vim&vigor

season 2009 $2.95

vim&vigogog r

season 2009 $2.95

vim&vigor

spring 2010 $2.95

willpowerpower

no special effects here. will smith’s strong physique is the result of hard work and dedication

the journey to open heart award-winning critical caredonors help make better health possible

10 WAYS GMC TRANSFORMED

HEALTHCARE IN 2009page 3

HEALTHY LIVING FOR THE GWINNETT COMMUNITY

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spring30will power With roles that include Muhammad Ali and a superhero, iconic actor Will Smith has to stay in shape. Find out how you can get fi t even without the celebrity treatment.

special

4 critically acclaimed GMC – Lawrenceville’s intensive care unit won a coveted qual-ity award for the third straight year.

❋

contents

PHOTOGRAPH BY JET SET, ICON INTERNATIONAL vim & vigor · s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 1

features 3 what a year! Take a look back at how GMC transformed healthcare in

Gwinnett in 2009.

6 it’s time for open heart Chart the two years it took for GMC to secure this much-needed service.

10 excuses, excuses Experts bust the most commonly used cop-outs for not eating right.

14 easing the pressure Think you work hard? Your heart pumps 24 hours a day. Keep hypertension under control.

18 prostate predicament Read how one man got to the cause of his urinary symptoms—and found relief.

22 on mended knees They’re two of our most used—and abused—joints. Find out how surgical advances might help you.

27 imaging IQ Going in for a routine screening or diagnostic test? Here’s what you need to know.

36 caregiving: a survival guide Caring for a loved one is hard work and fraught with unique challenges.

40 form factors Just like the women it affects, breast cancer comes in all shapes and sizes. Learn about four types you need to be aware of.

44 wake-up call A diagnosis of predia-betes doesn’t have to be all bad. It’s a chance to turn your health around.

50 healthcare through philanthropy Meet the donors who are making open heart surgery possible.

departments2 Phil’s feature

GMC’s north tower was definitely worth the wait.

52 out of the white coat Discover the many interests of orthopedic surgeon Mathew Pombo, M.D.

54 PrimeTime Health Armed with knowledge about urinary incontinence, you no longer have to suffer in silence.

56 best-kept secret A new kind of injection therapy, now at GMC, has the body healing itself.

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wWhen Gwinnett Medical Center held the ribbon cutting for the new north tower on our Lawrenceville campus, we released 1,000 live butterflies to commemorate the occasion. It was magical to see them rise up, past the smiling faces of the children holding the boxes that just moments earlier had held them.

The transformation from larva to butterfly is not a comfortable journey, but the end result is magnificent to see.

This is a perfect comparison to the construction of the north tower over the last couple of years on our Lawrenceville campus. It has not always been the most convenient process, because of the construction noise and detours, but the final result was definitely worth the wait.

GMC’s nationally renowned physicians and medical professionals are now delivering quality care in a facility with the latest technology that includes countless amenities for patients and their families.

Just before the north tower opened, we received the good news that the legal hurdles blocking us in moving forward with open heart surgery had been removed. Gwinnett Medical Center is now moving forward to establish an advanced cardiology program in Gwinnett.

And finally, our Foundation is well on its way to securing its $8 million campaign goal, which will ensure that we are able to continue our progression toward the dynamic services our community needs in the coming year.

Thank you for your continued support of our efforts, and be sure to keep watching our transformation of healthcare.

Philip R. Wolfe, FACHEPresident and CEO

north tower marks a milestone in Gwinnett’s healthcare

transforming upward and onward

Phil’s feature

Gwinnett Medical center

President and chief executive Officer

Philip R. Wolfe

Gwinnett Health System Board of directors

Steven Boyd, Chairman; Jock Connell; Jayaprakash Desai, M.D.; Joseph

C. Finley, M.D.; Willard Hearin, M.D.; Carolyn Hill; Eric Kreimer; Chung H.

Lee, J.D.; Tom Martin; Miles H. Mason III, M.D.; David McClesky; Edward

Radford; Manfred Sandler, M.D.; Wayne Sikes; Kathryn Parsons Willis;

