women's clinic of lincoln august 2015 newsletter

6
Changes INFORMATION FOR THE HEALTH OF YOUR FAMILY © 2015 Women’s Clinic of Lincoln, PC Focus on Menopause Are you a person whose periods have stopped and hot flashes have started? Are you not sleeping because of night sweats? Have your intimate relations become painful? Are you confused about information you hear from the media, your friends and neighbors, or even your medical care team about what to do or what not to do during your menopause years? Do you search the Internet for answers and become even more confused? Don’t feel overwhelmed; consider a conference with our Menopausal Services at Women’s Clinic of Lincoln. Our team will address your health concerns in a very comprehensive fashion to improve these special years of your life. Why is this important? In 1900 in the United States the average life expectancy of a woman was age 50. Today it is 82 years. On average, thirty-two special years of a woman’s life are spent in menopause. Over the past 20 to 30 years recommendations for menopause have been varied from do nothing to a great variety of cautions on treatment for women in this age group. e media controversy and wealth of information on the Internet have preserved a confusing collage of misinformation and women are leſt to question what they should do for symptoms and complications during this portion of their life. Now aſter 25 years of in-depth studies and input from science and medical literature driven by the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), the picture is beginning to clear providing guidelines on how to approach menopause in a positive way so women can joy this special part of life in a healthy manner. Because of the interest in this area over the past 35-plus years, Dr. Swanson has had a considerable amount of experience in dealing with these problems with up-to- date knowledge. He has been a member of the North American Menopause Society for over 15 years and has gained a lot of knowledge through this organization, as well as his experience gained by care of women in this age group. For that purpose, he has developed a program for counseling women who have concerns about menopausal symptoms and need additional education on what options are available. Our services for menopausal evaluation and treatment have been developed to address menopausal concerns. ese services address: 1. Evaluation of physical status in early menopause 2. Looking carefully at the pros and cons for hormonal replacement 3. Monitoring bone health to prevent osteoporosis 4. Evaluation of cardiovascular risk as heart disease is the number one killer of women in this age group 5. Looking at dietary changes and weight changes and how to manage those 6. Screening for breast cancer with up-to-date 3D mammography 7. Evaluating genetic risks for disease processes, such as cancer, through the Myriad genetic evaluation of cancer genes 8. Dealing with the mental and physical components of aging To accomplish this on a personal basis, our program evaluates your present medical status and needs and then offers a plan for addressing these issues in an efficient and comfortable way through planning and education. One Volume 23, Number 01.14 Women’s Clinic of Lincoln, P.C. Continued on page 3

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  • C h a n g e s

    wwww

    INFORMATION FOR THE HEALTH OF YOUR FAMILY

    2015 Womens Clinic of Lincoln, PC

    Focus on MenopauseAre you a person whose periods have stopped and hot flashes have started? Are you not sleeping because of night sweats? Have your intimate relations

    become painful? Are you confused about information you hear from the media, your friends and neighbors, or even your medical care team about what to do or what not to do during your menopause years? Do you search the Internet for answers and become even more confused? Dont feel overwhelmed; consider a conference with our Menopausal Services at Womens Clinic of Lincoln. Our team will address your health concerns in a very comprehensive fashion to improve these special years of your life.

    Why is this important? In 1900 in the United States the average life expectancy of a woman was age 50. Today it is 82 years. On average, thirty-two special years of a womans life are spent in menopause. Over the past 20 to 30 years recommendations for menopause have been varied from do nothing to a great variety of cautions on treatment for women in this age group. The media controversy and wealth of information on the Internet have preserved a confusing collage of misinformation and women are left to question what they should do for symptoms and complications during this portion of their life.

    Now after 25 years of in-depth studies and input from science and medical literature driven by the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), the picture is beginning to clear providing guidelines on how to approach menopause in a positive way so women can joy

    this special part of life in a healthy manner.

    Because of the interest in this area over the past 35-plus years, Dr. Swanson has had a considerable amount of experience in dealing with these problems with up-to-date knowledge. He has been a member of the North American Menopause Society for over 15 years and has gained a lot of knowledge through this organization, as well as his experience gained by care of women in this age group. For that purpose, he has developed a program for counseling women who have concerns about menopausal symptoms and need additional education on what options are available.

