W hen you or a loved one requires hospital care, it can be an uneasy time. Will you get the attention you need? Who will look after

all your medical needs? Gila Regional Medical Center puts these worries to rest. Through our award-winning hospitalist program, on-site hospital physicians provide focused patient care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It’s just another way we put patients first.

“Hospitalists are doctors who specialize in hospital medicine. Their time, attention, and expertise is 100 percent focused on the needs of our patients,” explains Michael Sergeant, M.D., Hospitalist Medical Director for GRMC.

Hands-On attentiOnGRMC hospitalists coordinate day-to-day care of hospital patients. This may include addressing patient concerns, modifying treatment, reading test results, and reviewing discharge orders.

“Patients no longer have to wait for their primary care doctors to visit the hospital to take care of these issues,” explains Dr. Sergeant. “Our hospitalists are an extension of primary care doctors, caring for their patients while they’re in the hospital.”

sHOrter HOspital staysThis highly attentive, quality care ensures that each patient’s care is on track. And it often helps patients get home faster—saving them money.

“Many patients have complex medical needs. By effectively managing the health of the whole patient, we can not only reduce time spent in the hospital, but also lower the chance of being hospitalized again,” says Dr. Sergeant.

aWard-Winning CareDuring a hospital stay, hospitalists are in close

communication with each patient’s primary care doctor. This seamless care is praised by both patients and fellow physicians. This year, GRMC won the Five-Star Hospital Award for “Hospitalist Services” from Professional Research Consultants (PRC)—a national award judged by other physicians.

“The advantages of our hospitalist program are significant,” says Dr. Sergeant. “We’re proud to offer such quality care.” ■

gOOd HealtHPUTTING THE COMMUNITY IN THE CENTER OF GOOD HEALTH

7 Tips To Foil Colon CanCer

Conquering Kidney disease | Tee up aT The gila ClassiC

Summer 2011

hospitalist program: Focused attention, Better Care

“grMC hospitalists can respond to urgent patient needs in minutes and can order tests and view results in real time,” says Hospitalist Michael Bell, M.d., pictured here with patient elma lieurance.

Check out our new and

improved website!

grmc.org

Gila Regional Medical Center ■ good health

tHe seventH strategy: sCreeningsColon cancer may cause symptoms, including bloody stool, recurrent

stomach pain or cramping, and unex-plained weight loss. But more often, there are no symptoms. That’s why experts recommend regular screenings for people at high risk, including:

■ Men and women ages 50 and older ■ People with a personal or family

history of colon cancer or polyps ■ Anyone with inflammatory bowel

disease, such as Crohn’s diseaseTalk with your doctor about when to

begin and which of these tests to take: ■ Fecal occult blood test ■ Flexible sigmoidoscopy ■ Colonoscopy ■ Double contrast barium enema ■

six lifelOng HaBitsResearch shows that the following tactics can lower your risk:

7 Strategies that protect against Colon Cancer

e ach year, cancer of the colon or rectum kills more Americans than any other cancer except

lung cancer. But the outlook is bright: Experts are discovering many ways to lower the risk of dying from this cancer that attacks the digestive system.

get help with Medication Costs and Medicare part d questionsThe Medication Assistance Program, better known as MAP, is staffed by the GRMC Auxiliary. James Skee, M.D., of Silver Health Care initiated the program after

recognizing that pharmaceutical companies offered free and low-cost medications, but that physicians didn’t have the time to research them.

MAP volunteers help people who can’t afford their medications fill out applications to the pharmaceutical companies that make the needed drugs. “I enjoy the good feeling it gives me when I help someone feel better because they can get their medications,” says Evelyn Lawyer, a MAP volunteer.

Connie Hostetler leads MAP and has participated for 10 years. “In addition to helping people get free or low-cost medications, we can answer questions about Medicare Part D,” Hostetler says.

