Aspiring Women is trending now - Langlade Hospital | Aspire

Aspiring Women
is trending now
page 8
YOUR GUIDE TO HEALTHY LIVING
FALL 2016
contents
Aspiring
Women
Aspirus providers
are leading fun,
educational women’s
health events across
the region.
Endlessly supportive
Diabetes support takes a team.
We honor the dedication of a
beloved member of the Aspirus
Antigo Clinic team.
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3
Susan Frangiskakis, MD, led
an Aspiring Women event
on the topic of pediatric
vaccines, “Hit Me With Your
Best Shot,” on Aug. 29.
Ask the doc
Aspirus Antigo Clinic physicians
answer questions about asthma,
fever and prediabetes.
10
This one’s for the girls!
On the cover: Coordinated for a cause—our team
wear purple as ambassadors for Aspiring Women.
A mind for business, a heart for care
Aspirus Langlade Hospital’s ASPIRE is a free publication
intended to provide health information to the people living
in and around Langlade County. Aspirus Langlade Hospital
is proud to offer this publication as a resource to you and
your family. This publication is also available online at
www.aspirus.org.
Aspirus Langlade Hospital
112 E. Fifth Ave., Antigo, WI 54409
715-623-2331
www.aspirus.org
David Schneider
Executive Director
Bessant Parker, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Pat Tincher
Director of Finance
Janelle Markgraf
Director of Human Resources and Off Campus Services
Sherry Bunten
Director of Patient Care Services
Betsy Kommers
Marketing and Fund Development Manager
[email protected]
Sarah Olafson
Marketing and Communication Specialist
[email protected]
Information in this publication is not intended to replace
medical advice, nor is it for self-diagnosis. Individuals
should speak with their primary care provider or other
health care professionals regarding medical concerns.
If you would prefer not to receive ASPIRE magazine, call
Sarah Olafson at 715-623-9877 or email sarah.olafson@
aspirus.org and provide your mailing address. Models may
be used in photos and illustrations.
2016 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
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aspire Fall 2016
Meet the new CMO
Aspirus Langlade Hospital recently
welcomed Bessant Parker, MD, to
the senior leadership team as Chief
Medical Officer (CMO).
Dr. Parker is responsible for
working with staff and providers to
continuously improve the quality and
experience of care for our patients.
He replaces Renee Smith, MD, who
served as CMO part-time before she
was promoted to CMO for Aspirus
Network.
Dr. Parker completed his internal
medicine residency at Harlem
Hospital, an affiliate of Columbia
University, in New York. After his
residency, he served as a hospitalist
at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Appleton,
Wisconsin.
He went on to complete a
full-time master’s degree in business
administration from the University of
Chicago Booth School of Business
while working
part-time at
St. Elizabeth’s.
Most recently,
Dr. Parker served
with Tenet
Healthcare on
the executive
Bessant Parker,
management
MD, MBA
team at
Chief Medical Officer
St. Vincent
Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts,
where he was involved in leading
quality improvement and process
improvement efforts.
“Dr. Parker is a well-qualified
medical officer who has had
considerable experience and training in
leading quality improvement efforts to
improve patient care,” explained Dave
Schneider, Aspirus Langlade Hospital
CEO. “His leadership will be very
valuable.”
Team Michelle show their support at her memorial bench. It was acquired
through donations from the employees of Aspirus Langlade Hospital, Aspirus
Antigo Clinic and Antigo Swim Club.
Passion
for diabetes
care endures
Remembering a friend and co-worker
WHEN you first learn that you have
diabetes, it may be a hard fact to face.
Without question, diabetes is a
serious disease that can have life-altering
consequences. And even though it’s
normal to feel uneasy about the diagnosis,
now is not the time for denial.
What you need now is information and
a plan so you can manage your condition
and get on with enjoying your life.
