@affinity magazine - summer 2013 - me and my doctor

Summer 2013

y o u r g u i d e t o h e a l t h & w e l l n e s s

Me + My DoctorWorking in tandem for better health

Personalized Care

I made a conscious effort to wake up one morning and count the number of decisions I faced throughout the day. The first, which also happens to be the loudest, came in the form of my alarm clock. Will I choose to start my day on the right foot or will I put it off for 10 minutes more? I had a choice.

We arrive at a crossroad with every decision, big or small, but do we ever really take the time to evaluate the impact of our choices? Many of life’s daily decisions influence our health: catch the 10 o’clock newscast or head to bed early; call for the elevator or use the stairs; visit the salad bar or make a dash for the drive-thru.

We have a choice to be healthy. There are times when it’s out of our control, but the majority of primary care doctors will tell you that most chronic conditions are avoidable if we make wise decisions. In this issue, we acknowledge the importance of having a primary care doctor navigating us through our health care journey.

I’m never sick, so why should I see a doctor? Do I really have to see a primary care doctor if I see a specialist from time to time? How do I go about finding the right doctor for my family members or myself? We address all

these questions and more on pages 8 and 9 in “Me and My Doctor.” I invite you to read two stories about patients who have found that having a primary care doctor has been both life-changing and life-saving.

You’ll find a couple other sections in the magazine have undergone a facelift. That’s because this issue marks the start of its junior year. We’re also looking for some feedback on how you like to receive your news and how informative you find this publication to be. See the blurb below for a link to take a readership survey.

There is a lot that can be said on the evolution of health care in today’s day and age, but it always comes back to this – you have a choice. Choose to be in control. Take charge. Sincerely,

Bill CalhounPresident, Mercy Medical CenterVice President, Eastern Region, Ministry Health Care

AFFINITY HEALTH SYSTEM IS... • St. Elizabeth Hospital - Appleton• Mercy Medical Center - Oshkosh• Calumet Medical Center - Chilton• Affinity Medical Group Clinics• Affinity Occupational Health

For a complete list of Affinity clinic locations or to find a physician, go to our website at www.affinityhealth.org or call Affinity NurseDirect at 1-800-362-9900.

Bill Calhoun

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOUAs we wrap up our second year of @Affinity magazine,

we want to take a moment to pause and reflect. Here’s

your opportunity to voice your feelings and thoughts.

Visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/affinityreadership

and take a 12-question survey. We look forward to

getting to know you better and producing the best

magazine for you!

Our blog: www.affinityhealth.org/blog

Follow us:

Did you know that mostly all insurance plans are accepted at Affinity Health System? For a detailed list of the carriers and plans Affinity accepts, visit www.affinityhealth.org/insurance. Our doors are always open!

w w w. af f i n i t y h e a l t h . o rg / b l o g S u m m e r 2 0 1 3 • @Affinity | 3

Mission, Promise and Values

At Affinity Health System, our mission guides our actions.

MissionThe mission of Affinity Health System is to live out the healing ministry of Christ by providing services that promote the health and well-being of the communities we serve, especially the poor.

PromiseWe promise to provide personalized care by listening, treating you with respect and putting your needs and interests first.

ValuesThe way we accomplish our mission is as important as the mission itself. These values of our sponsor, Ministry Health Care, guide our actions.

SERVICE

TEAMWORKJUSTICE

INTEGRITYCREATIVITY

STEW

ARDS

HIP

Affinity Health SystemMenasha, WIwww.affinityhealth.org

President, Mercy Medical CenterVice President, Eastern Region, Ministry Health CareBill Calhoun, FACHE

Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Planning, Ministry Health CareVince Gallucci

Editorial ManagementJennifer Wagner MaukJohn EganAlison Fiebig

Volume 3, Number 1The material in @Affinity is not intended for diagnosing or prescribing. Consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.

@Affinity is published four times annually by Affinity Health System.

For permission to reprint any portion of this magazine, change your address, discontinue multiple copies or stop receiving @Affinity, please contact us at [email protected].

© 2013 Affinity Health System. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from Affinity Health System.

F E AT U R E s8 Me and My DoctorThe reasons for having a primary care doctor are far-reaching and life-saving.

10 In Good Hands When a teenager receives unexpected news, her primary care physician manages her journey through the tests, surgery and recovery – even scrubbing in to the surgery to be by her patient’s side.Photographs by Shane Van Boxtel, Image Studios

SHorT ClIPS 4 Talk the Talk We keep it real with an honest look

at the symptoms of menopause

By THE NuMBErS 5 Bagels, biking, be-good farming and

half a million folks at one local event

6 Chew On This Kale — can you dig it? Plus tips

for eating healthy portions and navigating the grocery store

S u M M E R 2 0 1 3

D E PA RT M E N T s

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AFTEr CArE 18 Healing Powers

of a Nurse(ry) The fervor to fight cancer for one Affinity provider stems from her gardening hobby

GIVING BACK20 In the Wings Caring for eventgoers as they

land in oshkosh for EAA’s AirVenture

lEArN & lIVE22 Travel Treatment Check-up before checking out

KIdS@AFFINITy23 Fly Away with Me Build your own paper airplanes and send us your photos!

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18

14 A Beacon in Health one Fond du lac man has found his footing after struggling to gain control of his diabetes. What he didn’t expect to find was a trusting relationship and unbiased support of his primary care physician. Photographs by Shane Van Boxtel, Image Studios

Cover illustration by Travis Foster

4 | @Affinity • S u m m e r 2 0 1 3 w w w. a f f i n i t y h e a l t h . o rg / b l o g

S H O R T c l i p s

Sweaty. Cranky. Tired. Hot. No, you’re not running a marathon. You’re in menopause.

“Many women wonder if the symptoms they’re experiencing are

normal,” says Dr. Stacey Sensor, gynecologist at Mercy Medical Center who encourages her patients to speak freely about menopause. “You’re definitely not alone.”

Here are five common medical challenges of “the change.”

1. No libido. Just not interested anymore? Dr. Sensor says a declining sex drive is often tied to low self-esteem. “Women may feel unattractive as their weight distribution changes,” she explains. Try joining an exercise program or taking up a new activity such as gardening or photography. “If you feel better about yourself, it makes you feel like having sex.”

2. uncomfortable intercourse. Lack of estrogen can create vaginal dryness, which can cause discomfort during sex. Talk to your doctor about lubrications or vaginal estrogen, which helps to restore the normal tissue.

3. Weight gain. Women lose muscle mass as they age, which causes the body to burn fewer calories. Simple weight training at least twice a week can offset this problem.

