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YRMC Resource Center Keeping Families Strong for 30 Years

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Thirty years ago, a group of concerned people from Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) and other organizations sat around a table to discuss the needs of Prescott’s most vulnerable population – its children. They explored ways they could offer support to parents so that they can give their children the best possible start in life. The grassroots effort took hold and the Family Resource Center (FRC) at Yavapai Regional Medical Center was born. The program has grown exponentially over the years, finding new ways to meet the changing needs of our families.
This year, the FRC celebrates its 30th anniversary and continues to make a difference in the lives of young families through three successful programs. Each of the programs is free of charge to families in our community.
First Steps
“Families giving birth back in 1989 needed support and education. They couldn’t Google questions like we can today,” said Family Resource Center Director David Barko. “Yavapai Regional Medical Center came forward with First Steps, which is still in existence today. Specially trained volunteers provide information to every family giving birth at YRMC. They discuss important topics like SIDS prevention and the signs of postpartum depression. We assess what each individual family might need and offer social and emotional support as well.”
One-week and three-month follow-up calls are also part of the family resources program.
Healthy Families
The early efforts of the Family Resource Center brought to light another critical need in Yavapai County – home visits for families to provide additional support and to learn more about early childhood and parenthood. Healthy Families, which is now a nationally recognized program operating in 38 states, was developed at YRMC. The focus of the program is strength and empowerment.
“Healthy Families is one of the top evidence-based home visit programs in the nation. It works,” said Barko. “We use the most up-to-date early childhood development knowledge to support our parents. They, in turn, support their children and give them the best start in life as they can. We know from research and science that the first three to five years of life are the most critical. Every experience, interaction, feeling and relationship a child has during these years literally affects the brain’s development. They set the stage for the rest of the child’s life – how they perceive everything, what kind of relationships they enter into, how they cope with stress, learn to trust, or not. The list goes on.”
Healthy Families visits occur once a week for the first six to 12 months, then every other week. Home visits can continue for as long as five years. The program is customized to meet the needs of each family. Medical health, safe sleep, developmental milestones, well checks, immunizations and childproofing the home are among the information shared with the families. A connection to community services is also part of the program.
Just as important, parents gain a listening ear and a mentor who can help them through tough times they may be experiencing. Healthy Families staff are trained in communication strategies that help remove the stigma associated with postpartum depression, anxiety, substance and alcohol abuse, financial or relationship issues and other life stressors.
The Healthy Families program also offers several holiday-themed social events each year where families can get together, make friends and celebrate what it means to be a family.
Car Seat Safety Program
Continuing to identify needs and find solutions, the Family Resource Center now offers car seat safety checks, conducted by nationally certified technicians. Partnering with other organizations, the safety checks are usually held at the Family Resource Center. They are also offered at community events and health expos throughout the year. As with the other programs through the FRC, the car seat safety checks are free of charge. Educating caregivers – or anyone who transports children – continues to be the priority. In 2018, approximately 90 percent of the seats and children that FRC saw arrived in an unsafe situation or configuration.
In 2018…
– The FRC First Steps volunteers visited all of the families who gave birth at YRMC.
– The Healthy Families program served 76 families, which includes 167 children.
– The Car Seat Safety program distributed 216 car seats and conducted 265 safety checks.
But the numbers only tell part of the story.
Barko notes that even the briefest connection can often lead to unexpected opportunities to help a family. He recalls a car seat check with a grandmother who wanted to make sure she was transporting her grandchildren safely.
“We ended up talking for an hour,” said Barko. “She opened up and shared with me that her daughter was pregnant and experiencing depression. I was able to reassure her and gave her some information so that she could connect with valuable community resources.”
Barko also tells about a mother with two children under the age of six. They were in the YRMC emergency room after a car accident and couldn’t return home because the car seats were destroyed. In addition to new car seats, the Family Resource Center was able to offer emotional support and resources for counseling to help the family cope after such a traumatic event.
At 30 years and counting, the Family Resource Center truly embodies YRMC’s mission.
“In some organizations, the mission is just a poster on the wall,” said Barko, “but at YRMC, those values are lived day to day. If I were to describe our team, the words that come to mind are empathy, heart and spirit. Our goal is that with every visit, every connection, we keep another child safe and help with their start in life.”
For more information on the Family Resource Center, contact David Barko at 928-771-5651 or dbarko@yrmc.org. QCBN

By Joanne Mack Robertson

Joanne Mack Robertson is freelance writer and video producer. She and her husband, Jeff, are the creative energy behind Big Picture Video Production in Prescott and Tucson.

How to Prevent a Brain Attack

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Many in the medical community now use the phrase “brain attack” in place of “stroke.” That’s because strokes have a lot in common with heart attacks.

A heart attack happens when an artery that delivers blood to the heart becomes blocked. Deprived of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood, heart tissue begins to die. Immediate treatment is needed to prevent extensive damage to the heart.

