HealthJuly 2012

Race car driver and businessman ed Kennedy is back in the driver’s seat after hip replacement surgerypage 4

Baylor

reaL patIents. reaL stoRIes.

in your cornerBaylor Irving offers the cancer care you need, close to home page 7

high-tech careRobotic techniques offer improved results for surgical patients page 3

irving edition

Visit Baylorhealth.com/ irving for informative videos, interactive quizzes, online event registration, and much more.

ExcusE: i don’t have time

It’s not about having the time, it’s about mak-ing the time. “It’s really not that much time,” says Bradley Jones, MD, an internal medi-cine physician on the medical staff at Baylor Medical center at Irving. “Taking two to three hours annually for your health is an insignificant amount and it can affect your health and life in numerous ways.”

If you feel bogged down in appointment after appointment, plan in advance, schedule all your screenings for one day and take the day off work. Then, reward yourself with a movie, spa service or an after-noon of shopping.

ExcusE: they’re too expensive

Even if you don’t have insurance, there are plenty of low-cost and no-cost screenings available. Government programs offer dis-counts on mammo-grams. And hospitals offer simple tests such as blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and prostate cancer screenings at commu-nity health fairs. Talk to your doctor about your options.

ExcusE: i don’t want to know

some people avoid screenings because they feel healthy. But that’s precisely the point, Dr. Jones says. “You could have one of a multitude of diseases that have no symptoms whatsoever.” The idea is to detect it before symptoms start.

ExcusE: i just forget

This is an easy one. “set up a physical on or around your birthday each year,” Dr. Jones says. Your doctor will then tell you exactly which screenings to schedule.

ExcusE: it’s going to hurt

True, some screenings are uncomfortable. But “most of the tests are painless,” Dr. Jones says, “and they save a lot of pain in the long run. And as for the screening people tend to fear most—the colo-noscopy—you probably won’t even remember it because of the sedation.

Excuse Me?The real reasons you’re not getting your screenings—and how to get past them

When youR doctoR, spouse or mother asks, you avert your eyes. You know you should be getting regular health screenings, but you just … don’t. Is it because you don’t have time? Think they’re too expensive? Avoiding the pain? Here’s how to get over it.

Baylor Medical Center at Irving 1901 N. MacArthur Blvd. Irving, TX 75061 • 972.579.8100; Baylor Health Center at Irving-Coppell 400 W. Interstate 635 at MacArthur Blvd. Irving, TX 75063 • 972.785.5500 President: Cindy Schamp; Marketing Director: Grant Farrimond; Main Switchboard: 972.579.8100; Patient Information: 972.579.4358; Physician Referral: 1.800.4BAYLOR (1.800.422.9567); Irving Cancer Center: 972.579.4300; Irving Women’s Pavilion of Health: 972.579.8240; Irving Imaging Centers (Mammography): 2001 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 250 • 972.254.1616; 440 W. Interstate Hwy. 635, Suite 120A • 972.785.5650; 2740 N. State Hwy. 360, Suite 200 • 972.579.4480; 24-Hour Emergency Department: 972.579.8110; Human Resources Job Line: 972.579.8750

Baylor Health Care System Mission: Founded as a Christian ministry of healing, Baylor Health Care System exists to serve all people through exemplary health care, education, research and community service. Visit BaylorHealth.com or call 1.800.4BAYLOR for information about Baylor Medical Center at Irving services, upcoming events, physician referrals, career opportunities and more.

BaylorHealth is published six times a year by McMurry. © 2012 Baylor Health Care System. The material in BaylorHealth 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. Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor Medical center at Irving, Baylor Health center at Irving coppell or Baylor Health care System. Photographs may include models or actors and may not represent actual patients. If you are receiving multiple copies, need to change your mailing address or do not wish to receive this publication, please send your mailing label(s) and the updated information to Robin Vogel, Baylor Health Care System, Marketing Department, 2001 Bryan St., Suite 750, Dallas, TX 75201, or email the information to robinv@baylorhealth.edu.

schedule Your screenings TodayTalk to your doctor about the health screenings you need. To find a doctor on the medical staff at Baylor Irving, call 1.800.4BayLor or visit finddrright.com.

