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MEDICAL
NEWS
Something you'd like to see featured in the next newsletter? Let
us know!
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March 8, 2012
Reversing The
Trend In Teen and Pre-Teen Alcohol Consumption
"Your child has been involved in
an alcohol-related accident." It’s the call no parent wants
to receive and the call no officer wants to make. The
decision to drive while under the influence seemed harmless
and was made in a split second, but it can forever change
the lives of those involved, and everyone who loves them.
Think it can’t happen to you or
your child? According to National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration one in three will be involved in an
alcohol-related crash in their lifetime. This year alone,
10,839 people will die in drunk-driving crashes - one every
50 minutes and every minute, one person is injured from an
alcohol-related crash. Car crashes are the leading cause of
death for teens and one out of three of those is alcohol
related.
These numbers are alarming and
Sheriff Bobby Haddock with the Washington County Sheriff’s
Office is doing everything in his power to make sure our
residents, both young and old, don’t become another sobering
statistic.
Recently, Sheriff Haddock
partnered with Renee Napier of the Meagan Napier Foundation
to share the story of a DUI accident on May 11, 2002 that
claimed the life of Renee’s daughter Meagan and Meagan’s
best friend Lisa Joe Dickson by a drunk driver. Renee
visited the public middle and high schools throughout
Washington County and detailed the loss, pain and eventual
forgiveness she experienced through this horrific event. In
addition, the drunk driver, Eric Smallridge, who is
currently serving a 22 year prison sentence for 2 counts of
DUI manslaughter, was allowed to attend while in law
enforcement custody and share his agonizing personal story
to the students. Over 2000 people were able to witness this
powerful story.
Programs like this are critical in
reversing this shocking trend. Every year, students younger
and younger are experimenting with alcohol and drugs, most
of which go unnoticed by their parents. Latest studies
suggest one in three 8th graders drinks alcohol, one in five
teens binge drink and only one in one hundred parents
believes his or her teen binge drinks.
More on the Napier Foundation at
www.duipromise.com.
More info on events hosted by the
WCSO at www.wcso.us or
www.facebook.com/WashingtonCountySheriffsOffice.
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March 1, 2012
Strawberries- A Perfect
Food?
Strawberries, which are
available at this time of year, are members of the Rose
family and the first fruits to ripen in the spring. 94
percent of United States’ households consume strawberries,
averaging an intake of 3.4 pounds of strawberries per person
each year, and strawberries are high in vitamins,
antioxidants and other important nutrients. This versatile
red fruit can be enjoyed alone or as part of meals, salads
or desserts, with the typical serving size of strawberries
at one cup, or approximately eight large strawberries,
containing 50 calories, 11 grams of carbohydrates and 1 gram
of protein. Strawberries contain no fat, cholesterol or
sodium and one serving contains 160 percent of the daily
recommended allowance of vitamin C.
Strawberries are also high in
folate, which is especially important for pregnant women and
provide 170 milligrams of potassium per serving.
Strawberries also provide 2 percent of the daily
recommendation for calcium and iron and one serving has 2
grams of fiber, which is important for healthy digestion and
9 grams of sugar, mostly in the form of fructose. By
understanding the true nutritional value of fruit such as
strawberries, you can identify ways to further incorporate
them into your diet and optimize the benefits.
Get your fresh strawberries at Main Street Market at Hwy
90 and Hwy 77 in Chipley, Florida. Supplies are plentiful
and prices are very reasonable, with fresh fruit delivered
almost every day. Oh- and make sure you tell Paul Davidson
and the Main Street Market staff that we sent you.
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February 29, 2012
Bad Breath- Cause and Cure
Have you noticed or has someone
told you that you have bad breathe? Have you been
overwhelmed by the breath or a loved one or a friend?
Halitosis (medical term for bad breath) can embarrass you or
your friends. It can also effect how other people think
about you. I know your question…. what causes bad breath?
The first cause of bad breath
can be food particles left in you mouth after meals combine
with bacteria to create a bad odor. Bacteria often collect
on the back of your tongue creating an odor. Another cause
can be gum disease that may be at the infection stage. The
fluids oozing from the infected gums will cause a very
strong odor due to pus in the fluids. Another cause could be
a dry mouth. Saliva cleanses your mouth, washing away many
odor-causing bacteria. A dry mouth allows more bacteria and
their by-products to remain in your mouth causing bad
breath. You could have a dry mouth when you sleep, if you
don’t drink enough fluids or because of certain medications.