    Our services for menopausal evaluation and treatment have been developed to address menopausal concerns. These services address:

    1. Evaluation of physical status in early menopause2. Looking carefully at the pros and cons for hormonal

    replacement3. Monitoring bone health to prevent osteoporosis4. Evaluation of cardiovascular risk as heart disease is

    the number one killer of women in this age group5. Looking at dietary changes and weight changes and

    how to manage those6. Screening for breast cancer with up-to-date

    3D mammography7. Evaluating genetic risks for disease processes, such

    as cancer, through the Myriad genetic evaluation of cancer genes

    8. Dealing with the mental and physical components of aging

    To accomplish this on a personal basis, our program evaluates your present medical status and needs and then offers a plan for addressing these issues in an efficient and comfortable way through planning and education. One

    Volume 23, Number 01.14

    Womens Clinic of Lincoln, P.C.

    Continued on page 3

  • of the most important goals is to address your questions regarding how to deal with this time of life in a healthy way. We are pleased to work with you and your medical care personnel to assist you in answering questions and planning for your next 35 to 40 years of life.

    In summary, these services are available at Womens Clinic of Lincoln to evaluate, educate, and add to the goals women have in these special years of their life. Schedule your menopausal consultation with Dr. Swanson today and bring your questions which can be discussed to help you make the best decisions regarding your menopause plan. You can reach our office staff at 402-434-3370 to schedule an appointment.

    Talking about the C word is not at the top of anyones list, but unfortunately many of us face the diagnosis of cancer or are at risk of cancer due to our family and/or personal history. The providers at Womens Clinic of Lincoln and Family Health Care Center are committed to your healthcare and believe you should have access to genetic testing that is useful in determining the best healthcare plan for you.

    Although genetic testing is not necessary for everyone, it may be helpful for some. Five to ten percent of all cancers result from inherited traits. Persons who carry such genetic mutations are more likely to develop certain cancers, often at a much earlier age than the general population. Womens Clinic and Family Health frequently use Myriad myRisk Hereditary Cancer test to obtain this useful information for patients when evaluating cancer risk.

    During your appointment your provider may have you fill out a short risk assessment to help determine if genetic testing is a good option for you. If you decide that you would benefit from this test, they will go over a short informed consent and draw your blood to be sent to Myriad Genetic Laboratories. Results will then come back to your provider and they will discuss with you the outcome. myRisk identifies elevated risk for eight important cancers affecting both men and women. Depending on the results, your provider may recommend certain screening tests, risk-reducing surgeries or preventative medication choices. It is important to remember that your information is kept confidential, and there are laws protecting you from discrimination by a health insurance company based on your results.

    Knowledge is power when it comes to managing your healthcare. Talk to your provider at your next appointment or go to www.mysupport360.com to learn more about myRisk.

    Genetic Screening220 Lyncrest Drive | Lincoln, NE 68510

    womensclinicoflincoln.com

    Stephen G. Swanson, MD, FACOG | James J. Maly, MD, FACOG | Rachel M. Swim, MD

    Molly Snow, APRN | Pam Gillaspie, APRN | Paula Railsback, APRN | Jackie Oden, APRN

    Jeri Tegtmeier, APRN | Courtney Sams, APRN | Jodi Wegner, APRN | Barbara Morton, APRN

    Andrea Davis, APRN

    More Peace of Mind in a New Dimension earlier detection | greater accuracy | fewer call backs

    Everything is clearer in 3D

    Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology

    402-434-3370

    Now offeriNg

    3D Mammography

    Continued from page 1

  • Are you always on the go? It is now easier than ever before to have your health information at your fingertips. We now offer a mobile app to access your Patient Portal Account! Just download the Medfusion Mobile app on your mobile device by scanning the code below or search for it on Google Play or the App Store. This app offers all the same great features: Request an appointment Request prescription renewals Ask a nurse or billing question Pay your bill online and view payment history Update your health history before your appointment Get results and a summary of your visit from your provider

    Dont have a Patient Portal account with us? No problem! Just contact our office and we will be happy to help you establish an account.

    New On-Line Bill Pay FeatureYou can now go on-line to pay your bill without creating an account. This quick pay feature asks for minimal information to identify your patient account, but does not require a login. There is no history or personal information stored on the site, so you simply make a payment and get a receipt in your inbox. This quick and easy feature allows you to pay your bill wherever you have Internet access. Log on to www.womensclinicoflincoln.com or www.familyhealthcarelincoln.com and click on Quick Pay.

    Go Mobile with your Patient Portal

    Dont wait on holD...

    Book your next appointment in a few easy taps.

    Scan the QR code to learn more about our patient portal mobile application.

    We now allow you to request appointments and view messages from your smart phone using Medfusion Mobile.

