Vital Signs. New medical office building opens in Hawks Prairie

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1 Vital Signs July/August 2012 Uterine fibroid relief - pg 3 TIA - Take it seriously - pg 4 Caring for our community - pg 6 Health calendar - pg 7 New medical office building opens in Hawks Prairie Cover photo: Diana Velikova, MD, new physician at Providence Medical Group Hawks Prairie Internal Medicine Looking for a medical home? Providence Medical Group at Hawks Prairie has growing teams of family medicine and internal medicine providers who can take care of your health care needs. They also can coordinate your care with specialists and other services such as endocrinology, lab and diagnostic imaging, all in one location. See page 2 for details!

2 Providence Medical Group at Hawks Prairie Providence Medical Group has opened a 28,500-square-foot medical facility in Lacey. The new medical center, located at 2555 Marvin Rd. NE, offers primary and specialty health care services, including family medicine, internal medicine, endocrinology, lab and diagnostic imaging. The facility includes the following clinics and medical providers: Hawks Prairie Internal Medicine Jane Geraci, MD, MPH; Edward Jansen, MD; Scott Smitherman, MD; and Diana Velikova, MD Olympia Endocrinology (for people with diabetes, thyroid conditions or osteoporosis) Michael Shannon, MD Hawks Prairie Family Medicine Michael Lynam, MD, and Peter Taylor, MD PACLAB full-service laboratory Providence St. Peter Hospital diagnostic imaging services Later this summer, two new providers will be joining the clinic teams. The building is designed to accommodate up to 16 providers, which will include the addition of specialists in diabetes education, pharmacy and behavioral health. Medical home how it works The clinic space is designed using the medical home model, with a shared work area where providers, nurses, technicians, educators and other health care personnel can circulate and Pictured above: Providence medical providers and administrators celebrate the opening of Providence Medical Group at Hawks Prairie. L to R: Diana Velikova, MD; Jane Geraci, MD, MPH; Scott Smitherman, MD; Edward Jansen, MD; Medrice Coluccio; Rik Emaus, DO; Kaitlin Bock, ARNP; Michael Shannon, MD; Peter Taylor, MD; and Michael Lynam, MD Providence Medical Group - Hawks Prairie Internal Medicine welcomes Dr. Velikova Board certified in internal medicine, Diana Velikova, MD, has 13 years of experience. She is skilled in the prevention and treatment of conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, high cholesterol, heart disease, and other illnesses and injuries. Dr. Velikova completed an internal medicine residency at Pinnacle Health Hospitals in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. At University Hospital-Varna and Regional Hospital-Varna in Bulgaria, she conducted internships in internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Velikova received her medical degree from the Medical University-Varna, Bulgaria. Diana Velikova, MD 2 To schedule an appointment, call now open! collaborate on the care being provided. In the medical home, patients have great access to primary care including wellness and preventive care, acute care (illnesses or injuries), and care for chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, says Rik Emaus, DO, chief executive of Providence Medical Group Southwest Washington. Primary care physicians accomplish this with the support of a highly coordinated team, each working to the top of their license to make sure patients receive the right care, right when they need it. For example, team members will now reach out to patients to schedule follow-up appointments and diagnostic testing. Helping patients manage their routine care means medical issues can be detected earlier before they become more difficult and costly to treat, says Dr. Emaus. Team members also help make sure specialty consultations and care transitions go smoothly. Patients are typically most vulnerable and need our help most during care transitions, such as going to or from hospitals or nursing homes, says Emaus. Our new electronic health records system ensures that critical patient information remains available, and care managers provide a helping hand to make sure everything goes well. For more information about Providence Medical Group clinics and providers, visit

