable about
healthcare through entertaining and engaging educational activities.
Best wishes to you and your family for a fall filled with fun and good health.
President and CEO, Willis-Knighton Health System
James K. Elrod
Facility Administrators
Jaf Fielder, Willis-Knighton Medical Center
Keri Elrod, Willis-Knighton South
Cliff Broussard, WK Bossier Health Center
Sonny Moss, WK Pierremont Health Center
Margaret Elrod, The Oaks of Louisiana
Regional Editor
Marilyn S. Joiner
Contributors
Mary Acree, Charlie Cavell, Kim Foulk, Denise Hiller, Sharla Inman,
Rhonda MacIsaac, Karen Peters, Darrell Rebouche, Terrie M. Roberts
PRODUCTION
Editorial
V.P./Strategic Content: Beth Tomkiw
Editor-in-Chief: Shelley Flannery
Editors: Sam Mittelsteadt, Matt Morgan, Amanda Myers, Tom Weede
Copy Editor: C.J. Hutchinson
Design
Managing Art Director: Adele Mulford
Art Directors: Lisa Altomare, Rod Karmenzind, Monya Mollohan,
Kay Morrow, Tami Rodgers
Production
Senior Production Manager: Laura Marlowe
Ancillary Production Manager: Angela Liedtke
Imaging Specialist: Dane Nordine
Production Technology Specialists: Julie Chan, Sonia Washington
Circulation
V.P./Business Intelligence Group: Patrick Kehoe
Postal Affairs & Logistics Director: Joseph Abeyta
CLIENT SERVICES
V.P./Sales & Product Development: Chad Rose,
888-626-8779
V.P./Client Services & Strategy: Heather Burgett
Account Managers: Barbara Mohr, Andrea Parsons, Paul Peterson,
Todd Speranzo
ADMINISTRATION
Vim & Vigor Founder: J. Barry Johnson
Chairman: Preston V. McMurry Jr.
President/Chief Executive Officer: Christopher McMurry
Chief Operating Officer/Financial Officer: Audra L. Taylor
President/Content Marketing: Fred Petrovsky
Sincerely,
2600 Greenwood Road
Shreveport, LA 71103
318-212-4000
wkhs.com
James K. Elrod
President and CEO
2
Vim & Vigor,TM Fall 2011, Volume 27, Number 3, is published quarterly by
McMurry, McMurry Campus Center, 1010 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, Arizona
85014, 602-395-5850. Vim & VigorTM is published for the purpose of disseminating health-related information for the well-being of the general public and
its subscribers. The information contained in Vim & VigorTM is not intended
for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing. Please consult your physician
before undertaking any form of medical treatment and/or adopting any
exercise program or dietary guidelines. Vim & VigorTM does not accept advertising promoting the consumption of alcohol or tobacco. Copyright © 2011 by
McMurry. All rights reserved. Subscriptions in U.S.: $4 for one year (4 issues).
Single copies: $2.95. For subscriptions and address changes, write: Circulation
Manager, Vim & Vigor,TM McMurry Campus Center, 1010 E. Missouri Ave.,
Phoenix, Arizona 85014.
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NEWS YOU CAN USE
WILLIS-KNIGHTON
THE OAKS OF LOUISIANA
WK Named Among the
NATION’S BEST
HOSPITALS
Willis-Knighton Health System has once again been distinguished among the nation’s best hospitals. Earlier this year
USNews & World Report listed Willis-Knighton among the top
50 hospitals in the field of diabetes and endocrinology. In
addition, Willis-Knighton was designated as “high performing”
in cancer, gastroenterology, geriatrics, heart and heart surgery, kidney disorders, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology
and urology. More than 4,800 facilities in the U.S. were reviewed for the
ranking process, but just 152 were ranked in any of the 16 specialties.
GREAT PERFORMANCES
by WK Physician Network
The Medical Group Management Association has identified the WillisKnighton Physician Network as a “better performer” when compared
with similar medical group practices across the country. Groups are
reviewed and evaluated on cost management, productivity, capacity and staffing, accounts receivable and collections, managed care
operations and the all-important patient satisfaction. The Physician
Network includes more than 340 providers at 114 individual locations.
Two Robots
Are Better
Than One
With the enhanced response to
robotic surgery from Willis-Knighton
surgeons, the health system has added a
second da Vinci robotic surgery unit, at WK
Pierremont Health Center. Minimally invasive robotic surgery is performed at WillisKnighton by 18 surgeons in the following
specialties: gynecology, urology, general surgery,
bariatric surgery and cardiovascular surgery.
