Upcoming - Saratoga Hospital

Upcoming
Childbirth Education
The Nutrition Kitchen: Eating Healthy
On-the-Go
We offer a complete range of childbirth education
courses, from childbirth preparation and refresher
classes to programs for siblings and courses on
breastfeeding and infant care. For more information or
to register, visit our website at www.saratogahospital.
org and click on Classes & Events/Childbirth Education,
or call 518-580-2450.
Having trouble finding time to eat healthy with the
hustle and bustle of busy schedules? Join us for tips
and tricks on how to pack delicious, quick snacks that
will curb your cravings, add nutritional value to your
diet, and save time.
Support Groups
For a complete listing of Support Groups, visit
our website at www.saratogahospital.org or call
HealthSource at 580-2450.
Community Education/Wellness
Osteoporosis: A New Era in Recognition and
Treatment
Find out why vitamin D and calcium are so important
for building strong bones. Discover the difference
between osteopenia and osteoporosis and learn about
diagnostic procedures and treatment options for
osteoporosis.
Presenter:
Amos Cutler, MD, OB/GYN
Date & Time: Tuesday, May 24, 12 p.m.
Location: Saratoga Hospital Board Room 211 Church Street, Saratoga Springs
The ABC’s of Diabetes
Master the ins and outs of diabetes control. From
prevention to diagnosis to disease management, this
program will focus on how to live your healthiest life
with diabetes.
Presenter: Kerry Hardy, MS, RD, CDN, Clinical Dietitian
Date & Time: Friday, September 9, 12 p.m.
Location: Saratoga Hospital Board Room, 211 Church Street, Saratoga Springs
The Sunshine Vitamin and You
Back by popular demand! Vitamin D deficiencies have
been believed to cause depression, chronic fatigue,
heart disease, and osteoporosis. This program will
shed new light on the current recommendations and
controversies surrounding a vitamin D deficiency. It
will also help you understand the signs, symptoms, and
dangers of being deficient.
Presenter:
Allison Graziadei, MD, Endocrinologist
Date & Time: Friday, September 16, 12 p.m.
Location:
Saratoga Hospital Board Room, 211 Church Street, Saratoga Springs
The Mackenzie Approach to Managing Neck
and Back Pain
Back by popular demand! Learn how to manage
episodic neck and back pain and reduce further
aggravation in the future. This program includes
information on anatomy, predisposing factors, postural
correction, and exercises for self-management.
Presenter:
Paula Hill, PT, MSPT, Cert. MDT,
Physical Therapy Clinical Specialist
Karen Donworth, Physical Therapy Assistant
Date & Time: Wednesday, September 21, 6 p.m.
Location:
Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park
Arthritis of the Hips and Knees
Free Screenings
Judy Carr, Registered Dietitian, Certified
Diabetes Educator
Date & Time: Friday, May 27, 10 a.m.
Location:
Embury Apartments, 133 Lawrence Street,
Saratoga Springs
Presenters:
Your choice of two dates, locations
Prostate Cancer: Before and After Diagnosis
Learn the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer,
the significance of PSA results, and what to expect if
your doctor orders further testing. This session also
will cover treatment options, including nerve-sparing
surgical advances.
Presenter:
Seth Capello, MD, Urologist
Date & Time: Thursday, June 16, 5:30-7 p.m.
Location:
Saratoga Hospital Board Room, 211 Church Street, Saratoga Springs
12
Date & Time: Saturday, September 24, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Location: Wilton Medical Arts, 3040 Route 50,
Saratoga Springs (1/2 mile North of Exit 15)
Childhood Development Screening
Knowledge is power. Find out how you can best help
your child (ages 3-5) prepare for preschool with a
developmental screening courtesy of the Regional
Therapy Center. Our occupational therapist and
speech language pathologist will evaluate your child’s
hearing, speech, language, and fine and gross motor
skills.
Date & Time: Monday, September 26, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Location:
Regional Therapy Center, 225 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs
Men’s Night Out
SARATOGA HOSPITAL
September 19, 2011
From 5:30-8 p.m. at Saratoga Surgery
Center. This popular men’s-only
event features free health screenings,
educational discussions, and more!
Additional information, including
registration details, will be posted on
our website, www.saratogahospital.org
under Classes & Events, in the weeks to
come.
people you trust. care you deserve.
Run for the ROC
October 2, 2011
Our annual Run for the ROC will be
held October 2 at Saratoga Race Course
and will benefit patients of our Mollie
Wilmot Radiation Oncology Center.
The 5K run/walk is organized by
Saratoga Hospital staff as a show of
support for those in the community who
have been touched by cancer. Since its
inception in 2005, the Run has raised
more than $150,000.
The race begins at 11 a.m. and includes
a Li’l Derby Dash for kids. The top
three male and female finishers, overall,
will receive awards and prizes. “ROC”
awards also will be presented to the top
male and female finishers in each age
group.
Registration for the 5K event is $15
through September 23 and $20 after
that date and on race day. There is no
registration fee for the children’s event.
For more information, including
registration, go to www.saratogahospital.org
and click on Special Events.
Pregnancy Fair
October 22, 2011
From 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Malta
Community Center. Mingle with other
moms and moms-to-be as you gather
information and browse through babyfriendly vendor booths. The event also
will include informative discussions
focused on motherhood. Additional
information will be posted on our
website under Classes & Events.
people you trust. care you deserve.
Jonathan Gainor, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon
Mary Kay Nichols, Nurse Practitioner
Date & Time: Friday, June 10, 12:30 p.m.
Location:
Salem Courthouse/Community Center, 58 East Broadway, Salem
or
Date & Time: Monday, June 13, 12 p.m.
Location:
Mechanicville Senior Center, 178 N. Main Street, Mechanicville
Join us for this program focused on women’s fitness.
Our Regional Therapy Center therapists will screen
your core, upper and lower body strength, and
flexibility, and will calculate your body mass index.
Therapists also will provide guidelines for determining
your target heart rate for aerobic activity, and will
share simple stretches and core strengthening exercises.
Save These Dates!
SARATOGA HOSPITAL
Presenters:
Women’s Fitness Screening
SPRING & SUMMER ‘11
211 Church Street
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Get the latest information on treatment options
for arthritis of the hips and knees, including joint
replacement.
Visit our website at www.saratogahospital.org
Saratoga Hospital offers community education, screening programs, and support groups,
designed to keep our community informed and healthy. Most are provided free of charge.
Sign up on our web site at www.saratogahospital.org; or register by phone 24-hours a
day by calling our HealthSource line at 580-2450 or, toll-free, at 1-866-580-2450.
Sarah DiPasquale, PT, DPT
working with a dancer to
strengthen her back. See story
on page 7.
Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin
3
Upgrading Wilton Medical Arts
6
Guardian Club
9
Gluten-Free Lifestyle
10
Immeasurable Investments
in Our Community
When you visit our facilities or read about
our plans for expansion, it’s clear that we
continually make significant capital investments
to meet the needs of our growing community.
But we also invest in the region in less obvious
and typically less heralded ways—often
because of the generous, inspiring efforts of our
employees.
As you will read on page 9, we recently were
gratified to learn that Saratoga Hospital ranked
first among regional hospitals in terms of
employee support for the United Way and the
American Heart Association’s major fundraiser,
the Start! Heart Walk. That is a phenomenal
accomplishment for a hospital of our size, and it
speaks volumes about the caliber and character
of our staff.
