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Creating a Warm, Inviting Home for the Holidays

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Here we are, close to the end of the year and facing the oncoming holidays. Do you secretly dread the hustle and bustle or are you excitedly anticipating all the sights, sounds, smells and activities that are upon us? Whatever holiday you celebrate, this is a busy time of year for everyone. Sometimes, life events happen during this busy time, like a move or a new baby or even the passing of a loved one, which amplify the intensity of the season.
With that in mind, I wanted to touch on some of the things that can help make your home inviting and comfortable and can help you to relax and enjoy the season.

Get Rid of Stuff

Now’s a great time to purge the things you don’t need from your closets, in the storage room, stuff piled in the guest room and in the garage. Get rid of the clutter piling on desks, counters and corners of the room. Wow, it feels so good to declutter.

Get it Clean

If you don’t want to do it, hire a company to come and get things cleaned up, particularly the areas you often skip like baseboards, fans, window tracks, inside the oven and inside the fridge. This is a great time of year to get the carpets and the windows professionally cleaned.
Having Guests
Easily freshen up the guest room with some new linens, clear a space in the closet or dresser for their things. Make sure there is a night light and a bedside clock. It is a nice touch to place some flowers or a small holiday arrangement in the room.

Prepare the Kitchen

Generally, when people gather, they end up huddling in or around the kitchen. Clear counter space by putting small appliances in cabinets or in another room and put a diffuser with holiday scent in the corner. This is a great time of year to make sure the oven has been cleaned and the inside of the fridge cleaned out. Make room for the leftovers and the goodie plates from friends and neighbors.

Hire Help

Give yourself permission to hire someone to help with the things that you can’t do or just don’t want to spend your time on. Some tasks are best done by professionals. Don’t push yourself to tackle tasks that may end up causing injury, like getting up on ladders, etc.

Make it Easy

If you are hosting, remember, people come to visit and renew relationships. The meal does not have to be complicated to be enjoyed and remembered. Set a pretty buffet on the island with a few decorations and let people self-serve. This frees up time for you to enjoy the evening also.

Entertaining

A great way to get people talking and reminiscing is to run a continuous slide show on the TV, with some quiet holiday music in the background. People LOVE to see themselves and their loved ones through the years. This also helps people who don’t know each other well interact and inquire about who’s in the picture. This is easy to do with various slide show programs available or even a photo DVD set on repeat. I sometimes have added in beautiful holiday scenes randomly placed between the pictures of family and friends that I knew would be there. This sets a warm and festive atmosphere in the room.

Going Away for the Holidays?

What a better feeling than to come back to a home that is de-cluttered, clean and ready for the New Year.

 

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season! QCBN

By Lucy Leyva

Lucy Leyva is the proud owner of MTO Janitorial LLC, and Prescott Maid to Order LLC, both local cleaning companies based out of Prescott Valley, serving Northern Arizona since 2005. For any cleaning inquiry, please contact us at 928-772-0004 and/or visit our website at mtojanitorial.com.

Precise Shoulder Surgery with ExactechGPS Available at YRMC

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Most of us tap the GPS on our mobile phone when we’re driving to an unfamiliar location. Advanced technology called ExactechGPS – introduced recently at Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) – uses the same principles to guide orthopedic surgeons performing reconstructive shoulder surgery.

“This is truly amazing technology,” said Bradley Williams, M.D., Ph.D., a YRMC orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery and reconstructive surgery of the knees and shoulders. “I spend lots of time researching technology that’s under development in the orthopedic world. Sometimes, I’ll decide to watch how a technology develops before pursuing it for my patients, but with ExactechGPS, I jumped on it right away.”

The first computer navigation system for shoulder surgery, ExactechGPS, is breakthrough technology in the field of orthopedics. Dr. Williams was confident it would benefit many people he treats. In fact, Williams was the first orthopedic surgeon in Northern Arizona to use ExactechGPS, which became part of YRMC’s Orthopedic Surgical program in the spring of 2019.

From Virtual to Reality

To understand ExactechGPS, it’s helpful to know that total shoulder replacement and reverse total shoulder replacement surgery – a common shoulder replacement at YRMC – are complex procedures that have improved immensely through the years.

“Orthopedic surgeons performing reverse shoulder replacement 20 years ago had to learn the optimal placement of the surgical screws in the shoulder,” Williams said. “Now, you gather information and put into the ExactechGPS, and you’re assured that the placement is precise.”

