Healthnovember 2012

Everything to Gain

Vickie brown is living life to its fullest after

weight loss surgerypAgE 4

Vickie Brown’s incredible weight loss is setting a

healthy example for the younger generations in

her family, including her daughter Kelsie.

Baylor

REAL Patients. REAL stories.

A HEALTHY SEASONLearn how to avoid illness this winter pAgE 7

COULD IT BE pAD?Find out whether you’re at risk for peripheral arterial disease pAgE 2

gRApEVINE EDITION

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

You know about heart disease—how it’s a product of high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, and how it can lead to a heart attack. But how much do you know about peripheral arterial disease, or PAD? The answer is, more than you think.

“Peripheral arterial disease is the same disease process as heart disease. It’s just occurring in an area other than the heart,” says Richard Wilkerson, MD, a vascular surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine. “It is the thickening of the artery wall due to plaque buildup. As it thickens, it narrows the blood vessel and disrupts blood flow.”

WHO’S AT RISk?Anyone at risk for heart disease is also at risk for PAD. Risk factors include:

• High blood pressure level• Diabetes• High cholesterol level• Smoking or history of smoking• Family history of coronary artery

disease or PADRisk is cumulative, too. “The more risk

factors you possess, the more likely you are to have PAD,” Dr. Wilkerson says.

But having no risk factors doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in the clear, he says. That’s why you should alert your doctor if you have symptoms, particularly pain in your legs when you walk that goes away with rest.

Beyond the HeartThink plaque buildup only affects the heart? Think again

Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine, 1650 W. College, Grapevine, TX 76051

West Region Director of Marketing: Dee Dee Ogrin; Manager of Marketing/PR: LaKisha Miller; Physician Liaison: Josh Marte; Community Outreach Consultant: Rachel Nobles; SportsCare Representative: Adam Brooks

Baylor Grapevine Main Number: 817.481.1588; Baylor Grapevine Physician Referral: 1.800.4BAYLOR (1.800.422.9567); Educational Programs: 817.329.2878; Baylor Grapevine Diagnostic Imaging Center: 817.305.5010;Baylor Diagnostic Imaging Center at Keller: 817.482.2000; Baylor Grapevine Women’s Center: 817.424.4500; 24-Hour Emergency: 817.329.2523; Baylor Therapy Center: 817.329.2524; Clinical Nutrition Programs: 817.329.2569; Baylor Grapevine Volunteer Services/Auxiliary: 817.329.2665

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 Regional Medical Center at Grapevine 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 under taking 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 med ical centers, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine or Baylor Health Care System. Some physicians are employees of Health Texas Provider Network. Baylor Medical Plaza at Keller is not a legal entity but a location for the provision of health care services. 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, 2001 Bryan St., Suite 750, Marketing Department, Dallas, TX 75201, or email the information to robinv@baylorhealth.edu.

TREATmENT OpTIONSAs with heart disease, most cases of PAD are treatable or even avoidable with lifestyle changes. The first and most important step is to quit smoking. Next, be physically active. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise five days a week or more, but even three days a week has

been found to be beneficial, according to the American Heart Association. Eating a healthy, plant-based diet and taking medication as necessary for diabetes and high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels also are key.

If a blockage occurs, you may need to undergo a minimally invasive procedure such as angioplasty, stent placement or clot removal. In the event these procedures are not possible, bypass surgery may be required.

Do You Have PAD?To find a cardiologist on the medical staff at Baylor Grapevine, visit BaylorHealth.com/grapevineHeart or call 1.800.4BAYLOR.

2 BaylorHealth.com/Grapevine

baYLor regionaL MedicaL center at Grapevine’s advanced oncology care services have been recognized by both the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Radiology.