4. Leaky bladder. Gotta go? Urinary incontinence may be common, but it’s not a normal process of aging. “You don’t have to suffer in silence,” Dr. Sensor says. Bathroom urgency or frequency can be treated with

Talk the Talk

Walk the WalkOn April 8, 2013, Dan Haas was faced with two choices: live a healthier life or die early. His family practitioner, Dr. Nate Hayes, had just diagnosed the 52-year-old with Type 2 diabetes.

“I was really overweight,” Haas says. “Dr. Hayes looked at me and said, ‘I expect to see you on Monday nights with me.’”

The doctor was referring to a program called Walk the Walk at North shore Medical Clinic in Algoma, where he practices. Free and open to everyone (no sign-up necessary), the walking group meets once a week in the evening for a two- to three-mile walk around the town.

“Doing these types of things in a group setting is always more impactful than one-on-one in the clinic setting,” explains Dr. Hayes, who started and now leads the walks.

He crafts a different route each week, always starting and ending at the clinic.

Haas joined Walk the Walk shortly after his diagnosis. Not only does he enjoy being challenged by the faster pace of the other walkers, but the program has also inspired him to take a walk with his wife every morning.

“I’ve lost a little over 40 pounds since April 8,” Haas proudly reports. “Now I walk every day and watch what I eat. I haven’t felt this good in 10 years. Dr. Hayes has helped to change my life.”

The fall session of Walk the Walk will start in september or October. Follow Ministry Door County Medical Center on Facebook for postings on the program later this summer, or call North shore Medical Clinic at 920-487-3496 for details.

No Sweat, Keep Your Cool: A Menopause EventGrab your girlfriends and join dr. Sensor along with other Affinity providers for an informative and fun-filled day focused on taking control of your menopausal symptoms. learn about traditional and alternative approaches, nutrition, and get a little pampering along the way!

Date: Saturday, oct. 12, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.Location: Best Western Premier Bridgewood Conference Center, NeenahTo register, call 1-800-362-9900 or visit www.affinityhealth.org/menopause. There is an entry fee. Space is limited.

physical therapy, biofeedback or medication. It doesn’t necessarily require surgery.

5. unstable moods. Anger and sadness are normal feelings triggered by changing hormones. Talk with your doctor about therapy options, which might include “mood stabilizer” medication to help you through the transition.

What’s NOT normal? Although many taboo symptoms are typical, a few could be signs of trouble. Call your doctor if you have any post-menopausal vaginal bleeding, sudden onset of urinary incontinence (which could be a sign of infection), or thoughts of suicide.

Dr. Sensor encourages women to choose a health care provider who they can talk to about anything.

“There is no topic that I find embarrassing and I want patients to speak up so they can get the help they need.”

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Five unspeakable symptoms of menopause By BECky kOPITzkE


B Y T H e n u m b e r s

Ministry Health Care's ranking among workplaces in the Fox Cities Bike Challenge in June! You can sign up for the challenge any time before September 30 at www.nationalbikechallenge.org.

The number of calories in an average bagel today, compared to 140 calories two decades ago. It’s grown in diameter, too. Twenty years ago, bagels rounded out to three inches in diameter; today, the breakfast favorite is five to six inches. The modern-day bagel counts for three servings of bread, but many would consider it one serving. For more on portion sizes, turn the page.35

The percent of adults in the Fox Cities who had diabetes in 2010, an increase from 6 percent in 2000. Chronic disease is a growing concern for primary care physicians. Turn to page 14 to read how one patient has worked in tandem with his doctor to better control his diabetes.

1 HALF MILLIONIn 2012, EAA’s AirVenture Oshkosh event drew in 508,000 people. If that doesn't give you a decent visual, how about these digits: more than 10,000 planes, in addition to 978 homebuilt aircrafts, 907 vintage airplanes, 336 warbirds, 105 ultralights, 97 seaplanes and more, touched down during the week-long occasion. Jet to page 20 to read an Affinity employee’s account of her AirVenture volunteer experience.

1,222The 2008 USDA Organic Agriculture Census indicates Wisconsin is home to 1,222 certified organic farms, making our great state 2nd in the nation! Check out the local bounty at a farmers’ market near you. For a list, visit www.foxcitiesevents.com/farmers-markets. tenth


shop it to Me During your next trip to the

grocery store, remember these pointers, provided by

Dr. Sudeep Sodhi, gastroenterologist for Affinity Medical Group:

1. Stick to the perimeter of the store. The fresh foods

(produce, deli, meat, dairy, organic, self-serve food bins and fresh bread) sections are on the outskirts of the store. The more you avoid the center aisles of the grocery store where all the processed foods live, the healthier your shopping trip will be and more likely you’ll discover new foods.

2.Exception to Rule #1. The only times you should veer

off the course into center aisles is for whole-wheat pasta, rice, canned vegetables, baking products, cooking oils or high-fiber, whole grain breads and cereals.

3.Never shop on an empty stomach. You’re more

susceptible to snatch sugary or salty snacks when you’re hungry.

4.Turn that product around. Don’t be fooled

by the catchy phrases (i.e. all natural, whole wheat and low-fat) on the front of the package. Look at the label instead and avoid foods with a long ingredient list.

5.Fiber is your friend. High-fiber foods stay in the

stomach longer, keeping the feeling of fullness around and delaying the return of hunger. It also reduces the spike in blood sugar.

Both are natural sweeteners, but agave nectar contains high-fructose corn syrup and honey is high in calories.

THE SWEET TRuTH: Agave syrup and honey are both natural sweeteners. Agave is preferred for those with a gluten-free, vegan or low-glycemic diet. All sugar – from table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup to honey – contains some mixture of fructose and glucose: table sugar is 50/50 and high-fructose corn syrup is 55/45, but agave nectar is 90 percent fructose, almost twice as high as high-fructose corn syrup! It does contain small amounts of calcium, potassium, and magnesium,

but not enough to matter nutritionally. Honey contains more calories than sugar, as one teaspoon of sugar contains 16 calories. Honey also provides antioxidants that are lacking in white sugar and traces of vitamins, such as niacin, riboflavin, thiamin and B6. At the end of the day, sugar is sugar, and both should be consumed in moderation.

TIP: Try sweetening foods with freshly-squeezed fruit juice!Do you have a food fight you’d like our experts to debunk? Tweet

@AffinityHealth or email [email protected].

While America has been busy debating portion sizes, dinnerware

manufacturers have been busy redesigning plates, bowls and cup sizes. In the early 1990s, the standard size of a dinner plate increased from 10 to 12 inches.

