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Smart Monitors Available for Diabetes Management

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“Understanding the reason for a patient’s fluctuating glucose levels leads to targeted care plans,” Wilson said.

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is a game changer for people with Type I and Type II diabetes. That’s how Bonita Wilson, RN, CDCES, diabetes educator at Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC), describes the impact of CGM technology on the lives of people with diabetes.

“CGM is the latest and greatest way to monitor blood sugar levels,” she said. “And, it’s done without finger sticks.”

This is good news for the one in 10 Americans who live with diabetes, some of whom may need up to seven finger sticks a day to monitor their glucose (blood sugar) levels. Even better news is that CGM gives people greater control of their blood sugars and their long-term health.

“With CGM, patients can see the results of their dietary choices as they’re experiencing them,” explained Wilson. “If you eat a high-carb food, your CGM registers how that’s affecting your glucose levels as it’s happening. It’s immediate and it’s meaningful.”

CGM’s smart technology also provides trending data that a healthcare provider can download and review for patterns. This creates a complete picture of how blood sugar levels change over time. It also helps people with diabetes – and their providers – understand how food, activity, stress and illness affect their blood sugar levels.

“Understanding the reason for a patient’s fluctuating glucose levels leads to targeted care plans,” Wilson said. “This is important to diabetes management.”

How Do CGM Systems Work?

CGMs include the following three components that work together to gather and share information on blood sugar levels.

Glucose Sensor: This is painlessly inserted under the skin of the upper arm or abdomen either by the individual or, if the model requires, a healthcare provider. How frequently your sensor needs to be changed depends on the CGM model. It can vary from approximately six days to six months.

Transmitter: This small piece – which fits on the sensor – gathers information on the individual’s glucose levels and wirelessly sends the data to the receiver.

Receiver: A smartphone app or a small monitor captures the information from the transmitter and immediately displays current glucose levels. Some CGMs also send glucose information directly to an insulin pump.

The data gathered from a CGM is shared with whomever the patient designates – their healthcare provider, spouse or a neighbor.

“There’s lots of fear about high and low blood sugar levels,” said Wilson. “This CGM feature keeps people close to you informed of your glucose levels so they can check in if there’s a dip or spike. It’s a great safety feature.”

Diabetes, CGM Education Program Offered

YRMC’s Diabetes Education program is for anyone with diabetes, from the newly diagnosed to people who have lived with diabetes for decades. Recognized by the American Diabetes Association  for Quality Self-Management Education, YRMC’s menu of learning opportunities include:

Pre-Diabetes Session: An hour-long, free information session presented by Wilson that YRMC will host a total of six times in 2023 – three in Prescott and three in Prescott Valley.

Individual Consultations: During one-on-one meetings, Wilson advises people on all matters related to their diabetes, including CGM.

Diabetes Self-Management: Wilson leads this five-week series, which covers an important “M” topic each week – meals, motion, medications, monitoring and mindfulness.

“Participants learn from each other and they learn that they are not alone,” said Wilson of the Diabetes Self-Management series.

Wilson calls the series an underutilized Medicare benefit, as only 7% of people who are eligible for it actually take advantage of the opportunity. QCBN

By Bridget O’Gara

Check out DignityHealth.org/YRMC for more information about the Diabetes Education program or call 928-771-5794 in Prescott or 928-759-5920 in Prescott Valley.

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

High Blood Pressure: What You Don’t Know Could Harm You

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If you are diagnosed with hypertension, it’s important to continue these healthy lifestyle strategies.

High blood pressure is known by several names, including “hypertension” and “the silent killer,” one of the most alarming descriptions given to a condition by the medical community.

“Just because the symptoms of high blood pressure are not apparent doesn’t mean it is not a serious condition,” said Interventional Cardiologist Olufunso Odunukan, M.D., MPH, FACC, FSCAI, of Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Group (YRMG). “In fact, its lack of symptoms is exactly what can make hypertension so dangerous.”

Who is Likely to Have Hypertension?

While many factors – weight, family history, diet and more – can contribute to high blood pressure, age is the most common reason for high blood pressure. According to recent figures from the American Heart Association, 75% of women and 67% of men between the ages of 65 and 74 have high blood pressure. After age 75, approximately 84% of women and men suffer from the condition.

The formal definition of “blood pressure” can sound a bit like a math equation: Blood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body.

When Dr. Odunukan explains high blood pressure to patients, he compares it to a water hose under pressure. He also explains that as people age, their blood vessels become less elastic and the heart has to work harder to push blood through the vessels to the body’s organs.