Achieving that precision takes planning that begins before Williams steps into an operating suite at YRMC. Each patient undergoes a CT scan that provides information on their anatomy and the condition of the shoulder. Using the ExactechGPS pre-operative planning function, Williams virtually performs the patient’s surgery on a computer. He determines if the patient needs to have bone removed during the surgery and selects the best base plate for the patient.

“The ExactechGPS actually allows you to trial different baseplates and see how they’ll work for that individual patient,” he explained. “You see where the baseplate should be implanted and how deep it should be placed. All that is accurately figured before surgery.”

From Virtual to Reality

In the operating suite, Williams consults the virtual surgery plan before beginning the actual procedure. He carefully checks the images of the patient’s shoulder displayed on the ExactechGPS screen. A tracker – placed on the patient’s bone – provides information on the patient’s individual anatomy and joint movement. This helps Williams to verify if bone needs to be removed and correctly place the implant.

“Before ExactechGPS, total shoulder replacement or reverse total shoulder replacement would be difficult for older people with fragile bones or people with extensive trauma,” Williams said. “This technology has changed that. You can walk out of the operating room and know the implant placement is exact.”

A Shoulder-to-Shoulder Comparison

Williams’s first ExactechGPS patient was in her late 80s. A few years earlier, she had undergone conventional surgery for relentless shoulder pain that didn’t respond to injections, physical therapy or other treatment. While the patient’s conventional surgery went well, both the operation and recovery were difficult.

“There was a big difference between the first surgery on her right shoulder and the ExactechGPS procedure on her left shoulder,” recalled Williams. “The ExactechGPS went faster and her recovery was immediate. When I saw her for a follow-up visit after, she told me there was no pain following the procedure.”

That first surgery, and others that have followed, reinforced with Williams the value of ExactechGPS.

“I continue to be impressed by the results,” he said. “It’s great that people don’t have to live with shoulder pain.” QCBN

By Bridget O’Gara

Visit YRMC.org for more information on YRMC Orthopedic Surgical Services.

Bridget O’Gara is a writer, communications strategist and project manager who specializes in health care. She works with mission-driven healthcare organizations, including hospitals, other healthcare providers and advocacy organizations.

Becoming More Energy Efficient

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Welcome to “At Home with Tom and Sandy” and this month we are going to talk about energy. Yep, there is a certain amount of energy in our column.

Sandy: Well here we are again, Tom, fall is in the air, and I believe I can smell Christmas!

Tom: Definitely my favorite time of year.

Sandy: The weather transitions from cooling to heating over these next few weeks, allowing us to open our doors and windows, leave off the AC and enjoy the cool evenings and, of course, save some shekels on our energy bills.

Tom: I agree. We don’t have to manufacture comfortable temperatures; they are here pretty much year-round.

Sandy: Interesting, you said manufacture comfort. I don’t think I have heard that line before. Manufacturing temperature is a big part of our industry; home and building energy designed to improve our lives by driving energy innovation. We have to love our HVAC folks. They make our buildings and homes more energy efficient and our cities and town accelerate our investment by implementing best energy practices.

Tom: What’s not to like? There is an aspect to that industry that has changed through the years and that is primarily because of the goal of reducing energy consumption, resulting in us leaving a lighter footprint. The big change, of course, is the codes.

Sandy: Ah, yes, our Energy Code. That was adopted by all the municipalities and the county here just a little more than a decade ago.

Tom: Yes, but the energy codes have been around since the early 90s. Initially developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), these codes are designed to create buildings that are able to retain their ‘manufactured’ temperatures.

Sandy: So, let’s be clear about the whole government thing. The federal government created and has updated the energy code for decades and local governments adopt those codes. Local governments can make changes to them though, can’t they?

Tom: Correct. The codes put out by the DOE are actually reviewed by a nationwide code monitoring group made up of local building officials across the country. The code is not mandated by the feds, it was put out there for local governments to utilize, modify if necessary, and implement if they choose to.

Sandy: The code, as I read it, really addresses the varying climate zones across the country. That makes it easier to implement for local building departments. A few months ago, we discussed what building energy codes are, and more recently, we looked at how they are developed and what role the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plays in that process. Today, we are going to take a look into the next step: how codes are adopted.

Tom: Building energy codes set minimum energy efficiency levels, but those savings are never realized unless states and localities actually adopt them. State adoption usually occurs through either legislative action or through regulatory agency actions. In some states, codes are adopted by local governments (“home rule”), generally through an action of the city or county. In all cases, once the code is adopted, it becomes law within the adopting jurisdiction.

