Dr. Amad Zineldine Joins the Cardiology Team at YRMC PhysicianCare
Yavapai Regional Medical Center PhysicianCare welcomes Amad Zineldine, MD, FACC, Interventional Cardiology, to its growing cardiology team in Prescott Valley. Dr. Zineldine is Board Certified in Cardiovascular Disease, Echocardiography, Nuclear Cardiology and Internal Medicine. He completed a Cardiology Fellowship at Cornell University in New York City, New York. Dr. Zineldine is currently accepting new patients. Please speak to your family doctor or call (928) 442-8117 to schedule your appointment. YRMC PhysicianCare accepts most insurance plans, including Medicare. Dr. Zineldine is located at 7700 East Florentine Road, Building B, Suite 206 in Prescott Valley. Please visit www.yrmcpc.org to learn more.
Prescott Frontier Days and YRMC: Partners for More Than Two Decades
Recently, members of Prescott Frontier Days, Inc., the Prescott Frontier Days Foundation, and Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) met to celebrate 23 years of collaboration and community service. The gathering culminated in the presentation of a check in the amount of $4,000 to benefit the BreastCare Center at YRMC. In just the past four years, the Prescott Frontier Days organizations have donated more than $14,000 to the Center. “We could not do this without the generous support of our community,” said Chris Graff, President of Prescott Frontier Days, Inc. “We kick off our BreastCare Center fundraising program with our annual, sold-out ‘Tough Enough to Wear Pink’ banquet. We then team up with Wrangler® during our World’s Oldest Rodeo event to outfit everyone, our competitors and rodeo fans alike, in pink. It makes for a colorful evening.” In accepting this year’s donation, YRMC Foundation Executive Director Robbie Nicol stated, “We are honored that when the Prescott Frontier Days organizations consider what is important and how they can use their resources to make our community stronger and healthier, they choose to support our mission and work. All funds donated to our BreastCare Center stay here in our community and are used to promote breast cancer awareness, provide needed services, and ensure we have the latest technology to serve our patients.” To learn more about YRMC’s BreastCare Center, contact the YRMC Foundation at (928) 771–5686.
My Memories of YRMC: Rich Tenney, Part Two
Many families gather their children on Christmas Eve to read a story. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry and The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore are traditional favorites. But the Tenney family – who have called Prescott home since 1915 – take the tradition a step further by telling their own real-life Christmas story. As Rich Tenney, PT, DPT, PRC, Physical Therapist at Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) tells it, “The story begins at Yavapai Community Hospital in early December of 1945.” About that time, Rich’s grandparents – Boyd and Rachel Tenney – became parents to their third child. She was born a bit early so Rachel and the baby remained at Yavapai Community Hospital (now Yavapai Regional Medical Center) until Christmas Eve. Watch My Memories of YRMC: Rich Tenney, Part 2 on YouTube. The Tenney Family Christmas Story As she was packing to leave the hospital, Rachel noticed another new mom in the hospital’s Obstetrics Ward who was crying. She asked her what was wrong. The new mom said she was worried about her other children. Their home in Wickenburg had burned down so the family was living with the woman’s mother in an old cabin southeast of Prescott. They had no firewood, food, clothing or Christmas gifts. “That mom was worried her children weren’t going to have a Christmas,” Rich said. This couldn’t happen. Rachel wrote a note to her husband Boyd that read, “We have a family in need that needs a Christmas, food, clothing and fuel.” An employee of the Tenney family’s feed store was dispatched to deliver the note with these explicit directions: “You grab Boyd by the collar and you say, ‘You read this note,’ and you don’t let go of his collar until he starts reading.” Boyd, moved by what he read in the note, stopped what he was doing and rallied members of his church and the community. They worked together that Christmas Eve, filling a cattle truck with coal, wood, clothing, food and gifts. “It was a pretty slow drive to the family’s cabin because the road was muddy,” Rich said. But the long drive was worth it. When Boyd pulled up to the family’s cabin, one of the children saw the cattle truck and said to his siblings, “I told you Santa Claus would come.” YRMC Builds Community Connections The story doesn’t end there for the Tenney family and YRMC. In addition to Rich, two other Tenney family members – a physician and a nurse – have cared for patients at YRMC. At least eight of Rich’s siblings and cousins were born at the hospital. Rich’s wife, Tami, and two of their four children also were born at YRMC. “Two of the four most sacred moments in my life happened at YRMC,” said Rich. “It will always be a special place because it’s where two of my children came into the world.”
Neurosurgeon Puts Life Lessons to Work
John Spitalieri, DO, 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 on 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.” Watch Meet Neurosurgeon John Spitalieri, DO on YouTube. Dr. Spitalieri’s tools are from his father – who worked at Yankee Tool for a time – made by Dr. Spitalieri in his workshop or found at antique shops. Instead of using a power sander, for example, Dr. Spitalieri has a pre-World War I block plane to smooth the surfaces of edges he plans to join together. Dr. Spitalieri’s woodworking tools are from his father, made by Dr. Spitalieri or antiques he has collected over the years. A Neurosurgeon is Born Dr. Spitalieri’s career choice was influenced by several people including his father and, later on, Neurosurgeon Martin Swiecicki, MD. “I decided to become a neurosurgeon quite late in life. I was seven years old,” Dr. 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 Dr. 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, Dr. Spitalieri pursued a fellowship in Neurosurgery at Cooper Hospital in Camden, New Jersey followed by a Pediatric Spine Surgery fellowship at Shriner’s Hospital in Philadelphia. Prescott Calls After living in large urban areas, Dr. 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 Dr. Spitalieri for care. “Compression fractures are very painful,” said Dr. 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.’” Dr. 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, Dr. 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.