Philip R. Wolfe

Vim & Vigor Managing editor

Kyle Brogdon

editorial Board

Aaron McKevitt

Keyonda Noel

Andrea Wehrmann

PrOductiOnV.P./Creative Director: Beth Tomkiw

Editor-in-Chief: Shelley Flannery

Editors: Sam Mittelsteadt, Matt Morgan, Amanda Myers,

Kari Redfield, Jill Schildhouse, Tom Weede, Julie Wlodychak

Copy Editor: Cindy Hutchinson

Creative Director: Lisa Altomare

Art Directors: Laura Butler, Erica Brooks, Maggie Conners,

Monya Mollohan, Kay Morrow, Adele Mulford, Tami Rodgers,

Keith Whitney

Senior Production Manager: Laura Marlowe

Ancillary Production Manager: Angela Liedtke

Imaging Specialist: Dane Nordine

Prep Specialists: Julie Fong, Sonia Washington

V.P./Business Intelligence Group: Patrick Kehoe

Postal Affairs & Logistics Director: Joseph Abeyta

V.P./Sales and Product Development: Chad Rose, 888-626-8779

V.P./Strategic Marketing: Heather Burgett

Strategic Marketing Team: Robyn LaMont, Barbara Mohr,

Andrea Parsons, Paul Peterson, Todd Speranzo

advertiSinG SaleS advertising Sales repre sentatives

New York: Phil Titolo, Publisher, 212-626-6835

Phoenix: Soliteir Jaeger, Associate Publisher, 888-626-8779

Mail Order: Bernbach Advertising Reps, 914-769-0051

adMiniStratiOn Vim & Vigor Founder: J. Barry Johnson

Chairman: Preston V. McMurry Jr.

President/Chief Executive Officer: Christopher McMurry

Chief Operating Officer/Financial Officer: Audra L. Taylor

President/Content Marketing: Fred Petrovsky

Vim &Vigor,TM Spring 2010, Volume 26, Number 1, Georgia Region 2 is published quarterly by McMurry, McMurry Campus Center, 1010 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85014, 602-395-5850. Vim & Vigor TM is published for the purpose of disseminating health-related information for the well-being of the general public and its subscribers. The information contained in Vim & Vigor TM is not intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing. Please consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treat-ment and/or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines. Vim & Vigor TM does not accept advertising promoting the consumption of alcohol or tobacco. Copyright © 2010 by McMurry. All rights reserved. Subscriptions in U.S.: $4 for one year (4 issues). Single copies: $2.95. For subscriptions and address changes, write: Circulation Manager, Vim & Vigor,TM McMurry Campus Center, 1010 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85014.

Gwinnett Medical Center678-312-4321

1000 Medical Center Blvd., Lawrenceville, GA 30045

gwinnettmedicalcenter.org

If you prefer not to receive Vim & VigortM

from Gwinnett Medical Center, please call 888-626-8779.

vim & vigor • s p r i n g 2 0 1 02

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Feb. 28 / Foundation GalaThe Foundation’s inaugural Cornerstone Society Donor Appreciation Gala was held to recognize donors of $1,000 or more in 2008 and featured guest speakers Mary Matalin and James Carville.

April 17 / Gwinnett Braves first home gameGwinnett Medical Center is proud to be the official healthcare provider of the G-Braves, who had a great inaugural season and made it to the AAA playoffs.

May 7 / Breast Diagnostic Center openingThe Breast Diagnostic Center at GMC – Duluth helps women fight breast cancer through the latest technology in early detection.

June 18 / Interventional Radiology Suite opening in DuluthThe Interventional Radiology Suite at GMC – Duluth provides inpatient and outpatient minimally invasive services.

July 17 / First da Vinci surgeryGMC – Duluth hosted the first robotic surgery in Gwinnett using the da Vinci surgical robot, named Leo. The surgery was performed by Stephen Salmieri, M.D., a specialist in gynecologic oncology.

