- Florida Health Care News

Transcription

Brandon/Sun City Center Edition
For additional information and to read our blog, visit us at
TAKE ME HOME!
www.ifoundMYdoctor.com
Summer 2015
Featured
ARTICLES
Bio-Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy
Live Well from the Inside Out 5
Hormone
balance is key in
maintaining a
vibrant lifestyle
for both women
and men.
A
Health Care Patron
Carrier-Route Pre Sort
PRSRT.STD.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Tampa, FL
Permit No.2397
s a business owner, Tim
Smith’s workdays often
extend beyond your typical
eight hours. To be a successful
business entrepreneur, Tim says, requires
countless hours going above and beyond
to meet customer needs.
“Customer focus is a big key to
my success so far,” Tim says. “I have
an advantage in that my office is in my
home, so I can devote as many hours
each day to it as I deem necessary. And
at the same time, I am able to do other
things in between my work.
“But, about a year ago, I noticed that
my attention span was not what it once
was, and I was becoming easily distracted
and unable to concentrate,” he continues.
“Before, when I was working, nothing got
between myself and my work. But, all of
a sudden, I found myself getting up from
my desk way too often during the day and
switching gears at the drop of a hat. If
something needed to be done around the
house and it came to mind, I’d just stop
what I was doing with the business and
go take care of it. I was all over the place.”
In addition to his focus being off,
Tim also noticed that his sleep pattern
was becoming irregular.
“I was waking up several times a
night, and it was really becoming more
annoying to me than anything else,” he
recalls. “But, I think the biggest change I
noticed was when I would go to the gym
to work out. I just was not getting the
results I expected, or wanted.”
Tim says going to the gym is more
like a hobby than a forced activity, and is
an integral part of his daily routine.
“I was getting discouraged because I
felt like I had hit a plateau in regard to
where I was able to go physically with
my workouts, and I was really upset with
that,” he explains. “Just very dissatisfied.”
After talking to some friends about
how he had been feeling, Tim was referred
to Infinity Medical Institute. After a consultation with Moriah R. Moffitt, MD,
Infinity Medical Institute’s staff physician,
Tim began bio-natural L3 pellet hormone
replacement therapy.
“I had no idea that it was my hormones that were the culprit in all of it,”
Tim says. “For me, I had a lack of concentration and loss of muscle tone. I had
no idea it was linked to hormone levels.”
Bio-natural therapy
Through Infinity Medical Institute’s
bio-natural L3 pellet hormone replacement
therapy, patients can achieve consistent
absorption of the proper, predictable levels
FHCN PHOTO BY MARC EDWARDS
Tim Smith
6
of hormones their bodies require for optimum health through the simple insertion
of a pellet approximately every three to five
months. These bio-natural hormone pellets
are made from wild yam plants, a natural plant material that is then molecularly
changed in structure and function for a 98
percent bio-identical match to the body’s
own composition, whereas synthetic
hormones can be as little as six to eight
percent bio-identical.
“Hormones affect everything,
including our growth through childhood, our sexual development, our
moods, how we break down our food,
sleep patterns, stress, how much weight
we gain – just about every function in
the body, big and small,” Dr. Moffi tt
says. “They also play a role in many
health conditions such as diabetes, an
over- or underactive thyroid, osteoporosis, obesity, anxiety and depression.”
The bio-natural L3 pellet hormone
replacement therapy is the most natural
and effective solution for hormonerelated issues.
“The body can never restore lost
hormones again unless it is done
endogenously, like we do here with the
bio-natural L3 pellet therapy,” according
to Michael Montemurro, president of
Infinity Medical Institute.
Michael emphasizes that patients
appreciate the all-natural products used
at Infinity Medical Institute.
“Our bio-natural L3 pellet hormone
therapy really helps to give us an edge
as we provide patients with a product
that is all-natural, and we stand behind
it,” Michael says. “It’s the most effective
hormone treatment on the market. It
is felt to be extremely safe because it is
replacing natural, normal hormones with
(see Live Well from the Inside Out, page 4)
11
Regenerative
Orthopedic Institute
What Is Regenerative
Medicine?
Brandon Cataract
Center and Eye Clinic
Retinas at Risk!
Manatee Sarasota
Eye Clinic
“Amazing” Vision for
Viola Player
Also In This
EDITION
2
3
Manatee Memorial
Hospital
Safer, Simpler Surgery
David A.
Napoliello, MD, FACS
Help for Hernias
8
8
9
10
12
South Florida
Eye Clinic
Eye Floaters?
HemRelief
Stop
Hemorrhoids Now
Natural Healing Arts
Medical Center, Inc.
Silence Back Pain
with Soleve™
Lakewood Cardiovascular
Consultants, P.A.
Stop! Before
You Get a Bypass…
St. Joseph’s
John Knox
Couple Says, “I Do!”
Find us online at:
or on
Page 2 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2015 | Brandon/Sun City Center Edition
Acute Care Hospital
Safer, Simpler Surgery
Using the latest in robotic technology, surgeons can
now operate on throat tumors through the mouth.
F
or surgeons performing procedures in the back of a patient’s
mouth and down into the
throat, access to the area and
visualization are key. A surgeon’s hands are
simply too big to manipulate instruments
in that area efficiently, so oftentimes he or
she must resort to surgically opening the
patient’s neck to reach the affected area.
This can lead to a difficult and
lengthy recovery as well as scarring or
disfigurement, complications and even
vocal cord damage.
However, a new treatment has
recently come to Manatee Memorial
Hospital in Bradenton that allows surgeons to operate on the throat, base of the
tongue and tonsils through the mouth.
Manatee Memorial offers the leading-edge
robotic technology known as daVinci®
Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS).
“It allows us to access areas in the
back of the throat that before were very
difficult to see,” explains Axay S. Kalathia,
MD, a board-certified otolaryngologist at
Manatee Memorial. “It allows us to do
surgery on tumors or cancers that involve
the base of the tongue or the tonsils or
parts of the voice box that before would
require a much more invasive procedure.”
Benefits to patient
Previously, patients with a tumor in
the back of their throat would sometimes have to have their jawbone split
in order for the surgeon to access the
area. “You’d have to place a plate in
the jawbone,” explains Dr. Kalathia.
“Then, when you took out the tissue,
you’d be left with a big hole, and the
patient would require a second operation to add a flap to plug the hole.
“There are a lot of risks for those
operations,” he adds. “There’s a higher
infection rate. All of that is reduced with
the robotic surgery.”
In addition to a simpler, less invasive
Please visit Manatee
Memorial Hospital online at
ManateeMemorial.com
Manatee Memorial Hospital has a
long tradition of providing medical
care in a comfortable and convenient
environment for thousands of
patients. Serving the community
for more than 60 years, the 319-bed,
acute-care facility offers access to
more than 500 physicians and allied
health professionals, with a broad
range of specialties.
Physicians affiliated with Manatee
M emorial Hospital can offer
patients the added benefit and
convenience of services like x-rays,
laboratory tests and MRIs, all
conducted in one place.
Sleep apnea applications
TORS also works for removing excess tissue at the base of the tongue. This is one
of the causes of obstructive sleep apnea, a
condition that occurs when the soft tissue
in the back of the throat relaxes during
sleep and blocks the airway. It leads to a
drop in oxygen levels in the blood and,
often, loud snoring. The condition is
considered serious because left untreated
it can lead to high blood pressure, heart
problems and stroke.
Although the first line of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is for
patients to sleep with a special device
called a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, not all patients
can or want to use it.
“Patients may be claustrophobic, or
CPAP just doesn’t work for them because
of their anatomy or for another reason,”
offers Dr. Kalathia. “For those patients,
this TORS procedure could be instrumental in fixing their problem.”
More than 35 million people suffer
from sleep apnea, reports the physician.
“Even if one out of ten can’t use their
machine, there are still a lot of people
who would benefit from this procedure.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MANATEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
AXAY S. KALATHIA, MD
surgery, TORS can also help cancer
patients reduce or possibly even avoid
radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
“Before, patients with cancers of
the throat would frequently receive
standard radiation and chemotherapy,”
says Dr. Kalathia. “Now, we can select
only those patients where we’re more
suspicious that they have cancer left
behind in the lymph nodes or at the
site. Only those patients will need radiation and/or chemotherapy, and in many
cases where radiation is still needed, the
dosage may be less.”
For instance, the first patient Dr.
Kalathia treated using TORS had been
diagnosed with cancer of the tonsil. “We
normally would have sent that patient for
radiation and chemotherapy,” confirms
the physician. “But because we knew that
we could access it surgically, we could take
the tumor out of the tonsil and feel confident that we had all of the cancer out.”
The TORS technology can also help
physicians assess whether or not cancer
has spread.
“We also do a procedure called neck
dissection, which is a good way to sample
lymph nodes,” Dr. Kalathia reports. “By
knowing whether the cancer has spread,
we can stage patients more accurately and
cater their treatment more effectively.”
Other benefits of TORS include
improved swallowing function and a
faster recovery.
Dr. Kalathia demonstrates how he uses the daVinci
console, from which he performs complex surgical
procedures using robotic technology.
Robotic precision
When conducting procedures using
TORS, surgeons control the instruments using a video console, explains Dr.
Kalathia. “The robot is nothing but an
instrument,” he assures. “The surgeon
is still completely in control and using
it as he or she would any other instrument, except there’s no direct connection
between the instrument and the surgeon’s
hand. Now, the surgeon is using the computer console to control that instrument.”
One of the major benefits of TORS
is that the instruments can fit into the
patient’s throat without issue. “Your hands
can only fit in so many tight spaces,”
describes the doctor, “whereas the robot
is so thin and slim that you can put it all
the way deep in the throat for access. You
can manipulate in many different angles,
whereas your wrist can only turn so much.
You can really access tight nooks and crannies in the throat with this technology.”
Another benefit is that the robot’s
camera allows the surgeon to have magnified, 3D video, so “your vision is right
up close, as if your eyes were right next to
the patient under magnification,” says Dr.
Kalathia. “The excellent three-D visualization, combined with the wristed remote
access, allows us to safely take out tissue
much more precisely.” FHCN–Melanie Casey
THE BEST POSSIBLE CARE
Trust your care to Manatee Memorial Hospital. The
hospital also offers a number of programs to help
educate the public about maintaining or regaining
health. For information about health issues, visit
www.manateememorial.com, or call the marketing
department at (941) 745-7545. Manatee Memorial
Hospital is located at 206 2nd St. East in Bradenton.
