TMC - Texoma Medical Center

texoma
health news from
Medical Center
fall 2013
Personalized,
specialty care
just for
you
Welcome to the new
TMC Breast Care Center
anterior hip
replacements:
Patient-friendly technique
arrives at TMC
tmc home
health
Getting personal
gets better results
ents
Complim a
of Texom ter
Cen
Medical
in this issue
4
arrives at TMC
a welcoming
place
The TMC Breast Care
Center is open
9
CEO
anterior hip
replacements
Patient-friendly technique
6
From the
no place
like home
Home healthcare
gets personal
Celebrate
breast cancer survivors
at TMC in October
Our annual “Think Pink” event,
held in collaboration with the Texoma
Health Foundation, is scheduled for
Tuesday, Oct. 22 at Texoma Medical
Center from 6 to 8 p.m. Bidding in the
silent auction starts at 10 a.m. and ends at
7 p.m. There will be information booths
to visit, refreshments to enjoy and door
prizes. If you’re a cancer survivor,
you’ll receive a special pink corsage. For
more information, visit our website at
www.texomamedicalcenter.net.
2 www.texomamedicalcenter.net
Life is full of change, and we embrace it at Texoma
Medical Center. As the populations of North Texas and
Southern Oklahoma grow, we are planning and adding new
technologies, new practices and new physicians to meet
the expanding needs of our patients and communities.
With an increase in babies born at TMC and the birth rate in
Texas one of the highest in the nation, we have responded by
enlarging our maternity department with two new labor and
delivery suites. We have opened the new TMC Breast Care
Center – separate but close to the hospital – so that patients
have a local resource for a wide range of breast health services.
And as the older adult population climbs throughout the Texoma
region, we have strengthened TMC Home Health with highly
personalized care and multi-disciplinary therapy plans
for every patient.
Texoma Medical Center embraces change in medical technology
because we believe it can improve quality of care. We have
brought minimally invasive robotic techniques – via the da Vinci®
Si™ surgical navigation system – into our general surgery suites to
reduce the amount of time patients spend on the operating table
and the time they spend recovering. We are the first hospital in
the region to perform Single-Site™ robotic surgery and are proud
to offer an innovative technique for hip replacement – that can
lessen pain, shorten hospital stays, cut down on restrictions after
surgery and make recovery faster. Read more about it on page 4.
These are the kinds of changes we’re pleased to bring to you
this fall at Texoma Medical Center.
Ronald T. Seal
Chief Executive Officer
Texoma Medical Center
&
Healthy
pregnant
Besides eating healthy foods,
seeing your doctor regularly and
drinking lots of water, there are
things you should completely avoid
to help ensure a healthy pregnancy.
• Don’t smoke, drink alcohol
or use illegal drugs.
• Avoid exposure to toxic
substances such as cleaning
solvents, lead, mercury and
insecticides.
Special delivery
More babies call for new labor and delivery
suites at Texoma Medical Center.
The Birth Place at Texoma Medical Center offers
expectant parents a unique combination of advanced technology
and capabilities in a welcoming atmosphere. That is the reason
more parents are choosing to have their babies at TMC, and
why we have expanded our maternity department.
In July, TMC started construction
on two new labor and delivery suites
that provide soon-to-be moms and
dads with safe, comfortable and
pleasing surroundings in which to
deliver their babies. The suites,
now open, are designed to offer the
best in technological efficiency, along
with amenities that help new mothers
– as well as their family members –
relax while they take part in the
birthing process.
Much like the current labor and
delivery suites, the new rooms feature
a spacious open area around the bed
to accommodate a reassuring team of
skilled physicians, nurses and support
personnel. A lounge area allows family
members and friends who may be
979
coaching or tending to the patient to
sit and take time out. The new suites
are connected to Texoma’s advanced
security system to put mom and dad
at ease as they welcome and get to
know their new son or daughter.
For even more peace of mind,
Texoma Medical Center offers
everything new parents require both
before and after the baby comes. The
hospital hosts a menu of classes for
expectant parents on everything from
breastfeeding to big brother/big sister
compatibility. And as babies grow,
our Pediatric Unit is ready – with
children’s care from a warm, friendly
staff trained to meet your child’s
every need. ■
Babies born
at TMC in 2012
1,300
• Don’t change or clean cat litter
boxes; this can put you at risk for
toxoplasmosis, an infection that
can be harmful to the fetus.