Research shows that people unintentionally consume more calories when faced with larger

portions. According to the American Journal of Preventive

Medicine, when people were given larger bowls and spoons,

they served themselves larger portions of ice cream and tended

to eat the whole portion.“ever wonder why the plates at

the antique mall are so small?” asks Julia Salomón, corporate dietitian and

nutrition educator with Affinity Health System. She suggests flipping the script and

serving meat on the small dessert plate and your salad on the dinner plate.

chew on this

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“My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four. Unless there are three other people.” – O r S O n W e l l S

10” 12”

Honey vs. Agave SyrupA Twitter-like food fight in 140 characters

The Great Plate Debate

w w w. af f i n i t y h e a l t h . o rg / b l o g

Hail, Kale

Leafy Lineup Here’s a guide to help you identify kale varieties as you stroll the grocery store and farmers’ markets this summer.

Refrain from turning your nose up at this revered superfood — the king of leafy greens By Alison FieBig

It’s no surprise that a green vegetable is being touted as healthy. Aren’t they all? But kale has been crowned by many for being the #1 healthiest vegetable on the planet.

It is a cool-season crop, which means it joins Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, broccoli, watercress and others in the mustard family. One cup of kale gives you about 350 percent of your daily value in vitamin A and packs 90 mg of fiber (while a cup of spinach only has 30 mg).

Kale offers anti-inflammatory benefits and packs loads of potassium, iron, phosphorus and manganese. In fact, kale has more iron than beef, more calcium than milk and ten times more vitamin C than spinach!

In Wisconsin, kale is an early-summer and fall crop, and comes in several varieties, including curly, flowering, Dinosaur, Redbor, Premier, and others (see below).

What to do with it? RAW: Chop one head of kale (no stems), and toss with ½ cup of toasted almonds, 2 cups of brown rice, the juice of two lemons, one sliced avocado, ⅓ cup of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of sea salt. STEAMED: Toss steamed kale with whole wheat pasta, olive oil, pine nuts and fresh parmesan cheese.BLENDED: Mix 1 cup of chopped kale, ½ cup of blueberries, ½ cup of yogurt, ½ cup of orange juice and 1 banana in a blender and you have a royally green smoothie.BAKED: Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Remove the center ribs and cut into 1 ½-inch pieces. Lay on baking sheet and toss with olive oil and sea salt. Bake for 20 minutes or until crisp, turning leaves halfway through. Ta-da – kale chips! SAuTEED: Heat a large pot over high heat. Once hot, add a splash of olive oil and 4 cloves of garlic thinly sliced. Sauté garlic until browned, then add 1 bunch of chopped kale and a splash of white wine and salt and pepper to taste. Lower heat to medium/low and cook for 10 minutes. Serve as a side dish.

Budget-friendly tip: Stored in a plastic bag in the fridge, kale can keep up to three weeks!

Kamome White Kale(edible, but mostly used

for decoration)

Curly(most common)

Lacinato/dinosaur/Tuscan(earthy, nutty tones)

Red Russian(sweet but mild withhints of pepperiness)

Kamome Red Kale(edible, but mostly

used for decoration)

From grow local, neenah, WI

QWhether you're healthy or sick, male or female, 15 years old or 100 years young, you're in charge. Ask yourself this: are you healthy? Maybe you are today, but what about tomorrow? Finding a physician who you like and trust, and building a partnership with him or her over time, is one of the best things you can do for your health. By Alison FieBig


Why do I need a primary care physician?People who have an ongoing relationship with a primary care physician (PCP) have better overall health and lower health-related expenses than those without a PCP. Find and visit a primary care doctor you trust. They become your go-to provider in non-emergency situations, and are specifically trained and skilled in continuing care for persons with any undiagnosed sign, symptom or health concern, not limited by problem origin (biological, behavioral or social), organ system or diagnosis. On a daily basis, a PCP provides health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, counseling, education, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illness.

When you have questions about your health, who do you ask? The role of a PCP is to:1. Provide comprehensive exams and preventive care 2. Identify and treat common, sudden and chronic medical

conditions3. Teach healthy lifestyle choices4. Assess the urgency of your medical problems and direct

you to the best place for that care5. Make referrals to medical specialists when necessary

How does having a PCP benefit you?• Research shows that people who have an ongoing relationship

with a PCP have better overall health outcomes and lower death rates than those people without a PCP.

• Research also shows that those with a PCP save money in the long run. One reason for that savings is the primary care doctor’s focus on prevention.

• When you have a primary care doctor, you’re never on your own with your health care.

What if something more serious happens to me? Primary care is usually provided in an outpatient setting; however, if you are admitted to the hospital, your PCP may assist in or direct your care, depending on the circumstances.


THE TWO LETTERS THAT COME AFTER MY DOCTOR'S NAMEMD (medical doctor): practice allopathic medicine, the classical form of medicine, focused on the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases.

DO (doctor of osteopathy): practice osteopathic medicine, which is centered on a more holistic view of medicine in which the focus is on seeing the patient as a “whole person” to reach a diagnosis, rather than treating the symptoms alone.

Primary care physician vs. medical specialistPrimary care physician: helps keep you healthy, provides a home base for all your medical needs, and is your go-to when you're sick.

A specialist: has a deeper but narrower skill set and may serve only a short-term purpose, such as diagnosing a problem or designing a treatment regimen. Some females choose to see their OB/GYN provider for their annual check-up. Providers, such as OB/GYNs, generally focus on women’s care and don’t directly focus on disease management and screening out of the OB/GYN arena. According to Gretchen Glassen, RN with Affinity NurseDirect, women can have both.

“PCP” is a commonly used acronym to describe your primary health care provider. This is usually a physician, but can also be a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant who works under the direction of a physician.

THE PROVIDERSInternIst: treats adults ages 18 and over and are the broadest category of primary care providers

fAMIly PrACtItIOner: sees patients of all ages, and tends to see more than one member of a family

PeDIAtrICIAn: specializes in caring for newborns, children and adolescents

ADvAnCeD PrACtICe nurse PrACtItIOner (APnP): treats patients of all ages depending on their specialty (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, etc.)

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?


Dr. John steinlage, board-certified family practitioner at the Affinity Medical Group Greenville Clinic

Affinity nurseDirect is a free, 24-hour phone service that connects callers with a live, local registered nurse. Callers can:• Ask health and medical

questions• Find out about community

outreach class schedules, workshops and support groups in northeast Wisconsin

• Schedule physician appointments anytime, even in the middle of the night for the next morning

• Listen to a prerecorded health information line with more than 1,200 helpful, easy-to-understand topics

nurseDirect

Gretchen Glassen, RN with Affinity NurseDirect

Did you know that mostly all insurance plans are accepted at Affinity Health System? For a detailed list of the carriers and plans Affinity accepts, visit www.affinityhealth.org/insurance. Our doors are always open!

