May 2008 Health News and Events

Energy Medicine: What it is and what it does Although it has been practiced for thousands of years in other parts of the world, energy medicine is only now beginning, albeit gradually, to become a known reality in this country. What is happening as well, and perhaps what is supporting this awakening, is that the field is becoming progressively more diverse. As with main stream medicine, which has a wide variety of approaches to health care such as family medicine, cardiology, pediatrics, endocrinology, and neurology, energy medicine encompasses a broad spectrum as well. Within the field of energy medicine, there are practitioners who work solely with the Biofield, a non-specific energetic field which exists in and around the body. (It is through the biofield that we experience those electrical charges which can shock us unexpectedly when we touch something.) The biofield is composed of all the means of energy flow that exist in our system, from every time we move, we breathe, or our heart beats and our organs function. Approaches such as Reiki and Therapeutic Touch are examples of those who deal with this larger, less defined or specific expression of energy. There are also practitioners who focus solely on the Meridians which are lines of energy similar to garden hoses which run throughout our bodies. Many meridians, although certainly not all, are identified with organs. In China and Japan, for example, meridians are considered traditional points of focus in working with one who is ill and in need of balancing or healing. Within this approach to energy medicine, the elements of Fire, Earth, Metal or Air, Water and Wood are considered the basics elements of life and are considered to be reflected in various body parts. From this perspective, the water element of life, for example, is considered to be reflected in the organ pair of Bladder and Kidney. From this pair of organs there are energy lines, or Meridians, that are well-defined and which flow from the head to the foot and back. Because these two organs work as a pair, if one is deficient, the other may be excessive. The objective in working with the meridians or other energy channels is to bring balance first within the pair discussed and then directly or indirectly between each of the pairs and the many other energy flows in the system as well. Research has shown that each of the meridians or channels are reflective of not only physical but also emotional stresses that are impacting the body. Consequently, when we receive Acupuncture (with hair-thin needles) or Acupressure (without needles) the intent is to balance our bodies multi-dimensionally supporting a healthy energetic flow on all levels. In addition, the Chakras, a Hindu word for other energy centers in the body which are cone or wheel shaped, are another focus of energy flow that particular practitioners focus on. Although there are hundreds of chakras throughout our system, some large and some small, most chakra work focuses on the seven major chakras in our system. They run from the base of the body at the peritoneum, to the crown of the head with pairs that exist between these locations within the abdomen, the solar plexus, the heart, the throat, and in the forehead. Each of these chakras feed the organs or systems they are related to and that exist within their physical scope. As with the meridians, these are multi-dimensional realities. Each has unique physical, emotional, and spiritual implications for your system, in a very healthy way if they are working and in a very unhealthy way if they are not. There are practitioners who work solely with this source of energy flows in the system as well. Barbara Brennan as well as others teach this approach to the energy field. There are numerous books on the market which discuss these various flows in great detail. Carolyn Myss has a book entitled Anatomy of the Spirit which describes some of this work. Anodea Judith has a comprehensive book entitled Eastern Body/Western Mind which discusses the blend of each of these levels of the energy field and how they interact. As you read, you will see that they are all distinct and yet they are all one. Rather than being a new concept, or something unfamiliar, most of us have already experienced in the energy in our body and yet never identified it as such. We already know how the energy in our body is supposed to feel without even realizing it. This is demonstrated when we sense something is not right yet when we go to the doctor, he/she cannot find anything wrong. It is an example of our own intuition (inner knowing), our own awareness of our body on an energetic level, coming into action. On a deeper level than we are usually conscious of, we sense an imbalance in our body, yet it cannot be detected through traditional medical tests. That is because all disease and disorder begins on an energetic level. When this sense of imbalance is still solely on an energetic level and is not yet in the physical body, we are aware of it yet it is not yet physically visible by those who have been trained to see it. It is at this initial point that it is the ideal time to deal with the problem with minimal impact on your life. What cannot be detected by an EEG or an EKG for example, can be detected by a well-trained practitioner. To fully understand this work, the work of Energy Medicine, it is important to know that everything that exists, that we see, sense or feel, is made up of energy. Our physical bodies are simply energy slowed down to a state that creates physical mass. The unique blend of that mass is what creates our individuality. In its natural state, energy is fluid, flowing, and vibrant, the way we feel when we are healthy and well-rested. When it is not, something has gone wrong, minimally or in a major way. When we are sick or have a disease, an energetic block has developed somewhere in the physical body, or the energy flow is minimized or deficient thus, the body is not able to function as it