TORS benefits
daVinci Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS)
allows surgeons to operate through the
mouth. The system features a magnified,
3D, high-definition vision system and
special wristed instruments that bend
and rotate with far greater range than
the human wrist, enabling surgeons to
operate with enhanced vision, precision,
dexterity and control. Compared to
traditional surgery, benefits include:
• Reduced operative time
• Improved swallowing function
• Better identification of
patients who will benefit from
chemotherapy and radiation
• Potentially reduced doses
and areas of radiation
• Sleep apnea treatment
“It allows us to access areas
in the back of the throat
that before were very difficult to see. It allows us to
do surgery on tumors or
cancers that involve the
base of the tongue or the
tonsils or parts of the voice
box that before would require a much more invasive
procedure.” – Axay S. Kalathia, MD
Axay S. Kalathia, MD,
is a board-certifi ed otolaryngologist. He earned
a Bachelor of Arts degree
from Rutgers University
in 1987 and his medical
doctor degree from the
University of Medicine
and Dentistry of New
Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, in 1991.
He completed an internship in general
surgery followed by a residency in otolaryngology at Albany Medical Center.
PHYSICIANS ARE ON THE MEDICAL STAFF OF MANATEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, BUT, WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS, ARE INDEPENDENT PRACTITIONERS WHO ARE NOT
EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS OF MANATEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. THE HOSPITAL SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ACTIONS OR TREATMENTS PROVIDED BY PHYSICIANS.
Minimally Invasive General Surgery
Brandon/Sun City Center Edition | Summer 2015 | Florida Health Care News | Page 3
Help for Hernias
D
About hernias
“Adults and children alike can develop hernias as a result of heavy lifting, straining,
coughing or any unusual stress that causes
a sudden increase of intra-abdominal pressure,” explains Dr. Napoliello. “Some hernias
are congenital, or present at birth, whereas
others develop as a result of a predisposition
for hernia. Also, anyone who has had surgery
may experience a weakening of tissue at the
incision site that could result in a hernia.
“The most common type of hernia is
called an inguinal hernia, which is what
David had. This is a defect or weakness in
the abdominal muscle wall through which
intestine and fat layers protrude, forming
a visible bulge in the groin area.
“To visualize the dynamics of it, think
of an automobile tire. The abdominal wall
is like the thick outer wall of the tire. Should
the tire get damaged, the inner tube can push
through the weakened area or crack, forming a small bubble. If the abdominal wall
becomes weakened, the tissue that lines the
inside of the abdomen and holds the intestines in place, called the peritoneum, can
bulge into the outer wall. In the tire, the inner
tube can become strangled by the pressure
of the edges of the crack through which it
protrudes. It’s the same with a hernia.”
A person may suspect a hernia if he
or she notices a bulging under the skin.
Additional symptoms may include discomfort while lifting heavy objects, sneezing or
coughing, straining while using the toilet, or
while standing or sitting for long periods of
time. Because delayed treatment can sometimes result in the intestine being trapped
inside the hernia sac, resulting in gangrene,
any bulge should be brought to a physician’s
A hernia can be
managed with a
laparoscopic or small
open procedure.
“My recovery was very,
very fast,” says David,
shown here with his
friend Ben.
attention immediately so that diagnosis and
treatment can begin. Left untreated, certain
complications from hernias can even be fatal.
Laparoscopic approach
Surgeons may choose one of several hernia
repair techniques, depending upon the
patient and the size of the hernia.
“In the past, the only hernia repair
option available was an open surgical procedure called a tension repair,” notes Dr.
Napoliello. “The physician makes an incision, pushes the protruding tissue back
into place and stitches the tissue layers
together. The potential disadvantages of
this type of surgery include relatively long
recovery periods, high recurrence rates
and discomfort following surgery.
“Today, we can offer a variety of both
minimally invasive open procedures and
laparoscopic procedures. Unlike the tension
repair, laparoscopic and minimally invasive
open procedures are tension free, because
the stitches or sutures used do not put tension on the sides of the defect to keep it
closed. Instead, we use special mesh patches
that limit the size of the required incision.
These procedures offer lower recurrence
rates, quick recovery and only minor discomfort afterward. The minimally invasive
open approach can also allow the patient to
avoid general anesthesia.”
There are two main options for
laparoscopic surgery, continues the
skilled surgeon. “In the transabdominal
approach, the physician makes a small
incision and slides a laparoscope, which
is a thin telescope, through the abdominal
wall into the abdomen. For the preperitoneal approach, the laparoscope slides in
between the tissues of the abdominal wall.
With both approaches, we view the hernia
and surrounding tissue on a video screen.
“Advantages of laparoscopic surgery
may include less pain and a shorter recovery time for patients, and, because we
have the advantage of looking through
the laparoscope, previously undiagnosed hernias may be discovered,” says
Dr. Napoliello. “Additionally, the laparoscopic approach allows us to manage
recurrent hernias and to optimize any
repeat surgery because we do not have
to go through the same incision site.
“Scientific improvements to help
hernia repair include the addition of very
lightweight artificial meshes and biologic
meshes such as processed skin grafts. Other
improvements to decrease chronic pain
associated with hernia repairs include the
addition of absorbable tacking devices and
dissolvable sutures, which help to decrease
the risk of nerve entrapment.
“These improvements are mainly
geared toward decreasing pain and
improving the repair, thereby shortening
recovery time. Because I take a conservative approach, I recommend that my
patients avoid any physical strain for four
weeks after a procedure.”
avid Quarterson was in some
serious pain.
“I was down here on
vacation in February 2014,”
says the Pennsylvania snowbird, “and I
didn’t even know what I did to cause it.
It hurt so badly.”
The problem was a hernia, which is
actually a defect of the abdominal wall
that allows a protrusion of an organ or
structure through the wall that normally
contains it.
Unfortunately, David already knew
about hernias from past experience.
“I’d had a hernia several years ago,
and I underwent surgery back home in
Pennsylvania,” he recalls. “It was a real
ordeal: there was a lot of pain and then I
got a lot of fluid build-up under it, which
I had to have withdrawn twice with a very
long needle.”
Because he was in Florida when he
suffered the second hernia, David consulted David A. Napoliello, MD, who is
board certified by the American Board
of Surgery and a Fellow of the American
College of Surgeons.
“He specializes in hernias,” David
reports, “so I called his office. I told them
that I was in pain and explained that I was
only here on vacation. But they said, Can
you come in this afternoon? That is really
unheard of where I come from. I went
down there, and the people were so nice.
Dr. Napoliello is truly a gentleman, very
nice and professional.”
DAVID A. NAPOLIELLO, MD, FACS
The number one choice
“I was really thrilled that I didn’t have
to be in pain, like I was when I had the
hernia repair up north and had to have
fluid drawn out,” recalls David. “I told
Dr. Napoliello about that experience, and
he said, You won’t have that now.”
As he began to heal from the laparoscopic procedure, he also found that
he was able to do normal activities much
sooner than anticipated.
“My wife and I were able to do our regular routine where we’re staying,” adds David.
“We’re down here for four months, and
before we went home, we cleaned the whole
place up, scrubbing the floors and everything.
I felt fine! My recovery was very, very fast.”
He credits Dr. Napoliello with his
results, remarking that the surgeon’s skills
are just part of what made him his number one choice.
“He’s pleasant and his demeanor just
puts you at ease. And he showed genuine
concern, which you don’t always get
from doctors. He is a true professional. I
didn’t know anyone down here, but Dr.
Napoliello is the number one person in
Florida to do this surgery. How lucky
could I possibly be?” FHCN–Michael J. Sahno
Learn more
Dr. Napoliello and his staff
look forward to answering
your questions. For additional
information or to schedule an
appointment, please call (941)
388-9525 for the locations at
Medical Office Building 1,
8340 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.,
Suite 101, in Bradenton or
1211 Jacaranda Blvd. and 825
Venetian Pkwy. in Venice.
David A. Napoliello, MD, FACS, is board certified by the American Board of
Surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He earned his
undergraduate degree at Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, and his medical
degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Dr. Napoliello completed his residency in general surgery at Penn State–Geisinger Medical Center,
Danville, and a Fellowship in Minimally Invasive and Advanced Laparoscopic
Surgery at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. He is past chief of surgery for Venice
Hospital and Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. In addition, Dr. Napoliello
was voted one of the top general surgeons in Sarasota and Manatee Counties by his peers and
patients for the Castle Connolly list of America’s Top Doctors six years in a row.
For more information, please visit www.DavidNapolielloMD.com.
BHRT
Live Well from the Inside Out
215 Bullard Parkway
Temple Terrace, FL 33617
(813) 989-1330
(continued from page 1)
biologically identical hormones
that the body is used to seeing,
rather than synthetic versions
of the hormones.”
More to offer
Summer 2015
Tim says his
concentration is
better now, thanks
to Infinity Medical
Institute.
Barry P. Levine
Executive Publisher
Gina L. d’Angelo
CFO/HR Manager
Judy Wade
Editorial Manager
Michael J. Sahno
Senior Writer
Patti DiPanfilo
Melanie Casey
Editorial Staff
Michelle Brooks
Creative Director
Michael says Infinity Medical
Institute has expanded its services and also offers BOTOX®
Cosmetic, VOLUMA®,
JUVÉDERM®, weight loss
programs such as hCG and
PhenTabz™, Venus Legacy™
FDA-approved fat-reduction
therapy, exclusive PRP treatments such as the Vampire
FaceLift®, Vampire Breast Lift®,
the male ED Priapus Shot® and
the female O-Shot®, which corrects sexual dysfunction and
incontinence. They also now
accept CareCreditsm.
“Some of the additional services we now offer can provide
multiple advantages to patients,”
Michael explains. “For example,
the O-Shot not only increases
sensitivity for females to help
them reach climax, but it also can
reverse incontinence as well. It is
a really remarkable product for
women. The market has always
had a multitude of products for
male erectile dysfunction, but
nothing for females to treat sexual dysfunction. Now, that has
all changed with the O-Shot.
“Same thing with the platelet-rich plasma [PRP] therapy.