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Many people Who need suRgeRy can now opt to have their procedures done with the da Vinci® robot, which can minimize pain, complications and recovery time compared with tradi-tional, open procedures.

Kevin O’Neil, MD, an obstetrician/gynecologist on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Irving, is using the robot to help treat pelvic floor issues in women.

Many women develop pelvic organ prolapse when the muscles that sup-port these organs become weak or damaged during childbirth.

“Surgery was traditionally done with a big, open incision, which had a long recovery and higher infection rates. Some doctors tried performing the surgery vaginally, but the results weren’t as good,” Dr. O’Neil says.

“With the da Vinci robot we have a less invasive approach for correcting the problem. We can replicate the gold standard procedure without the big incision.”

operating inside the chestJose Escobar, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor

a gentLer optionRobotic techniques simplify surgery

Irving, uses the da Vinci robot to remove tumors and lymph nodes in the chest.

“Some lymph nodes are difficult to see. With the robotic approach I have

better visibility and I’m able to get to places without opening the chest,” he says. “When I saw the system in practice, I was amazed at the high definition and 3-D visualization.”

Plus, the da Vinci system reduces trauma, making it an option for people who have had other operations and can’t handle a big surgery. It’s also likely to create less pain than an open procedure.

Most people can return to daily activities two weeks after robotic surgery, as compared with six to eight weeks after open surgery.

How It WorksThe da Vinci surgical system includes a surgical console with a video screen and hand and foot controls, and a vision tower and bedside cart outfitted with four robotic arms. One arm holds a 3-D, high-definition camera and the other three hold miniaturized wristed instruments.

This technology gives surgeons greater precision, control and access to hard-to-reach areas. With it, complex operations that once demanded open surgery can be performed through a few small incisions.

Is Robotic Surgery Right for You?For more information on robotic surgery or to make an appointment at Baylor Irving, please call 1.800.4BayLor today.

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4 To listen to a podcast on recovering from hip replacement, visit BaylorHealth.com/Healthcast.

When entrepreneur and race car driver Ed Kennedy found out last year that he needed joint replacement surgery on his right hip, he was ready to act fast. The momentum came from a powerful testimonial: his own left hip replacement more than a decade before.

Kennedy, who says he is “61 going on 30,” was hesitant about surgery the fi rst time around. “I’m always on the go, going 100 miles an hour every day of the week. To be tied up recovering from surgery sounded like being put in jail.”

But the Coppell resident knew he had to do something. His hip pain was constant, disrupting

his sleep and making it hard for him to walk or even sit through a movie with his wife.

After the fi rst operation, “it was like hitting a switch,” Kennedy says. “The pain was gone. The second time around, I couldn’t wait for that relief.”

Thanks to hip replacement, Kennedy came out of semiretirement to run several businesses, including a water park in Florida. He still races at Daytona and Talladega every year.

Worried about joint replacement surgery? We’ll put you at ease

HaveNoFear

Hear More of Ed’s storyTo watch a video about Ed’s story, visit Baylorhealth.com/healthcast today.

After hip replacement surgery, Ed Kennedy is back to doing the things he enjoys, including watching movies with his wife, Pam.

fears versus factsJoint pain like Kennedy’s occurs when the cartilage that cushions joints is damaged by arthritis, meaning bone rubs directly on bone, causing pain and dysfunction. If conservative treatments such as medication or physical therapy aren’t enough, joint replacement surgery is an option to relieve pain and restore function.

If you are considering having joint replacement surgery but you’re afraid—as Kennedy was years ago—to take that next step, let us help you put your fears to rest.