Sept. 23 / New MRI suiteGMC opened a new MRI suite with a short bore magnet, spa atmosphere and tranquil sky detail on the ceiling to enhance the experience for all GMC patients.

Sept. 25 / Open heart finally approved!After oppositions from multiple Atlanta hospitals, open heart surgery was finally cleared to begin at GMC. Having been the largest county in the nation without an open heart facility, Gwinnett gratefully welcomed the approval, which would not have been possible without community support.

Sept. 29 / Hollywood at GMCGMC transformed into North Metro Dallas General Hospital for the filming of the Warner Bros. movie Due Date, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx. The movie is expected to be released November 2010.

Sept. 30 / North tower openingWith the addition of 155 beds to the Lawrenceville campus, GMC opened the north tower to patients: “eight stories of the latest technology.”

Dec. 29 / 25th anniversaryDecember marked the silver anniversary of the GMC – Lawrenceville campus. With the addition of DaySurgery, the Women’s Pavilion, medical office buildings and the north tower, GMC – Lawrenceville has spent 25 years serving Gwinnett and is looking forward to many more.

GMC looks back at 2009

what a year!

Donors Carolyn Hill (from left), Kathryn Parsons Willis and Bruce Still are honored at the Foundation’s inaugural Gala.

The da Vinci SurgicalSystem brings a wholenew level of minimallyinvasive surgical optionsto GMC patients.

Supporters celebrate the north tower opening.

vim & vigor • s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 3

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Winning an award for clinical excellence is hard. Winning it three times in a row is nearly impossible, especially in a

highly competitive field.But that’s exactly what Gwinnett Medical

Center – Lawrenceville’s intensive care unit

has accomplished, winning the coveted Beacon Award for an unprecedented third consecutive year. According to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) website, “Beacon Award units have met rigid criteria for excellence, exhibiting high-quality standards, and exceptional care of patients and patients’ families.”

Adds Jeff Nowlin, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Gwinnett Health

Members of the intensive care unit at Gwinnett Medical Center – Lawrenceville are proud of their three consecutive Beacon Awards.

acclaimedcriticallyGMC – Lawrenceville’s intensive care unit

honored for quality—back to back to back

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System and president of GMC – Lawrenceville: “We strive for excellence in all areas here at GMC. We are all proud of what this unit has accomplished, as it exemplifi es what we are here to do as a hospital, as well as sets the bar high for our other departments.”

setting the standardThe Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence was created by the AACN in 2003 to challenge acute care and critical care nurses to improve the care provided to acutely and critically ill patients.

“This award provides a means for critical care units to measure their systems, outcomes and environments against national criteria for excellence,” says Joanne Culvern, R.N., clinical manager of the GMC – Lawrenceville intensive care unit. “We’re very proud to be setting the standard for intensive care both in Atlanta and across the country.”

Only three other hospitals in Georgia have won this award, and none of them has won it more than once.

“Our ICU is thrilled to receive the Beacon Award for the third straight year,” Culvern says. “But we realize that the real winners are our patients and their families. They are the whole reason we do what we do every day.”

validation for nurses, patientsThe Beacon Award validates that GMC’s patients are receiving the most effective nursing care, as outlined by national best-practice standards, and that the hospital is producing quality patient results in an environment that maximizes the health and well-being of its nurses.

“We have a great team that is committed to the exceptional care of patients and families. We are extremely fortunate here at GMC to work in an environment that is conducive to administering top-rate care.”

Joanne Culvern, R.N., B.S., CCRN, intensive care unit clinical manager

centers of excellenceFor more information about the intensive care unit at Gwinnett Medical Center – Lawrenceville or to learn about other award-winning departments on any of GMC’s campuses, visit gwinnettmedicalcenter.org.

go

acclaimed

vim & vigor · s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 5

“We have a great team that is committed to the exceptional care of patients and families,” Culvern says. “We are extremely fortunate here at GMC to work in an environment that is conducive to administering top-rate care.”

Gwinnett Medical Center’s intensive care units are extremely progressive, always evaluating their services to make sure they are of the highest quality for patients.