Re-read that paragraph and exchange the word “heart” for “brain.” You are now describing a stroke, or brain attack. Like your heart, your brain is fueled by oxygen and nutrients delivered by the blood. The most common form of stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain becomes clogged.

As a healthcare provider, Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) is sharing information on stroke prevention and how high blood pressure affects brain health. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can double or even quadruple your risk for brain attack.

A severe stroke can permanently destroy massive numbers of brain cells. When brain cells die, abilities controlled by that area of the brain – language, memory, muscle control – are affected. Some people recover completely from brain attack, but more than two-thirds of survivors have some type of disability.

How to Manage Your Risk for Brain Attack

While you can’t roll back the years or change your family history – both of which impact your risk for stroke – the single best way to reduce your risk for brain attack is to maintain a healthy blood pressure.

What is normal blood pressure? Less than 120 over 80 (120/80) is considered normal, according to the American Stroke Association.

If your blood pressure is above the normal range, talk to your healthcare provider immediately. Here are some strategies to get your numbers under control:

Reduce your salt intake to no more than a half teaspoon a day. 

Avoid high-cholesterol foods like hamburgers, cheese and ice cream.

Get to a healthy weight if you’re overweight. Losing even 10 pounds can have a positive impact on your stroke risk.

Eat a diet that includes four to five cups of fruits and vegetables every day, one serving of fish two to three times a week and several daily servings of whole grains and low-fat dairy.

Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, and more, if possible.

Give up tobacco, if you smoke.

Drink alcohol only in moderation. Studies show that more than two alcoholic drinks per day sharply increases your risk for brain attack.

Want to monitor your blood pressure between appointments with your healthcare provider? You may want to invest in a home blood pressure monitor kit. Some pharmacies also have complimentary blood pressure monitors to use. QCBN

Visit YRMC HealthConnect (YRMCHealthconnect.org) for more information on stroke prevention and controlling your blood pressure.

YRMC’s Celebrate Life Health Expo Offering Fun, Learning

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Get ready for an event that’s big, mega and even colossal.

Yavapai Regional Medical Center’s (YRMC) Celebrate Life Health Expo 2019 will feature MEGA Body and MEGA Heart – the world’s only portable, inflatable, walk-through exhibits of the human body and the human heart. The Expo will also include a colossal colon, courtesy of Boston Scientific.

“Touring MEGA Body, MEGA Heart and the colossal colon is a fun and informative adventure for people of all ages,” said YRMC Director of Marketing and Communications Ken Boush. “This is truly an extraordinary and rare opportunity that we’re thrilled to make available to our community during Celebrate Life Health Expo.”

Interactive tours of the larger-than-life inflatables and nearly 100 health and wellness exhibits are part of this year’s Expo. A free community service of YRMC, the Expo takes place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6 and Saturday, Sept. 7, at Findlay Toyota Center, 3201 North Main Street in Prescott Valley.

Meet the MEGAs

Tours of MEGA Body, MEGA Heart and the colossal colon delve into how the body operates, potential health challenges and how our lifestyle choices – diet, exercise and not smoking – can help us stay healthy.

“Boston Scientific’s colossal colon is a good example of this,” Boush said. “It’s designed to share lifesaving information to prevent diseases of the large intestine and digestive system.”

MEGA Body includes a teeth-to-torso exploration of the body that begins in the mouth, where visitors learn about cavities and oral hygiene. As you travel through MEGA Body – approximately 50 feet long by 15 feet wide by 12 feet tall – you’ll learn about our body’s bones, muscles, skin and even our ears. You’ll also journey to many organs, including the:

Brain

Esophagus

Stomach

Intestines

Kidneys

Heart

Lungs

Get Pumped About MEGA Heart

At 26 feet long by 15 feet wide by 13 feet tall, MEGA Heart has earned its name. Visitors to this big heart are in for a highly interactive educational experience designed to increase awareness of heart disease and share information on how to keep your heart healthy.

During your MEGA heart adventure, you’ll see how a healthy heart functions, observe examples of various types of heart disease and check out displays featuring some of the latest medical treatments for heart problems.

Here’s what you’ll see inside MEGA Heart:

Heart valves – The heart’s four valves control blood flow in and out of the heart.

Endocarditis – An infection of the inner lining of your heart chambers and heart valves.

Ventricular septal defect – A hole in the heart, which is a common heart defect that’s present at birth.

You’ll also learn about heart attacks, irregular heart rhythms and blood clots as well as current ways to treat those conditions.

“Representatives from YRMC’s James Family Heart Center will join the Expo to highlight the Center’s state-of-the-art medical services and impressive facilities,” said Boush.

To continue the focus on heart awareness, the James Family Heart Center will premiere a video of a pig heart dissection that will run hourly throughout the Expo. Pig hearts – provided by a scientific supply company – are used to teach heart anatomy because they are nearly identical to the human heart. 

Best Exhibits Ever

In 2019, nearly 100 organizations committed to health, wellness and community well-being will participate in YRMC’s Expo.