NORTH
PAVILION
Nearing
Completion
The North Pavilion of the Health Center in
Live Oak is scheduled to open later this year.
The pavilion is an elegantly designed 30-bed
addition that will offer total care and skilled
nursing. The Health Center in Live Oak is an
important part of the campus, allowing residents who need additional services as they
age to secure them right here in The Oaks of
Louisiana, a master-planned community for
older adults.
Savannah
OK’d for
Expansion
Savannah at The Oaks, assisted living, has
met with immediate success, spurring officials at The Oaks of Louisiana and WillisKnighton Health System to begin design of
Phase II. Savannah at The Oaks is a residential option for adults who need help with one
or more activities of daily living.
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A Vision Co m
How The Oaks of Louisiana is creating
a whole new world in Shreveport
Margaret elrod,
executive director,
the oaks of Louisiana
By Terrie
M. roBerTs
4
As legions of baby boomers continue their march on retirement, a
new reality has evolved.
Active adult communities are
springing up all over the country.
And what they offer is uniquely
designed for people who refuse to
enter the retirement phase of their
lives in the traditional sense.
In Shreveport, the new reality is
very real at The Oaks of Louisiana.
Live Oak, once a small multifaith
retirement community, has evolved
into a 312-acre development that
breaks the traditional “old folks
home” mold by dispelling the myth
that one’s golden years have to be
spent rocking and watching TV.
This master-planned, gated community is the 21st century’s template for active, healthy and maintenance-free
living, thanks to visionary thinking from WillisKnighton executives.
WK’s CEO, Jim Elrod, and his wife, Margaret,
both lost their mothers in 2006. As they contemplated the importance of the continuum of care
offered by Willis-Knighton Health System, they
realized that it should be enhanced to prepare for
a rapidly aging population.
At that time, the property adjacent to Live
Oak, known as the Sawyer Farm, was offered
for sale, and the price made it impossible to pass
up, Margaret Elrod says. “My husband, being
the visionary and real-life Monopoly player he
is, came to me and told me what we might do.
Something with boomers.” She recalls that he
said, “We have the healthcare side of the continuum. Now let’s expand the well-being side of the
Willis-Knighton mission.”
Thinking Big
And thus the vision began to take shape at this
scenic location in Southeast Shreveport. As a
good-neighbor gesture, Jim Elrod invited the Live
Oak board to lunch to let members know about
the health system’s plans. Before the meeting
was over, the board members asked about joining forces, an idea that was worth investigating.
In 2007, after 25 years as a multifaith retirement community, Live Oak joined WillisKnighton as the foundation of Willis-Knighton’s
active-adult retirement initiative. And the vision
and master plan began to grow.
Margaret Elrod and her husband visited activeadult communities in the South and Southeast,
often with key players on their team, carefully
developing their vision for The Oaks of Louisiana.
As they visited, they found that several architectural firms specialized in these luxury retirement
communities and invited them to Shreveport to
present their ideas. Ultimately, they chose a firm
based in Atlanta that had translated the comfortable elegance of Southern living into retirement
communities. Their instructions were clear:
Think big. Think outside the box.
With the evolution of the property, Margaret
Elrod assumed the position of executive director,
being on-site daily to ensure a successful transition. As the team researched the best properties
across the South, it learned about the importance of active living, with a feeling of confluence
throughout the property.
Drive through the gates of The Oaks today and
you see a master-planned community unlike any
in this region. Taking the “best of the best” from
many projects, it has become a picture-postcard,
worry-free destination for residents while still
retaining its roots as a multifaith community.
Continued on Page 49
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o mes to Life
St. Giles, the
chapel at Deerfield Episcopal
Retirement Community in
Asheville, N.C., above, clearly shows
the inspiration for the Chapel at
The Oaks, left, where the warm
Louisiana sun beams through
arched windows in a bright room
punctuated by rich wood tones.
Above: Many senior communities offer pools,
but none had exactly what WK officials wanted.
This saltwater pool in the Spa & Wellness Center
in the Tower is special, thanks to WK’s background
in fitness and wellness.
Right: The Oak Room at the Tower at The Oaks
offers fine dining. As the WK management team
visited residential communities for older adults, it
recognized the importance of offering a variety of
dining venues, from casual to elegant.
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Michael Sewell, MD,
reviews a patient’s
chart before a
consultation.
