That’s a Wrap!
These days, many of us are looking for convenient, easy meal ideas, but we want to make sure they’re as healthy as possible. Rita Carey Rubin, Registered Dietician, Diabetes Educator and host of Yavapai Regional Medical Center’s Your Healthy Kitchen, says that wraps can be some of the best choices around. But, she says, you have to be careful about which wraps you choose. Tortillas are the most well-known wraps, especially here in the Southwest, but now there are lots of additional, and often healthier, options. Rita suggests looking for the word “whole” when reading the label, as in “whole wheat” or “whole spelt” which means that the entire grain is used, boosting the nutritional and fiber content. This is particularly beneficial to those who are diabetic, as whole grains tend to raise blood sugar less than refined grains. Counting the number of ingredients is also an easy way to judge the nutritional content of the wrap. “Typically, the less ingredients, the better,” Rita says, “Especially if some of those ingredients are hard to pronounce, which may indicate that there are additives.” Once you’ve chosen a healthy wrap, what do you fill it with? Rita has a three-step approach: Spread the inside of the wrap with a sauce, such as tzatziki (made with yogurt, garlic and cucumber), hummus, tapenade or pesto, which will give the wrap some moisture. Next, add your choice of protein, such as chicken, turkey, fish or grilled tofu. Finally, top it with some veggies, such as diced red peppers, onion and greens. Roll it up and you’re ready to enjoy a tasty, nutritious wrap! Your Healthy Kitchen is one of the many ways that Yavapai Regional Medical Center, your not-for-profit healthcare provider, delivers health education and support to the citizens of Yavapai County. You can also follow Rita on Facebook at YRMC’s Your Healthy Kitchen.
Fork in the Road Breast Cancer Fundraiser for YRMC Reaches New Heights
Thanks to widespread community support, the Fork in the Road Restaurants’ annual “Boot Out Cancer” fundraising program to benefit YRMC’s BreastCare Center raised a grand total of $30,670.00. This remarkable achievement marks an 18-year partnership to help the underserved in our community receive breast wellness services. Throughout the month of October – National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – area Taco Bell and Pizza Hut restaurants, together with Gurley Street Grill, Murphy’s, and The Office, invited their patrons to lend their support to the battle against breast cancer. The hundreds who did signed their names to pink “Boot Out Cancer” boots that adorned the walls in these restaurants throughout our community. “We are so grateful for the partnership we have enjoyed with the Fork in the Road organization these past 18 years. We are equally grateful for our community’s outpouring of support for our BreastCare Center,” said Dave Barrett, Chair of the Yavapai Regional Medical Center Foundation. “Community members value the fact that 100 percent of their donations stay in our community to help battle this disease and recognize we are fortunate to have such a high quality program.” Funds donated to YRMC’s BreastCare Center are used to provide screening mammograms for those who do not have the ability to pay, to help ensure the Center has the latest medical technology, and pay for professional education and training and community outreach. To learn more about the BreastCare Center’s programs and services, visit YRMC or contact the YRMC Foundation at (928) 771–5686.
10 Facts We Learned at YRMC’s Patient Blood Management Symposium
Science and history intersected during Patient Blood Management: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Yavapai Regional Medical Center’s (YRMC’s) 6th Annual Patient Blood Management (PBM) Symposium. Approximately 350 people – PBM advocates from across the southwest, physicians, nurses, college students and more – gathered for the 2018 PBM Symposium at Yavapai College Performing Arts Center in Prescott. Throughout the world, even more streamed the Symposium live on laptops, smart phones and other devices. “It was the best of both worlds,” said Dale Black, Patient Blood Management Program Coordinator at YRMC. “Our guests enjoyed 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 Patient Blood Management.” Industry leaders who joined YRMC at the PBM Symposium include: 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. #1 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, MD, 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. #2 Blood is one tough tissue. Daniel Beck, MD, 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 Dr. Beck. “The repairs range from paper cuts to broken bones and all of the way to heart attacks.” #3 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 Elizabeth Black, Data Manager and Administrative Assistant, YRMC’s PBM Program. “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.” #4 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 Elizabeth Black. “It is not the same quality as the fresh blood moving through our bodies or the blood that’s taken immediately before surgery.” #5 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, MD, FACC, FSCAI, 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.” #6 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 which are available at the James Family Heart Center at YRMC West. Left Atrial Appendage Closure (WATCHMAN) Mitral Valve Repair with MitraClip Paravalvular Leak Closure (PVL) Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) #7 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, PhD, 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. #8 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 Jared Head, AGACNP-BC, Hospitalist, NAZ Hospitalist. #9 PBM’s future is now. During the PBM Symposium, Dale Black, PBM Program Coordinator, spoke with Tucson resident Anthony Caballero about the extensive heart procedures he underwent at YRMC’s Heart Center, all using PBM principles. 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.” #10 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. For more information about YRMC’s Patient Blood Management Program, visit us here.