“The nurses in these units have embraced change and are always willing to adapt their practices to provide the best care possible to meet the needs of our patients,” Culvern says. “Our staff is truly committed to patient-centered care, and we strive for the best patient outcomes.”

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Since fall 2007, Gwinnett Medical Center has worked to ensure that patients with advanced cardiology needs could be cared for with the addition of an open

heart program on its campus.On Sept. 25, the last of the groups that held up

development of our open heart program backed down. We appreciate the willingness of Piedmont Hospital and Emory Healthcare to do the right thing for the citizens of Gwinnett.

We want to extend our sincere gratitude to the citizens and leaders of Gwinnett County for their continued support through this process—it has made all the difference. Going forward, we will now focus on building the comprehensive cardiac care program that this community needs and has rallied around for years.

To know where we are going, it pays to review the milestones, setbacks and victories that we have experienced along the way. Thanks to you, we now have the green light to move forward. Thanks to you, open heart is in our hands!

a look at how the

Gwinnett community

came together

August 2007: Vim & Vigor features an article by Manfred Sandler, M.D., outlining the need for open heart surgery in Gwinnett County.

October 2007: The GMC Foundation receives a $1 million lead gift from Clyde and Sandra Strickland for the open heart campaign.

Also: GMC holds a community meeting at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center to rally community support for the open heart campaign.

November 2007: The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners announces public support for the GMC open heart campaign.

December 2007: The Georgia House of Representatives, Gwinnett Chamber, City of Lawrenceville, City of Duluth, Gwinnett County Public Schools and others announce support for GMC open heart.

January 2008: GMC officially files a certificate of need application to the Georgia Department of Community Health for open heart services.

February 2008: GMC reaches its goal of 1,000 letters of community support for its open heart program.

November 2007

openheart

timefor

it’s

vim & vigor · s p r i n g 2 0 1 06

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April 2008: GMC and Saint Joseph’s Health System join forces to create Gwinnett Cardiovascular Services, a collaborative arrangement designed to ensure that the most advanced cardiac services, including open heart surgery services, are available in Gwinnett County quickly.

Spring 2008: The GMC Foundation receives a $750,000 lead gift from The Brand Banking Co. and a $750,000 lead gift from Wayne and Ann Mason for the open heart campaign.

Summer 2008: The GMC Foundation receives a $250,000 lead gift from Cisco Systems Inc. for the open heart campaign.

July 2008: Piedmont Hospital, Emory University Hospital and Emory Crawford Long Hospital—all Atlanta-based—file appeals with the Georgia Department of Community Health asking the state agency to reverse its earlier decision that cleared the way for GMC to establish an open heart surgery program at its main campus in Lawrenceville.

January 2009: The Gwinnett County House of Representatives spends its first meeting of the year signing a letter of support for the Gwinnett Medical Center certificate of need, which faces appeals from Piedmont Hospital and Emory Healthcare in February. “Why would there be opposition?” said Rep. Toney Collins. Added Rep. Clay Cox, “[For a county with] 800,000 to have no heart center, it’s ridiculous.”

May 20, 2009:A certificate of need appeal panel hearing officer sides with opposing hospitals. Gwinnett Medical Center prepares an appeal requesting that the Department of Community Health commissioner reinstate the department’s original approval of the Gwinnett Medical Center open heart surgery program.

June 5, 2008: The Georgia Department of Community Health approves Gwinnett Medical Center’s certificate of need application for a $33 million cardiovascular center.

May-June 2009: Community support builds as community leaders respond to the open heart need in Gwinnett. Editorials and letters to the editor appear in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Gwinnett Daily Post supporting the original decision of the Department of Community Health to approve GMC’s open heart program. The Gwinnett Chamber leads the way and purchases a billboard on Interstate 85.