How do I find a primary care physician for myself or a family member?

Option #1: Call Affinity NurseDirect at 800-362-9900. A referral associate will assist you in selecting a PCP. Gretchen Glassen, RN with Affinity NurseDirect, says, “Our goal is to prompt people to think about things they haven’t considered.” If they help you to arrive at a decision, they can connect you to the clinic during office hours so an appointment can be made.

What’s important to you?• Are the office hours or location convenient? “Some

patients want to have a PCP closer to their workplace versus their home,” Glassen says.

• Does the patient tend to require frequent labs? No problem, Glassen says. “We can help them select a clinic with lab and general radiology services on location.”

• Are there any language barriers? “We encourage people to go out to our website and listen to our doctors. Their bios list the languages they speak.”

• What do you want in a doctor? “We often get asked, ‘Is the doctor just out of school or established?’ There is no rhyme or reason, but people feel strongly one way or another,” Glassen explains.

• Do you want a PCP who has similar interests as you? Every PCP with Affinity Medical Group lists their outside interest on their biocard. Ask the Affinity NurseDirect referral associate to send you a few biocards for you to review.

Option #2: Visit www.affinityhealth.org/doctor. Select “primary care” in the specialty drop-down menu. You can narrow down search results by location, language and gender. Most PCPs have a WebOut that comes to life on the screen, giving you the opportunity to listen to the type of care they provide and what drives them in their role.

Option #3: Word-of-mouth. Ask your family, friends or co-workers.

We give you consistent answers to your questions, and take care of you through your life changes.

Our goal is to prompt people to think about things they haven’t considered.

800-

362-

9900

Dr. John Steinlage, a board-certified family practitioner at the Affinity Medical Group Greenville Clinic, refers to public health data that supports the fact that people who have a long term relationship with a PCP will have lower incurring health care costs. “We add value to people’s health,” he adds. “People have it in them to make necessary changes; it’s just a question of finding what inspires them."


HandsOne primary care physician goes the distance with her teenage patient after

making a shocking discovery and sticks by her today as she nears her mid-20s

B y A l i S o n F i e B i g • P h o t o g r A P h S B y S h A n e V A n B o x t e l , i m A g e S t u d i o S

Hands


Hands

P ictures don’t lie. Fanning four Polaroid photos, Katie Voss, 24, proudly explains the object of discussion: a three-pound, six-ounce ovarian mass that was removed from her abdomen seven years ago.

The Larsen resident reflects on what was then the start of her sophomore year at St. Mary Central High School in Menasha, when her older brothers teasingly called her “cheeseburger.” It wasn’t hat Katie was overweight, she had just put on a few pounds. She can look back on it today and smirk, because as it turns out, the weight gain wasn’t due to poor eating habits.

“One by one, all three of my brothers apologized,” she says. Late in August 2006, Katie transitioned from summer water sports to

volleyball. But before she could take her position on the court for her first match, Katie had to have a sports physical.

So, her mom, Jane, made an appointment for her daughter to see her primary care physician, Dr. Cheryl Pitre, at Affinity Medical Group’s Airport Road clinic in Menasha.

“Early on, Katie had made it clear that she wanted a female doctor,” Jane remembers. “That was important to her. We had heard by word-of-

InIn

Hands



Well-Crafted Care in Unexpected Moments

A s a family practitioner, Dr. Pitre provides primary care to patients of all

ages. She serves as an advocate, connecting patients when they need other services.

“We guide and direct our patients while providing a level of expertise and getting them the information they need to make the right decisions,” Dr. Pitre says.

And she was there every step of the way for Katie, first sending her to see the radiologist at St. Elizabeth Hospital on August 29. They found her bladder to be massively dilated, although her left and right ovaries were normal. Dr. Pitre then arranged for Katie to see a urologist soon thereafter for a catheterization; those tests also turned up normal, which suggested the mass was not related to the bladder, so the urologist ordered a CT scan of the area.

Up until this point, it still remained undetermined if it was an ovarian mass (an enlargement of one of the ovaries) or

mesenteric cyst (benign lesions that are found within the abdomen). Typically, an ovarian mass can present as a solid tumor or fluid-filled cyst. In addition, it can be a combination of a solid tumor and cyst. The ovaries are female reproductive organs that produce female hormones, such as estrogen. Generally, small ovarian cysts resolve on their own without treatment. Larger ovarian cysts often require surgery to remove them.

Within one day, Katie’s general surgeon, Dr. Christopher Wagner, consulted with Dr. Christopher Wagener, obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN), both Affinity Medical Group providers at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton. This made it easier for Dr. Pitre to stay up-to-date.

“In cases like Katie’s, it starts with the primary care physician investigating and relaying the facts and findings to the specialists involved. This includes getting the charts prepared, researching the patient’s history and looking at the whole person, not just the condition,” Dr. Pitre notes. “There was great communication by all – from radiology to urology, then to general surgery and OB/GYN – all in the course of days.”

mouth that Dr. Pitre was good.”Sports physicals entail an all-around

examination, “head to toe,” Dr. Pitre adds, explaining that sports physicals often take the place in conjunction with a well-child exam for some patients. This was the case with Katie.

“While pressing on my stomach, she paused on the left side,” Katie remembers. “She looked straight at my mom and said, ‘Jane, you know Katie, and I know Katie – and she can’t be pregnant.’”

Dr. Pitre had discovered a large mass; so large, in fact, that Katie measured as though she was pregnant.

The doctor remembers the mass feeling like an enlarged uterus, right up to her belly button. She utilized a Doppler for a listen (a device used to pick up fetal heart tones), which revealed there was nothing. She then organized a pelvic ultrasound for Katie and restricted her from sports. Not knowing what it could be, Dr. Pitre was concerned that if it was a mass, it could rupture.

“Katie water skied, tubed and jet skied all summer long,” Jane reflects. “So we’re very lucky it didn’t rupture.”

After the physical, Katie recalls returning to school worried and anxious.

“It really upset me,” she says. “I loved playing volleyball, I had to sit on the bench and cheer everyone on. I wanted to be out there playing, but couldn’t.”

SPORTS PHYSICALS: A WELLNESS WIN this fall, uniform-clad athletes will return to the field for a new season of school sports. Before they learn to guard, tackle, volley or pinch-hit, parents everywhere will race to get their superstars into the clinic for their annual sports physical.

While the focus is on clearing these young patients for sports participation, this exam provides the doctor with a chance to review health issues that adolescents face. take time before the visit to make a list of health questions. this time can also be used to administer necessary vaccines. overall, it’s a great opportunity to reinforce prevention of sports injuries and risky behaviors.

if you have any questions or would like to schedule a sports physical, call Affinity nurseDirect at 1-800-362-9900.