Some types of food and drink can cause bad breath. These
include garlic, onions, fish, cabbage, coffee, and alcohol.
Smoking and chewing tobacco can make your breath smell. This
bad breath stays with you even when you stop smoking or
chewing. There are other causes of bad breath. Braces,
dentures, and other mouth gear may smell if not kept clean.
Certain medical problems may cause bad breath. Sinus
problems that cause drainage into the throat may sometimes
lead to mouth odor. In general, bad breath becomes more of a
problem as you age.
Your dentist can look for a
cause of bad breath that can be treated. If a cause is
found, treatment may improve your breath. Some people think
they have bad breath when they really don’t. First, you need
your dentist to confirm that you have bad breath. You are
then checked for gum disease and asked questions about foods
you eat, any medications you take, and how you care for your
teeth.
You can do some simple things
to help avoid bad breath. First, brush after each meal and
floss at least once a day. Brush your tongue (or use a
special tongue scraper) to clean off food and odor-causing
bacteria. Brush as far back on your tongue as you can. Drink
plenty of water and rinse your mouth with water every so
often to keep saliva flowing. Chewing sugarless gum can also
help. Try to avoid foods that can cause bad smelling breath.
If you smoke or chew tobacco, QUIT!! You’ll be amazed how
much better your breath will smell. Moreover,
over-the-counter mouthwashes only cover up bad breath for a
very short time.
If there is no underlying
medical cause, you can usually achieve fresh-smelling breath
with the help of your dentist. Practice good oral hygiene,
see your dentist regularly and use what you’ve learned to
keep your breath smelling great!
* * * * *
January 13, 2012
Friday the
13th- The Myth and The Reality
The fear of Friday
the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia (Frigga being the
name of the Norse goddess for whom "Friday" is named
and triskaidekaphobia meaning fear of the number thirteen.
According to folklorists,
there is no written evidence for a "Friday the 13th"
superstition before the 19th century. Consequently, several
theories have been proposed about the origin of the Friday
the 13th superstition. One theory states that it is a
modern amalgamation of two older superstitions:
that thirteen is an unlucky number and that Friday is an
unlucky day.
In numerology, the number
twelve is considered the number of completeness, as
reflected in the twelve months of the year, twelve hours of
the clock, twelve gods of Olympus, twelve tribes of
Israel, twelve Apostles of Jesus, the 12 Descendants of
Muhammad Imams, etc., whereas the number thirteen was
considered irregular, transgressing this completeness. There
is also a superstition, thought by some to derive from
the Last Supper or a Norse myth that having thirteen people
seated at a table will result in the death of one of the
diners.
Friday has been considered an unlucky day at least since the
14th century's The Canterbury Tales, and many other
professions have regarded Friday as an unlucky day to
undertake journeys or begin new projects. Black Friday has
been associated with stock market crashes and other
disasters since the 1800s. It has also been suggested that
Friday has been considered an unlucky day because, according
to Christian scripture and tradition, Jesus was crucified on
a Friday.
One author, noting that references are all but nonexistent
before 1907 but frequently seen thereafter, has argued that
its popularity derives from the publication that year
of Thomas W. Lawson's popular novel Friday, the Thirteenth,
in which an unscrupulous broker takes advantage of the
superstition to create a Wall Street panic on a Friday the
13th. Records of the superstition are rarely found before
the 20th century, when it became extremely common.
The connection between the Friday the 13th superstition and
the Knights Templar was popularized in the 2003 novel The Da
Vinci Code. However, experts agree that this is a relatively
recent correlation, and most likely a modern-day invention.
Although according to many Freemasons, this date corresponds
with the slaughtering of the Knights Templar by the Church.
According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia
Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, an estimated 17 to
21 million people in the United States are affected by a
fear of this day, making it the most feared day and date in
history. Some people are so paralyzed by fear that they
avoid their normal routines in doing business, taking
flights or even getting out of bed. "It's been estimated
that $800 or $900 million is lost in business on this day".
Despite this, representatives for both Delta and Continental
Airlines say that their airlines do not suffer from any
noticeable drop in travel on those Fridays.