The team at Aspirus Langlade Hospital
and Clinics provides diabetic support as
a team effort. This past March, the team
at Aspirus Antigo Clinic lost a dear friend
in Michelle Koss, RN, Certified Diabetes
Educator. Her dedication to the diabetic
program and youth in the area is a legacy
to be proud of. Roughly 7,300 patients in
Langlade County have diabetes, and 5,000
patients have prediabetes.
The main goal of diabetes treatment
is to control your blood sugar (glucose)
levels. When blood sugar isn’t controlled,
it can lead to eye, kidney and nerve
damage. But you don’t have to go it alone.
Your doctor will develop a care plan that
sets target levels for your blood sugar, and
he or she will monitor your progress.
NEED SUPPORT?
For more information about diabetes
management, please contact your
primary care provider or Bonnie
Hessedal, Registered Dietitian,
Certified Diabetes Educator, at the
Aspirus Antigo Clinic: 715-623-2351.
For additional help, your doctor may
refer you to other team members, such
as a nurse educator, which is what Koss
dedicated her professional life to. This
past July, the annual Splash N Dash was
held as a memorial race in her honor.
The swim/run was a success at Jack
Lake, with more participants than ever
before. Koss’ vision for the Splash N Dash
was for it to be the primary fundraiser
for the Swim Club that would help keep
children active. A memorial bench was
placed at the Jack Lake beachfront to
honor her. Members of the Aspirus
Antigo Clinic staff were there to race for
Team Michelle.
aspirus.org
3
The Jackson family:
Back row, from left:
Pete, Katie and Anders
Front row, from left:
Bodie, Anya and Aksel
CELEBRATING
a decade of specialized newborn care
Anya Marie Jackson and the NICU she inspired turn 10
TEN YEARS AGO, two very
special things happened that changed
lives forever. First, Peter and Katie
Jackson welcomed their daughter, Anya
Marie, into the world. Anya’s life then
inspired the vision for a state-of-the-art
Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at
Aspirus Wausau Hospital.
Anya Marie Jackson was born in
Colorado on May 22, 2006, and instantly
became the family’s “little princess.”
Shortly after birth she experienced
health issues that led to a series of tests,
surgeries and evaluations by many
Anya Marie Jackson
Newborn ICU
vital statistics
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aspire Fall 2016
different doctors. While her outlook was
bleak at times, Anya persevered.
Fast forward to 2016, and Anya
continues to persevere. She still faces
significant health challenges on a daily
basis, but this year Anya celebrated
her 10th birthday—as did the NICU
at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, which is
named after Anya.
“For 10 years, we’ve taken everything
one day at a time, and it truly has been
a nonstop adventure,” Peter Jackson
says. “Throughout it all, we’ve gained an
appreciation for all things good and bad
in life, because without the valleys, there
can’t be peaks.”
Anya’s spirit and toughness have
inspired countless people who have
come to know her.
Among those she has inspired are her
family and the B.A. & Esther Greenheck
Foundation, which was created by her
great-grandparents, Bernie and Esther
Greenheck, as a place where the people
of north-central Wisconsin could
come for help to meet the needs of the
community.
The B.A. & Esther Greenheck
1,504 Babies
997 NICU graduates
194 Babies kept
lovingly cared for
since the 2009
NICU Expansion
and family members
celebrated at the
2015 reunion
safe during their NICU
transport journey
between hospitals
Innovative care
With the nearest single-room care
model NICU at least 150 miles from
Wausau, the innovative Anya Marie
Jackson NICU at Aspirus Wausau
Hospital is unmatched in its dynamic
approach to care. It can provide care
for as many as 14 babies, with special
accommodations for multiple births.
Generosity advances NICU care
In addition to the B.A. & Esther
Greenheck Foundation, others have
also been inspired to give generously to
support the NICU, including Girl Scouts,
student groups, families, participants in
the Aspirus Women’s Golf Classic event
and numerous volunteers.