Sandy: There are almost as many ways to adopt a code as there are states, but the most commonly used adoption practices are: Federal Guidance, which directs the DOE to review each new published edition of the model energy codes, and to issue a determination as to whether the updated codes would result in increased energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings. When a code results in increased energy efficiency (based on DOE’s review), statute then requires states to review and/or update their building energy codes based on the new model codes. States are given two years to accomplish this process and certify their new code based on the updated model code.

Tom: Then there are state government legislative actions. A legislature can adopt a new energy code by title or, more commonly, by directing either a one-time administrative action or by putting in place an ongoing process. In Maryland, for example, there is a permanent law that requires the state to adopt each new version of the national model code within 18 months of when it is published. In Washington, however, a state law passed in 2009 requires that energy codes reduce building energy use by 70% by 2031. Like all legislation, there is a process of hearings, public commentary and revisions, followed by a formal vote and ending with an approved bill being signed into law by the governor.

Sandy: Regardless of how it is done, the actual process mirrors the just-described regulatory process with the city council or mayor’s office either convening a committee or directing the local building department to adopt a new code.

Tom: To share with our readers, the DOE tracks energy code adoption and implementation across the United States and reports the status by state for both residential and commercial codes. This provides transparency and better understanding of what is happening across the U.S. in building energy codes.

Tom: In Yavapai County alone, there are six climatic zones, which are based essentially on the elevation above sea level. For example, from Camp Verde to the top of Crown King is about 6,000 feet of change.

Sandy: The code has different requirements for each of the climatic zones, such as the insulation thickness at different parts of the building like walls, roof and floors. The code also addresses the window types, glazing and frames.

Tom: In addition, the foundation system, slab systems and related heat loss or gain is addressed through construction techniques.

Sandy: Each aspect of the building that touches heat loss or heat gain is looked at and addressed to reduce energy usage. This really lets us retain our manufactured temperature longer and saves us real dollars.

Tom: That is correct, Sandy. You are an Energy Star girl! I have not seen studies that quantify those savings with respect to additional construction costs. That would be good information to have.

Sandy: Indeed. There are voices that come from both sides of the issue regarding the benefits to the environment. The thought is there. I wonder if the science backs it up.

Tom: I am not sure. The idea of achieving a goal using a minimum of resources is appealing to me.

Sandy: So right on! What else should our readers know about the code?

Tom: Our heating and cooling systems have become way more efficient. Furnaces are typically operating at 90% or better. This is up 70 to 80% from the not-too-distant past.

Sandy: Tom, as we said earlier, efforts to reduce energy use have led to and will continue to look at the development of energy codes and standards to establish minimum efficiency requirements for new-building construction, building additions and renovations. Providing comfort cooling and energy efficiency in our homes and buildings will be an ongoing task.

Tom: Let’s close with a couple of our favorite tips on how to save energy. I say install a programmable or smart thermostat.

Sandy: And I say, “Yes.” I love my programmable thermostat. It eliminates wasteful energy use by reducing my heating and cooling during the times when I am asleep or away.

Tom: I say purchase energy efficient appliances.

Sandy: And, I agree again. On the average, appliances are responsible for roughly 13% of your total household energy use. When purchasing an energy efficient appliance, you should look for appliances with the ENERGY STAR label, which is a federal guarantee that the appliance will consume less energy during use and when on standby than standard non-energy efficient models. Energy savings differ based on the specific appliance. For example, ENERGY STAR certified clothes washers consume 25% less energy and 45% less water than conventional ones; whereas, ENERGY STAR refrigerators use only 9% less energy.

Tom: I say reduce your water heating expenses.

Sandy: For sure. Water heating is a major contributor to total energy consumption. I have a timer on my water heater and love, love, love it.

Tom: So, in closing, Sandy, why conserve energy in the first place?

Sandy: Because energy conservation is important and beneficial for many reasons. You can save money, increase your property value and protect the environment — all through simple energy-saving measures. These are great benefits you can gain from saving energy no matter your motivation for conservation in the first place. By simply taking a small step toward living a more energy-conscious lifestyle, you can begin to enjoy all of the perks of being energy efficient.

Let’s conserve! Thanks for stopping in and reading “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. Until next month. QCBN

 

Tom Reilly, Architect, Contractor, Renovations 928-445-8506 renovationsaz.com

 

Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association.  928-778-0040.

Are You Prepared for a Bear Market?

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If you’ve ever visited New York City, you may have seen the famous bull statue in the Financial District.