is meant to. Often the energy simply needs to be balanced or a block may need to be released. Every thought you have ever had is an energetic reality. Every feeling you have ever had is an energetic reality. When you do not deal with these, when you decide that you are not supposed to think or feel “that way” and block it, hold it in, you literally stagnate that energy flow thus creating something similar to an energetic cyst in your system. That cyst can be dissolved with the energy re-assimilated into your system so that things flow freely again. This can be done in working as a generalist with the biofield, or as a specialist in working with the meridians or the chakras. Whether you learn how to release that block yourself or see a practitioner to do it for you, it is extremely beneficial to see someone who can help you understand your own energy patterns and the ways in which you, specifically, hold or utilize your energy. Energy Medicine is the approach to health care which works on this level. It works with these flows to support health in your body on all levels. The degree to which a practitioner can impact these flows as well as educate you to your own process depends, however, on how well he or she is trained, the depth of their knowledge of the energy flows, their intent, and their ability to see, sense, or intuit what most needs to be done during any particular session. An Energy Medicine Practitioner assesses the energy flow within and around a person’s physical body to determine where there are any blocks, deficiencies, excesses or stagnations in their energy field. Based on this assessment, a practitioner uses specific techniques to realign and balance the energy field to help restore health and well-being on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. Depending upon their training they will work with any of the particular flows listed above. Usually practitioners are trained in only one of the approaches listed above. However some have trained in one, two, three, or more approaches to the energy field. As stated above, some work with the general energy flows alone, trusting that you will innately know specifically where it needs to be balanced. Others work very specifically following the flows to see the extent to which there is imbalance and will work throughout the level of the system they are trained in, following as your body leads them. Others, such as those trained in the W.I.S.E. Method™ are trained to work with all levels of energy flow, the biofield, the meridians, and he chakras, and to support you in understanding what is happening for you during those times of onset of a disease or disorder or at the times in which there is an exacerbation, or worsening, of the symptoms. We each have our own vulnerabilities, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, and we each have our own patterns of illness, chronic and acute. Understanding how your body responds to stress, allows you to see the patterns you have developed over the years, based on how you hold your energy, how it flows within your body, and how you react or respond to the events of your life. That understanding has an amazing ability to support you in taking your life back and in seeing that your life and your health is far more under your control than you realize. Learning to listen to your body, to be aware of your energy, supports you in going to be tired rather than exhausted. That level of awareness, allows you to notice immediately when something doesn’t feel well. Developing the tools, the life skills, necessary to support your own health, gives you a far greater chance of dealing with issues when they are beginning rather than when you are too weak, frightened, or vulnerable to do so. A comprehensive approach to energy medicine can heal as well as educate. As a form of wholistic health, it deals with the whole person, intellectually, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Also, as a form of wholistic health, and a wholistic approach to health, it is an aspect of integrative health working in partnership, rather than competition, with main stream medicine, helping to provide a full approach to health care and education for patients as well as medical practitioners, whatever their training. Finally, amazingly, this form of healing is a skill we all possess naturally, as embodied souls. Don’t you instinctively, energetically, want to help someone who looks stressed or overwhelmed? Don’t you want to offer tea or a drink to someone who is distraught? If someone is hurt, don’t you instinctively want to touch the wound and sooth it? Isn’t it natural, to wish you could take the pain from someone you love? For some, they have followed that urge, that instinct and taken it to the next level through energy medicine. They have spent a period of time, varying from one day to four years or more in which they have studied to truly understand this work and to have the ability to work in-depth in the healing as well as the education of a client/patient. They recognize the importance of energy medicine in supporting or recreating a natural free-flowing energy pattern within a client/patient’s body that best supports them living their life, fully alive, passionately and vibrantly. It supports living rather than surviving. At its best, it deals with the deepest and most natural connection to the self, making it possible for you to be all that you are called to be. Dorothy A. Martin-Neville, Ph.D., LMFT, LPC, EMP is the founder and CEO of The Institute of Healing Arts and Sciences, Inc. and the creator of The W.I.S.E Method™. She is a Clinical Instructor at The University of Connecticut Medical School. Dr. Martin-Neville has been Co-Chair of the Advisory Board of an NIH funded multi-million dollar Frontier Medicine Grant and has received NIH grant funding to research the W.I.S.E. Method™ with Fibromyalgia patients. MidState Ready MidState Medical Center takes emergency preparedness seriously and thinks you should too. One of the