“In cases like Katie’s, it starts with the primary care physician investigating and relaying the facts and findings to the specialists involved.”

— D r . C h e r y l P i t r e


Dr. Wagener (OB/GYN) determined it was likely ovarian-related, so the doctors scheduled laparoscopic surgery for September 13 to remove the mass.

Soon after the surgery began, Dr. Wagner (surgeon) discovered the mass was too large to remove through the small incision, so he had to extend the incision from the pelvis to above the belly button. They became concerned that the mass was cancerous and didn’t want it to rupture,.

Because of the size of the mass, they removed her appendix, but her reproductive organs were left undisturbed.

Dr. Pitre was there to see the whole thing. Going above and beyond the required duties of her role as a primary care physician – yet staying true to the fundamentals of the type of care she provides – she made plans to attend Katie’s surgery knowing how nervous she was for the procedure.

“I didn’t ask her to come, but she arrived at St. Elizabeth Hospital the day of my surgery,” Katie remembers. “When I woke up, she was at the edge of the bed. I don’t remember a lot, but I do remember her telling me how well the surgery went and that it was over. She was there the whole time. Her parting words were, ‘If you need anything, call.’”

Put Yourself First K atie has called on Dr. Pitre ever since

her surgery, and she’s thankful for her doctor’s diligence and vigilance throughout the health scare and the years that have followed.

“I feel the same today as I did before I had the mass removed,” she says. “There were no noticeable symptoms or pain.”

As a mother, Jane reiterates the importance of not only having a primary care physician selected for children, but for everyone to see a doctor annually. Also Dr. Pitre’s patient, Jane is a breast cancer survivor, and while her experiences have heightened her awareness for check-ups, she has grown to become an advocate for building a relationship with a physician.

She notes that Katie had seen Dr. Pitre one year prior to her sports physical, the year she learned of the mass.

“Nothing was detectable at that visit,” Jane says. “To think that one year is all it took for this mass to show itself; even then, it took some time to determine what it was and how it got there. We’re glad we had the connections and resources to get and to keep her healthy.”

Are you on the search for a primary care provider? Call Affinity nurseDirect at 1-800-362-9900and speak to a referral associate. We’ll help find the right provider for you.

KATIE’S PATHKATIE’S PATH

August 29 » dr. Pitre schedules

appointment for Katie at St. elizabeth hospital

to see the radiologist

August 25, 2006 » sports physical at Affinity medical

group (Amg) Airport road Clinic in menasha

>>

today7 years later,

Katie is happy and healthy and still sees

dr. Pitre as her primarycare physician

September 13 » surgery on what was

determined to be an ovarian mass

September 6 » meet with

dr. Christopher Wagener, Amg oB/gyn

>> >> >>

>>>>


dr. dirk Fisher,Amg urologist


dr. Christopher Wagner,Amg general surgeon


AMe + My Doctor

Working in tandem for better health

Chronic disease knows no boundaries, something one Fond du Lac man has come to understand. With the unwavering support of his primary care physician and Medical Home team, he’s on the path to better health.

Nearly every career thrives on good outcomes, but Dr. Benjamin Heinzen’s lifework depends on it. He provides primary care to adults as a general internist for Affinity Medical Group

(AMG) at the Koeller Street Clinic in Oshkosh.“I’m very good at prescribing pills, but I hate doing it,”

says the primary care physician (PCP). “I want so badly for people to be healthy, but it’s a rare day for me when I don’t see a patient with a chronic condition.”

Dr. Heinzen wasn’t always sure he wanted to be a general internist. In medical school, he had his sights set on emergency medicine, but he wasn’t fond of the pace. He considered urology, but realized he wanted to care for the whole body.

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B y A l i S o n F i e B i g • P h o t o g r A P h S B y S h A n e V A n B o x t e l , i m A g e S t u d i o S

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“There are all these sensational stories out there,” Dr. Heinzen says. “We love cardiology because they do what they do, but a lot of what they see is avoidable. When I learn one of my patients has had a heart attack, that’s failure on my part.”

Primary care brings variety: having to know the answers to many questions, conditions and even things not yet thought of, while building relationships with patients that come to rely on their doctor for those very answers.

Yet Dr. Heinzen poses this question for his patients: what do you want things to look like when you’re older?

“I tell people my job is to make their health extremely boring,” he explains. “Primary care is all about prevention – keeping chronic diseases at bay, and keeping complications away for people who have a chronic disease.”

He does the latter for Steve Marquart and his wife, June, who both have Type 2 diabetes.

Steve, a 48-year-old Fond du Lac resident, started to notice stiffness and joint pain in his 30s. In 2005, he was diagnosed with diabetes along with high blood pressure and cholesterol. Then, the house they lived in went into foreclosure in 2009. The night they were scheduled to move out, Steve suffered a stroke.

“I always did alright in life,” Steve says, reflecting on decades of ups and downs. “Then it seemed to be one thing after another.”

The couple has had their fair share of struggles, most of which have been health-related. Little by little, Steve's diabetes worsened. They began the search for a new doctor and were advised to call Affinity NurseDirect for a recommendation of a primary care physician at Affinity Medical Group (AMG).

NurseDirect put a series of doctor biocards in the mail for the Marquarts, a service they do for any patient looking for a new primary care physician. After evaluating each doctor, they chose Dr. Heinzen. But despite feeling confident in their choice, Steve’s previous experience with doctors had left a bad taste in his mouth.

He first met with Dr. Heinzen in April 2012.“I was a little uneasy with him at first,” Steve remembers, “but once

we got to talking, something clicked. Normally I don’t take to people like that. He doesn’t judge me.”

Dr. Heinzen remembers their first meeting, too. “He had several medical problems that weren’t controlled and he

wasn’t following a healthy diet,” Dr. Heinzen explains. “He was eager to get better but he needed help understanding how his diabetes and anxiety worked.”

Dr. Heinzen and the Affinity Medical Home team were eager to educate Steve and June on the reasons for the rise and fall in blood sugars and A1C levels (an average of your blood sugar control over a six- to 12-week period and is used in conjunction with home blood sugar monitoring to make adjustments in your diabetes medicines).

One of those team members, DeAnna Shepard-Affeldt, an RN specialist, has weekly interaction with Steve and June.

“I call him and he gives me all the specific readings and times of his sugars along with the A1C levels,” Shepard-Affeldt explains. “I enter that in notes and send it to Dr. Heinzen so he can assess and make the necessary changes in insulin.”

The larger part of her job is helping patients prevent or resolve illness through education. Shepard-Affeldt visits with patients at the beginning of their appointment – collecting vitals, going over lab results, pin-pointing any concerns. Then she exits to brief Dr. Heinzen before they see the patient together.