• Don’t eat swordfish, king
mackerel, shark and tilefish,
which are high in mercury.
• Avoid contact with rodents as
well as their urine, droppings and
nesting material. Rodents can
carry a virus that can be harmful
to your unborn baby.
• Refrain from taking very hot
baths, saunas or soaking in hot
tubs. High temperatures can be
harmful to the fetus.
ource: U.S. Department of Health and
S
Human Services; womenshealth.gov
mOmmy
Advantage
If you’re
planning
to deliver
your baby at Texoma Medical
Center, our Mommy Advantage
Program offers special bonuses.
It’s easy and free to enroll. Visit
www.texomamedicalcenter.net and
click on Community Information.
Babies TMC expects
to deliver in 2013
www.texomamedicalcenter.net 3
Advanced techniques
mean patients can
have more mobility,
quicker recovery
after hip or knee
replacement surgery.
News
in joint replacement
M
edical science
is continually
looking for
ways to reduce
pain and shorten recovery
time for patients. Orthopedic
surgeons have found one in
an alternative approach to
hip and knee replacements,
and Benjamin Wilson, MD, an
orthopedic surgeon at Texoma
Medical Center, is one of the
few surgeons in the region
to perform these advanced
procedures. ➤
4 www.texomamedicalcenter.net
The anterior – or “front” –
approach is changing hip
replacements for patients across
the country. This involves surgeons
accessing the hip joint from the
front of the hip as opposed to the
lateral (side) or posterior (back).
The Arch Table Extension,™
which is a leg-holding traction
device attached to the
surgical table, helps make the
procedure possible.
“A partial knee replacement
preserves all the ligaments and
preserves the healthy portion of
the knee,” says Dr. Wilson. “With
a total knee replacement, most of
the cartilage and at least one of
the major ligaments are removed.”
Dr. Wilson explains that only
certain patients are candidates
for partial knee replacement; all
ligaments must be intact, and
arthritis is usually isolated to
“We don’t do these procedures just because
they’re new. If it’s clearly more beneficial for
the patient – that’s the reason to do it.”
Benjamin Wilson, MD
Its unique ability to position the
leg enables surgeons to replace
the hip through a single incision,
and without detaching muscle
from the pelvis or femur.
“Using the anterior approach, we
don’t have to cut through muscle
and tendons,” says Dr. Wilson.
“We go between the muscles. This
is much easier on the patient.”
While operating on the knee
allows fewer entry options than
the hip, the same kind of minimally
invasive surgery is giving knee
replacement patients benefits as
well. Knee surgery is almost always
done with an anterior approach,
but sometimes less invasive
surgery may be all a patient needs.
the inner or medial part of the
knee while the outer part and
knee cap are healthy. However,
he says that not all surgeons are
“comfortable doing partials.”
One reason might be their lack
of training in the prosthesis
used as the implant.
“We use the ‘gold standard’
knee prosthesis,” says Dr. Wilson.
“You have to undergo special
FDA training in order use
this implant. Having a partial
knee replacement can mean a
smaller incision, and more
natural knee motion when
it’s done.” ■
To schedule an appointment for an evaluation on whether anterior
hip replacement or partial knee replacement surgery is for you,
call Direct Doctors Plus® at 903-416-DOCS (3627).
Benefits of
anterior hip
replacement
Benjamin
Wilson, MD,
orthopedic
surgeon at
Texoma
Medical Center, says that
anterior hip replacement
offers more benefits to patients
than a traditional lateral
or posterior approach.
The anterior method is
“muscle-sparing,” so that
patients can have less pain,
a shorter hospital stay
and quicker recovery. He
says it also requires fewer
precautions – or restrictions –
after surgery.
“Patients can cross their
legs and sit in a low chair,
which they would be advised
not to do otherwise,” says
Dr. Wilson. “It’s also full
weight bearing, which means
rather than using a walker
for a while after the surgery,
they are up and around
right away.”
www.texomamedicalcenter.net 5
feature story
Now
there is
one place women
in North Texas and
Southern Oklahoma
can go for all the
services they need
for maintaining
breast health.
The new TMC Breast
Care Center offers
a warm atmosphere,
advanced imaging
and diagnostic
services, and the
support of a full-time
nurse navigator.
At TMC, breast care
is something women
can feel good about.
6 www.texomamedicalcenter.net
Now at ical
Med
Texomanter
Ce
The care
you
need
is right here
It’s easy to take breast health for granted. When everything is going fine, we are relieved to just forget
about it and get on with our lives. But to make sure things really are fine, we need to be aware and check
in with our healthcare providers. That means self-exams, regular checkups and annual mammograms.