most important things you can do to prepare for a potential disaster is organize an emergency supply kit. The United States Department of Homeland Security suggests that there be three days worth of supplies in your kit. Some basic items for a kit include one gallon of water per person for each day (drinking and sanitation), non-perishable food and can opener, battery-powered or hand crank radio, flashlight and extra batteries, first-aid kit, whistle to signal for help, dusk mask to filter contaminated air, plastic sheeting and duct tape for shelter-in-place, moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for sanitation, wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, and local maps. To learn more, visit MidState Ready at www.midstatemedical.org. Blood Pressure Basics Blood pressure is the measure of the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries. Ideal blood pressure should be below 140/90. If high blood pressure is left untreated, it can damage your blood vessels without you knowing or feeling it. Damaged blood vessels can lead to heart attack, stroke, or kidney disease. Tips on how to lower high blood pressure: Quit smoking Lose weight—it is the best way to lower blood pressure Make dietary changes by eating more fruits and veggies Cut back on salt. Use spices, herbs, or lemon to flavor foods. Limit alcohol intake Take blood pressure pills when prescribed by your health care provider Registered dieticians at MidState Medical Center can help you lower your blood pressure by working with you to customize a meal plan that best meets your needs. To schedule an appointment, call 694-8782. You Can Find Comprehensive Cancer Information All In One Place The Cancer Center at MidState now has its own unique URL on the Internet. By visiting the new site, you’ll find detailed information on early cancer detection and diagnosis, advanced treatment options, and patient and family support programs. Everything you need to know can be found in this one convenient location. We encourage you to visit the site and read about our integrated, patient-focused approach and our efforts in prevention, education, and outreach. Visit us today at www.midstatecancercenter.com. Find MidState Medical Center in Your Community MidState Medical Center has offices in Meriden, Cheshire, Wallingford, and Southington to make access to quality health care convenient for our patients. Below are our locations: MediQuick in Meriden Part of MidState’s Emergency Services, MediQuick is a walk-in center able to care for minor illnesses and injuries such as sore throat, earache, sinus pain, minor burns, rashes, back pain, the flu or a minor sports injury. In most cases, you can be treated by a doctor and be on your way in less than 35 minutes. MediQuick is located at 883 Paddock Avenue. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily, except for holidays. Call 203-630-5290. MidState Medical Group Walk-In Center in Wallingford The MidState Medical Group Walk-In Center offers treatment for a wide range of conditions and illnesses: colds and sore throats, sinus pain and headaches, earaches and fevers, cuts and bruises, muscular aches and pains, sprains and minor fractures, rashes and minor burns, and other conditions. In addition to meeting minor urgent care needs, services include continuing care of chronic diseases, complete annual physicals, pre-operative physicals, and school/camp/sports physicals. Naturally, if you have a major medical emergency, we recommend that you seek treatment at the MidState Medical Center Emergency Department. The Walk-In Center is conveniently located at 60 Church Street in Wallingford. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturday. Call 203-284-9099. MidState Medical Group in Southington Located at 51 North Main Street, James Seely, MD, and Christina Plantier, PA, provide medical oversight at our Southington office. New patients are welcome and most insurance is accepted. To schedule an appointment, call 860-621-6704. Diagnostic & Specialty Center of Cheshire Our Diagnostic & Specialty Center is located at 680 South Main Street. Diagnostic & Specialty Center of Southington Our Diagnostic & Specialty Center is located at 991 South Main Street. MidState VNA & Hospice MidState VNA & Hospice offers comprehensive services in homecare, community health, and end-of-life care. Call 203-235-5714 for more information. Medical Transportation for Meriden Seniors The City of Meriden Advisory Board on Aging is currently publicizing transportation resources for Meriden senior citizens who are going to medical appointments. Information is being sent to medical offices, churches and other common community organizations. The Board has identified the following medical transportation options for Meriden seniors. You may wish to clip this article to keep for future reference. Please call the number(s) listed for the service you desire. 1. Meriden Senior Citizens Center (237-3338). Transportation for Meriden residents aged 55 and over to medical appointments in Meriden. 24-hour advance notice required. Funded by the City of Meriden, the Agency on Aging of South Central CT and the CT Dept. of Transportation. No fee for the service, contributions accepted. 2. American Red Cross, Wallingford/Meriden branch (265-6721). Transportation to out-of-town (outside Meriden) medical appointments. One week advance notice requested. Partially funded by grants from the Agency on Aging of South Central CT and United Way of Meriden and Wallingford. No fee, contributions accepted. 3. Northeast Transportation Co. (ADA Paratransit Program) (1-800-441-8901). Transportation to medical appointments in Meriden and Wallingford. Riders must complete an application to verify that a disability makes it difficult to use the fixed bus route. Fee charged. 4. American Cancer Society (1-800-227-2345). Volunteer drivers provide transportation for cancer patients to medical appointments. Three business days advance notice is requested. 