“Earning these voluntary distinctions helps ensure that our patients have access to the full scope of services required to diagnose, treat, rehabilitate and support patients with cancer and their families,” says Steve

BAYLOR gRApEVINE RECOgNIzED fOR ExCELLENCE IN CANCER CARE

Oncology services earn three national accreditations

Care Close to HomeWith Baylor Grapevine’s comprehensive cancer care, people can get all the care they need—from screening tests to cancer treatments—at one location. “A patient doesn’t have to go all over town,” says Steve Newton, interim president of Baylor Grapevine. “We’re able to treat people entirely in our facility, with someone guiding them every step of the way.”

Get the Compassionate Care You NeedTo learn more about cancer care at Baylor Grapevine, visit BaylorHealth.com/grapevineCancer or call 1.800.4BAYLOR.

According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 226,870 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012.

Newton, interim president of Baylor Grapevine and west region president for Baylor Health Care System.

The American College of Surgeons, with its Commission on Cancer (CoC) and National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) recognitions, has granted the hospital’s cancer program and the Breast Center at Grapevine three-year accreditations for meeting their standards.

ImpROVINg CARE, ImpROVINg OUTCOmESReceiving care at a CoC and NAPBC-accredited center provides patients access to the following:

• Comprehensive care, including a full range of advanced services

• A multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best treatment options

• Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options

• Quality care, close to homeTo date, just 200 centers in the

United States have earned the NAPBC accreditation, which measures 17 key

components that range from imaging to education to surgical care. “It’s all about quality care and measuring outcomes to improve what we’re doing. This accreditation means our patients can get advanced technologies and increased access to clinical trials,” says Newton.

Baylor Grapevine was also recognized as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology for accreditations in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, and breast ultrasound (including ultrasound-guided breast biopsy).

PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK BaylorHealth.com/Grapevine 3

REAL Patients. REAL stories.

Ten pills and one insulin shot. That was Vickie Brown’s daily regimen before

undergoing weight loss surgery at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth. The medication was necessary to manage her diabetes, high blood pressure and high

cholesterol levels, and depression. These days, her medicine cabinet is looking sparse.

“After the surgery, I went back to the doctor and they checked my blood pressure,” says the 54-year-old Fort Worth resident. “When they said 120/60, I got scared. I had never seen my blood pressure that low.” (Her blood pressure was in the healthy range.)

Brown’s health issues were a big part of the reason she opted for weight loss surgery, but so were her fi ve children. “I have a 7-year-old, and there were things I couldn’t do with her because I could hardly walk,” she says. “Now I have a lot of energy. I can go to the mall or the park and walk all day.”

Weight loss surgery isn’t just for looks. It can treat a whole host of medical conditions, including

diabetes and high blood pressure

Vickie Brown (seated) is able to do the things she loves with her family after weight loss surgery. From left: her daughter Kelsie, husband Cleveland, daughter Clevetta and granddaughter JaKayla.

Hear More from VickieTo learn more about Vickie’s weight loss journey, visit BaylorHealth.com/Exclusive today.

If you are overweight—80 pounds or more for women, 100 for men—you may qualify for weight loss surgery. You may also be a candidate if you struggle with diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea. Read on to fi nd out how weight loss surgery might be able to help you get certain chronic conditions under control.

DIABETESmore than 80 percent of people who have type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese.

Brown is just one of many people with diabetes who have benefi ted from weight loss surgery. In fact, two recent studies showed that obese or overweight patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent the procedure fared better than those who stuck to diet, exercise and medicine only.

“Gastric bypass is shown to have a direct eff ect on metabolism and is shown to have a positive eff ect for those with diabetes even before weight loss occurs,” says Sina Matin, MD, medical director of the Baylor Weight Loss Surgery Center at Grapevine.

That’s because the surgery changes the way your body processes food, meaning you don’t absorb all the fat and calories you eat. Many patients, like Brown, are able to stop most or all diabetes medications.

HIgH BLOOD pRESSUREobesity and high blood pressureare markers for heart disease.