Unfortunately, women are often reluctant to take these steps.
A study published online in the Journal of
Women’s Health* found that the top reasons
women avoid having mammograms are that “the
test caused too much pain, the women were too
busy and they were embarrassed to have the test.”
The TMC Breast Care Center takes these issues
head-on by creating a center that is convenient,
comfortable and private.
“Women tend to shy away
from breast care in a hospital
setting,” says Brandy Blount,
RN, nurse navigator at the
TMC Breast Care Center.
Brandy Blount, RN
“Our new, freestanding center
Nurse Navigator
is intimate and inviting –
it’s more like a spa than a hospital.”
A friend along the way
As nurse navigator, Blount is the person who
works with patients from the first time they come
into the center through any type of diagnosis
or treatment they may require. For example,
if someone has an abnormal mammography
screening, Blount will guide her through the next
step, whether it’s a biopsy or surgery. She will make
referrals for oncologists, help with scheduling and
help coordinate follow-up care. All along, she is
available for any kind of questions.
“My goal is to provide a consistent presence,
someone to bond with,” says Blount, who spent the
three years prior to her current role as an oncology
nurse. “I act as a social worker, nurse and facilitator,
as well as a connection between the patient and the
physicians. I give women someone to go to.” ➤
*Reported by U.S. News & World Report (Jan. 31, 2011)
www.texomamedicalcenter.net 7
CONTINUED from page 7
Blount says that often the relationships become long lasting.
“I like being the patient’s advocate,” she says. “We meet
and talk so often, many times we become close friends.”
Peace of mind
TMC’s ultrasound
and mammography
services are
accredited by the
American College
of Radiology for
achieving high
practice standards
after a peer-review
evaluation.
TMC offers digital
mammography with
the MammoPad®
breast cushion, a soft,
foam pad that helps
minimize discomfort
during a screening
mammography. The
cushion creates a
warmer, softer surface
and helps reduce
discomfort
so technologists
can get the best
possible images.
The TMC Breast Care Center is inviting, with a comfortable
lobby, separate changing room and private waiting area,
where patients can relax before their appointments wearing
luxurious robes, chatting with others or watching TV.
To quell any fears about pain and mammography
screenings, TMC Breast Care Center uses softer, digital
mammography and the MammoPad® breast cushion, a foam
pad that minimizes discomfort and creates a warm, soft
surface on which the breast rests. Along with stereotactic
biopsy procedures that are less invasive, these features help
to ease discomfort women might associate with breast care.
Because the TMC Breast Care Center is a stand-alone
facility, everything happens under one roof. “There is also
satisfaction and comfort in knowing that should a patient
be diagnosed with breast cancer we can facilitate a referral
to a surgeon and medical oncologist locally for treatment,”
says Blount. This factor also speeds up the time it takes
for appointments, screenings and tests. “Faster treatment
and less wait time reduces frustration,” she adds.
Blount says that when a woman is waiting for a test result
– especially if she has experienced something abnormal –
every second can be dramatic. “Cutting wait time is huge
when you’re dealing with the breast, or with cancer,”
she says. “It makes a big difference to women.” ■
Here for
you.
Your best defense against breast cancer is early
detection. Remember to get regular mammograms,
according to the schedule your doctor recommends.
TMC Breast Care Center is open Monday – Friday
from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and offers screening
mammograms Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
To make an appointment, call 903-41-MAMMO
or 903-416-2666.
8 www.texomamedicalcenter.net
october is
breast cancer
awareness
month
The color pink has become
an internationally recognized
symbol of the fight against breast
cancer. After the founding of
the Breast Cancer Research
Foundation in 1993, the color
pink became associated with
breast cancer awareness as
well. Now, during the month of
October, all around the globe,
people acknowledge ongoing
efforts to eradicate this disease,
now the most common cancer
among women in the United
States aside from non-melanoma
skin cancer.
It is also one of the leading causes
of cancer death among women
of all races and Hispanic origin
populations.* Wherever you may
be this October, you’ll encounter
activities, seminars and events
complemented by the color.
If in Canada during October,
you’ll see Niagara Falls in a new
light: pink. Likewise, Japan’s
Tokyo Tower and Sydney,
Australia’s Harbour Bridge will
be sparkling in pink lights.
