A PUBLICATION OF PIEDMONT HENRY HOSPITALMarch/April 2012 piedmonthenry.org

a promise to live well

Need a physician? Call 678.604.1017 or visit piedmonthenry.org

Fully accredited by The Joint Commission of National Quality Approval.

Health for Life is intended to provide general health information only. It should not be used to self-diagnose or as a substitute for advice by a physician or other healthcare professional.

For questions or comments about Health for Life, please write or call the Piedmont Henry Hospital Marketing Department, 1133 Eagle’s Landing Parkway, Stockbridge, GA 30281, 678.604.1026.

Charles Scott President and CEO

Jeff CooperVice President and COO

Donna M. Braddy Director of Marketing, Public Relations, Community Education and Volunteer Services

Michelle A. Nunnally Public Relations Specialist

Health For Life is a Silver award winner at the 2011 Georgia Hospital Association's Healthcare Marketing & Public Relations Society annual Target Awards.

Design and Art Direction by tbg designTerry B. Gardner – DesignerLeigh Delozier – Writer Michie Turpin – Photographer

Health for Life, March/April 2012. Published bi-monthly by

Piedmont Henry Hospital. All information herein has been checked

for accuracy to the best of the publisher’s ability. No responsibility

is accepted for deletions, omissions, errors and/or inaccuracies.

No materials contained herein may be reproduced without the

exclusive written permission of the publisher.

©2012 Piedmont Henry Hospital. All rights reserved.

Printed in the U.S.A.

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on the cover: Marcelle Bushelle and Rusty share some healthy quality time.Her story on page 2.

Kathleen Scott doesn't let anything ground her. Her story on page 6.

MARCH / APRIL 2012

2 Marcelle Bushelle - Defeating Diabetes

6 Kathleen Scott - One Life-Changing Hour

9 Know the Symptoms - Save a Life

10 Tim Price - Positively Beating the Odds

13 Piedmont Henry Hospital News

In this issue - it's all about LIVING WELL

Health for Life March/April 2012 | page 1

Tim Price knows his positive attitude is working. His story on page 10.

“We have to learn that what we put in our bodies really matters, that your diet makes a difference.” ~ Marcelle Bushelle

2

Health for Life March/April 2012 | page 3

Diabetes has taken McDonough resident Marcelle Bushelle on a roller coaster ride for the past 20 years. When she took time to attend Piedmont Henry Hospital’s diabetes education class, she truly committed to being the one in control.

Bushelle’s first encounter with diabetes came at a common time for women: during pregnancy. The standard glucose test showed very high blood sugar levels, so she took insulin until her daughter’s birth. Her physician stopped the insulin when Bushelle’s blood sugar returned to normal a few days later.

Signs of diabetes returned a few years later. “When I went for my check-up, the doctor said I was borderline diabetic and needed to watch my foods,” Bushelle says.

“I didn’t take it as seriously as I should have.”

Bushelle was forced to reevaluate her mindset within the next year. “I got really sick,” she says. “I was losing weight even though I was hungry and eating. I was always thirsty and very tired. I spent a lot of time on the couch.”

Then one day while she was shopping, Bushelle suddenly lost her vision. “I was very sick. I could hear, but my eyes got dark, and I couldn’t see anything.”

A glucose check showed that Bushelle’s blood sugar was 824. She spent eight days in a New York hospital and learned how to eat properly, give herself insulin and deal with other issues related to diabetes.

“That was really a wake-up call,” she says. “It scared me so much that I knew I needed to take it seriously.”

DIABETES EDUCATION

Defeating Diabetes“There’s too much diabetes in America. We need to stop it.” ~ Marcelle Bushelle

EAT

MO R

E F R U I T S A N D V E G E T A B LES

4

Bushelle followed her physician’s recommendations without many problems. She moved to Henry County in 2003 and was able to stop taking insulin when she lost weight and her blood sugar leveled out.