“The organs – the brain, heart and kidneys – where the blood flow stops, take a pounding when your blood pressure increases,” explained Odunukan. “The result can be significant damage to those organs, and outcomes like stroke, heart failure and kidney failure.”

People with sustained, untreated high blood pressure may experience:

  • Severe headaches
  • Nose bleeds
  • Fatigue or confusion
  • Vision problems
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Difficulty breathing or chest pain
  • Blood in the urine

“When people have these symptoms, it’s an indication that their blood pressure is extremely high,” Odunukan said. “They need to seek immediate treatment to avoid a catastrophic medical event, like a stroke.”

What Do My Blood Pressure Numbers Mean?

Blood pressure consists of two numbers:

  1. Systolic – The top number indicates how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls when your heart beats.
  2. Diastolic – The bottom number measures the pressure against your artery walls while your heart is resting between beats.

Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80. You’re considered to have high blood pressure when the systolic number is at or above 140 or the diastolic number is above 90.

Treating High Blood Pressure
“People in the pre-hypertensive phase don’t necessarily need medications,” Odunukan explained. “That is the time that lifestyle modifications – weight loss, dietary changes and increased physical activity – will have the greatest impact.”

Dr. Odunukan partners with his patients, encouraging them to adopt healthy habits proven to lower blood pressure, including:

  • Exercising at least 30 minutes a day.
  • Getting to a healthy weight if you’re overweight (even losing 10 pounds can significantly lower your risk for stroke).
  • Avoiding high-cholesterol foods.
  • Lowering your sodium intake.
  • Consuming a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains.
  • Keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum.
  • Giving up smoking.

If you are diagnosed with hypertension, it’s important to continue these healthy lifestyle strategies. Your physician may also prescribe medication to help lower your blood pressure. Today’s blood pressure medications are very targeted, so your physician may recommend a combination of prescriptions to manage your condition.

Between appointments with your cardiologist or other healthcare provider, Odunukan recommends checking your blood pressure at your local pharmacy. If your numbers are good, keep taking your medications and continue your healthy lifestyle measures.

“It may take some time for you and your physician to find what works best for you,” Odunukan said. “Once you find it, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to remain on the medications.” QCBN

By Bridget O’Gara

Get in touch:
Dr. Odunukan specializes in non-surgical – or minimally invasive – treatments for valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease and peripheral arterial disease. You may reach him at:

YRMG Cardiology

Outpatient Services Building West

1001 Willow Creek Road

Suite 2200 , Prescott, Arizona 86301

928-445-6025

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

Should Lung Cancer Screening be Part of Your Preventive Health Plan?

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“It’s exciting how the body heals itself after giving up smoking,” Harvey said.

If you have a history of smoking, adding annual lung cancer screening to your preventive health plan could save your life.

Lung cancer screening uses low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) to produce detailed images of the chest and lungs and detect lung cancer early, when it’s most curable.

“Early-stage lung cancer has about an 80% chance of cure, or survival, over five years,” said Jennifer Harvey, RN, Nurse Navigator, Lung Cancer Screening and Care at Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC). “That is huge.”

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, a good time to explore the benefits of this lifesaving program. Here are just a few:

There’s even more data demonstrating that lung cancer screening works.

Thanks to its success, lung cancer screening now begins at a younger age and includes people who have smoked less. The latest Medicare screening guidelines include people who are:

  • Ages 50-77
  • Heavy smokers (one pack a day for 20 years or the equivalent)
  • Current smokers or smokers who have quit in the last 15 years
  • Free of any lung cancer symptoms

“Lowering both the qualifying age for screening to 50 years old (from 55), and the pack-per-day elgibility allows for more individualized risk assessment,” Harvey said. “For example, someone who has a strong family history of lung cancer, or other risk factors, is now eligible for screening at a younger age.”

Top physician organizations recommend lung cancer screening.

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) – one of the largest physician organizations in the United States – is the latest to endorse lung cancer screening. The organization’s leaders point to mounting evidence that lung cancer screening works. The AAFP also supports the expanded criteria, which makes lung cancer screening available to more minority populations who may have fewer “pack years” but are at higher risk for lung cancer.

Lung Cancer Screening and Care at Dignity Health, YRMC is a dedicated healthcare partner.

That partnership begins by ensuring you qualify for lung cancer screening. Additionally, our nurse navigator is available to answer questions about LDCT and lung health.

