Health & Wellness - October 2013 Archives

As part of his Leadership Series, Fortune magazine's senior editor-at-large Geoff Colvin interviewed Mayo Clinic President and CEO John Noseworthy, M.D., about Mayo's "culture of teamwork" and the #FutureofHealthCare.  "When you run the world's largest private medcal practice, you don't just respond to sweeping changes in health care -- you can also influence them. That's one goal of Mayo Clinic chief Dr. John Noseworthy, who wants Washington to consider quality and effectiveness when reimbursing health care providers, a change he believes would benefit Mayo and motivate others to improve."  Read more.

Entrevista com a médica Noelle Larson, Clínica Mayo de Rochester, Minnesota Na Clínica Mayo de Rochester, Minnesota, uma nova técnica está sendo usada no tratamento de escoliose em crianças. A escoliose é um encurvamento da coluna vertebral. O tratamento primário da escoliose é feito com colete (órtese), cirurgia e observação. O tratamento com o gesso de Mehta, desenvolvido pela médica Min H. Mehta, fornece uma alternativa não invasiva aos outros métodos. Em alguns casos, ele pode corrigir a curvatura na coluna vertebral em crianças. Entrevistamos a médica Noelle Larson, cirurgiã de ortopedia pediátrica e professora assistente do Departamento de Cirurgia Ortopédica da Divisão de Ortopedia Pediátrica do Mayo Clinic Children Center, para discutir esses temas. O que é escoliose e qual a incidência dessa doença em crianças?

Health care payment must be driven by evidence-based quality measures and proven patient outcomes The U.S. Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee released an outline of proposed Medicare reimbursement legislation that would repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) and create greater incentives that focus the Medicare payment system on health care quality and value. In response, Mayo Clinic President and CEO John Noseworthy, M.D., says, “Mayo Clinic has long advocated for eliminating the SGR and moving toward valued-based rather than volume-based reimbursement. We look forward to studying the details, but we are pleased to see this bipartisan, bicameral effort to repeal the SGR and reform this outdated Medicare payment practice. “In order for all providers to truly put the needs of the patient first, health care payment must be driven by evidence-based quality measures and proven patient outcomes. This is a very positive step in the long road ahead to meaningful Medicare reform. We encourage Congress to continue this bipartisan momentum and enact true Medicare physician payment reform this year.”  Mayo Clinic will review in greater detail the initiatives outlined today and will respond to Congress’ request to provide further comments in the next few weeks.

Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Mayo Clinic Collaborate to Provide Telestroke Services in Northern New England When someone has a stroke, minutes can make the difference between life and death. Studies have shown that prompt access to a vascular neurologist vastly reduces mortality or the long-term disabling effects of a stroke. However, many hospitals, particularly in rural regions, do not have a stroke specialist or are unable to provide around-the-clock stroke coverage. Dartmouth-Hitchcock, in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, is now creating a “telestroke” program so patients in the region will have greater access to emergency stroke care and participating hospitals across New Hampshire and Vermont will have 24/7 access to specialists. CEO and President of Dartmouth-Hitchcock James N. Weinstein, D.O., says, “Telehealth is critical to creating a sustainable health system that focuses on population health, value and payment models that reward high-quality care. New technologies are making it possible for us to deliver care in ways never before imagined – giving patients the care they need close to home.” Click here for news release.

The reach of social media cannot be denied. It has the potential to connect us, inform us and empower us to achieve healthier, happier lives. That is certainly true when it comes to raising public awareness about medical challenges and solutions. In fact, this past week Mayo Clinic invited doctors, researchers, patients and caregivers to explore the possibilities at The 5th Annual Health Care Social Media Summit. Dennis Douda profiles one of the speakers who is already making a big difference in the lives of others. [pkg. 2:12] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AjHr1NqXuI Journalists: Broadcast quality video and audio is available in the downloads. Click here for a transcript of the video report.  Learn more about the Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media.

James Kirkland, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging, is testifying before the Senate Special Committee on Aging today at 4 pm ET. WATCH LIVE  Below are some excerpts from Dr. Kirkland's scheduled testimony: "I am a clinical geriatrician who sees patients, as well as a basic laboratory scientist. I am investigating ways to delay chronic diseases and disabilities by designing interventions that target the fundamental aging mechanisms that predispose us to these diseases. "Age-related chronic diseases account for most of the morbidity, mortality and health expenditures borne by the people of the United States. Exciting, recent advances in our field are beginning to suggest that, by intervening in fundamental aging processes, we may one day be able to prevent, delay and cure multiple age-related conditions, including cancers, dementias, heart attacks, strokes, vascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, arthritis, blindness, frailty and loss of independence, as a group, instead of one at a time." Among the work that needs to be done soon is: • Discovery and development of even more potential interventions, so we can maintain a pipeline of emerging treatments • Testing effects of each potential intervention in multiple age-appropriate animal models of age-related chronic diseases, as well as in normal animals just with advanced chronological aging • Testing across a range of species before we move to human studies • Understanding and minimizing potential complications • Testing of combinations of treatments in experimental animals to optimize outcomes and minimize side effects • Conducting initial, small proof-of-principle trials in human subjects, and eventually full clinical trials. Obviously, we cannot study the impact of such interventions on lifespan in humans. Also, successful interventions will need to be effective in older or at-risk subjects. Drugs that have to be given in early life to have a late-life effect will be difficult to study in humans.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: If you get to the hospital quickly after having a stroke and get treatment right away, does that mean there won’t be any of the typical after-effects of a stroke? ANSWER: Although early treatment does not guarantee that there won’t be any lasting effects from a stroke, it can dramatically decrease the risk of permanent brain damage. If you have any symptoms of a stroke, get emergency medical care right away. There are two types of stroke. The first, called an ischemic stroke, is due to a lack of blood supply to an area of the brain, caused by a blocked artery. This deprives brain tissue of oxygen. Within minutes, the brain cells begin to die. Ischemic strokes make up about 85 percent of all strokes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI0B_MiICNM Today is World Stroke Day and is meant to raise awareness about the symptoms of stroke, types of strokes and recovery treatments. A stroke can occur when ...