That bull is considered a sign of optimism, indicative of what’s known as a bull market. A bull market generally refers to a time when the stock market is rising and is expected to continue to rise, but it can refer to any group of securities in which that is the case.

The flip side is a bear market. A bear market is generally a period marked by pessimism and potentially falling prices in the stock market.

The good news is that we are currently enjoying the longest bull market on record. For more than 10 years, we’ve experienced a rising market that has seen numerous record highs and only a few market corrections (in this case, drops) to level it off.

While many investors, pre-retirees and retirees have enjoyed the fruits of a long-term rise in the markets, we unfortunately can’t expect that to continue forever. And that means the potential for a bear market exists.

While the causes of bear markets often vary from event to event, many economic slowdowns usher in bear markets. Signs of an economic slowdown include low employment, shrinking disposable income, weak productivity and a drop in business profits. A market correction can easily transform into a bear market because of prolonged periods of investor uncertainty. Bear markets can develop when the market isn’t able to support stock prices — like when the tech bubble burst in the early 2000s.

When we experience a bear market, sooner or later, will you be prepared for it? And how will you react? During those times, it may be more important than ever to remain committed to your overall investment strategy. On the flip side, your strategy may need a change.

One tool we use at American Financial Investments, LLC to help you evaluate your strategy and whether you should stay the course or change it is the Color of Money Risk Analysis. This 11-question self-assessment quickly and clearly evaluates your current financial outlook and provides a Color of Money Risk Analysis score.

The Color of Money Risk Analysis is a simple way for you to categorize your retirement assets into red, yellow and green money, giving you an easy way to see how your assets could be allocated.

Red money assets are subject to risk and can lose value, but also provide growth opportunity.

Yellow money assets, like red money assets, are subject to risk and can lose value but are professionally managed. Professional money managers could help reduce risk and provide growth opportunities.

Green money assets have a less amount of risk. They may not have as much growth potential as other assets, but your money is less likely to shrink.

Once you’ve received your score, we can begin analyzing how your savings is currently allocated. From there, we’ll help make sure your assets are properly aligned with your risk tolerance.

No matter if you use our Color of Money Risk Analysis or another tool, there is value in having an up-to-date understanding of your risk tolerance. Talking to a financial services professional is a great way to get started in that direction.

That way, when a bear market inevitably arrives, you might feel more prepared for it. QCBN

By Ronald Stevenson and Barbara Clark Stevenson

About the Authors: Ronald F. Stevenson & Barbara Clark Stevenson own American Financial Investments, LLC.  They specialize in Investment Planning & Management, Retirement Income Planning, Social Security Maximization, Tax Free Income Design, Personal & Corporate Tax Preparation and Planning. For more information, call 928-771-8368 or visit www.AFSprescott.com, 3112 Clearwater Dr., Suite B, Prescott, AZ 86305

 

Ronald F. Stevenson offers Advisory services through American Financial Investments LLC a Registered Investment Advisor in Arizona. Insurance products and services are offered through American Financial Security, LLC. American Financial Investments LLC and American Financial Security, LLC are affiliated companies.

Making a Garden Look Better with Evergreens

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Thanks to its versatility, boxwood can fit into any landscape, whether a formal or casual design. In winter’s sparse garden, this shrub’s bold shape, vibrant green color and air of old-world formality can dominate the scene. In summer, when the garden is in full bloom, it blends into the lushness, providing shape and structure. There are about 90 species and more than 365 different kinds of boxwood. They vary tremendously in size, shape, leaf characteristics, growth rates and hardiness. The secret to working with these evergreens is in choosing the varieties that best fit the growing conditions where you are creating your landscape.

The varieties below can be planted in November even at winter’s arrival, and most are available here at Watters Garden Center. Here are our top picks and some ways to use them:

Hedges

Boxwoods take well to shearing, which makes them likely candidates for hedges. They are suitable for defining different spaces in the garden, as a border along a property line, or for a tidy foundation cover-up.