Harvey reaches out to every Lung Cancer Screening and Care participant to remind them of their annual lung cancer screening. That year-to-year continuity is an important aspect of Lung Cancer Screening and Care.

“Lung cancer screening is not a one and done,” said Harvey. “If you don’t have any signs of lung cancer after your first screening, you will be screened annually. I suggest that people think of their LDCT as they would a mammogram or colonoscopy. It’s a screening that you need even – and especially – if you have no symptoms.”

If a patient’s lung cancer screening findings are suspicious, a follow-up scan may be scheduled. The Lung Cancer Screening and Care team may also recommend a biopsy, in which case the patient would be referred to a procedural pulmonologist or a radiologist. If surgery is needed, the Lung Cancer Screening and Care team also includes a cardiothoracic surgeon.

LDCT not only detects lung cancer early, but it can discover other potentially life-threatening illnesses before you’re experiencing symptoms.

LDCT scans include a large part of the body. This means in addition to lung cancer, LDCT can also detect chronic pulmonary obstructive disorder (COPD) and heart disease, for example.

If you’re a longtime smoker who wants to quit, you’ll receive support from Lung Cancer Screening and Care.

The health benefits of giving up smoking are substantial:

One year after quitting smoking, a person’s risk for coronary heart disease decreases 50 percent.

After 10 years, a person’s chances of developing lung cancer and dying from it are cut in half compared to someone who continues smoking.

“It’s exciting how the body heals itself after giving up smoking,” Harvey said. “After someone quits, it’s recommended that they continue annual lung screening for at least 15 years. After that, their chance of developing lung cancer drops significantly.”

How do you get help quitting? The Arizona ASHLine sponsors a customized program called Quit Coaching. You’ll find information at AZDHS.org/ashline or by calling 1-800-556-6222.

Want to learn more about Lung Cancer Screening and Care? Speak to your healthcare provider or contact us at 928-771-5454. QCBN

By Bridget O’Gara

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

Five Questions to Ask Before Your Next Mammogram

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Does your facility have advanced breast imaging technology?

One of the most important healthcare decisions a woman will make is where to undergo breast screening.

“Most women assume that all imaging facilities offer the same services and are pretty much interchangeable,” said Breast Care Center Imaging Operations Manager Kathi Hoffer at Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC). “In reality, there are significant differences between imaging centers.”

This October – National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – the Breast Care Center and Dignity Health Imaging Center in Prescott are teaming up to give the women of our community the information they need to select an imaging center. We’ll also clear up some of the confusion about how frequently women should undergo screening mammography.

Does your facility have advanced breast imaging technology?

The Breast Care Center and Dignity Health Imaging Center have exceptional technology dedicated to detecting breast cancer. This includes state-of-the-art digital mammography, a dedicated breast MRI system, three-dimensional breast imaging, the Hologic Supersonic Mach 30 breast ultrasound and more.

“Technology is constantly improving, so it’s also important for imaging centers to continually invest in proven technology,” said Hoffer.

If I need a follow-up imaging procedure after a screening mammogram, is that available at your facility?

The imaging center where you undergo your screening mammograms should be your breast health home.

“I encourage women to think long-term about their breast health,” Hoffer said. “This means finding a center that can manage all of the breast imaging needs you may encounter at different times.”

The Breast Care Center features a continuum of breast health services. The center provides breast screening, diagnostic procedures and, if needed, treatment planning and the guidance of a clinical navigator.

Do your radiologic technologists – the professionals who conduct mammograms – specialize in breast imaging?

At the Breast Care Center and Dignity Health Imaging Center, screening mammograms are performed by breast imaging technologists. These are radiologic technologists specially trained in breast imaging.

“This really makes a difference in your mammogram,” explained Hoffer. “Our breast imaging technologists are experienced at positioning for optimal views, recognizing possible pathology and taking extra views when needed.”

Are your radiologists board certified?

Radiologists are the physicians who interpret your mammogram and other imaging studies. At both the Breast Care Center and Dignity Health Imaging Center, radiologists are certified by leading radiology accreditation organizations. They also have been trained at some of the nation’s top radiology programs.

“We have an amazing team of radiologists,” Hoffer said. “They are extremely skilled at interpreting breast screenings as well as performing breast-related diagnostic studies and procedures.”

Are your breast imaging modalities accredited?

The American College of Radiology (ACR) is the leading accreditation organization for imaging studies in the United States. ACR accreditation means an imaging center provides the highest level of image quality and safety requirements for equipment, medical personnel and quality assurance.