Keep your blood
pumping as it should
by keeping tabs on
hypertension
BY CHARLIE CAVELL
High-Pressure
Problem
H
ow many car commercials have you seen where
some beautiful person is driving a sleek new hot
rod down some scenic highway? Now, imagine
that car having a clogged fuel line and the driver
being completely unaware. At any moment that engine could
fail and leave the driver stranded in the middle of nowhere.
This scenario is how Michael Sewell, MD, of North Bossier
Internal Medicine describes what could happen to your body
if you fail to treat your hypertension, or high blood pressure.
“It’s like a fuel line being partially clogged in your car,”
6
Dr. Sewell says. “The car will still go for a while, but that engine
isn’t getting fuel through at the right pressure and eventually
it’s going to fail.”
Dr. Sewell explains that this is what happens to your
internal organs. “All of the organs in your body are used to
receiving blood at a certain pressure,” he says. “They extract
oxygen and nutrients out of that blood based on blood flowing through at a certain rate and pressure. If that pressure
is changed, your organs cannot extract oxygen and nutrients
out properly and so they fail over a period of time.”
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m
High blood pressure killed 56,561 people in the United States
in 2006, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).
The group estimates that 74.5 million people in the U.S. ages
20 and older—about one in three adults—have high blood
pressure. What’s disconcerting is that of all those people with
high blood pressure, 77.6 percent were aware of their condition but nearly 56 percent failed to have it treated.
How does one get high blood pressure? “Most high blood
pressure is what we call essential hypertension, which basically means there is nothing else causing it,” Dr. Sewell says.
“There isn’t a kidney or vascular problem; your blood pressure just gets high.” AHA statistics show that the cause of 90
to 95 percent of the cases of high blood pressure isn’t known.
“A little-bitty change in the diameter of a blood vessel equals
a huge change in the pressure inside the vessel,” Dr. Sewell
says. “It doesn’t take very much to cause an increase in blood
pressure. The arteries, which are high-pressure vessels that
take blood away from the heart, are very muscular. When those
vessels get thick, they lose their elasticity.” He explains that it’s
similar to a body builder who develops big, bulky muscles but
sacrifices flexibility. When muscles in the arteries get thick,
they don’t stretch or expand, so the pressure goes up.
KEEPING BLOOD PRESSURE
IN CHECK
High blood pressure is easy to detect and is usually controllable, the AHA says. Hundreds of drugs are used to treat
hypertension, Dr. Sewell says, but the driving forces are
effectiveness, cost and minimal side effects. The Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and
Treatment of High Blood Pressure suggests treatment with
a diuretic or a beta blocker. All the other types of drugs are
usually add-ons, because most people with hypertension will
have another underlying condition.
Blood pressure is measured with an inflatable arm cuff
and a pressure-measuring gauge. A blood-pressure reading
has two numbers: the upper number measures the pressure
in your arteries when your heart beats, otherwise known
as systolic pressure; the lower number measures the pressure in your arteries between beats, also called diastolic pressure. Your blood pressure is normal if it’s below 120 over 80,
or 120/80. Dr. Sewell recommends you see your physician if
your blood pressure is 140/90 or above.
Dr. Sewell also suggests purchasing a blood-pressure cuff
and charting your levels at different times of the day. “Then,
periodically, bring those and the cuff to your physician’s
office and check its accuracy,” he says.
That way you’ll know if your fuel line may be clogged.
Are You at
High Risk?
Without knowing the exact cause of high blood
pressure, physicians have data to suggest who
is most at risk. Most experts agree that nonHispanic blacks are more likely to suffer from
high blood pressure than non-Hispanic whites.
Others who are at risk include people who are
obese and who don’t exercise regularly, as well as
those who eat high levels of salt and who smoke.
And, of course, genetics play a part. Family
history of hypertension puts you at high risk,
says Michael Sewell, MD, of North Bossier
Internal Medicine. “It seems there is a genetic
component, although it’s not an easy or definite
pattern to follow,” he says. “Some people in
certain families will get it; some people won’t.
However, it seems that if more people in your
family have it, you are more likely to get it.”
Margaret Dowden has her blood pressure
checked in the office of Michael Sewell, MD.
ONLINE
ld
CAUSE FOR CONCERN
Get to Know
Hypertension
Discover more about the dangers of hypertension, as well as its warnings signs, by reading
“Hypertension” on the Willis-Knighton website.
Visit wkhs.com/vigor/hypertension.
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NEVER
TOO OLD
TO LEARN
Tower
resident
Betty
Ramey
is still
checking
items off
life’s to-do
list
BY TERRIE
M. ROBERTS
8
B
etty Ramey, resident of the Tower at
The Oaks, is 86 years young.