PRP is used in the Vampire
FaceLift procedure where we
inject the patient’s own blood
platelets back into the facial area,
and it helps rebuild collagen in
the face and provides the patient
with the volume they have lost.”
Michael says the Vampire
FaceLift procedure is also used
for breast lifts.
“It’s way more economical for patients than an actual
breast lift,” he adds. “The women
treated are seeing amazing results
as far as fullness, volume and
evenness in the breast area.”
The new procedures being
offered, Michael adds, are part
of what makes Infinity Medical
Institute a success.
“I have not been this excited about new products in
a very long time,” he emphasizes. “We wanted to enhance
the business and provide more
options for our patients, and I
think we are well on our way
toward doing that.”
Better for life
Improved quality of life is a key
factor for patients seeking hormone replacement therapy.
“We see a transformation
of our patients as they come
through the door,” Dr. Moffitt
relays. “Women and men come
in saying that they’re not feeling vibrant, energetic, and they
have other various symptoms.
After treatment, they come back
in and they’re smiling. They get
that confidence back. We want
our patients to look and feel
good from the inside out.”
Tim says he has felt a
remarkable improvement since
he began his treatment over a
year ago.
“The mood swings are much
less noticeable now,” he says with
a laugh. “Even my wife says I am
much more focused and relaxed
than before. And I feel like I can
concentrate now without having
to struggle, and my workouts are
on par. I feel really good and I
Look good, feel great
The experienced staff at Infinity Medical
Institute looks forward to working with
you. For more information or to schedule
an appointment, please call (813) 280-0833
for their location at 1715 N. Westshore
Blvd., Suite 100, in Tampa.
do not regret the investment for
myself one bit. It is really the
best decision I made.”
Tim says Dr. Moffi tt and
the staff at Infinity Medical
Institute truly care about each
patient and take the time to get
to know the individual person
they are treating.
“You can walk into any
doctor’s office and just be
a number to them, but not
here,” Tim says. “The office
staff is friendly, Dr. Moffitt
is great, I feel like they are
investing in all of me, and
that makes it worth it. I highly
recommend their services. I
don’t regret it for a second.”
Photography
Brian Levine
Project Coordinator
Laura Engel
Production Assistant
Steve Turk
John Gnibus
Vincent Ortiz
Distribution
Contributing Editors
Infinity Medical Institute
Bio-Natural Hormone
Replacement Therapy
Manatee Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospital
David A. Napoliello, MD, FACS
Minimally Invasive
General Surgery
Regenerative
Orthopedic Institute
Stem Cell Therapy/
Pain Management
Brandon Cataract Center
and Eye Clinic
Ophthalmology
South Florida Eye Clinic
Ophthalmology
Natural Healing Arts
Medical Center, Inc.
*
The most common symptoms men and women face without
sufficient hormones are:
Moriah R. Moffitt, MD, is
the staff physician at Infinity
Medical Institute, Inc. Dr.
Moffitt earned her medical
degree from The Ohio State
University, where she was
inducted into the Alpha
Omega Alpha Medical
Honor Society. She also
attended the University of
South Florida Plastic Surgery
Program. She has received
board certification from the
American Board of Plastic
Surgery and is a member
of the American Society of
Plastic Surgery.
Marc Edwards
Nerissa Johnson
Hemorrhoid Treatment
Bio-Natural Hormones
• Painful
intercourse
• High
cholesterol
• Irritability
• Loss of
muscle tone
• Decreased
exercise
• Vaginal
dryness
• Depression
• Stress
• Night sweats
Nerissa Johnson
Graphic Designer
HemRelief
FHCN–Judy Wade
Symptoms Treated with
• Poor sleep
• Fatigue
• Loss of sex
drive
• Weight gain
• Anxiety
• ADHD
• Hot flashes
• Erectile
dysfunction
• Dry skin
• Fibromyalgia
• Palpitations
• Memory lapse
Florida Health
Care News
• Migraine
headaches
• Osteoporosis
• Diabetes
mellitus
• Restless leg
syndrome
• Body-joint
pains
• Hair loss
• Mood
swings
• Lack of selfconfidence
* Provided by Infinity Medical Institute
For more information, please visit www.infinitymedicalinstitute.com.
Chiropractic
Lakewood Cardiovascular
Consultants, P.A.
Interventional Cardiology/
Cardiovascular Disease
Manatee Sarasota Eye Clinic
Ophthalmology
St. Joseph’s John Knox
Continuing Care Retirement
Community, AL 4110
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Stem Cell Therapy/Pain Management Brandon/Sun City Center Edition | Summer 2015 | Florida Health Care News | Page 5
What Is Regenerative Medicine?
Osteoarthritis pain can be treated by using the patient’s own stem cells and plasma.
A
t 78, Bob Hayes is still a very
active man.
“I generally walk two
miles every day, and I play
a lot of golf,” he assures. “In fact, I
played yesterday.”
ERICK A. GRANA, MD
FHCN PHOTOS BY MARC EDWARDS
Bob is back to activities, pain free, thanks to stem cell treatment skillfully applied by Dr. Grana.
“He came to us because his arthritis was
limiting his activities. Bob’s ability to play
golf or even walk was being limited by the
osteoarthritis in his knee.”
Nonsurgical treatment
Many patients with joint problems
seek to avoid the cutting, shaving, pain
and downtime associated with invasive
surgery. Today, there is a revolutionary
technology that can enable patients like
Bob to avoid taking on the risks of a
surgical procedure.
“There are options now that can be
offered to osteoarthritis patients, other
than joint replacement,” continues Dr.
Grana. “Not only can we relieve the
symptoms, but we can also help reverse
some of the damage that happens to the
joint as a consequence of the osteoarthritis. This is accomplished by regenerating
the cartilage and connective tissues in
and around the joint area.
“Regenerative medicine treats disease and injuries by harnessing the body’s
healing powers,” Dr. Grana clarifies. “The
natural healing process is accelerated by a
combination of growth factors and bioactive cells, resulting in a safe, effective,
nonsurgical treatment.”
Dr. Grana has developed a system
for delivery of stem cells, platelet-rich
plasma (PRP) and growth factors into
the pain generators in and around joints,
such as shoulders and knees. This treatment is called RegenaJoint.
He has also developed a system to
treat the spine in a similar manner using
fluoroscopic, or live x-ray, guidance, a
process called RegenaSpine.
These treatments restore function and
improve quality of life, enabling patients
to avoid surgery and reduce, or eliminate,
the need for narcotic medications.
RegenaJoint and RegenaSpine use
stem cells from the patient’s own body,
called autologous cells, to regenerate cartilage and connective tissue in joints, spinal
discs, tendons and ligaments. When combined with concentrated platelets and
growth factors, the stem cells become a
powerful repairing mechanism for aching
backs and painful joints.
“We extract stem cells from bone
marrow or fat and platelet-rich plasma
from the patient’s own blood to use in the
problem areas,” Dr. Grana explains. “We
perform RegenaJoint by placing injections into the knee joint and ligaments
surrounding the knee; the ligaments
around the shoulder and inside the shoulder joint; or into the hip joint area. If the
problem is in the back, the RegenaSpine
procedure can be performed on the discs
and facet joints of the spine.
“Patients usually have three goals:
first, to get their pain relieved; second, to
return to the activities that they were not
able to do because of their arthritis; and
third, to avoid surgery. These are the main
goals that most patients want to achieve,
and Bob achieved all three of them.”
pretty quick and simple.
“After Dr. Grana did the injections, I
had complete relief from my soreness and
pain within a day or two. And I’ve been
that way ever since!”
Thanks to Dr. Grana, Bob is now
back to the activities he had been unable
to do for quite some time before stem
cell treatment.
“I’m playing golf again,” he
reminds, “and when I go out for my
walk in the morning, my knee doesn’t
bother me. I can walk with no problem,
no soreness or pain.”
He adds that he truly appreciated his
experience at Regenerative Orthopedic
Institute, from his initial consultation to
his follow-up appointments, and says he
is thankful for Dr. Grana’s care.
“They’re very pleasant people,” Bob
adds, “and they explained everything well
and answered all of the questions that I
had. It was a good experience for me, and
I think I got as good as I could expect
from the treatment, so I’m very happy
with it. I had a chance to talk to some of
the other people who have gone through
it, and they seemed very happy with it as
well.” FHCN–Michael J. Sahno
“I’m very happy with it”
Bob was very pleased with the RegenaJoint
experience. He explains that the treatment
is straightforward and not at all difficult.
“It was very easy,” he emphasizes,
“and it didn’t take a long time. After they
took the blood, I had a waiting period
while they processed it, but the actual
injections took very little time. It was
Erick A. Grana, MD, is a diplomate of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
and the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, with subspecialty certification in pain
medicine. After he received his medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of
Medicine, he completed his internship and residency at the university’s hospital and was subsequently awarded a fellowship from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University
of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Grana is a former assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine
in Houston and a member the American Medical Association, the International Spinal Injection
Society and the Florida Academy of Pain Medicine.
PHOTO FROM ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
A few years back, however, things
weren’t looking so rosy for Bob when it
came to enjoying time on the fairway or
just going for a walk.
“In 2006, I had arthroscopic surgery
on my left knee for a torn meniscus,” he
explains. “I did fairly well at first – I did a
lot of walking and even some light jogging
– but then I started experiencing pain in
my knee again.”
The pain that Bob began to experience was from the onset of osteoarthritis.
Chronic pain from osteoarthritis can
limit mobility, causing sufferers to stop
doing the things they enjoy. Such was
the case for Bob.
“I was having difficulty going up
stairs or going downhill especially. It was a
persistent kind of pain,” he recalls. “Every
time I took a step, I felt pain in my left
knee. It was really bothering me badly, to
the point where I even stopped walking.
It was quite painful.”
Fortunately, Bob learned about
a leading-edge treatment offered by
Erick A. Grana, MD, of Regenerative
Orthopedic Institute.
“I set up an appointment and went
to see them,” he reports, “and when they
took a look at my knee under fluoroscopy, they told me they thought I would
be a good candidate for this stem cell
treatment that they provide.
“I said, Okay, let’s do it.”