H.U.S.D. Ramps Up the Fun with a GoNoodle Plus Breakfast of Champions Contest
The sound of catchy music, children’s laughter and dancing footsteps are emanating from many of the classrooms at Humboldt Unified School District (HUSD). Teachers and students are jumping, running in place, stretching, dancing and – believe it or not – they’re learning at the same time! Teachers-in-the-know are aware of the benefits of physical activity in the classroom. Brief exercise periods throughout the day keep students energized, focused and ready to learn. But at HUSD, there’s an added incentive. A GoNoodle Breakfast of Champions contest is underway during the month of November, courtesy of Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) and GoNoodle Plus. The school with the highest number of teachers playing GoNoodle Plus activities between now and December 1st will win a breakfast for their entire staff, lanyards for each teacher, and a sticker for every student. Participating schools include Coyote Springs Elementary, Granville Elementary, Lake Valley Elementary, Mountain View Elementary, Humboldt Elementary, Liberty Traditional School and Bright Futures Preschool. GoNoodle is a robust suite of online games and activities designed by experts to engage students and enhance learning. With the GoNoodle Plus sponsorship from YRMC, teachers have free access to the premium version, where they can input the material they are working on in their own classrooms. The games and activities can be customized to their specific curriculum or individual students’ needs. Teachers also have the option of choosing from hundreds of expertly curated math, spelling, ELA, science and social studies question sets. And that’s only the beginning. Families can also access GoNoodle Plus free of charge from home. Parents, go to gonoodle.com to create an account and explore! While you’re at it, ask your child’s teacher if they’re using GoNoodle Plus in your child’s classroom and find out how you can coordinate with them to receive the customized material at home. Study time may soon become a lot more fun! HUSD was recently awarded the Leaders for School Wellness Grant through the Arizona Department of Education. Grantees are given funding to support nutritious school meals and healthy living and nutrition education. “To build a school environment that promotes healthy living, Humboldt Unified has chosen to focus on how we can increase physical activity with our students,” says Rebecca Kraxberger, Wellness Coordinator at HUSD, “Students who get adequate physical activity in their day tend to have better grades, remember what was taught in class, behave better, and miss less school time due to illness. GoNoodle Plus takes this up a notch!” Kraxberger and the teachers and parents at Humboldt Unified recognize that everyone is a winner when they incorporate GoNoodle Plus into their daily routine, but the winners of the Breakfast of Champions will be announced on December 4th. Happy GoNoodling to all, and good luck! For more information on YRMC’s sponsorship of GoNoodle Plus, contact the Community Outreach Department at (928) 771-5738 or email CommunityOutreach@yrmc.org.
My Memories of YRMC: Gwen Sick
Gwen Sick had dealt with back problems over the years, but nothing like she experienced in 2008 while she was planting 15 gallon trees at her home in Paulden. “I blew my back out,” she said. “I couldn’t function after that. When I walked, the lower part of my body rotated because basically, it wasn’t attached. If I laid down, I needed help getting up. It was painful.” Gwen had fractured the bones that hold the three discs at the base of the spine. Her next stop was surgery at a hospital in Phoenix. Gwen’s post-surgical recovery was difficult. She was given Heparin to prevent blood clots. Her blood pressure plummeted and her legs were numb. An anticipated three-day hospitalization stretched into six days, with four days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). At home in Paulden on the ninth day following surgery, Gwen still didn’t feel right. “I was sitting in a chair, and I thought, ‘My legs feel dead. It feels like they’re not there.’” Watch My Memories of Yavapai Regional Medical Center: Gwen Sick on YouTube. A Mystery Illness Soon Gwen was in the Emergency Department at Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC). The hospital team began sorting through Gwen’s contradictory early test results. An ultrasound detected blood clots in her legs while a blood test showed her platelet count was at a very low 22,000. The question: How could Gwen have blood clots when she didn’t have enough platelets in her blood to form clots? Enter Mukundkumar Patel, MD, a YRMC Internal Medicine physician who specializes in Hematology/Oncology. He believed Gwen was suffering from a rare autoimmune reaction to Heparin, a diagnosis soon confirmed by a special blood test. “Dr. Patel said there was a chance that I could lose a limb,” Gwen recalled. “But, he said they were going to do everything to stop that from happening. My arm was purple at the time.” YRMC Team Saves Gwen Dr. Patel prescribed a slow-acting blood thinner. Still, there was concern the blood clots could break loose and cause significant health issues for Gwen. Next, Dr. Patel recommended implanting a special filter that would permanently trap any clots. Using a state-of-the-art, interventional radiology procedure, the filter was placed into Gwen’s carotid artery. Her platelets soon rebounded and after three weeks she left YRMC for home. “Everybody at the hospital was great,” she said. “I’m so glad the YRMC Emergency Room team contacted Dr. Patel, because if they hadn’t, I could have died.” Today, Gwen walks, swims and does most anything she wants. But, she leaves any planting of 15 gallon trees to others.
YRMC’s Your Healthy Kitchen Travels to Japan!