“I thought I was fine then, and no longer diabetic,” she says. “I was wrong.”

The next time Bushelle had elevated blood sugar levels at a check-up, her physician recommended the diabetes education class at Piedmont Henry Hospital.

“Two days in that class made all the difference for me,” Bushelle says. “You can read books or find things on the internet, but it’s nothing like being with people in class. Even the things they taught me in New York didn’t click like this did.”

“The classroom situation really seems to help,” agrees Debra McAdams, RN, a certified diabetes educator at Piedmont Henry Hospital. “We do a lot of things as a group, but also have individual pre-assessments with every participant beforehand. That helps us start learning about their concerns and other issues so we can work together.”

McAdams leads the classes with registered dietitian Michelle Fields, RD. Both have family ties to diabetes and are passionate about teaching people to live successfully with the condition.

“The sooner someone comes to the class after a diabetes diagnosis, the better,” McAdams says. “Most people have a better outcome if they learn to manage it earlier. Some people wait a few years, for whatever reason. We can still help them learn new ways to take care of themselves and lower their risks for long-term complications.”

Bushelle’s favorite part of the class came at lunchtime.

“We had the opportunity to go to the hospital cafeteria and create a meal like we thought it should look,” she says. “It really helped me see how the things I was learning worked in real life.”

“Part of the class includes having the dietitian create individualized meal plans,” McAdams adds.

“She teaches them how to use the plan, and then they get to put it into practice in the cafeteria where they have lots of choices. Once they go back to class, they discuss things and share what they’ve learned.”

“I’ve had so much success with what I learned in the diabetes education class.” ~ Marcelle Bushelle

Marcelle is especially passionate about nutrition and eating healthy, fresh foods. She loves to decorate and enjoys going to movies, concerts and shows. She attends a power class at the gym three times a week and loves walking with her dog Rusty and 18 year old daughter Alya.

Health for Life March/April 2012 | page 5

Education doesn’t end after two days, however. Participants attend a follow-up group class several months later to address questions or concerns after following their plans day-to-day. The hospital also hosts monthly diabetes support group meetings.

“Participants also know they can call us anytime with questions, and that they can even come back for part of a class within the next year for a refresher,” McAdams says. “We do everything we can to meet the needs of each patient.”

After finding personal success with the class, Bushelle now recommends it to others and does her part to educate people about healthy living.

“When I registered for the class, I was mainly curious,” she says. “But then I walked into a room of other people with the same problem as me. It makes a difference when you know you’re not alone in dealing with the issue.” •

PIEDMONT HENRY HOSPITAL offers a diabetes education program approved by the American Diabetes Association. Being an ADA recognized program means that the classes follow nationally established, high quality standards.

New classes are held every few weeks, including some Saturdays. Participants must have a confirmed diagnosis of diabetes and a written physician order for diabetes education prior to registering. Some insurance plans cover diabetes education through a recognized program such as the ADA class. For more information or to register, call 678.604.1040.

Get EducatedDIABETESabout

“Education really is key to managing diabetes and preventing complications.” ~ Debra McAdams, RN

6

onesboro resident Kathleen Scott woke at 3 a.m. on June 24 with nausea and profuse, cold sweating, but the possibility of heart trouble didn’t cross her mind.

After all, she’d gone through several days of hospitalization and multiple tests just eight weeks earlier for supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) or “runaway pulse.”

“We’d gotten the SVT under control, so I thought everything about my heart was fine,” Scott says. “The nausea and sweating that night made me think I had a flu bug. Then I noticed a crushing sensation in the middle of my chest, like someone put a load of bricks there.”

Scott checked her blood pressure and pulse and found they both were in her normal ranges. “I told my husband I would just fix some tea and toast to help the nausea and go back to bed. But the chest pain increased when I was in bed.”