MAP volunteers are available at Silver Health Care on Wednesdays from 9 to 11 a.m. Any medical provider’s eligible patients can access the services.

need help paying for medications? got Medicare part d questions? these Map volunteers can help! from left: evelyn lawyer, gloria lopez, Connie Hostetler, diane armstrong

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6Maintain a healthy weight. Excess pounds around the waist are especially risky.

Get adequate calcium from foods or a supplement. Consumption of about 700 to 800 mg of calcium a day reduced the risk for one type of colon cancer by 40 to 50 percent.

Exercise regularly—it can cut the risk for colon cancer by almost 30 percent.

Take a multivitamin that contains folic acid. Proper long-term use may help decrease colon cancer risk. Foods rich in folate—such as oranges, leafy green vegetables, fortified breakfast cereals, asparagus, and certain beans—also offer protection.

Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and other plant foods, such as whole-grain breads and cereals. Many of these foods contain substances that fight off cancer.

Limit your intake of red meat, particularly fatty or processed varieties.

7

Join us for a grMC Free health Talk: let’s Talk Colonoscopy. a surgeon will answer your questions about this process. scheduled during august 2011 in the grMC Confer-ence room at 1 p.m. Contact our desert sages Coordinator for details at 575-538-4870. Check our online event calendar at www.grmc.org.

if you have questions about Map, call and leave a message at 575-956-1330.

www.grmc.org

athlete Conquers

Kidney Disease —and

Triathlon

s had Ireland was just 10 years old when he got the devastating news that his kidneys were fail-

ing. Doctors told him that he would never fulfill his dream of becoming a professional athlete; he would never get married or live a full life.

But sHad Had OtHer plans38-year-old Shad Ireland was the first kidney dialysis patient in the world to successfully complete the grueling Ironman Triathlon. That was 2003. Twenty triathlons later, he brings Take on the Tour: Ride for Life—a community-based initia-tive to raise kidney disease aware-ness—to Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Silver City this September. The event, including group cycling rides, free health screenings, and other activities, will take place September 16 to 18.

WHat inspires yOu?Shad has survived two failed kidney transplants and is now a home dialysis patient pushing his body to the limit.

“I am an extreme case,” says

Ireland. “I do Ironman and all these crazy things, but the goal for me at the end of the day is to show that people can successfully live with this disease. The question I ask people is, what inspires them? I’m inspired to be an athlete and to drive kidney disease prevention education.”

neW MexiCO ranks HigH in kidney disease The leading causes of kidney disease are obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. New Mexico is among the top 3 states for the highest incidence of diabetes-related kidney disease. Research also shows kidney disease-related deaths are 120 percent higher among Hispanics versus Caucasian counterparts. This can be prevented. 

Partnering to bring this tour to southwest New Mexico is Gila Regional Medical Center (GRMC); Western New Mexico University (WNMU); Lanny Olson, a dialysis patient and owner of the Silver City Holiday Inn Express; Jim and Debbie Nennich; and Gila Hike & Bike. ■

Greek Delight Cold Pasta Salad

gale Moore, glenwood gazette editor“This is my favorite summer recipe. It makes a lot and has great flavors and texture. I like to just eat it a ‘bit at a time’ with crackers or crusty French bread. It saves cooking in the heat!”

ingredienTs16 oz. box orzo pasta, cooked8 oz. jar roasted red peppers, chopped14 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped20 kalamata olives, drained, rinsed, and coarsely choppedsmall sprig of fresh basil, diced (optional)4 cloves of garlic (to taste), diced8 oz. pinon nuts 4 oz. jar small capers, drained¾ cup lemon juice¼ cup olive oil

preparaTionCook the pasta according to the box instructions. Drain pasta and empty into a mixing bowl. Add next nine ingredients to the pasta. Mix well. Place in a large plastic container and chill.

nuTriTional inForMaTionServes eight. Each serving contains about 446 calories, 22 g total fat (3 g saturated fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 840 mg sodium, 61 g carbohydrate, 15 g fiber, and 10 g protein.