“The Expo is a great opportunity for people to connect with like-minded organizations and individuals,” Boush explained. “If you enjoy hiking, biking, cooking, exercising, learning and more, you’ll thoroughly enjoy the Expo.”

Here are just a few examples of the experiences and opportunities available to Expo attendees:

People and organizations dedicated to biking, hiking and other healthy lifestyles.

A “smoothie bike” – create a nutritious smoothie as you pedal for fitness.

Healthy nutrition tips and demonstrations (with samples).

CPR basics and first aid tips from emergency experts.

Self-defense and chair yoga demonstrations.

Kids’ fitness routines and information about tennis for kids.

Professional face painters and photos with your favorite mascot, YRMC’s Wellby the Yavabear.

Pre-diabetes self-assessments, lung function tests, blood pressure checks and compression sock fittings.

Chances to get into prize drawings for a Fitbit, Target gift card, a gift basket with kids’ dental health items and more.

Learn more about Celebrate Life Health Expo, see photos and view videos of MEGA Heart and MEGA Body and watch for Expo updates at YRMCHealthConnect.org/Celebrate-Life-Health-Expo. 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.

YRMC’s Genetic Clinic: Information and Tools to Fight Cancer

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Have you wondered how scientific research affects real lives? Look no further than the Human Genome Project for an example of how research moved from research labs to patient clinics, like Yavapai Regional Medical Center’s (YRMC’s) Genetic Clinic in Prescott Valley.

How did this information make it into our everyday healthcare world?

Oncology Nurse Practitioner Jody Pelusi, PhD, FNP, AOCP, who oversees cancer genetic testing at YRMC’s Genetic Clinic recalls, for example, that breast cancer genetic testing used to involve only two genetic mutations: BRCA1 and BRCA2. 

“Now we know many genes exist,” said Dr. Pelusi. “Therefore, we do panel testing to look at anywhere from 30 to more than 100 genes.”

What can genetic testing at YRMC’s Genetic Clinic accomplish? The answer to that question depends on the patient’s individual needs. Genetic testing is typically pursued to:

Pinpoint actual risk for developing cancer from a hereditary mutation versus a perception of cancer risk.

Learn cancer risk based on personal or family risk factors for people found not to be at high risk for cancer based on genetic testing.

Determine the best cancer treatment options, follow-up care and long-term monitoring for people diagnosed with cancer.

Learning Your Genetic Risk for Cancer

Before genetic testing happens – typically starting with a swab of saliva from the mouth – Dr. Pelusi meets with people to discuss their goals. Her approach is part scientist, part counselor and all supportive.

“We talk about genetic testing, the information they will potentially learn and if knowing that will make a difference in how they approach their healthcare,” explained Dr. Pelusi. “Some people may come from families who didn’t discuss illness or they may be adopted and have no knowledge of their genetic history. There are many different circumstances.”

During a first appointment, Dr. Pelusi introduces cancer genetic testing by:

Reviewing the goals of cancer genetic testing.

Discussing why the person is interested in cancer genetic testing.

Developing a profile based on the family’s history of cancer, including the type of cancer and at what age the family member was diagnosed with cancer.

Outlining the pros and cons of genetic testing, including how test results can affect the people being tested as well as their family members.

“About 10 percent of people will actually be found to have a genetic change that puts them at higher risk for potentially developing a cancer,” Dr. Pelusi said. “However, this 10 percent is significant, as this can be life changing. Some individuals will come in and get the information and want to think about it before they determine if they want to undergo testing or not; this is absolutely fine.”

Your Genetic Test Results

For people whose genetic test results show they’re at higher risk for cancer, Dr. Pelusi works with their clinicians to provide valuable information on health care and lifestyle options. This may include increased health monitoring and screenings, lifestyle changes, risk-reducing surgeries and chemoprevention (using drugs, vitamins or other agents to reduce cancer risk, delay its development or help prevent recurrence).

“These are emotional topics,” Dr. Pelusi said. “This is not a time to fear cancer. But we sure can fight it with our awareness, our knowledge and our actions. I make sure people have the information they need to make a decision they’re comfortable with. I listen and respect their approach. You can’t get that in a mail order test.”

To schedule an appointment at the Genetic Clinic for a genetic evaluation and possible testing, call 928-442-8747. QCBN

By Bridget O’Gara

Bridget O’Gara is a freelance 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.

How to Safely Dispose of Your Old Medication

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Do you have expired or partially used prescription medications in your medicine chest, in the back of your kitchen cabinet or stashed in a drawer? Many people keep old pills for years with the best intentions. We want to get rid of them, but often don’t know how to dispose of them properly. We’re concerned about accidentally allowing the medications to get in the wrong hands or taint the environment and simply let them stack up for years.