There are conflicting studies about the risk of accidents on
Friday the 13th. The Dutch Centre for Insurance
Statistics (CVS) on June 12, 2008, stated that "fewer
accidents and reports of fire and theft occur when the 13th
of the month falls on a Friday than on other Fridays,
because people are preventatively more careful or just stay
home. Statistically speaking, driving is slightly safer on
Friday the 13th, at least in the Netherlands; in the last
two years, Dutch insurers received reports of an average
7,800 traffic accidents each Friday; but the average figure
when the 13th fell on a Friday was just 7,500."
However, a 1993 study in the British Medical Journal that
compared the ratio of traffic accidents between Friday the
6th and Friday the 13th stated that there is a significant
increase in traffic-related accidents on Friday the 13th.
There are indications that there are more accidents on
Fridays than average weekdays (irrespective of the date)
probably because of alcohol consumption. Therefore it is
less relevant for this purpose to compare Friday the 13th
with any other 13th day of another month.
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December 10,
2011
From The
Heart- Hearts of Promise
One in every
100 babies is born with a heart defect, and 220,000 heart
valve replacements are performed each year, while thousands
of other heart surgeries are performed on babies and
children needing arteries and veins. So what?
Well, so what
if it affects YOU or your family? Or perhaps someone you
know? Hearts of Promise is a non-profit organization
established in 2003 by Tracy and Candace Turner and
Candace’s parents, Wayne and Carolyn Saunders of Chipley,
Florida.
Upon
returning home following their daughter Holly’s second
open-heart surgery at Children’s Hospital Boston, the
Turners and Saunders felt the urgent need to raise money for
research currently being conducted at Children’s Hospital
Boston.
This
research, known as cardiac tissue engineering, could
eliminate the need for thousands of children born with
congenital heart defects from having to undergo valve
replacement surgeries throughout their lifetimes. Children,
like Holly, who have undergone valve replacement surgery
will require multiple heart surgeries since their donor
valves or mechanical valves will deteriorate over time or
will be outgrown. Researchers are hoping to one day grow
arteries and valves from a child’s own tissue. This research
holds great promise, and many advances have been made. Since
the tissue would come from the child’s own body there would
no longer be the need for multiple valve replacements, as
the valve would grow with the child and would not be
rejected by the body.
All donations
received by Hearts of Promise and all funds raised through
our events go to this research being conducted at Children’s
Hospital Boston by Dr. John Mayer and his research team. Dr.
Mayer and others from Children’s Hospital Boston have
devoted their lives to this research. Dr. Mayer is very
encouraged by the advances they have made. Not only is it
the mission of Hearts of Promise to raise funds for this
important research, but we also provide support to families
who have been affected by congenital heart defects.
It is
important for families to know that they are not alone and
that there is hope. Children’s Hospital Boston
cardiovascular surgeon and Harvard professor John Mayer Jr,
M.D. will address students, faculty and the Marianna Florida
community at Chipola College on November 14th. Dr. Mayer has
devoted his life to researching heart valve tissue
engineering, including methods to grow arteries and valves
from a child’s own cells, reducing or eliminating the need
for multiple open-heart surgeries. Dr. Mayer has treated
Holly Turner for a congenital heart defect since birth.
The mission
of Hearts of Promise has been strongly supported by the
greater Chipley Florida and Prattville communities through
many creative fundraising efforts undertaken over the last
eight years. The Turners and Saunders with the help of
family and friends have raised nearly $200,000 in support of
Children’s Hospital Boston, in support of Dr. Mayer’s heart
valve tissue research. Using tissue engineering, Dr. Mayer
is working to develop living, growing valves and arteries
from a patient’s own cells—enabling the valve to last longer
and grow with the child.
About
Children’s Hospital Boston
Founded in
1869 as a 20-bed hospital for children, Children’s Hospital
Boston today is a 392-bed comprehensive center for pediatric
and adolescent health care, rated the nation’s top pediatric
hospital by U.S. News and World Report in 2011. Children’s
is ranked number one in more specialties than any other
children’s hospital, and is the only one in the top three
for all 10 specialties. The hospital is known for excellence
in research, the education of tomorrow’s medical leaders,
and its commitment to community health.