It takes time to become an excellent chef, and Hiroshi Horikawa has been honing his skills for a lifetime. Hiroshi started training as a sushi chef in Japan at age 15, and has operated restaurants in the U.S. for decades. Today, he and his wife, Eriko, own Esoji Teppan Steak & Seafood Sushi Bar in Prescott, where they offer a wide range of delicious and beautifully prepared Japanese dishes. Eriko was a recent guest on the set of YRMC’s Your Healthy Kitchen, where she shared some culinary tips and secrets, plus a few easy recipes using hijiki, a delicious, nutrient-packed vegetable from the sea. Sea vegetables, with their rich flavor and deep, sea green color, are an important staple in traditional Japanese cuisine. Many different types of sea vegetables are used, including hijiki, wakame, kombu, and nori, the seaweed wrap integral to sushi. Sea vegetables are one of the best sources of iodine, a nutrient essential to proper thyroid function, and soluble fiber, which lowers cholesterol and sugar levels in the blood. They are also packed with potassium, which is one of the key nutrients identified in the DASH Study (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) for lowering and maintaining healthy blood pressure. Other nutrients commonly found in sea vegetables include vitamins C, E, and B12, an essential nutrient rarely found in plant-based foods. Sea vegetables lend a uniquely rich, savory flavor called ‘umami’ to Japanese dishes. Umami is known as the ‘fifth taste’, following the familiar flavors of sour, sweet, salty and spicy. Other foods that lend luscious umami flavor to dishes in include tomatoes, mushrooms, soy sauce, aged cheeses (like Parmesan), and cooked or cured meats. Traditional Japanese Hijiki Rice and Salad with Shitake Mushrooms, Carrots and Edamame Hijiki belongs to a family of sea vegetables that can easily absorb arsenic from the ocean. The arsenic level in hijiki varies, and can be quite low, depending on the temperature, season, pH of the water, and harvest location. It is important to buy all sea vegetables, including hijki, from a reputable company that harvests from clean waters. Eden Foods is a good choice, as it hand-harvests from the seas surrounding Japan’s main island of Honshu, along the environmentally protected Ria-coast of Ise-Shima National Park. After harvesting, Eden Foods hijiki is boiled and dried in the traditional manner, which removes much of the arsenic in any sea vegetable. Research shows that the Japanese method of soaking hijiki in water for at least 30 minutes before using effectively also removes arsenic, especially if the soaking water is warm; around 140º F. After soaking, throw away the liquid and rinse the hijiki well before preparing any dish. At Esoji, the Horikawas use wakame to make a refreshing, cold seaweed salad, and they wrap tender rice, fish and vegetables with nori to make sushi. Bits of wakame also add depth, flavor and color to their delicious miso soup. Kombu is an essential ingredient in dashi, a simple stock that’s used to gently flavor soups, stews, salads, omelets and even rice. Hijiki is one of the most versatile sea vegetables. Eriko shows how easy it is to use hijiki at home in this video, where she combines it with richly flavored shitake mushrooms, crunchy sweet carrots and tender edamame, a type of green soybean that is rich in fiber and protein. Watch Japanese Cooking with Eriko Horikawa, Owner of Esoji Japanese Restaurant on YouTube. Eriko’s Hijiki Salad Eriko’s Hijiki Rice
Prescott Medical Imaging: New Technology to Detect Bone Loss Disease
Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) – gold standard technology for measuring bone mass and diagnosing osteoporosis – is now available at Prescott Medical Imaging (PMI) in Prescott. With the introduction of DXA to PMI, the service is now accessible to people throughout the community. DXA is also available at the BreastCare Center at YRMC East. How does DXA work? During a DXA exam, the patient lies flat on a comfortable, padded table. An x-ray generator is located below the patient and an imaging device, or detector, is positioned above. The detector passes over the patient, generating images on a computer monitor. “DXA is quick, painless and uses very little radiation,” said Michael J. Locke, BBA, BBM, CRA, Outpatient Imaging Operations Manager at PMI and Prescott Valley Medical Imaging (PVMI). “The exam lasts approximately 10 minutes. After the exam, one of our experienced PMI radiologists interprets the DXA and shares the results with the patient’s physician.” Osteoporosis – which causes bones to weaken and easily break – is a “silent disease.” Some people don’t realize they have experienced dangerous bone loss until they suffer a fracture. “DXA is an extremely important preventive and diagnostic tool,” said Mary Sterling, Director of Imaging Services at Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC). “The information DXA provides helps patients and their physicians develop a plan that can prevent fractures due to osteoporosis.” Who should undergo DXA? Talk to your physician about your risk for osteoporosis and the possibility of undergoing DXA. In general, risk factors for osteoporosis include: Being over age 50 and female (men typically begin to experience bone loss after age 70) Menopause, particularly early-onset menopause A family history of osteoporosis Being small and thin Broken bones or height loss For more information about DXA and other imaging services, contact: Prescott Medical Imaging 810 Whipple Street Prescott, Arizona (928) 771-7577 The BreastCare Center at YRMC East 7700 East Florentine Road Prescott Valley, Arizona (928) 442-8900
Prescott Frontier Days and YRMC: Partners for More Than Two Decades
Recently, members of Prescott Frontier Days, Inc., the Prescott Frontier Days Foundation, and Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) met to celebrate 23 years of collaboration and community service. The gathering culminated in the presentation of a check in the amount of $4,000 to benefit the BreastCare Center at YRMC. In just the past four years, the Prescott Frontier Days organizations have donated more than $14,000 to the Center. “We could not do this without the generous support of our community,” said Chris Graff, President of Prescott Frontier Days, Inc. “We kick off our BreastCare Center fundraising program with our annual, sold-out ‘Tough Enough to Wear Pink’ banquet. We then team up with Wrangler® during our World’s Oldest Rodeo event to outfit everyone, our competitors and rodeo fans alike, in pink. It makes for a colorful evening.” In accepting this year’s donation, YRMC Foundation Executive Director Robbie Nicol stated, “We are honored that when the Prescott Frontier Days organizations consider what is important and how they can use their resources to make our community stronger and healthier, they choose to support our mission and work. All funds donated to our BreastCare Center stay here in our community and are used to promote breast cancer awareness, provide needed services, and ensure we have the latest technology to serve our patients.” To learn more about YRMC’s BreastCare Center, contact the YRMC Foundation at (928) 771–5686.