“It’s important to quit taking expired medications and get rid of them safely as soon as you can,” said Yavapai County Community Health Services Opioid and Substance Abuse Health Educator Josh Goldman. “Expired meds tend to lose their potency, so in essence, you’ll no longer have the benefits of the medication you were prescribed in the first place. Some medications are even susceptible to bacterial growth.”

Medications that tend to lose their potency quickly include liquid antibiotics and compounded medications, which are medications made from a personalized formulation, ordered specifically for you by your doctor.

There is also the real risk of the unused drugs getting in the wrong hands. According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 60,000 children under the age of five are seen in emergency rooms each year for accidental medication overdose.

And it is never advisable to give unused prescription medications to a friend or family member. Saving a trip to the doctor or saving money is not worth the health risk.

So, what is the best way to get rid of old medications? Goldman says there are several easy and safe options:

Deterra Deactivation Pouches

Deterra Pouches are a relatively new option for safe drug disposal at home. These sealable pouches contain activated carbon, which renders the drug inert. Simply place your pills, patches or liquid medication in the pouch, fill with warm tap water and wait 30 seconds. Seal and gently shake the pouch and place it in the trash. Deterra Pouches are available for purchase at outlets such as Walmart and Amazon.

DisposeRx

Some pharmacies are now offering DisposeRx packets with every prescription free of charge, to facilitate at-home drug disposal. To use, pour the contents of the DisposeRx packet directly into the pill bottle, add warm water, seal and shake the bottle for 30 seconds. Remove the label from your pill bottle or black out the information with a marker. The bottle can now be safely discarded in the trash. DisposeRx is also available at the Yavapai County Community Health Services office at 1090 Commerce Drive in Prescott.

Another Option for Safe Disposal at Home

If you have no other option for home disposal, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend putting expired medications in the trash after following these steps:

Remove the pills or liquid from the original container and mix them with dirt, used coffee grounds, kitty litter or sawdust.

Put the mixture in a Ziploc bag or similar, seal it tightly and put it in the regular trash.

Remove or black out the label on the original container with a marker and dispose of the container separately.

Remember that this method makes the drug undesirable, but will not render the drug inactive.

Drop Boxes

Local law enforcement agencies and some Yavapai College campuses offer free drug drop box locations throughout Yavapai County that will accept medications for safe disposal. Be aware that each location has different parameters regarding what types of medication they will accept. For instance, some drop boxes may not accept sharps, needles, aerosol cans or inhalers.

YRMC’s website has a complete list of Yavapai County drop box locations, contact information, requirements and what medications are accepted at each. To find “Yavapai County Medication Drop Off Locations,” go to YRMC.org, open the green “Support and Community” tab located on the menu at the top of the webpage and then go to “Medication Disposal.” The document will open for you to download and print.

In addition, pharmacies such as Walgreens Pharmacy at 2880 N. Centre Court in Prescott Valley offer drug disposal kiosks, similar to dropping mail into a mailbox.

Medicine Take-Back Events

Drug take-back events are held twice a year in Yavapai County, according to MatForce Executive Director Merilee Fowler. The effort continues to grow.

“The Dump the Drugs National Take Back Day takes place the last weekend of April and October,” said Fowler. “We partner with local law enforcement agencies and the Drug Enforcement Agency to provide easy, accessible drop off locations to the general public. Since 2008, we have collected more than 32,400 pounds of drugs for safe disposal.”

Is Flushing Safe?

According to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), prescription and non-prescription drugs can be found at trace levels in treated wastewater discharged from sewage treatment plants. We now know that some of these substances can be harmful to our environment. ADEQ recommends alternative means of disposal whenever possible.

However, the FDA regularly updates a list of prescription medications that have been approved for flushing down the toilet if no other option exists. The known risk of harm, including death, from these substances from accidental exposure outweighs potential risks from flushing them. The list includes medications such as fentanyl, oxycodone and morphine.

What About Medical Sharps?

“The best practice for sharps such as needles, syringes and lancets is to place them in a sturdy, puncture-proof container with a tight lid and tape it shut,” said Goldman. “You can purchase a specially designed container from a pharmacy, or you can use a heavy plastic or metal container that has a secure lid, such as a liquid laundry detergent bottle.”

According to ADEQ, do not use glass containers, and make sure the container is not overstuffed. Mark the container “Do Not Recycle” so that it goes to the landfill rather than a recycle center.

While your container is in the process of being filled for disposal, make sure you keep it sealed and out of the way of children and pets.

Getting rid of your old, unused medications can be safe and easy. Following these recommendations now can make your home safer in the long run by reducing the risk of accidental drug exposure. And you’ll be assured that you’re following the right precautions to keep our environment safe.

For more information on safe medication disposal, or to find out about the next Dump the Drugs National Take Back Day, contact MatForce at 928-708-0100. Yavapai County Community Health Services can be reached at 928-771-3122. QCBN

By Joanne Mack Robertson

Joanne Mack Robertson is freelance writer and video producer who writes for Yavapai Regional Medical Center. For more information about YRMC, visit yrmc.org.