Trick-or-treating and Halloween fun might seem like harmless childhood activities, but according to registered dietitian Diane Dressel with Mayo Clinic Health System, the holiday can have frightening consequences to those struggling with their weight. “Halloween can be the first challenge to people watching their weight as they approach the holiday feasting seasons of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. You can move Halloween festivities beyond just candy.” Dressel is a program coordinator for Mayo Clinic Health System’s Weight Management Services, and offers the following advice: Halloween candy packs a punch. Hard candies contain 110 calories per ounce; chocolate bars are 150 calories per ounce. Even the innocent looking fun-sized candy bars average 100 calories each, meaning 10 of them could easily exceed 1,000 calories. A child’s caloric intake for an entire day is typically 1,800. Minimize trick-or-treat temptations. Hold off on buying Halloween candy too early to minimize snacking. Don’t purchase your favorite candy. Consider sugar-free gum, small bags of pretzels or fat-free candies. Forego sugary treats altogether by giving out stickers, temporary tattoos, bouncy balls, yo-yos, colorful pencils or pencil toppers. Make your Halloween party a scream with healthy snacks. Veggie or fruit platters with fat-free dips, fat-free popcorn and sugar-free gelatin can be real crowd-pleasers. CHECK OUT THESE HALLOWEEN RECIPES: Witches Brew with Funny Face Ice Cubes Diet or sugar-free blueberry juice (can combine with another sugar-free fruit juice) Blueberries Mandarin oranges or strips of strawberries 1.      Pour juice into punch bowl. 2.      Fill ice tray or muffin tin half full with water and freeze. 3.      After the water is frozen, add blueberries (for eyes) and orange or strawberry strip (for the mouth). 4.      Cover with water and freeze again. 5.      Add ice cubes to punch before serving.

Whether children are old enough to go out for Halloween trick-or-treating on their own or you're going with them, Joseph Behn, M.D., a family practice physician at Mayo Clinic Health System in Onalaska, Wis., recommends reviewing safety tips with them: Food poisoning is always a concern when it comes to Halloween treats. Don’t leave perishable goodies out of the fridge for more than two hours (one hour in temperatures above 90°F). Cold temperatures help keep most harmful bacteria from multiplying. Food poisoning symptoms vary with the source of contamination. Children with diabetes can eat candy, but the carbohydrates the treats contain should be factored into the child’s meal plan for that day and the child’s insulin level adjusted accordingly. Dr. Behn also recommends parents inspect candy before allowing children to eat it. Have children wear reflective strips on clothing, stick to familiar neighborhoods, set rules about where they'll go and when they'll return, and carry a cell phone in case of emergency. To interview Dr. Behn, contact: Rick Thiesse  Mayo Clinic Health System  608-392-9435 or thiesse.ricky@mayo.edu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a9PTpk465A November Is Palliative Care Awareness Month and Experts Debunk Common Myths Palliative care, a specialized, multidisciplinary team approach to caring for seriously ill people and their families, is often reduced to end-of-life care. This misconception has led to palliative care involvement being introduced late in an illness, when its interventions are no longer beneficial or no longer desired by the patient. In a recent article published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Mayo Clinic physicians Elise Carey, M.D., and Jacob Stand, M.D., along with Mihir Kamdar, M.D., from Massachusetts General Hospital, shared 10 Things Palliative Care Clinicians Wished Everyone Knew About Palliative Care. Some examples: Palliative care is appropriate at any stage of serious illness. Palliative care can help address the emotional impact of serious illness on a patient and their families.  Palliative care teams assist in complex communication interactions surrounding a serious illness. Palliative care enhances health care value.   Read news release. Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Elise Carey are available in the downloads.

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Hay fever Despite its name, hay fever is almost never triggered by hay, and it doesn't cause a fever. In the fall, ragweed pollen is a common hay fever trigger. Weight loss: 6 strategies for success Help make your weight-loss goals a reality with these six strategies. EXPERT ANSWERS Pet allergy: Are there hypoallergenic dog breeds? There are no hypoallergenic dog breeds, but you can reduce your allergic reactions. Acne scars: What's the best treatment? Various procedures can improve acne scars, but no single treatment is best for everyone. HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK  Have a cold? Fight it with fluids You can't flush a cold out of your system, but drinking plenty of liquids can help. Try water, juice, clear broth, chicken soup or warm lemon water with honey. The fluids will loosen congestion and keep you hydrated. Avoid alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas. These may make dehydration worse.   HEALTHY RECIPES Zesty tomato soup Apple corn muffins Chicken strips with honey mustard sauce Pumpkin cream cheese dip Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.