Foundation has forged an ongoing
partnership with the Aspirus Health
Foundation to help critically ill and
premature newborns throughout
north-central Wisconsin.
Inspired to make a difference
The partnership started in 2009, when
Aspirus Wausau Hospital was looking
to expand and enhance its NICU, which
opened in February 2006. The need for
advanced newborn care was great and
growing, and the four-bed unit was
often filled over capacity. Knowing
first-hand the impact this type of
specialized care can have for newborns
and their families, the B.A. & Esther
Greenheck Foundation made a
significant donation, and Anya’s parents
and family shared their experience to
help advance and transform the NICU
into what it is today—a 14-bed, private
room, state-of-the-art facility.
In 2016, Adam and Danielle Mullins
created The Brennan Mullins Newborn
Support Fund with the Aspirus Health
Foundation. The fund honors their
daughter, Brennan, who touched the
lives and hearts of many during her
brief four days of life. The Mullins have
since happily welcomed a healthy baby
girl.
“Knowing that our baby could be born
in the NICU at Aspirus Wausau Hospital
if needed helped relieve our stress and
worries,” Danielle says. “The day after
Reagan was born, she experienced low
blood sugar and was transferred from the
Birthing Center to the NICU for a couple
of days. We went home together and
were grateful the NICU was here when we
needed it.”
“As parents, we really
don’t understand the
importance of having a
community-based NICU
until we need it.”
—Peter Jackson
“It’s interesting that as parents, we
really don’t understand the importance
of having a community-based NICU
until we need it,” Peter Jackson says.
“It is such a blessing to have a premier
NICU here in Wausau.”
The Anya Marie Jackson Newborn
Intensive Care Unit is named in honor
of Anya, who inspired the Aspirus
single-room care model NICU that has
given back to so many others.
Since the expansion in 2009, more
than 1,500 babies have received care in
116 Newborns
50 Staff members
39 People whose
weighed less
than 3 pounds,
3 ounces
provide specialized,
compassionate
care
donations made
the NICU expansion
possible
the NICU made possible by the B.A.
& Esther Greenheck Foundation and
many generous donations from others in
the Wausau area. The families of these
babies all share similar experiences
that are celebrated annually at Aspirus’
NICU reunion, held each August.
Last year’s reunion brought nearly
1,000 people together who share a
common bond built on appreciation
and generosity—the type of values the
Jacksons continue to see Anya inspiring
in others.
“Through all the needles and
surgeries [which number more than
20], Anya always comes out and gives
me a smile,” Katie Jackson says. “We’re
blessed that we get the smiles, and we
hold onto that. She has really raised
the level of acceptance, responsibility,
respect, appreciation and compassion
for our whole family, and I can see that
in other people who meet her too.”
1 pound,
6 ounces:
Smallest baby
cared for
1 Little girl, Anya Marie
Jackson, whose life has
helped so many vulnerable
babies and families
aspirus.org
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55
Our expertise is growing.
Three new providers to care for you:
Bessant Parker, MD, MBA
Chief Medical Officer
Hospitalist
Dr. Parker was born in Ghana, West Africa,
where he completed his medical education
before coming to the United States for further
training (see “A Mind for Business, A Heart for Care,” page 2).
Dr. Parker enjoys giving motivational speeches for high school
students. Other interests and hobbies include soccer, table tennis,
travel and cultural cuisine. He also founded a tutoring school in
Ghana that helps high school drop-outs get their GED diploma.
Mary Kautza, APNP
Palliative Nurse Practitioner
Mary joins the Hospice and Palliative Care
Team as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She
received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing
from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh and her Master’s
Degree in Nursing from Frontier Nursing University in Hyden, Ky.
She and her husband live in the area and have two daughters,
who are nurses. Mary loves to go antiquing for furniture to restore
and finding unique works of art at arts and crafts festivals.