CARDIOVASCULAR SERVICES

J

Lifechanging

hour

One

~

Health for Life March/April 2012 | page 7

8

Around 5:30 a.m., Scott realized she hadn’t thought to check her temperature. When she did, it was below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. “I knew that wasn’t a good sign,” she says. “Cold temperatures can be a sign of the body shutting down.”

Scott and her husband, Col. (Ret.) Charles Scott, decided it was time to go to Piedmont Henry Hospital. They knew their family friend and cardiologist, Homayoun Amin, M.D., normally made early-morning rounds at the hospital, so they hoped they might be able to see him.

“The Emergency Department was quiet when we got there,” Scott says. “All I had to say was ‘chest pressure’ and the lady at the desk put down her clipboard, pressed a button and a nurse appeared. They put me on a gurney right there behind the reception desk and wheeled me back.”

“Many times, women don’t have the same ‘classic’ symptoms of a heart attack as men,” says Kay Neal, RN, BSN, director of Piedmont Henry Hospital’s Emergency Department. “They might experience pain all across their chest, or in their jaw or arm. Women

also often consider themselves healthy and ignore the pain because they have too many other things to do.”

Fortunately, Scott didn’t wait until it was too late to get to the hospital.

An EKG showed she was having a heart attack. “I told the nurse at least I was where I needed to be. A sense of relief and peace came over me because I knew they could take care of me.”

Additional tests showed two arterial blockages, one at 100 percent and the other at 70 percent.

Col. (Ret.) Scott called Dr. Amin to alert him to the situation. “He told my husband he would be right there, and the next thing we knew the door opened and Dr. Amin walked in,” Scott says. “He’d already looked at the test results. He said they could take care of me and that everything would be all right.”

Moments later, members of the hospital’s coronary angioplasty team began preparing Scott for her procedure. They’re known as the STEMI team, which stands for “ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.” A team is always on call to assist with

“I thank God every day for access to medical care and such a fine hospital.” ~ Kathleen Scott

Kathleen is retired from Delta Air Lines and her husband Col. (Ret.) Charles Scott is retired from the U.S. Army. They love to travel. She enjoys gardening and always looks forward to spring when she can start pruning and tending to flowers. The Scotts have a pool and both swim every day when the weather is warm.

Health for Life March/April 2012 | page 9

patients who potentially have an acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack.

The accepted “gold standard” for getting STEMI patients from their first intervention when they arrive at the hospital until they have balloons inserted to widen blocked coronary arteries is 90 minutes. Only one year after introducing the service, the average time for these patients at Piedmont Henry Hospital is 53 minutes.

“It was just like in the movies,” Scott says. “Everyone had a job and was super efficient. There was no conversation between them because they knew exactly what to do. They were rushing, but not in a way that pressured me.”

Scott was taken to a procedure room. “The doctor [Muthusamy Sekar, M.D.] said they would put me to sleep and put in two stents to clear the blockages. He said they would tell me all about the results when I woke up.”

An hour later, Scott woke from the procedure and learned that everything went well. “They removed the plaque and inserted two stents. They showed me ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures where I could see the blockages were gone and little coils were in place. It made me feel like I was getting excellent care and my outcome was optimistic.”

Scott spent four days in the Critical Care Unit, where she says everyone continued to give her excellent care. Today, she has completely recovered and enjoys traveling and gardening just as before. She also isn’t shy about sharing her story.

“I recommend Piedmont Henry Hospital to

anyone looking for the best cardiac care.

In one hour they saved my life, and I was

on my way to recovery.” ~ Kathleen Scott

Know the symptoms, save a life. Piedmont Henry Hospital patient Kathleen Scott

wasn’t the first to think the early warning signs of

her heart attack were due to a less serious problem.

Chest pain or discomfort that lasts for more than

a few minutes (or that goes away and comes back)

is the most common heart attack symptom for

women or men.

However, the American Heart Association teaches that

women are somewhat more likely to experience some

of the other common heart attack symptoms. Be alert

to less obvious signs such as:

• Pain or discomfort in other areas, such as

the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.