“Osteoarthritis is one of the most
common complications our aging population will face in the coming years,”
reflects Dr. Grana. “Procedures for treatment of osteoarthritis are among those
most commonly performed in orthopedics, and they include everything up
to joint replacement, when the arthritis becomes so advanced that surgery
becomes the last option.
“However, before reaching that point,
arthritis patients typically suffer for years
with knee pain that can be debilitating,
greatly limiting their daily activities.
Osteoarthritis in the knees can severely
limit the ability to walk, thereby limiting
a person’s capacity to enjoy life.
“This patient’s case was typical in
terms of joint pain,” adds Dr. Grana.
Don’t Operate,
Regenerate
For more information, or to schedule a
consultation, please call (813) 868-1659.
Regenerative Orthopedic Institute is
located at 8011 North Himes Avenue,
Ste. 3, in Tampa.
Visit Regenerative Orthopedic Institute on the web at www.dontoperate.com.
Ophthal
H
e admits he might be biased,
but to Nandesh N. Patel, MD,
the retina is the most important part of the eyeball. Dr.
Patel is a board-certified ophthalmologist
and a fellowship-trained retina surgeon at
Sun City Center Eye Clinic. To him, the retina is a rare, privileged site, unlike any other
part of the body, and it merits special care.
The retina is a thin layer of specialized
tissue that lines the back of the eye. It senses
light as it enters the eye and sends it to the
brain to process as images.
“The retina functions much like the
film in a camera,” describes Dr. Patel.
“Without the film, you have no pictures.
Like the film in a camera, if the retina is
damaged, there will be problems with the
pictures processed by the eye. But unlike
film, we can’t replace the retina.
“It’s a critical structure,” he continues, “and as I tell my patients, with every
body part, there’s a disorder to go with it.
Unfortunately, there are many disorders
that affect the retina.”
The two most common disorders of the
retina are diabetic retinopathy and macular
degeneration, which are the leading causes
of blindness in adults. Dr. Patel has expertise
in treating both of these diseases.
Risk from diabetes
According to the American Diabetes
Association, about 25 million people in the
United States have diabetes; 18 million have
been diagnosed, and another 7 million still
remain undiagnosed. Alarmingly, Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90 to 95 percent of
all diabetes cases, is the leading cause of new
cases of blindness among adults ages 20 to
74 due to diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disease associated with diabetes. It
is caused by changes in the blood vessels of
the retina. In some cases of diabetic retinopathy, abnormal blood vessels develop on the
surface of the retina, and in others, blood
vessels begin to bleed or leak fluid.
“The most common public health issue
we retina surgeons deal with is diabetic retinopathy,” stresses Dr. Patel. “Screening and
early diagnosis are of incredible importance.
We’ve got evidence-based treatments that
will subvert poor visual outcomes, but they
require early detection.
“Anyone who has diabetes is at risk for
developing diabetic retinopathy,” he adds,
and the risk increases with the duration of
having the disease. The main reason: high
glucose levels affect the blood vessels and
make them unhealthy.
There are two types of diabetic retinopathy: non-proliferative and proliferative.
The non-proliferative type is an early stage
of diabetic retinopathy characterized by
small swellings, called microaneurysms, and
retinal hemorrhages.
With the non-proliferative type,
microaneurysms begin to form on the sides
of tiny retinal blood vessels. When these
small swellings begin to bleed or leak fluid
into the retina, causing noticeable vision
problems, a retinal hemorrhage occurs.
“If the fluid and blood proceed to leak
into the macula, leading it to swell and
thicken, a macular edema develops,” explains
Dr. Patel. “Vision then becomes blurrier and
rapid vision loss can occur.
“Non-proliferative is the more manageable form. If a patient works with his or her
primary care doctor to control the underlying diabetes, then it’s possible to reverse
some of the findings.”
Advanced condition
In the proliferative type of diabetic retinopathy, the patient experiences an advanced
form of the disease marked by an extensive
FHCN PHOTOS BY MELANIE CASEY
Ophthalmologists
examine the eye,
inside and out.
closure of retinal blood vessels. As a result,
the retina begins to grow new, leaky blood
vessels in an effort to re-supply blood to the
area where the original blood vessels closed.
GREGORY L. HENDERSON, MD, FACS, P.A.
RONNI M. CHEN, MD
BRADLEY D. FOURAKER, MD
DEEN G. KING, MD
WILLIAM P. MACK, MD
CRAIG E. MUNGER, MD, PHD
D. SCOTT NICHOLS, MD
WILLIAM A. REEVES, MD
IGNATIUS C. CYRIAC, MD
MARGUERITE KOHLHEPP, MD
DAN P. MONTZKA, MD
ANA-MARIA OLIVA, MD
NANDESH N. PATEL, MD
L. RAY ALONZO, OD
JAMES X. LAWRENCE, OD
EDWARD J. HUGGETT, JR., OD, P.A.
may block the center of their field of vision.
Some patients may notice that straight
lines in the landscape – such as telephone
poles, the sides of buildings or streetlight
posts – appear wavy, crooked or distorted.
Some may notice the need for brighter light
when reading or a gradual loss of color intensity in everything around them.
“In about ten percent of patients, the
dry form of macular degeneration gives way
to the wet form,” states Dr. Patel. “Wet macular degeneration poses a more immediate
and dramatic threat to vision.
“Wet macular degeneration develops when new blood vessels form beneath
the retina and begin to leak and/or bleed.
Eventually, they develop scar tissue that distorts and can damage the retina. The leaky
vessels start small, but if left untreated, they
continue to grow and destroy the retina.”
Additional disorders
“Unfortunately, these new vessels are
abnormal and are not able to supply the
retina with normal blood flow,” says Dr.
Patel. “Instead, fluid leaks into the vitreous, the gel that lies in front of the retina
and behind the eye’s lens, causing a vitreous hemorrhage. Small scars also begin
to develop on the retina and the vitreous,
causing the retina to pull away from the
back of the eyeball, resulting in a retinal
tear or retinal detachment.
“Once you get into the proliferative
states,” he continues, “aggressive treatment
is necessary. Some patients will undergo
monthly treatments such as laser surgery,
injection of medication directly into the eye
or, in extreme cases, surgery.”
According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), detecting
early and then treating diabetic retinopathy
with laser therapy can reduce the development of severe vision loss by an estimated
50 to 60 percent.
“Early detection and treatment are
crucial to preventing vision loss,” confirms
Dr. Patel. “Generally, the disease does not
exhibit any symptoms during its early stages.
Sometimes, a change in eyesight doesn’t
occur until the disease has progressed. Proper
monitoring of the eyes is the best prevention
for diabetic retinopathy.”
AMD awareness
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
is the most common cause of blindness in
adults, and dry macular degeneration is the
most prevalent form, accounting for approximately 90 percent of cases. It involves the
deterioration of macular tissue over time,
and it is very common in people over the
age of 60.
“The macula is the central area of the
retina that makes it possible to distinguish
fine details and colors,” describes Dr. Patel.
“When retinal tissue in the macula degenerates – either because the tissue itself begins
to deteriorate or because new blood vessels
form beneath the tissue and threaten its
integrity – it can have a significant impact
on a patient’s vision.”
In the presence of macular degeneration, some people will notice a gradual loss
of their ability to see objects clearly, especially noticing a blurring of areas of type on
a page of print, or dark or empty spaces that
Dr. Patel treats both medical and surgical retinal disorders at the Retina Specialists office
in Brandon and Sun City Center. Diabetic
retinopathy and macular degeneration are
two examples of medical retinal disorders.
Retinal vein occlusion is another.
A retinal vein occlusion is a blockage
of a vein in the retina. This can lead to
bleeding and leaking of fluid into the eye
and interrupted blood flow to nerve tissue, which can then lead to a blurry loss of
vision. Without immediate medical intervention, a retinal vein occlusion can cause
a permanent vision loss.
The blockage might be caused by a
blood clot, or it might be because the walls
of the blood vessel are too narrow. Vein
occlusions are more common in people
who have diabetes, high blood pressure, high
cholesterol and other health problems that
also affect blood vessels. The most common
treatment for a retinal vein occlusion is an
injection of medication into the eye.
“Of the surgical disorders, some of those
that are more common are retinal tears and
retinal detachments,” explains Dr. Patel.
“Then there are other disorders that we call
macular pucker or macular hole.
“The macular pucker and macular hole
are not as catastrophic as having a retinal
detachment or a vitreous hemorrhage, where
you know there’s complete loss of vision that
evolves very quickly in the order of hours to
days. Macular pucker and macular hole are
conditions that come on somewhat slowly
and involve a disruption in the normal
lmology
As people age, their risk
for retinal disorders
increases. Early
detection is key to a
successful outcome.
architecture of the macula.”
The macula provides the sharp, clear,
central vision that allows individuals to see
the detail in their environment, such as that
in faces, a book and the TV.
“If you develop a macular hole, then all
of a sudden, you’ve got a hole in the middle of your vision, and you literally don’t see
anything,” remarks Dr. Patel. “You have a
blank spot right in dead center. That’s obviously discomforting in that you lose your
central vision.
“The macular pucker is like a scar
tissue that develops on the macula and
creates wrinkles. This is due to the normal aging process. A wrinkled macula will
make images appear wrinkled or distorted.
In other words, straight lines that look
wavy is a common descriptor that naturally has repercussions if you are driving
and want to stay within the lines.”
Macular pucker and macular hole are
corrected during a same-day surgery. The
procedure, called a vitrectomy, removes the
vitreous gel between the lens and retina,
replacing it with a bubble of gas or air. Over
a short time, the bubble will help to smooth
out the retina and close the hole.
“We suspect a retinal tear as soon as we
hear a patient reporting flashing lights or
floaters, which are common complaints,”
informs Dr. Patel. “Flashing lights and
floaters can be due to normal changes of
the eye, but one of five who presents with
those symptoms will likely have a retinal
tear to explain them.
“A retinal tear is an unwanted consequence of a normal, age-related process
where the vitreous is liquefi ed, but that
process is complicated by the vitreous
inadvertently pulling at the retina. That’s
Dr. Patel
recommends
people check their eye
health every year, not
just their eyeglass
prescriptions.
how a retinal tear is formed.”
Some individuals are more at risk
for a retinal tear than others, especially
nearsighted individuals. That is why it is
recommended that they get their eyes and
retinas examined thoroughly by a retina specialist at least once a year.