3 I was back to playing sports a week after my UFE... It was a godsend. Fibroid relief: Shrinking the troublesome masses Robin, a 54-year-old woman from Olympia, remembers the havoc that uterine fibroids caused in her life. My periods became so long, and so heavy, that I was afraid to go anywhere for more than an hour, Robin says. I assumed it would improve with menopause, but in the end I couldn t wait for relief. Robin learned she had fibroids when she had her son at age 39. The fibroids grew over time, and by her late 40s, they caused periods so heavy she had chronic anemia from the blood loss. Invading the uterus Fibroid tumors, which affect one in four women over 45 in the U.S., are noncancerous growths of varying size on the walls of the uterus. If the most common symptom of fibroids heavy or irregular bleeding becomes disruptive and affects a woman s quality of life, treatment is available. Interventional radiologist Evert-Jan Verschuyl, MD, says most gynecologists begin fibroid treatment conservatively, starting with ibuprofin for pain and cramps along with birth control pills or an IUD to regulate bleeding. Hormone medications, which decrease estrogen production, can also help to control bleeding. But for women with severe symptoms, further intervention may be necessary. Surgical options include endometrial ablation, surgical removal of the fibroids and hysterectomy. Dr. Verschuyl performs another relatively new, minimally invasive option: uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). He performed a UFE on Robin, who says she would do it again in a heartbeat. How it works During UFE, the interventional radiologist guides a catheter through the femoral artery into the uterine arteries that supply blood to the fibroid, then releases tiny particles to block the blood flow. This causes the fibroid to shrink and die. UFE offers the advantages of preserving the uterus, a short hospital stay, Evert-Jan minimal blood loss and Verschuyl, MD a fast return to work, Dr. Verschuyl says. Some 85 to 90 percent of women who have UFE experience significant or total relief of heavy bleeding and pain, and regrowth of the fibroids after UFE is rare. UFE is a safe and effective alternative to surgery. Women whose fibroids affect their quality of life and who do not want the more radical approach of hysterectomy tend to be very happy with the outcome of UFE, Dr. Verschuyl says. Robin concurs. I was back to playing sports a week after my UFE, she says. It was a godsend. If you have symptoms that may be related to fibroids, contact your gynecologist to see if UFE may be an option for you. Sharing our history through geocaching The Sisters of Providence opened Providence St. Peter Hospital in Do you know where the original Providence St. Peter Hospital was located? We re celebrating our 125th anniversary by placing geocaches (pronounced geo-cashes ) in locations that are important to our heritage and the history of our community. Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunting game. You can use any GPS-enabled device to participate. Visit to read more about geocaching, learn about the locations we have chosen to celebrate, and view our 125-year timeline and historical photos

4 mini stroke TIA: Take it seriously TIA is short for transient ischemic Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, attack, a brief blockage of blood flow to loss of balance or coordination a part of your brain. Its symptoms are Sudden, severe headache with the same as a stroke but typically last less no known cause than an hour and cause no permanent Take control to reduce your risk damage. It is critical, however, that you of stroke don t brush off a TIA. If you suspect you ve had a transient A transient ischemic attack is a ischemic attack, it is important to get a warning that you may suffer a stroke. medical evaluation, which can help identify the underlying cause. Often a TIA Strokes can be devastating, so heed that warning, says James McDowell, MD, occurs due to plaque buildup in an artery medical director of Providence St. Peter or a blood clot moving from your heart Hospital s Stroke Program. Twenty-three to your brain. percent of strokes are preceded by a TIA, Here are some ways you can and roughly one third of TIA patients reduce your risk of TIA and stroke: will have a stroke. The risk of stroke is highest soon after Improve cholesterol levels Limiting the TIA. Within 30 days of a TIA, your your intake of saturated fats and trans risk of having a stroke is 8 percent, and fats may help reduce the plaque in 90 days after a TIA, your risk of stroke your arteries. is 10.5 percent. Stop smoking Smoking cigarettes What are the warning signs? raises your blood pressure and increases If you experience any of the following your risk of blood clots. symptoms, seek emergency care immediately, even if the symptoms disappear. Optimal blood pressure is Control high blood pressure Sudden numbness or weakness of 120/80 mm Hg or lower. the face, arm or leg, especially on Manage diabetes Keep diabetes in one side of the body check to avoid narrowing of the arteries. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking Eat right Too much fat and salt in your or understanding diet increases your risk of TIA and stroke. Sudden trouble seeing 4 Watch your waistline A waist circumference greater than 35 inches in women or 40 inches in men increases risk. James McDowell, MD Limit drinking For men, limit your alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks daily; one drink daily if you re a woman. Be active Get 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise most days. TIA Clinic provides evaluations Providence, in partnership with Olympia Neurology, offers a TIA Clinic for people who have experienced a transient ischemic attack. The clinic is located at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia. It is important to schedule a TIA clinic appointment as soon as possible, given the risks of stroke following a TIA. At your appointment, a neurologist and stroke nurse will review your lab report, stroke symptoms and risk factors, and determine what other tests or medications you may need. For more information about the TIA Clinic, call Learn more about stroke risk factors and warning signs at