FeaR #1 the surgery itseLfJoint replacement is one of the most common and successful orthopedic surgeries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Ninety to 95 percent of the time, people have a good to excellent result,” says Marc S. Goldman, MD, an orthopedic surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

Fear of pain can make people hesitant to head to the operating room. “Compared to a decade ago, we do more to control postoperative pain than we used to,” says Jeff rey D. Moff ett, MD, an orthopedic surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine. Options include oral pain medication, injections, self-administered pain pumps and nerve blocks, which may be used in combination.

The short-term pain of recovery can actually be a welcome change from the chronic pain of arthritis. “Patients tell me, ‘My pain is so diff erent now. I can feel that it gets better day by day, and the pain I had before only got worse,’ ” Dr. Moff ett says.

FeaR #2 the recovery processIf you sympathize with Kennedy’s fear that recovering from surgery would feel like being jailed, take heart: “People think they’re going to be down for a long period of time,” says Charles E. Toulson, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the Total Joint Replacement Center at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano. “At Baylor, we use advanced techniques, so patients are returning to an active lifestyle much more quickly than before.”

Typically, patients go home from the hospital in two to three days and participate in outpatient rehabilitation three times a week for the fi rst month, Dr. Goldman says.

“Once you get past that fi rst month, people are often already better than they were before the surgery,” Dr. Moff ett says. “The full recovery is somewhere between three and six months.”

FeaR #3 my activity LeveL wiLL changeYou’re right about this one—but most likely it will change for the better! It’s true that avoiding high-impact activities reduces wear and tear on the joint, but in general, joint replacement helps people stay more active, not less.

“Arthritis is generally a progressive problem that gets worse as time goes by,” Dr. Moff ett says. By undergoing joint replacement surgery, “you’re looking at a short-term hardship for a long-term gain.”

After 20 years, 93 percent of knee replacements and 95 percent of hip replacements are still functioning well, based on current information. With new technology, today’s implants have the potential to last even longer.

“Joint replacement surgery changes people’s lives,” Dr. Goldman says. “Most people say, ‘I wish I’d done it sooner.’ ”

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Is It Time for Joint Replacement?Answer these 12 questions to see if you might be a candidate for joint replacement surgery.

Mills Roberts, MD, an orthopedic surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Medical center at Irving, says, “No one answer makes you a candi-date for joint replacement surgery. But if you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, it’s worth talking to your doctor about options to con-trol your joint pain.”

1. Have x-rays uncovered signifi-cant damage to your joint?

2. Does your pain make it difficult or impossible to shop, do housework or do the daily activities you enjoy?

3. Is your joint pain affecting your job?

4. Are you unable to lose weight because of knee pain?

5. Does your joint pain limit your social interaction?

6. Is joint pain affecting your sleep or waking you up at night?

7. Is it difficult for you to get up after sitting?

8. Has your pain lasted more than a year?

9. Do you find it hard to manage your joint pain with medication, or do you need increasing doses of medication to control the pain?

10. Have you tried conservative treatment measures such as exer-cise, physical therapy, injections and weight loss without success?

11. Are your bones, cartilage or muscles worsening, making recov-ery from surgery potentially more difficult in the future?

12. Do you feel depressed because of your knee pain?

say Goodbye to Joint PainTo learn more about joint replacement surgery at Baylor Irving or to find an orthopedic surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Irving, call 1.800.4BayLor or visit Baylorhealth.com/irving.

anyone Who has Watched a medical drama on TV can imagine how stressful it is to work with critically injured patients.

Baylor researchers are examining just how much this stress can aff ect health care providers. What’s more, they want to learn what might be done to ease or prevent what’s known as secondary traumatic stress.

Secondary traumatic stress is similar to post-traumatic stress disorder, says Ann Marie Warren, PhD, ABPP, a licensed psychologist and an associate investigator of trauma research in the Level I Trauma Center at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

“The empathy that draws people to the health care profession actually makes us susceptible to secondary traumatic stress,” she explains.