Excess weight forces the heart to work harder, which is why high blood pressure and obesity often go hand in hand, says Manuel Castro, MD, medical director of weight loss surgery at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

The reverse is also true—a lower number when you step on the scale can equal a lower number when

you put on the blood pressure cuff . “Management becomes easier, and most people can stop most blood pressure medications,” Dr. Matin says.

And as the pounds come off , weight loss surgery patients fi nd that exercise—a major factor in lowering your blood pressure—becomes easier.

JOINT pAINfor every pound gained, you putfour pounds of pressure on yourknees and six on your hips.

Not only can weight loss surgery take the pain out of your joints (by lessening the amount of pressure placed on them), but it also can delay the need for a joint replacement. “And once a person gets a knee replacement, for example, it lasts longer,” Dr. Matin says.

Before the surgery, Brown’s back and knee pain kept her from walking more than a mile at a time. “Now I go four to fi ve miles without stopping,” she says. “It made a big change in my life.”

ADDITIONAL HEALTH BENEfITSWeight loss surgery helps otherconditions you might not expect.

The list of medical conditions that can be treated by weight loss surgery goes on and on, and also includes high cholesterol levels, sleep apnea, acid refl ux, some cases of urinary incontinence and certain types of migraines. It can lower your risk of cancer, heart attack and stroke, and even out hormonal imbalances, too, Dr. Castro says.

And let’s not forget how weight loss aff ects the way we see ourselves and our quality of life.

“Weight loss surgery patients gain the ability to travel again, to go places,” Dr. Matin says. “They have the ability to do things in society that were limited before.”

Sources: American Heart Association, Arthritis Foundation, ObesityinAmerica.org BaylorHealth.com/Grapevine 5

Winning at LosingLosing and maintaining your weight loss after surgery is a lifetime commitment, and the team at the Baylor Weight Loss Surgery Center at Grapevine provides patients with the support they need.

The program, recognized as a Center of Excellence, starts with an educational video you can watch from the convenience of your home, followed by a one-on-one consultation with a weight loss surgeon. Each patient works with his or her surgeon to choose the best surgical procedure. The team works with the Sleep Center, cardiologists, gastroenterologists and other specialists on the medical staff to help address patients’ health concerns.

Both before and after surgery, the team helps equip patients with the information and skills they need to succeed.

“The biggest piece is education, and our patients’ education is like no other,” says Kim Ewton, the center’s program manager. “We offer six different classes covering everything from how to get protein to how to read food labels.

“Our patients are successful, and when they follow the recommendations they start losing weight quickly. They look great and they feel good,” Ewton adds.

Ready to Lose?Take the first step toward weight loss by learning more about your options. For more information about weight loss surgery at Baylor Grapevine, visit BaylorHealth.com/grapevine WeightLoss or call 1.800.4BAYLOR.

eVerYone knows that misunder-standings can cause trouble. But miscommunication in a health care setting can lead to serious risks.

That’s why researchers at Baylor Health Care System are joining forces with University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) to study how physicians and nurses can use video game-like simulators to improve communication skills.

“Miscommunication can lead to failure in the delivery of safe care, so it’s extremely important to innovate and develop more eff ective ways to help our clinicians improve their communication skills,” says Yan Xiao, PhD, director of patient safety research at Baylor Health Care System. He is co-leading the Baylor research team with Susan Houston, PhD, RN, FAAN, NEA-BC, director of nursing research at Baylor Health Care System.

Although it’s similar in theory to a video game, the learning tool uses

even more sophisticated technology to create a simulated health care environment. Nurses and physicians will engage in scenarios they might encounter on the job, role-playing in real time to appreciate the perspectives of others.

Participants will control and interact with physician and nurse avatars and master interdisciplinary, patient-centered communication skills. During the training, participants take turns playing both roles.

“We think this perspective-sharing will be instrumental in helping clinicians

understand the best way to communicate interprofessionally,” says Louann Cole, MHA, a research analyst for Baylor’s Institute for Health Care Research and Improvement.