I have worked in my share of hospitals and I
can tell you that ours is an extraordinary team.
They are deeply committed to Saratoga Hospital,
our patients, and the Saratoga region. They
continually strive to serve you better. As an
organization, we nurture that commitment, in
part, by rewarding initiative and excellence (see
“Awards Recognize Entrepreneurship, Spirit”
and “Service Star of the Year,” this page). We
also go out of our way to provide opportunities
for staff to grow professionally (pages 4 & 5)
so that our community can reap the benefits
of today’s best practices and other advances in
care.
We continue to expand facilities and services.
If you’ve been to our Wilton Medical Arts
outpatient center recently, you know that we
are in the midst of significant renovations (page
6). We are adding space to our Urgent Care,
laboratory, and physical and occupational
therapy service areas and refurbishing and
reconfiguring the lobby. We also will be
unveiling a new Women’s Imaging Center.
Finally, with the warm weather upon us, we
look forward to some of our most popular
annual events: our Cantina Kids Fun Run June 5,
the FOX23 News Golf Invitational June 20, and
our Summer Benefit August 3. We hope to see
you at as many of these events as possible, so
please note the dates on your calendar.
Best regards,
Angelo
Angelo G. Calbone,
President and CEO
Saratoga Hospital
Visit our website at
www.saratogahospital.org
Published by Saratoga Hospital.
Editor: Ellen Kerness, Marketing Manager,
Saratoga Hospital
For more information, please email
[email protected] or call 583-8679.
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Hospital, please email [email protected] to have
your name removed from our mailing list.
2
Awards Recognize Spirit, Entrepreneurship
Five Saratoga Hospital employees—Julie Demaree,
RPA-C; Sharman Lisieski, BS, RN, CNOR; Denise
Romand; Julie Sipperly; and Michael Wallner—
were recognized recently for
going well beyond the scope
of their work assignments to
serve the Hospital and our
community. Demaree received
the highest honor, the Hospital’s
Entrepreneurial Award. The
remaining honorees earned the
Hospital’s Spirit Award.
The Director of Malta Medical
Arts and Corporate Health
Services, Demaree was selected
for her timely, creative response
to GLOBALFOUNDRIES
and M+W Group, which
turned to the Hospital for preemployment screenings and
other occupational medicine
services. The challenge was to
ramp up almost immediately to
provide 500 or more screenings
a month.
by developing and implementing a permanent shift
from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays.
The change proved to be a smart, cost-effective way
to enhance quality of care and
physician and staff satisfaction.
As a result, earlier this year, a
permanent overnight shift was
added in the PACU, as well.
Romand, Medical Staff/
Practice Liaison, was honored
for her persistence in securing
a $108,000 grant, from the
Doctors Across New York loan
forgiveness program, for the
Hospital’s first endocrinologist.
Romand made a strong—and
ultimately successful—case
that our community did
not have sufficient access
to endocrinology services,
especially given the rising rate of
diabetes.
Sipperly, Site Director of Wilton
Medical Arts, earned a spirit
award for her leadership and
vision in creating Treasures
Consignment Boutique and Thrift
Shop while she served as the
Hospital’s Director of Volunteers.
Sipperly is thrilled by Treasures’ success, but is
adamant that much of the credit belongs to Saratoga
Hospital Volunteer Guild, which operates the shop.
Back row left to right: Denise
Romand, Julie Sipperly, Sharman
Lisieski. Front left to right: Julie
Demaree and Mike Wallner.
“They had very specific
requirements, including a tight
timeline,” Demaree says. “We
responded by doing what we’re
known for—finding a way to meet our customers’
needs, no matter what they are.”
Although she appreciates the award, Demaree
emphasizes that it is not hers alone. “Clearly, I
did not provide these services all by myself,” she
says. “It took the cooperation of everyone at Malta
Medical Arts and our entire Corporate Health
Services team. They are the ones who made this
work.”
Spirit Award winners
Lisieski, Director of the Operating Room (OR)
and Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), received a
Spirit Award for improving OR nursing coverage
Service Star of the Year:
Marlana Putman
Marlana Putman, a cashier
in the Food and Nutrition
Services Department, recently was named our Service
Excellence Star of the Year
for 2010. She was selected
at the recommendation of coworkers throughout Saratoga
Hospital, who cited Putman’s
“team spirit,” “true sense of
ownership in caring for her
customers,” “extraordinary
compassion,” “infectious
smile,” and “warm sense of humor.”
The Service Excellence Star of the Year is chosen from the
Hospital’s 12 Service Excellence Stars of the Month. Other
2010 Stars of the Month include Ann Bates, RN, Surgical
Services; Donald Clary, Environmental Services; Debra
Daniele, Laboratory Services; Karen Donworth, Regional
Therapy Center; Joyce Eichorst, Wilton Medical Arts; Lisa
Foster, RN, Saratoga Surgery Center; Jeremy Heisey, RN,
Intensive Care Unit; Erna Hembling, Same Day Surgery;
She received a second Spirit Award, along with
Mike Wallner, Director of Financial Planning,
for spearheading the Hospital’s Run for the ROC
(Radiation Oncology Center) in 2005 and sustaining
the event ever since. The only fundraiser organized
entirely by Hospital staff, the run has raised more
than $150,000 for our cancer patients. “Every year,
so many of our co-workers volunteer to help,”
Wallner says. “It’s an honor to be recognized, but
the thanks belong to everyone who works so hard
to make the event successful.”
Rabin Kayastha, Fiscal Services; Jeanne Leonard, Laboratory
Services; and Debra Price, RN, Emergency Services.
Putman says she was “floored and touched” by the Star of
the Month and Star of the Year honors and by the reception
she received at the Hospital. As Service Excellence Star of the
Year, she was chauffeured to work in a limousine. When she
arrived at the Hospital, her co-workers crowded the lobby and
tossed rose petals while Putman walked in on a red carpet.
During her nearly seven years at the Hospital, Putman has
entertained staff and visitors by decorating the cafeteria
and dressing in costumes to celebrate holidays and other
special occasions. In keeping with this tradition, she exited
the limousine dressed as a queen, wearing a tiara, a homemade sash, and “a velour shirt that just screamed royalty,”
she says.
But when talk turns to her job and Saratoga Hospital, Putman
takes a more serious tone. “This is a hospital, and many of the
people who come to my register—both visitors and staff—are
under stress,” she says. “My goal is to make sure they have
everything they need and to cash them out quickly so they can
sit down, enjoy their food, and forget their concerns, even for
just a few minutes.
“And if I can make them laugh or smile, that’s even better.”
Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin and You
By Dr. Allison D. Graziadei
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble
vitamin, which means it is
stored in the body’s fatty tissue.
Typically, exposure to sunlight
triggers vitamin D production in
the skin. That’s why vitamin D
is also known as the “sunshine
vitamin.”
Vitamin D plays an important role in bone
and muscle development, function, and
preservation. By allowing your body to absorb
enough calcium, vitamin D helps build strong,
healthy bones and helps guard against
osteoporosis. Vitamin D also has
been shown to reduce the risk
of falls and fractures in older
adults and to have a positive
effect on bone metabolism,
the lifelong process of
replacing old bone with
new bone tissue.
