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SOFT TOUCH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT MIDSTATE
MidState Medical Center provides “Soft Touch” relaxation rubs for patients. This is a free service provided by MidState volunteers who are trained by a licensed massage therapist in the technique of therapeutic relaxation rubs. The volunteer provides these soothing relaxation “rubs” to patients’ hands and feet.
Research shows that “Soft Touch” aids in the healing process by increasing circulation, relieving a patient’s anxiety, increasing endorphins, and just simply feels good! This program is rated extraordinarily high on patient satisfaction surveys.
Additional volunteers are needed to meet the high volume of patient requests for this service. Those interested in becoming a “Soft Touch Volunteer” are asked to call Diamond Belejack, Manager of Volunteer Services at 694-8572. Prospective volunteers must complete an application process, have a personal interview, and attend all four mandatory two-hour “soft touch” training evening sessions in October .
Don’t Be Numb to Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading killer of Americans in the United States, and an estimated 8 to 12 million people may have an increased risk for the disease because of a condition known as Peripheral Artery Disease. On Thursday, September 27, from 5:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., the Heart Center in collaboration with Wound Care at MidState Medical Center will sponsor a free screening to assess the risk among local community members.
The Legs for Life National Screening offered at MidState will include a health questionnaire along with counseling on personal risk factors for PAD. Dr. Daniel Schwartz and Dr. Tina Boucher will be providing Ankle Brachial Index measurements to determine diagnosis. This short and simple procedure involves comparing blood pressure in the arm and the ankle. Though the test will not identify which blood vessels are blocked, it will indicate if PAD is affecting the legs.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a condition that occurs when fatty materials, known as plaque, build up on artery walls and cause decreased blood flow to the head, organs, and limbs. Consequently, symptoms of the disease usually include pain or numbness in the muscles, cramping of the legs or lower extremities, and a weak or absent pulse in the legs or feet. Pain generally increases with walking or movement and subsides when resting. If left untreated, walking becomes difficult, ulcers may develop and, in severe cases, gangrene can result, making amputation necessary.
Although the cause is unknown, factors such as age (over 50), smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a family history of heart disease and diabetes can contribute to the onset of PAD. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, PAD treatment can reduce the risk of heart attack, heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. That’s why it is so important to be screened for the disease if you are experiencing symptoms or are among a high-risk population.
Many individuals at risk for PAD are also at risk for another life-threatening condition called Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA). AAA is a weakening in the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. As blood flows through the aorta, it bulges like a balloon and, if the balloon grows large enough, there is a risk that it will burst.
AAA is often called a “silent killer” because there are no obvious symptoms until an aneurysm ruptures. People at the highest risk include males over the age of 60 who smoke or who have ever smoked or those who have a family history of the disease. Early detection and treatment of AAA in high risk individuals can significantly reduce negative outcomes.
We strongly encourage all high-risk populations to attend this free vascular screening. Please join us on Thursday, September 27, at MidState Medical Center in Horowitz Conference Rooms 1 and 2. Contact 203-694-8410 to register. Registration is required.
About MidState
In quarterly patient satisfaction surveys (conducted by an independent, national research company), MidState consistently rates among the top hospitals in Connecticut and the nation. Conveniently located just minutes off Rte. 691 in Meriden, CT, MidState offers free and safe parking, as well as private inpatient rooms. Services include general surgery, emergency medicine, MidState Medical Group Walk-in Center for urgent care needs, and state-of-the-art care in centers dedicated to Cancer Care, Wound and Hyperbaric Care, Family Birthing, Sleep Care, Digestive Health, Pain Management, and Cardiac Care.
For information, call 203 694 8200, or visit http://www.midstatemedical.org/. To find a MidState Doctor, call: 1 866 MMC 5678
The MidState Medical Center Auxiliary together with MidState Medical Center Present
Moonlight Blues Gala
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Aqua Turf, Plantsville, CT
7 PM to Midnight
This event features a gourmet dinner buffet, Viennese table, open bar, and live and silent auctions. There will also be dancing to the music of “Eight to the Bar” and a special guest appearance by “The Blues Brothers” look-a-likes. Event is semi-formal with black tie optional. Tickets are $150 per person. For tickets, please contact Janet Barbiuto in the hospital’s Development office, 203-694-8744.
All proceeds benefit MidState Medical Center.
MidState’s For the Health of It Program Gets Big Response
Last spring MidState Medical Center added a new program to its lineup of Bariatric classes designed to promote weight loss and healthy living. The six-week series, For the Health of It, attracted such a good response that the team decided to run the program again this September.
“This program is really for everybody. Participants learn how to develop healthy relationships with food,” said Karen Darley, program developer and Clinical Social Worker at MidState.
The For the Health of It Series is a comprehensive weight-loss program consisting of six components including three on emotional factors, two on nutrition, and one on exercise.
Darley teaches three weeks of the program, focusing on the psychology of change, the mind-body connection, and stress management. In the psychology of change module, she explains how to manage triggers, which are those things that may cause us to overeat like a particular situation, emotion, person, or environment. We ultimately have much greater control over how we respond to these things and learning healthy, alternative strategies is key to coping most effectively, said Darley.
Darley also intuitively illustrates the relationship between how a person feels and what that person might choose to eat. “People may manage anger by eating crunchy food,” she said.
One participant, Meg Cavanaugh, of Meriden, enjoyed the class so much the first time around that she plans on taking it again. She said, “The psychology piece was incredible. It was like Karen was inside my head. I really believe for me it’s the piece that was missing.”
There is one point that is stressed throughout all of the three emotion-centered modules: mindfulness. Most people don’t eat with awareness; they don’t taste or really experience the foods they are eating. Meals are often completely finished in 10 or 15 minutes. Darley tries to change that, however, with a unique demonstration.
“I go out and buy the best strawberries I can find—big, juicy, red ones. Every person gets a strawberry, but they have to look, feel, and smell it before eating. The level of satisfaction is greater when you actually taste your food,” said Darley.
For the next two weeks, registered dietitians teach participants how to eat healthy. They learn tips for dining out and how to eat on vacation, how to shop for groceries, and sample meals that are easy to prepare on a daily basis. Basics like the food pyramid and food journals are all discussed.
In the final installment on exercise, a clinician from the Eastern Rehabilitation Network instructs participants on how to find an exercise regimen that works for them. The clinician also takes participants to the hospital’s wellness center to demonstrate how to work the cardio equipment and the safe way to lift weights.
Many times, people have a fear of the gym because the equipment seems so complicated and daunting. The program infuses practical elements like the gym demonstrations to enhance everyone’s comfort level.
Cognitive restructuring, or changing the way a person thinks, is the key to a successful exercise program. Darley commented on the need get people to think different about exercise saying, “I think they know they hate it [exercise], so you have to find something you like to do.”
Overall, the program incorporates several factors needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle. “The program put me in the right direction—I’ve lost 27 pounds,” Meg said.
The For the Health of It series begins on Wednesday, September 19 and runs consecutively until October 24. The entire series will be held at MidState Medical Center from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Speakers include Anne Young and Lisa Pranger, Registered Dietitians; Keith LaChance, Physical Therapist; and Karen Darley, Clinical Social Worker. Call Karen Darley at 203-694-8343 to register.
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