Health Flows from Many Sources

Month: August 2019

Heart Centers

Heart and cardiology centers should provide a wide range of diagnostic and treatment options. This could, and likely should, include the following. 

Non-invasive cardiology 

  • SPECT imaging  
  • 2D-M-mode and color flow doppler echocardiography  
  • Transesophageal echocardiography  
  • Thallium stress testing  
  • Gated cardiac stress testing  
  • Holter monitoring  
  • Electrocardiography  
  • Signal average electrocardiography  
  • Carotid ultrasound testing  
  • Pharmacological stress testing  
  • Arterial evaluation of upper/lower extremities utilizing doppler, segmental pressures and PPG 

Invasive cardiology 

  • Cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography  
  • Intra-aortic balloon insertion and counter- pulsation  
  • Carotid angiography to include intracranial circulation  
  • Thoracic aortography  
  • Renal aortography  
  • Peripheral arteriography including run-off studies of the legs  
  • Overdrive implantation 
  • Venography of extremities  
  • Pacemaker insertions 

Peripheral vascular intervention 

  • Balloon angioplasty (only available at Seven Rivers within Citrus County)  
  • Intravascular stent placement (only available at Seven Rivers within Citrus County)  
  • Carotid endarterectomy  
  • Carotid patch angioplasty  
  • Aortic bifemoral bypass  
  • Femoral/femoral bypass  
  • Femoral/popliteal bypass (RSVG)  
  • Femorotibial bypass 
  • Saphenectomy (only available at Seven Rivers within Citrus County)  
  • Greenfield venous cavity filter placement 

Inpatient Services

Put simply, inpatient care is when a patient stays at the hospital while under treatment. This is the opposite of outpatient care, wherein the patient is allowed to leave the hospital after treatment. Inpatient services can include anything from psychiatric centers and eating disorder programs to certain oncology programs and coma treatment.  

Generally, patients are admitted on routine telemetry orders based on pre-established telemetry/discharge criteria. 

These units provide for cardiac and ventilated patients as well as for patients needing lidocaine, pronestyl, heparin, aminophylline, just to name a few.  Most inpatient service centers are also used primarily for surgical, orthopedic and oncology patients. Patients are often admitted on routine admission orders. 

Psychiatric Facilities

Psychiatric facilities are often inpatient general facilities that provide psychiatric treatment for patients 18 years of age and older. Many provides a comprehensive treatment program and therapeutic milieu, which could include everything from group sessions to Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). 

Inpatient referrals are generally accepted from a number of sources: physicians, clinicians, other hospitals, ACLFs/SNFs, human service agencies, clergy, family, friends, industry, judicial systems, etc. Also, treatment services are generally covered by most commercial insurance plans, Medicare and Medicaid. 

These facilities specialize in the treatment of a range of psychiatric ailments. They accept patients both voluntarily and involuntarily. The Welfare and Institutions Code allows a person to be involuntarily detained at a psychiatric facility for up to 72 hours. 

Choosing a psychiatric facility is especially tough, as they are generally known for certain types of specialized care. When on the hunt for the perfect treatment center, be sure to ask the following questions. 

  • What is the goal of the treatment facility? 
  • What psychiatric services do you need?  
  • How long do you want to stay at the facility? 
  • Do you prefer an inpatient or outpatient experience?  
  • Do you want a residential treatment community? 
  • How important is the treatment center’s peer community? 

Answering these questions will help you figure out what type of program and facility is right for you or your loved one. 

Intensive Care and Coronary Units

Intensive Care and Coronary Care units should be equipped with up-to-date electronic and video monitoring systems linked to the nursing station. This ensures that emergencies don’t become, well, disasters. 

These units will provide special care to those critically or seriously ill patients having reversible life threatening, medical or surgical conditions which require constant, skilled observation while maintaining continuous high standards of patient care. 

Because these units are often extremely important and stressful, they often have specialized visiting hours. Check with your local hospital to see if this is the case, as well as to see if there are special exemptions for family members.  

Imaging Services

Imaging services should offer a range of diagnostic testing and imaging capabilities. 

