New Sleep 2 6 7 Center Smoking Quiz Now Open! Control Diabetes for Heart Health about your health New Clinical Affiliation with BIDMC Brings Enhanced Programs to the Community so good. so caring. so close. Lawrence General Hospital (LGH) is proud to announce its formal affiliation with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). The Lawrence General Hospital board of trustees has voted to build on an already-successful partnership with the Harvardaffiliated teaching hospital. This new affiliation will enhance clinical programs in the Greater Merrimack Valley and increase local access to all of BIDMC s specialties. But that s not all. The Choice Plus Network, LGH s independent physician association, has voted to formalize its own collaborative relationship with the Beth Israel Deaconess Physician Organization (BIDPO) for physician network integration and contracting. This will enhance clinical affiliations and increase patient access to top-quality care in northeastern Massachusetts. Turn to page 4 to learn more about these exciting new partnerships, and what they mean for you and your family. winter 2011 www.lawrencegeneral.org
Don t Ignore the Snore! Snoring can be a symptom of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) This very common sleep disorder can have serious medical consequences such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes. It is estimated that 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from a chronic sleep disorder that may adversely affect their health, their quality of life, and even longevity. Proper diagnosis and effective treatment can contribute significantly to optimal management of one s health. The medical team headed by Dr. Noah Siegel, M.D., and Dr. Glenn Newsome, M.D., M.P.H., FCCP, at Lawrence General Hospital s new Sleep Center are working together to effectively diagnose and treat patients with sleep disorders. The Sleep Center offers a full range of diagnostic capabilities and the expertise to test for all types of sleep disorders. Although sleep disorders are common, it is estimated that nearly 85 percent remain undiagnosed. Risk factors include:» More common in males» Obesity (BMI more than 30)» Diagnosis of high blood pressure» Large neck: more than 17 inches in men and more than 16 inches in women» Family history» Upper airway or facial abnormalities Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is also associated with important and sometimes potentially life-threatening medical conditions, including:» Diabetes» Depression» Hypertension» Cognitive impairment» Gastroesophageal reflux» Stroke» Obesity» Heart disease Above: Dianne J. Anderson, President and CEO, in the new Sleep Center Below Right: our trained sleep technologists LAWRENCE GENERAL s NEW SLEEP CENTEr IS NOW OPEN! 800-432-8808 Noah Siegel, M.D. and Glenn Newsome, M.D., M.P.H., FCCP What to Expect During Your Sleep Study at Lawrence general If you are referred to Lawrence General Hospital for a sleep study, you will stay in a private room with a full-sized bed. The room includes a comfortable bed and satellite TV. Snacks and a light breakfast will be available during your stay. Sensors will be applied to your head, face, chest, and legs. Throughout the night you will be monitored by a trained sleep technologist. The technologist is responsible for making your stay comfortable and safe while obtaining a high-quality sleep recording. Sleep studies are not painful and no medication is administered. The test will end and you will be able to leave between 6 and 7 a.m. The results of your study will be sent to your doctor. Your doctor will contact you to discuss diagnosis and treatment. If there are any high-risk problems discovered, you will be informed immediately If you have questions, please call 800-432-8808. 2 www.lawrencegeneral.org
Lawrence General Welcomes New Team Member With great excitement, Lawrence General Hospital welcomes Daniel M. Concaugh as the new Vice President of Network and Business Development. Concaugh has more than 20 years experience in the health care industry. In addition to holding leadership roles at several health plans, he also spent three years as an independent consultant for health care providers and insurers. He brings with him an extensive knowledge of health care that will help continue the success of Lawrence General. Lawrence General Hospital is a strong, well-positioned hospital dedicated to improving the health care for our region. In order to maintain and grow the great momentum we re experiencing, it s important for us to leverage the network of partners and resources within the health care industry who are dedicated to this same mission, Concaugh says. Concaugh has also been active in developing and maintaining budgets and business processes. He has a proven history of lowering costs while maintaining a dedication to providing the best possible health care. He hopes to bring this same attitude to Lawrence General. Via my business and operations management experience, I look forward to strengthening the network of care available to our region by making available a broader base of services reinforced with top-notch clinicians who are experts in their fields. Daniel Concaugh is dedicated to strengthening the health care available to the community, and his involvement in the community doesn t stop when the business day is done. He also serves on the board of directors for the YMCA of Central Massachusetts and the nonprofit Healthcare Administrative Solutions. about your health 3