“But for the most part, it doesn’t discriminate,” says Dr. Patel. “No matter what
age, no matter what the health status is for
an individual, anyone is really at risk for
getting a retinal tear.”
If a retinal tear does occur, it is critical that it is treated right away. If not
treated immediately with laser or freezing, a tear lends itself to developing into
a retinal detachment.
“The big, gaping hole in the retina allows
fluid to pass through it,” notes Dr. Patel.
“You find the fluid on the undersurface of
GRAPHIC FROM ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
Nandesh N. Patel, MD,
is a board-certified ophthalmologist. He received
his undergraduate degree
from Boston University
College of Arts & Sciences
and his Master’s degree from the College
of Medicine at Boston University. Dr. Patel
completed his internship in internal medicine and residency in ophthalmology at
the Yale University School of Medicine. He
then completed his residency in ophthalmology at New York University/Manhattan
Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York.
He then went on to complete a fellowship
in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery at the
University of South Florida in Tampa.
Brandon Cataract Center and Eye Clinic
and Sun City Center Eye Clinic both offer
a complete range of eye care services for residents in the region. Its three locations help
make quality care available to more people
closer to their homes.
“It’s a multispecialty practice that’s been
in the area for a long, long time that tends
to various aspects of ocular diseases,” states
Dr. Patel, “whether it’s cataracts, glaucoma,
dry eyes, disorders of the optic nerve and, of
course, disorders of the retina and macula.
“I’m happy to be a part of such a group
because often some of these diseases coexist. A cornea specialist will have a disease in the setting of a macular disease and
vice-versa. It’s nice to have that collegiality
amongst ourselves, where if I’m treating one
part of the eyeball, but there’s something
wrong with another, I’ve got the relevant
specialists to be able to turn to to examine
the patient and treat them accordingly.”
Dr. Patel has been seeing patients at the
Brandon location of Retina Specialists for
the past three years. He is pleased to be able
to provide access to retinal services to the
residents of the Sun City area as well.
“We’re here every other week for now,
with a view to increase that to every week
and more if need be,” he says. “Primarily,
what we’re seeing is macular degeneration
because that is an age-related disease, and in
view of the demographics, macular diseases
are quite prevalent.”
While he generally treats an older population, Dr. Patel speaks to a wider audience
with this advice:
“Anyone above the age of fifty-five really
should see to it that they’re getting regular,
comprehensive eye examinations because
the incidence of retinal disorders definitely
increases with age,” he stresses. “It’s good to
catch these diseases in their infancy because
that allows us to really manage them and
treat them more effectively.
“Be mindful,” he adds. “Make sure
that you have your eyes examined beyond
just making sure that your glasses are up
to date.” FHCN
Brandon Cataract Center
and Eye Clinic
403 Vonderburg Dr.
Ruskin Cataract Center
and Eye Clinic
612 North Tamiami Trail
(813) 681-1122
(813) 645-3831
Sun City Center Eye Clinic
and Cosmetic Center
1701 Rickenbacker Drive
Retina Specialists
135 W. Robertson St.
Brandon
(813) 634-8877
(813) 685-0001
the proverbial wallpaper, and the next thing
you know, the wallpaper is falling off of the
wall, and that’s a retinal detachment.”
Complete practice
Eye Floaters?
Ophthalmology
Laser treatment for
eye floaters is safe
and effective.
E
sign. By the statutory definition of legal word to more ophthalmologists that this
blindness, that would qualify, if only for is a safe technique,” he explains. “And
the short period of time the floater was even more than that, we need to educate
in your field of vision.”
ophthalmologists that in many instances,
Patients with eye floaters of this size − eye floaters can disable.
even if their vision is perfect − are actually
“The current ophthalmic dogma is
quite disabled, stresses Dr. Geller. “Most that an ophthalmologist will say, Well, I
ophthalmologists don’t seem to under- have floaters; what are you complaining
stand that when a patient is complaining about? So they write off the patient and
of serious eye floaters, but their vision is tell them it will go away. In most cases,
20/20, they are actually having a real prob- this is true, but the patients that come to
lem,” he says. “It’s not something that’s me have serious problems.”
SOUTH FLORIDA EYE CLINIC
only in their mind.”
When eye floaters are severe, some
SCOTT L. GELLER, MD
Dr. Geller should know: he is ophthalmologists may offer a vitrecone of the most recognized eye floater tomy, the surgical removal of the gel
“By our usual definition, of course laser specialists in the
where the floaters
not,” says Scott Geller, MD, a board- United States and “ONE OF THE LEADING reside. However, this
is rare because the
certified ophthalmologist at South around the world.
Florida Eye Clinic in Fort Myers who has
“ We h a v e h a d EYE FLOATER FACILITIES operation has some
a special interest in the treatment of eye patients come from all
serious drawbacks
IN THE US”
floaters. “But imagine if you only had over the world to our www.vitreousfloaters.com and complications,
one good eye. Imagine that the floater in facility in Fort Myers
and it is an expensive,
it was so large that when it came across for treatment,” says Dr. Geller. “Many invasive procedure.
your field of vision, you could not even patients come from countries where
However, the complication rate for
see the big E on the eye chart. Imagine medicine is socialized, and there is a laser treatment of eye floaters is very low.
if it were a car on the highway or a road lack of training and proper equipment. Furthermore, there is no risk of infecDuring the past twenty years, we have tion with laser since there is no cutting
treated thousands of patients and have with a scalpel.
performed nearly twenty thousand laser
Dr. Geller has treated many medisessions.”
cal doctors for their eye floaters as well.
“When other doctors and ophthalMaster of floater treatment
mologists come to you for their own
Dr. Geller is a master of this treatment problems, I would say that speaks for
modality. He has trained doctors from itself. We love doing laser surgery on
Holland, Italy, the United States and eye floaters, and love dealing with our
Central America. “We need to spread the patients on a personal basis.” FHCN
ye floaters − those tiny specks or
strings that float into your field
of vision periodically − can be
concerning. Typically caused by
age-related changes to the vitreous humor,
the thick fluid inside the eye, eye floaters
become more common with age. But can
they cause blindness?
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Call Dr. Geller at (239) 275-8222 or
toll-free at (877) 371-3937. South
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Summerlin Rd. in Fort Myers.
www.vitreousfloaters.com
Nonsurgical, in-office
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relief for painful condition.
had hemorrhoids but they didn’t success that some of these people have gotten,
bother me too much until recently,” I would be happy.”
Marilyn decided to give the treatsays Marilyn.* “I went from occament a try.
sional flare-ups to daily pain.”
Although Marilyn’s problem was seriThe Ultroid treatment
ous, she was unable to find a solution.
“Hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins in
the rectum or anal canal, are extremely
common,” explains Dr. Nguyen. “In fact,
more than fifty percent of people age fifty
or older have them to some degree.”
LINH B. NGUYEN, MD
Most sufferers are understandably
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reluctant to try the available treatment
“It wasn’t from lack of trying,” she options, some of which have traditionemphasizes. “I went to four doctors, and ally been both painful and inconvenient.
no one could really do anything for me. I Studies estimate that hemorrhoid sufferers spend more than $1 billion a year on
got a prescription, but I got worse.”
Then Marilyn found out about Linh medications and treatments for sympB. Nguyen, MD, of HemRelief, and a tomatic hemorrhoids.
“For prevention, it’s good to have a
nonsurgical treatment Dr. Nguyen offers
high-fiber diet, including fresh fruits and
called Ultroid.
“I was a little skeptical,” she confides, vegetables,” acknowledges Dr. Nguyen.
“but when I went in there, they gave me “Other helpful measures include drinka booklet that talks about everyone’s ing adequate fluid daily and avoiding
success. I thought, If I got half the rate of heavy lifting. However, change in habits
alone may not effectively treat existing
hemorrhoids.”
Revolutionary
Fortunately, Dr. Nguyen offers a
revolutionary, nonsurgical method for
• FDA-approved
treatment of hemorrhoids that can be
• Well-tolerated – no
performed on an outpatient basis.
anesthesia required
“Ultroid is an FDA-approved tech• No downtime
nique to treat hemorrhoids,” says Dr.
• No special preparation
• No painful surgery
Nguyen. “A low current is applied to the
• Covered by most insurance
base of the hemorrhoid, causing a chemand Medicare
ical reaction that induces the hemorrhoid
•
For eye floater solutions...
to shrink. The procedure is well tolerated by patients and does not require
anesthesia.
“The Ultroid system is considered revolutionary because it is highly
effective, safe, and convenient. Up to
ninety percent of people who have it
done get relief from their hemorrhoids.
It doesn’t cause the agonizing pain often
associated with traditional hemorrhoid
surgery and is also covered by most
insurances and Medicare.”
The treatment is convenient and can
be safely repeated as needed.
“There’s no need to take any special
preparation to clear the bowels,” adds Dr.
Nguyen. “Patients can have the procedure
done and go back to work immediately,
so there is no downtime. The entire procedure takes approximately twenty minutes.
“Some of my patients suffered miserably with hemorrhoids for twenty or
thirty years, and the Ultroid treatment
changed their lives.”
“Nothing short of remarkable”
For Marilyn, the Ultroid treatment
proved both fast and effective.
“I felt some relief almost immediately,” she marvels. “After my second
treatment, I noticed quite a difference,
Linh B. Nguyen, MD, is board certified
and is a diplomate of the American
Board of Family Practice. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and
received his medical degree from
Hahnemann University, Philadelphia,
PA. He is certified in the Ultroid Management System
for the treatment of hemorrhoids.
I
“
Scott L. Geller, MD, is board certified by the
American Board of Ophthalmology. He is a
graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and
Rush Medical College. While in medical school,
he was awarded a student fellowship to study
tropical medicine at a missionary hospital in
India, and pursued additional studies at the
famous Brompton Hospital in London, England.
He interned at Presbyterian Hospital, Pacific
Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, and completed his residency in ophthalmology at Sinai
Hospital of Detroit, which was affiliated with
Wayne State Medical School and Kresge Eye
Institute. Dr. Geller was fellowship-trained in
anterior segment and refractive surgery with
Dr. William Myers of the Michigan Eye Institute.