Both the Breast Care Center and Dignity Health Imaging Center have earned ACR accreditation in mammography, breast MRI and stereotactic biopsy. The Breast Care Center was also recently designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the ACR.

A Mammogram Screening Schedule

Since 1990, screening mammography has helped reduce breast cancer mortality by nearly 40 percent in the United States. That’s an extremely positive track record. It’s why the Breast Care Center and Dignity Health Imaging Center support these screening recommendations:

A baseline mammogram between the ages of 35 and 40.

Yearly mammograms starting at age 40 and continuing as long as you are healthy.

“Our community is full of very vibrant women in their 70s, 80s and even their 90s,” Hoffer said. “That’s a major reason we do not recommend ending annual mammograms at a certain age.”

Schedule Your Mammogram

Has it been more than a year since your last mammogram? Contact the Breast Care Center in Prescott Valley or Dignity Health Imaging Center in Prescott at 928-771-7577 to schedule your screening. It’s the best way to celebrate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. QCBN

By Bridget O’Gara

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

Vein Center Welcomes Dr. Saina Attaran

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“I love everything about this community: the people, spirit and scenery,” she said.

Veins, vessels and valves are all part of the body’s vascular system, which is why cardiothoracic surgeon Saina Attaran, M.D., is at home in her new role at the Vein Center at Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC).

“The venous system is critical to our overall health,” said Dr. Attaran, vein specialist at the Vein Center at YRMC. “We depend on our network of veins to deliver deoxygenated blood back to our hearts. It’s familiar territory for me.”

The Quad Cities community is also familiar to Dr. Attaran. She moved to the area in 2019 to join the surgical team at YRMC’s James Family Heart Center.

“I love everything about this community: the people, spirit and scenery,” she said. “Helping the people of my community stay healthy is a privilege.”

Patient-Centered Care

With Attaran’s exceptional skills and experience, the fully-staffed Vein Center will continue to provide top diagnostic and advanced therapies for people with lower-extremity vein issues. The strong partnership with Advanced Wound Care at Dignity Health, YRMC, will also continue.

“Our Advanced Wound Care and Vein Center teams often collaborate to care for patients,” said Advanced Wound and Vein Center Director Cheryl Sofonia. “It’s a benefit to patients that our clinics are together in one location. It’s an even bigger benefit that our Advanced Wound and Vein Center teams draw on the expertise of the multidisciplinary medical team to ensure patients receive the best care possible.”

Attaran echoes this and also emphasizes the patient’s significant role in the Vein Center’s care model. “Teamwork is a very important to the Vein Center. And our patients are at the center of our team. We work with every patient to improve their mobility with individualized care plans that may include lifestyle changes, compression stockings and possibly a venous procedure.”

A Global Medical Education

Attaran’s medical education has taken her to top medical centers in the United States and worldwide. She pursued a valve reconstruction fellowship in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. Prior to that, she studied valve/aortic surgery during a fellowship at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong and cardiothoracic surgery during a junior clinical fellowship at the London Chest Hospital.

Attaran’s cardiothoracic residency took place in the United Kingdom at hospitals throughout London and Liverpool. She earned her medical degree from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. QCBN

By Bridget O’Gara

How to Reach the Vein Center

The Vein Center is located on the campus of YRMC East at: Del E. Webb Outpatient Center 3262 North Windsong Drive, Prescott Valley, Arizona 86314. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 928-759-5890

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

Dignity Health, YRMC Breaks Ground for New Clinic

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The new clinic will feature contemporary, state of-the-art advanced interactive technology equal to any place in the country.

The new clinic will feature contemporary, state of-the-art advanced interactive technology equal to any place in the country. An $8 million, 10,000-square-foot family and specialty medical clinic is under construction at the intersection of Highway 69 and Lee Boulevard on the eastern edge of Prescott.

After several years of negotiation, property owner Jim Lee joined officials from Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center in early June to celebrate the groundbreaking for the long-awaited facility.

Jim and Linda Lee, long known as generous resident philanthropists for the greater community, said, “The new clinic will feature contemporary, state of-the-art advanced interactive technology equal to any place in the country. Patient records will be accessible to expert medical practitioners across the nation, and it goes both ways.”

Initially, staff will include two primary care provider and two advanced clinical practitioners. Other specialists will be available on an as-needed basis. John Amos, retiring president and CEO of Dignity Health, YRMC and his successor, Anthony Torres, M.D., who had been chief medical officer, praised the new clinic as a tremendous addition to the health care system for the region.