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Now you can recover at home with
the support of TMC Home Health and
Texoma Medical Center.
There’s no place
like home
W
hen you’re recovering from an illness or injury, being in your own space can be healing.
But the path from hospital to home can be bumpy. That’s why TMC Home Health has
developed a highly personalized program for making sure that patients have what
they need to stay at home once they have left the hospital.
“We visit patients within 48 hours – in most cases, it’s more
like 24 hours,” says Lindsay Backschies, Home Health
Director at Texoma Medical Center. “By seeing how
people actually live, we can develop a more accurate plan
for medications, doctors’ appointments, physical therapy,
equipment – anything the patient needs.”
The affiliation also means that TMC Home Health is subject
to the same rigorous evaluations as the hospital. That’s good
news because it means TMC Home Health is accredited by
The Joint Commission, certified by Medicare and Medicaid
and licensed by the state of Texas. It’s only one of two local
agencies that have achieved this kind of endorsement.
The staff at TMC Home Health handles wound care,
catheter maintenance, ostomy care, lab work and IV infusion
therapy. In addition, therapy specialists design and oversee
rehabilitation programs aimed at overcoming disabilities
caused by cardiac, neurological or orthopedic conditions,
or from traumatic injuries. Support groups are available and
medical social workers are on hand to counsel patients and
families about community resources or applying for assistance.
“TMC Home Health is like an extension of the hospital
with a full range of specialty services and staff available,” says
Backschies. One difference, though: if patients want to cuddle
up with their dog, or tend the flowers in their garden, they can.
“Because we’re part of Texoma Medical Center, we have access
to test results or other information we need, and provide faster
service than other agencies might be able to do,” says Backschies.
TMC Home Health is available 24/7
We’re ready when you need us, any time of day or night,
serving Fannin and Grayson counties. For a complete list of
the services we provide, visit www.texomamedicalcenter.net
or call 903-416-5500 or 1-800-436-7577. ■
Care that doesn’t stop with your hospital discharge
Clinical studies indicate that the more time and attention home health caregivers provide to patients, the better
the patients feel. One study* followed patients suffering from heart failure and concluded, “higher nursing visit
intensity may contribute to improvement in the clinical condition of patients, averting or delaying hospitalization.”
This kind of data suggests that as the relationship between patient and provider improves, individuals develop a
better understanding of their treatment regimens and adhere to them more closely. The staff at TMC Home Health
understands this connection. Even after you leave the hospital, they work closely with your physician and support
personnel to ensure the continuity of your recovery and well-being.
*Home Health Care Management Practice, Dec. 23, 2011; National Institutes of Health
www.texomamedicalcenter.net 9
Ask the doctor
Gallbladder
surgery
in less than
an hour?
Q
Minimally invasive surgery can
reduce recovery time, minimize postoperative pain and avoid scarring.
Aaron Cernero, DO, general and
bariatric surgeon at Texoma Medical
Center, explains how robotic technology,
often associated with gynecological
and prostate surgery, is bringing
benefits to general surgery patients,
such as those undergoing gall bladder removal.
What is the biggest difference
between Single-Site™ surgery and
regular surgery for gallbladder
removal?
Q
Is the surgery actually performed
by robots?
Q
Does the surgery take less time than
other methods?
In the traditional laparoscopic method, we use
four incisions, that when combined, measure
4.5 cm in length. With the robotic, minimally
invasive technique, we make one incision that
measures about 2.5 cm long, and we position
it at the belly button so that, once healed,
there is virtually no scarring. So, cosmetically,
there is a big difference.
Q
This type of surgery is called “robotic,” but the
equipment cannot act on its own; the procedure is
entirely controlled by the surgeons. The technology
that makes it possible is the da Vinci® Si™ Surgical
System. Through high-definition visualization by
way of a tiny camera, the system translates the
surgeon’s hand movements into smaller, more precise
movements of highly sophisticated instruments inside
the patient’s body. Rather than standing over the
patient, surgeons are positioned in front of screens,
where the images of the surgery site are displayed.
What are the advantages of
a minimally invasive procedure
like this?
For the patient, there is virtually no scarring,
there is less pain during recovery and the
procedure is as safe as any laparoscopic
technique. For the surgeon, the da Vinci system
provides 10 times magnification – as opposed
to about four times magnification with past
techniques. And the images we see are 3-D,
so we have a better, clearer view of the area
on which we are working.