    Is It A Bad Day...Or Is It Depression?Did you know...Those chronic aches & pains, that headache, the low energy, difficulty sleeping, tiredness, lack of sexual interest... even the weight gain or loss, may all be sings of clinical depression? Crabbiness, crying, and sadness might also be symptoms of depression and/or anxiety.

    Depression is not just all in your head. Its a physical and emotional state that is common and responds very well to treatment. When brain chemicals get out of balance, and that can happen to any of us, we feel

    physically sick. People usually are not aware that foggy thinking and inability to concentrate are also physical symptoms of depression. Symptoms lasting more than two weeks and interfering with your life need attention. The good news is... Treatment works! We have a full-time Nurse Practitioner, Barb Morton, on our staff to help you sort out your symptoms and make treatment decisions.

    Treatment can be medicine (to get the chemicals back in balance) and/or cognitive therapy (talking things through or how can I help myself). Visits are confidential, and most

    people do best combining medications and therapy. Learning new coping skills will help you continue to feel better. Barb also helps people with many emotional issues in addition to depression. Providing a safe place to explore emotions and adjust to living with cancer is an important part of Barbs practice. Barb is available Tuesday thru Friday with appointment times ranging from 8 am to 5 pm.

    For more information or to schedule and appointment, call Melissa at 402-484-4225.

  • Insurance and Billing UpdatesOur billing department continues to work with insurance companies to ensure that your claims are paid timely and accurately. As a private practice, Womens Clinic and Family Health continue to be in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska. Our providers recently joined the UniNet Healthcare Network, so patients with a UniNet plan will be covered at the Tier 1 benefit level. Our providers are also in-network with Coventry Care Link, also referred to as Coventry One, and QualChoice. We continue to be in-network providers with most major insurance plans. For specific information about your coverage, please refer to your plans website.

    Our physicians deliver and perform surgeries at local hospitals based on insurance requirements and/or patient preference. Many insurance companies now require pre-authorization for surgery, which our surgery staff will obtain for you prior to surgery. For specific information about your plans coverage for services, please refer to your plans policy or website. Our billing staff is also available to help answer questions and can be reached at 402-434-3378.

    In the United States, more than one third of women are obese, more than one half of pregnant women are overweight or obese and 8 percent of reproductive-aged women are extremely obese putting them at increased risk of pregnancy complications.

    When people think of risk factors related to obesity, they often think of hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol. What many people do not realize is that obesity can also be a risk for infertility and that weight loss can often improve success of conception. For males, weight loss may increase testosterone levels and improve sperm quality.

    Nutrition during pregnancy impacts short and long-term health of mother and baby. The key components of a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy include appropriate weight gain, appropriate physical activity, consumption of a variety of foods in appropriate amounts to allow adequate, but not excessive, maternal weight gain, appropriate vitamin and mineral supplementation, avoidance of alcohol, tobacco and other harmful substances, and safe food handling.

    New mothers face a delicate nutritional balancing act. Because pregnancy and childbirth deplete essential nutrients

    from mothers body to provide health and growth for her developing baby, a woman faces her greatest nutritional needs in the year after she gives birth. Many new mothers also struggle to regain their pre-pregnancy figure.

    At Womens Clinic of Lincoln and Family Health Care Center we are determined to excel in care we provide to our patients. We are happy to announce that we are expanding our wellness program to offer preconception assessment and counseling, nutrition counseling during pregnancy and postpartum nutritional counseling and weight loss. Our program is founded on lifestyle change and specifically focused on healthy eating habits, exercise and behavior modifications.

    To learn more about the Lifestyle Intervention and Wellness Center contact our wellness staff directly at 402-405-0229 or talk with your provider. We regularly schedule orientation classes led by a physician, which outlines the program details and answers your questions. We are here to support you every step of the way.

    Womens Clinic of Lincoln PC, is proud to offer patients 3D Mammography, also known as breast tomosynthesis, for breast cancer screening. 3D mammography is the latest in breast imaging technology and the Hologic Dimensions 3-D system is the first and only clinically superior mammography imaging system to be approved by the FDA. This technology gives radiologists the ability to identify and characterize individual breast structures without the confusion of overlapping tissue.

    The 3D mammography experience is similar to a traditional 2D mammogram. There is no additional compression required. The exposure to x-ray energy remains very low and is well within the safety standards for mammography.