The challenge is to make
sure you get enough vitamin D.
Except for some fatty fish products
(such as wild, fresh salmon), most
foods don’t provide enough vitamin D to make
a difference. The other source of vitamin D, sun
exposure, is not recommended for prolonged
periods because of the risk of skin cancer.
As a result, deficiency is a problem worldwide.
Here in the U.S., up to 50% of the total
population and up to 75% of postmenopausal
women are reported to have low levels of
vitamin D. You are more likely to be deficient if
you are older, have dark skin, live at a northern
latitude, are obese, have chronic kidney or liver
disease, use certain medications (anticonvulsants,
glucocorticoids), or have difficulty absorbing
nutrients due to conditions such as gastric
bypass surgery, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, or
Crohn’s disease.
How much is enough?
Most experts agree that taking
supplements is the easiest way to
make sure you’re getting enough
vitamin D. But how much should
you take? That depends on your risk
factors and the level of vitamin D in
your body. You are considered deficient
if your vitamin D level is less than 20 ng/
ml. On the other hand, if your level is higher
than 50 ng/ml, you should probably reduce your
intake.
The typical maintenance dose of vitamin D
for adults is 800 to 1,000 IU per day. If you’re
deficient, your doctor will probably recommend
a dose of 50,000 IU per week for eight weeks.
You may have read reports that vitamin D
deficiency is a contributing factor in a growing
number of chronic diseases, including diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, selected cancers,
autoimmune diseases, and certain infections.
However, the current consensus is that more
evidence is needed to establish a cause-andeffect relationship between vitamin D deficiency
and these diseases. More research also is needed
on the benefits of vitamin D and optimal safe
doses.
Any decision on vitamin D should be based
on your personal situation, including your risk
factors and vitamin D levels. Talk with your
doctor about your intake of vitamin D and
calcium, whether you should take supplements,
and how much you should take.
Allison D. Graziadei, MD, is an endocrinologist
at The Saratoga Center for Endocrinology and
Diabetes. She is on the medical staff of Saratoga
Hospital.
A Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement®
Saratoga Hospital is the first and only hospital
in the Capital Region to be named a Blue
Distinction Center (BDC) for Knee and Hip
Replacement® by Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
that work and to our overriding commitment to
our patients.”
A major goal of the BDC program is to improve
patient outcomes by encouraging providers
The designation is awarded to medical facilities
to enhance the quality of care. The program
that demonstrate expertise in delivering quality
also is designed to help consumers and their
healthcare. As such, it is
doctors make informed
an affirmation of the high
choices about where
Designated as a
caliber of care provided
to undergo certain
in our new specialized,
types of procedures.
inpatient Orthopedic
According to a recent
Center.
survey, 77% of
physicians say that
Nationwide, 540 facilities
such designations
have earned the BDC
matter when choosing
designation for knee
a hospital.
and hip replacement. Of
those, 23 are in New York
To earn the BDC
for Knee and Hip Replacement
State. Only one—Saratoga
designation, Saratoga
Hospital—is in the Capital
Hospital had to
Region.
demonstrate that it
provides high-quality
“The surgeons at
comprehensive
Orthopaedic Associates
orthopedic care,
of Saratoga have been
BlueCross BlueShield
from patients’ early
working for several years
discussions about hip
of New York
to fine-tune our joint
or knee replacement
replacement program with
through pre-operative
the administration and
education, surgery,
staff at Saratoga Hospital,”
and follow-up
says Orthopedic Surgeon
rehabilitation. The
Lawrence H. Fein, MD.
designation is a validation of the coordinated,
“We have made improvements in all facets of
personal approach that is a hallmark of our
the pre-operative, operative, and post-operative
new Orthopedic Center. Every patient receives
experience. This certification is a testament to all individualized care from a team of orthopedic
professionals, including physicians, specialized
nursing staff, nurse practitioners, rehabilitation
professionals, and care management
professionals.
Note: Designation as Blue Distinction Centers® means these
facilities’ overall experience and aggregate data met objective
criteria established in collaboration with expert clinicians’
and leading professional organizations’ recommendations.
Individual outcomes may vary. To find out which services
are covered under your policy at any facilities, please call
your local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plan; and call
your provider before making an appointment, to verify the
most current information on its Network participation and
Blue Distinction status. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Association nor any of its licensees are responsible for any
damages, losses, or non-covered charges that may result from
using Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or
receiving care from a Blue Distinction or other provider.
Follow Saratoga Hospital on:
and our website:
www.saratogahospital.org
3
Setting the Pace for Excellence in Nursing
At 3 million strong nationwide, nurses make up the largest share of the healthcare workforce and typically have the most
frequent patient contact. Improve nursing education and training and the result could be a dramatic, positive impact on
patient care.
In fact, a recent report by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies called for improvements in the nursing
education system and recommended that nurses achieve higher levels of education and training. “Patient needs have
become more complicated,” the report said, “and nurses need to attain requisite competencies to deliver high-quality
care.”
Saratoga Hospital has long recognized the importance of a highly skilled nursing team and continually invests in nursing
education. The Hospital offers tuition assistance, on-site programs that help RN’s earn bachelor’s degrees and national
board certification, scholarships to encouraging existing employees to join the nursing ranks, and opportunities for ongoing education. To help prepare the nurses of the future, the Hospital also provides clinical training for nursing students
from area colleges.
In recent years, Saratoga Hospital has
placed considerable emphasis on nursing
education to support our nurses and
equip them with the skills to provide care
for increasingly complicated conditions.
Following are just some examples of our
progress and commitment:*
On pages 4 and 5, we highlight two of the Hospital’s newest nursing education initiatives, both of which are pilot programs. One brings a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program directly to the Hospital, allowing RN’s who have an associate
degree to earn their bachelor’s by attending courses held right here. The other initiative provides externships for students
from New York University College of Nursing, giving them their first taste of life as a nurse outside the New York City metropolitan area.
• 124, or 28.4%, of our RN’s have earned national
board certification in specialties such as emergency
nursing, operating room nursing, post-anesthesia
care, cardiac vascular nursing, and psychiatric and
mental health nursing. That’s up 45.2% since 2009,
when 68 of our RN’s were board certified.
NYU Turns to Saratoga Hospital
• 118, or 23.3%, of our RN’s have a bachelor’s degree
or higher. That number includes 103 RN’s with a
bachelor’s degree, 14 with a master’s, and one with
a PhD.
When Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean
of New York University (NYU) College of
Nursing, was looking for a community hospital
experience for her students, she thought almost
immediately of Saratoga Hospital. A graduate of
Skidmore College and member of its Board of
Trustees, Fulmer knows the Saratoga region and
the reputation of its only hospital.
“To me, the real attraction is not only that
Saratoga is a wonderful community but also that
it has a Magnet® hospital,” Fulmer says. “That’s
a distinguishing feature, especially when you’re
sending students four hours away for training.
You want the assurance of quality that Magnet
provides.”
Magnet status, granted by the American Nurses
Credentialing Center, is widely regarded as the
gold standard for patient care. Saratoga Hospital
earned Magnet designation in 2004 and
re-designation in 2010.
NYU’s nursing program is among the best
in the nation. Eight NYU students arrived at
Saratoga Hospital for a mini-term in January.
