fall 2015 connections - summit medical group · —and gain—from bariatric surgery. its effects...

CONNECTIONS

Wake Up to Your Need for SleepPage 4

Weight-Loss Surgery’s Extra Benefits

Pitchforks and Stethoscopes: A Healthy Life

NEWS AND HEALTH INFORMATION FROM SUMMIT MEDICAL GROUP summitmedicalgroup.com

healthyFALL 2015

816M_Summit_FA15.indd 1 8/13/15 11:53 AM

2 healthy connections ◆ Fall 2015

The cornerstones of a healthful life: sleep, nutritious food, exercise, and stress management are in focus as we head into fall. On page 3, learn what you can lose

—and gain—from bariatric surgery. Its effects on hyperten-sion, diabetes, and sleep apnea are as important as its effect on weight loss. Our bariatric surgeon, Dr. Robert Bell, can help determine if this surgery is right for you via his discus-sion series.

Featured on pages 4 and 5 is the importance of sleep to overall quality of life. SMG’s Sleep Disorders Center provides comprehensive services to help people take charge of this important health issue.

Physicians who share how they “walk their talk” are a great example to us all! Check out the story on page 7 about Dr. Daria Klachko, SMG gynecologist, and her commitment

A Message to Our Communityto good nutrition through her family farm!

Looking for a fun way to involve your family in exercise? Save the date for the Summit Medical Group Foundation’s Annual 5K Run/1.5 Mile Walk, Sunday, October 25. Details on are page 6—hope to see you there!

Yours in good health,

Jeffrey LeBenger, MD Chairman of the Board and CEO Summit Medical Group

Connect with Us! Keep up with breaking health news, new physicians, new services, events, videos, and more from Summit Medical Group.

facebook.com/summitmedicalnj

pinterest.com/summitmedicalnj

twitter.com/summitmedicalnj

youtube.com/smgnj

gplus.to/summitmedicalgroup

slideshare.net/smgnj

Sign up at summitmedicalgroup.com

Tweet

Like

Is Urgent Care Right for You?Perhaps you are injured, feeling ill, or suffering from a flu bug—you need emergency care, but you don’t need a hospital emergency room.

Head for care at one of Summit Medical Group’s convenient Urgent Care Centers in Berkeley Heights or Westfield. Our Urgent Care Centers offer experienced teams of physicians and nurses board-certified in emergency medicine, with shorter wait times and lower fees than a hospital emergency room visit.

Imaging and Lab Tests AvailableAll of our Urgent Care Centers offer onsite diagnostic capabilities, including imaging and lab testing. A team of specialists is readily available for consultation and you’ll receive coordinated follow-up care with Summit Medical Group, if necessary. Additionally, we offer one electronic file connecting your urgent care visit to your primary care health record, if you are an established SMG patient.

For less urgent needs, Fast Track offers same-day appointments with an advance practice nurse (APN) or a nurse practitioner. Fast Track services are available in all our Urgent Care Centers.

Convenient HoursOur Urgent Care Centers, including Fast Track, are open:Monday–Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.Saturday–Sunday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Call for holiday hours

Open Now574 Springfield AvenueWestfield: 908-673-7256

1 Diamond Hill RoadBerkeley Heights: 908-277-8880

Coming Soon75 E. Northfield Road Livingston, NJ 07039 973-436-1500

140 Park Avenue–The Green at Florham ParkFlorham Park, NJ 07932


HEALTHY WEIGHT

908-273-4300 ◆ summitmedicalgroup.com 3

Connect with Us! Keep up with breaking health news, new physicians, new services, events, videos, and more from Summit Medical Group.

gplus.to/summitmedicalgroup

Bariatric Surgery’s Bene�ts Go Beyond Weight Loss

For many people who have bariatric (weight-loss) surgery, it’s not only about the pounds they need to lose. It’s also about the health they stand to gain.

“Medical problems that are generally weight-related include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD),” says Robert Bell, MD, a bariatric surgeon at Summit Medical Group. “Bariatric surgery can often cure or reduce these problems. In addition, bariatric surgery may lessen symptoms of osteoarthritis, psoriasis, and even migraines.”

From Heavy to HealthyBariatric surgery isn’t for everyone, however. “Someone looking to lose 20 pounds wouldn’t be a candidate,” says Dr. Bell. “This type of surgery is intended for people who need to lose a large amount of weight—typically 80 pounds or more.” For appropriate patients, here’s how bariatric surgery may ease health concerns:• Type 2 diabetes. After bariatric surgery, fat cells shrink as

people lose weight. Key hormones that influence the body’s response to food are also affected. “The net result is an improvement in insulin sensitivity,” says Dr. Bell. “Most patients who were previously treated with diabetes pills alone see their diabetes go away completely after surgery. Even those who were on insulin for type 2 diabetes often have improved blood sugar levels.”

