Good Health. World-class pediatric services close to home. In this issue. Read about Union Hospital s new partnership with Nemours on Page 3.

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1 Good Health Spring 2015 Volume 13 - Number 1 World-class pediatric services close to home Read about Union Hospital s new partnership with Nemours on Page 3. In this issue It s a fact: Colonoscopies save lives!... 2 Meet our newest gynecologist... 3 New partnership brings world-class pediatric care to Cecil County... 3 Community Health Education Programs Wanted: Volunteer patient representatives... 6 Merger positions foundations to make a bigger impact... 6 Carb confusion... 7 Weight-loss options that work... 8 Follow us on Twitter... 8

2 It s a fact: Colonoscopies save lives! Pleasant? No. Lifesaving? Absolutely! That s the line on colonoscopies, one of the most important cancer screenings available. Like mammograms and prostate cancer screenings, colonoscopies are nobody s idea of fun. But like other types of care intended to prevent or detect cancer, a small amount of inconvenience can result in great rewards. Colonoscopies are used for a number of medical tests, such as evaluating the cause of abdominal pain, diarrhea, bleeding and weight loss. However, they are best known as an effective way to screen for colorectal cancer, because in its earliest and most treatable stages, the disease may not have obvious symptoms. From the patient s perspective, a colonoscopy itself is not a big deal. Sedation will keep you relaxed throughout the procedure, and you probably will not remember the experience afterward. What most people dread is the preparation for the exam. Preps differ but usually include consuming clear liquids for the day before the procedure. However, some of the more recently released preps now taste better and don t require a patient to consume a huge amount of liquids. Who should be screened? For many people, screening colonoscopies are recommended starting at age 50. Screening colonoscopies may be recommended earlier for people who have a family history of colorectal cancer or other risk factors. Additionally, a colonoscopy may be ordered if you have the following symptoms: Changes in bowel habits Needing to have a bowel movement but experiencing no relief from doing so Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool Cramping or abdominal pain Weakness and fatigue Unexplained weight loss Colonoscopies and other specialized diagnostic screenings for colorectal cancer are offered close to home at Union Hospital and Union GI Associates. For an appointment or more information, call (410) Union GI Associates provide colonoscopies and other specialized diagnostic screenings for colorectal cancer. Pictured (left to right): Rosaria Torres, PA-C; Michael Bass, MD; and Roger Wu, MD. What to expect during the procedure? During a colonoscopy, the doctor will use a small camera attached to a long tube to examine your large intestine. The doctor will look for early signs of cancer and for precancerous growths called polyps. Polyps grow on the lining of the colon or rectum and, over time, can become cancerous. Polyps can be removed during the colonoscopy and sent for testing to ensure that they are not cancerous. By removing polyps before they develop into cancer, doctors often can prevent colorectal cancer from occurring. By the numbers: Colorectal cancer The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that more than 93,000 new cases of colon cancer and nearly 40,000 new cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year with about 49,700 people expected to die of the disease in Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death among men and women, according to the ACS. 2

3 Dr. Russell White, gynecologist, joins medical staff Union Hospital and Union Multi-Specialty Practices are pleased to welcome Russell White, MD, to the hospital s medical staff. Board-certified in gynecology, Dr. White is returning to our community, having worked in a private practice in the area during the 1990s. Dr. White earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia and completed his OB/GYN residency at Christiana Care. Among his areas of special interest are endometriosis, hysterectomy, menopause and perimenopause, ovarian and uterine cancers and osteoporosis. He looks forward to providing the women s healthcare you need with exceptional skill and compassion. Dr. White is accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment, call (443) New partnership brings world-class pediatric care to Cecil County At Union Hospital, we understand that children are not small adults. They have unique medical and emotional needs, and their loved ones need special kinds of care and attention, too. Through an exciting new partnership between Nemours/ Alfred I. dupont Hospital for Children and Union Hospital, Cecil County families now have access to a wide variety of world-class pediatric services in a family-centered, child-friendly environment right here in your home community. Based in Wilmington, Del., Nemours is one of the nation s leading children s hospitals. Its board-certified specialists take a whole-child approach to care that integrates advanced clinical services with research, education and prevention. Through the new partnership, Nemours provides Union Hospital with pediatric hospitalists physicians with special training and experience in caring for hospitalized children. Nemours pediatric hospitalists at Union Hospital include: Sagar Bhandary, MD board-certified; residency in general pediatrics at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, New York City Haytham Hamwi, MD board-certified; residency at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, Flushing, NY Hagop Poshoghlian, MD board-certified; residency in general pediatrics at St. Joseph s Regional Medical Center Ashish Gupta, MD board-certified; residency at Brooklyn Hospital Center, New York City Kathryn McKenna, MD residency in internal medicine/ pediatrics at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Mass. In addition, Nemours will offer inpatient services that will include medical care for children staying in the hospital s pediatric unit, 24-hour consultations in the emergency department, as well as newborn consultations, attendance at high-risk deliveries, care in the newborn nursery and, if needed, stabilization of sick newborns for transport. When a child is ill or injured, staying close to home becomes especially important for the child and their loved ones. Through Union Hospital s new partnership with Nemours, the dream of having a range of specialized pediatric services in Cecil County has become a reality. Nemours pediatric hospitalists at Union Hospital include (left to right): Kathryn McKenna, MD; Hagop Poshoghlian, MD; Haytham Hamwi, MD; and Sagar Bhandary, MD. 3