All had previous clinical experience, but not
in a community hospital. Their externship at
Saratoga marked the first time they worked
one-on-one with a nurse preceptor, following
the nurse’s schedule, assisting him or her with
patient care, and learning and practicing new
procedures.
“I’d never had the opportunity to see what a
nurse does for 12 hours,” says NYU student
Eugenia Panin, who completed her externship
in the William J. Hickey Women’s Health
Services unit. “It was amazing to be able to
follow the patients’ care throughout the entire
shift and to see how everything fits together.”
Ilea Smith feels much the same way. Her
externship was split between a medical-surgical
floor and the Hospital’s new Orthopedic Center.
Both assignments “gave me a real understanding
of what it’s like to be a nurse—to work a nurse’s
4
An
Increasingly
Educated Nursing Team
• 72, or 14.9%, of our RN’s are currently enrolled in
programs to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• 23 of those are enrolled in our on-site degree program, offered by Maria College. (See story, right.)
• Our Nursing Scholarship Program, supported by our
FOX23 News Golf Invitational (see story, page 5),
has enabled 27 employees to join our team of RN’s
by earning an associate or bachelor’s degree.
• We raise funds for ongoing nursing education every
year as part of our Annual Giving Program.
*As of March 15, 2011
NYU students’ final day.
shift, to organize your day, and to prioritize your
patients,” Smith says.
Externship assignments were based, in part, on the
students’ interests. In addition to the women’s health
and orthopedic units, students worked on medicalsurgical floors, in telemetry, the intensive care unit,
and the Alfred Z. Solomon Emergency Center.
Students reveled in the one-on-one attention from
their preceptors and were surprised and grateful for
the support they received from other members of the
Hospital’s healthcare team.
“Everyone on the floor was really great,” says Holly
Perlstein, who was assigned to the Same Day
Surgery unit. “They knew I was a student, so they’d
come up to me and say, ‘Would you like to put this
IV in?’ or ‘Why don’t you come watch this epidural?’
They all worked together to make sure I learned as
much as possible.”
For Smith, one of the most “eye-opening”
experiences came the day she was invited to
observe hip replacement surgery. “I was working
in the Orthopedic Center, so I’d seen the patients
after surgery and I was familiar with the recovery
process,” she recalls. “But I didn’t really make the
connection until I witnessed the surgery. That gave
me a much better understanding of what the patients
go through.”
Smith’s and Perlstein’s experiences reflect the culture
at Saratoga Hospital, where staff members are
encouraged both to further their own education and
to mentor those who will follow in their footsteps.
“On any given day, we have over 100 students here,
learning from the nurses on our units,” says Jane
Stratton, MS, RN-BC, Clinical Educator. “Our nurses
are the torchbearers.”
As the Hospital’s liaison with academic nursing
programs, Stratton arranged the NYU externships.
She also schedules clinical rotations for nursing
students from Adirondack Community College,
Excelsior College, Hudson Valley Community
College, Maria College, and The Sage Colleges.
That places her in a key position both to shape the
education of future nurses and to identify promising
prospects for Saratoga Hospital.
“We view this as a phenomenal opportunity to have
a positive impact on how nurses are trained and how
they ultimately deliver patient care,” Stratton says.
“We know that most will end up putting those skills
to work elsewhere,” she adds, “but our hope is that
some of the best will find their way back to Saratoga
Hospital and our community.”
Earning
Their Degrees On-Site
Like many nurses, Kim Winne, RN, and
Colleen Arnold, CEN, RN, delayed earning
their bachelor’s degrees to focus on balancing
work and family life. Now, however, their
children are older and the two RN’s have
been given an unprecedented opportunity:
to enroll in a baccalaureate nursing degree
program right at Saratoga Hospital.
Winne and Arnold are among 23 nurses
who are participating in a pilot program that
brings Maria College’s Bachelor of Science
in Nursing program to the Hospital. Most
take two three-credit courses per semester,
attending class for six
hours a week, yearround. At this rate,
they will complete
the program in 10
semesters, or a little
over three years.
“The opportunity is
a dream come true,”
Winne says. “They
are bending over
backwards for us. How
could we possibly say
‘no’?”
LaPosta, PhD, RN, Saratoga Hospital Vice
President and Chief Nursing Officer. “Our
innovative arrangement with Maria College
allows us to provide some extra support
for our nurses while they work toward this
goal.”
The Hospital also provides tuition assistance and has helped with administrative
tasks, from course registration to rearranging nursing schedules.
Those who are enrolled in the on-site
bachelor’s program have high praise for
the Hospital, the
college, and the
education they are
receiving. After
just two semesters,
they can see link
between their
coursework and
patient care.
Mara Luh, RN,
points to a course
in evidence-based
practice and her
related research on
bedside reporting
Arnold agrees. “More
at the change of
and more organizations
shift. This practice,
are moving toward
which has been
From left to right: Linda Fox, Mara Luh, Kim
requiring a bachelor’s
shown to improve
Winne
and
Colleen
Arnold.
for nurses,” she says,
communication
“so when the Hospital
among caregivers
offered this opportunity,
and promote patient
it was something I just couldn’t pass up.”
safety, recently was implemented on the
nursing floor where Luh works.
In a recent report, the Institute of Medicine
of the National Academies singled out higher
“When you look at the research and see the
nursing education as critical to ensuring “the
positive results, you understand the reasons
delivery of safe, patient-centered care” and
for the change to bedside reporting,” she
called for increasing the number of RN’s who
says. “You also can share those reasons
hold bachelor’s degrees. Nursing education
with patients and colleagues.”
levels also play a role in American Nurses
Linda Fox, RN, also cites lessons learned in
Credentialing Center Decisions to grant a
evidence-based practice. “I have a much
hospital Magnet® status, the gold standard for
better understanding of how important
patient care.
evidence-based practice is and how it can
“As a Magnet hospital, we are fully aware of
affect patient outcomes,” Fox says. “As a
the need to ensure that our nurses have a high result, I look more critically at the way we
level of academic preparation,” says Mary Jo
care for our patients.”
Supporting
Our RN
Scholarship
Program
SARATOGA HOSPITAL
Our FOX23 News Golf
Invitational will be held June 20 at Saratoga
National Golf Club. This annual event
combines a spectacular day of golf with a
very worthy cause: a scholarship program
that helps us attract and retain some of the
region’s best nurses.
Since 2002, the Invitational has enabled us
to award scholarships to 27 employees. In
exchange, scholarship recipients commit to
serving the Hospital and our community for at
least three years after earning their degree.
In many cases, scholarship funds are used
to “grow our own” nurses by encouraging
promising employees to earn an associate
degree and become a registered nurse. In
other instances, scholarships help existing
RN’s pursue the higher education that is
becoming increasingly important in meeting
the more complex needs of today’s patients.
“This event has been instrumental in helping
us develop a highly skilled nursing team—
one with the education and commitment
necessary to provide exceptional care,”
says Mary Jo LaPosta, Vice President and
Chief Nursing Officer. “Our Hospital and
our community owe an enormous debt of
gratitude to the donors and sponsors who
support this Invitational every year and to the
Foundation for establishing and administering
the RN Scholarship Program fund.”