Proper spacing is easy to calculate when a tight hedge is desired. Read the plant’s tag and space plants at half their suggested mature width. They will fill in exactly the way you want. Here are three of the hardiest mountain varieties ready for planting now:

Winter Gem Boxwood

Variegated English Boxwood

Green Mountain Boxwood

Edgers and Low Hedges

Gardeners have been clipping boxwood shrubs into tight formations since 4,000 B.C., when some Egyptians picked up a pair of shears and went to work. From parterres and knot gardens to defined borders along walkways or beds, low-growing boxwoods such as these three varieties lend themselves to a structured look:

Dwarf English Boxwood

Morris Midget Boxwood

Wee Willie Boxwood

Green Accents

Enhance your front door area with a single boxwood or with several of these shapely plants. Use them to define corners in a border or add to billowing borders for structure. These cultivars make it easy:

Chicagoland Green Boxwood

Faulkner Boxwood

Green Velvet Boxwood

Topiary

Select taller varieties for swooping spiral or tiered ball topiary forms. Smaller varieties can be sheared into whatever shape you fancy, from a classic orb to whimsical whatever. Take clippers and shape these varieties:

Green Tower Boxwood

Green Mountain Boxwood

Golden Triumph Boxwood

Containers and Raised beds

Almost all boxwoods are candidates for containers because they look just as good in January as they do in June. Choose a fast-draining pot that is at least as wide and tall as the plant itself, and preferably bigger. The larger the container, the more soil it holds, and the less often you have to water. This one’s a great container candidate:

Petite Pillar Dwarf Boxwood

Keeping Boxwoods Happy

Provide Excellent Drainage

Boxwoods are highly adaptable to various soil types, including average or poor soils and acidic or alkaline conditions. Boxwoods can’t take standing water and heavy wet soil, which can lead to root rot. Prevent this problem by amending your garden soil to a 50% blend of Watters Premium Mulch and native garden soil; then plant on a slight mound in the yard. For containers and raised beds, plant directly into Watters Potting Soil.

 

Keeping Them Clean

When a boxwood is sheared to produce denser outer foliage, it’s important to clean dead leaves out of the middle of the plant. Prune back all dying branches to healthy wood, remove all debris from the center of the plant, and thin out some of the outside growth so air and light can reach into a healthy center.

 

Protecting Them in Winter

Boxwoods thrive in either full sun or light shade. But if exposed to extreme winds and full sun, boxwoods can struggle the first years in a garden, especially in winter. These conditions are especially common on mountain ridgelines. Protect boxwoods by keeping them vigorous and healthy; water as needed and apply a fresh layer of mulch in fall to help prevent winter damage. Spray with Watters’ Wilt Stop to withstand extreme exposure.

 

Keeping Them Fed

Apply Watters 7-4-4 All Purpose Food in spring, summer and fall for the greenest plants. Gardeners who plan around holidays use Easter, Independence Day and Halloween as reminders to feed their healthy boxwoods.

Until next issue, I’ll be here at Watters Garden Center helping locals design better winter gardens. QCBN

By Ken Lain

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or FB.com/WattersGardenCenter.

 

Considering Massage Gift Cards During the Holiday Season

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Can you believe it is already November and the holidays are just around the corner? Each year seems to go faster than the year before; it is just crazy! And we all know the holidays can be busy with fun, food, family, friends and the joys and stress that come with the season.

And, as much as each of us wants to purchase gifts for those we love, the idea of doing so can be overwhelming. Am I getting something they will love and use? Do I have time to shop? What is my budget? These questions and thoughts can make the joy of gift-giving become stress-inducing.

But there is a simpler way to give loved ones, friends and coworkers gifts they will really appreciate: gift cards.

Gift cards are more popular than ever and may be the best gift for almost everyone on your gift-giving list. A recent article in Money magazine highlighted an online survey that showed while most gifts received only have a 25% approval rating by the receivers, gift cards have at least double the approval rating. Additionally, the AARP reports that more than 40 percent of people put gift cards at the top of their holiday wish lists this year. This means the odds are good that when giving gift cards, you will be giving a gift that is truly appreciated.

Here are a few more reasons to purchase gift cards:

Gift cards don’t weigh much. No need to strain your back and shoulders carrying around numerous bags of presents.

Gift cards are environmentally friendly. Save the environment from all of the wrapping paper, boxes, packaging and more by buying gift cards that can be reloaded or recycled and are packaged in easily degradable paper.

Gift cards save time, money, energy and your back. Less to wrap means less time and money spent purchasing gift wrapping and supplies. It also means less strain on your back as there is less need to bend over the table or sit on the floor for hours wrestling with paper, tape and bows.

Gift cards require a personalized note. Well, you can give a gift card or gift certificate without inserting them into a card, but why waste the opportunity to tell someone how much you love and appreciate them? Personalize the gift by hand writing a note in a card and including the gift card.