• High blood pressure. When fat cells shrink, they make less of certain hormones that raise blood pressure. “Patients who previously needed just one or two medicines to control their high blood pressure often require no medicine at all after bariatric surgery,” Dr. Bell says. “Even those who needed several blood pressure medicines may be able to switch to a lower dose.”

• High cholesterol. The liver cells of people who are obese and have high cholesterol may be clogged by fat. When people lose the fat thanks to bariatric surgery, their cholesterol levels often improve substantially.

• Sleep apnea. This condition is typically caused by fatty tissue inside the neck. “With sufficient weight loss, sleep apnea gets dramatically better or goes away completely over 90 percent of the time,” says Dr. Bell.

• GERD. In GERD, stomach acid leaks upward and irritates the esophagus. Both gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy largely eliminate the source of the problem.

Is Weight-Lo ss Surgery fo r Me?Get the answer at a seminar conducted by bariatric surgeon Robert Bell, MD. Check the calendar for details.



Everyone knows that eating right and exercising are two important factors that enhance health.

But Alison Kole, MD, adds another crucial, yet often forgotten, health measure: sleep.

“Quality sleep is just as important as other key health habits,” says Dr. Kole, board certifi ed and fellowship trained in sleep disorders and director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Summit Medical Group. “We live in a fast-paced society that tends to put sleep on the back burner, but actually it’s one of the most basic ways to prevent disease.”

Unplug to Sleep Tight Although successful people who function with only a few hours of rest are often idealized, most adults need about seven to eight hours of sleep a night to provide the body with suffi -cient energy.

To promote good sleep hygiene, Dr. Kole recommends unplugging technology at night and avoiding alcohol or nicotine before bedtime because they may interfere with rest.

to the Importance of Sleep“You want to be like Goldilocks and have an appropriate

sleep environment: not too cold, not too hot—just right,” says Dr. Kole.

Studies show sleep deprivation is associated with numer-ous medical problems, including a weakened immune system, diabetes, heart disease, and depression.

SLEEP & HEALTH

Wake UpWake Upto the Importance of SleepWake Upto the Importance of Sleepto the Importance of Sleep



to the Importance of Sleep

“Basically, poor sleep hygiene affects every aspect of your life. It can negatively affect your mood, concentration, and memory; cause daytime drowsiness that leads to motor vehicle accidents; and increase stress hormones, which trigger poor food choices and result in weight gain,” says Dr. Kole.

Most people occasionally experience a restless night, but Dr. Kole says that it’s time to seek medical help if poor sleep causes you to feel lethargic, cranky, or sleepy during the day; if your poor sleep is interfering with your work or school performance or negatively affecting your personal relation-ships; if you rarely feel refreshed after a night’s sleep; if your spouse expresses concern about your snoring or breathing at night; or if your doctor recommends that you consult a sleep specialist.

Sleep Center to the RescueSummit Medical Group’s Sleep Disorders Center provides comprehensive services for chronic sleep problems, including insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep), sleep apnea (breathing interruptions during sleep caused by collapse of the upper airway during sleep) and circadian rhythm disorders (exam-ples include shift work and jet lag). Sleep specialists offer advanced diagnostic and treatment options, including con-tinuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy and mandibular advance-ment devices (customized mouth devices designed to pro-mote uninterrupted breathing).

An American Academy of Sleep Medicine–accredited center of excellence, the Sleep Disorders Center offers overnight sleep testing at its Sleep Laboratory. For patient convenience, the Center also provides the option of home sleep testing for appropriately selected candidates.

“We utilize all of our training and skills to help patients finally take charge of their sleep,” says Dr. Kole. “Once they start sleeping well, their quality of life improves tremendously.”

We Can Help You Get Your ZZZ’sAt Summit Medical Group, we consider all the angles when it comes to helping you get the rest you need. Check out this sampling of our online resources:

COMPREHENSIVE WEBSITEA good place to start is the Sleep Disorders Center section of our website, including details on the kinds of diagnostic and treatment options we offer:www.summitmedicalgroup.com/service/ Sleep-Disorders-Center/.