Seven Steps to Reduce Your Risk for Breast Cancer
There’s lots of information about breast cancer risk, prevention and detection. But, how do you know what’s best for your long term breast health? The experts at the BreastCare Center at Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) have identified seven steps to help you. In keeping with Share the Care – the BreastCare Center’s community-wide awareness program to support good breast health practices – we encourage you to share this information on social media and during other conversations with the women who are important to you. “You can Share the Care year-round and in many ways,” said Michael G. Macon, MD, Breast Surgeon and Medical Director of the BreastCare Center at YRMC. “This list has good information about learning your risk for breast cancer, creating a personal plan based on your individual risk and committing to healthy living practices.” In Yavapai County, these steps are particularly important as we have high rates of breast cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Now, let’s look at how you may be able to lower your risk for breast cancer. #1 Know your family history and your risk for inherited breast cancer. Understanding your risk for breast cancer that’s inherited begins by mapping your family’s cancer history. Here are factors to determine if you may be at risk for breast cancer that’s inherited: You had breast cancer before age 50. You had ovarian cancer. You have relatives with breast, ovarian, pancreatic or prostate cancer. There are any men in your family who have had breast cancer. You are of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. A family member has a BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation. #2 Consider genetic testing and counseling … from a professional. Genetic counseling is more than mailing your saliva to an online service for analysis and a report, according to Jody Pelusi, PhD, FNP, AOCNP. Dr. Pelusi is the Genetic Specialist at YRMC’s recently launched High Risk Genetic Clinic. She emphasizes the importance of identifying who may be at increased risk for a gene mutation as young as possible. A plan can then be developed to manage and monitor women based on their genetic test results. “We look at all risk factors as well as genetic testing results,” said Dr. Pelusi. “Most women who are at high risk for breast cancer do not have gene mutations. For example, we may recommend increased imaging surveillance for a woman who is found to be at high risk for breast cancer.” That may mean alternating Breast MRI scans with mammograms at six month intervals, instead of yearly mammograms. Or, depending on the woman’s age, risk factors and genetic test results, the woman may be offered adjuvant hormonal therapy or surgery to reduce the risk of breast cancer. “By beginning interventions at a younger age, we have the opportunity to change whether or not breast cancer ever occurs in these women,” Dr. Pelusi said. You may reach YRMC’s High Risk Genetic Clinic at (928) 442-8747. #3 Get regular breast screenings. This simple message has become more complicated in the past decade. Many believe that’s due to a 2009 update in breast cancer screening guidelines by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent group of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine. In fact, a recent study in JAMA Surgery showed mammography screening is down among younger women since the USPSTF update. Talking with your doctor about your individual risk and health history is a good place to begin when considering breast screening. As a general guideline, YRMC’s BreastCare Center and the American College of Radiology recommend annual mammography start at age 40 for women at average risk of developing breast cancer. Additionally, the American Cancer Society (ACS) states that women ages 40 to 44 should have the choice to begin annual mammography. The ACS endorses annual mammograms for women ages 45 to 54. For women 55 and older, the ACS supports mammograms every one to two years. #4 Watch your weight, especially after menopause. Being overweight or obese at any age increases a woman’s breast cancer risk, but it’s especially true after menopause and for women who gain weight as adults. Why is that? After menopause, most of a woman’s estrogen comes from fat tissue. The more fat tissue, the more chance of breast cancer due to raised estrogen levels. Also, overweight women tend to have higher levels of insulin, which has been linked to breast and other cancers. #5 Get your heart rate up on a regular basis. Getting your workout is a good breast-healthy habit. You should aim for a weekly minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity (think brisk walking), 75 minutes of vigorous activity spaced out across the week or a combination of both. #6 Get off your seat. There’s more and more evidence that shows sitting time increases the likelihood of cancer, especially for women. An ACS study showed women who spent six hours or more each day sitting when not working had a 10 percent greater risk for breast cancer. #7 Limit your alcohol intake. Women who have two to three alcoholic drinks a day have a 20 percent greater risk of breast cancer compared to women who don’t drink alcohol. Women who have one drink a day have a very small increased risk for breast cancer. Learn more at Share the Care or YRMC’s BreastCare Center. Contact Dr. Macon or Dr. Pelusi at (928) 442-8740 and the YRMC High Risk Genetic Clinic at (928) 442-8747.
Dr. Amad Zineldine Joins the Cardiology Team at YRMC PhysicianCare
Yavapai Regional Medical Center PhysicianCare welcomes Amad Zineldine, MD, FACC, Interventional Cardiology, to its growing cardiology team in Prescott Valley. Dr. Zineldine is Board Certified in Cardiovascular Disease, Echocardiography, Nuclear Cardiology and Internal Medicine. He completed a Cardiology Fellowship at Cornell University in New York City, New York. Dr. Zineldine is currently accepting new patients. Please speak to your family doctor or call (928) 442-8117 to schedule your appointment. YRMC PhysicianCare accepts most insurance plans, including Medicare. Dr. Zineldine is located at 7700 East Florentine Road, Building B, Suite 206 in Prescott Valley. Please visit www.yrmcpc.org to learn more.