With our exciting partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, we will bring the best that Boston has to offer to the Merrimack Valley. Dianne J. Anderson President and Chief Executive Officer, Lawrence General Hospital When You Come to Lawrence General, You Are in Very Good Company The Lawrence General Hospital (LGH) Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) affiliation will allow LGH to remain an independent nonprofit hospital while offering patients more local specialty services, decreasing the need to travel to Boston. In addition, coordination of care will be improved through an integrated electronic medical record system. BIDMC, a patient care, teaching, and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School, consistently ranks among the top four in National Institutes of Health funding among independent hospitals nationwide. BIDMC is clinically affiliated with the Joslin Diabetes Center and is a research partner of Dana-Farber/ Harvard Cancer Center. This joint initiative between an already strong community hospital and a world-renowned teaching hospital assures that quality clinical programs will be available locally without patients needing to travel into Boston, says Richard J. Santagati, Chairman of the Lawrence General Hospital Board of Trustees. The hospitals will eventually operate several joint clinical programs using resources from both institutions to bring new and expanded high-quality services to Lawrence, Andover, North Andover, Haverhill, Methuen, Salem, N.H., and other surrounding towns. These programs will tap into the expertise of doctors from Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians (HMFP) at BIDMC as well as the highly qualified LGH physicians. Over time, we look to expand the collaborations between Lawrence General physicians and their Boston colleagues, including an increased ability for physicians to exchange electronic medical information important to patients care, says Stanley Lewis, M.D., BIDMC s senior vice president of network integration. The ability to exchange records among different electronic medical record systems facilitates the coordination of health care delivery to patients. We are delighted to be charting a course that will bring the expertise and services of a major teaching hospital to our immediate community, Santagati adds. Access to Complex Care Lawrence General Hospital s relationship with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center began in 2009, when the two hospitals introduced a joint affiliation for cardiac care via BIDMC s CardioVascular Institute. Interventional cardiologists from LGH joined forces with their BIDMC peers to significantly improve cardiac catheterization and emergency angioplasty services in the Merrimack Valley. Greater integration with BIDMC means that Lawrence General patients will have good access to more complex care when necessary, says Stuart Rosenberg, M.D., president and CEO of Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians and the Beth Israel Deaconess Physician Organization. More efficient integration also allows us to reduce duplicative treatments and testing, and it enables the patient to return to the community for care as quickly as possible. 4 www.lawrencegeneral.org
A Grateful Patient Gives Back For Gene Doran of Andover, MA, Lawrence General Hospital is more than a hospital. It is the place that saved his life. So this year, Doran wanted to do something special for the dedicated caregivers of Lawrence General Hospital. He decided to kick off the 2010 2011 Annual Fund at Lawrence General with an extremely generous matching challenge. Doran will match every gift, dollar for dollar, up to $25,000, for this year s campaign. The Double Your Dollars with Doran Challenge is Lawrence General s first-ever annual fund challenge. Doran says, I thank Lawrence General and their amazingly talented staff for allowing me the opportunity to live such a blessed life. I have such a high regard for this remarkable institution and the people who provide care. Over the years I ve relied on Lawrence General to save my life, pull me out of a coma, battle pneumonia, and numerous other medical emergencies. Lawrence General Hospital is more than my hospital. It s the hospital my family and our community depends on for continued good health, and that s why I m offering this Annual Fund challenge to the region. The more you give to Lawrence General, the more I ll give. Gifts to the Annual Fund at Lawrence General Hospital help fund the hospital s important ongoing needs. They also support new programs and services. This includes Lawrence General s affiliations with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, which will help Lawrence General combine the comforts of home with the additional expertise and specialties of these hospitals in Boston. Lawrence General will also be able to create entirely new programs for the community such as the new Sleep Center, Minimally Invasive Mr. Eugene Doran, grateful patient, Andover, MA Thoracic Surgery (MITS) Clinic, and Diabetes