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Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Physician Assistant Joins Prairie Lakes Neprhology Clinic

Physician Assistant Joins Prairie Lakes Neprhology Clinic

Kari Fleming, certified Physician Assistant, has joined Dr. Tina Melanson in the Prairie Lakes Nephrology Clinic. In conjunction with Dr. Melanson, Fleming will assist in the management of kidney diseases and disorders including hypertension, electrolyte disturbances, and management of patients on kidney dialysis.

Fleming is a Lake Norden native and graduated from Hamlin High School.  Prior to joining Prairie Lakes, she worked as a Physician Assistant at Brown Clinic in Watertown, S.D., where she provided services in the areas of family medicine and general surgery.  

Fleming received her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and her Bachelor of Science in Biology from South Dakota State University.

She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the South Dakota Academy of Physician Assistants and the Nebraska Academy of Physician Assistants.

Fleming will see patients along with Dr. Melanson at the Prairie Lakes Nephrology Clinic, hospital, dialysis units, and outreach clinics. Patients may schedule an appointment at the Prairie Lakes Nephrology Clinic or an outreach clinic by calling 605-882-5455.

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Tuesday, July 22, 2014

The Benefits of Red Wine and Cardiovascular Health

The Benefits of Red Wine and Cardiovascular Health

 

Many studies have shown that a couple glasses of red wine can be good for your heart health. Does this sound too good to be true? Researchers have set out to find the truth in this.

The alleged benefits of consuming red wine have been credited to being heart healthy because of its richness in antioxidants, it lowers LDL cholesterol, controls blood sugar, keeps a sharp mind, can help with weight loss, can fight off colds and may prevent cancer. Wine isn’t the only type of alcohol that seems to be good for your mind. Researchers from the University of Illinois in Chicago found that men who have consumed beer are smarter than their sober counterparts by 40%.

Even with this damning evidence, researchers from London are challenging the predisposition that a little alcohol can be beneficial to your health. After analyzing data from over 260,000 people, the researchers were able to conclude that those who consumed less alcohol have better heart health. The findings have led the researchers to believe, and suggest, that reducing alcohol intake will result in improved cardiovascular health.

“For many years, many people have been uneasy about the apparent cardio protective effect of drinking light-to-moderate amounts of alcohol, said Dr. Caroline Dale, study co-author and Research Fellow at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. “This is partly because of reservations about possible bias in existing observational evidence, but also because the biological mechanism behind such a cardio-protective effect has proved elusive. In our study, we approach the question from a different perspective using a Mendelian randomization study design, and find quite different results. We found that people who tend to drink lower amounts of alcohol on average had lower risk of coronary heart disease at all levels of alcohol consumption, including amongst those who were light-to-moderate drinkers. As such our findings challenge the status quo that drinking low-to-moderate amounts of alcohol is good for your heart.”

Like many things that we enjoy in life, there are positives and negative. While more research is being performed on this topic, remember moderation is always the key.

 

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Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Heart Health and America's Baby Boomers

Heart Health and America's Baby Boomers

Are you one of America’s baby boomers? If so, you are lumped into a vibrant group that is embracing the idea of aging well.

In order to age well, you need to have a healthy heart. To ensure you are taking care of your heart health, Dr. Lee Friedman, a radiologist from Petersburg, FL., has laid out some important questions to ask your physician. Dr. Friedman has had heart complications and knows first hand that there is an overwhelming amount of information. Here are 5 important topics to discuss with your doctor:

  1. What is my risk for cardiovascular disease?

  2. Are my numbers for cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose and body mass index normal?

  3. What foods and supplements can I take to support heart health?

  4. What are some exercises and physical activities I should consider?

  5. Will I ever need a pacemaker?

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Thursday, July 10, 2014

Managing Breast Cancer Side Effects

Managing Breast Cancer Side Effects

Side effects of breast cancer can be hard to manage, both during and after treatment. While our “Look Good...Feel Better” class at Prairie Lakes will discuss some methods of coping with physical changes, here are a few useful tips to help you get started.