Heart Valve Disease: Five Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

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In years past, your grandfather may have written off his shortness of breath to old age. Even people diagnosed early in life with heart conditions often didn’t link their decreased energy or their dizziness decades later to their heart conditions.

Today, primary care physicians and cardiologists are tuned into subtle changes that may signal heart valve disease – a condition that can affect people in their 40s or 80s.

“People are taking better care of themselves and living longer,” said Cardiothoracic Surgeon Jose Torres, M.D., at The James Family Heart Center at Yavapai Regional Medical Center West (YRMC). “That means more people will be diagnosed with heart valve disease and more will be referred to heart surgeons for treatment.”

In fact, one in 10 people age 75 and older struggle with moderate to severe heart valve disease, which happens when one or more of your heart valves don’t work well. To understand why this happens, it helps to know the role healthy heart valves play in the body. The heart has four valves with tissue flaps – also called leaflets – that open and close with each heartbeat. The flaps ensure blood flows in the right direction through your heart’s four chambers and to the rest of your body.

“Think of the leaflets as doors,” said Dr. Torres. “Normally, the doors are very pliable. They open and close to allow blood to flow through the heart and then to the rest of the body. When the doors calcify, their pliability decreases and the heart has to work harder and harder to pump blood to the body.”

Many people with heart valve disease don’t experience noticeable symptoms until the blood flow is significantly restricted. Symptoms that could signal heart valve disease – and should be discussed with your physician – are:

Breathlessness

Chest pain, pressure or tightness

Fainting

Palpitations or a feeling of heavy, pounding, or noticeable heartbeats

A decline in your activity level or reduced ability to do normal daily activities

Here’s a look at conditions that can cause or contribute to heart valve disease:

Past medical history – A history of diabetes or rheumatic fever and cancer survivors treated with radiation therapy to the chest or sternum are at greater risk for heart valve disease.

Congenital heart defect – People born with two leaflets, called bicuspid valve, are sometimes diagnosed with heart valve disease in their 40s or 50s.

Heart murmur – Calcium buildup or a leaky aortic valve can cause a heart murmur, eventually leading to heart valve disease.

Currently, no medicines can cure heart valve disease. However, medications to lower high blood pressure or high cholesterol may be prescribed. Lifestyle changes – giving up smoking, eating a heart-healthy diet, getting regular physical exercise and aiming for your optimal weight – can slow the progress of heart valve disease.

“Heart valve disease is a structural problem that requires surgery,” Torres said. “Once there’s a heart valve disease diagnosis, the solution is to remove that roadblock with heart valve surgery.”

During surgical heart valve disease repair, patients are placed on a heart bypass machine to keep their hearts working. Cardiothoracic surgeons, like Dr. Torres, then replace the heart’s calcified valve with a new artificial valve.

People considered too high risk for heart valve replacement surgery may be eligible for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). The minimally invasive TAVR procedure takes place in YRMC’s Hybrid Operating Room (OR) – a combined state-of-the-art surgical suite and medical imaging facility.

In YRMC’s Hybrid OR – considered one of the nation’s best – a patient’s heart blockage can be diagnosed and then immediately repaired with a minimally invasive procedure, like TAVR. If the real-time imaging shows the patient requires surgery, YRMC’s heart team is ready to perform the procedure in the Hybrid OR. QCBN

 

Visit YRMC.org to learn more about the advanced, comprehensive services available at YRMC’s James Family Heart Center.

Learning From YRMC’s Patient Blood Management Symposium

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Science and history intersected during Patient Blood Management: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Yavapai Regional Medical Center’s (YRMC’s) sixth Patient Blood Management (PBM) Symposium.

Approximately 350 people – PBM advocates from across the Southwest, physicians, nurses, college students and more – gathered for the most recent PBM Symposium at Yavapai College Performing Arts Center in Prescott. Throughout the world, even more streamed the symposium live on laptops, smartphones and other devices.

“It was the best of both worlds,” said Dale Black, Patient Blood Management Program coordinator at YRMC. “Our guests at the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center joined a pre-symposium reception that included an array of appetizers, lots of friendly conversation and information from our industry partners who support YRMC’s vision for PBM.”

Industry leaders who joined YRMC at the PBM Symposium included:

Instrumentation Laboratory

Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.

Haemonetics

Baxter

“During the symposium,” said Black, “we welcomed guests from throughout the globe who live-streamed the event. All symposium participants took away new information about the value of PBM and the leadership role YRMC plays in PBM.”

If you missed the symposium, we’ve collected some highlights to get you up to speed on PBM’s science, history and future.

Patient Blood Management wasn’t built in a day.

The 6th Annual PBM Symposium coincided with YRMC’s 75th anniversary, a perfect opportunity to highlight the history of PBM, courtesy of Pierre Tibi, M.D., FACS, cardiothoracic surgeon and medical director of the James Family Heart Center at YRMC West.