Lesley Washatko, PA-C
Aspirus Antigo Clinic
Lesley joined the Aspirus Antigo Clinic
providers in August. She graduated with
her Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant
Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She
completed her undergraduate degree in clinical laboratory
science at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and has
been a Medical Technologist at Aspirus Langlade Hospital for
the past seven years. She and her husband have three children
and enjoy bike riding, baking and reading. Lesley began seeing
patients at the Antigo Clinic in August 2016.
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Care at your
convenience
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 7 days a week
Aspirus Langlade
Hospital has
expanded Walk-In
hours to better serve
our community,
effective July 1,
2016:
ww 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
ww 7 days a week
No appointment
necessary for:
ww Colds; flu; fever;
and minor injuries,
like sprains and
strains.
ww Skin rashes and
insect bites.
ww Pink eye, sore
throat, earaches.
Sinus infections.
Patients have
access to all hospital
services. Emergency
Department care is
available if symptoms
warrant it.
It is important
that you establish
a relationship with
a primary care
provider. But when
you need quick and
convenient care, the
Walk-In is available.
ww
112 E. Fifth Ave.
Antigo, WI 54409
www.aspirus.org
We’re
expanding!
BUILDING
on safety,
freedom and
resident choice
Aspirus Langlade Hospital breaks ground
for Rosalia Gardens expansion
ON July 11, representatives from Aspirus Langlade Hospital,
the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph, Community Living
Solutions and community members gathered to break ground
on the addition to Rosalia Gardens Assisted Living Facility,
located on Flight Road in Antigo.
“We have carefully planned this project with the project
architects, Community Living Solutions, input from our
current residents and their families, and frontline staff to
incorporate the very latest in assisted living best practices and
functional work space,” says Aspirus Langlade Hospital CEO
Dave Schneider. “Safety, freedom and resident choice are at the
heart of our planning.”
A social model
The 19,022-square-foot project will provide 25 additional
private rooms, dedicated hospice rooms and an expansion of
Adult Day Care, as well as private and communal dining,
with several dining options and venues for residents to enjoy.
The new facility will include an 18-bed Memory Care area,
designed especially for residents with dementia.
The plan also features separate living room and den areas,
a country kitchen and a spa that includes a hair salon. The
building will be monitored and secured with a state-of-the-art
SERVING A GROWING NEED: Construction to expand the Rosalia Gardens Assisted
Living Facility in Antigo broke ground on July 11. The 19,022-square-foot project is
scheduled to be completed in October 2017.
nurse call and wayfinding management system.
More than an attractive design, the social household model
promotes dignity, independence and respect for its residents,
creating an atmosphere that leads to successful and happy
aging.
Construction of the new facility is scheduled for completion
in October 2017. The existing Rosalia Gardens space that
includes 18 residences will be transitioned to Memory Care.
Rosalia Gardens is a licensed community-based residential
facility for people who need assistance with daily living, where
caring, compassionate staff understand their unique needs
and help them thrive. Caregivers encourage residents to live as
independently as possible for their physical, mental, emotional
and spiritual health in the least restrictive environment.
The decision to add additional space to the existing structure
came from the results of a comprehensive feasibility study that
determined there is a growing need in our community.
aspirus.org
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77
Aspirus kicks
off Aspiring
Women
Susan Frangiskakis, MD,
presented an Aspiring
Women event in
August about
childhood
vaccines.
ASPIRING WOMENkicked off across the Aspirus
region in May and June. More than 500 women attended
“South of Your Border,” held at several Aspirus locations,
where Aspirus providers discussed reproductive health,
menopause, incontinence and other pelvic health topics.
Women who attended sampled “south of the border”
refreshments and received an Aspiring Women gift of
cranberry chipotle sauce. Most of the Aspiring Women
events are free girls’ nights out that can be described as
“health-u-tainment.” Girls’ nights out feature:
ww Useful information on a specific health topic that is
presented by a medical expert or experts.
ww Tasty, healthy appetizers that relate to the evening’s
health topic and recipes for many of the appetizers that
are served.
ww A small gift that also relates to the evening’s theme.