Dr. Geller is a fellow of the American Academy
of Ophthalmology, and has presented papers on
eye floater laser treatment at the International
Congress of Ophthalmology, European Congress
of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, European
Congress of Ophthalmology and the Florida
Society of Ophthalmology.
and after the third treatment, I had complete relief: no pain or bleeding.”
Today, Marilyn thanks Dr. Nguyen
for offering Ultroid to his patients.
“Dr. Nguyen had his nurse come in
and sit with me during the procedure,”
she adds, “so I felt very comfortable. He
knows what he’s doing, he’s very professional, and very thorough. And the
treatment is nothing short of remarkable.”
FHCN
*The patient’s name has been withheld at her request.
Don’t suffer in silence.
If pain, itching and bleeding from
hemorrhoids are affecting you, now
there’s help. Call HemRelief today
or visit one of their offices: 8553 W.
Linebaugh Ave. in Tampa, phone
(813) 920-9799, or 5265 Park Blvd.,
Suite 101, in Pinellas Park, phone
(727) 209-0214, or 5979 Vineland
Rd., Suite 207, in Orlando, phone
(407) 270-6830.
Chiropractic
Silence Back Pain with Soleve
™
Revolutionary treatment provides lasting relief
without narcotics, steroids or surgery.
F
or years, Wendi Simons
relied on painkillers to get
her through the day. Recently
retired from a career in advertising and sales, Wendi, 67, suffered
from back pain so severe that she could
never get comfortable.
DAVID S. ZAMIKOFF, DC
Following two back surgeries for
a rare condition called occult bacteria,
Wendi recently developed a new pain.
“My back started hurting again, and it
had nothing to do with that,” she recalls.
“It was a different place.”
Her doctor said the pain was caused
by stress and sent her to physical therapy. “It was absolutely worthless,”
admits Wendi. “I kind of gave up. I
lived on Aleve® Liquid Gels … the doctor gave me Valium to help relax the
muscles in my back.”
Still, nothing seemed to help. “It
got to the point that I couldn’t walk
more than two or three blocks without
tremendous pain,” Wendi recounts. “If I
did anything where I had to use my back
muscles, I couldn’t do it. I was in pain
ninety-eight percent of the time.”
She was to the point that she could no
longer even enjoy her hobbies. “I hadn’t
done anything for fun in so long, because
I couldn’t golf,” she laments. “Even walking and driving a car was awful.”
Wendi learned about chiropractor David S. Zamikoff, DC, director of
Natural Healing Arts Medical Center,
from a friend of hers who also suffered
from severe back pain. “She said, I’m really
getting great relief from these treatments I’m
getting at the Natural Healing Arts with Dr.
Z,” Wendi remembers. “She described it
to me, so I called them.”
“Wendi had chronic low back
pain that was unresolved,” reports Dr.
Zamikoff. “She had tried many different
methods to get anything to work, anything to feel better, and was unsuccessful.
For her, it was a last-ditch effort.”
Dr. Zamikoff recommended a revolutionary pain-relieving procedure offered
How it works
Originally developed by the
Nervomatrix company in Israel, the
Soleve treatment works by first finding
and then treating the areas of lowest
electrical impedance in the back.
“It’s a targeted neurostimulation
device,” explains Dr. Zamikoff. “The
machine actually scans the low back,
determines where the problem areas are
and then goes back and treats those areas.
Our goal is to remove the information
that the nerve is sending to the brain. It
will stop the pain sensors that send those
messages to the brain.”
The first part of Soleve’s unique, twostep process is diagnostic. The machine
scans the back using a series of small, pulsing probes that gently touch the skin but
do not penetrate it. These probes look for
and map areas of nerve activity that correlate with the patient’s pain.
“The Soleve machine scans hundreds
of points in the area of the back where the
patient is suffering from pain,” describes
Dr. Zamikoff. “The machine determines
and ranks those pain-generating areas in
terms of severity, then takes the top ten
most severe points that it detects and
goes back and actually treats each of
these points for two minutes with a lowfrequency, high-intensity electrical current. These electrical impulses
release endorphins, the body’s natural
painkillers.”
The ideal candidate for Soleve is
someone who suffers from “chronic,
unresponsive pain,” offers Dr. Zamikoff.
“Someone who has tried everything – acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, physical
therapy, injections – and the nerves are
still screaming. This is a machine that can
Got back pain?
Dr. David Zamikoff and the
staff of the Natural Healing
Arts Medical Center welcome
your questions about Soleve
and invite you to visit them
at their convenient location
at 2215 59 th St. West in
Bradenton. The telephone
number is (941) 761-4994.
successfully turn the screaming off.”
Typically, patients require at least six
sessions to achieve long-lasting relief. “It’s
a comfortable treatment that in twenty
minutes, even on their first visit, people
will notice a change,” assures the doctor.
“Instead of relying on injections,
pain patches or narcotics to relieve their
chronic back pain, patients can find
relief with Soleve’s safe, noninvasive,
drug-free form of pain management,”
he adds. “Since it’s noninvasive, patients
avoid the costs and risks – bleeding,
anesthesia complications, potential
blood clots and other risks – associated
with a surgical procedure.”
Second-tier option
Th e Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) endorses a progressive approach to treating chronic back
pain, and many patients find that their
insurance companies will not approve
an invasive procedure unless less invasive treatments have been attempted
first. When first-tier therapies such as
massage therapy, traditional chiropractic adjustments or over-the-counter
medications fail to provide significant
back pain relief, a second-tier treatment
may be indicated.
Soleve is a painless, noninvasive
therapy. When contrasted with other
treatments that are considered second-tier
– such as nerve block injections or opioid
medications – it is easy to understand why
many back pain patients find Soleve to be
a highly appealing option.
Natural Healing Arts Medical
Center – a multidisciplinary practice
that has been in the community for more
than 15 years and offers acupuncture,
massage, physical therapy, chiropractic,
nutrition, weight loss and functional
medicine – is one of only a select group
of clinics in the country to offer this
leading-edge treatment to patients suffering from unresolved back pain.
“We are thrilled to add this innovative pain management technology to our
practice,” Dr. Zamikoff says.
Nearly pain free
Wendi has had an excellent experience
with Dr. Zamikoff at Natural Healing
Arts Medical Center. “Wow, he’s so
nice!” she exclaims. “I really like him.”
She’s also thrilled with the results of her
Soleve treatment.
“It really did help,” Wendi reports.
“I could tell a difference. Normally, I can’t
lie on my stomach at all. It was all I could
do to get out of bed.” After the procedure,
however, “I was able to get off the table,
and when I stretched and moved around,
I noticed my back was not hurting.”
So far, Wendi has completed three
Soleve treatments. “I noticed after every
one that it would last, and then it’s lasting longer,” she relates. Now, she’s even
able to take her two Pomeranians for a
short run down the block.
“She is experiencing little to no pain,
and we’re not even done yet,” observes Dr.
Zamikoff. “She’s pretty darn excited.”
“I would say [I’m] ninety-five percent
as far as pain management,” Wendi assures.
“I haven’t had any Aleve since I started, and
I used to live on four of those a day. It’s
really made a difference.” FHCN–Melanie Casey
Wendi Simons
David S. Zamikoff, DC,
is board certified both
nationally and at the
state level. He earned
his doctorate from
Cleveland Chiropractic
College in Los Angeles
and is currently licensed
in Florida. Dr. Zamikoff
also holds certification
in operating room protocols and Manipulation Under Anesthesia by
the American Academy of Manual and Physical
Medicine. He holds a diplomate degree from the
American Academy of Trauma Professionals and
is the current president of the Florida chapter.
at Natural Healing Arts Medical Centers
in Bradenton and Sarasota called Soleve.
“Soleve is a breakthrough for patients
suffering from low back pain,” explains
the doctor, who was recently selected as
one of America’s Best Chiropractors for
2014 by the National Consumer Research
Board. “It is targeted, noninvasive neurostimulation that can be used for chronic
back pain, postsurgical back pain and
chronic conditions such as muscle pain
associated with fibromyalgia.”
Dr. Zamikoff notes that he and
his colleagues at Natural Healing Arts
Medical Center have been using this
unique technology primarily for patients
with low back pain, although he has used
it for other areas of the back as well.
Now that her
back pain is
gone, Wendi is
able to enjoy
walking her
dogs again.
Interventional Cardiology/Cardiovascular Disease
Stop! Before You
Get a Bypass …
A new high-tech procedure can take the
place of bypass surgery for some patients.
C
LAKEWOOD
CARDIOVASCULAR
CONSULTANTS, P.A.
ERICK E. CALDERON, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Having recently relocated from New
Jersey to Florida, Craig had not yet found
a local cardiologist: “With my past history
of heart disease, my wife, Vicky, asked an
acquaintance of hers if she knew anyone
good, and she said, Yes, Erick Calderon.”
Erick E. Calderon, MD, FACC,
FSCAI, is a board-certified cardiologist. He is a diplomate of the American
Board of Internal Medicine, the American
Board of Cardiovascular Diseases, the
American Board of Interventional
RISK FACTORS
Because, as we age,
cardiovascular problems
tend to increase, it is best
if patients do not wait
for the disease to reach
the late stages, in which
options become more
limited. Individuals with
the following risk factors
should be screened for
arterial plaque buildup
leading to all organs,
including the heart, brain,
kidneys and legs:
• TOBACCO SMOKING
• HIGH CHOLESTEROL
• HYPERTENSION
• OBESITY AND
OVERWEIGHT
• DIABETES POORLY
CONTROLLED
• INACTIVE LIFESTYLE
• FAMILY HISTORY OF
HEART OR VASCULAR
DISEASE
• ADVANCING AGE
Craig Carney
Cardiology and the American Board of
Nuclear Cardiology. Dr. Calderon is with
Lakewood Cardiovascular Consultants in
Bradenton and has gained national recognition in the diagnosis and treatment of
cardiovascular diseases with a minimally
invasive approach.
Finding answers
Craig scheduled an appointment with
Dr. Calderon concerning the discomfort
in his lower extremities, and the doctor’s
tests revealed blockages in both legs.
“Circulatory problems in the lower
extremities can result in claudication,
which is an aching, tired and sometimes
painful condition that causes discomfort
upon ambulation, heaviness, non-healing
ulcers, gangrene and risk of amputation,”
observes Dr. Calderon.