Designed by Archsol and to be built by Venn Construction (both Scottsdale-based firms), the clinic is expected to accept patients in 2023. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Anthony Torres, M.D., Named President, CEO of Dignity Health, YRMC

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Look for Dr. Torres to continue to build community and physician partnerships and continue important integration work with Dignity Health.

Dignity Health has announced that Anthony Torres, M.D., will serve as the next president and chief executive officer of Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC). Dr. Torres has nearly 40 years of healthcare experience, and his leadership skills, medical expertise and dedication to the community are an excellent fit for leading YRMC into the future.

“Dr. Torres was selected for the role after an in-depth process that involved the Yavapai Regional Medical Center Board, executive leadership and medical staff,” said Tim Bricker, interim president, Dignity Health, Southwest Division. “His institutional knowledge, clinical experience, and strong reputation will be great assets in helping YRMC to grow services to meet the needs of an expanding population, as well as to enhance access to care in an increasing competitive healthcare environment. Look for Dr. Torres to continue to build community and physician partnerships and continue important integration work with Dignity Health.”

Torres has been a member of the YRMC team for 13 years, and has served as the hospital’s chief medical officer (CMO) since 2016. As CMO, Torres has provided leadership for the highly effective Medical Executive Committee. In addition, Torres has championed several quality programs to support patient care, and he has been instrumental in the ongoing development of the James Family Heart Center.

Prior to becoming CMO, Torres was the medical director for Yavapai Regional Medical Group (YRMG). In this role, he was a catalyst for growth across the organization and helped develop neurosurgical, palliative medicine and behavioral health programs.

Torres is an internal medicine physician by training, having completed his medical degree at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico, followed by internship and residency training at the Hunter S.P.O.R.T.S. Medical Center at Fairview Heights, Illinois. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Northland Cares in Prescott.

Torres assumed his new leadership duties on July 11. John Amos, who announced his retirement in March, will continue to provide advisory and transition support through Friday, Sept. 30. QCBN

By Ken Boush

Ken Boush is the director of marketing and communications at Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center.

YRMG Cardiologist Lives Life with Heart

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“Basically, we’ve found ways to close holes and repair tight or leaky heart valves without even opening the heart,” says Dr. Odunukan.

Many people have important childhood experiences that steer them toward their life’s work. Few, however, can point to an event as significant as testifying before the United Nations at 11 years old. That experience motivated Olufunso Odunukan, MD, MPH, FACC, FSCAI – an interventional cardiologist who recently joined Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Group (YRMG) – to pursue a career in medicine.

“At the time, there was a big famine in Ethiopia,” says Dr. Odunukan, who was born and raised in the African country of Nigeria, approximately 2,000 miles west of Ethiopia. “That early exposure to advocacy and children’s health issues inspired me. I resolved to become a pediatrician. I did become a doctor, but as life would have it, I became intrigued by other subjects, one of them being cardiology.”

The Interventional Cardiology Revolution

Dr. Odunukan’s passion for cardiology was sparked during an internal medicine internship at the Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education in Rochester, Minnesota. There, he grew to appreciate how important the heart is to organs throughout the body. Inspired by this, Dr. Odunukan took his education to another level during two interventional cardiology fellowships at the prestigious Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California.

Dr. Odunukan’s medical education coincided with groundbreaking advancements that expanded non-surgical – or minimally invasive – treatment options for people with valvular heart disease, such as aortic stenosis, mitral valve regurgitation and more. These interventional cardiology procedures reduce the need for open heart surgeries, shorten hospital stays and return people to their lives quickly.

“Basically, we’ve found ways to close holes and repair tight or leaky heart valves without even opening the heart,” says Dr. Odunukan. “This has given the frail elderly – many who are not strong enough for open heart surgery – a second chance at life. And that is so inspiring to me.”

A Well-Rounded Education

Dr. Odunukan’s avid curiosity has motivated him to seek new experiences throughout his medical education. He participated in two global health exchange programs: one in Finland and another in the Philippines.

During his fellowships, Dr. Odunukan became intrigued with how interventional cardiology was practiced in areas with few resources. This led him to spend a month working – and learning – in the Cath Lab of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the leading healthcare institution in New Delhi, India.

“In the U.S.,” Dr. Odunukan says, “I’ve lived in 10 states in 15 years.”

Many of these moves were related to Dr. Odunukan’s interventional cardiology training. However, he also pursued opportunities to practice cardiology in rural South Dakota, Georgia and West Virginia.

For the Sake of Patients

Dr. Odunukan’s experiences have made him an expert at caring for patients across the cardiology spectrum.