Robyn Chase, D.O., Named YRMC Physician of the Year
Robyn Chase, DO, (center) is joined by John Amos (left), YRMC President and CEO, and Larry Owens, MD, YRMC Chief of Staff, for the announcement of YRMC’s 2018 Total Healing Environment Physician of the Year. There were many compelling accolades provided by Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) employees and Medical Staff to describe Robyn Chase, DO, an accomplished Hospitalist and the YRMC Physician of the Year for 2018. One comment however characterizes the dedication and compassion of this talented physician: Dr. Chase uses her vast knowledge to treat all patients like they are members of her family. “I am filled with gratitude that our hospital community has honored me with this recognition,” states Dr. Chase. “I would like to thank our nursing staff, subspecialists and my Internal Medicine colleagues for helping me reach my full personal and professional potential. Most importantly, I thank my patients who trust me to help them reach an improved state of well-being.” YRMC’s Total Healing Environment Physician of the Year is awarded annually to a physician who: Provides excellent patient care. Understands and incorporates YRMC’s Vision of a Total Healing Environment in his or her daily interactions with patients, employees and volunteers. Embraces the Medical Center’s Values of Respect, Integrity, Commitment, Quality and Accountability. Is a team player, nurtures positive relationships and shows respect for everyone with whom he or she comes into contact. Takes pride in the Medical Center and the community. “Selecting our Total Healing Environment Physician of the Year is a time-honored tradition at YRMC,” states John Amos, President and CEO of YRMC. “Dr. Chase exemplifies the qualities we value in our Medical Staff and is very deserving of this honor. Her patient-first approach to care and her deep commitment to teaching and learning are great assets to YRMC and our community. I have tremendous respect for Dr. Chase and for all of the exceptional physicians who were nominated.” Dr. Chase joined YRMC’s Medical Staff in 2010 and is a graduate of Midwestern University, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine in Glendale, Arizona. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine and completed internship and residency training at Banner – University Medical Center in Phoenix. Dr. Chase also participated in a research internship on vestibular function in Aerospace Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale and is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona, College of Medicine in Phoenix. Dr. Chase and her husband are proud to support the Disabled American Veterans chapter in Prescott.
The Story of TAVR Patient Number 12
Replacing damaged heart valves with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) – a minimally invasive procedure – improves the quality of life for the critically ill people who undergo it, recent research reviews show. This is no surprise to Prescott Valley resident Nicholas “Red” Demino and his daughter, Lily Bergin, of Skull Valley. “My heart disease was so severe that I wasn’t a candidate for open heart surgery,” Demino said. Demino suffers from aortic stenosis – a narrowing of the aortic valve – a condition that tends to develop with age. The condition can lead to chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath and heart failure. People with severe aortic stenosis at an advanced age, like Demino, are not eligible for traditional valve replacement surgery. Getting Ready for TAVR After speaking to Gwen Rhodes, RN, Patient Navigator for the James Family Heart Center at YRMC, and learning more about TAVR, Demino began preparing for TAVR. Rhodes arranged for Demino – a highly decorated Army and Air Force veteran – to undergo the series of tests required before TAVR. Dedicated to patient education, Rhodes also talked to Demino about how his heart works; provided a step-by-step overview of what happens before, during and after a TAVR procedure; and, most important to patients, discussed the pain and discomfort involved in the procedure (it’s minimal). Demino underwent TAVR in YRMC’s state-of-the-art Hybrid Operating Suite in April 2017. He was the Heart Center’s 12th TAVR patient, a number that now has grown to more than 70. “Everything went superbly,” said Bergin of her father’s experience. “They took great care of my Dad.” From Wheelchair to Weightlifting Following his TAVR, Demino joined Cardiac Rehabilitation at YRMC’s Pendleton Center West in Prescott. The 90-year-old’s exercise routine was supervised by one of the Center’s therapists. During sessions, he rode a stationary bicycle, worked out on an elliptical trainer, lifted weights from a chair, participated in resistance training and walked along a rail to build balance. “He went into Cardiac Rehabilitation in a wheelchair,” remembered Bergin. “Each day, we saw improvement. On the last day of Cardiac Rehabilitation, he stopped by to say thank you to Gwen and then walked out the door with his cane.” Today, Demino exercises on his own at home with a treadmill he purchased after he completed YRMC’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program. Lucky Number 12 Demino is proud he was among the Heart Center’s first group of patients. In fact, when he calls Rhodes to catch up or with a question, he enjoys teasing her by identifying himself as “number 12.” And research also shows that laughter improves your quality of life. For more information about TAVR and the James Family Heart Center at YRMC West, visit www.yrmc.org.