“The doctor will see you now” expression is on its way out and doctor-nurse joint visits are in, providing patients with more complete care when their providers are on the same page.

“The provider comes in for the middle part of the appointment,” Shepard-Affeldt says. “When they’re finished, I make any necessary changes to the patient’s medications, take the time to educate or answer questions, and set up their next appointment and labs.”

“We want to keep people healthy instead of treating them after they have health problems,” she adds.

Steve and June are on one end of that spectrum – working to improve

“We want to keep people healthy instead of treating them after they have health problems.” — D e A n n a S h e pa r d - A f f e l d t

DeAnna Shepard-Affeldt, RN specialist, works closely with Steve and his wife, June.

S u m m e r 2 0 1 3 • @Affinity | 17

their health and wellness while preventing other illness and diseases. As diabetics, the biggest obstacle is diet. Steve is candid in admitting that his sweet spot for soda is what gets him in the most trouble.

“It’s hard to stop something I’ve done all my life,” Steve says about his vice. “I’m going to limit myself to one bottle a day! I like fruit juices, but instead, I try to grab for flavored water. It makes me feel bad that I’m not listening to him. I’m really trying to be true to Dr. Heinzen and DeAnna, and myself.”

But for Dr. Heinzen, it’s not about Steve hanging on every word or bit of instruction; it’s about nurturing a trusting, two-way relationship in order to improve wellness.

“I can give all the pills, insulin or whatever it might be to a patient, but it’s going to be overpowered by their choice, especially if they choose things that aren’t healthy for them,” Dr. Heinzen says.

Steve says both Dr. Heinzen and DeAnna have helped him understand the value of a carbohydrates and the impact it has on his disease. With some reminding from his wife from time to time, Steve can now say with confidence that he’s a better grocery shopper and has learned to make wiser choices.

He checks his blood sugar before each meal and bed time. Since the Marquarts started seeing Dr. Heinzen and DeAnna, they have kept a journal of the date and time Steve tests, his A1C levels and how many units of insulin he gave himself. He references his log at his weekly check-point calls with DeAnna and appointment with Dr. Heinzen.

“He’s made huge improvements,” Dr. Heinzen says. “Steve now understands how his chronic medical conditions affect his life and how his life impacts his chronic conditions.”

There is always room for improvement, and Steve is taking the steps to get there with the help of his health partners – never having thought he’d grow to like his doctor this much, let alone joke and exchange Christmas presents.

“I came to Dr. Heinzen as a bitter person because of the stuff I went through, but he took that all away real quick,” Steve explains. “There’s a reason for me to be healthy! I say I’m doing it for him, and he says, no, you’re doing it for yourself.”

Education is pays off. Steve Marquart proudly displays the journal where he keeps track of his blood sugars and insulin doses.

Dr. Benjamin Heinzen provides primary care to adults as a general internist at the Koeller Street Clinic in Oshkosh.

Are you on the search for a primary care provider? Call Affinity nurseDirect at 1-800-362-9900 and speak to a referral associate. We’ll help find the right provider for you.

“He’s made huge improvements. Steve now understands how his chronic medical conditions affect his life and how his life impacts his chronic conditions.” — D r . B e n H e i n z e n


after c@re Get to know your care provider By Paul NicolauS

Healing Powers of a Nurse(ry)

cardiac rehab. About three years ago, she transitioned into the role of RN specialist and certified diabetes educator with the Affinity Medical Group family practice at the Calumet Medical Center Clinic.

“My mom was a diabetic, so I took a particular interest in that,” she shares. “When this position came about, it was just a perfect fit with a lot of patient teaching and care.”

That tie between gardening and health was made even more apparent in October 2011 when Pautz was diagnosed with stage-two breast cancer at the age of 42.

She had surgery in November, started chemo by the end of December, and finished that treatment by February 2012.

FOR Deb PAutz, GARDeNING IS MORe than just a hobby. It’s the root of a passion that has grown and flourished over the years.

because she was raised on a farm, the seed was planted early on. but it wasn’t until years later when she and her husband, Greg, bought a piece of land in the

country and built a home there that the interest really took hold. Listen to her gush about her passion and you wouldn’t know whether

to peg Pautz as a skilled horticulturist or an artist shaping nature into a beautiful masterpiece.

“I’m always mixing and moving plants around, and creating different color combinations,” she says. “I wake up early and can’t wait to get out there and play in the dirt.”

The Pautz’s three-acre plot of land in brillion has become a palette of sorts, with countless flowers, vegetables and herbs, and fruit, including blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants, gooseberries, rhubarb, and kiwi.

It only makes sense, then, that Deb’s past-time has rubbed off on others.

“Greg has gotten into wine making,” she says. “He built an apple press, so we press all of our own apples and use the juice to make our apple wine.”

but her influence doesn’t end there. After watching his wife grow pumpkins, Greg took a liking, put his own spin on it, and has since won a local competition for three years running with his massive creations.

“The largest pumpkin he has grown is 720 pounds,” she notes with pride.

A nurse for 23 years now, Deb has made the connection between her hobby and profession – the need for quality care, for effective monitoring and follow-up, and for expressing a genuine concern for overall health and well-being.

before joining Affinity about 12 years ago, her background included everything from eR work to long-term care and

As a self-proclaimed gardening enthusiast, one nurse specialist shares how nursing plants has helped her recover from cancer and cultivate improved patient care at Calumet Medical Center Clinic in Chilton

Greg Pautz, Deb’s husband

“I joke about my mulch muscles. You’re pulling and you’re stretching and you’re moving and lifting everything.”

S p r i n g 2 0 1 3 • @Affinity | 19

“The chemo pretty much left me wiped out and depleted,” she says. “I was just exhausted. I couldn’t do anything.”

It was at this time that Greg decided to build his wife a greenhouse – an undertaking that spurred new life in more ways than one.

“I had this brand new, beautiful greenhouse, and even though I still felt like I had been hit by a bus and was a little depressed, it got me fired up and out of my slump,” she says. “That’s what did it for me.”

Thanks to this addition, winter weather can’t slow Deb down entirely. She had everything ordered by early January. From there, she took the seeds and started in on some of the plants that are slow to germinate like petunias and begonias. Once she gets them established, she worked to have the greenhouse up and running by early March. This back and forth between house and greenhouse continued on until the warm months have arrived.

Now cancer-free and finally feeling close to 100 percent, Pautz says she attributes much of her recovery to her passion for gardening.

“You’re out in the sunshine, and there’s a lot of wildlife – the migrating ducks and loons on our lake in the springtime – just seeing everything come alive again after the winter is invigorating. It just makes you feel good.”