“It’s incredibly gratifying to save someone’s life by removing a blood clot that’s blocking their heart and then to place a stent that will keep their blood flowing,” he says. “There’s also great joy in helping someone manage their risk factors – like hypertension and diabetes – to optimize their quality of life.”

Embracing a New Community

As you would expect of someone who has thrived in a variety of locations, Dr. Odunukan has wasted no time getting involved in his new community. He recently hiked the Tonto Rim Trail in the Grand Canyon with a group from Yavapai College.

“The Quad Cities area is known for its excellent climate and outdoor activities,” Dr. Odunukan says. “There are lots of opportunities for a good work-life balance.”

Getting in Touch

Dr. Odunukan is located on the campus of Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) West in the new Outpatient Services Building West at 1001 Willow Creek Road, Suite 2200, in Prescott. To schedule an appointment, call YRMG Cardiology at (928) 445-6025. QCBN

By Bridget O’Gara

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

Dignity Health, YRMC Opens State-of-the-Art Blood Draw Center

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“It’s a great example of YRMC’s commitment to growth that serves the community.”

Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) has realigned its Prescott outpatient blood draw centers into a single, state-of-the-art location. The new Outpatient Draw Center is now serving patients in the recently opened Outpatient Services Building (OSB) West, on the campus of YRMC West at 1001 Willow Creek Road, Suite 1100A, Prescott, Arizona 86301.

“The Draw Center is technically advanced as well as spacious, comfortable and convenient for patients,” said Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) Marketing and Communications Director Ken Boush. “It’s a great example of YRMC’s commitment to growth that serves the community.”

Convenient Parking and Service Hours

A particularly welcome convenience will be the multi-level structure adjacent to the OSB West. By parking on the first level, patients can reach the Outpatient Draw Center on the first floor of the OSB West.

The new Outpatient Draw Center hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, open for patients during all service hours. No appointments are necessary for those with a provider order. The office can be reached at 928-708-4591.

This realignment does not affect YRMC’s Outpatient Draw Center in Prescott Valley, which will continue serving patients in its current location. QCBN

By Bridget O’Gara

For more information about YRMC’s Laboratory Services, visit DignityHealth.org/YRMC.

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

Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery Launches New Era

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What does the availability of robotic-arm assisted surgery mean for patients who need a partial or total knee replacement?

The Quad Cities’ first robotic-arm assisted surgery took place at Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) in Prescott on Jan. 26. The successful operation – a knee replacement – was performed by Jason Weisstein, M.D., MPH, FACS, an orthopedic surgeon at Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Group (YRMG).

“As the Quad Cities’ first robotic-arm assisted surgery, this is a medical milestone,” said YRMC Chief Medical Officer Anthony Torres, M.D., FACP. “Going forward, we’re confident YRMC’s robotic-arm assisted surgery program will positively affect people from throughout Northern Arizona who need a partial or total knee replacement.”

According to Dr. Torres, Dr. Weisstein has vast experience performing total and partial knee replacements using robotic-arm assisted technology. His background, combined with YRMC’s recently acquired Stryker Mako Robotic-Arm, are the key components of a state-of-the-art robotic surgery program.

Robotic-arm assisted surgery allows specially trained orthopedic surgeons like Dr. Weisstein to create a 3-D virtual model of the patient’s unique knee anatomy. During the procedure, the robotic arm guides the surgeon to the predefined area to prepare the bone for the implant. This results in a precise and better-aligned knee replacement.

A GAME-CHANGER FOR PATIENTS
What does the availability of robotic-arm assisted surgery mean for patients who need a partial or total knee replacement?

“It’s a game-changer in every aspect for knee replacement patients,” Weisstein said. “The accuracy and precision afforded by the use of the robot is unparalleled, leading to better component position and improved patient satisfaction. It’s a major step forward for orthopedic care in Yavapai County.”

Robotic-arm assisted knee replacement has many other benefits, including:

  • Less soft tissue dissection
  • Ability to preserve healthy bone and soft tissue
  • Less post-operative pain
  • Faster functional recovery and shorter hospitalization

For more information, or to schedule an appointment at YRMG, Orthopedic Surgery, speak to your primary care provider or contact the clinic at 928-708-4545. YRMG, Orthopedic Surgery is located at:
Outpatient Services Building West on the YRMC West Campus
1001 Willow Creek Road, Suite 1300;
Del E. Webb Outpatient Center
3262 North Windsong Drive, Suite B QCBN

By Bridget O’Gara

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