CT Scanning 

  • General CT scanning procedures 
  • CT guided biopsy procedures 

Diagnostic X-Ray 

  • General x-ray procedures  
  • Linear tomography 
  • Dedicated mammography 
  • Interventional radiography 

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) 

  • General procedures 

Ultrasound 

  • General abdominal ultrasound procedures 
  • General OB/GYN ultrasound procedures 
  • Endovaginal procedures 
  • Thyroid, breast and testicular scan procedures Nuclear Medicine Diagnostics 
  • General nuclear medicine scanning procedures 
  • Thyroid scanning and uptake 
  • SPECT scanning 

Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Ambulatory surgery centers are often for same-day surgery and other outpatient procedures. Outpatient surgery/procedures are typically provided as a practical, cost effective alternative to hospitalization. 

Common One Day Surgery Procedures/Surgeries 

Dermatology 

  • Biopsy of skin lesions 
  • Surgical removal of melanoma (skin cancer) 
  • Dermabrasion 

ENT/Facial Plastics 

  • Surgery to relieve chronic sinus infections and nasal congestion 
  • Cosmetic or corrective surgery to the nose 
  • Cosmetic or reconstructive surgery of the ear 
  • Ear tubes to relieve chronic infections in children and some adults 
  • Removal of tonsils and adenoids 
  • Removal of polyps, nodules or small tumors from the vocal cords 
  • Cosmetic or reconstructive surgery of the face 
  • Bronchoscopy 

Gastroenterology 

  • Gastroscopy or inspection of the inner surface of the stomach 
  • Colonoscopy or inspection of the inner surface of the colon 
  • Endoscopic examination of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum 
  • Sigmoidoscopy 

General Surgery 

  • Biopsy of breast lumps 
  • Laparoscopic surgery for diagnostic purposes 
  • Some hernia repair 
  • Removal of hemorrhoid tissue 
  • Removal of the gallbladder 

Gynecology 

  • Removal of ovarian cysts 
  • Hysterectomy 
  • Cervical biopsies 

Ophthalmology 

  • Replace the cloudy lens of the eye when cataracts form 
  • Ease the pressure in the eye caused by glaucoma 
  • Replace the clear window in the eye – the cornea 
  • Tighten eyelids and remove “bags” under the eyes 

Orthopedics 

  • Arthroscopic surgery of the knee 
  • Reconstruction of the main stabilizing ligament of the knee 
  • Carpal tunnel surgeries 
  • Hand surgeries 
  • Rotator cuff repair 

Plastic Surgery 

  • Liposuction to remove fat deposits 
  • Skin grafts 

Podiatry 

  • Surgery to correct bunions 
  • Surgical removal of bone spurs 
  • Correction of “hammer toes” 

Urology 

  • Some bladder surgeries 
  • Removal of kidney stones and biopsies of the urinary tract 
  • Cystoscopy 
  • Prostate biopsies 

Sleep Disorder Centers

Persistent changes in your normal sleep/wake cycle may indicate the presence of a sleep disorder. Sleep disorders have many different causes and many different symptoms. Some people have a hard time sleeping, while others sleep at inappropriate times. Some problems are temporary, but others are chronic. 

Sleep disorder programs offered at hospitals can help diagnose sleep problems. Many sleep disorders can be treated once they are clinically evaluated. 

Common Disorders 

  • Snoring 
  • Sleep apnea 
  • Narcolepsy 
  • Restless leg syndrome 
  • Chronic insomnia 
  • Muscle twitching 

Diagnosis and Treatment 

At most sleep disorder centers, your first evaluation will include a medical history and physical examination. Next, you’ll be scheduled for a sleep study. Diagnosis of sleep disorders sometimes requires an overnight sleep study or polysomnogram. This kind of sleep evaluation includes EEG and EKG monitoring, and tests for eye movements, muscle tension, respiratory activity and blood-oxygen saturation. 

Specially trained technologists monitor you throughout the night in comfortable surroundings designed to simulate your sleep environment at home. 

This study may sometimes involve staying overnight in a comfortable, private room, while multiple sensors continuously monitor your brain waves, eye movement, air exchange, heartbeat, breathing effort, muscle activity, and oxygen levels. The information obtained from the sleep study may help lead to an appropriate diagnosis and treatment. 