    By using this technology providers expect: Greater accuracy Earlier detection Fewer callbacks for

    additional imaging Reduced false positives

    The Mammography Department at Womens Clinic of Lincoln is accredited through ACR and is committed to providing their patients with the latest technological advances in breast health. 3D mammography is another powerful tool in early detection of breast cancer, and we hope all women will be inspired to learn more about the benefits of 3D mammography and early detection of breast cancer.

    Life Style Intervention and Wellness Center

    3D Mammography is Here

    Radiologic Technologists L-R Tracy, Lisa, Jody

  • Womens Clinic of Lincoln and Family Health Care Center continue to improve patients options for diseases where limited alternatives are available. We are currently recruiting for a premenopausal low sexual desire and arousal study. According to a recent survey supported by HealthyWomen.com and Palatin Technologies, Inc. nearly half of premenopausal women (ages 30-50) say theyve experienced low sexual desire at some point in their lives, yet only 14 percent were aware that Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) was a medical condition. HSDD is a form of sexual desire disorder that can be defined as a deficiency or absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity that causes marked distress or interpersonal difficulty. Even though low sexual desire is common and significantly affects the lives of women who experience it, limited options are available. We are proud to say that we are currently working with Palatin Technologies, Inc to study a potential new on-demand treatment for HSDD.We are also researching alternative options for treating patients with bacterial vaginosis. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a mild infection of the vagina caused by bacteria, and is the most common vaginal infection worldwide. In women with BV, the balance of good and bad bacteria is upset. Symptoms of BV include abnormal discharge, odor or itching. Treatments are currently available; however; many can be inadequate and relapse rates tend to be high. Therefore we have multiple studies looking at different options for patients with BV.If you have interest in one of these studies or can identify

    with one of the studies below we would be happy to speak with you about participation. We are currently recruiting for the following studies:

    HotFlash

    BirthControlPatch

    Herpes

    VaginalDryness

    Endometriosis

    LowSexualDesire/Arousal

    Overactivebladderwithleakage

    BacterialVaginosis

    BirthControlRing

    Call 402-441-0025 to talk to one of our research coordinators.

    We are pleased to announce that Dr. Jenna Van Pelt will be joining our team of physicians at Womens Clinic of Lincoln this fall. Dr. Van Pelt is excited to move back home to Lincoln to be closer to family. She was born and raised in Lincoln graduating from Lincoln East High School. After completing her undergraduate degree in Biology from Creighton University, Dr. Van Pelt obtained her medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Following medical school, Dr. Van Pelt began her OB/GYN residency at Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. During her time there, she received the Excellence of Medical Student Teaching award two years in a row.

    Dr. Van Pelt enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband, Jake, are very busy taking care of their young son, Ryan. In her free time she enjoys traveling and spending time outside. She likes to run her dog, ski, swim, and boat and is looking forward to returning to Husker country and watching football in the fall.

    Dr. Van Pelt entered the field of obstetrics and gynecology because she enjoys taking care of women and their health needs throughout the course of their lives. She has particular interest in high-risk obstetrics, including patients with diabetes and hypertension. Dr. Van Pelt is also trained in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, including the da Vinci robotic system. She is very excited to start her practice at Womens Clinic. We are currently scheduling appointments for Dr. Van Pelt, and she will be available to see patients starting in September. Please call our office at (402) 434-3370, and our staff would be happy to arrange a time for you to see her.

    New options for patients in Clinical Research

    Dr. Jenna Van Pelt to Join the Team

    Jenna Van Pelt

  • PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

    PAIDLINCOLN, NE

    PERMIT NO. 365220 Lyncrest Drive | Lincoln, NE 68510

    We respect your privary. Changes newsletter exists toshare information about Womens Clinic and FamilyHealth Care Center and advancements in health care.Our mailing list is never shared for commercial purposes.If you would like to be removed from the Changes Newsletter mailing list, please call 402-434-3370 or toll-free 888-434-3370.

    Stephen G. Swanson, M.D., FACOGJames J. Maly, M.D., FACOG Rachel M. Swim, MDSvjetlana Dziko, M.D., Family PhysicianMaud Doherty, M.D., FACOG, Associate Partner

    Molly Snow, APRN-NP; Paula Railsback, APRN-NP; Jeri Tegtmeier, APRN-NP; Jackie Oden, APRN-NP; Pam Gillaspie, APRN-NP; Courtney Sams, APRN-NP; Jodi Wegner, APRN-NP; Andrea Davis, APRN-NP

    Counselor: Barb Morton, APRN

    Svjetlana Dziko, M.D.Rachel Blake, M.D.Kelli Kodad, PA-CJennifer Smith, APRN-NP

    Our Providers

    Caring for your Future