The tall, slender, always-on-the-go
Shreveporter lives life to the fullest
and is a familiar face at activities planned for The
Oaks of Louisiana.
Ramey is a devoted participant in the Wednesday morning Bible study led by the Rev. Larry
Williams, a local Baptist minister.
On Thursday afternoons, she can be found
around a table at Grumpy’s pub playing bunco
with the ladies.
When a guest speaker presents a program on
topics such as investing, Ramey is front and
center. “I do a lot of investing online,” she says.
She admits she’s not crazy about history, but
did not hesitate to enroll in a six-week University
at The Oaks series on the Crusades. “I didn’t
know anything about them,” she says.
A lover of books, Ramey is a member of a
book club and a fan of local book reviewer Joy
Dunkelman, whose frequent reviews always
draw a large crowd.
A voracious reader who frequents the Tower’s
At 86, Betty Ramey,
a resident at the
Tower at The Oaks,
continues to maintain
a fast pace when it
comes to learning
and living life.
library, she and fellow Tower resident Betsy
Bailey were inspired to volunteer to organize the
library’s shelves, alphabetizing books by author
and category.
Learning new things and participating keeps
life interesting, Ramey says. “I’m never lonely
and I’m never depressed.”
That zest for life has fueled what some may
think are unusual pursuits for someone her age,
primarily becoming a registered nurse at age 58
and beginning piano lessons at 84.
“I’ve wanted to play piano since childhood,”
she says. “It was my one regret in life. We couldn’t
afford it when I was young.”
Now piano has become a passion. She practices most days but admits she’s not as good as
she’d like to be. In fact, she decided to return one
piece of difficult music to her teacher. “You can
do that when you’re my age!” she says.
While age allows Ramey to say “no” to music
she doesn’t want to play, she continues to say
“yes” to a myriad of lifelong learning activities
at The Oaks of Louisiana, where her quest for
knowledge continues.
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
UNIQUE FEATURES
The most visible evidence is the
Chapel at The Oaks. As Live Oak
underwent a complete renovation,
the Chapel at The Oaks became the
first new construction on the property. “It is one of the things that sets
us apart,” Margaret Elrod says.
True to the community’s longstanding tradition of multifaith
worship, it is a unique feature and
one that was inspired by St. Giles,
the chapel at Deerfield Episcopal
Retirement Community in Asheville,
N.C., Margaret Elrod says. Live
Oak’s “chapel” had actually been
an open space adjacent to its dining
room, and the Elrods believed it was important
to offer a space that was permanently devoted
to worship.
“We loved the interior,” Margaret Elrod says.
“It was mostly white, very serene and peaceful,
thus the interior of our chapel.”
Also unique to The Oaks is its clubhouse, a
place that encourages connectedness throughout the property. Adjacent to the club room is the
MarketPlace at The Oaks, a shopping boutique
that carries not only gift items and necessities but
also the ever-popular ice cream treats residents
often enjoy on the expansive clubhouse porches.
FITNESS AND FOOD
With Willis-Knighton’s background in healthcare and wellness, fitness was a must. The WK
team members researched pools and fitness facilities in the communities they visited and knew
they could do better. Because Margaret Elrod is
an avid proponent of healthy living, she recognized that good health enables people to enjoy
fuller, longer lives.
The construction of the Tower at The Oaks,
designed for active adults, brought the Spa &
Wellness Center, which includes an indoor
saltwater pool, exercise area, and massage and
salon space, all senior-friendly. They are complemented by the LifeTrail system along The Oaks’
walking trails, where residents can stop and
work on strength and flexibility.
Dining, too, played a big part in the development of the community, where life is all about
The billiards room
at Somerby of West
Mobile, left, with its
arched window, reveals
the inspiration for the
billiards room at the
Tower at The Oaks,
above, where players
enjoy not only games,
but also views of the
chapel.
options. The renovation of Live Oak included
upgrades in the dining room and food service.
And the new Tower incorporated multiple dining options and locations, even a fine-dining restaurant available to all residents on the campus.
NOW AND IN THE FUTURE
Today, residents at The Oaks choose lifestyles
that best meet their needs. It’s just what the
Elrods envisioned. As this neighborhood of
The Oaks expands, their vision could include
even more options for residents: retail shops,
dry cleaning, a pharmacy, restaurants. Perhaps
office buildings for attorneys, architects and
accountants, among others. A performing arts
center. There even could be a short-stay area for
campus residents, like an infirmary, with adjacent physician offices.
What will the finished Oaks look like? “I don’t
know if we will ever finish,” Margaret Elrod says.