A 1-in-300 chance to win
This year’s Invitational features an exciting
raffle opportunity—the chance to win your
choice of a trip to Las Vegas or Disney
World. Tickets are $100 and no more than
300 will be sold. Both vacation packages
are valued at about $8,000 and include
roundtrip air fare for four, three-night stay
at a luxury resort, two rounds of golf, and
more. The winner is NOT responsible for any
applicable taxes. Tickets are on sale now and
may be purchased from Rachel Wheatley,
Special Events Manager, Saratoga Hospital
Foundation, 583-8779 or rwheatley@
saratogacare.org. You do not have to attend
the Golf Invitational to purchase a ticket.
Our thanks to the following major event
sponsors: Title Sponsor FOX23 News;
Platinum Sponsors Saratoga National Golf
Club, Saratoga Casino and Raceway, AOW
Associates, Pepsi, and The Saratogian; Gold
Sponsors Camelot Print & Copy Center and
LabCorp; and Raffle Sponsor DeCrescente
Distributing Co., Inc. Special thanks to
event Chairman Pete D’Aloia of Turner
Construction, and to Turner Construction for
its generous support.
For more information on the Invitational or
additional sponsorship opportunities, contact
Rachel Wheatley at 583-8779 or rwheatley@
saratogacare.org.
5
Upgrading Space, Services at Wilton
Renovations to our Wilton Medical Arts outpatient center will add space,
improve privacy, and allow us to enhance services. Work is being done in
phases, with all construction expected to be completed this summer.
Following are some project highlights:
• Main Lobby: A new reception center with private registration areas
and comfortable, attractive furnishings.
• Urgent Care: Five new state-of the art patient rooms, upgraded
physician work space, and an additional high-efficiency nursing
station.
• Breast Health/Women’s Imaging: A major upgrade to launch our new
Saratoga Hospital Women’s Imaging Center (see related article, this
page), including dedicated space for ultrasound biopsies, an updated
stereotactic biopsy room, and a separate, relaxing reception area.
• Regional Therapy Center: Two additional physical therapy treatment
rooms, expanded space for occupational therapy services, and
a professional dance studio—already completed—for our new
Performing Artists Rehabilitation Program (see related article, next
page).
• Laboratory Services: A major expansion including six comfortable
draw stations and significantly more space for on-site testing.
Women’s Imaging
Center: Exceptional
Care and a Spa-Like
Atmosphere
A Breast Imaging
Center of Excellence
Our Saratoga Hospital Women’s
Imaging Center at Wilton Medical
Arts has earned American College
of Radiology (ACR) accreditation
as a Breast Imaging Center of
Excellence.
ACR is the leader in quality programs for breast imaging. ACR designation as a Center of Excellence
signifies that our Women’s Imaging
Center is fully accredited in all
breast imaging services: mammography, magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI), stereotactic breast biopsy,
breast ultrasound, and ultrasoundguided breast biopsy. The designation affirms that we have achieved
high practice standards in image
quality, personnel qualifications,
equipment, quality control, and
quality assurance.
The bottom line: You can count on
our Women’s Imaging Center for
care that meets or exceeds the
highest standards in the nation.
6
Starting this summer, patients at our new
Saratoga Hospital Women’s Imaging
Center can expect a more “spa-like”
experience, including a separate waiting
area that’s outfitted with plush furniture and stocked with appealing reading materials. These higher-end
amenities will complement the exceptional, personalized care that’s long been the hallmark of our breast
imaging services.
According to Mildred Aviles, CRA, Director, Medical Imaging, the atmosphere at the Women’s Imaging
Center reflects a concerted effort to encourage women not just to have routine mammograms but to take
better care of themselves in general.
“Women tend to put themselves last, and that tendency holds true even when it comes to medical care,”
Aviles says. “Our new Center is designed to make their annual screening a more pleasant experience, to
remind today’s busy women that they deserve to take some time out for comfort and relaxation.”
In keeping with that philosophy, several times a year, the new Center will host “mammography
celebrations,” offering women a half day away from home to have their mammogram, shop with on-site
vendors, and enjoy a mini-manicure and other similar services.
Recently designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology, our
new Women’s Imaging Center offers comprehensive imaging services, including: mammography, breast
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound, ultrasound-guided
breast biopsy, and DEXA scanning for osteoporosis. Extended weekday and Saturday hours make it
convenient for patients to schedule exams.
All exams are read by board-certified radiologists, many of whom specialize in breast imaging. If an
exam indicates a potential cause for concern, our nurse navigator shepherds patients through the followup process, scheduling additional tests and consults and serving as a source of support.
“Our efforts have always centered on our patients and their needs,” Aviles said. “Our new facilities and
amenities are yet another way of emphasizing our commitment to women’s health—and encouraging
women to follow our lead.”
Keeping Dancers on Their Toes—and on Stage
Introducing Performing Artists Rehabilitation
Capital Region dancers now have access to
a rehabilitation program that combines the
expertise of a licensed physical therapist with
the experience of a professional dancer—
and the equipment of a professional
dance studio.
Located at Wilton Medical Arts, our
new dance rehabilitation studio is
the first of its kind in the region. The
studio is outfitted with a Harlequin
sprung floor, Alva ballet barres,
and floor-to-ceiling mirrors. Equally
important, rehabilitation is overseen by
Sarah DiPasquale, a professional dancer
who holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy
degree. DiPasquale also is an adjunct faculty
member in the Dance Department of Skidmore
College and serves on the board of the Ellen
Sinopoli Dance Company, the resident company
of The Egg in Albany.
Dance rehabilitation is one component of our
new Performing Artists Rehabilitation Program,
which provides highly specialized therapy
for ballet and modern dancers, figure skaters,
gymnasts, musicians, vocalists, and actors.
Upon the referral of a physician, our physical,
occupational, and speech therapists assess each
performer’s injuries and develop a customized
treatment plan. “We understand that most
artists find it impossible to completely stop
performing when they have an injury,” says
a career in physical therapy. My new passion
is to prevent injuries from happening to other
dancers,” she says.
Peggy Lounsbury, OTR/L, FAOTA, Director of
the Hospital’s Regional Therapy Center. “We
do everything we can to develop a modified
technique that allows the injured dancers
to continue to rehearse or perform without
compromising the rehabilitation process.”
DiPasquale knows first-hand that injuries can
sideline a performer and recast a career. She
began studying dance at age 3 and went on to
train at the Boston Conservatory. DiPasquale
then spent four years as a professional modern
dancer before being forced to retire because of a
knee injury. “After I retired, I decided to pursue
DiPasquale has helped rehabilitate more
than 30 performing artists since the
program opened in late fall. Two
of her earliest successes involved
Clara and the Snow Queen in the
Saratoga City Ballet performance of
The Nutcracker last holiday season.
After working with DiPasquale,
both dancers were able to take their
place on stage for the holiday favorite.
Both also learned how to prevent similar
injuries in the future. In one case, DiPasquale
helped the dancer correct an improper position
“en pointe,” which appeared to be the cause of
her injury.
“That’s one of the principal benefits of
the Harlequin sprung floor and the dance
rehabilitation studio,” DiPasquale explains. “They
allow us to safely evaluate and treat all aspects
of a dancer’s movements. Without the special
features of the dance rehab studio, the dancers
would risk further injury.”
For more information on our Performing Artists
Rehabilitation Program, upcoming prevention
programs or screenings, and any of our
comprehensive rehabilitation services, call the
Regional Therapy Center at 583-8383.