The workout aspect is an added bonus. “I joke about my mulch muscles,” she says.

“You’re pulling and you’re stretching and you’re moving and lifting everything.”

Fresh air, sunshine and wildlife, topped off with the reward of growing and eating delicious and nutritious food; it’s no wonder Pautz views the activity as one capable of helping the healing process.

“It’s such a well-rounded, healthy thing to do for your spirit and body,” she says.

In fact, her experiences have gotten her thinking about the ways gardening could be better utilized as a means of tackling even the most commonplace health concerns. She has seen the ways poor nutrition or lack of exercise can lead to serious issues, and Pautz views the process of harvesting food as an activity that could help in overcoming these problems that affect large numbers throughout the region and beyond.

Inspired by the good of gardening and the first-hand benefits she has experienced, this past year Pautz decided to organize a plant

sale for Relay for Life, a fundraising event held at Calumet Medical Center that contributes to the fight against

cancer.With her existing greenhouse bursting at the

seams, Greg rigged up a makeshift addition on their deck so that Deb had a place to go with

all the plants. Others joined in to lend their support as well.

“I had lots of help,” she says. “Some of my coworkers came out to the house and helped me with all the planting and the potting of the vegetables, and we had a lot

of fun with it.” Those efforts turned into big results

– 12 truckloads full of plants, many of which were sold at the event.

“We did great,” Pautz says. “It was our first year, and I’m excited about next year already.”

Deb Pautz, RN specialist at Calumet Medical Center Clinic in Chilton, credits her gardening hobby and the support of her family (her husband, Greg, pictured on the left page) for lifting her spirits while she battled breast cancer two years ago.


MY LOve FOR PL A NeS tO Ok FLIGHt W H eN I WA S invited to go up in a Red baron-type crop duster at the age of eight. Yes, I even got to wear the goggles flapper hat. We took off in the pilot’s backyard, which happened to be a corn field. Since then, I have flown in many planes – from a DC-10 (an army, three-engine, wide-body jet airliner) to the Goodyear blimp.

So it’s really no surprise one of my annual volunteer activities is with experimental Aircraft Association (eAA) Airventure Oshkosh. For one week every summer, more than 500,000 eAA members and aviation enthusiasts from around the world attend Airventure, “where they rekindle friendships and celebrate the past, present and future in the world of flight.”

twenty-three years ago, I was hired as a cardiac nurse at Mercy Medical Center (one of the proud sponsors of Airventure since its inception). Not long after, I was invited to volunteer at eAA and I’ve volunteered ever since.

For the last several years, I’ve served as co-chair of the two medical buildings (one near the flight line and another near the campground). My primary role is establishing and setting medical protocols in motion, as well as scheduling personnel to staff both buildings – similar to what I do in my role at Mercy today.

Starting back in April, preparations got underway for this year’s event.

Since the buildings are left empty during the year, they require a quick scrub down. Then I mobilize 20 volunteers to set up for the week of the show. but the real work starts when the first patient comes through the door and doesn’t stop until the last plane leaves.

The medical building is designed to care for pilots, visitors and their families as medical needs arise. We see it all, from colds, burns, insect bites, skin rashes, and sprains and cuts, to those with heart attack symptoms and folks who injure themselves more seriously (such as hitting their head on a propeller or wing).

While doctors and nurses from all across the nation come to eAA to volunteer, Mercy has been the hospital of choice for event-goers. Providers throughout our system, especially in the emergency department and inpatient unit, do a great job making people feel welcome.

The best part of volunteering at eAA is the opportunity it gives you to meet people. two summers ago, I took care of a lady in her 90s.

In the wingsBy Connie CampBell, director of patient access at mercy medical Centergiving b@ck

Each issue, we share the story of an Affinity Health System team member who volunteers at a local non-profit organization. Affinity is committed to supporting local organizations and charitable events aligned with our mission of providing services that promote the health and well-being of the communities we serve.

Connie Campbell takes flight on preparations for EAA’s AirVenture Oshkosh event this July. Bomber jacket and eyewear borrowed from EAA. For information on volunteer opportunities at EAA, visit www.airventure.org/volunteers.


• The first gathering was in September 1953 as a small part of the Milwaukee Air Pageant. Fewer than 150 people registered as visitors. That original EAA fly-in at Wright-Curtiss (now Timmerman) Field was attended by a handful of airplanes.• In 1959, the event moved to Rockford Municipal Airport in Illinois, where it would stay for the next decade. • By 1969, it was apparent that the EAA Fly-In Convention had simply become too large for the Rockford facility. EAA had grown from a home basement operation to an office and museum in the Milwaukee suburb of Franklin. • Aviation legend Steve Wittman, who had been an EAA member since the association’s founding in 1953, suggested the airport in

SNAPSHOT: History of eaa airVentureOshkosh. There was acreage surrounding the airport to handle the annual influx of airplanes, vehicles and tents. There were two lengthy runways (east/west and north/south) which did not cross, allowing greater traffic movement. • In late 1969, the EAA board approved the move to Oshkosh.• EAA AirVenture Oshkosh (the new name for the convention as of 1998) attracts 10,000 airplanes each year. The more than 500,000 aviation enthusiasts who attend the event annually supply the local and state economies with more than a $110-million boost during the week-long event.

In the wings At one time, she was with a special service group in the Air Force back in the day. She sustained some scrapes on her legs getting in and out of planes (as nothing was going to stop her). After we bandaged her up, I gave her a pair of soccer shin guards to wear.

You never know who people know, as she went on to say how she just loved the shin guards and couldn’t wait to show them to David beckham, as he was a friend of hers. but, of course!

In fact, we have grown used to seeing a certain physician from the aerospace program who attends Airventure almost every year. He is an amazing fellow who used to ride in one of the four helicopters alongside the NASA Space Shuttle as it would blast off into space. In his role, you not only have to know how to be a physician, but you have to be a certified surgeon, scuba diver and helicopter pilot.

emergency department staff at Mercy has had the opportunity to consult with him on what medications pilots can and cannot take as regulated by the Federal Aviation Association (FAA). even the smallest dose of blood pressure or a pain medication, if not on the FAA’s approved list, can prevent a pilot from flying.

Last summer, Airventure invited the surviving tuskegee Airmen – the first African-

American military aviators in the united States armed forces who fought in World War II. It’s amazing to think these people (and so many others) come to our small city to tell their stories of bravery and honor. to celebrate their service, they showed the movie

“Red tails” one evening and even had George

Lucas there to introduce the film. Our volunteer group and other Airventure

staff and volunteers have become close over the years. As the locals prepare for 2013 eAA Airventure week – July 27 through August 4 – we gear up for another year of caring for the aviation community that calls Oshkosh its home.