  • Breast Changes: Treating breast cancer may mean removing the entire breast or part of it. Before rushing to breast reconstructive surgery, consider breast prosthesis. There are many varieties of prostheses that you can try. This will make you feel more comfortable and confident.

  • Hair Loss: Chemotherapy kills hair follicles leading to loss of hair. This can be a difficult side effect to manage, especially for women. Shop for wips and pick a few of your favorites. Take them to your hair stylist to see which best suits you.

  • Weight Management: Loss of weight during radiation or eating more and being less active a common in cancer patients. This is not the time to start dieting, but rather the time for  you to eat a well-balanced diet, with nutritious foods to maintain energy and help you heal.


    • The emotional effects of breast cancer are enough, don’t let the physical side-effects bring you down. Join us on Monday, July 14th at 4:30 pm for the “Look Good...Feel Better” class.

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    Wednesday, July 02, 2014

    Prairie Lakes Names Home Health and Hospice Director

    Prairie Lakes Names Home Health and Hospice Director

    Prairie Lakes Healthcare System has named Julie Sampson director of Home Health, Hospice and Home Connections. Sampson brings with her over 24 years of experience working in long-term healthcare to Prairie Lakes.

    “I am excited to join the Prairie Lakes team and to become involved in the communities we serve,” said Sampson. “Home health and hospice are not far from my experience, and I have a passion for hospice. I look forward to helping patients and families understand the role hospice plays in helping a patient live the fullest life possible when facing a terminal illness.”

    For the past 15 years, Sampson served as executive director at Golden Living Nursing Home in Arlington. While in that position, she also served as an interim executive director for Golden Living Centers in Lake Norden, Sioux Falls and Madison. Prior to joining Golden Living, Sampson was the medical records director at Kingsbury Memorial Manor/Home Health Agency and a medical records/computer specialist for Tealwood Care Centers.

    Sampson has a Bachelors of Science Degree in Health Information Management from Dakota State University. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator. Sampson lives in Arlington, S.D. where she is president of the Chamber of Commerce. She and her husband, Brian, have three children.

    Prairie Lakes Home Health/Hospice provides professional nursing and personal care services to residents in a six-county area including Codington, Clark, Hamlin, Deuel, Day and Roberts counties. The main office is located in Watertown, S.D., and a branch office is located in Sisseton, S.D.

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    Tuesday, July 01, 2014

    All You Need Is Kale

    All You Need Is Kale

    We are always being told to eat more vegetables, and that adding greens to our diet is a great way to be healthier and live longer. Not sure which veggies to add into your diet? Start with Kale.

    Kale is one of the the best greens and has an array of health benefits. In just one cup of chopped kale, there is 206 percent of the daily recommended value for vitamin A, 680 percent of vitamin K, 134 percent of vitamin C and only 33 calories. Vitamin A keeps you looking younger and vitamin K helps fight inflammation and helps keep healthy bone density.

    Kale is also packed full of fiber and potassium. As if all of this wasn’t enough, kale also plays a role in lowering your risk of several cancers like bladder, colon, breast, ovarian and prostate cancer.

    Get the most out of kale by pairing it with foods that bring its best properties forward. Eating it with healthy fats like avocado or sprinkling it with lemon juice will help the body absorb more of what kale can give to you.

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    Thursday, June 26, 2014

    Music For Your Heart

    Music For Your Heart

    Everyone knows that in order to boost your heart health you need to eat healthier, increase physical activity and possibly take medications to help with blood pressure.But did you know that listening to music could help your heart?

    Sure listening to music can improve your mood, but it can also help reduce blood pressure. While music will never be able to take the place of your hypertension medication, it can help reduce your high and low blood pressure and even your heart rate.

    Make sure and choose your tunes wisely thought. According to Dr. Halit Yerebekan, research has shown “the tempo of the music being listened to affects the heart. A faster tempo increases blood pressure, while a more relaxed and slower tempo reduces it”.