Dr. Tibi said the idea of transfusing blood goes back to 1556, but the first actual human-to-human “blood transfer” happened in 1818. Fast forward to the early 1900s for another milestone: the identification of human blood types – A, B, AB and O. Soon after, a test that allowed physicians to ensure blood compatibility before transfusing patients was introduced.

Another big breakthrough coincided with World War II as researchers discovered how to break down blood into components and products. Plasma – a blood product – saved the lives of many wounded soldiers during the war.

Blood is one tough tissue.

Daniel Beck, M.D., anesthesiologist at Prescott Anesthesia, emphasized that blood – a connective tissue – actually functions like a complex, multifaceted organ.

Comprised of water, electrolytes, small molecules, proteins and cells, blood performs many significant roles in the body. For example, Dr. Beck highlighted the important job performed by one of our two types of white blood cells.

“These white blood cells repair all types of tissue damage,” said Beck. “The repairs range from paper cuts to broken bones and all of the way to heart attacks.”

When it comes to the safety of our blood supply, the expression “we don’t know what we don’t know” applies.

Medical experts in the United States agree that our blood supply is the safest it has ever been when it comes to disease transmission.

“The concern is always about unknown infectious diseases,” said YRMC’s PBM Program Data Manager and Administrative Assistant Elizabeth Black. “Current blood testing measures are only going to test for infectious diseases we know about. You can’t test for something if you don’t know it exists.”

Storing your own blood for surgery comes with some potential complications.

Storing your blood for use during and after surgery sounds like an ideal way to prevent the transfusion of a virus. However, autologous blood donation – as it’s called – may lead to anemia, which can slow recovery.

“Even your own blood is stored blood,” said Black. “It is not the same quality as the fresh blood moving through our bodies or the blood that’s taken immediately before surgery.”

Physicians and PBM experts know: If you don’t use it, you won’t lose it.

YRMC’s thriving Structural Heart Program demonstrates how medicine is integrating PBM into its less invasive procedures.

Soundos Moualla, M.D., FACC, FSCA, an interventional cardiologist at the James Family Heart Center at YRMC West, uses less-invasive procedures and advanced technologies to help people previously considered too high-risk for surgery. These procedures require small skin punctures, rather than major incisions.

“These new technologies allow us to safely perform minimally invasive procedures,” said Dr. Moualla. “The procedures do not require blood use and typically there is no blood loss.”

New procedures at YRMC’s Heart Center support PBM principles.

In the 1980s, cardiology took its first steps in this direction with the introduction of cardiac stenting, which allowed some patients to forego open heart surgery. Today, many heart procedures are minimally invasive, including these that are available at YRMC’s Heart Center.

Left Atrial Appendage Closure (WATCHMAN)

Mitral Valve Repair with MitraClip

Paravalvular Leak Closure (PVL)

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Your YRMC providers are your PBM partners.

PBM is at its best when there is strong communication between nurses, patients, family members and other patient advocates. This is standard operating procedure at YRMC.

“We’ll literally report at your bedside to involve you and your family,” said YRMC’s Selina Bliss, MS, Ph.D., RN. “This allows us to clearly communicate a care plan for your anemia.”

YRMC’s multi-disciplinary team – advanced clinical practitioners, dietitians, medical laboratory professionals, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, physicians and more – also share their best practices for preventing patient anemia during “Lunch and Learn” programs.

Recently, YRMC’s Emergency Department team outlined how early admission of a medication to treat excessive blood loss has helped patients experiencing traumatic bleeding. The ICU staff shared a successful strategy to monitor hemoglobin counts – a low count may indicate anemia – as a way of reducing the frequency of patient blood draws, which can lead to anemia.

Researchers are applying leading-edge science to the study of blood.

Creating a blood substitute…developing a universal blood type…transforming human stem cells into units of blood…all of these and more are under research today.

“Scientists are looking for the optimal artificial human blood that can carry oxygen to our tissues without any of the biological baggage associated with a unit of blood,” explained AGACNP-BC Hospitalist and NAZ Hospitalist Jared Head.

PBM’s future is now.

Even as researchers race toward an array of alternatives to blood transfusions, most medical experts point to PBM as the most effective way to safely care for patients.

“What we are doing now may well be the future,” stated Head. “Keeping blood inside of the body and minimizing the number of blood draws to harness anemia – these and other PBM strategies may be the future of transfusion medicine.”

PBM is making a difference at YRMC today.

YRMC has experienced an impressive reduction in the use of blood products, thanks to its hospital-wide PBM Program.

“YRMC launched its PBM Program in 2012,” said Diane Drexler, RN, BSN, MBA, FACHE, Chief Nursing Officer at YRMC. “Since then, our use of red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma has declined by 32 percent and 61 percent, respectively.”

Why is this decline good news for YRMC’s patients? It means YRMC’s surgeons and other physicians are minimizing patients’ blood loss and reducing unnecessary transfusions. And, as studies have shown, both of these PBM strategies can improve patient outcomes and speed recovery. QCBN

By Bridget O’Gara

For more information about YRMC’s Patient Blood Management Program, visit YRMC.org.