In addition to hearing the presentation, women will have
the opportunity to ask Aspirus medical experts questions
and socialize with one another.
Members of the
Aspiring Women
Team at an event
in May.
For you and about you
Aspirus invites all area ladies to join Aspiring Women,
which is the Aspirus partnership with Spirit of Women—a
nationwide network of hospitals and health care systems
that inspire health and wellness on a local level, primarily
through education and entertainment for women.
Aspiring Women is about serious information and a
seriously good time. It’s about taking care of you—because
you take care of everyone else. It’s about fun, educational
girls’ nights out that inspire you to achieve a lifetime of
wellness. It’s for you and about you.
Aspiring Women is for women who aspire to lead
healthier, happier, more active lives. It’s for women like you
who want to share what you learn and experience with
your family, your friends, and your community.
SIGN UP TODAY!
You can find Aspiring Women at any Aspirus
Hospital. Membership is free, and members
receive notice of upcoming events, free
e-newsletters and other fun benefits. To join,
visit www.aspirus.org/AspiringWomen.
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aspire Fall 2016
Lesley Washatko,
PA-C; Angela
Buchman, PA-C; and
Dennis McFadden,
DO, OB-GYN, presented
“South of Your Border,” the
May event. Not pictured: Sue
Bowman, APNP.
What’s next for Aspiring Women?
“Let’s Hear it for the Girls” will be the
entertaining health education theme on
Wednesday, Oct. 26, at North Star, Antigo.
For details and to register, call the Aspirus
Customer Contact Center at 800-847-4707.
COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Mental health
in top 3 priorities
EVERY three years, Aspirus Langlade
Hospital conducts an assessment to
identify the greatest health needs in
Langlade County. After 10 months
of research and review, the Langlade
County Community Health Needs
Assessment (CHNA) is complete.
The 2016 CHNA used published
state and federal quantitative health,
quality-of-life research and demographic
data. The research included a review of
identified health indicators and health
Seasonal affective disorder
SAD? How light
therapy can help
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
is a type of depression that’s related
to seasonal changes in light. Sunlight
helps regulate your internal biological
clock. When there are changes in the
amount of light you get, such as when
days are shorter in the fall and winter,
that clock gets out of balance, and levels
of the sleep-related hormone melatonin
can increase. This hormone may cause
symptoms of depression.
Both children and adults can get SAD.
However, it usually develops between the
ages of 18 and 30. Women are affected
risk factors as reported by these sources.
Data was also gathered locally from
several sources, including interviews
with 67 key informants (individuals and
groups whose professional occupations
offer key insights into local health needs)
and input from a public survey that over
800 people residing in Langlade County
completed online or mailed in.
Much like the 2013 CHNA, the top
health priorities will be collectively
undertaken by many different
at about three times the rate of men.
Although SAD is typically considered
a fall and winter disorder, in a small
number of cases, symptoms may be
triggered by the longer, brighter days of
summer. Some people also experience
symptoms during periods of overcast
weather, regardless of the season.
Shining a light
A diagnosis of SAD is based on your
symptoms and history. Symptoms typical
of SAD must return every winter for three
consecutive years and then completely
disappear in the spring and summer.
If you have SAD, getting more sunlight
may make you feel better. It might be
helpful to take walks outdoors or to place
community sectors—such as law
enforcement, schools, businesses,
community groups and organizations,
and public health and social services
divisions—along with the hospital and
clinics. The following health issues were
identified as top priorities for the June
2016 assessment:
ww Wellness and prevention and
nutritional and physical activity.
ww Substance abuse.
ww Affordability of health care services
and prescription medication costs.
Mental and behavioral health issues
were identified as a factor in each of
the three health priorities above, with
specific actions to address these issues
outlined in each priority.