* * * * *
November 1,
2011
Patrick A. Schlenker, President and CEO of Northwest Florida
Community Hospital Receives Trustee of the Year Award from
Florida Hospital Association
The ‘Celebration
of Service Award for the Trustee of the Year’,
conferred by the Florida Hospital Association, honors a
board member of a hospital or health system who has
contributed significantly to the health of the community by
providing leadership and guidance to the hospital or system
board.
Patrick A. Schlenker, President and CEO of Northwest Florida
Community Hospital in Chipley, Florida, was awarded this
prestigious honor for the ‘Under 150 bed category’ in
Orlando on October 13
at the Orlando Bonnet Creek Hotel.
Northwest Florida Community Hospital is the primary health
care provider for the 29,000 residents in Washington County
and services the region. In 2003, this small, rural
facility had suffered serious financial losses that were
threatening its very survival. In an attempt to salvage the
health care life-line of the residents, Sacred Heart Health
System designated one of its own administrators, Patrick A.
Schlenker, to assess and evaluate the viability of the
organization.
Mr. Schlenker recognized that the survival of the hospital
was dependent upon grassroots involvement by the community
at large. He recruited professionals, created a feasible
business model, rallied local business owners and organized
the community’s support in order to restructure and revive
the hospital.
Under Mr. Schlenker leadership, the hospital rebuilt its
emergency department, added medical office buildings,
renovated patient rooms and replaced obsolete equipment.
These efforts have not gone unnoticed, as Northwest Florida
Community Hospital received the 2010-2011 Hospital of Choice
Award and was also recognized by Florida Monthly Magazine as
one of Florida’s Top 100 Hospitals.
Additional information about the
Florida Hospital Association and this award is available at
www.FHA.org or by contacting Sarah McBrearty, Director
of Communications for FHA, at 850-222-9800.
For more information about Northwest Florida Community
Hospital, along with photo galleries and information about
services, visit
www.ChipleyHospital.com or call 850-638-1610.
* * * * *
August 13,
2011
'Back To School Fair'
Draws Record Crowds & Community Support
In
excess of 1,000 youngsters of school age attended the recent
‘Back 2 School’ Fair hosted by Northwest Florida Community
Hospital on Friday, August 11.
Despite a record-setting heat index, parents and children
enjoyed games, novelties and amusements while school
supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and even
backpacks were given to school-age children, courtesy of
many local sponsors.
Community South Credit Union served food almost nonstop for
2 hours, distributing hundreds of hot dogs and hamburgers.
Vendors supplied water while One South bank supplied a crowd
pleaser in the form of shaved ice confections.
Santa pleased children with his appearance and Washington Holmes Technical Center
provided free haircuts to all comers.
The fire department cooled off
all comers with a stream of water that was welcomed in the
heat, which approached 100 degrees by Noon.
For
photo galleries and video clips of this event, along with more information about
Northwest Florida Community Hospital visit
www.ChipleyHospital.com.
* * * * *
August 8,
2011
Northwest Florida Community Hospital Opens New Clinic
in Vernon, Florida
Northwest Florida Community Hospital held a
special celebration recently as it unveiled the new Vernon
Clinic, an extension of the hospital’s services featuring
walk-in family healthcare.
Located at 3250 Main Street (Highway 79) in
Vernon, next to Vernon Drugs, the clinic is open Monday
through Thursday from 7:30Am until 5:3PM, and on Fridays
from 8AM until Noon and offers free blood pressure checks.
Pat Schlenker, CEO of Northwest Florida
Community Hospital states ‘This project is part of a
continued effort on the part of Northwest Florida Community
Hospital to improve the accessibility of healthcare in this
community. This facility will allow a convenient
alternative to the residents of western Washington County
and Holmes County.’
 Samuel E. Ward, M.D., who provides health
care services at the Vernon Clinic along with Zac Dickson,
ARNP, says ‘This is exciting for the Vernon area, because we
are providing convenient, immediate care for the entire
family. We are here when you need us and you can depend on
us’.
School and sports physicals are offered at
the facility and with school opening soon, this is proving
to be a wonderful offering. ‘We are proud of what we have
accomplished and what we are able to offer at Northwest
Florida Community Hospital’ states Schlenker ‘and this
clinic allows an outreach service that not only is
convenient, but saves time, money and offers an immediate
health service’.
Although walk-ins are welcome, the clinic suggests an
appointment to avoid delays, and the phone number is
850-535-2096.