Part of the research has involved in-depth interviews with physicians and nurses, as well as an exhaustive review of communication strategies. This information was synthesized by game developers at UTD.

“Eff ective communication techniques are embedded in the game,” Dr. Houston explains. “You get points for using those techniques when you’re put into a patient situation.”

The researchers hope the three-year study, which is funded by a grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, will demonstrate the value of the technology.

“This is a fun and engaging way to learn,” Dr. Xiao says, “and we hope it will help physicians and nurses work better as a team to serve patients.”

Playing to WinBaylor studies gaming technology as a tool for improving communication and patient care

Get in the GameThis study isn’t open to volunteers, but to learn about research trials at Baylor seeking participants, visit BaylorHealth.com/Advancingmedicine.

6 BaylorHealth.com

there’s a Lot to Like about winter, with its cooler days and cozy evenings. Enjoy the season and stay healthy by following these tips from Paul Kim, MD, a family physician on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine.

Stay a Step aHead of tHe CoLd and fLu. While it may seem as if illness is more prevalent in the winter, catching a cold can’t be attributed to cold weather. What can contribute to winter cold and flu is proximity—people tend to spend more time indoors, close together. But the flu can thrive in dry and cold environments, so arid winter air allows the virus to linger in the air.

To keep yourself and those around you healthy, Dr. Kim offers these tips:

WINTER WELLNESSMaintain your good health this season

Ward Off Wintertime IllnessTalk to your doctor about what you can do to stay healthy this season. Need a physician? Call 1.800.4BAYLOR or visit findDrRight.com for a referral.

• Wash your hands frequently and scrub for at least 20 seconds.

• Get a flu shot.• Use hand sanitizer with at least

60 percent alcohol.• Avoid people who are coughing or

appear sick.• If you’re sick, stay away from

other people for at least 24 hours after recovering.

• Take antibiotics only if your doctor recommends them, and be sure to finish the prescription.

ControL your aLLerGieS.Allergies can strike even in winter. They often start with a runny nose, postnasal drip and a sore throat. Left untreated, they can increase the likelihood that you’ll get another infection such as a cold, bronchitis or pneumonia.

CHeCk your Smoke deteCtorS montHLy. During winter, you’re more likely to use the fireplace, burn candles and cook with the stove top and oven. Make sure your fire warning system is up to speed. And keep fire extinguishers handy just in case.

Give It a ShotPaul Kim, MD, recommends flu shots for just about everyone. “In the spring and summer the World Health Organization monitors a global influenza surveillance network, sampling the strains of flu that are going around,” he says. The flu shot for that winter is based on the three most likely strains.

Flu shots are especially important for seniors, who are more prone to complications from the flu, and for people who work with young children. Young children don’t get as much benefit from the shot, so immunity in others increases their protection.

At least 70 percent of sore throats are caused by viruses, which means antibiotics won’t help, says Paul Kim, MD.

BaylorHealth.com/Grapevine 7

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The excitement is building.

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 Regional Medical Center at Grapevine or Baylor Health Care System. ©2012 Baylor Health Care System BRMCGV_720_2012 RT

For more information, call 1.800.4BAYLOR or visit BaylorHealth.com/Grapevine.

1650 West College, Grapevine, TX 76051

At Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine, it’s been a great privilege to serve your community (and ours) for 30 years. In that

time, we’ve been watching you grow. And grow. So we’re growing, too. We’re building a brand new $100 million expansion tower

that will be finished by the summer of 2013. We’ll have a new neonatal intensive care unit, a new cardiovascular unit, new operating

suites, new emergency rooms and space for up to 100 more patient beds. So now you can watch us grow. And you can rest assured

that no matter how large, or small, your family’s health care needs become, we’ll be here to take care of them.

Three patients. Three cancers. One hope.

w w w. d a l l a s h o p e . c o m

W FA A c h . 8 At 6 : 3 0 P M

NoV. 8, 15 & 17