December 2007

continued

vim & vigor · s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 7

FdVVSP1080_06-8_OpenHeart.indd 7 12/21/09 12:34:58 PM

2010 and beyondTo keep up-to-date with the latest progress in open heart surgery in Gwinnett, or to see how you can get involved, visit openheartgwinnett.org.

in open heart surgery in Gwinnett, or

go

July 15, 2009: More than 150 Emory-trained physicians now practicing at Gwinnett Medical Center submit a letter to the editor to The Gwinnett Daily Post. The letter states: “As Emory alumni, we are disappointed, disturbed and embarrassed that Emory would oppose a needed service that will permit us, as physicians, to provide the best care for our patients. We are all too familiar with the problems of transporting our seriously ill patients out of the community down very congested roads for critical cardiac care. In short, we are outraged. The column by Mr. Fox shows a lack of consideration for patient care. Shame on Emory.”

July 17, 2009: The certificate of need for GMC’s open heart program is reinstated, as the state Department of Community Health commissioner reverses the earlier decision of a hearing officer that halted GMC’s plans to institute an open heart program.

Summer 2009: The GMC Foundation announces $5.6 million in charitable contributions toward the $8 million goal for the open heart campaign.

Aug. 18, 2009: A lawsuit is filed to block open heart at GMC. Piedmont Hospital and Emory Healthcare turn to Fulton County Superior Court in their latest bid to keep vital open heart surgical services from being offered within Gwinnett County, the largest county in the nation without its own open heart program.

Sept. 9, 2009: Piedmont resigns to open heart in Gwinnett, leaving Emory as the only voice of opposition.

Sept. 14, 2009: A public hearing is held at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville, where the Gwinnett County legislative delegation hears from the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, Gwinnett Medical Center, Manfred Sandler, M.D., and several Gwinnett heart patients. Emory Healthcare, which owns Emory University Hospital, was invited to participate in the hearing but refused.

Sept. 25, 2009: Emory University Hospital drops its lawsuit to block Gwinnett Medical Center’s plan to perform open heart surgery, ending a two-year fight over the open heart program. “Emory Healthcare and the legislative leaders have all acknowledged that by working more closely together, patient care for the entire region will be advanced in the most effective and efficient manner,” Emory said in a prepared statement.

June 2009: Emory CEO John Fox submits a letter to the editor, which is published in The Gwinnett Daily Post, explaining Emory’s opposition to GMC’s open heart program.

vim & vigor · s p r i n g 2 0 1 08

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DON’T CHOOSE JUST A DOCTOR.Choose one who’s nationally renowned.

Any hospital can claim to have the best doctors. We back it up. Whether you visit our Lawrenceville or Duluth campus or any of our outpatient facilities, our well-respected and nationally acclaimed doctors are among the region’s medical elite.

Put simply, you won’t fi nd a bigger or better group of forward-thinking pioneers committed to transforming healthcare and every life they touch. In fact, many are among the nation’s fi rst physicians to incorporate and demonstrate the latest procedures and advancements in medicine.

All this means one thing for the patient—the most advanced and complete care possible not just in Atlanta, but in the nation.

For a physician referral, call 678-442-5000 or visit us on the Web at gwinnettmedicalcenter.org.

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$1,000,000Clyde and Sandra Strickland – 1Gwinnett Medical Center Associates (STARS) – 2

$750,000The Brand Banking Company – 3Wayne and Ann Mason – 4Physician Partners – 5

$250,000Cisco Systems Inc. – 6

$150,000Gwinnett Medical Center Auxiliary – 7SunTrust Foundation – 8

$100,000Lawrence and Irene Garrett – 9Bill and Sherry Russell – 10Phil and Mary Jane Wolfe – 11

$50,000Tom and Ethel Andersen – 12Dr. Manfred and Fiona Sandler – 13Wayne and Beth Sikes – 14John D. and Beverly Stephens – 15Terri Jondahl and Richard Drye – 16E.R. Snell Contractors – 17Rick and Nancy Chandler – 18Greg and Tammy Shumate – 19