Some examples of initiatives from
the CHNA are The 100 Mile Club®, the
WeekEnd Backpack Program and the
White Lake Community Garden, just
to name a few.
Thank you to everyone who has
participated in completing this year’s
assessment. The full report will be
available for the community on the
Aspirus Langlade Hospital website,
www.aspirus.org. Paper copies will
also be available.
yourself near a window.
If your symptoms are particularly
bothersome, light therapy may be
recommended. This involves using
special lighting while indoors. Therapeutic
lighting is much more intense than
standard lighting and has been shown to
decrease levels of melatonin in the brain.
Your doctor can help you decide how
long to spend in this lighting and the best
time of day to do so. For many people
with SAD, light therapy is very effective.
However, if it doesn’t work for you, your
doctor may have other suggestions,
including taking medicine for depression.
Talk to your Aspirus provider. With
proper treatment, SAD is manageable.
Sources: Mental Health America; National Alliance on Mental Illness
aspirus.org
9
Q
&
Ask the
experts
Q
I have asthma, but I’m
not having any symptoms.
Why do I need to still take my
asthma medicine?
When your
asthma is under
control, taking
medicine may be
the last thing on
your mind.
But asthma
is a disease that
Kristine
doesn’t go away.
Flowers, MD
That means it
Family Medicine
needs long-term
Aspirus Antigo Clinic
treatment to help
keep it under control. Your doctor may
ask you to take maintenance medications
that help keep your lungs from getting
inflamed and keep symptoms at bay.
When you continue using them over
time, those medicines may even help
improve your lung function.
The bottom line: Your asthma needs to
be managed—even when you don’t have
symptoms. If you stop, you run the risk
of flare-ups that can make you feel bad or
even put you in the hospital.
Q
What is the best way to
treat a child’s fever?
Some parents
rush to treat a
child’s fever, even
when it’s relatively
mild. But there
are times when
treatment is not
needed.
Christopher
Fever is not an
Strong, DO
illness itself—it’s
Family Medicine
a symptom. And
Antigo and Birnamwood
a fever serves a purpose. Among other
things, it can keep the germs causing the
illness from growing or reproducing. For
otherwise healthy kids, a fever typically
poses no danger.
With that in mind, parents don’t need
to worry about treating all fevers. Instead,
the main goal should be to keep the child
comfortable.
If your child is uncomfortable and
you decide to use a fever reducer, opt for
either ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Don’t
use aspirin—it can trigger a potentially
dangerous condition in children called
Reye’s syndrome.
ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
To schedule a visit with Drs. Flowers, Strong or Myers in Antigo,
please call 715-623-2351. For an appointment with Dr. Strong in
Birnamwood, call 715-449-2539.
10
aspire Fall 2016
Q
What should I know about
prediabetes?
At least three key
things:
1) Prediabetes often
has no symptoms.
2) If you’re
diagnosed with it,
you’re at high risk
for type 2 diabetes,
Randy Myers, MD
heart disease and
Internal Medicine
stroke. 3) You can
Aspirus Antigo Clinic
help turn those risks
around, however, by making some lifestyle
changes.
Prediabetes is frequently part of a larger
problem called metabolic syndrome, which
includes high blood pressure, obesity and
high cholesterol.
When you have prediabetes, the glucose
(sugar) in your blood is higher than normal.
But it’s not yet high enough to be considered
diabetes. Prediabetes is a wake-up call: You
need to take action now to reduce your risk
of full-blown diabetes.
That usually means, among other things:
ww Losing some weight. Even a 5 to
10 percent drop in weight helps.
ww Eating more fruits and vegetables. Doing
so can help you eat fewer higher-calorie
foods.
ww Moving more. The goal is to do
30 to 60 minutes of exercise—such
as walking—every day.
ww Working with your doctor. Together,
you can make changes to help prevent or
delay diabetes.