4 Community Health For more information and registration for these and other community Childbirth & Family Education For more information and registration for our childbirth and family education programs, call (443) or visit Core Childbirth Preparation $50 per couple These classes cover the essentials of labor and delivery. Topics include signs of labor, breathing and relaxation, comfort measures, possible interventions, cesarean birth, medications and epidurals. A tour of the Maternal & Infant Center is provided. Weeknight Childbirth Class: This three-session class is offered April 2, 9 & 16 and May 14, 21 & 28, 6:30-9 p.m. Saturday Express Childbirth Class: This class is offered April 25 & June 27, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Split-Session Weekend Childbirth Class: This class is divided into two sessions of Friday, May 15, 6:30-9 p.m. & Saturday, May 16, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Family Education Classes Register for any Childbirth Preparation class and receive two FREE classes. You can make a complete five-class series by choosing to add on Postpartum & Newborn Care and Infant Feeding. Additional classes are priced at $20 each. Postpartum & Newborn Care April 23 & June 4, 6:30-9 p.m. $20 There are physical, emotional, social and economic changes that occur with the birth of a new baby. Learn how to navigate all of the changes and how to prepare for the early days after the birth of your baby. Included in this class are common newborn characteristics, behaviors and expectations for hospital care. Learn how your baby communicates and how you can learn cues that will make you a better parent. Baby bath demonstration is included. Breastfeeding Basics April 30 & June 11, 6:30-9 p.m. $20 The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for one year for optimal health. This class will help both parents prepare, giving you confidence and peace of mind for those coming months. Learn how it all works and how to get off to the best possible start in those early postpartum days and beyond. This class is taught by a lactation consultant, a specialist in lactation care. Thursday class will spend the last 30 minutes on expression and storage of breast milk. 4 Infant Soothing & Massage April 6, May 4 & June 1, 6:30-9 p.m. $20 Learn from the experts how to calm a newborn by replicating the movement and sounds they remember from the womb. Five basic soothing techniques will be taught to calm a crying baby. This course is for expectant parents or caregivers of newborns. Topics include soothing techniques, benefits of infant massage, demonstration of a full-body massage for baby giving you hands-on practice with dolls. You will learn therapeutic strokes for relieving colic, constipation, teething and congestion. The instructor is a registered nurse certified in infant massage instruction. Grandparenting Today March 30 & May 18, 6:30-9 p.m. $10 for two grandparents If this is your first grandchild, you may be wondering what role you play if invited into the delivery room. Many changes have taken place in obstetrics and pediatrics since you have given birth to your child. You may be hearing Mom, they don t do it that way anymore. Topics include helping the new parents adjust to their role, reducing the risk of SIDS, infant CPR/first aid for choking with hands-on practice with dolls, new pediatric practices and rationale and infant safety. Infant Safety April 14, May 5 & June 9, 6:30-9 p.m. $20 This class presents valuable information on safety topics for expectant parents. Topics include car seats, safe sleep, how to childproof your home and instruction in infant CPR and choking relief including a hands-on practice session using infant CPR mannequins. Family & Friends CPR April 6 & June 1, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $12 for one participant, $20 for two using the same manual Family & Friends CPR teaches the basics of CPR but does not provide certification. Hands-on instruction is provided in the following: Adult CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) use Child CPR and AED use Infant CPR Choking relief for adults, children and infants For more information, please call (443) or dgreer@uhcc.com.