Education Center. Lawrence General Hospital is looking forward to these positive changes and is grateful for Doran s challenge. Gene s passion for life, for his family, and for Lawrence General is truly inspirational, and we are so thankful to Gene for kicking off this critical fundraising year with such an exciting challenge to the community, says Nicholas S. Zaharias, Vice President of Philanthropy and Marketing at Lawrence General Hospital. Our new clinical affiliations with Floating Hospital for Children and with Beth Israel Deaconess are exciting indeed, but they do come with significant costs, which are funded via this annual campaign. Thanks to Gene, hundreds of gifts will be spurred on by this incredibly grateful and caring Lawrence General patient, and everyone in our community will benefit in the end with a stronger hospital. FOR MORE INFORMATION about the annual fund or the new challenge, call 978-946-8099. Practice Gratitude Noticing and being grateful for positive things in your life can boost your mood and help dispel negative thinking. To increase your gratitude, keep a journal in which you note large and small events that bring you joy or make you smile. Write a letter of gratitude to someone who s been kind to you or a positive influence in your life. Deliver it in person if you can. about your health 5
Quiz: Celebrating a Smoke- Free year at lawrence General In a move to promote a healthy lifestyle for its staff, patients, and visitors, Lawrence General Hospital celebrates its first full year as a smoke-and-tobacco-free campus. Your Body Thanks You for Not Smoking Smoking kills more than 400,000 Americans every year. Not all will die of lung cancer. How much do you know about the other dangers of lighting up and the benefits of kicking the habit? There are many compelling reasons to quit smoking. Test your smoke-free smarts with this true-false quiz. 1. Because puffing keeps your weight down, it also lowers heart risks. True False 2. Smoking can affect your eyes, bones, bladder, stomach and children. True False 3. Cigarettes contribute to the number one killer in America. True False 4. Smokers can never reduce their risk for cancer or other diseases. True False Answers 1. false. It s true that some smokers weigh less than nonsmokers. But smokers tend to pack fat in their bellies. This raises the risk for diabetes and heart disease. 2. True. Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body. It contributes to osteoporosis and hip fractures, heartburn and ulcers, cancers such as bladder cancer, and blinding eye diseases. It also can decrease your fertility and boost your babies risk for stillbirth and sudden death. 3. true. Beyond belly fat, tobacco is linked to many other risk factors for America s deadliest illness heart disease. For instance, smoking increases blood pressure and decreases HDL, or good, cholesterol levels. Smokers are two to four times as likely to develop coronary heart disease. And they have double the stroke risk. 4. False. For women, most of smoking s health risks including cancer and lung disease are erased within 20 years of quitting. Anyone who kicks butts before age 50 halves his or her risk of dying of any cause during the following 15 years. This step serves to further Lawrence General Hospital s mission to improve the health of the Merrimack Valley, says Dianne J. Anderson, President and CEO. We ve not simply prohibited the use of tobacco products; we ve empowered those affected by the new policy. We ve made available a robust set of tools to help them quit and better their overall health. READY TO START? Smoking Cessation Services at LGH Pam Fallon, ANP-BC, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Work Health, Lawrence General Hospital, 978-683-4000, extension 2343, Tuesdays and Fridays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. New Hall of Fame Recognizes Ex-Smokers One year after becoming a tobacco free campus, Lawrence General partnered with two other community groups to create the Ex-Smoker s Hall of Fame Program. During a reception in November, eleven ex-smokers shared their quitting stories and were welcomed into the Hall of Fame. The program hopes to inspire more people to quit smoking and then share their stories with others. If you are a former smoker and would like to be a part of the Ex-Smokers Hall of Fame, contact Diane Knight at 978-722-2864 or dknight@glfhc.org. 6 www.lawrencegeneral.org
Know Your ABCs: They ll help you control diabetes for a healthy heart It s not a sweet deal, diabetes. Having high blood sugar can lead to an assortment of health problems affecting your eyes, nerves, mouth, and kidneys. But it s the cardiovascular effects of diabetes that can be particularly hard to swallow. Studies have shown that people with diabetes have two to four times the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, compared with people without high blood sugar. If you have high blood sugar, what you do now can help prevent or slow the risk for diabetes-related complications later in your life. It s a piece of cake just like the ABCs. Follow these easy-to-remember slices of advice toward better diabetes control. Ace your A1c. If you have diabetes, a hemoglobin A1c test can tell you how well you ve managed your blood sugar during the last three