VIDEOS:Does Technology Affect Your Health? Do you love your tablet or smartphone? Get some quick tips about technology’s impact on your sleep and over-all health from Alison Kole, MD, director of the Sleep Disorders Center, at youtu.be/F5rPnamLiq8.

Stop Tossing and TurningFind out what causes insomnia and what you can do about it from James Korman, PsyD, ACT, of the Behavioral Health and Cognitive Therapy Center. Visit summitmedicalgroup.com for a video link to watch.

PODCAST: Danger Ahead: Drowsy DrivingWhile it doesn’t get the publicity of drunken driving or texting while driving, drowsy driving is a major hazard. Learn how to prevent it and what to do if you have to drive when you’re very tired, from Soma Mandal, MD, at radiomd.com/audio-player/summit/item/24192-drowsy-driving-prevention.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? BROWSE OUR ONLINE HEALTH LIBRARYDid you realize that Summit Medical Group has a health library? Learn about everything from helping newborns sleep better to sleep apnea in the Live Well Library at www.summitmedicalgroup.com/search/ ?model=relayhealth_article&page=1&q=Sleep.

Unplug technology and avo id alcohol o r nicotine befo re bedtime because they may interfere with rest.

Can Sno ring Harm Yo ur Health?Find out about sleep apnea—and whether you’re at risk—at a November 19 lecture by sleep medicine specialist Alison Kole, MD. Check the Calendar of Events for details.


Summit Medical Group Welcomes 7 New Doctors

Dahlia Hall, MDPediatricsMillburn973-376-9000

Jaclyn Brittman, DOPediatricsLivingston973-436-1540

Maria Costea-Misthos, MDInternal MedicineBasking Ridge908-696-1400

Lawrence Meyers, MDDermatologyWestfi eld908-232-2727

Louis Rizio, MDOrthopedicsLivingston973-758-1078

Ann Thomas, MDFamily MedicineBridgewater908-864-4820

Esther Lee, MDEndocrinologyMorristown973-775-5151


James G. Kanellakos, MD

Marc H. Rubman, MD

Adam Wagshul, MD

Jeffrey A. Siegel, MD

Summit Medical Group Welcomes the Orthopedic Group

The Orthopedic Group at SMGPhysicians of The Orthopedic Group at SMG provide personalized, comprehensive, and compassionate ortho-pedic care for children, adolescents, and adults. For more than 40 years, The Orthopedic Group at SMG has served patients in Morris County, with offi ces conveniently located in Morristown, Parsippany, and Randolph, N.J. For a convenient appointment, please call:

Morristown offi ce: 973-538-0029Parsippany offi ce: 973-263-2828Randolph offi ce: 973-366-4411

Looking fo r a Physician?Check out our physician-fi nder online at www.summitmedicalgroup.com/doctors.

Save the Date: Run for Your Life 5KThe Summit Medical Group Foundation will host its annual Run for Your Life 5K Run/1.5 Mile Walk on Sunday, October 25, to promote

health and wellness. This will be a festive, family-friendly event with food and beverages, live music,

awards, goodie bags for participants, and a number of activities for children and adults. The race starts at 9:30 a.m. at Memorial Field in Berkeley Heights, NJ.

All proceeds of the race will support the Summit Medical Group Foundation’s programs. To learn more or to register, visit www.smg-foundation.org.

OURDOCTORS



NUTRITION

Stethoscopes and PitchforksDoctors Emphasizing Good Health, at Work and at Home

When it comes to a healthy lifestyle, it would be tough to top Summit Medical Group’s Daria Klachko-Totten, MD, FACOGS. She and her

husband are surrounded by cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and lambs—not to mention pesticide-free vegetables—on their sustainable farm in Long Valley.

Dr. Klachko-Totten has always loved nature, and her husband, James Cheron Totten, DPM, dreamed of having a farm like his grandfather. In 2002 they purchased the 80-acre farm that became Totten Family Farm.

“It was a perfect fit for our family,” says Dr. Klachko-Totten. She is a gynecologist at Summit Medical Group’s Livingston office, and he is a foot and ankle surgeon in Newark. They have 11-year-old twins, Adriana and Natalie.

Planting the Seeds for Sustainable FarmingAs physicians, the Tottens know that nutrition has a major impact on health, so their vision was to create not just any farm, but a 21st century homestead that responsibly produces food and animals using organic principles.

That meant years of preparation, including tending the soil until it was nutrient-rich for heirloom vegetables (high quality and not genetically modified or sprayed with

pesticides), as well as obtaining heritage livestock (animals raised in the traditional style where they can roam free and are grass-fed).