Patients with severe blockages in the
coronary arteries may suffer a heart attack,
just as blocked carotid arteries can cause
a stroke, and blockages in kidney arteries
can cause severe renal failure.
“Unfortunately, because the blockage
has built up over time and symptoms of
fatigue or pain while walking or exercising, shortness of breath or pressure come
on slowly,” points out Dr. Calderon,
“many patients simply adjust to their
increasing limitations. Many of these
symptoms can be very subtle in their presentations and may be misinterpreted as
merely a sign of aging. Without proper
screening, the artery can become totally
blocked, which we refer to as chronic total
occlusion, or CTO, closing off circulation
in arteries in different organs,” continues the doctor. “In the last stage of the
disease process, more than one-third of
patients have totally blocked arteries in
their hearts and/or legs.”
He warns that patients are taking big
risks by not getting their symptoms evaluated (see Risk Factors).
“Until quite recently, the options for
CTOs were very limited,” continues Dr.
Calderon. “Basically, the patients’ hopes
were dependent on heroic measures such
as open-heart surgery or aortofemoral
surgery to relieve some of the circulation
problems in their heart and lower extremities, respectively.”
Although most of Craig’s blockages
could be treated with a catheter, or thin
tube, threaded into the blocked arteries,
enabling the doctor to place stents* to hold
the artery walls open, the artery in Craig’s
lower right leg was 100 percent blocked
with a plaque deposit as hard as stone.
Craig was warned that without treatment, he faced possible amputation of
his leg.
Innovative option
In the past, notes Dr. Calderon, the overwhelming risk factor in using a catheter
for CTOs had been perforation of the
artery as physicians tried to get it across
the occluded vessels: “Once the artery was
completely blocked and we were facing a
wall, it was extremely difficult for a wire
to penetrate that wall. To compensate,
we would use stiffer and stiffer wires that
carried the risk of perforating the artery.
Oftentimes, we were unable to break
through, and in that kind of setting, most
patients went for bypass surgery.
“Fortunately for Craig, the CROSSER
Catheter system had recently been developed by FlowCardia, Inc, which has
revolutionized the treatment of CTOs.
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center was the
first acute care center in the area to offer
the new high-tech procedure,” and Dr.
Calderon performed the surgery on Craig.
Dr. Calderon explains that the
CROSSER Catheter, which measures
1 millimeter in diameter, is tunneled
through the blockage, vibrating at 20,000
cycles per second: “What the CROSSER
device enables us to do is to get across
those chronically occluded vessels using a
minimally invasive technique. We deliver
a small wire through the occluded segment, which then allows us to use any
other tools such as balloons, stents or laser
that will enable us to enlarge the lumen of
the vessel and re-establish blood flow to
the affected tissues.”
Craig says he remembers entering the
hospital about 6:30 in the morning, and
was awake during the procedure. He recalls
that when Dr. Calderon was able to push
through the blockage and make the new
opening, the blood started to rush through:
“The doctor said, Look at that flow.
“By three o’clock in the afternoon, I
was walking out of the hospital without
any discomfort. For all intents and purposes, I was fine.”
Experience counts
Dr. Calderon has completed over 200
of these procedures with the CROSSER
Catheter.
“For re-establishing flow, we can typically expect a success rate greater than
ninety percent,” reports the doctor, “with
raig Carney was being conscientious
about exercising. However, he then
began getting a burning sensation in his
legs, particularly when he was walking
uphill or on an inclined treadmill.
“I was a desk jockey most of my adult
life,” admits the retired regional manager
for a community-associated management
company. “Unfortunately, I also smoked
years ago, which I know had a negative
effect on my body.”
a very low risk factor. For the ten percent
of patients for whom the procedure is
unsuccessful, the option of a standard
bypass surgery is no different than it was
before the attempted placement of the
CROSSER device.”
Now that Craig’s CTO is open,
he tries to exercise every day, he says:
“Dr. Calderon impressed upon me how
important it is to stay active in order to
avoid another blockage.
“I actually refer to him as Dr.
Thorough. The man is unbelievable when
it comes to making sure his patients have
the utmost in proper care. If there’s something he thinks or suspects, he checks it
out. You never have to worry about him
having his foot halfway out the door. He
takes the time that is needed and makes
sure that his patients are getting the
treatment they require.
“He’s also a really nice guy, but his
priority is that his patients are very clear
on what he is telling them. His focus is on
his patients’ health.” FHCN
* A wire mesh stent is placed in the
artery to keep it open by scaffolding it.
For a heart to
heart consultation
The staff at Lakewood
Cardiovascular Consultants looks
forward to meeting the readers of
Florida Health Care News. For more
information or to schedule an
appointment, please phone (941)
907-1113 for their office, located
at 6310 Health Park Way, Suite
230, Bradenton.
Erick E. Calderon, MD, FACC,
FSCAI, is a board-certified cardiologist. He is a diplomate of
the American Board of Internal
Medicine, the American Board
of Cardiovascular Diseases, the
American Board of Interventional
Cardiology, and the American
Board of Nuclear Cardiology. He earned his
undergraduate degree from Francisco Marroquin
University, Guatemala. Dr. Calderon served his
residency and a fellowship at the University of
Tennessee School of Medicine in internal medicine,
cardiovascular diseases, and interventional cardiology. He has served as the medical director for the
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Cardiovascular
Laboratory and is a member of many professional
organizations, including the American Medical
Association, the American College of Cardiology,
and the American Heart Association.
For more information, please visit www.lakewoodcardiovascular.com
Ophthalmology
Murray L. Friedberg, MD
“Amazing” Vision for Viola Player
is board certified by the American
Board of Ophthalmology and is a
fellowship-trained refractive and cornea specialist. Dr. Friedberg received
training from the Pennsylvania
State University College of Medicine, Medical College
of Virginia, and the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA.
His areas of expertise include advanced cataract lens
implants such as Crystalens, ReSTOR and Toric lenses,
micro-incision cataract surgery, laser cataract surgery
and corneal transplants/DSEK.
A musician rids
herself of glasses
for most tasks after
cataract surgery.
Robert E. Edelman, MD
fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist and cataract surgeon. Dr.
Edelman received training from
the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine,
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and New York
Eye & Ear Infirmary. His areas of expertise include
advanced cataract lens implants such as Crystalens,
ReSTOR and Toric lenses, micro-incision cataract surgery, laser cataract surgery, glaucoma management
and surgery, and laser surgery.
Scott E. Silverman, MD
LenSx® laser technology
Cataracts are the gradual discoloration
or clouding of the lens of the eye,
explains Dr. Davis.
“Cataracts occur as a natural part of
the aging process,” he reflects. “They can
develop at any age, but for most people
they usually do not become problematic
until sixty or seventy. Development can
be accelerated by illness or injury, or the
PLEASE VISIT THE MANATEE
SARASOTA EYE CLINIC MOST
CONVENIENT FOR YOU:
■ Sun City Center
(813) 633-3065
1515 Sun City Center Plaza
■ Sarasota
(941) 366-4777
1427 S. Tamiami Trail or
2020 Cattlemen Rd., Suite 500
■ Bradenton
(941) 748-1818
217 Manatee Ave. East
■ Lakewood Ranch
(941) 748-1818
6310 Health Park Way.
Medical Office Building II, Suite 340
I
“
read music for a living,” says
Linda Reyes. “I perform viola
with the Sarasota Orchestra,
and my husband and I teach
private classes for viola, violin and cello.”
Unfortunately, changes in Linda’s
vision were interfering with her ability
to sight read music, particularly during
performances.
“I’ve been nearsighted for over forty
years,” she reports, “so I wear glasses.
When you play in the orchestra, you
share a music stand. Back in December,
I was playing with Pops Ballet, and I
found that I was really struggling with
seeing the music.”
Linda made an appointment with
her optometrist and learned that she had
a serious cataract in her left eye and a
smaller one in her right eye. Subsequently,
she went to Manatee Sarasota Eye Clinic,
where she consulted board-certified ophthalmologist Jeffrey M. Davis, MD.
“I can’t say enough positive things
about Dr. Davis. I had a very bad astigmatism in addition to the cataracts,
and he recommended a special lens.
I’m so glad he did!”
taking of certain medications.”
Cataract symptoms may include
difficulty reading, especially in low
light; colors appearing less vibrant;
lights “glaring” uncomfortably; and difficulty driving at night, particularly as
the result of halos around the headlights
of oncoming vehicles.
MURRAY L. FRIEDBERG, MD
ROBERT E. EDELMAN, MD
SCOTT E. SILVERMAN, MD
ERIC L. BERMAN, MD
ROBERT P. SAMBURSKY, MD
POOJA KHATOR, MD
ALLISON V. MENEZES, MD
JEFFREY M. DAVIS, MD
ANITA R. SHANE, MD
“There are many options offered to
patients to replace the eye’s natural lens
with a clear, synthetic lens,” observes Dr.
Davis. “It’s important to find an ophthalmologist who will explain which lenses are
best for their eyes specifically. At Manatee
Sarasota Eye Clinic, we physicians always
talk to the patients ourselves and make a
recommendation.”
In Linda’s case, there was an additional consideration: the toric lens, a
premium lens designed for cataract
patients with astigmatism. The unique
technology of this lens corrects astigmatism much as glasses do.
“Whereas multifocal lenses focus
both near and far, the toric lenses focus
either near or far,” explains Dr. Davis.
“We always customize for the individual
patient, and some patients do not require
toric lenses. If they have astigmatism in
both eyes, toric lenses in both eyes reduce
their need for glasses. Now, Linda just
uses light reading glasses.”
Cataract surgery is often performed
with the assistance of laser technology, and Dr. Davis notes that he is
pleased with the state-of-the-art laser
at Manatee Sarasota Eye Clinic.
“We introduced the LenSx system
from Alcon® into our practice last year
to help get more accurate, reproducible
results in patients who want to reduce
their reliance on eyeglasses.
“I feel very comfortable with this
laser,” reflects Dr. Davis. “My stepfather had cataract surgery with it, and
his results were excellent. People often
feel more comfortable when I explain
that someone in my own family needed
cataract surgery, and this is the procedure
that was performed on him.”
Dramatic difference
Linda was thrilled with her outcome,
especially the dramatic correction of her
severe astigmatism.