5 Walk through an inflatable brain Aug. 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sand in the City In an effort to raise stroke awareness, Providence St. Peter Hospital s Regional Neuroscience Center is bringing the MEGA Brain to Olympia on Sunday, Aug. 26. The MEGA Brain is a large-scale, interactive, educational model of the human brain designed to help teach people about the risks, symptoms, nature and causes of brain diseases. The exhibit measures 18 feet long by 14 feet wide by 12 feet high. Visitors can walk through the brain, learning about various brain structures, function, trauma and disease. Enter through the frontal lobe, which is responsible for personality and higher cognitive functions, and exit through the cerebellum, the portion of the brain responsible for balance and coordination. View displays explaining some of the latest neurological medical treatments. Don t miss it! Stop by the MEGA Brain exhibit at the Hands On Children s Museum Sand in the City event Sunday, Aug. 26 at the Port Plaza in Olympia. Providence stroke nurses, specialists, neurosurgeons and neurologists will provide free blood pressure checks, and kids can get a temporary tattoo. Learn more about the MEGA Brain at medicalinflatables.com/mega-brain. For information about stroke risk factors and warning signs, visit Need a doctor? Providence Medical Group offers more than 30 clinics and 150 specialized providers in Thurston, Lewis, Mason & Grays Harbor counties. Adult primary care Cancer care Cardiology Diabetes care Endocrinology Family medicine General surgery Gynecology & obstetrics Internal medicine Neurosurgery Physiatry Psychiatry Urology Primary care clinics now accepting patients: East Olympia Family Medicine Hawks Prairie Family Medicine Hawks Prairie Internal Medicine South Sound Internal Medicine St. Peter Family Medicine West Olympia Family Medicine

6 SERVICE TO THOSE IN NEED Caring for the community Medrice Coluccio Providence is proud to invest in the health of our community. In 2011, Providence St. Peter Hospital, Providence Centralia Hospital, Providence Medical Group, and Providence Senior and Community Services in Southwest Washington provided more than $50 million in donated services, including $16 million in free and discounted care, and $25 million to pay for the cost of underfunded government programs such as Medicaid. I invite you to view our online community benefit report to see examples of the community health services and charity care we have provided. One of the featured programs is the Providence St. Peter Family Medicine Residency. Last year we contributed more than $3 million toward the education of physicians to help fill the gap between the number of needed medical providers in our area and those actually in practice. For 20 years, this program has trained family physicians, many of whom have stayed in our region to practice medicine. The residency clinic also sees a large number of low-income patients, helping to provide much needed access to primary care. The residency program is just one example of many that contribute to the health and well-being of the communities we serve. To learn more, visit CommunityBenefit. Medrice Coluccio Chief Executive, Providence Health & Services, Western Washington Region Southwest Programs supporting our community Chemical Dependency Center Based in Lacey, Providence St. Peter Chemical Dependency Center offers a complete continuum of services to diagnose, treat and provide ongoing recovery support. Our medically supervised programs include clinical counseling, comprehensive education and a safe environment for recovery. In 2011, Providence subsidized the Chemical Dependency Center with $2.5 million. This support helped improve the quality of life for more than 4,100 substance abuse inpatients, 16,500 outpatients and their families. To learn more, search Chemical Dependency Center at Sexual Assault Clinic The physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and social workers at Providence St. Peter Sexual Assault Clinic are always there for the victims of sexual abuse. Serving residents of Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Grays Harbor, Pacific and Wahkiakkum counties, our specialists are on call 24 hours a day to provide medical evaluations for children, adolescents and adults when they are in crisis. In 2011, the clinic provided nearly $400,000 in subsidized services for 349 patients. To learn more, search Sexual Assault Clinic at Mental Health Services Providence provided more than $1.25 million in non-funded psychiatric services in The 18-bed voluntary acute care unit housed more than 700 admitted patients. More than 1,700 patients participated in the partial hospitalization program. Other services include social workers and professional counselors who provide crisis intervention, counseling and support in the Emergency Center; psychiatric nurses who provide home mental health services; specialized services for those 55 and older; and psychiatrists and ARNPs who offer treatment in our psychiatric medical clinic. Learn more at