Clinicians experiencing secondary traumatic stress might fi nd themselves thinking too much about the traumatic stories they hear or having nightmares that the traumas are happening to them. Other symptoms include trouble sleeping and irritability.

As a Level I Trauma Center, Baylor Dallas treats some of the area’s most critically injured patients. The study is looking at every discipline that cares for trauma patients, including doctors,

nurses, surgeons, emergency medical personnel and rehabilitation therapists. Researchers want to better understand not only the incidence of secondary traumatic stress but also the theory that the more resilient medical personnel are, the less likely they might be to develop secondary traumatic stress.

By gathering data on the clinicians’ backgrounds, experiences and reactions to patients, the researchers hope to better understand secondary traumatic stress. This knowledge may be able to help them develop management and prevention strategies.

Although the study is focused on trauma clinicians, the researchers hope to expand their work to include other medical specialties, as well as family members who are caring for trauma patients.

“Family members aren’t usually professional caregivers, so you can imagine that the experience of living through these events is signifi cant,” Dr. Warren says. “As for our clinicians, we want to help take care of them and improve their quality of life—which can ultimately translate into better patient care.”

studying stressBaylor researchers look at the eff ects of working with trauma patients

Are You a clinician?The study of secondary Traumatic stress in clinicians is limited to Baylor Dallas personnel, but it may be open to other health care providers in the future. Email annmariw@Baylorhealth.edu or call 214.820.4460 to learn more.

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BayloR MedIcal centeR at IRvIng recently received national accredi-tation from both the Commission on Cancer and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. Accreditation means that Baylor Irving measures its cancer care and breast care standards against other programs across the country.

“Being vetted by a national cancer organization means our program meets a set of standards that a national organization says we should meet. If I was a consumer of health care, my preference would be to go to a program that could document that it met those standards,” says Ed Clifford, MD, a surgeon and the medical director for oncology services at Baylor Medical Center at Irving. “Lots of facilities say they provide high-quality care. This accreditation offers proof in an objec-tive comparison to every other facility in the country.

“The accreditation attests that we have achieved a level of quality and recognition,” says Dr. Clifford. “It’s an

covering aLL the Basescancer program, breast cancer specialty at Baylor Irving are both recognized with accreditation

objective testament to our process for diagnosing and treating cancers. Most centers don’t have this validation of

the whole cancer program from some-one on the outside.”

The multidisciplinary approach to cancer care at Baylor Irving includes:

• Medical oncology• Surgical oncology• Radiation oncology• Community involvementAnand Shivnani, MD, a radiation

oncologist on the medical staff at Baylor Irving points out that keeping the community healthy is a key compo-nent in cancer care. To that end, Baylor Irving sponsors screenings at compa-nies and community organizations to help uncover cancer at its earliest, most curable stages.

“As a physician, I want to help maintain the health of the community as a whole,” Dr. Clifford says. “And I want people to know of the services available at Baylor Irving so they don’t have to drive across town to get care.”

The number of people in Texas who were diagnosed with cancer in 2011.

105,000

Get the Cancer Care You NeedFor an appointment with a physician specializing in cancer care, please call 1.800.4BayLor or visit finddrright.com today. To learn more about the services that are offered at the Baylor Irving cancer center, visit Baylorhealth.com/irvingcancer.

Quality Across the BoardAn accredited cancer program needs to meet or exceed standards in a range of areas including:

• Leadership• clinical management• Research• community outreach• Professional education• Quality improvement

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Accredited Comprehensive Cancer Program by the American College

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For a physician referral or for more information about cancer care services, call 1.800.4BAYLOR or visit us online at BaylorHealth.com/IrvingCancer.

Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community, or affi liated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor Medical Center at Irving, or Baylor Health Care System. ©2012 Baylor Health Care System. BMCIrv_384_2012 BHM CE 04.12

1901 N. MacArthur Blvd.Irving, TX 75061