First WATCHMAN Procedure at YRMC’s James Family Heart Center
The James Family Heart Center at Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) has reached another significant medical milestone with the introduction of the left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) procedure, better known as the “WATCHMAN™.” “The launch of this new service is another excellent example of why the community can be proud to have this state-of-the-art Heart Center right here at home,” said Pierre Tibi, MD, Medical Director of The James Family Heart Center at YRMC. “ The WATCHMAN™ is performed in YRMC’s hybrid operating suite – regarded as among the finest in the nation – by either Soundos K. Moualla, MD, YRMC Structural and Interventional Cardiologist, or Nisha Tung-Takher, MD, YRMC Cardiac Electrophysiologist. Who is eligible for the WATCHMAN™? The procedure is designed for people with Afib (atrial fibrillation) that’s not related to a heart valve problem as well as people who don’t respond well to blood thinners. Afib affects the heart’s ability to pump blood normally. It can cause blood to pool in the left atrial appendage and form a clot. A permanent heart implant, the WATCHMAN™, reduces the risk of blood clots originating in the left atrial appendage. “These blood clots can escape from the left atrial appendage, enter the bloodstream and cause a stroke,” said Gwen Rhodes, RN, YRMC Patient Navigator. “Many stroke-causing clots that come from the heart are formed in the left atrial appendage. That’s why closing off this part of the heart is recommended for some people as a way to reduce their risk of stroke.” Specially trained physicians like Drs. Moualla and Tung-Takher use computer guidance to implant the WATCHMAN™ device, which is about the size of a quarter. After making a small incision in the upper leg, these physicians insert a narrow tube, similar to a standard stent procedure, and guide the WATCHMAN™ into the left atrial appendage. The WATCHMAN™ device closes off that part of the heart to stop blood clots from escaping. Visit YRMC’s website for more information about the WATCHMAN™ and other YRMC James Family Heart Center services.
H.U.S.D. Ramps Up the Fun with a GoNoodle Plus Breakfast of Champions Contest
The sound of catchy music, children’s laughter and dancing footsteps are emanating from many of the classrooms at Humboldt Unified School District (HUSD). Teachers and students are jumping, running in place, stretching, dancing and – believe it or not – they’re learning at the same time! Teachers-in-the-know are aware of the benefits of physical activity in the classroom. Brief exercise periods throughout the day keep students energized, focused and ready to learn. But at HUSD, there’s an added incentive. A GoNoodle Breakfast of Champions contest is underway during the month of November, courtesy of Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) and GoNoodle Plus. The school with the highest number of teachers playing GoNoodle Plus activities between now and December 1st will win a breakfast for their entire staff, lanyards for each teacher, and a sticker for every student. Participating schools include Coyote Springs Elementary, Granville Elementary, Lake Valley Elementary, Mountain View Elementary, Humboldt Elementary, Liberty Traditional School and Bright Futures Preschool. GoNoodle is a robust suite of online games and activities designed by experts to engage students and enhance learning. With the GoNoodle Plus sponsorship from YRMC, teachers have free access to the premium version, where they can input the material they are working on in their own classrooms. The games and activities can be customized to their specific curriculum or individual students’ needs. Teachers also have the option of choosing from hundreds of expertly curated math, spelling, ELA, science and social studies question sets. And that’s only the beginning. Families can also access GoNoodle Plus free of charge from home. Parents, go to gonoodle.com to create an account and explore! While you’re at it, ask your child’s teacher if they’re using GoNoodle Plus in your child’s classroom and find out how you can coordinate with them to receive the customized material at home. Study time may soon become a lot more fun! HUSD was recently awarded the Leaders for School Wellness Grant through the Arizona Department of Education. Grantees are given funding to support nutritious school meals and healthy living and nutrition education. “To build a school environment that promotes healthy living, Humboldt Unified has chosen to focus on how we can increase physical activity with our students,” says Rebecca Kraxberger, Wellness Coordinator at HUSD, “Students who get adequate physical activity in their day tend to have better grades, remember what was taught in class, behave better, and miss less school time due to illness. GoNoodle Plus takes this up a notch!” Kraxberger and the teachers and parents at Humboldt Unified recognize that everyone is a winner when they incorporate GoNoodle Plus into their daily routine, but the winners of the Breakfast of Champions will be announced on December 4th. Happy GoNoodling to all, and good luck! For more information on YRMC’s sponsorship of GoNoodle Plus, contact the Community Outreach Department at (928) 771-5738 or email CommunityOutreach@yrmc.org.
Five Tips to Prevent the Flu this Season
Autumn ranks as our country’s favorite season, but even it has its downside – namely, seasonal flu. “People tend to minimize the flu,” said Sharon Lee, FNP-C, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, YRMC PhysicianCare Family and Internal Medicine in Prescott Valley. “The flu is more than a bad cold that keeps you down for a few days. It can be dangerous, especially for children and older adults.” Who should get an annual flu vaccine? Everyone six months of age and older should be vaccinated. It’s particularly important for high-risk groups: adults 65 and older, people with asthma and diabetes, and pregnant women. Each year, approximately 200,000 Americans are hospitalized for flu-related illness. Here are five tips to prevent the flu so you can pull on your favorite sweater and head outside to enjoy the beautiful fall weather. 1. Get the flu vaccine. The flu virus is very contagious and can spread before you even have symptoms. While no one can predict when the flu season will peak, it takes about two weeks for antibodies to form after receiving the flu vaccine so getting your annual flu shot is important. “The flu virus is most common during the fall and winter months, but it’s not unheard of for the season to stretch into May,” said Lee. “I recommend getting an annual flu shot when it’s available.” The 2018-19 flu vaccine is available now. You can find a location to get vaccinated here. 2. Boost your immune system. Your first line of defense against the flu is to keep yourself as healthy as possible. This means eating a balanced diet filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep and practicing self-care to help eliminate stress. 3. Hydrate. Drinking enough fluids may help defend against illness and assist in recovery if a cold or the flu comes knocking. Warm tea, soups and broths are soothing additions to your daily water intake and they will keep you well hydrated. 4. Keep your space clean. Disinfecting common areas and frequently used items can kill cold and flu viruses potentially living on your phones, remotes or kitchen countertops. Disposable disinfectant wipes and paper towels are better to use than a sponge. 5. Stop the transfer of germs. Our last, but definitely not least, flu prevention strategy is to use correct hand washing techniques and to understand how the flu virus is spread. “The virus can enter the body through your eyes, nose and mouth,” Lee said. “Make a conscious effort to not touch those areas and encourage your children or grandchildren to do the same.” When washing your hands, rub them together vigorously for 20 seconds using warm water and soap. Similarly, don’t share cups or utensils with others. If you do come down with the flu, your healthcare provider may prescribe antivirals that can speed up the recovery process if taken within the first day or two of becoming sick. It’s also recommended you: Stay home and avoid contact with others. Wear a face mask or use a tissue to cover coughs and sneezes if you must leave home. Wash your hands to prevent the spread of the virus. Contact your healthcare provider if you are concerned about your symptoms, become very ill or are in a high-risk group. What’s the good news about seasonal flu? It usually ends or weakens by spring, which is another favorite season. To schedule an appointment with Sharon Lee, FNP-C, contact YRMC PhysicianCare Family and Internal Medicine in Prescott Valley at (928) 442-8710.