• Upper back pressure as if a rope is being tied

around you.

• Shortness of breath when you haven’t been active,

with or without chest discomfort.

• Flu-like symptoms like nausea or breaking out

in a cold sweat.

• Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting.

For more information, visit the

American Heart Association online

at www.heart.org.

10

“I think a lot of it has to do with your

frame of mind. Do what you’re sup-

posed to do, and with prayer, you can

beat this. I’m living proof.”

Statistics show that about one adult in 20 has a headache every day or nearly every day, but that’s not the norm for Tim Price. The Stockbridge resident knew something was wrong when he began having persistent headaches over a period of months.

“I’ve never really had body pains or headaches,” Price says. “Then I started having headaches last September that just wouldn’t go away. It really threw me for a loop.”

Medication and other treatments helped to a degree, but the pain never completely left. A neck MRI showed some bones protruding into the protective area around Price’s spinal cord.

“The doctor sent me to Piedmont Henry Hospital for a bone scan.” Price says. “My experience was great – everyone explained the process and what they would do. It went very well.”

Physicians saw what they call “hot spots” in multiple places on Price’s spinal cord. “They wanted to go deeper and get an MRI and CT. The hospital was able to do everything that same day, which I really appreciated. I hardly had to wait to go from one test to the other.”

Price and his wife Gloria received a life-changing shock from the CT results: Stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasized to his bones and other body parts.

“The doctor said it was inoperable, but treatable,” Price says. “The more you read into it, the more you learn about how dreadful this disease is. We decided to go for it and do whatever we could to beat this thing.”

Price’s physicians mapped out an aggressive plan of simultaneous radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

“I began radiation the second week in December Positi vel y beating the odds

“I think a lot of it has to do with your frame of mind. Do what you’re supposed to do, and with prayer, you can beat this. I’m living proof.”

~Tim Price

Tim collects train memorabilia, plays lots of golf and has a woodworking shop. He travels a lot for work, but loves playing with his grandkids when he’s at home.

Tim builds a robot with his grandchildren Cody, Caitlyn and Tytan.

“I think a lot of it has to do with your

frame of mind. Do what you’re sup-

posed to do, and with prayer, you can

beat this. I’m living proof.”

CANCER TREATMENT

Positi vel y beating the oddsHealth for Life March/April 2012 | page 11

“I think a lot of it has to do with your frame of mind. Do what you’re supposed to do, and with prayer, you can beat this. I’m living proof.”

~Tim Price

Tim collects train memorabilia, plays lots of golf and has a woodworking shop. He travels a lot for work, but loves playing with his grandkids when he’s at home.

Tim builds a robot with his grandchildren Cody, Caitlyn and Tytan.

12

and would add chemotherapy every three weeks,” Price says. “That first round really kind of laid the roadwork for what was ahead. I knew this was very serious and I had to take it as such.”

Radiation care often involves several treatments during a given week, over a period of several weeks. Price turned to Henry Radiation Oncology Center (HROC) which opened as a joint venture between the hospital

and Radiation Oncology Services in July 2010. HROC is located on the campus of Piedmont Henry Hospital, allowing Price to get the care he needed close to home. Radiation oncologists, physicists, therapists and other certified professionals work together to plan the best care for each patient.

“It’s pretty common for a patient to go through radiation and chemotherapy at the same time, depending on the type of cancer and the area you’ll be targeting with treatments,” explains Kim Vu, M.D., the lead physician at HROC. “In Mr. Price’s case, the tumors in his spine were causing significant pain, and radiation would shrink those much faster than chemotherapy. We felt it was safe to do both types of treatments because we focused on small radiation fields in his spine while the chemotherapy could work on the lung tumor.”

“Some cancers are more advanced when you find them because the symptoms are vague,” Dr. Vu adds.

“Mr. Price’s initial symptoms were back pain and headache. So many benign conditions have those symptoms that it can sometimes take time to diagnose the full situation.”