NFCH staff and management recently announced completion of
Phase One and Two of remodeling of the second floor patient
rooms at the hospital. With a cost of nearly two million
dollars, and with no cost to taxpayers, the newly remodeled
patient rooms bring state-of-the-art treatment to Northwest
Florida Community Hospital.
For photo galleries and video clips from this
event, or for more information about Northwest Florida
Community Hospital, please visit
www.ChipleyHospital.com
or contact Patrick Schlenker, CEO, at 850-638-1610.
You may also find Northwest Florida Community Hospital
at
Northwest Florida Community Hospital on Facebook.
* * * * *
August 5, 2011
Chipley Physical Therapy Offers Quality and Affordable
Health Care
Chipley Physical Therapy, in Chipley, Florida offers a
state-of-the-art facility, utilizing the newest modalities
in physical therapy. The business claims to ‘put the
patient first’ and the promise holds true after taking some
time to visit the clinics.
An
outpatient physical therapy center serving Washington,
Holmes and Jackson Counties from four convenient locations,
Chipley Physical Therapy is committed to offering patients a
center of excellence for the treatment of pain and/or
disability and takes advantage of the best that technology
has to offer, combining it with superior therapy, exercise
and other interventional techniques.
‘We
know you have a choice when it comes to choosing your health
care provider and your physical therapist. We are proud of
the quality and level of care we provide and we encourage
you to explore our web site and see for yourself our
dedication to our patients’ states Lorrie Laurel, Rehab
Director for the clinic.
 ‘The
mission of Chipley Physical & Aquatic Therapy is to help our
patients reach the maximum potential for their physical
needs and abilities’ continues Laurel, ‘and our purpose is
to also assist patients out of pain and discomfort and well
on the way to an improved quality of life’.
‘Finally, to be known as the best physical therapy practice
in our community which obtains excellent results with the
most empathetic, friendly, and efficient staff in the
community’.
This
sentiment is held out when speaking to the staff at Chipley
Physical Therapy, with the overwhelming consensus that the
patient comes first and ultimately that the patient becomes
a part of the family along with staff and management.
Recently guests on the local TV show 'Real Florida TV',
owners Lorrie and Ruben Laurel explained their philosophy
and mission statement, along with insights into the
challenges of a small business in today's economy. See
clips of that interview at
www.RealFloridaMagazine.com.
For more
information about Chipley Physical Therapy please visit
www.ChipleyPT.com.
* * * * *
May 24,
2011
Northwest Florida Community Hospital’s
Heather Shelby Receives Relay For Life ‘Hope Award’
Heather Shelby, RN, Nurse Navigator at
Northwest Florida Community Hospital in Chipley, Florida
received the prestigious ‘Hope Award’ at the Washington
County Relay for Life on Friday, May 13.
Heather’s work on the Relay For Life cause
over the last several years, along with her involvement in
hospital-sponsored Breast Cancer awareness programs and
community education has been a highlight of the hospital’s
offering.
NFCH Chief Operating Officer Janet Kinney
expressed the pride that comes with recognition of one of
its own. ‘Heather exemplifies Northwest Florida Community
Hospital’s commitment to the community, woman’s health and
our community outreach and education. We are very proud of
what we do and we are proud of Heather’.
The Spirit of Hope Award is given to an
outstanding person in the region, as awarded by the American
Cancer Society. Alisha Townsend Hall, coordinator for the
American Cancer Society says ‘Heather is an example of the
hope of our future because she understands the true meaning
of Relay For Life and why we relay. Heather understands that
Relay For Life’s meaning is to raise enough money for cancer
research so cancer can be cured.’
‘I am truly proud to receive this award’,
says Shelby, ‘For the first time in my nursing career, I
feel that I am in the right place at the right time. Yes, I
am here to support breast cancer patients, to give answers
and guidance, but the most important thing I can give them
is HOPE. The survivors are the ones that deserve all the
applause. They are precious to me’.
Community involvement of NFCH staff in these
special events has been a focus of the hospital, along with
the Wound Healing Institute, 24-hour accessible Emergency
Services and the recent completion of the remodeling of
patient rooms.
For more information about Northwest Florida
Community Hospital, along with photo galleries and
information about services, visit
www.ChipleyHospital.com or call 850-638-1610.
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