New Vestibular
Rehabilitation Program
Backstretch Clinic Now Open
More than 700 visits last season
For the third year in a row, Saratoga Hospital
and Saratoga Emergency Physicians (SEP) have
partnered with the Backstretch Employee Service
Team (BEST) to operate a health clinic at Saratoga
Race Course. The clinic opened for one day a
week starting May 3. It will be open six days a
week during racing season.
Since the three organizations joined forces in
2009, visits to the BEST Backstretch Clinic have
increased over 600% to 702 visits last year.
The clinic owes much of its success to a team
of bilingual healthcare professionals who speak
the same language as the workers, are sensitive
to cultural issues, and serve their patients with
respect and compassion.
“Many workers look forward to visiting Saratoga
specifically because of the health services that are
provided,” one backstretch worker says. “Most of
the time, people wait until they come here to go
to the doctor. This is the only place you can get
this kind of service.”
Another worker agrees, “The care is wonderful,”
he says. “They truly care about you here.”
Services include immediate treatment for
work-related injuries; diagnosis, treatment,
and management of chronic conditions such
as asthma and diabetes; routine physicals and
immunizations; lab services; women’s healthcare;
mental health and substance abuse services; and
referrals and arrangements for follow-up and
specialty care.
Physician and physician assistant services are
provided by SEP, the same practice that provides
emergency and urgent care for Saratoga Hospital
and our Urgent Care centers. Patients who need
additional care are referred to specialists on the
Hospital’s medical staff.
The 2011 Saratoga Race Course meet will run
from July 22 through September 5. At the height
of the season, the track typically employs about
1,500 backstretch workers.
Our Regional Therapy Center at Washington
Street offers vestibular rehabilitation to treat
a variety of balance and vestibular/inner ear
problems, including vertigo, dizziness, and
imbalance. The individualized, exercisebased program has proved effective even in
cases where medical intervention has had
little or no success.
Vestibular rehabilitation may be prescribed
to help treat the following conditions:
• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
(BPPV)
• Unilateral vestibular hypo-function
• Bilateral vestibular hypo-function
• S/P acoustic neuroma removal
• Position sensitivity
• Dizziness after cerebro-vascular accident
(CVA)
• Endolymphatic Fistula
For more information, call our Regional
Therapy Center at 583-8383.
7
A Lasting Commitment to
Emergency Medicine Education
Personal injury Attorney Brian Lee has
spent nearly three decades as an advocate
for accident victims, making sure they’re
compensated fairly by the legal system
and the insurance industry. Now, through
an endowment gift to Saratoga Hospital,
he’s looking out for victims’ medical
interests, too.
The Brian Lee Law Firm Emergency
Medicine Education Endowment Fund
was established in March to support
ongoing education for Hospital employees
involved in emergency care. The goal is
to provide emergency medicine personnel
with opportunities to continually update
their skills and keep pace with the latest
advances.
Lee provided the start-up gift, pledged
to make a second contribution later this
year, and said he intends to continue to
support the fund with annual donations.
Because the fund is endowed, it will
provide a permanent source of support,
benefiting emergency patients for
generations to come.
From left to right: Brian Lee, Angelo Calbone, CEO; Ann Marie
Cross, MS, RN Director of Emergency Department.
“This gift is particularly meaningful because of the long history
of involvement the Lee family has had with Saratoga Hospital,”
says Terry Lee, (no relation), Executive Director, Saratoga Hospital
Foundation. “Brian’s father, Don Lee, was the President of the
Saratoga Hospital Board during the 80’s and early 90’s. By creating
this fund, Brian is carrying on the tradition of generosity established by
his mother and father.”
Acknowledging our “Guardians”
Brian Lee estimates that 80% of his
clients who are involved in auto
collisions are first treated for their
injuries at the Hospital’s Alfred Z.
Solomon Emergency Center. “We’re
interested in doing everything we
can to ensure the best possible
emergency care for our clients
and for the community,” he says.
“The sooner people get the correct
diagnosis and receive the best
urgent care, the faster they will
recover.”
Lee has lived in Saratoga Springs
since he was 2 years old and started
his law practice in 1982. He began
as a general practitioner but found
himself increasingly drawn to the
challenges and rewards of litigating
for accident victims who have
suffered life-changing injuries. That
same desire to help was behind
Lee’s decision to establish the
endowment fund.
He cites the growth of the Saratoga region and the resulting congestion
and increase in automobile accidents. “We can’t prevent accidents,”
Lee says, “but we can continually help to improve the services
available to accident victims—in my office and now at the Emergency
Department of Saratoga Hospital.”
Your Endowment Fund
me “Under th
o
C
eS
for Summer Benefi ea”
t
Annual Gala August 3
Join us August 3 for our 29th Annual Summer Benefit Auction, which will
be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Lodge at Nelson and Crescent Avenues in
Saratoga Springs. Our goal is to raise $340,000.
One of summer’s hottest tickets, the annual gala is known for its exciting
auction items and original themes. This year’s event will take guests “Under
the Sea” and offer ample opportunity to bid on “sunken treasure” during live
and silent auctions.
Enjoy music by The Caribbean Breeze Steel Band, an open bar, hors
d’oeuvres, and buffet food stations. Creature comforts will include
presidential restrooms. Special thanks to our Honorary Chairpersons Marylou
Whitney and John Hendrickson, Chairperson Elizabeth Alexander, and major
underwriters Saratoga Casino and Raceway, Jim LaVigne and Mary Gavin,
Millennium Medical Imaging, and Turbine Services Ltd.-The Riggi Family.
Tickets cost $150 per person for those ages 36 and up and $100 for those 35
and under. If you are interested in underwriting or donor opportunities, or
would like more information about the event, please call Saratoga Hospital
Foundation at 583-8340 or email [email protected].
8
If you would like to support a specific Saratoga Hospital-related cause, you
can establish your own named endowment fund with our Foundation. The
minimum initial contribution is $25,000. Once you establish the fund, you
may add to it at any time. Others may contribute to your fund, as well.
For many donors, what’s most attractive about endowed funds is that they
are permanent. The initial gift is never spent. Instead, it is invested, and
earnings are distributed year after year to support the cause that you’ve
chosen. For example, the new Brian Lee Law Firm Emergency Medicine
Education Endowment Fund (above) will provide support for emergency
medicine education for generations to come.
For more information about the advantages of establishing an endowment
fund, contact Susan Axelrod, Director of Planned Giving, Saratoga Hospital
Foundation, at 583-8663 or [email protected].
Thank You, Stewart’s!
Once again Stewart’s Shops has awarded us a $3,000 grant from its
Holiday Match program.
Stewart’s customers donated $640,000 during the 2010 holiday season.
The match from Stewart’s Shops brought the total to a record $1.28 million,
which was distributed to 1,409 children’s charities within the Stewart’s
service area.
One of our most faithful supporters, Stewart’s has donated Holiday Match
funds to the Hospital every year for more than 20 years.
Eighty-nine donors are among the first to earn a place
in our Guardian Club, which was launched in 2010
to recognize those who donate $1,500 or more to
Saratoga Hospital in a given year. Together, they have
contributed $198,400.
The Guardian Club also seeks to strengthen the
relationship between the Hospital and its donors and to
connect them with others who share their belief in the
importance of high-quality community healthcare.