“I can see music and midrange,”
she marvels, “and I can work with the
computer. I don’t have any astigmatism, and I have the distance vision
without any glasses at all.
“It’s really a miracle for those of us
who have struggled with being nearsighted all our lives,” continues Linda.
“Colors are so much more brilliant,
and I don’t have any problems reading. It’s enhanced my playing, because
I don’t struggle to see the music on
the stand.”
She thanks Dr. Davis for providing
such a powerful, personalized solution to
her vision problem.
“Dr. Davis really cares,” she emphasizes. “He’s intelligent and articulate, but
he’s also friendly and pleasant. I had a
very, very positive experience with him.
I encourage anyone, if you have cataracts
and they’re really impeding your lifestyle,
go get it done. The outcome is amazing.”
FHCN–Michael J. Sahno
Trust your eye care to specialists!
Your vision is too important to trust to chance. The team of eye care professionals at
Manatee Sarasota Eye Clinic stays focused on
your needs, your best vision, your best solutions.
Learn more online:
To learn more about your eyes, visit Manatee Sarasota Eye Clinic’s website at
www.YourEyeDoctors.com
fellowship-trained pediatric ophthalmologist and eye muscle surgeon.
Dr. Silverman received training from
the Washington University School of Medicine, USC/
Doheny Eye Institute, and Texas Children’s Hospital/
Baylor College of Medicine. His areas of expertise include
pediatric eye care, eye muscle surgery in children and
adults, treatment of amblyopia and strabismus, as well
as tear duct surgery in children.
Eric L. Berman, MD
fellowship-trained neuro-ophthalmologist, orbital and oculoplastic
surgeon. Dr. Berman received training from the State University of New York–Downstate
Medical Center and the University of Minnesota. His
areas of expertise include orbital and reconstructive
surgery, eyelid plastic surgery, BOTOX® treatments, and
treatment of eye disorders associated with neurologic
diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, strokes, aneurisms and brain tumors.
Robert P. Sambursky, MD
fellowship-trained refractive and
cornea specialist, LASIK and cataract
surgeon. Dr. Sambursky received
training from the Boston University School of Medicine
and Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia. His areas of
expertise include advanced cataract lens implants such
as Crystalens, ReSTOR and Toric lenses, micro-incision
cataract surgery, laser cataract surgery, custom LASIK
laser vision correction surgery.
Pooja Khator, MD
fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist and cataract surgeon. Dr.
Khator received training from the
University of Miami School of Medicine and the prestigious Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, which has
been ranked as the No. 1 Best Eye Hospital nationally
by U.S. News and World Report. Her areas of expertise include advanced cataract lens implants such as
Crystalens, ReSTOR and Toric lenses, micro-incision
cataract surgery, laser cataract surgery, glaucoma management and surgery, and laser surgery.
Allison V. Menezes, MD
Board of Ophthalmology and the
American Board of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Menezes is a fellowship-trained
retina specialist and laser surgeon.
Dr. Menezes received training from McGill University
and the University of Toronto. Her areas of expertise
include macular degeneration, diabetic eye care and
laser surgery of the retina.
Jeffrey M. Davis, MD
fellowship-trained refractive and
cornea specialist and cataract surgeon. Dr. Davis received training
from the University of Florida College of Medicine
and the University of Texas Southwestern. Dr. Davis’
areas of expertise include advanced cataract lens
implants such as Crystalens, ReSTOR and Toric lenses,
micro-incision cataract surgery, laser cataract surgery
and corneal transplants.
Anita R. Shane, MD
Board of Ophthalmology and
is a fellowship-trained retina
specialist and vitreo-retinal surgeon. Dr. Shane received training
from Baylor College of Medicine and the prestigious
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, which has
been ranked as the No. 1 Best Eye Hospital nationally by U.S. News and World Report. Her areas of
expertise include macular degeneration, diabetic
eye care, laser surgery of the retina, and retinal diseases, tears, detachments and surgery.
Couple Says,
Continuing Care Retirement Community, AL 4110
A story of life and love in
one of Tampa’s premier
retirement communities.
D
FHCN PHOTOS BY MELANIE CASEY
ick Stanton has maintained
his active lifestyle for years.
“I spent a lot of time on
the golf course after coming to Florida,” confides Dick, a resident
here since 1980. “I always walked three
miles a day after golf, so my activity level
was pretty high.”
Now 94, he has lived for over a decade
at St. Joseph’s John Knox, a picturesque
14-acre retirement community near the
University of South Florida.
“I looked at several retirement
communities,” says Dick, “and liked
John Knox the best. It has the amenities I wanted.”
St. Joseph’s John Knox is as elegant
as it is vibrant, offering residents several
appealing floor plans that feature custom
carpeting and window treatments, fully
equipped kitchens and 24-hour emergency call systems. Amenities include
24-hour security and maintenance, housekeeping, scheduled transportation, weekly
flat-linen laundry service, satellite TV, all
utilities except phone and internet, and
meals in the spacious dining rooms.
But that’s only the beginning. The
community also offers an extensive
array of entertainment both on and off
campus, including outings to places as
diverse as local favorite Busch Gardens,
Lettuce Lake Park and the David A.
Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts.
It was on one of these trips that Dick
began to speak with Frances Pearson,
who has been a resident at John Knox
herself for the past four years.
“We’d been to a Lettuce Lake Park
picnic with a group from here,” recalls
Frances. “Starbucks had just come out
with their pumpkin spice latte, and I was
telling Dick how much I loved those. He
asked me if I would like to go for coffee.”
Dick and Frances were both widowed, but Frances warned her potential
suitor that she was not interested in starting a new relationship.
“I told him, I’ll never get married
again, I don’t want a commitment, and I
don’t want to
go steady,”
she emphasizes.
On March 14, 2015, Frances and Dick tied the knot in the chapel at St. Joseph’s John Knox.
Undeterred, Dick hung around long
enough to get Frances to consider the possibility of being more than another friend.
“We started to click,” he says, adding, “If we went on a trip, I always
seemed to migrate close to her. We
would go to the same places at the same
time with a group, and seemed to bond.
That’s all there was to it.”
“Something just clicked,” agrees
Frances. “We found we had so many
things in common, and it started from
there.”
Dick ultimately popped the question,
and the happy couple made it official on
March 14, 2015.
“I robbed the cradle,” he says with
a chuckle, as he is nine years his wife’s
senior.
“I think we were the oldest couple
to get married here,” adds Frances, now
Frances Pearson-Stanton, “but that’s okay
– we’re young at heart!”
Community within a
community
St. Joseph’s John Knox offers independent living, assisted living and skilled
nursing care for those who may need
help with activities of daily living or who
require medical attention.
“We are unique because we offer a
variety of residency agreements and health
care benefit options,” explains Sandy Ross,
senior living counselor at St. Joseph’s John
Knox. “It’s important to provide choices
to our prospective residents. For that reason, we offer a rental product as well as
an entry fee [endowment] agreement.
Continuing care communities usually
don’t do rentals, but for us it’s all about
choices and flexibility.”
Sandy also notes that in addition to
giving residents a place to retire comfortably, this innovative retirement
community also provides an invigorating
environment where people can engage in
the art of living well.
“This is a community within a community, where we find out what our
Experience the art of living well...
St. Joseph’s John Knox looks forward to hearing from you. For
further information or to schedule lunch and a guided tour, please
call (813) 977-6361 or (800) 272-5669. The campus is located at
4100 E. Fletcher Ave. in Tampa.
residents want and try to make it happen,”
she says. “There’s always a full schedule
available to them and countless opportunities to make new friends and to forge
the kinds of relationships that are essential to physical, mental and emotional
well-being at every stage of life.”
In addition to special events, John
Knox has a wide variety of on-campus
options for day-to-day living. Along with
a movie theatre and computer center,
there is also a beauty shop, a manicurist,
two grocery stores, two libraries and a flea
market for residents to enjoy.
Dick and Frances are both quick
to point out that one of the best features of living at St. Joseph’s John Knox
is the complete freedom they have to
enjoy all their shared interests, without
worrying about things like home maintenance or security.
“That’s one thing I have really liked
since I have been here,” says Frances.
“I’m never home!”
In addition, both Frances and Dick
exemplify the phenomenal spirit of volunteerism in the John Knox community.
“Dick is the treasurer for the
Residents’ Association, and I’m his
assistant treasurer,” she adds. “So we’ve
been working together a little bit. I
volunteer to help at the Med Center
when they have dinner events, and on
Tuesday nights, I serve refreshments
at the weekly performance of the Blue
Notes, a seventeen-piece band that
plays Big Band music.”
Holidays are always major events at
John Knox, and in addition to the wealth
of on-campus activities, new events are
constantly happening in the Tampa Bay
area that provide residents with worldclass entertainment.
“They celebrate all of the holidays
here,” assures Dick, “and they do a great
job. We have a tremendous New Year’s
Eve party that everyone looks forward
to each year.”
restaurant hotel on St. Pete Beach,” recalls
Dick. “We’ve gone on several boat trips,
including a boat ride where we went out
to watch for dolphins. We’ve even gone
deep sea fishing.”
Many John Knox residents have
Florida Orchestra Series tickets, so there
are frequent outings to the Straz Center,
as well as luncheons every Wednesday
at diff erent places around the greater
Tampa Bay area.
Frances says, “We’ve been down to
Sykes Chapel, when they have the organ
concerts on Sunday. We go to the Straz
Center. And we also go to a lot of concerts across the way at the University of
South Florida.”
Of course, these lovebirds enjoy their
time on campus, too, thanks to volunteering for the Residents’ Association as well
as joining in many community activities.
“We have Wii™ games, like Wii
Bowling,” adds Dick. “In fact, we have
a couple of bowling tournaments a year.”
Above all, Frances and Dick appreciate the staff at John Knox.
“The staff here are so friendly and
can’t do enough for you,” says Frances.
“They remember your name, they’re
concerned about you and you’re concerned about them in the same way.
That means a lot. I am happy I made the
decision to come here. It’s like family.”
FHCN–Michael J. Sahno
Out and about
Now having the time of their lives
together, the newlyweds enjoy many day
trips with groups or with each other.
“We went to Spinners, a revolving
Visit St. Joseph’s John Knox on the web at
www.stjosephsjohnknox.org.

- Florida Health Care News

Transcription

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