Dr. Cheryl Ree Joins the YRMC PhysicianCare Team
Yavapai Regional Medical Center PhysicianCare is pleased to welcome Cheryl R. Ree, MD Family Medicine to its team of talented providers. Dr. Ree has joined the Primary Care team at our new location in Chino Valley. She completed a Medicine Internship and Residency at Self Memorial Hospital in Greenwood, South Carolina and is a graduate of Loma Linda University School of Medicine in Loma Linda, California. Dr. Ree is currently accepting new patients. Please call (928) 636-5680 to schedule an appointment. YRMC PhysicianCare is pleased to accept most insurance plans, including Medicare. YRMC PhysicianCare is located at 474 North Highway 89 in Chino Valley. For more information, please call (928) 636-5680 or visit www.yrmcpc.org.
My Memories of YRMC: Gerry Turley
Willow Creek is normally a docile stream that winds its way through Prescott. But on September 23, 1983 – when 14.5 inches of rain soaked the Prescott area in a 24-hour period – Willow Creek was anything but passive. In fact, the creek was 800 feet wide in some sections. The torrents of water that rushed down Willow Creek and Skull Valley Road Wash upended cars, destroyed houses and left the community without water. The Prescott Courier’s front page headline – “Destruction” – summed up the situation. Below it, “Flooding leaves homeless, but no deaths” was like a sigh of relief given the destruction. Watch My Memories of YRMC: Gerry Turley on YouTube. Flood Strands YRMC Employees “I remember that flood and how it devastated Prescott,” said Gerry Turley, a 40-year employee of Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) who worked in the hospital’s Accounting, Accounts Payable, Payroll and other business operation divisions. YRMC was spared damage, but for days, hospital employees who were affected – including Harriet Mcqueary – struggled to get to work. But Mcqueary had a loyal and caring employee on her team who went out of her way for her supervisor. “I convinced my father that Harriet Mcqueary needed to be at work,” Turley said. “We drove the back roads to get to where she lived and get her back to work.” Turley and her father made that muddy trip as long as Willow Creek Road and Jack Drive were flooded. YRMC Staff Offers Support “Yavapai was a great place,” said Turley, who recalled the support she received on a number of occasions. “You knew you could depend on people and that’s still true.”
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.
Fork in the Road Breast Cancer Fundraiser for YRMC Reaches New Heights
Thanks to widespread community support, the Fork in the Road Restaurants’ annual “Boot Out Cancer” fundraising program to benefit YRMC’s BreastCare Center raised a grand total of $30,670.00. This remarkable achievement marks an 18-year partnership to help the underserved in our community receive breast wellness services. Throughout the month of October – National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – area Taco Bell and Pizza Hut restaurants, together with Gurley Street Grill, Murphy’s, and The Office, invited their patrons to lend their support to the battle against breast cancer. The hundreds who did signed their names to pink “Boot Out Cancer” boots that adorned the walls in these restaurants throughout our community. “We are so grateful for the partnership we have enjoyed with the Fork in the Road organization these past 18 years. We are equally grateful for our community’s outpouring of support for our BreastCare Center,” said Dave Barrett, Chair of the Yavapai Regional Medical Center Foundation. “Community members value the fact that 100 percent of their donations stay in our community to help battle this disease and recognize we are fortunate to have such a high quality program.” Funds donated to YRMC’s BreastCare Center are used to provide screening mammograms for those who do not have the ability to pay, to help ensure the Center has the latest medical technology, and pay for professional education and training and community outreach. To learn more about the BreastCare Center’s programs and services, visit YRMC or contact the YRMC Foundation at (928) 771–5686.
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.
The Story of TAVR Patient Number 12
Replacing damaged heart valves with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) – a minimally invasive procedure – improves the quality of life for the critically ill people who undergo it, recent research reviews show. This is no surprise to Prescott Valley resident Nicholas “Red” Demino and his daughter, Lily Bergin, of Skull Valley. “My heart disease was so severe that I wasn’t a candidate for open heart surgery,” Demino said. Demino suffers from aortic stenosis – a narrowing of the aortic valve – a condition that tends to develop with age. The condition can lead to chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath and heart failure. People with severe aortic stenosis at an advanced age, like Demino, are not eligible for traditional valve replacement surgery. Getting Ready for TAVR After speaking to Gwen Rhodes, RN, Patient Navigator for the James Family Heart Center at YRMC, and learning more about TAVR, Demino began preparing for TAVR. Rhodes arranged for Demino – a highly decorated Army and Air Force veteran – to undergo the series of tests required before TAVR. Dedicated to patient education, Rhodes also talked to Demino about how his heart works; provided a step-by-step overview of what happens before, during and after a TAVR procedure; and, most important to patients, discussed the pain and discomfort involved in the procedure (it’s minimal). Demino underwent TAVR in YRMC’s state-of-the-art Hybrid Operating Suite in April 2017. He was the Heart Center’s 12th TAVR patient, a number that now has grown to more than 70. “Everything went superbly,” said Bergin of her father’s experience. “They took great care of my Dad.” From Wheelchair to Weightlifting Following his TAVR, Demino joined Cardiac Rehabilitation at YRMC’s Pendleton Center West in Prescott. The 90-year-old’s exercise routine was supervised by one of the Center’s therapists. During sessions, he rode a stationary bicycle, worked out on an elliptical trainer, lifted weights from a chair, participated in resistance training and walked along a rail to build balance. “He went into Cardiac Rehabilitation in a wheelchair,” remembered Bergin. “Each day, we saw improvement. On the last day of Cardiac Rehabilitation, he stopped by to say thank you to Gwen and then walked out the door with his cane.” Today, Demino exercises on his own at home with a treadmill he purchased after he completed YRMC’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program. Lucky Number 12 Demino is proud he was among the Heart Center’s first group of patients. In fact, when he calls Rhodes to catch up or with a question, he enjoys teasing her by identifying himself as “number 12.” And research also shows that laughter improves your quality of life. For more information about TAVR and the James Family Heart Center at YRMC West, visit www.yrmc.org.