$30,000Perkins + Will Architects – 20Bill and Rosemary Drake – 21

$25,000Dr. Jim and Beth Elsey – 22Wayne and Carolyn Hill – 23Barbara Howard – 24

$15,000Frederick and Dorothy Rainey – 25Bruce and Ann Still – 26Charles and Glenda Bannister – 27Dr. Keith and Lori Carnes – 28Greg and Renita Hayes – 29Joe and Nancy McCart – 30

$10,000Dr. Alan and Liz Bier – 31Coca-Cola Bottling Company – 32Bill and Carole Head – 33Dan and Karen King – 34Jim and Billie Ellis – 35Georgia Power – 36

meet the donors

who are making

open heart

surgery possible

Through their generosity and leadership, donors have placed a high value on one of the most important quality-of-life issues for any community: the availability of the highest-quality healthcare. Gwinnett Medical Center thanks the following donors for helping reach $6 million toward an $8 million goal for its open heart campaign.

Major donors as of Dec. 1, 2009.

special opportunityDonors who make charitable contributions of $15,000 or more to the open heart campaign will receive a naming opportunity in the new patient tower. Call 678-312-8500 or visit openheartgwinnett.org for more information.

go

philanthropyhealthcare through

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$8,000,000

$6,000,000

5

14

17

12

34

21

13

11

35

91610

15

27

1

28

4

20

18

23 3

6

31

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7

338

24

30

36

22

29

32

26

19

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vim & vigor · s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 51

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GGwinnett Medical Center orthopedic surgeon Mathew Pombo, M.D., is a Gwinnett native and former star soccer player at Duluth High School. These days, he can usually be found in the operating room repairing ACLs and rotator cuffs or racing and repairing cars. The 32-year-old motorsports enthusiast is fellowship-trained in sports medicine, shoulder surgery and arthroscopy.

A picture he drew at age 3 hangs framed on his office wall and reads: “I want to be a doctor. I want to help people and I want to keep them safe and happy.”

After spending three years at Georgia Tech, Dr. Pombo took the medical college admission test early and enrolled in the Medical College of Georgia. He continued with a residency at Wake Forest and a fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Dr. Pombo has also served as team physician for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins and other professional and collegiate sports teams. Since arriving in Gwinnett, he has played a vital role in implementing the

ImPACT concussion prevention program for Gwinnett County athletes. He is the only orthopedic surgeon in Georgia

who is fellowship-trained in concussion injuries and the ImPACT program.

Dr. Pombo and his wife, Beth, met at medical school where Beth was studying to become a nurse. The couple welcomed their first child, Eli, into the world on May 6, 2009, and celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary last fall.

Gwinnett native Mathew Pombo, M.D., is fulfilled by family and motorsports

truly blessed

out of the white coat

Mathew Pombo, M.D., has been team physician for the Pittsburgh Penguins (below) and Steelers (bottom right).

Mathew Pombo, M.D., with son Eli

vim & vigor • s p r i n g 2 0 1 052

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Q&A1 My first job was as a bag boy in the Bruno’s supermarket in Peachtree Corners.

2 To unwind after a long day I do one of two things: I go home and play with my 5-month-old son, Eli, or go to my family’s race shop and work on my race cars.

3 Right now on my iPod I’m listening to Kings of Leon.

5 My favorite thing about Gwinnett is how much this county has given to me growing up. I grew up here, and there are many things that the community and its

people have given to me over the years. It’s

pretty cool to be able to come back and give a

small portion back.

6 My favorite restaurant is anything Japanese or fondue.

9 The best health tip I give patients is to never eat yellow snow. Just kidding.

8 My favorite medical television show is Scrubs.

7 The next big thing in my medical specialty is gene therapy. It is going to unlock the secrets to arthritis and how to grow cartilage back, as well

as help in the treatment of inherited

orthopedic disorders and spine injuries.

4 My inspiration is my family. I’m so blessed to have the best parents a kid could ask for,

the coolest and most loving

brother ever, and to have

found my soulmate in my

wife, Beth, who has given me

the best thing to ever happen to me, my son Eli.