Although Price acknowledges that the treatments and their side effects are difficult to endure, he’s also quick

to say he doesn’t regret the choice. A CT after 14 radiation treatments and two rounds of chemotherapy showed encouraging results.

“The growth in my right lung that had been the size of an orange was drastically reduced,” he says. “I’m very confident we’re doing the right thing.”

Price will have more tests to check his progress after two more rounds of chemotherapy.

“The low point was when I was going through both treatments,” he says.

“Now, I feel like it’ll be a breeze since I’ll just be doing chemotherapy.”

Price adds “I’ve been very happy with the people I’ve met while going through this. My hat’s off to those guys for all they do to help people through a horrible time.”

Price is also grateful to his wife for her role in his treatments. “The people behind the scenes – the caregivers – are very important. They push you, pray for you, clean up for you. If not for her, this would have been a very hard road to travel." •

Tim and his wife Gloria with grandson Caliber.

Call 678.251.1099 for more information about Henry Radiation Oncology Center

Health for Life March/April 2012 | page 13

Piedmont Henry Hospital Appoints New Chief Medical Officer

Jagdeep Singh, M.D., is the new vice president for Medical Affairs and chief medical officer (VPMA) for Piedmont Henry Hospital.

Dr. Singh brings approximately five years of experience as a VPMA in two healthcare systems. He comes to PHH from Minneapolis, MN, where he worked as the VPMA for the 390-bed Fairview Southdale Hospital, which is part of the seven-hospital Fairview Health Services system. Prior to this, Dr. Singh held the VPMA position at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Buffalo, NY, which is part of the Catholic Health System.

Dr. Singh completed a residency in family practice in Sylvania, Ohio, and a fellowship in emergency medicine at the University of Tennessee in Memphis, TN. Prior to becoming a VPMA, Dr. Singh was an emergency physician as well as the EMS medical director in Columbus, GA.

Dr. Singh has an MBA in the physician executive program from Auburn University and is a certified physician executive (CPE) and a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).

Piedmont Henry Hospital Receives More Than $20,000 for Real Men Wear Pink Campaign

Several local businesses continued their support of Piedmont Henry Hospital’s Real Men Wear Pink breast cancer awareness campaign through fundraising efforts this past year.

Along with an individual donation, each of the groups made financial contributions to the hospital’s Foundation to help further Piedmont Henry Hospital’s breast cancer awareness initiatives. In total the groups raised $20,202.

Chick-fil-A at Eagle’s Landing raised $665

Tanger Outlet Center raised $18,931

Westbury Health and Rehabilitation Center raised $576

Individual donation $30

Piedmont Henry Hospital Receives Award for Pneumonia Vaccination Initiative

Piedmont Henry Hospital earned third place for the 2011 Josh Nahum Special Achievement Award for infection prevention and control for the hospital’s pneumonia vaccination initiative. The award is co-sponsored by the Georgia Hospital Association’s Partnership for Health & Accountability, Kimberly-Clark Corporation and the SAFECARE campaign.

The Marcia G. Taylor Women’s Center New Artwork Unveiling

A surprise unveiling was recently held for former, long-time Piedmont Henry Hospital board member Marcia Taylor who has given generously of her time and money to support The Marcia G. Taylor Women's Center.

Taylor’s dedication inspired the hospital to create a wall of portraits, reflecting women of all ages who are cared for in The Marcia G. Taylor Women's Center.

Following the unveiling, a reception was held where the new Women's Journal, created through the support of Marcia Taylor, was released. View at piedmonthenry.org

Piedmont Henry Hospital to Host Free Diabetes Awareness Screening

FREE Diabetes Awareness Screening Thursday, March 22, 2012 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wal-Mart in McDonough

PIEDMONT HENRY HOSPITAL News

Call 678.251.1099 for more information about Henry Radiation Oncology Center

Support Groups

Classes and Services For more information about classes, please call 678.604.1040.