Orthopedic Programs and Joint Care

Orthopedic programs should have a specially trained interdisciplinary team of physicians, surgeons, nurses and therapists to provide a continuum of orthopedic care from diagnosis through rehabilitation.  Patients can benefit from advanced diagnostic tools, specially equipped operating rooms, presurgical informative classes and comprehensive physical therapy and rehabilitation services. 

Orthopedic surgeons often specialize in the following areas: 

  • Joints, including hips and knees 
  • Hand and Upper Extremity 
  • Sports Medicine 
  • General Orthopedics 

Presurgical Informative Classes 

Are you suffering from knee pain, hip pain or morning stiffness?  Some hospitals offers monthly seminars that focus on diagnosis and treatment for knee and hip pain.  Learn about the anatomy of the knee and hip, causes of joint pain, medications, physical therapy, arthroscopic surgery and total joint replacement.  Ask your local hospital if this is a service they offer. 

Total Joint Replacement 

Total joint replacement is one of the greatest orthopedic surgical advances of the century. Today, orthopedic surgeons are able to replace an arthritic or damaged joint with an artificial joint called a prosthesis. 

Joint replacement is often necessary to relieve pain and disability caused by severe arthritis. Two forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis, which is a wearing away of the cartilage in a joint, and rheumatoid arthritis, where the synovium produces chemical substances that attack the joint surface and destroy the cartilage, are both conditions that may warrant joint replacement. 

The goal of an orthopedic center is to restore function and reduce pain. Each patient should receive benefit from skilled physicians and nurses as well as physical therapists and assistants. The center should also assist with physician appointments, follow-up surgical care and rehabilitation. 

Basic Facts about Cholesterol

With all of the advertisements in magazines and on television, you’ve probably seen at least one about cholesterol. Chances are you’ve seen several. Talk of LDL, HDL, cholesterol lowering medications, etc. You probably find yourself wondering what all this means. As confusing as it may seem, your cholesterol is something you need to understand.

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found with the fats in your blood and in your body’s cells. And like a lot of things, a certain amount provides benefits while too much can cause damage. For example, cholesterol is important because it helps form cell membranes, hormones and other functions. But if cholesterol levels become too high, it can become a risk factor for coronary heart disease. If your total cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL, your heart attack risk is relatively low, unless you have other risk factors.

Since cholesterol and fats cannot be dissolved in the blood, they have to be transported from cell to cell by special carriers called lipoproteins. This is where all of the talk about LDL and HDL comes in. LDL stands for low-density lipoprotein and is the major transporter of cholesterol in the body. If too much LDL cholesterol is present (160mg/dL or higher) it can cause a build up of plaque in the arteries, which can then lead to a heart attack or stroke. This is why LDL cholesterol is sometimes called the “bad” cholesterol.

HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein. HDL is responsible for carrying one-third to one-fourth of blood cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is also called the “good” cholesterol. This is because it’s believed that it carries cholesterol away from the arteries to the liver, where the body can then get rid of it. It is also believed to slow down plaque formation.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that your daily cholesterol intake be less than 300mg. If you have heart disease, your intake should be no more than 200mg. One way of helping to limit cholesterol intake is by reducing foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol. These are foods that typically come from animals: butter, cream, egg yolks, processed or fatty meats and fried foods. Instead, your diet should be high in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat free dairy products, lean meat and fish.

Another way to manage cholesterol is through exercise. Exercise may increase HDL cholesterol in some people. It also may help to control weight, diabetes and high blood pressure. Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for developing heart disease.

Quitting smoking and monitoring alcohol consumption are two more ways to help manage your cholesterol. According to the AHA, smoking helps to lower HDL cholesterol levels and is one of the major factors for heart disease that you can change.

If following the above recommendations, along with the help of a physician, still doesn’t lower your cholesterol enough, there are medications available that may help. Talk to your physician to see if this might be beneficial to you.

While there is a lot being said about cholesterol through advertisements, what you really need to know is how to keep your HDL levels high and your LDL levels low. Talk to your doctor or contact the AHA for more information on how to do this.

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