YRMC Volunteer Spotlight: John Peters and Richard McBride
If you’ve spent any time at Yavapai Regional Medical Center, you’ve probably heard the sound of a hand bell throughout the halls twice a day. The bell heralds the arrival of the snack cart, and the ringer is a member of the snack cart volunteer team, serving hot coffee, juices, fruit, yogurt and other goodies to visitors and staff at the hospital. Watch Volunteer Spotlight: John Peters and Richard McBride on YouTube On any given morning, you might be served by YRMC volunteers John Peters and Richard McBride. The duo often resembles a comedy team more than hospital volunteers. Employees and visitors who purchase snacks from the cart can’t help but join in the banter and good-natured teasing. But don’t let the lightheartedness fool you. They take their job very seriously. “A big philosophy we have is that we go the extra mile,” says Peters, “Let’s say that you have a nurse caring for a patient in one of the rooms in ICU. I know one nurse in particular who always wants a bag of cheddar popcorn and a string cheese. I’ll get her badge from her, ring it up and take it back there to her station.” Peters and McBride are particularly proud of their dedication. “Our record for uninterrupted service is 79 weeks without missing a day,” says Peters. A snowstorm prevented the volunteers from coming in on the 80th day. When asked why this dedication is so important, Peters responds, ”I really can’t explain it. I’m sure it’s this way for all the other volunteers. It’s just a sense of good feeling that you’re providing a service.” Peters describes the camaraderie and friendship as an added bonus to volunteering at YRMC, including getting to know the staff and fellow volunteers, learning about their families, grandchildren and travels. As McBride picks up the hand bell and starts down the hall to ring their arrival, Peters sums it up this way, “Volunteering is a wonderful experience. Period. It’s the only way to explain it.” The YRMC Volunteer Services Department welcomes inquiries about volunteering for the snack cart as well as a wide variety of other volunteer opportunities. For more information, call: Volunteer Services, YRMC West, Prescott: (928) 771-5678 Volunteer Services, YRMC East, Prescott Valley: (928) 442-8678
Volunteer Spotlight: Don Packard, PAWS Pet Therapy Program
Anyone who owns a dog or other pet knows the calming effect they can have. When we pet our animal friends, stress and worry often seem to melt away. Scientific studies have now proven this to be true. Pets can lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety. In addition, petting an animal can release endorphins that have a calming effect and can enhance healing. Watch YRMC Volunteer Spotlight: Don Packard on YouTube In keeping with our Vision of treating the whole patient — body, mind and spirit — Yavapai Regional Medical Center offers visits from specially trained therapy animals through the Pets Are Warm Support (PAWS) program. YRMC accepts dogs who are certified through Pet Partners, a national organization that evaluates and tests all animals to ensure that their health, skills and aptitude meet rigorous standards. Visits from PAWS pets can reduce boredom, increase socialization and communication, and provide comfort, especially for those patients who are missing their own pets at home. PAWS program volunteer Don Packard brings Sailor, his beautiful Australian Shepherd, to YRMC every Tuesday. “Of course I’m giving back, but there’s more to it than that,” says Packard, “It gives me satisfaction seeing these folks who don’t get to see dogs. It does their heart good, and it does mine too.” Patients aren’t the only people who enjoy the therapy pets at YRMC. The staff looks forward to their regularly scheduled visits as well. “He’s a therapy dog for everybody,” says Packard, “The staff really likes him too. He’s well known. ‘It’s Tuesday and Sailor’s here!’ That’s what they say.” You can take a preliminary quiz to see if your dog may have the right temperament to be a therapy dog at petpartners.org. If you’re a patient at YRMC and would like to arrange a PAWS visit, check with your caregiver first, then call Volunteer Services. In Prescott, the phone number is (928) 771-5678. In Prescott Valley, call (928) 442-8678. YRMC Volunteer Services welcomes inquiries about volunteering for the PAWS program as well as a wide variety of other volunteer opportunities. For more information call: Volunteer Services, YRMC West, Prescott: (928) 771-5678 Volunteer Services, YRMC East, Prescott Valley: (928) 442-8678
Curious About Patient Blood Management? Watch YRMC’s Live Broadcast on October 25
Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) is recognized worldwide as a pioneer in Patient Blood Management (PBM). The public has the opportunity to learn from these PBM pioneers by watching Patient Blood Management: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, YRMC’s sixth PBM Symposium. The Symposium will be broadcast live via the Internet for the public to watch from the comfort of their homes. Log-in to learn about the science and history behind PBM on: Date: Thursday, October 25, 2018 Time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Mountain Standard Time Log-In Options: YRMCHealthConnect.org/pbm or Facebook.com/YavapaiRegionalMedicalCenter What is PBM? What does PBM mean to you as a patient? It minimizes blood loss, reduces unnecessary transfusions and improves patient outcomes when medical teams embrace evidence-based medical and surgical concepts guided by the principles of PBM. Watch YRMC Patient Blood Management Services on YouTube. YRMC’s PBM Symposium will include an expert panel and short videos that highlight significant PBM experiences among Symposium participants. PBM Symposium Experts: Informative & Interesting Additionally, these Prescott, Arizona PBM experts will give thought-provoking, informative talks on: The Wonder of Blood Daniel Beck, MD, Anesthesiologist, Prescott Anesthesia The History of Transfusion Medicine Pierre Tibi, MD, FACS, Medical Director, Patient Blood Management and the James Family Heart Center at YRMC West Transfusion Medicine, Where We are Today Elizabeth Black, Data Manager/Assistant Coordinator, Patient Blood Management Program, YRMC Transfusion Medicine, What the Future Holds Jared Head, AGACNP-BC, Hospitalist, NAZ Hospitalists Heart Surgery Without “Surgery” Soundos Moualla, MD, Cardiologist, YRMC PhysicianCare Nurses: Creating an Environment in Which Patients Thrive Selina Bliss, MS, PhD, RN, YRMC Out-of-Town, But Not Out-of-Time Dale Black, Patient Blood Management Program Coordinator, YRMC For more information about Patient Blood Management: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, visit YRMCHealthConnect.org/pbm.