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.

Power Up Your Plate with Heart Healthy, Colorful Fruits, Vegetables

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Colorful fruits and vegetables, like vibrant, fresh herbs, juicy, red tomatoes and bright orange carrots are packed with a variety of compounds called phytochemicals. These help to keep us healthy every day. However, for preventing and reversing disease, plants that are deep red, purple, blue or even black (which is often very dark purple), are real superfoods.

Many of these plants derive their color from a special group of compounds called anthocyanins. Studies have repeatedly linked anthocyanins with improved brain health and memory, reduced insulin resistance and a lower risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. And because February is American Heart Month, it’s the perfect time to explore how to work these superfoods into your diet.

All of the green, red, orange, yellow, blue and purple vegetables, herbs and fruits you see in the produce section of the supermarket are derived from a large variety of phytochemicals that plants produce, in part, to protect themselves from drought, disease, pests and even damage from the sun. Luckily for us, these compounds also protect us from everyday stress and chronic disease by acting as powerful antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents in our bodies.

One of the least expensive, widely available, anthocyanin-rich foods is purple (or red) cabbage. Like its green cousin, purple cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable that is packed with phytochemicals that have been shown to help fight cancer. The purple color gives the cabbage an extra dose of healthy super powers.

Many other anthocyanin-rich foods are available in most markets today. Look for purple fingerling potatoes, or even purple sweet potatoes. They taste great and look gorgeous on a plate. Here are a few ideas:

Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, purple grapes and dark red cherries are wonderful choices for fruit.

Carrots that are purple throughout are sometimes available at the Prescott Farmers Market and elsewhere.

Other foods rich in anthocyanins include eggplant (eat the skin); red leaf lettuce; purple cauliflower; radicchio; black beans and even black rice (or Forbidden rice), both of which are really just very dark purple.

Remember to fill your plate with the colors of a rainbow – including red, green, orange, yellow, purple and blue fruits, vegetables and grains – throughout the day. Try featuring a different color each night for dinner. Kids love getting into that groove and can help keep the whole family on track eating super healthy meals.

You can find lots of additional recipes and videos featuring colorful fruits, vegetables and herbs at YRMCHealthConnect.org. Just scroll down the page and click on Your Healthy Kitchen. You can also follow us on Facebook at YRMC’s Your Healthy Kitchen. QCBN

By Rita Carey Rubin
Rita Carey Rubin is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC). She is also a freelance writer and host of YRMC’s Your Healthy Kitchen, an online video series that features cooking tutorials, local guests and simple, delicious, affordable recipes.

Neurosurgeon Puts Life Lessons from His Youth to Work 

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John Spitalieri, D.O., believes in “repairing before replacing.” His parents – his mother a music teacher and his father a math/science teacher – impressed this value on him while growing up in New Jersey. 

“Whether we were fixing the car or repairing the lawnmower, it was my job and my brother’s job to help our dad,” said Dr. Spitalieri. “We would hold the light so he could see what he was working on or he would have us fetch a tool for him.” 

Fast forward to 2018 and the Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) PhysicianCare neurosurgeon is passing along this life lesson to the next generation as he works with his nine-year-old son on building projects. 

“When I’m fixing or building something, I limit myself to the tools I have,” he explained. 

“If I get stuck, I have to figure it out with the tools I have available.” 

Spitalieri’s tools are from his father – who worked at Yankee Tool for a time – made by Spitalieri in his workshop or found at antique shops. Instead of using a power sander, for example, Spitalieri has a pre-World War I block plane to smooth the surfaces of edges he plans to join together. 

A Neurosurgeon is Born 

Spitalieri’s career choice was influenced by several people, including his father and, later on, Neurosurgeon Martin Swiecicki, M.D.  

“I decided to become a neurosurgeon quite late in life. I was seven years old,” Spitalieri said with a smile. “My mentor, Dr. Marty Swiecicki, told me he made up his mind when he was five.”  

Dr. Spitalieri first was exposed to the workings of the brain and spine while perusing one of his father’s college anatomy textbooks. 

“Shortly after that, I started telling people I was going to be a brain surgeon,” he said. “I’m not really sure I knew what that meant at that age, but it sounded pretty cool.” 

Even cooler is that Spitalieri realized his childhood dream. He graduated from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and then pursued a neurosurgery residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) in Colton, California. The San Bernardino County hospital, ARMC, has the second busiest emergency department in California, with a heliport that easily holds five medical helicopters. 

After his residency, Spitalieri pursued a fellowship in neurosurgery at Cooper Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, followed by a Pediatric Spine Surgery fellowship at Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia.  

Prescott Calls  

After living in large, urban areas, Spitalieri, and his wife, Donna – a labor and delivery nurse and nurse midwife – decided they wanted to live in less populated communities. The couple learned about the Quad Cities through Kiplinger’s Magazine, which touted the area’s four mild seasons and diverse activities ranging from the arts to the outdoors. 