After all, a vision has no limits.
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Kindest
The
CLYDE THOMAS HOLDS HIS GRANDDAUGHTER,
Kayla, as if there’s no tomorrow. “I want to watch
my grandkids grow up,” says Thomas, 55, while
relaxing at his home in Vivian, La. Thomas considers himself fortunate. Just two weeks after
coronary artery bypass surgery, he can comfortably
carry Kayla around the yard, feeling reinvigorated
and reassured that there will be countless tomorrows for him and his family, which includes four
more grandchildren.
The ease with which he can bear the baby’s
weight so soon after surgery is directly attributable
to a preoperative choice Thomas made in consultation with his surgeon. Curtis Prejean, MD, of Red
River Cardiovascular Surgeons, performed a minimally invasive procedure at Willis-Knighton Medical
Center to reroute blood flow around a blocked artery
near Thomas’ heart. What does this mean? “Instead of
doing a midline incision and dividing the breast bone,”
Dr. Prejean explains, “we can do the operation through
a smaller incision, often between the ribs.”
When offered this option, Thomas weighed the
risks and was drawn to the idea of a 2- or 3-inch scar as
opposed to a 12-inch incision and an eight-week healing
process for his sternum. With two weeks’ retrospect, he
says, “I have less pain. If they had cut my chest, I would
have had a lot more pain. This is a lot better.”
‘A LEAP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION’
Lou Trosclair, RN, BSN, is cardiovascular surgery coordinator at Willis-Knighton’s Heart & Vascular Institute.
She notes a growing trend toward minimally invasive
heart surgery, for bypasses as well as heart valve repairs.
She gives much of the credit to Dr. Prejean and his partners. “He is extremely energetic and enthusiastic about
50
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Consider Minimally
Invasive Heart Surgery
If you think you might be a candidate for heart surgery and would like to explore minimally invasive
options, call Willis-Knighton’s cardiovascular surgery
coordinator, Lou Trosclair, at 318-212-8969.
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Cut
advanced technology and the opportunity to offer these
proven benefits to patients in our community,” she says.
The benefits are obvious. Hospital stays are shorter,
recovery is easier, and smaller scars mean better cosmetic results. Dr. Prejean says there’s less blood loss
involved than with traditional heart surgery. All of this
adds up to what Dr. Prejean calls “a quicker return to
normal post-op life.”
While the availability of this kind of heart surgery is
exciting, it is not for everyone. “For bypass, we are generally limited to patients with one- or two-vessel disease,”
Dr. Prejean says. Cases involving heart valves are evaluated as they occur, but typically, Dr. Prejean adds, those
who need one valve repaired are fairly sure to be candidates for minimally invasive surgery.
Trosclair foresees a day when the majority of cases are
performed using minimally invasive techniques, calling
this “a leap in the right direction for the patients, the surgeons and for Willis-Knighton.”
Dr. Prejean touts another significant advantage to
employing these advanced techniques. During heart
surgery, a heart-lung machine is often used to support a
patient’s circulation and breathing. For some minimally
invasive operations, the use of this machine (commonly
referred to as a “pump”) is not necessary. “When we can
do the surgery off-pump, we take away one of the invasive
aspects of heart surgery,” Dr. Prejean explains. Trosclair
adds that this benefit is among those that promote a
quicker return to daily living following heart surgery.
Advanced heart surgery
option offers patients less
pain, quicker recovery
BY DARRELL REBOUCHE
A week later, the pain returned, more severe. “I fell
to my knees,” he recalls. “I had to almost crawl back to
bed.” Even so, he waited four more days following a third
episode before visiting an emergency room. “The doctors
told me I could have died,” he says with a sigh of resignation and relief. His recommendation: When you feel chest
pain, get to a doctor right away.
Thomas will show you his scar if you ask him, but
there is not much to see. Instead, attention turns to the
light in his eyes as he contemplates his path to a complete
recovery. It is less treacherous than it might have been,
thanks to modern advances and a progressive cardiovascular surgeon. “I can breathe good now,” Thomas says,
beaming. “I don’t feel that old pain anymore.”
Trosclair says that one of the goals of these minimally
invasive techniques is simply “happier patients.” With
this happy grandfather in Vivian, it’s easy to say the goal
has been achieved.
Left: Lou Trosclair,
RN, is cardiovascular
surgery coordinator
for the WillisKnighton Heart &
Vascular Institute.
Below: Curtis
Prejean, MD, uses a
minimally invasive
surgical technique to
offer patients smaller
scars and shorter
recovery times.