Al-Anon Meets every Wednesday and Saturday in the Foundation Education Center, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Ala TeenMeets every Wednesday in the Foundation Education Center, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous Meets every Wednesday and Saturday in the Foundation Education Center, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Cancer Education/Support Call 678.604.1040 for more information.

Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) Call 678.604.1040 for more information.

CPR and First Aid Rescue techniques are taught by the American Heart Association guidelines. Call 678.604.1040 to register.

Diabetes Self-Management Two-day classes are held each month.

Evening Seminar Series Lung Disease Seminar is an annual program that provides patients and families with the most current information on prevention and treatment.

Diabetes Support Group Meets third Tuesday of each month in the Foundation Education Center at 6 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call 678.604.5106 for more information.

Fibromyalgia Support Group Meets Last Thursday of each month in the Foundation Education Center, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Georgia Losing for Life Weight Loss SurgeryMeets second Saturday of each month in the Foundation Education Center, 11 a.m. to noon.

Grief RecoveryCall 678.604.1054 forregistration, dates and times.

Hearts of Henry A support group for anyone with Heart Disease. Meets first Thursday of each month in the Foundation Education Center, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Call 678.575.7746 for more information.

LaLeche League Provides education, information, support and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed. Meets second Thursday each month, 6:30 p.m. in the 4th Floor North Tower Conference Room.

Lupus Support Meets second Saturday of each month in the Foundation Education Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Narcotics Anonymous Meets every Friday from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Foundation Education Center, and every Sunday in the Executive Dining Room, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Overeaters AnonymousMeets every Saturday in the Foundation Education Center, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Post-Partum SupportTelephone support provided to new mothers and family members. Call 678.209.4739.

Rachel’s GiftInfant BereavementSupport GroupFor Parents, Families and

Friends who have experienced a loss through miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death.Meets second Thursday of each month in the Foundation Education Center, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.Call 770.320.7059 for more information.

Sisters By ChoiceFor women diagnosed with breast cancer. Meets second Tuesday of each month in the Foundation Education Center at 7:30 p.m.

Southern Crescent Parents of MultiplesMeets fourth Thursday of each month in the Foundation Education Center, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

First StepsOffers emotional support, current parenting information, community resources and follow up contacts to parents of newborns. The program also offers telephone follow up for the baby’s first three to six months. Call 770.507.9900 for more information or to volunteer.

Get Moving Again For hip and knee surgery patients. Meets the last Saturday of the month.

Health Fairs Free screenings are offered for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, bone density, prostate and many other services.

Look Good Feel Better This program is designed to help women undergoing cancer treatment to regain self-confidence and control over their lives. Meets at Henry Radiation Oncology Center monthly from

Southside Weight Loss Surgery GroupMeets fourth Tuesday of each month in the Foundation Education Center, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Stroke ResourcesCall 678.604.1040 for more information.

WomenHeartMeets first Tuesday of each month in the Foundation Education Center, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Call 678.575.7746 for more information. This group is open to men and women.

10 a.m. to noon. Call 770.631.0625 for dates and to register.

On-Site Health Related classes Piedmont Henry Hospital offers customized on-site health related classes that can be conducted at your business, school, or organization. Call 678.604.5182 for more information.

Paradise Empowers Teen Parent Program (PETPP)A parent education program for pregnant or parenting teenagers under 20-years-old who reside in Henry County. Home visits are held once a month. Classes meet second and fourth Tuesday of the month, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the 4th Floor North Tower Conference Room. Call 678.472.2427 for more information.

Planning for your Final Healthcare Learn how you and your family can discuss and plan in advance for health care at the end of life. Call 678.604.1054 for more information.

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Infant Care Teen ClassClasses offered twice a year to pregnant teenagers age 12 to 19 years old. Call 678.604.4896 for more information.

1133 Eagle's Landing Parkway • Stockbridge, Georgia 30281