10 If I could be any character in literature or entertainment, I would be Cole Trickle from Days of Thunder.

vim & vigor • s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 53

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❋ What is urinary incontinence?Urinary incontinence, or the loss of bladder control, affects more than 13 million Americans, 85 percent of whom are women. Women of all ages are at risk, and one in four between the ages of 30 and 59 has experienced an episode of incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is most often classified into four categories:

• Stress. The release of urine during day-to-day activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising or any other movement that puts stress on the bladder. This is the most common type of urinary incontinence.

• Urge. An abrupt and uncontrollable desire to void.

• Mixed. A combination of stress and urge urinary incontinence.

• Overflow. The loss of urine resulting from an overfilled bladder without any corresponding feeling or urge to void.

❋ What causes stress urinary incontinence?Stress urinary incontinence occurs when pelvic muscles supporting the bladder and urethra have been damaged or weakened. Weakened pelvic muscles cannot hold the urethra in its

correct position, causing the urethra to lose its seal and allow urine to escape with any movement from the diaphragm that puts pressure on the bladder, such as a sneeze.

“Although so many women experience sudden urine loss, most women are not aware that it is a treatable condition,” says Audrey Ludwig-Arona, M.D., a Gwinnett Medical Center physician. “Women may suffer in silence and put off activities that they enjoy.”

❋ Is it treatable?Many cases are. In fact, 80 percent of women affected by urinary incontinence can have their conditions improved. Treatment options for stress urinary incontinence include:

• Doing Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. It is one of the best ways to improve stress incontinence.

• Using a removable device called a pessary, which is placed inside the vagina. It can help reduce stress incontinence by putting pressure on the urethra.

learn about symptoms and treatment for urinary incontinence

keeping control

primetime health

vim & vigor • s p r i n g 2 0 1 054

FdVVSP1080_54-5_Primetime.indd 54 12/21/09 12:48:59 PM

• Taking medicines, but they might have bothersome side effects.

• Having surgery to support the bladder or move it back to a normal position, if other treatment doesn’t help.

❋ What if surgery is necessary?GMC offers a simple, proven outpatient option. The treatment, called Gynecare TVT tension-free support for incontinence, has been performed on more than 1 million women worldwide. A recent study shows that even seven years after treatment, 81 percent of women treated remained dry, while an additional 16 percent experienced signifi cant improvement.

The 30-minute, minimally invasive Gynecare TVT can be performed under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting. The treatment can restore the body’s ability to control urine loss. Patients treated with Gynecare TVT may be able to go home as early as a few hours after the procedure. Patients can expect a two to three week recovery period. During this time, there should be little interference with daily activities.

Because Gynecare TVT can be performed under local anesthesia, “the patient is awake and we can do an intraoperative test to assess the results of the surgery,” Dr. Arona says. “By asking the patient to cough, we can check the tension of the tape and make any adjustments. This can help to improve success rates.”

get more questions

answeredTo learn more about stress urinary incontinence and treatment, attend PrimeTime Health’s Physician Speakers Bureau presentation on March 9, from noon to 1 p.m., in the Gwinnett Women’s Pavilion Rose Room. To register, call HealthLine at 678-442-5000, or go to gwinnettmedicalcenter.org and click “Programs & Classes,” then “Classes & Events.” Audrey Ludwig-Arona, M.D., will address your questions or concerns.

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vim & vigor · s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 55

living with incontinencePeople with urinary incontinence may find the following tips helpful:

1. Check your diet. Some foods trigger uncontrolled

bowel or urinary activity. Foods high in fat and

containing sugar that is poorly digested by

the intestine cause intestinal discomfort

and cramps, thereby inducing diarrhea

or uncontrolled bowel or urine leaks.

2. Manage your medications.

Other forms of incontinence are

caused either by a certain medical

infirmity or specific medication for

certain illnesses. Diuretic drugs and

sedatives, for example, may cause temporary

urinary incontinence. Tranquilizers also may

relax the muscles of the bladder and may cause

uncontrolled urination.