To help them operate the farm, the Tottens work with other sustainable farming advocates, including a farmer who takes care of the animals and harvests the crops, and a former Wall Street executive who raises free-range chickens on the property.

“My husband and I spend most of our free time working the farm, but with our full-time careers, the only way we can manage is with plenty of expert help,” says Dr. Klachko-Totten. “We are fortunate to have a team of people who truly believe in naturally grown farming.”

To share their fresh bounty, Totten Family Farm vegeta-bles, eggs, and meat are sold daily at their farm stand, at local farmers markets, and through their webpage, tottenfamilyfarm.com.

Practicing What They PreachProducing and eating pesticide-free foods has made life richer for the doctors and their children.

“I feel more energetic, and it’s great to know that what we put on our kids’ plates is nonprocessed, fresh, and chemical-free, not to mention tasty,” says Dr. Klachko-Totten.

For the busy couple, Totten Family Farm is a way of life that reflects their deep commitment to healthy living.

“The farm has taught us so much about enjoying an outdoor lifestyle,” says Dr. Klachko-Totten. “My husband and I are very passionate about healthy eating and proud to provide our family and the community with delicious, high-quality food.”

Nutritio nal Kno w-Ho wLearn about everything from avocados to the latest cholesterol guidelines at our nutrition page, summitmedicalgroup.com/news/nutrition.


PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDSummit

Medical Group

Summit Medical Group1 Diamond Hill RoadBerkeley Heights, NJ 07922

HEALTHY CONNECTIONS Jeffrey LeBenger, MD, chairman and CEO of Summit Medical Group. Healthy Connections is published by Summit Medical Group. The information within this publication is intended to educate readers about subjects pertinent to their health and is not meant to be a substitute for consultation with a personal physician. To add or remove your name from our mailing list, please call 908-977-9500. © 2015. Printed in U.S.A.

Postmaster: Please deliver within September 7 to 11

816M

We treat your urgent needs like

an emergency.

When you’re injured, feeling ill or suffering from a flu bug, head for care at Summit Medical Group’s new urgent care center in Westfield. This new center offers: An experienced team of

board-certified emergency medicine physicians and nurses Shorter wait times and lower fees than a hospital emergency

room visit Onsite diagnostic capabilities, including imaging and lab testing A team of specialists readily available for consultation Coordinated follow-up care

with Summit Medical Group, if necessary

1 electronic file connecting your urgent care to your primary care if you are an established SMG patient

Additional onsite services that include: orthopedics, physical/occupational/speech therapy, ENT/allergy, and more

For more information, go to urgentcare.summitmedicalgroup.com.

OPEN NOW!574 Springfield Avenue Westfield • 908-673-72561 Diamond Hill Road Berkeley Heights • 908-277-8880

Summit Medical Group now has a new urgent care center in Westfield.

OPEN NOW

IN WESTFIELD

Fast track available for less urgent needs.

New Hours!Both locations are now open:

Mon–Fri: 8am–8pm Sat–Sun: 8am–5pm

Out on the Road to Health

The Summit Medical Group Road to Health campaign is gearing up for a fantastic fall!

Morristown Farmer’s Market

Sundays, September 20 and October 25, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.SMG is a proud sponsor of this season’s market. Stop by the Road to Health tent and chat with one of our Ambassadors.

Free Road to Health Lecture SeriesMadison YMCA

Mondays, September 21 at 7 p.m. and November 16 at 1:45 p.m. Diabetes Education, Margaret Eckler, RD, CDE—Diabetes Live Well Program

Thursday, October 22, 7 p.m. Living With Perimenopause and Menopause, Daria Klachko, MD, FACOG—Gynecology

Wednesday, November 18, 7 p.m. Behavioral Health: Teen Depression, Melissa Breslin, MA, MSW, LCSW, ACT—Behavioral Health and Cognitive Therapy

Morristown YMCA

Wednesday, November 11, 9:30 a.m. Diabetes Education, Margaret Eckler, RD, CDE—Diabetes Live Well Program

Thursday, November 12, 7 p.m. Living with Perimenopause and Menopause, Daria Klachko, MD, FACOG—Gynecology

For additional lectures and events, please visit www.smgroadtohealthtour.com.

Interested in learning more about the campaign or how to get involved? Visit smgroadtohealthtour.com. Keep an eye out for updates—and don’t forget to share!


fall 2015 connections - summit medical group · —and gain—from bariatric surgery. its effects...

Documents