Gift cards can be individualized. Do you know someone who loves to get a massage? Give them a gift card that allows them to choose when and where and what kind of massage they want. Or someone who loves to go to the movies? Give them a gift to a card to their local theater. You get the point. Gift cards are a great way to give each person on your list a personalized gift. And, if you follow up with the same type of gift card on the individual’s birthday, you will become his or her new favorite gift-giver.

Gift cards can be used at multiple places. Unless you are giving a card from a one-place shop, most gift cards can be used at other locations.

Top-Ten Reasons to Give a Massage Gift Card:

It gives the receiver permission to relax and focus on himself or herself for an hour or so.

It can be scheduled when convenient for the recipient.

It can be a transformative experience – pain is relieved, thoughts are pondered or put aside, relaxation is embraced, a sense of well-being is encouraged.

A massage promotes health and well-being for everyone.

It is an appropriate gift for almost all types of relationships.

It saves time, energy and money and is good for the environment, as it requires less driving and wrapping paper.

The gift card reduces stress for the giver and the recipient.

A massage warms up the body and tight muscles during the cold winter months and eases aches and pains after snow and ice removal.

It is a great and lasting value; the gift that keeps giving!

It can be personalized and enhanced.

Massage Envy knows it is the most wonderful time of the year to give and wants to make giving the gift of health and relaxation beneficial for both the gift-giver and the gift-receiver. From Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, the following gift card promotions are available:

Purchase $100 in gift cards and receive a free $25 gift card.

Purchase $150 in gift cards and receive a free $40 gift card.

New and existing Massage Envy members who prepay their 12-month dues will receive a coupon book of 12 monthly promotional vouchers valued at $180 in additional services. QCBN

By Mark Love

Massage Envy Spa – Prescott is located at 120 E. Sheldon St. by the Sprouts grocery store. Schedule an appointment online – your time, your convenience, your massage. Visit MassageEnvy.com, call 928-778-ENVY (3689) and follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/MassageEnvyPrescott. Mark Love is the Franchisee of Massage Envy Spa Prescott.

YRMC Offering Cardiac Care Panel Discussion

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Top cardiac specialists from Yavapai Regional Medical Center’s (YRMC’s) James Family Heart Center and leaders from its Patient Blood Management Program will join YRMC – Your Destination for Cardiac Care and Blood Management, a live-stream presentation and panel discussion.

The event will feature prominent heart specialists – a cardiologist, a cardiothoracic surgeon, an electrophysiologist, an interventional cardiologist – and knowledgeable blood management experts. These professionals will highlight the leading-edge, less-invasive procedures used to repair hearts at YRMC as well as how blood management strategies are significantly improving patient outcomes.

YRMC – Your Destination for Cardiac Care and Blood Management will be broadcast live from the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center in Prescott for the public to watch 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17, at YRMCHealthConnect.org/pbm.

What is a Healthcare Destination Program?

Healthcare destination programs are thriving, specialized medical programs – typically associated with hospitals – that patients seek out because of their:

Highly skilled physicians

Excellent outcomes

State-of-the-art technology

Innovative procedures

Outstanding staff

“YRMC’s Heart Program and its Patient Blood Management Program check all of those boxes,” said Pierre Tibi, M.D., FACS, medical director of the James Family Heart Center at YRMC and YRMC’s Patient Blood Management Program. “It starts with our exceptional physicians, who were all trained at top heart programs. This team has worked together to expand our Heart Program and integrate blood management strategies that improve patient outcomes.”

A Lively Live-Stream Event

YRMC – Your Destination for Cardiac Care and Blood Management will include an energetic panel discussion with YRMC’s heart specialists and patient blood management experts. Those physicians and other YRMC leaders will also give interesting and informative talks on:

YRMC, A Destination for Hearts and Blood Management
John Amos, BS, MSM, president and chief executive officer, Yavapai Regional Medical Center

Launching YRMC Cardiology – A Journey to Better Outcomes for You
George Rizk, M.D., Invasive Cardiovascular Medicine, YRMC PhysicianCare

The Beat Goes On
Nisha Tung-Takher, M.D., cardiac electrophysiologist, YRMC PhysicianCare

Mending Hearts With Less Invasive Interventions
Soundos Moualla, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, structural and interventional cardiologist, YRMC PhysicianCare
Gwen Rhodes, RN, patient navigator, Yavapai Regional Medical Center

PBM at YRMC – Together We Are Doing Great Things
Elizabeth Black, Patient Blood Management program data manager,
Yavapai Regional Medical Center

Patient Blood Management – YRMC and Beyond
Pierre Tibi, M.D., FACS, medical director, Patient Blood Management and the James Family Heart Center at Yavapai Regional Medical Center

Ask the Experts – Panel Discussion
Pierre Tibi, M.D., FACS
Elizabeth Black, Patient Blood Management data manager, YRMC
Dale Black, Patient Blood Management program coordinator, YRMC
Soundos Moualla, M.D., FACC, FSCAI
George Rizk, M.D.
Nisha Tung-Takher, M.D.