3. Stay hydrated. People exhibiting early symptoms of urinary

incontinence should not stop taking fluids for the purpose of

controlling wetting. In fact, dehydration gives microorganisms the

chance to multiply, which could result in urinary tract infections or

bladder infections.

4. Avoid psychological stress. Incontinence is mostly seen in

people who are mentally excited. This mental stimulation is brought

about by various activities such as laughing, anger or surprise.

5. Never hold your urine for too long. Holding your urine until it

becomes unbearable can cause incontinence.

6. Expect the unexpected. If you are suffering from frequent

episodes of bowel or urinary incontinence, you may want to plan ahead.

Keep a portable commode or urinal to serve you whenever it strikes.

7. Get a physical regularly. A doctor can help provide you with

vital information and recommendations through an evaluation

of your condition.

Although these tips are useful for the general population, the range

of severity of urinary incontinence may vary from person to person.

The help of a medical expert is essential to individualize treatment.

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PPlatelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection therapy is an emerging nonsurgical procedure—now available at Gwinnett Medical Center—that has shown to harness the body’s natural ability to heal itself. PRP is used to treat wounds, tendons, ligaments and osteoarthritis and has the potential to revolutionize sports medicine and all aspects of orthopedic surgery.

The PRP treatment consists of injecting the platelets from a patient’s own blood directly into an injured area, which stimulates the body’s instincts to repair damaged tissue. Platelet-rich plasma is captured by using a centrifuge that rotates at high speed and isolates the platelets from the other parts of the blood. These platelets release proteins and other particles involved in the body’s self-healing process. Finally, a teaspoon or two of the extracted substance is injected into the damaged area, with the help of ultrasound guidance.

The entire PRP injection therapy takes less than 15 minutes and increases the concentration of platelets up to 500 percent.

Experts have never been completely successful in re-creating the body’s biology of healing, despite advances in medicine and rehabilitation. But, “I believe that PRP injection is a very promising therapy for

treatment of many acute and chronic injuries to the ligaments and tendons,” says Val Phillips, M.D., a radiologist at GMC. “Several of our patients have reported marked improvement after months of failed conservative treatment.”

❋ treatment in actionThe fi rst PRP patient at GMC was seen by Dr. Phillips in October 2009. A basketball and volleyball player from Lakeview Academy, 16-year-old Molly Gay had been struggling with the common sports injury patellar tendinitis, or “jumper’s knee.” Her infl amed ligaments had pained her for six months, forcing her to sit out half of the 2009 volleyball season. “Playing sports makes her high school experience whole,” says her mother, Dana. “And after trying everything but surgery, it made sense to us to give a procedure with no bad side effects a try.”

Molly left the hospital minutes after her procedure and was excited about her prognosis. In a few short weeks, she would be ready to train for the upcoming basketball season.

new injection therapy coaxes the body to heal itself

booster shot

best-kept secret

stay tuned for more secretsGwinnett Medical Center is dedicated to providing the latest technology to transform healthcare. More secrets will be unveiled in future issues of Vim & Vigor.

info

Val Phillips, M.D., and ultrasound technician Genevieve Knight, B.S., RDMS, prepare to give Molly Gay the first platelet-rich plasma injection at Gwinnett Medical Center.

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TRANSFORMING HEALTHCARE IN EVERY DIRECTION.

For the health and healing of every patient.

Gwinnett Medical Center is transforming healthcare and the way you think of it. With two hospitals and numerous conveniently located surgical, imaging and rehabilitation facilities in Gwinnett County, you’re never far from award-winning healthcare.

Every aspect of our healthcare system has been redesigned with the patient in mind. From our new eight-story tower on our Lawrenceville campus, to our breakthrough hospital in Duluth, to the latest technology and treatments, to our well-respected and nationally acclaimed doctors.

All this means the most advanced and complete care possible—not just in Atlanta or Gwinnett, but in the nation.

For a physician referral, call 678-442-5000 or visit us on the Web at gwinnettmedicalcenter.org.

Gwinnett Medical Center1000 Medical Center Blvd.Lawrenceville, GA 30045

Non-Profit Org.US Postage

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