5 Education Programs education programs, call (410) or visit Meetings, Clubs & Support Groups Alzheimer s/caregivers Support Group Free 4 th Thursday of each month, 6-7:30 p.m. Sponsored by Union Hospital s Adult Day Services, this support group provides comfort and coping information for caregivers managing a loved one with Alzheimer s disease or someone at home or in a nursing facility who can no longer care for themselves. Location: Adult Day Services at Union Hospital. Call (410) for more information. American Diabetes Association Support Group Free 2 nd Tuesday of each month, 5-6 p.m. Support and educational group for persons with diabetes and their families. Call (410) for more information. Bariatric Support Group 3 rd Tuesday of each month, starting at 7:30 p.m. Union Hospital hosts a support group for weight-loss surgery patients and those considering weight-loss surgery, as well as their support persons. Call (443) for more information. Breast Cancer Support Group Free 3 rd Tuesday of every other month, 6-7:30 p.m. Those faced with breast cancer can join us and receive support, understanding, guidance and education to help them stay strong. Call (410) for information. I Can Cope Cancer Support Group Free American Cancer Society & Union Hospital Co-Sponsor 3 rd Wednesday of each month, 6-8 p.m. This program gives participants an opportunity to share their concerns with others having similar experiences and to design ways to cope with the challenges that arise from a cancer diagnosis. Guest speakers include professionals in the field of cancer management. A light dinner will be provided. Call (443) for more information. Breastfeeding Mom s Café Every Tuesday, 10-11:30 a.m., and 1 st Thursday of each month, 6-7:30 p.m. (excluding holidays) Breastfeeding Mom s Café is an easy way for mothers to exchange information and experiences. You can also speak to the lactation consultant if needed. This is a casual drop-in with weight checks before and after feedings. No registration is required. Call (443) for more information. Kids Can Cope Free 2 nd Wednesday of each month, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Having a parent with a serious illness can be a challenging emotional time for children. This support group is for children who have a parent or loved one with cancer or other chronic illness. Creative activities are designed to help participants identify and cope with feelings and build resiliency they will need during difficult times. RSVP is required. Call (410) , ext. 2607, for more information. Look Good Feel Better Free This program offers women and men with cancer a chance to learn how to enhance their appearance while undergoing treatment. A licensed cosmetologist assists those with cancer in looking their best. Call (443) for an appointment. Moms Matter Free 1 st & 3 rd Wednesdays of each month (excluding holidays), 3:30-5 p.m. This is a new support group for moms coping with pregnancy or postpartum depression (PPD), anxiety or mood disorder. Through supporting each other and by sharing resources, new moms can be happy and healthy again. To join or for more information, call (410)

6 Wanted: Volunteer patient representatives to lend a hand to those who need it most Sometimes, a small gesture can make a huge difference in a person s comfort and happiness. That idea drives Union Hospital s volunteer patient representatives, who perform simple but meaningful acts of kindness to people staying in the hospital. A lot of times, patients are more comfortable talking to a patient representative than to a nurse, said Holly Rollins, volunteer coordinator at Union Hospital. For example, patients might not want to bother their nurse by calling to ask for another blanket or a cup of water. The patient representative can assist our nursing staff by responding to these types of requests. Volunteer patient representatives were introduced to Union Hospital about seven years ago. The program has proven so popular with patients that more patient representatives are needed. In addition to the customary orientation and training required to be a Union Hospital volunteer, prospective patient representatives complete some additional focused training. Patient representatives usually visit patients on a rotating basis, staying on one floor of the hospital and visiting with patients for about two hours. They are particularly helpful for individuals who have been hospitalized for an extended period, have complex medical issues or do not have a broad personal support network. They can also help keep a patient s loved one advised about what s going on, and they can gather general comments and feedback that can help the hospital improve its services. In many cases, the patient s needs are even simpler. Often, Rollins said, patients just need someone to sit and talk with them for a while. To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Union Hospital, please call (410) or visit com > About Us > Volunteers. Merger positions foundations to make a bigger impact Combining the strengths of two important local charitable foundations, the Union Hospital Foundation and the Northern Chesapeake Hospice Foundation (NCHF) have merged. Following a year-long exploration of the benefits and challenges of a merger, the final decision came with the assurance that the Union Hospital Foundation will continue many services that NCHF provided to our community, including grief and bereavement counseling, coping skills workshops and nursing scholarships to local students. Popular NCHF events such as the annual car raffle also will continue, with proceeds dedicated to palliative and hospice care services. A permanent endowment, funded with a rich legacy of gifts to NCHF, will be reserved for use by these same types of programs. Our primary objective is to create a strong and resourceful foundation that is well positioned to serve the families and individuals of Cecil County, said Kenneth Lewis, MD, Union Hospital President and CEO. We are eager to see what the combined efforts of these two outstanding foundations can do. The community s needs for NCHF programs are as strong today as they have ever been. We will continue to make a lasting impact on those we serve. The foundation s headquarters is at 147 West High Street in Elkton. For more information, visit > Foundation. 6