Community Health Foundation event nets more than $75,000
THE annual Spirits at the Lake
fundraiser, held July 8 at Bass Lake Golf
Course and Restaurant, kicked off with
a sold-out 18-hole golf outing. Mother
Nature decided rain and wind were part
of the event (the golfers got a little wet),
but the weather didn’t put a damper on
the festivities.
The event was held under a tent that
was beautifully decorated by Laurie
Packard and a group of volunteers. The
event featured a Great Gatsby theme.
Live music was provided by Hip Pocket.
Guests enjoyed a spirits tasting
provided by nine local craft brewers,
wineries and liquor companies. Upon
check-in, guests received a complimentary
glass and tasting guide acknowledging
all of the many local business sponsors,
physicians and Aspirus Langlade Hospital
vendor contributions. They also enjoyed
a great 1920s-themed buffet of Waldorf
salad, fried chicken, roast beef, baby red
potatoes, and Merry’s Berries.
Magnificent silent auction items
and raffles filled the clubhouse. The
volunteers and staff who made this year’s
event a success deserve a big round of
applause—the event raised over $75,000!
The Community Health Foundation’s
Mission is to identify needs, raise funds,
and award grants to advance health care
and the health and well-being of people
in Antigo and neighboring communities
served by Aspirus Langlade Hospital.
Our vision is to be a vibrant community
force that helps through collaboration
to shape and improve the quality and
availability of health care, right here at
home.
aspirus.org
11
Contact us
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
Aspirus Langlade Hospital 715-623-2331
Marketing Department 715-623-9877
715-623-9455
Community Health Foundation 715-623-9557
PAID
Madison, WI
Permit No. 1184
112 E. Fifth Ave., Antigo, WI 54409
Visit us online at www.aspirus.org
L
ww
If you did not receive this issue at
your home address and would like
one sent to you, please email
[email protected].
It’s OK to provide occasional help—without actually doing
the work. If your child struggles with daily assignments, be
sure to mention this to the teacher.
Getting there safely
Is your child walking or biking to school?
Don’t forget a helmet. Make sure your cyclist has a wellfitting helmet—and uses it every ride. Here’s a tip: If you let
your child pick the helmet, it’s more likely to be worn.
Review some rules of the road. Go over safety around
traffic. For instance:
ww Ride with the traffic, not against it, and stay as far to the right
as possible.
ww Stop at all stop signs and lights.
ww Look drivers in the eye before crossing at crosswalks, to be
sure they see you.
And if your teen drives to school? Have a talk about safety,
no texting while driving and the need to wear a seatbelt.
School days
Parents can help kids make the grade
DOESN’T it seem like yesterday they were putting away
their backpacks for the summer? And now your kiddos have
filled them with notebooks and fresh pencils once again. From
avoiding homework hassles to sports safety, here are some ways
to help your kids have a successful school year.
Hone homework skills
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP),
parents can help children learn good homework habits by
designating a time and place and offering encouragement.
Keep in mind:
ww The area should be free of TV or distracting noises. It could
be a desk or a well-lit kitchen table.
ww Have your child help choose the homework time. Some study
better right after school; others in the early evening. Or you
might offer guidelines, such as homework before video games.
Score with sports safety
Schools often offer sports physicals. But you may want your
child’s regular doctor to do a physical that covers his or her
overall health as well.
Beyond scheduling a physical, you can promote safe play and
practices. Often, kids get hurt when they overdo it. Luckily, it’s
possible to avoid many injuries with precautions. For instance:
ww Make sure kids take at least one day off per week and one
month off per year from a particular sport to give the body
time to recover.
ww Children should never play through pain. Be alert for any
pain or swelling that a coach may not notice and your athlete
may ignore.
ww Limit the number of teams your child plays on in a single
season, and don’t let your child play a single sport
year-round.
ww Make sure your youngster has proper safety
equipment.
Additional sources: American College of Emergency Physicians;
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry; U.S.
National Library of Medicine; American Academy
of Orthopaedic Surgeons.