send in your healthy recipe to receive a FREE Good Health, Great Food cookbook. Winning recipes could be featured in future issues of Good Health! send recipes to lhowell@grmc.org or mail them to laura howell, grMC, 1313 east 32nd st., silver City, nM 88061.

healThy reCipe ConTesT Winner!★ ★

SavE thE DatE: SunDay, SEptEmbER 18 The silver City TaKe on The Tour: ride For liFe program will include a 45-mile group ride, a FREE health screening for leading causes of kidney disease from the grMC healthreach program and WnMu nursing department, shad ireland’s presentation, and a shad ireland Foundation dinner Fundraiser. For more details, visit www.takeonthetour.com or www.grmc.org, or contact the WnMu office of institutional advancement at 575-538-6230.

septeMBer 9–10, 2011gila Classic golf tournamentJoin GRMC and Tory James—former Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders player, Super Bowl Champion XXXIII, and 2011 Gila Classic Golf Tournament celebrity guest—for 18 holes of golf at the Silver City Golf Course. Gather a team or register as an individual—either way, come ready to have fun and meet Tory!

The weekend events begin Friday, September 9, at 4 p.m. with the Gila Monster long drive/putting contest and a $5 grilled hamburger plate. Tournament play begins Saturday, September 10, with registration at 7:30 a.m. and tee time at 8 a.m.

The Gila Classic will have a cadre of expert golfers ready to meet the challenges of competitive play. The tournament is open to the public. The entry fee includes:

■ Tournament shirts ■ Breakfast and lunch ■ Goodie bags ■ Great prizes ■ Good friends

Your donation will provide resources to ensure that Gila Regional Medical Center meets its mission of quality patient health care. Your donation is tax deductible. So “team up” and “par up” for this exciting day of fun and golf!

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage

PAID Gila Regional Medical Center

Gila Regional Medical Center1313 East 32nd St.Silver City, NM 88061

Printed on Recyclable Paper

Good Health is published by Gila Regional Medical Center. The information is intended to educate readers about subjects pertinent to their health, not as a substitute for consultation with a personal physician. © 2011 Printed in U.S.A.

If you no longer wish to receive this mailing, please call Laura at Gila Regional Medical Center, 575-538-4657, or write to Laura Howell, GRMC, 1313 East 32nd St., Silver City, NM 88061.

830M

Postmaster: Please deliver between July 18 and 22.

Calendar of eventstake on the tour: ride for lifeSunday, September 18

Group Cycle Ride: 8:45 a.m., meet and greet, Silver City Holiday Inn Express. From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., ride with Shad Ireland from the Holiday Inn Express on NM 15 for approximate-ly 22 miles to Wild Horse Mesa overlook, then ride back to the Holiday Inn Express. For details, call Jack at Gila Hike & Bike, 575-590-2612.

FREE Health Screening: Noon to 4 p.m., Global Resource Center, WNMU Campus. Includes screening for obesity, high blood pres-sure, and diabetes from the WNMU Nursing Department and GRMC HealthReach Diabetes Education Program. To learn more, call HealthReach at 575-538-4826.

FREE Shad Ireland Presentation: 3 p.m., WNMU Global Resource Center Auditorium. Join us for an inspirational and motivational talk about living with kidney disease.

Fundraising Dinner: 6 to 8 p.m., Linda and J.P. Jones’ home in Silver City. Includes a pre-sentation and musical performance. For details, call WNMU Institutional Advancement at 575-538-6320.

free Health talk series: urine good Hands!Friday, September 16, 1 p.m.GRMC Conference Room 1313 E. 32nd Street, Silver CityJoin Urologist Amos L. Lash, M.D., for a pre-sentation about men’s and women’s urological problems. A Q&A session will follow. Call the Desert Sages Coordinator at 575-538-4870 to reserve your space.

save tHe dates!

former nfl star tory James will be the celebrity guest at the 2011 gila Classic.

swing into action today! Call nancy stevens at 575-538-4138 to reserve your spot at the 2011 gila Classic.