 

To learn more about YRMC – Your Destination for Cardiac Care and Blood Management, visit YRMCHealthConnect.org/pbm. QCBN

By Bridget O’Gara

 

Bridget O’Gara is a freelance writer, communications strategist and project manager who specializes in health care. She works with mission-driven healthcare organizations, including hospitals, other healthcare providers and advocacy organizations.

Remodeling Your Home on Any Budget

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When it comes to updating your home, the expenses can feel daunting. You may be trying to increase the curb appeal of your home in preparation to sell, or perhaps it’s just time for a new look that you can enjoy for years to come. Regardless, it’s important to make the most of the money you have for whatever project you’re facing. Whether you’re starting small with a kitchen refresh or overhauling your entire house, check out these tips for making your home look great on any budget.

$100

A hundred dollars may not feel like a lot, but you can use it to make your living area look like a million bucks with new accessories. It’s all in the details. Try throw pillows to take a basic couch to the next level, indoor plants to bring the space to life and wall art to make the room look complete.

$500

Try refinishing your kitchen cabinets. A fresh coat of paint or stain can go a long way in improving the look of the room; pick a light neutral color to really open the space up. This is also a great time to replace the hardware if you have outdated pulls and handles.

$1,000

Make upgrades that will increase your comfort over time, like installing a smart thermostat. You can program and control most smart thermostats remotely using a mobile phone app; plus, you may save big on your energy bill!

Take down a wall to open up your space if that’s an option – your home will instantly feel bigger. You may also want to upgrade your lighting fixtures. Try some stylish pieces that will keep things fresh for years to come.

$5,000

Replace the flooring. After years of wear and tear, replacing worn carpet and outdated tile will refresh your home’s look and feel. If you want the look of hardwood without the price tag, opt for wood-look tile, which has the added bonus of being extra durable.

This is also a great time to update your countertops. Choose hardy materials like stone, ceramic tile, stainless steel or polished concrete.

$10,000

Make investments that will pay off in the long run. Consider installing new energy-efficient windows to cut down energy bills year-round. Upgrade your appliances to new models that simplify your life. If you spend your whole weekend doing laundry, get a programmable washer and dryer; if you’re a foodie, go for a fridge with convenient storage options. QCBN

By Mary Jo Magaw

Mary Jo Magaw is the branch manager of OneAZ Credit Union’s Chino Valley branch. OneAZ offers a full suite of financial services, including Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs) with special reduced rates just in time for fall renovations. Estimates based on average home size in Arizona. OneAZ is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS 607456. Insured by NCUA. Learn more at OneAZcu.com/HELOC.

Travel Expo Helping You Decide Where to Go Next

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It’s time to get ready for Avenues of the World’s 6th Annual Northern Arizona Travel Expo. This year, the event will be held 5-8 p.m., Thursday Oct. 10, at the Doubletree by Hilton located at 1175 Historic Route 66 here in Flagstaff. There is no better place to be for happy hour!

Avenues of the World Travel has created this educational event for travelers like you. Meet with professionals behind the scenes, ask questions and learn what products are out there that you may not know about. Avenues of the World’s travel advisors will be on site to help guide you and answer questions. This is your chance to meet face to face with representatives of renowned cruise lines, hotel chains and tour operators to get the inside scoop on all things travel. Have you wondered what the new travel hot spots are for 2020, 2021 and 2022? Stop by the event and find out!

A few new things this year: taste an array of hors d’oeuvres from 5-6:30 p.m., and celebrate happy hour at the cash bar from 5-8 p.m. The first 300 guests can enjoy one welcome glass of champagne with compliments of
AmaWaterways.

There will be three new and exciting live presentations throughout the Expo this year. They will begin at 5:30 p.m., with Star Clippers, unique sailing adventures in style. Star Clippers is not a cruise ship in the ordinary sense. If you love sailing, this is an exciting option for you. There are no rigid schedules and you are free to do as you wish with your days and evenings. Discover firsthand what makes them so special!