GOAL: HAPPIER PATIENTS
Thomas knows something about that. Typically, after
conventional heart surgery, patients are advised to wait
a couple of months before they lift anything heavier
than eight to 10 pounds. Dr. Prejean says Thomas and
others like him can go back to using their arms much
more quickly, and Thomas is taking that news to heart,
cradling a grandbaby whenever the opportunity arises.
He’s also eager to dispense advice based on his own
recent experiences. “I felt weak,” he says of his quality
of life before surgery, “with pain coming down my chest
and arms, but I started to feel better and didn’t think
much about it.”
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Orange Crush
The perfect food fashion color for fall
As we look forward to the cooler days of fall, we also look forward
to heartwarming flavors that transport our meals into the season.
This issue’s recipes are packed not with the flavor orange, but with
the orange beta carotene of pumpkin and carrots. The cake recipe has
been adapted to retain the flavor but make it more diet-friendly. And
the soufflé? Let’s just say it’s delicious!
Carrot Soufflé
6 cans sliced carrots (drained)
1 stick butter
2 tablespoons nutmeg
2 tablespoons vanilla
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
4 eggs
Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl. Beat with
mixer until smooth. Pour mixture into a greased 9x13
pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until
golden brown.
Recipe from culinary staff at The Oaks of Louisiana.
52
Pumpkin Cake
/3 cup all-purpose flour
/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1
/3 cup raisins
1
/4 cup chopped walnuts
1
/2 cup firmly packed dark-brown sugar
1 cup mashed, cooked pumpkin
1
/4 cup sugar
1
/3 cup unsweetened apple juice
1
/4 cup vegetable oil
1
/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1
/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons sifted powdered sugar
2
1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat Bundt pan with
nonstick spray and set aside.
Combine first five ingredients; set aside. Combine
brown sugar and next eight ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer
until well-blended. Gradually add flour mixture. Beat
2 minutes at high speed. Stir in vanilla.
Pour batter into Bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for
50 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center
comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes.
Invert on wire rack and cool completely. Place cake on
plate/platter. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Cake may be wrapped in heavy-duty plastic wrap
and stored in the freezer up to three weeks. To serve,
let stand at room temperature until thawed. Sprinkle
powdered sugar over top of cake when thawed.
Yields: 16 servings. Calories: About 153. Recipe modified
by Anne Weldon, RD, LDN, Willis-Knighton Diabetes &
Nutrition Center.
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LIFE AT THE OAKS
Your Wish Is Her Command
For concierge Danna Jacobs, service is a way of life
A
s a resident of the Tower at The Oaks,
you walk into the well-appointed
lobby and you immediately feel as if
you are the most important person in
the world. You are confident that, whatever your
needs, they will be taken care of.
And they are.
The extraordinary attention given to residents
by the Tower’s concierge, Danna Jacobs, is akin to
what they would expect from a five-star hotel but
is offered in their own home.
That’s just the way Jacobs wants it.
The always-smiling, soft-spoken Jacobs, the
epitome of Tower hospitality, recalls a stay in a luxury hotel in Naples, Fla., last summer where she
described the hospitality and services “unlike anything I’d ever experienced.” Her every need was
met almost before she realized it herself. It was then
she knew the type of concierge she wanted to be.
Jacobs recognizes that residents of the Tower
are well-educated, well-traveled and well-versed in
the art of hospitality. They also enjoy their maintenance-free lifestyles, preferring not to worry about
the mundane tasks that can clutter everyday life.
“Our residents live a very active lifestyle,” she
says. “They are up and roaring every day.”
While they are on the grounds using the
LifeTrail outdoor fitness system, hosting an
intimate party in the Clubhouse, or attending a
performance by a string quartet, Jacobs, as concierge, “handles everything they need.”
Order flowers. Arrange local transportation.
Make travel arrangements. Ship and receive
packages. Shop online. Schedule car maintenance and repairs. “I’ve even stayed on hold for
an hour to upgrade their cable,” she says. “The
only thing I can’t do is breathe for them!”
“Most don’t know the extent of the services we
provide until they move in,” Jacobs says.
Gone are the days when a concierge was someone in uniform who took packages and messages
while someone was out. The concierge of today,
like Jacobs, provides peace of mind.
“Service is a way of life for me,” Jacobs says.
“This is not a job. I’m constantly looking out for
residents here at the Tower. I want them to be
worry-free. I want to give them peace of mind.”
By Terrie M. Roberts
Danna Jacobs , concierge
of the Tower at The
Oaks, strives to give
residents peace of mind.