“We love it here. The people are friendly and we always find something to do.”  

New Spine Treatments 

At YRMC PhysicianCare’s Spine Center in Prescott, people with herniated discs, subdural hematomas (bruises on the brain), spinal trauma, spinal compression fractures and more turn to Spitalieri for care. 

“Compression fractures are very painful,” said Spitalieri. “They’re no less painful than breaking your arm. But when you break your arm, you go to the ER within a day or two, where you get a cast and then perhaps have surgery. With compression fractures of the spine, it usually takes weeks before they’re appropriately diagnosed. People tend to think, ‘I just threw my back out.’”  

Spitalieri repairs these spinal fractures with a procedure called kyphoplasty. He uses a hollow needle to insert a balloon into the fractured bone and then creates a cavity or space. After the balloon is removed, a medical-grade cement is injected into the cavity to stabilize the fracture. 

While the tools he uses to treat patients are state-of-the-art, Spitalieri’s strong work ethic and problem-solving skills are the same as when he worked alongside his father in the family’s garage in New Jersey.  

“Those are good, strong memories for me.” 

And now, the Spitalieri family is building memories in the Quad Cities. 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. 

 

For more information about the Spine Center, visit YRMC’s website at YRMC.org and click on “Medical Services.” 

 

Dr. Spitalieri may be reached at the Spine Center, 1001 Division Street in Prescott, at (928) 445-4818.  

 

 

 

YRMC Launches One-Stop Online Career Center 

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How do you describe the appeal of the Prescott area to someone who has never been here before? Superlatives such as cleanest, friendliest and most active come to mind. You’d want to describe the beautiful setting and the variety of cultural and recreational opportunities. Now, add the task of sharing an inside view of what it’s like to work for one of the largest and most progressive employers in the area, and you’d have an exciting and rewarding challenge in store. 

This is how Yavapai Regional Medical Center Manager of Talent Acquisition and Employee Relations Mary Tasson describes her recent journey as she led the team that revamped the YRMC Human Resources Career Center webpages. 

“The effort started with focus groups that included staff, nurses and allied health professionals. What better way to tell what it’s like to live in the Quad Cities and work at YRMC than to ask our staff to tell their stories?” explained Tasson. “Even the people in the photos on the website are actual employees, seen at work and enjoying leisure activities. In the process, I got to know many of our staff personally, which was a great side benefit that I didn’t expect.” 

From a wider perspective, there was more at stake than one would first realize. 

“Top talent is always in demand, especially in health care,” said YRMC Executive Director of Human Resources Mark Timm. “Our national unemployment rate is currently around 4 percent, so we are truly competing nationally for the best talent that’s out there. This makes it more important than ever to create compelling pages that highlight the unique opportunity that YRMC offers.” 

Like any entity hoping to create a memorable identity, the team at YRMC started with the question, “What is our brand?” Focus group participants answered questions such as “Why did you come to YRMC?” and “Why did you stay?” Their answers led Tasson, Timm and the team responsible for the Career Center site to a single word: Thrive. 

“The word Thrive came out of the stories that our staff shared with us,” said Timm. “The message was, ‘I came to YRMC and didn’t expect the quality of life and the caliber of the workplace. That’s why I decided to stay. I am thriving in this environment.’” An ad campaign was born. 

The Career Center pages are easily accessed from YRMC.org, the main website for Yavapai Regional Medical Center. The pages include information about the quality of life in the Quad Cities, the RN graduate program and nursing career opportunities and a video overview of YRMC. 

You can search for a job by keyword or job ID number, by job family or by department. Simply click on a job listing to learn more or to apply. You can also provide your email address and area of interest and/or desired location to have new job alerts sent to your inbox. 

An overview of benefits at YRMC is also provided, as well as a listing of local hiring events and job fairs, which is regularly updated. 

Tasson points out that physicians who are interested in learning more about YRMC and the Quad Cities have a spotlight page where they can provide their contact information and areas of interest. A recruiter will personally contact them to begin a conversation about their interests, needs and opportunities for relocation.  

“Quad City residents often share this feature of our online Career Center with out-of-town loved ones who are healthcare professionals. It could be just the information needed to encourage them to move to the area,” she said. 

In this competitive healthcare market, it seems as though a candidate could choose to move anywhere. Why do people choose YRMC?  

“It’s because there are no compromises here,” said Timm, “The Quad Cities area offers a great lifestyle, climate and community, and YRMC offers the caliber of hospital that people wouldn’t expect in a city this size.” 

Thanks to the top-quality physicians and staff that are drawn to our area, Yavapai Regional Medical Center continues to thrive. QCBN 

 

By Joanne Robertson 

For more information, visit the Career Center at careers.yrmc.org. You can also email VIPCareerNetwork@yrmc.org or call 877-976-9762.