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.
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
10 Facts We Learned at YRMC’s Patient Blood Management Symposium
Science and history intersected during Patient Blood Management: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Yavapai Regional Medical Center’s (YRMC’s) 6th Annual Patient Blood Management (PBM) Symposium. Approximately 350 people – PBM advocates from across the southwest, physicians, nurses, college students and more – gathered for the 2018 PBM Symposium at Yavapai College Performing Arts Center in Prescott. Throughout the world, even more streamed the Symposium live on laptops, smart phones and other devices. “It was the best of both worlds,” said Dale Black, Patient Blood Management Program Coordinator at YRMC. “Our guests enjoyed 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 Patient Blood Management.” Industry leaders who joined YRMC at the PBM Symposium include: 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. #1 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, MD, 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. #2 Blood is one tough tissue. Daniel Beck, MD, 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 Dr. Beck. “The repairs range from paper cuts to broken bones and all of the way to heart attacks.” #3 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 Elizabeth Black, Data Manager and Administrative Assistant, YRMC’s PBM Program. “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.” #4 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 Elizabeth Black. “It is not the same quality as the fresh blood moving through our bodies or the blood that’s taken immediately before surgery.” #5 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, MD, FACC, FSCAI, 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.” #6 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 which are available at the James Family Heart Center at YRMC West. Left Atrial Appendage Closure (WATCHMAN) Mitral Valve Repair with MitraClip Paravalvular Leak Closure (PVL) Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) #7 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, PhD, 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. #8 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 Jared Head, AGACNP-BC, Hospitalist, NAZ Hospitalist. #9 PBM’s future is now. During the PBM Symposium, Dale Black, PBM Program Coordinator, spoke with Tucson resident Anthony Caballero about the extensive heart procedures he underwent at YRMC’s Heart Center, all using PBM principles. 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.” #10 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. For more information about YRMC’s Patient Blood Management Program, visit us here.
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.
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.
That’s a Wrap!
These days, many of us are looking for convenient, easy meal ideas, but we want to make sure they’re as healthy as possible. Rita Carey Rubin, Registered Dietician, Diabetes Educator and host of Yavapai Regional Medical Center’s Your Healthy Kitchen, says that wraps can be some of the best choices around. But, she says, you have to be careful about which wraps you choose. Tortillas are the most well-known wraps, especially here in the Southwest, but now there are lots of additional, and often healthier, options. Rita suggests looking for the word “whole” when reading the label, as in “whole wheat” or “whole spelt” which means that the entire grain is used, boosting the nutritional and fiber content. This is particularly beneficial to those who are diabetic, as whole grains tend to raise blood sugar less than refined grains. Counting the number of ingredients is also an easy way to judge the nutritional content of the wrap. “Typically, the less ingredients, the better,” Rita says, “Especially if some of those ingredients are hard to pronounce, which may indicate that there are additives.” Once you’ve chosen a healthy wrap, what do you fill it with? Rita has a three-step approach: Spread the inside of the wrap with a sauce, such as tzatziki (made with yogurt, garlic and cucumber), hummus, tapenade or pesto, which will give the wrap some moisture. Next, add your choice of protein, such as chicken, turkey, fish or grilled tofu. Finally, top it with some veggies, such as diced red peppers, onion and greens. Roll it up and you’re ready to enjoy a tasty, nutritious wrap! Your Healthy Kitchen is one of the many ways that Yavapai Regional Medical Center, your not-for-profit healthcare provider, delivers health education and support to the citizens of Yavapai County. You can also follow Rita on Facebook at YRMC’s Your Healthy Kitchen.
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