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Focus on Fitness
Get Ready ... Get Set ... Go!
Three steps to a healthier heart through cardiac rehab
E
Beverly Byrd, RN
Cardiac rehabilitation,
which includes
supervised exercise and
education, helps prevent
future health problems.
54
veryone knows to exercise, eat right and
avoid tobacco, but doing it is another
thing. Chances are, you want to be
healthy, and you may be having trouble
admitting that you need help getting there. If you
have had a heart attack or cardiovascular procedure, your doctor is likely to recommend cardiac
rehabilitation, because cardiac rehab has been
shown to prevent future health problems and
cardiac death. A safe, supervised exercise and
education program may be best if you have cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure
or diabetes, and you want to prevent heart attack.
Physician referral is required, so speak up and ask
your doctor if you are ready for cardiac rehab.
Get ready In cardiac rehab, learning takes
place throughout the program. You are encouraged to attend group education classes even
prior to clearance from your physician to begin
exercise. You will review what to do in an emergency and get to know your specific medications.
For smokers, cardiac rehab facilitators offer help
to make this most important adjustment—to quit!
Group classes offered by a dietitian stimulate discussion and help you make small changes, some
of which may make a big difference. Participants
may learn to practice stress management and
improve emotional health as well.
Get set Before you begin exercise, a set of
measurements and tests help pinpoint your risks
and goals. The program usually runs for three
months as you exercise three times a week. A
physician, an exercise specialist and a registered
nurse work with you daily, stepping you through
your individual plan, progressing over time. They
become your coaches. During exercise sessions,
staff members monitor your EKG (electrocardiogram, a heart test) as well as blood pressure, oxygen and glucose according
to your prescription. Having
common goals and sharing
concerns with other patients
also helps build motivation
and support to stick with
your program.
Go! Go to cardiac rehab
as soon as possible to get the
benefits, and go for the long
term. Whether you need to
quit smoking, improve cholesterol or reduce your waistline, your health status will
improve and you may live
longer. Sure, a program such
as cardiac rehab takes time,
but you may find that the
added endurance you achieve
buys more time and a longer
life with energy to do the
things you want to do.
By Beverly Byrd, RN
Vim & Vigor • Fall 2 0 1 1
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AccolAdes
ManageMent Profile
FinAnciAl, QuAlity
AssurAnce Agent
A 25-year healthcare industry
veteran, Ramona Fryer is vice
president of revenue and quality at Willis-Knighton Health
System. “Ramona is an incredibly dedicated professional,”
says Chuck Daigle, chief operating officer. “She is one of the
most proficient revenue cycle
experts within the industry
today.” Fryer’s responsibilities
include admitting/access, business office, health information
management, case management, social services and revenue management, all facets
of the revenue cycle, as well as
quality improvement department, performance improvement and infection prevention.
“Since she monitors both the financial and quality aspects of
WK’s healthcare, she makes financial decisions without losing
sight of the importance of excellent patient care,” says Claire
Rebouche, patient safety officer.
Fryer has worked with the Louisiana Hospital Association on
development and adoption of managed care legislation in the
state. She also has served as a speaker for the numerous regional
and local financial and health information organizations.
As former director of finance and network development
for a national insurance company, Fryer was introduced to the
healthcare field. Prior to moving to Shreveport, she handled
revenue issues at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
in Baton Rouge.
In her spare time, Fryer enjoys gardening and maintaining a
healthy lifestyle, including exercising at one of the WK Fitness &
Wellness Centers.
WK Athletic
Trainer Named
Best in Central
Hockey League
george Bullock Jr., certified athletic trainer with
Willis-Knighton Sports Medicine and the BossierShreveport Mudbugs, received the 2011 athletic
trainer of the Year award from the Central
Hockey league (CHl). the award was voted on by
all CHl athletic trainers and is the first of Bullock’s
16-year professional hockey career.
“it’s a tremendous honor to receive an award like
this, especially when it’s voted on by your peers,”
Bullock says. “even though we work in a competitive
atmosphere, it’s good to know that the hard work
that you put in is respected and acknowledged by
others who are doing the same job.”
Bullock has kept Mudbugs players healthy,
tending to their medical needs since the 2002–03
season. over those nine seasons, Bullock has helped
the ’Bugs during eight playoff appearances and two
trips to the ray Miron President’s Cup finals.
the veteran hockey trainer is a native of upstate
new York and a graduate of guilford College in
greensboro, n.Y. Bullock has also worked in pro
roller hockey, minor-league baseball, arena football
and various high school- and college-level athletics
during his career.