YRMC’s Patient Blood Management Videos Now at One Convenient Location
Patient Blood Management is a widely respected and widely practiced approach to patient care, particularly before, during and after surgical procedures. It emphasizes safe and effective medical and surgical techniques, which are designed to prevent anemia, decrease bleeding and improve the outcome of your procedure. Since 2012, Yavapai Regional Medical Center has practiced Patient Blood Management, reducing the need for blood transfusions, which can carry inherent risks. Learn more about Patient Blood Management and how it is being used at Yavapai Regional Medical Center. It’s important to make decisions now, prior to a scheduled or unexpected surgical procedure. Visit yrmchealthconnect.org/pbm to learn more.
Prescott Medical Imaging: New Technology to Detect Bone Loss Disease
Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) – gold standard technology for measuring bone mass and diagnosing osteoporosis – is now available at Prescott Medical Imaging (PMI) in Prescott. With the introduction of DXA to PMI, the service is now accessible to people throughout the community. DXA is also available at the BreastCare Center at YRMC East. How does DXA work? During a DXA exam, the patient lies flat on a comfortable, padded table. An x-ray generator is located below the patient and an imaging device, or detector, is positioned above. The detector passes over the patient, generating images on a computer monitor. “DXA is quick, painless and uses very little radiation,” said Michael J. Locke, BBA, BBM, CRA, Outpatient Imaging Operations Manager at PMI and Prescott Valley Medical Imaging (PVMI). “The exam lasts approximately 10 minutes. After the exam, one of our experienced PMI radiologists interprets the DXA and shares the results with the patient’s physician.” Osteoporosis – which causes bones to weaken and easily break – is a “silent disease.” Some people don’t realize they have experienced dangerous bone loss until they suffer a fracture. “DXA is an extremely important preventive and diagnostic tool,” said Mary Sterling, Director of Imaging Services at Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC). “The information DXA provides helps patients and their physicians develop a plan that can prevent fractures due to osteoporosis.” Who should undergo DXA? Talk to your physician about your risk for osteoporosis and the possibility of undergoing DXA. In general, risk factors for osteoporosis include: Being over age 50 and female (men typically begin to experience bone loss after age 70) Menopause, particularly early-onset menopause A family history of osteoporosis Being small and thin Broken bones or height loss For more information about DXA and other imaging services, contact: Prescott Medical Imaging 810 Whipple Street Prescott, Arizona (928) 771-7577 The BreastCare Center at YRMC East 7700 East Florentine Road Prescott Valley, Arizona (928) 442-8900
This Hometown Girl Has Many Talents: How Jennifer Harvey is Making a Difference
If you have ever had the privilege of hearing Jennifer Harvey sing with her Femme-Folk Pop-Rock band, The Gurley Girls, you will know instantly that this busy lady’s got skills. She is a wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, niece, friend and cake pop baker in addition to her role as the Patient Navigator for the Lung Cancer Screening and Care program at Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC). Her title is a mouthful and so is her job! YRMC started the Lung Cancer Screening and Care program in response to a national push to provide annual low dose CT scanning as a screening method for detecting lung cancer early. This program started as a result of a large-scale study known as the National Lung Screening Trial, which was sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and conducted by the American College of Radiology (ACR). This study showed that “for the first time, we have a modality that’s proven by research to catch lung cancer early and it is effective and can save lives,” explained Jennifer. Early detection of lung cancer can increase the five-year survival rate. Jennifer added, “YRMC started this program to support our community because we have a high volume of smokers and we know that when people wait until they have symptoms of lung cancer, they are not likely to survive their diagnosis.” Jennifer’s role in the process is to help identify high risk groups and to inform practitioners as well as people in the community that this service is available; to act as a liaison between providers and specialists such as pulmonologists, radiologists, oncologists and surgeons; to connect patients to the screening program and treatments they may need after the screening; and to create educational materials and classes to help patients become healthier. “So, I act as a hub in this busy wheel,” said Jennifer. The day before a patient arrives for the first appointment, Jennifer calls them and explains how “the program is not a one and done type of thing. You come back annually for screening.” When they initially arrive at the clinic, Jennifer goes through a patient information folder she creates and develops a personal relationship with the patients. She wants them “to feel fully supported, to put a face with a name, and to really help them through the process.” There are some additional benefits of entering the program such as “smokers who enter the program often decide to quit smoking after realizing what smoking does to them,” Jennifer states. Another benefit of this program is that incidental findings may also be detected because of the screening. If someone has coronary artery disease, the calcifications can be spotted through CT screening and the patient can be referred to a cardiologist so that a heart attack may be prevented. A thyroid nodule may be discovered or another type of medical concern might also be noticed. “They might get help for something they didn’t even know they had,” explains Jennifer. If you think that lung cancer screening is something you should consider, please speak to your primary care physician or contact Jennifer at (928) 771-5454.