At 6 p.m., attendees will be able to join Natural Habitat Adventures in discovering our planet together. Get ready for life-enhancing nature and wildlife experiences and learn how every trip supports the World Wildlife Foundation to preserve our natural world.

The final live presentation will be given by Avenues of the World Travel at 6:30 p.m. Learn how to Travel Like a Pro, with insider tips and tricks of the trade. We’ll learn how to create a five-year travel plan, cash in on early booking bonuses, leverage promotions and about the benefits of using a travel advisor.

Let us show you how we can help to enhance your next vacation. There will be one giveaway at the end of each presentation.

Avenues of the World Travel is excited to offer booking specials on site, featuring as much as $250 per person discounts, future trip deposits as low as $40 and special amenities such as extra shipboard credit, free vacation excursions, upgrades and more. Gift cards will also be available for purchase on site. No matter what you’re planning, or if you want to surprise a loved one, the award-winning travel advisors have you covered.

So, who will be at the Expo this year? For the cruise lines: Celebrity Cruises, Viking Cruises, AMAWaterways, Seabourn Cruises, Holland America Cruise Lines, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Star Clippers, Lindblad Expeditions, Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Un-Cruise, Windstar, Ponant, Paul Gauguin, Norwegian Cruise Lines.

For the tour operators: Classic Vacations, African Travel, Travel Impressions, AMResorts, Natural Habitat Adventures, Backroads, Rocky Mountaineer, G Adventures, Brendan Vacations, Trafalgar Tours, Insight Vacations, Zegrahm Expeditions, TCS Private Jet Travel and Context Tours.

Don’t miss your chance to enter the Northern Arizona Travel Expo Raffle! Prizes range from gift cards to gift baskets, all the way to three-night hotel stays. Only event attendees are eligible to win.

The event is free to all, so bring the entire neighborhood to the 6th Annual Northern Arizona Travel Expo 5-8 p.m., Thursday Oct. 10, at the Doubletree by Hilton located at 1175 Historic Route 66 in Flagstaff. The team at Avenues of the World Travel is excited to see you there! For questions about the expo, please call us at 928-556-0853 or email Daniela@avenuesoftheworld.com. QCBN

By Daniela Harrison 

Daniela Harrison is a Travel Advisor and Director of Marketing at Avenues of the World Travel in Flagstaff, AZ. For questions, please reach out via 928-556-0853 or Daniela@avenuesoftheworld.com.

What’s Good for the Heart is Good for the Brain

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In honor of Active Aging Week 2019, we are thinking about all aspects of health and how tending to our physical needs can keep us going strong throughout our lives. One of the hardest-working muscles in your body – your heart – has a significant impact on the functionality of the body’s other organs. Your brain relies on your heart to deliver a continuous blood supply, so the healthier your heart, the lower your risk of developing dementia and heart disease. You can improve both your heart and your brain with just a few simple changes.

Stick to a Healthy Diet

Eating clean, nutritious meals is one of the best things you can do for your body and your mind. Those who maintain a healthy diet typically have lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels as well as a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Foods that are good for both brain and heart health include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean meat and fish. Limiting trans and saturated fats is another beneficial change you can make for your overall health.

Let Yourself Indulge

While we still recommend moderation when it comes to sweets, letting yourself indulge in treats like dark chocolate can offer your heart some benefits. As long as the dark chocolate is high in cacao content (and low in added sugar), consuming it in moderation offers a good source of antioxidants, lowers your risk of heart disease and increases blood flow to the brain.

 

Keep Moving

Sitting is the new smoking, according to a study performed by the Mayo Clinic. While it may sound like an extreme claim, it holds true. After just 30 minutes of sitting, our body’s metabolism slows down by 90%, good cholesterol drops by 20%, and we become more likely to develop high blood pressure and blood sugar.

Moving for just five minutes after 30 minutes of sitting can greatly improve your health over time. This small amount of movement will help protect your muscles from deteriorating, increase your energy and assist you in keeping off unwanted weight.

Maintain Friendships

The next time a friend or family member suggests you get together, say yes. Studies show that routinely interacting with friends and loved ones can improve your physical health by strengthening your immune system and fighting off common sicknesses. While all social interactions can improve your health, face-to-face interactions are best. QCBN

By Nicholas Brown

Nicholas Brown is a kinesiologist and certified fitness professional as well as manager of the Touchmark Health & Fitness Club. Membership is open to anyone 50 years old and older, and guest consultations are available to meet with a professional to cater a program to an individual’s needs. To reach Brown or for more information, call 928-708-3133.