George Bullock Jr.,
left, receives
the CHL Athletic
Trainer of the
Year Award from
Mudbugs
Vice President/
General
Manager
Jason
Campbell.
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Parting ThoughTs
Live & Learn
WK and The Oaks host a variety of informative programs each month
Make reservations online by visiting classes.wkhs.com or by calling the WK call center at 318-212-8225.
Gary Joiner, PhD
Cheryl White, PhD
The Oaks Of LOuisiana
WiLLis-knighTOn
Tower UniversiTy:
HomefronT: LoUisiana in THe CiviL war
This six-week seminar led by LSUS history professors
Gary Joiner, PhD, and Cheryl White, PhD, will give you a
closer look at our home state’s involvement in the Civil
War. During the sesquicentennial commemoration of
the War Between the States, learn more about the local
impact of the war in our state and our region.
When: Mondays, Sept. 12–Oct. 17, 6:30–8 p.m.
Where: Tower at The Oaks Ballroom
Cost: $25 for nonmembers
KeepinG fiT aT any aGe
As part of Women’s Health and Fitness Day, please join
us as Holly Winterrowd, exercise specialist, focuses on
the importance of keeping fit at any age. This is a Spirit
of Women event.
When: Wednesday, Sept. 28, at noon
Where: WK Pierremont Health Center Auditorium
Cost: $6, includes lunch
sCHooL’s in session: Don’T Be TarDy
Move to the head of the class in health education
every Wednesday in September in a series designed to
motivate and inform. A light, healthy breakfast will be
included. Sept. 7, Reading the Labels (grocery shopping);
Sept. 14, Getting the Most Out of Your Doctor’s Visit;
Sept. 21, Know Your Numbers (blood pressure and
cholesterol); Sept. 28, Making Fitness Fun. Register for
one or for all.
When: Wednesdays in September, at 9 a.m.
Where: Tower at The Oaks Ballroom
Cost: $6 per session
GLoBaL GoUrmeT: inTernaTionaL CUisine
Celebrate Oktoberfest with this cooking class hosted by
Tower at The Oaks. Sample traditional German fare and
pick up a few cooking tips while you discover the history
behind this time-honored festival that celebrates beer.
When: Thursday, Oct. 20, at 4 p.m.
Where: Tower at The Oaks Lakeview Dining Room
Cost: $10
56
GUiDeLines for “THe GirLs”
Please join us for a presentation by Michael Schwalke, MD,
who is committed to increasing awareness of breast
cancer issues, including early detection and treatment
of breast cancer. He will share his extensive knowledge
of breast health and breast disease as well as information on diagnostic and
treatment options. This is
a Spirit of Women event.
Willis-Knighton is providing a complimentary lunch
as part of Breast Cancer
Awareness Month.
When: Thursday, Oct. 20,
at noon
Where: WK Pierremont
Health Center Auditorium
Cost: Free
Michael Schwalke, MD
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Willis-Knighton Health System
2600 Greenwood Road
Shreveport, LA 71103
Non-Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
Vim & Vigor
North
Pavilion
Lake
Herman
Garden Apartments
at The Oaks
Health Center
at Live Oak
Community
Centre
Clubhouse &
MarketPlace at
The Oaks
Live Oak at The Oaks
Community Building
Apartments
Savannah at
The Oaks
Assisted Living
Chapel at
The Oaks
Spa &
Wellness
Center
Lake Eleanor
Tower at The Oaks
The Oaks of Louisiana
Entrance Gate
Establish New Roots
Grow a New Life
Live Oak at The Oaks – Comfortable Southern-style
living in one-story apartments, many facing water features
or gardens. For adults 55+.
Savannah at The Oaks – Elegant assisted living in
two-story building with plenty of amenities. For adults who
require some assistance.
Health Center in Live Oak – Rehabilitation and
skilled nursing 24/7. For adults who require either short- or
long-term care.
The Oaks of Louisiana offers you a neighborhood full of choices where you can grow a new life.
Come grow with us.
As you contemplate the next chapter of your life, you want
to simplify, yet retain control of what’s important to you –
the way you live your life and where.
The Oaks of Louisiana allows you to do just that, satisfy your
desire for community without having to be uprooted at any
stage of life.
Tower at The Oaks – Resort-style living in a four-story
tower with concierge services. For adults 55+, whether
working, semi-retired or retired.
600 East Flournoy Lucas Road
FdVVFA1193_C4.indd 57

Shreveport

oaksofla.com

(318) 212-OAKS (6257)
6/15/11 6:53 PM