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    Friday, June 20, 2014

    Prairie Lakes Awarded for Patient Engagement Efforts

    Prairie Lakes Awarded for Patient Engagement Efforts

    Prairie Lakes Healthcare System has been recognized for its patient engagement efforts in the first National Patient Engagement Ranking by Becker’s Hospital Review and Axial Exchange, Inc. Prairie Lakes ranked in the top 100 hospitals of the 3,077 hospitals evaluated. Hospital’s patient engagement efforts were evaluated based on an analysis of publicly available data collected by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and use of online tools to engage patients in their own health.

    “We strive to meet patient needs across the continuum of care. This means continuously looking at how we can provide the information and tools to support patients in taking control of their own health,” said Jill Fuller, CEO of Prairie Lakes. “We couldn’t achieve these great outcomes without the efforts all of the healthcare providers in Watertown and the surrounding communities who are engaging patients in managing their health outside the hospital setting. The entire healthcare community working together to engage patients is key to ensuring good clinical outcomes.”

    Patient engagement is the process by which patients become invested in their own health. Health systems with effective patient engagement programs provide patients with the information and tools needed to take control of their care. Patient engagement is a key feature of healthcare reform.

    “We’re excited to recognize providers, such as Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, for their patient engagement efforts,” said Lindsey Dunn, editor in chief of Becker’s Hospital Review. “In reviewing the results, it’s clear that hospitals and health systems are working toward providing more patient-centered care, and we hope this ranking encourages more provider organizations to continue to take a proactive stance on patient engagement initiatives in forthcoming years.”

    To determine scores, Axial Exchange and Becker’s Hospital Review evaluated provider organizations on readmissions, patient satisfaction, and the extent to which they offered information and tools that helped engage patients in self care. The full methodology can be found at http://axialexchange.com/engagement/methodology.

    “The prior success of our regional rankings laid a foundation for taking the program to a national level,” said Joanne Rohde, CEO of Axial Exchange. “As hospitals adopt health IT to monitor patient data to meet goals and objectives for Meaningful Use and other regulatory requirements, providers, like Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, have found ways to connect and engage patients between encounters to improve patient health and clinical outcomes, while decreasing readmission rates. With the support of Becker’s Hospital Review, the national results gauge the reach and commitment of organizations that do just that.”

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    Wednesday, June 18, 2014

    2014 Hospital Hill Run Results

    2014 Hospital Hill Run Results

    The 18th annual Hospital Hill Run took place Saturday, June 14. Over 150 runners and walkers participated in the 5K run, 5K walk and a one-mile walk. The top overall male finisher was Gabriel Syhre with a time of 18:07. The top overall female finisher was Shannon Huber with a time of 21:48.

    Proceeds from the Hospital Hill Run benefit the Prairie Lakes Caring Club House. The Caring Club House offers a home away from home for patients, outpatients and family members with loved ones being treated at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System.

    The sponsors of the Hospital Hill Run were: Brown Clinic; Prairie Lakes Healthcare System; Glacial Lakes Orthopaedics; Consulting Radiology Ltd.; Dr. Dan, Dr. Sarah, Molly, Megan and Nick Reiffenberger; Sanford Clinic – Watertown; Community Blood Bank; The Public Opinion; and Innovative Pain Clinic/Lexli Skin Care.

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    Tuesday, June 17, 2014

    Heart Health and Brain Function

    Heart Health and Brain Function

    Sharp minds and healthy hearts go hand in hand. According to Dr. Evan Thacker from Brigham Young University , poor heart fitness may be linked to memory impairment. He also suggests that people with healthy hearts also have healthy minds.

    After studying around 18,000 Americans, the study found links between the mind and heart:


  • Changes in cognitive ability were linked to cardiovascular health.

  • Lack of learning and memory development in 4.6% of the participants were those with the weakest heart health.

  • Healthier hearts were found among men who had higher education backgrounds and higher incomes.

  • Memory impairment was common with people who had pre-existing heart disease.


    • Although there this is strong evidence that there is a connection between heart health and mental function, it does not prove that better brain function is a result of heart health.

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