7 Carb confusion By Caroline Booze, RD, LDN, NASM-CPT As a dietitian and diabetes educator, I get asked questions about carbs all the time. Carbs certainly got a bad rap back during the Atkins days, and since then carbs are still whispered about in hushed tones. In the Harry Potter world, they would be known as the food-group-that-must-not-benamed for the havoc that they have been said to reek on those seeking to watch their waistline or their blood sugars. Let s bust some carb myths, shall we? MYTH: Carbs will make you gain weight The truth is, any food has calories, and weight management is largely about calorie balance. Weight loss occurs when we eat less calories than our bodies need, and weight gain occurs when we eat more. It doesn t matter so much where the calories come from, but whether you created a calorie deficit or consumed an excess of your needs. So why do people lose so much weight when they go on a low-carb diet? Well, for one thing, carbs make up the majority of most American s diets. So when they drastically reduce the amount of carbs consumed, they are most likely cutting calories. Caroline Booze is a dietitian and diabetes educator at Union Medical Nutritional Services and Diabetes Center. To set up an appointment with a dietitian/ diabetes educator, contact (410) Additionally, there is a storage form of carbohydrate called glycogen. So, when our body has all of the glucose (the broken down form of carbs) that it needs, it turns the remaining glucose into glycogen. When the body stores this glycogen, it also stores water. In fact, it stores three units of water for every unit of glycogen that is stored. In the absence of adequate carbohydrate consumption, the body calls on these glycogen stores, turning the glycogen into glucose so that the body may use it for energy. In doing so, the body is also pulling the water out of storage. This is one of the main reasons why we see such a rapid weight loss with low carb diets; however, it is generally not true fat loss. Also, this loss is generally fleeting. As soon as the individual starts eating carbs again, back go the glycogen stores and the water stores, meaning the return of much or all of the weight that was lost. MYTH: Carbs are bad for you Many healthy foods have carbs! So it s not that carbs are bad for you, it s just that some carbs are better than others. You may have heard of simple versus complex carbs. When you hear simple carbs, think anything made with white sugar and/or white flour. This includes things like bagels, white bread, white pasta, cookies, crackers and snack cakes. Unfortunately, these foods have very little nutrition value. They are not offering us the fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that some other carb choices can. Your better choices in the carb world would be fruits, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy, all of which are chock full of nutritious goodness. MYTH: If you have diabetes, you shouldn t eat carbs For people with diabetes, dietitians and diabetes educators recommend a carb-controlled meal plan. It doesn t mean no carbs, it doesn t even mean low-carb. For most individuals, a carb-controlled meal plan means limiting the amount of carbs per meal and spacing the carbs out evenly throughout the day to help with blood sugar control. A dietitian/diabetes educator from Union Medical Nutritional Services and Diabetes Center can help you determine what an appropriate carb controlled plan can look like for you. 7

8 106 Bow St. Elkton, MD (410) Rising Sun: (410) Delaware: (302) TDD: (410) Visit us online at Dr. Kenneth S. Lewis, President & CEO Kathryn McKinney, Director Public Relations & Marketing OR CURRENT RESIDENT Nonprofit Org. US POSTAGE PAID PROGRESSIVE IMPRESSIONS INTERNATIONAL Good Health is published quarterly by the Public Relations Department of Union Hospital, 106 Bow St., Elkton, MD Nonprofit postage paid. Issue date: Spring 2015 Take control of your life again! Weight-loss options that work Have you tried traditional weight-loss strategies without success? The Union Bariatric Program may be able to help. Our surgeon and specialized support team understand that you have unique challenges, and our multi-disciplinary approach can help you achieve lasting weight loss with bariatric surgery and ongoing support. You may qualify for bariatric surgery if you have: A body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more Or A BMI between 35 and 39.9 and a serious obesity-related health problem The Union Bariatric Program is a collaboration of Union Hospital and the University of Maryland Harford Memorial Hospital. To learn more about our weight-loss program, surgery options, and our free informational seminars and support groups, please call (443) UNION BARIATRIC A Partnership of University of Maryland Harford Memorial Hospital Bariatric Surgery Center PROGRAM Visit us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter Keep up with the latest Union Hospital news and events, view photos and videos, and add your own feedback on our Facebook page and our recently launched Twitter account. To visit our Facebook page, scan the attached QR code or access it from our website at To visit our Twitter page, scan the other QR code or visit