10 www.texomamedicalcenter.net
Length of surgery varies, of course, depending on
the patient and circumstances. However, in many
cases, using the da Vinci method, we can remove
a patient’s gallbladder in less than an hour. ■
physician news
welcome
Please join us in welcoming these
new physicians
Family medicine specialist
Patrick Felicitas,
MD, has joined
TexomaCare-Bonham.
Dr. Felicitas graduated
from Manila Central
University in the
Philippines and completed his residency
in family medicine at the Southern New
Mexico Family Residency Program in Las
Cruces, New Mexico. Dr. Felicitas is
board certified by the American Board of
Family Medicine.
Family medicine specialist
Daniel T. Flaming,
MD, is with TexomaCareVan Alstyne. He is a
graduate of the Loma
Linda University School
of Medicine in California,
and completed his residency in family
medicine at Baylor Medical Center at
Garland in Texas. He is board certified by
the American Board of Family Medicine.
A. Fawad Ghafoori,
MD, MBA, is a fellowshiptrained cardiothoracic
anesthesiologist from
Duke University Medical
Center/Duke University
School of Medicine,
Durham, North Carolina. He graduated
from the University of Colorado Health
Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, and
did an internship in anesthesiology at
the University of Colorado School of
Medicine, also in Denver. His residency
requirements were completed at Beth
Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard
Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Orthopedic surgeon
Benjamin S. Wilson,
MD, FAAOS, graduated
from the University of
Texas Medical Branch,
Galveston, Texas. He
completed his residency
in orthopedic surgery at the Michigan
State University/Kalamazoo Center for
Medical Studies, Bronson Methodist
Hospital and Borgess Medical Center,
Kalamazoo, Michigan. Dr. Wilson is a
fellow of the American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons and is board
certified by the American Board of
Orthopaedic Surgery.
Podiatrist Craig
Cranford, MD, DPM,
received his doctor of
podiatric medicine degree
from Barry University in
Miami Shores, Florida. He
completed his residency
at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in
New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Cranford
is a member of the American Podiatric
Medical Association, American College
of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and the
American Society of Podiatric Surgeons.
Urologist Timothy
J. RuddelL, MD,
a Denison native,
graduated from UT
Southwestern in Dallas,
Texas. His completed his
residency in urology at the
Texas A&M Health Sciences Center, Scott
& White in Temple, Texas. Dr. Ruddell is
residency-trained in da Vinci® Robotics.
Kudos
to our
Physician
Award
Winners
Please join us in
congratulating the following
three excellent physicians for
winning the TMC Physician
Quality Awards in the
following categories:
Quality
Excellence
Award
Mukesh Sheth,
MD, FACC, FSCAI
Cardiology
Service
Excellence
Award
Joseph A. Lipscomb,
MD, FAAP
Pediatrics
Documentation
Excellence
Award
Aditi Swami, MD
Infectious Disease
With limited exceptions, physicians
are independent practitioners who are not
employees or agents of this hospital.
www.texomamedicalcenter.net 11
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
Paid
Permit No. 322
Pontiac, IL
P.O. Box 890
Denison, TX 75021-0890
Celebrate
Health
FALL FEST
Saturday, September 28 H 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Good, healthy fun
for the whole family:
kids, seniors and
everyone in between.
free
Texoma Medical Center is again
hosting the free Celebrate
Health Fall Fest. Come join us.
It’s good, healthy fun for the
whole family!
H Health & wellness booths
H Da Vinci® Si HDTM robot
demonstrations
H Kids fun run (12 and under)
@ 10:30 a.m.
H Text and drive simulator
H Drink and drive simulator
H Cooking demonstrations
H Bounce houses
H Pony rides
H Petting zoo
H Giveaways and drawings
Connect
with us!
www.texomamedicalcenter.net
903.416.4000
Health News from
Texoma Medical Center
Ronald T. Seal
CEO, Managing Director
Jennifer Reed
Media & Advertising Coordinator
Amber Sweeney
Director of Marketing
Jo Johnson
Business & Industry Coordinator
Information in Health News comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about
specific content that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider. Models may be used in photos
or illustrations. Any opinions expressed by an author whose article appears in this publication are solely the opinions
of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Texoma Medical Center or Universal Health Services, Inc.
Physicians mentioned in this publication are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Texoma
Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. ©2013. All rights
reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.
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To add or remove your name and address from our mailing list, please contact Texoma Medical Center’s Marketing Department; the Direct Marketing Association, Farmingdale, NY; or log on to http://www.dmachoice.org.