“Today’s donors want to be more informed and
more involved in the organizations that they support.
They want to be certain that our plans reflect their
philanthropic goals,” says Terry Lee, Executive
Director, Saratoga Hospital Foundation. “They also
appreciate the opportunity to be part of a core group
of charitable individuals who make a meaningful
contribution to our community.”
Guardian Club members receive a quarterly newsletter
from the Hospital President and CEO; an invitation to
an exclusive, annual recognition event; advance notice
of naming opportunities within new Hospital facilities;
a direct line to the Executive Director of Saratoga
Hospital Foundation; and other benefits.
“We know that these donors want to communicate
with us on a regular basis,” Lee says, “so we’re
providing them with a series benefits to keep the lines
of communication open.”
On behalf of the Hospital and our community, we
extend our heartfelt thanks to the following Guardians
for their generosity and their philanthropic leadership:
Lucille Albergo and David
Mastrianni
Michael and Martha Iacolucci
Kevin and Roseann Ronayne
Kevin Johnson
Richard and Tymm Schumaker
Wallace and Suzanna Allerdice
Mary Jo LaPosta
Brad Sexauer
Lawrence and Leslie Benton
Mary Gavin and James LaVigne
Marion Simon
Karl W. Broekhuizen
Patricia Ann Lee
Jitendra and Sudha Singh
Angelo and Kate Calbone
Terry Lee
Don and Linda Snyder
Brian and Lori Carmer, Stone
Bridge Iron & Steel
Elizabeth Macy
Jeff and Amy Methven
Mark St. Pierre, Espey Mfg. &
Electronics Corp.
Edward Mitzen
Robert and Sheila Striffler
John Mulcahy, Taft Furniture
Michael and Linda Toohey
Daniel Murphy
Arturo Vasquez, CS Arch
Ian Murray, Brookside Nursery
Jeff and Elaine Vukelic
Michael and Marlene Okby
Dr. Angela Watt, Millennium
Medical Imaging
Peter and Jennifer Cholnoky
Pete and Karen D’Aloia
Robin and Matt Dalton
Kathy and Charlie DiSanto
William J. Donovan
Keith Ferrara
Stephen and Barbara Ferraro
Mary Ellen Fischer and Eric J.
Weller
Gary and Ann Foster
Brian Fredette, Fredette,
Sankowski & Company
James and Joanne Grande
Ernest and Carmella Grandy
Lisa M. Hall
John and Claudine Hedbring
Anne Palamountain
Jim Paratore, Adirondack
Medical Supply
Gail Pastor
Jeffrey and Deane Pfeil
Terrance and Janice White
Timothy Zilka, North American
Services Group
Larry and Marie Zinter
Carol Pinsley
Gary and Carol Pluta
David and Helen Porter
Leonard Prazych
John and A.C. Riley
“First” in Giving Back
SARATOGA HOSPITAL
Saratoga Hospital employees are
among the most generous in the
Capital Region, raising more money
for the United Way and the American
Heart Association than their peers at
hospitals more than three times our
size.
nearly $14,000 more than our
Employee Campaign goal of $60,000.
people you trust. care
you deserve.
“This is amazing,” Angelo Calbone,
Saratoga Hospital recently received
word that our staff’s contribution of
$24,468 to the United Way last year
was the most of any Capital Region
hospital. Our goal of $30,000 leads
the way for 2011, as well.
Our employees posted equally
impressive results for the 2010 North
Country Start! Heart Walk. With 350
registered walkers and a fundraising
total of $24,516, Saratoga Hospital
earned recognition for highest level of
participation and most money raised
by a local business. Our employees
have already begun registering walkers
and raising money for the 2011 Heart
Association event.
In addition, our employees lead
the way in supporting their own
organization’s annual campaign. For
2010, our staff donated $73,970—
Saratoga Hospital President and CEO,
wrote in a recent memo to staff. “It
is a testament to how we support the
community that supports us.”
Hospital employees also are involved
in annual fundraisers for the March
of Dimes and American Cancer
Society. They support numerous
local organizations, host our own
annual Run for the ROC (see related
article, page 12) donate blood to the
American Red Cross, and reach out
to our patients and community in
countless other ways.
“Most of the time, when we speak of
the culture of excellence at Saratoga
Hospital, we refer to our great patient
satisfaction scores, our certifications
and accreditations, and the personal
attention that we provide,” Calbone
says. “But this extraordinary generosity
is part of that culture, too. It’s one
more example of what sets our
Hospital and our community apart.”
A Favorite Family Event
Bring the entire family to our Cantina Kids Fun Run June 5 to benefit
pediatric emergency services. Now in its fourth year, this popular event
has helped raise approximately $65,000 for emergency care at Saratoga
Hospital.
The run starts and ends in the Cantina restaurant parking lot at 430
Broadway, Saratoga Springs. Choose from two courses, for two different
age groups. Course 1, for ages 5 through 8, is a ¼-mile loop around
the block on which Cantina is located. Course 2, for ages 9 through 12,
is a mile long. The event also features music, face painting, a bounce
house, and healthy snacks in the Cantina parking lot. Runners, family,
and friends are welcome.
Registration is $12 per child on or before May 27 and $15 after that
date and on race day. Adults are welcome to run alongside children,
but must also pay and register. Pre-registered runners receive an event
T-shirt and water bottle. Race-day registration begins at 8 a.m., followed
by the Fun Run at 9.
Special thanks to presenting sponsor CDPHP and to Jeff and Heath
Ames of Cantina. For more information or a registration form,
contact Rachel Wheatley, Special Events Manager, Saratoga Hospital
Foundation, 583-8779 or [email protected]. Or, visit www.
cantinafunrun.com or www.saratogahospitalfoundation.org.
9
The Gluten-Free Lifestyle
By Amy Laskey, RD, CDN
Gluten-Free Recipe:
Quinoa and
Black Beans
Serves 4
Ingredients
½ teaspoon vegetable oil
Small onion, chopped
1¼ cloves garlic, peeled and
chopped
¼ cup and 2 teaspoons uncooked
quinoa
½ cup and 2 tablespoons vegetable
broth
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup frozen corn kernels
½ cup diced tomatoes (canned or
fresh)
¾ (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed
and drained
3 tablespoons and ½ teaspoon
chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
Heat the oil in a medium saucepan
over medium heat. Stir in the onion
and garlic and sauté until lightly
browned.
Mix quinoa into the saucepan and
cover with vegetable broth. Season
with cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and
pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil.
Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20
minutes.
Stir frozen corn into the saucepan.
Continue to simmer about 5 minutes
until heated through. Mix in the black
beans, tomatoes, and cilantro.
In the world of food and
nutrition, we constantly see
trends come and go. One
relatively recent trend is
the gluten-free diet. Some
people are choosing this
diet because they believe it’s
healthier. Others have no choice: They must
follow a gluten-free diet for health reasons,
including celiac disease, a wheat allergy,
or gluten intolerance/sensitivity. For these
individuals, the gluten-free trend has
significant benefits. Gluten-free
foods—once difficult or even
impossible to find—are now
available in neighborhood
grocery stores.