months. It s smart to have an A1c test at least twice a year. For most adults with diabetes, the goal is an A1c of less than 7 percent. Bring down blood pressure. There s a reason your doctor checks your blood pressure every time you re in the office: Blood pressure that s too high makes your heart work overtime and can lead to heart disease and stroke. You ll want to keep your blood pressure less than 130/80 mm Hg. Cut your cholesterol. Controlling artery-clogging cholesterol can reduce your potential complications from diabetes. The most important cholesterol target is your low-density lipoprotein, or LDL. Your LDL, or bad, cholesterol should be less than 100 mg/dl. Diabetes Education Center Living Well with Diabetes For our FREE brochure Living Well with Diabetes, please call Nancy Masys at 978-683-4000, ext. 2426, or e-mail nancy.r.masys@ lawrencegeneral.org. More Tips to Decrease Your Risks What comes next? Beyond the ABCs, there are other steps you can take to control your blood sugar and minimize your risk for cardiovascular complications.» Drop excess pounds.» Exercise regularly. Aim for 30 minutes a day, most days of the week.» Fit in fiber-rich foods such as fruits, veggies, and whole grains.» Get in the habit of using your glucose meter. The newer, more advanced models can download your test results to your computer. Education Is Your Best Defense The Diabetes Education Center at Lawrence General Hospital is staffed with a professionally trained medical team including a registered nurse and a registered dietitian. They collaborate with your physician to help you control your diabetes through healthy eating, exercise plans designed to fit your personal lifestyle and needs, as well as assistance with management of your medications and blood sugar levels. A multidisciplinary advisory committee oversees the program and ensures you are receiving the highest quality education. For more information, call Nancy Masys at 978-683-4000, extension 2426, or please e-mail nancy.r.masys@lawrencegeneral.org. about your health 7
about your health Dianne J. Anderson President and Chief Executive Officer Nicholas S. Zaharias Vice President, Philanthropy and Marketing Andrea C. Eobstel Marketing and Communications Specialist About Your Health is published by Lawrence General Hospital. The information is intended to educate readers about subjects pertinent to their health, not to substitute for consultation with a personal physician. 2010 Printed in the U.S.A. Lawrence General Hospital 1 General Street PO Box 189 Lawrence, MA 01842-0389 978-683-4000 www.lawrencegeneral.org Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Lawrence General Hospital Printed on Recyclable Paper 064M Enhancements to Lawrence General Hospital s Pediatric Center Please join us with your family in February for a Winter Carnival at Lawrence General Hospital, watch your mail for a special invite! The carnival celebrates the arrival of the pediatric hospitalists from Tufts joining our amazing local team of clinicians, 24/7! This fun-filled afternoon will include: Carnival games A bounce house Clown performances A visit from a local team mascot Healthy treats Afterwards, you can take a tour of the Pediatric Center and see the new renovations underway. Our newly formed partnership with Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center means that children from our community who come to us for care will be seen, not only by the dedicated clinical experts from LGH, but also by top-notch physicians from Floating Hospital, in our Pediatrics Center. In order to accommodate an expected influx in patients and to make our young patients and their families much more comfortable during their stay, we are performing extensive renovations and enhancements to the unit. Renovations include new patient beds, private rooms, bathroom renovations, fold-down tables for puzzles and games, as well as sleep sofas and a refreshment center for families. All this will be accented by custom artwork painted by 8-year-old local High Plain Elementary student, Sana Nadkarni. Leading the team of pediatric hospitalists will be Dan Charles Hale, M.D., FAAP, from Tufts Floating Hospital for Children. Currently, Dr. Hale serves as the medical director at Central Maine Medical Center s Pediatric Hospitalist Service and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics there as well. Dr. Hale is also a clinical instructor at Tufts University School of Medicine and at the University of Vermont College of Medicine as well as an associate clinical professor at the Dr. Dan Hale, M.D., FAAP University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Hale is an accomplished published researcher whose work has taken him across the country and abroad. He is the recipient of many distinguished awards and honors such as the National American Academy of Pediatrics Special Achievement Award, which he received in 2010. Dr. Hale has authored and coauthored many publications and has lectured at several venues throughout the United States. We look forward to the breadth and depth of experience he brings to Lawrence General and we welcome Dr. Hale and the new team of pediatric hospitalists as they partner with Lawrence General Hospital this January. Get Connected with LGH Today so good. so caring. so close.