7 health calendar For a complete list of classes, support groups & meeting times, visit Childbirth Classes Register online at Diabetes Diabetes Self-Management Classes on nutrition, medication, exercise, glucose monitoring and complication prevention. Physician referral required. Call Exercise Private Pilates $60. Call Pulmonary Rehabilitation Call Therapeutic Yoga: Support for the Cancer Journey Focuses on reducing stress and promoting holistic health. $80/8 classes. Call Heart Health Cardiac Rehabilitation Physician referral required. Call Mended Hearts For cardiac patients and support partners. Call for membership details. Free Support Groups ADD For adults with attention deficit disorder. Third Wednesday of each month. Call ALS 1st Tuesday, 2-3:30 p.m. Emilie Gamelin Pavilion, 3rd floor. Funded by MDA. Call Bereavement Call Beyond Cancer For people coping with diagnosis, treatment or recovery from cancer. 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month, 1:30-3 p.m. Call Brain Injury 2nd Tuesday of each month, 6-7:30 p.m. Call Breastfeeding Call Cancer Counseling Call Depressed Anonymous Mon./Wed., 7-8:30 p.m. Call Eating Disorders Call or Look Good, Feel Better For women with cancer. Sponsored by ACS. 2nd Tuesday of each month, 1:30-3 p.m. Providence Regional Cancer System. Call 800.ACS NAMI Family-to-Family 12-week education program for families of individuals with mental illness. Call or NAMI Family Support For family members of loved ones suffering from mental illness. Call or Overeaters Anonymous Call or Pregnancy After Loss Information line only. Call Prostate Cancer Us Too Man-to-man support group. Third Tuesday of each month, 7-8:30 p.m. Call or P.S. Support For parents who have experienced stillbirth, newborn death or miscarriage. Call SoundCareKids For families with children who have suffered a loss. Pre-register at Stop Smoking Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Call Stroke Club For survivors, families & caregivers. 2nd Sunday of each month, 2:30 p.m. Call or Touch of Strength For breast cancer patients. Call , or 800.ACS New support group Enhancing life through the cancer journey This support group is a safe place to talk about feelings that may be difficult to discuss with family and friends. Thursdays, twice per month, 6:30-8 p.m. Lobby - Providence Regional Cancer System 4525 Third Ave. SE, Suite 200, Lacey Pre-registration required. Contact Cobie Whitten, PhD, at or cobwhitten@yahoo.com. Community Events Prevent child sexual abuse July 12, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Providence St. Peter Hospital Room 200, next to cafeteria Learn how to recognize, prevent and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Attend a Darkness to Light training session presented by Providence St. Peter Sexual Assault Clinic. Thanks to support from the Lassen Fund at The Community Foundation, this training is being offered at no cost. For more information, call the Sexual Assault Clinic at To sign up, visit Cancer 101: Basics & beyond Aug. 8, 6-8 p.m. Providence St. Peter Hospital Room 200, next to cafeteria Attend a complimentary dinner event with our team of cancer experts. From diagnosis to treatment and more, you ll learn what to expect as you navigate the path ahead. Resources available, plus time to ask questions. Bring a guest! RSVP at or call Cancer Transitions Program Next multiweek session starts Sept. 18 Providence St. Peter Hospital Funded by a LIVESTRONG grant, this free six-week series is for people who are in the transitional period after completing cancer treatment. The program will feature support groups, education and individualized exercise, and address nutrition, medical management and quality of life issues. Thanks to a partnership with South Sound YMCA, facilitators trained to work with cancer patients will direct the exercise segment. For more information, cobwhitten@yahoo.com. VitalSigns Editor: Traci Blake traci.blake@providence.org 7

8 413 Lilly Road N.E. Olympia, WA NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE PAID OLYMPIA, WA PERMIT NO. 294 Seattle Children s provides pediatric hospitalist services at St. Peter Hospital Seattle Children s Hospital now provides around-the-clock pediatric hospitalist services at Providence St. Peter Hospital. Pediatric hospitalists are pediatricians who specialize in caring for hospitalized children and infants. In addition to caring for children in the pediatric unit, Seattle Children s pediatric hospitalists attend high-risk deliveries, as well as care for healthy newborns and infants in the special care nursery. They also provide onsite emergency department consultations and are available for telephone consultations with community health care providers. Children s hospitalists are working closely with community pediatricians and the Providence St. Peter Family Medicine Residency Program to ensure care is well coordinated between local physicians and the hospital. This partnership helps ensure families receive the best possible care, close to home. Providence St. Peter Hospital remodeled its pediatric unit in 2007 and special care nursery in 2008, thanks to a gift of $3 million from the estate of Bill Jones. Jones, a successful businessman and founder of Yard Birds in Centralia and Sea Mart in Olympia, left $7 million through his estate to Providence St. Peter Foundation to aid in the care of children in our community. Health care on the go! itriage health app for your smartphone Get the medical information you need when and wherever you need it with itriage, a free mobile health app brought to you by Providence Health & Services. Developed by physicians, itriage combines health resources with GPS and mapping technology to point you toward the care you need. Check symptoms Look up conditions Find a doctor, clinic or ER near you. Go to for more information and to download instructions.