YRMC’s Your Healthy Kitchen Travels to Japan!
It takes time to become an excellent chef, and Hiroshi Horikawa has been honing his skills for a lifetime. Hiroshi started training as a sushi chef in Japan at age 15, and has operated restaurants in the U.S. for decades. Today, he and his wife, Eriko, own Esoji Teppan Steak & Seafood Sushi Bar in Prescott, where they offer a wide range of delicious and beautifully prepared Japanese dishes. Eriko was a recent guest on the set of YRMC’s Your Healthy Kitchen, where she shared some culinary tips and secrets, plus a few easy recipes using hijiki, a delicious, nutrient-packed vegetable from the sea. Sea vegetables, with their rich flavor and deep, sea green color, are an important staple in traditional Japanese cuisine. Many different types of sea vegetables are used, including hijiki, wakame, kombu, and nori, the seaweed wrap integral to sushi. Sea vegetables are one of the best sources of iodine, a nutrient essential to proper thyroid function, and soluble fiber, which lowers cholesterol and sugar levels in the blood. They are also packed with potassium, which is one of the key nutrients identified in the DASH Study (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) for lowering and maintaining healthy blood pressure. Other nutrients commonly found in sea vegetables include vitamins C, E, and B12, an essential nutrient rarely found in plant-based foods. Sea vegetables lend a uniquely rich, savory flavor called ‘umami’ to Japanese dishes. Umami is known as the ‘fifth taste’, following the familiar flavors of sour, sweet, salty and spicy. Other foods that lend luscious umami flavor to dishes in include tomatoes, mushrooms, soy sauce, aged cheeses (like Parmesan), and cooked or cured meats. Traditional Japanese Hijiki Rice and Salad with Shitake Mushrooms, Carrots and Edamame Hijiki belongs to a family of sea vegetables that can easily absorb arsenic from the ocean. The arsenic level in hijiki varies, and can be quite low, depending on the temperature, season, pH of the water, and harvest location. It is important to buy all sea vegetables, including hijki, from a reputable company that harvests from clean waters. Eden Foods is a good choice, as it hand-harvests from the seas surrounding Japan’s main island of Honshu, along the environmentally protected Ria-coast of Ise-Shima National Park. After harvesting, Eden Foods hijiki is boiled and dried in the traditional manner, which removes much of the arsenic in any sea vegetable. Research shows that the Japanese method of soaking hijiki in water for at least 30 minutes before using effectively also removes arsenic, especially if the soaking water is warm; around 140º F. After soaking, throw away the liquid and rinse the hijiki well before preparing any dish. At Esoji, the Horikawas use wakame to make a refreshing, cold seaweed salad, and they wrap tender rice, fish and vegetables with nori to make sushi. Bits of wakame also add depth, flavor and color to their delicious miso soup. Kombu is an essential ingredient in dashi, a simple stock that’s used to gently flavor soups, stews, salads, omelets and even rice. Hijiki is one of the most versatile sea vegetables. Eriko shows how easy it is to use hijiki at home in this video, where she combines it with richly flavored shitake mushrooms, crunchy sweet carrots and tender edamame, a type of green soybean that is rich in fiber and protein. Watch Japanese Cooking with Eriko Horikawa, Owner of Esoji Japanese Restaurant on YouTube. Eriko’s Hijiki Salad Eriko’s Hijiki Rice
Creative and Delicious Ways to Power up Your Plate with Summer Herbs!
Rita Carey Rubin, MS, RD, CDE, host of YRMC’s Your Healthy Kitchen recently joined Sandy Moss on the set of AZTV’s Sandy and Friends to share some creative ways to enjoy the flavor, beauty and nutrition of fresh summer herbs. In this segment she makes a delicious, quick sauce from parsley, oregano, garlic, lemon, olive oil, and mint that is a perfect topping for grilled or baked vegetables, chicken, fish or meat. She also blends herbs and dried chilies into butter for a spread that turns summer corn into something even more divine! For a refreshing finish, Sandy and Rita enjoy a cool glass of water that’s been steeped with a variety of fresh herbs and fruit! Watch Creative Ways to Use Summer Herbs on YouTube. Fresh herbs are easy to grow in a garden or pot, and they thrive well from summer through fall in our high desert environment. Try your hand at raising a crop of easy to grow chives, oregano, mint, parsley, tarragon, rosemary or, that queen of summer, basil! If you have a sunny window in your home, you can grow many of these herbs indoors, year round. There are also a variety of herbs available in the produce section of most supermarkets and at the Prescott Farmers Market! It’s easy to incorporate herbs into every meal. Some herbs go really well with fruit, so try tossing thinly sliced basil or mint with berries for a beautiful and delicious way to start your day. You might also whip up some scrambled eggs and flavor them with a minced handful of chives (which taste a bit like mild onions). Throw big handfuls of parsley, basil, tarragon, chives, or even mint into a salad at lunch. These herbs also go well with beans, pasta or potatoes. Adding fresh herbs to your favorite dishes is one of the easiest and most delicious ways to power up your meals with flavor and nutrition. Herbs are packed with valuable phytochemicals that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities. With all of that goodness to offer, herbs really are a delicious kind of medicine! Give one of these great recipes a try: Minted Chimichurri Infused Water Compound butter with chili