Celiac disease is an
autoimmune disease that
affects about 1 in 133
Americans. It is a permanent
condition and it tends to
run in families. People who
have celiac disease cannot
tolerate gluten, a protein that’s
found in wheat, rye, and barley. The
gluten damages their small intestines and
prevents it from absorbing critical nutrients.
Left untreated, celiac disease can cause
severe damage to the gastrointestinal (GI)
tract, malnourishment, osteoporosis, and or
anemia. Patients with celiac disease also are
at increased risk for GI cancers.
Diagnosis is the first step in preventing these
complications, but it can be difficult in part
because symptoms can be similar to those
for other conditions. Symptoms include
unintentional weight loss, bloating and gas,
fatigue, bowel irregularities, and vitamin and
mineral deficiencies.
Celiac disease is serious and requires regular
monitoring by experienced healthcare
professionals. If you have symptoms of celiac
10
By Dr. Ken Schwartz
A wheat allergy does not have the same
long-term consequences as celiac disease.
Even so, the allergy cannot be ignored.
Allergic reactions to wheat can be serious
and can include rash, wheezing, swollen lips,
abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Gluten intolerance/sensitivity is not linked
to the immune system and is not believed
to cause permanent damage to the GI tract.
Symptoms tend to come and go and
include gassiness, abdominal pain,
bloating, and diarrhea.
If you have symptoms of any
of these three conditions, you
may be tempted to adopt
a gluten-free diet without
checking first with your
doctor. That would be a
mistake. The three conditions
are very different, and it’s
important to get the right
diagnosis. Self-treating with a
gluten-free diet could create false
test results and the wrong diagnosis.
Whatever your reasons for adopting a
gluten-free lifestyle, start by meeting with
a registered dietitian who is well-versed in
the implications of this type of diet. If you’re
like most people, you may be surprised at
the changes you’ll have to make to be truly
compliant. You also will welcome the help in
addressing some of the nutrition challenges
that a gluten-free diet can present.
Saratoga Hospital Outpatient Nutrition
Services offers individual nutrition
consultations, including help developing
and following a gluten-free diet. For more
information or to make an appointment, call
886-5100. Amy Laskey is a registered dietitian
and certified dietitian/nutritionist at Saratoga
Hospital.
Having a routine physical is one of the
smartest steps you can take to protect
your health. That annual visit is the
ideal opportunity for your primary
care provider to note any changes
in your health and to screen for the
different conditions that tend to crop up
at different ages.
The focus of your physical will vary depending on your age,
lifestyle, and family history. In general, though, you can expect the
following:
Late teen years
• Screening for testicular cancer. This disease is most common
in men ages 18 to 38, but it has an exceptionally high cure
rate, particularly if it’s detected early. Expect your provider to
recommend monthly self-testicular exams.
• Discussion of safe sexual practices. This will include
contraception techniques to avoid unwanted pregnancies,
and barrier methods, such as condoms, to prevent sexually
transmitted diseases.
30’s and beyond
• Screening for erectile dysfunction, which is the first sign of
hardening of the arteries. If you smoke, have high blood pressure,
diabetes, high cholesterol, or family history of heart disease or
stroke, expect screening to begin early. The good news: Effective
treatments are available.
• Increased emphasis on healthy life habits. Smoking and
obesity are lethal, silent risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
Expect your provider to talk to you about smoking cessation
aids, including classes, medication, or a combination of both
approaches. If you’re overweight, your provider may refer you
to a dietitian or recommend a specific diet—one that is well
planned, easy to follow, regimented, and has a proven record
of success. Your provider may also recommend an exercise
program to help you manage your weight, alleviate stress,
and reduce your risk factors.
40’s and older
• Screening for enlarged prostate and prostate cancer. This will
include a yearly digital rectal exam and, often, blood testing,
particularly if you have a family history of prostate cancer.
• Cholesterol screening, which is critical for both sexes and is
directly linked to heart disease and stroke. The importance of
screening increases with age, as the likelihood of developing
both diseases increases at age 40. Heart disease and stroke tend
to occur earlier in men, but become equally common in both
sexes as they reach their 60’s.
• Colon cancer screening, starting at age 40 with yearly checks
for blood in the stool. If you have a family history of colon
cancer, your provider will also recommend that you have your
first colonoscopy, a procedure that uses a flexible, fiber-optic
instrument to examine the colon. If you are not at increased risk
for colon cancer, expect to have your first colonoscopy at age 50.
That may seem like a lot of information to digest, but all you really
have to remember is one simple message: Have an annual physical.
Your primary care provider will take it from there.
Ken Schwartz, MD, is a family practitioner with Saratoga Family
Physicians. He is on the medical staff of Saratoga Hospital.
Our Newest Medical Staff Members
Following are the newest additions to our medical staff, which includes over 360 admitting
providers representing more than 30 specialties. More information on these and all of our
medical staff members is available on our website, www.saratogahospital.org. For a referral,
call our HealthSource line, 24 hours a day at 580-2450 or, toll-free, at 1-866-580-2450.
A “Best Nursing Home”
Our Saratoga Care Nursing Home has earned a place
among U.S. News & World Report’s Best Nursing Homes
2011 by receiving a ranking of five stars overall.
The rankings, which highlight facilities across the nation
that provide high-quality care, are a helpful tool for millions of elderly Americans and their families in search of
a nursing home. Rankings are available at www.usnews.
com/nursinghomes.
Call HealthSource,
580-2450
Nutritional information per serving (using fresh
tomatoes)
*You can reduce the sodium content by
using low- or reduced-sodium vegetable
broth.
Why You Need Routine Physicals
Need Information, Referrals?
Serve hot or chilled, whichever you
prefer.
Calories: 142
Fat: 1.7 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 467 mg*
Carbohydrate: 25 g
Fiber: 7 g
Protein: 7 g
disease, be sure to discuss them with your
healthcare provider.
Men’s Health:
Valet Parking at Main
Entrance
For your convenience, Saratoga Hospital offers
free valet parking at the main entrance Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Just pull up, and
we’ll take care of the rest.
Our free HealthSource call line is available
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether
you need a physician referral, are interested
in registering for a Community Education
program, or want more information on any of
our programs or services, just give us a call at
580-2450 or, toll-free, 1-866-580-2450. You
can also register for Community Education
online. Go to www.saratogahospital.org and,
on the left side of our home page, click on
Classes & Events.
Karin Borrelli, MD
Family Medicine
Patricia Ford, MD
Palliative Medicine
Efrosini Kolios, MD
Urology
Wen Xie, MD, PhD,
MSPH
Occupational and
Environmental
Medicine
Not Shown:
Sean Kennedy, DO
Ear, Nose, and Throat/Otolaryngology
Heather Madigan, DO
Hospitalist/Inpatient Medicine
Sandra J. DeSantis, MD
Psychiatry
U.S. News’s Best Nursing Homes profiles more than
15,000 facilities and ranks them by state, using data
and quality ratings from the federal government.
Facilities that ranked highest in Best Nursing Homes
2011 earned overall five-star ratings. Only about one
home in seven—including Saratoga Care Nursing
Home—met this standard.
“The U.S. News ranking is a welcome affirmation of the
skill, compassion, and dedication of our nursing home
team,” says Angelo Calbone, President and CEO of
Saratoga Hospital and Saratoga Care. “They go out of
their way, every day, to meet our residents’ needs and
help them and their families through what can be very
difficult times.“
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