Doctors and nurses from all across the nation come to EAA to volunteer, and Mercy is their hospital of choice for event-goers.


Foundations for Giving Back By Paul NicolauS

Believe it or not, your first stop when traveling internationally should actually take place before you board the plane. Many countries require certain vaccinations prior to setting foot on their turf. And for good reason.

According to the World Health Organization, an outbreak of yellow fever resulted in 849 cases and claimed 171 lives (as of January 9, 2013) in Sudan’s Darfur region since September. It has been deemed the worst yellow fever epidemic to hit Africa in two decades.

This is just one example of the variety of health threats posed to those who travel abroad. When planning to visit a place where the climate, social conditions or sanitary standards and practices are different from yours at home, you’re at risk of developing a handful of illnesses and diseases.

And in some cases, these risks aren’t so obvious. “People planning a trip to an all-inclusive resort think they’re exempt,” says karyn tellock, RN with Affinity Occupational Health’s travel Medicine Program. “but there are no boundaries for mosquitos.”

travel medicine services support international travelers, preventing health issues before they begin and managing those that couldn’t be avoided. All are welcome to take advantage, whether embarking on a trip for business or personal reasons.

During your appointment, the nurse administers and prescribes required immunizations or medications, provides instant access to health and safety bulletins from around the globe, and provides current, customized, destination-specific reports with travel and medical safety tips.

“If we need the shot, we can get it right there,” says Jackie klimaszewski, who along with her husband, Jim, has met with tellock before embarking on overseas trips in recent years. “She gives us the prescriptions right away and we’re good to go.”

As an integral part of Affinity’s travel medicine service, the staff can also provide insight and answer questions on important topics such as travelers’ diarrhea, Hepatitis A and deep vein thrombosis.

travelers should meet with a nurse at least one month prior to the trip, especially since some vaccines require multiple doses given weeks or even months apart.

“It takes your body two weeks to develop immunity from the vaccine,” tellock explains. “You want to make sure you’re getting them far enough in advance so you can get over the side effects before departing.”

To schedule an appointment for a travel medicine consultation, please call 920-223-7204.

Life Support

Those without health coverage don’t have to go it alone thanks to a unique public and private partnership in Winnebago County.

First initiated as a collaborative effort between the county and the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh College of Nursing, the Living Healthy Community Clinic (LHCC) offers primary care to low income, uninsured residents who cannot afford health insurance, are not eligible for government insurance programs, or do not have access to benefits through their employer.

Since 1998, Mercy Health Foundation (MHF) has been a major part of the effort to keep this resource and its patients healthy. Throughout the last 15 years, it has provided more than $1.5 million for operations and renovation of the facility. In addition, Affinity rents the building in which the LHCC is located for just $1 per year. Mercy Medical Center (MMC) also provides advanced diagnostic testing to its patients.

“This is a program that creates a vital safety net for those in our community,” says Bill Calhoun, president of MMC and vice president of Ministry Health Care’s Eastern Region. “With continued donor and associate support, we will meet the most critical health needs.”

Similarly, St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation (SEHF) continues to find ways to improve patient care in crucial ways.

Picture this. As you walk into your annual check-up, your vital signs are captured by a monitor at the start of the appointment. Based upon that reading, a significant change in your blood pressure is noted, allowing for further investigation or discussion of lifestyle changes that could help decrease the risk of related issues such as heart failure, stroke and kidney disease.

The vital role these monitors play becomes clear in a hurry. That’s why SEHF recently funded new Carescape V100 Vital Signs Monitors for Affinity Medical Group family practice clinics, providing the ability to capture all relevant vital signs with speed and accuracy. They also allow staff to multitask and eliminate the need for manual data entry.

According to Tonya Dedering, Foundation executive director, “vital signs monitors are critically important in providing high-quality care to our many patients who rely on our clinics every day. From standard visits to the times when additional concerns may arise, we are proud to fund important life-saving equipment.”

To make a tax-deductible charitable donation to support these and other projects at St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation and Mercy Health Foundation, please visit www.affinityhealth.org and under ‘About Us’ click on ‘Foundations.’

le@rn & live Educational Opportunities

Travel Treatment


i sk dFly away with meWe celebrate the EAA’s annual AirVenture Oshkosh event in July with these tutorials on how to make your own paper airplanes. Take a picture of your paper plane and email it to [email protected] a chance to be featured on Affinity’s blog and Facebook page!

Glider 1

Glider 2

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On Saturday, June 22, Dr. Rick Davis and Dr. Thomas Klinkhammer,

both radiology oncologists from the Michael D. Wachtel Cancer

Center at Mercy Medical Center, served as chefs at the “Men

Who Cook” fundraising event to benefit the Christine Ann

Domestic Abuse Services, Inc. in Oshkosh.

Affinity Health System1570 Midway Pl.Menasha, WI 54952

On March 14, St. Elizabeth Hospital

staff invited science students

from Xavier High School to learn

the latest in surgical techniques.

Affinity Medical Group physicians,

Dr. Chris Wagner (general surgery;

pictured), Dr. Melissa Koehler

(OB/GYN) and Dr. Tom Mahoney

(OB/GYN), demonstrated the

capabilities of the daVinci surgical

robot and allowed the students to

operate it. Students also received

an overview of the emergency

department and a career in nursing.

Affinity Health System was one of the sponsors of the 13th Annual Community Wheelchair Wash and Health Fair held on Saturday May 4, 2013 at the Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC). Thirty-six chairs were washed and 114 people were served brunch. The participants in attendance enjoyed informational health booths, free food, door prizes and going home with a clean, safe wheelchair.

Affinity Health System and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers teamed up to present a series of “Survivor Games,” where individuals who have gone through a health crisis and come out on top are honored on and off the field this season. On Mother’s Day (May 12), Kathy Buelen was recognized for her true strength and grit after battling and overcoming breast cancer. She was invited to throw out the first pitch and celebrate with her Mercy Medical Center doctors, Rick Davis, radiation oncologist, and Karen Gremminger, medical oncologist.

sn@psWe don’t just care for the community,

we’re proud to be an active part of it.

Here is a glimpse of some of our recent

activities in the communities we serve.

Congratulations to Margaret Keefe, Mercy Medical

Center’s “Volunteer of the Year,” who received

recognition at An Evening of the Stars – the Oshkosh

Community Foundation’s celebration of Oshkosh-area

volunteers. Keefe has been a volunteer at Mercy since

1972 – a whopping 41 years! We appreciate her years of

dedication and support of Mercy Medical Center.

@affinity magazine - summer 2013 - me and my doctor

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