5. Meriden Transit District (235-6851). Fixed route local bus service in Meriden with connections to Wallingford, Middletown, New Britain and New Haven. Special fare for senior citizens aged 65 and over with Medicare card or Transit ID card. The Meriden Advisory Board on Aging meets monthly at the Meriden Senior Center, 22 West Main St., Meriden. Please call the Center at 237-0066 for questions about the Board's activities. Major New American Cancer Society Study Looks to Meriden and Wallingford for Participants Cancer Prevention Study Gives Residents Chance to Have Direct Impact on Cancer The American Cancer Society is looking to Meriden and Wallingford residents to play a direct role in improving the lives of future generations by participating in an historic study. The Society will be signing up volunteers for its Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) at the Meriden-Wallingford Relay For Life on May 30, 2008, from 5-9PM at Lyman Hall High School, 90 Pond Hill Rd., Wallingford. The study, which will enroll a diverse population of half a million people across the United States, will help researchers better understand the lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer, and will further efforts to eliminate cancer as a major health concern for future generations. The Meriden-Wallingford Relay For Life will be one of 119 enrollment sites currently scheduled for 2008, nearly double the number of sites that took part in 2007. Participants must be between the ages of 30 and 65, must never have been diagnosed with cancer, and must be willing to make a long-term commitment to the study, which simply means filling out follow-up surveys at their home periodically. To enroll in the study, individuals will be asked to complete a brief written survey, provide a waist measurement, and give a small blood sample at the Relay enrollment site, in addition to completing a baseline survey at their home. For the first time in more than 50 years of conducting these kinds of studies, the Society is making it possible for participants to complete their baseline and follow-up questionnaires online. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Americans to participate in lifesaving cancer research,” said Eugenia E. Calle, Ph.D., American Cancer Society director of analytic epidemiology, who is overseeing the study. “While we have been conducting these types of studies for decades, our world-class research department can only study new and emerging cancer risks if members of the community are willing to become involved.” Betty Berger, Cancer Prevention Study–3 Event Chair states; “I enrolled in the CPS-3 study in 2006 at Celebration On the Hill, a Relay event, in Washington, D.C.. This is my opportunity to give back for my sons life.” Betty’s son Jeff , a 20 year survivor of Hodgkin’s Disease, was diagnosed when he was 13 years old. “Jeff received a stem cell transplant in 1994. This procedure is a direct result of the research done to help cancer patients. Without that transplant who knows what his life would be like would be now. My being able to personally participate in a study to help prevent or to show what causes or does not cause cancer is an honor. I am also doing this for my grandson and his future children. May they never have to go through what Jeff had to. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if no parent ever has to hear “Your child has cancer” ever again. It’s a devastating statement.” Researchers will use the data from CPS-3 to build on evidence from a series of American Cancer Society studies that began in the 1950s and involved hundreds of thousands of volunteer participants. The Hammond-Horn Study and previous Cancer Prevention Studies (CPS-I, and CPS-II) have played a major role in understanding cancer prevention and risk, and have contributed significantly to the scientific literature and to the development of public health guidelines and recommendations. Those studies confirmed the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, showed that obesity increases the risk of several cancers, and linked aspirin use to a lower death rate from colon cancer. The current study, CPS-II, began in 1982 and is still ongoing. But changes in lifestyle and in the understanding of cancer in the more than two decades since its launch make it important to begin a new cohort. The Meriden-Wallingford Relay For Life on May 30th at Lyman Hall High School will be the only time CPS-3 will be enrolling in Wallingford this year. While initial enrollment takes just 20 to 30 minutes, the study is expected to produce benefits for decades to come. “While science can do a lot to explain the biology and genetics of cancer, some of the most valuable information we have is a direct result of the contributions of dedicated individuals over several generations,” said Dr. Calle. “We are once again looking to the dedication, compassion, and generosity of Americans to come through and help us provide answers that we know will save lives and improve the outlook for future generations.” For more information or to learn how to become involved with CPS-3, visit www.cancer.org/cps3, email cps3@cancer org, or call toll-free 1-888-604-5888. The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org. Medical Transportation for Meriden Seniors The City of Meriden Advisory Board on Aging is currently publicizing transportation resources for Meriden senior citizens who are going to medical appointments. Information is being sent to medical offices, churches and other common community organizations. The Board has identified the following medical transportation options for Meriden seniors. You may wish to clip this article to keep for future reference. Please call the number(s) listed for the service you desire. 1. Meriden Senior Citizens Center (237-3338). Transportation for Meriden residents aged 55 and over to medical appointments in Meriden. 24-hour advance notice required. Funded by the City of Meriden, the Agency on Aging of South Central CT and the CT Dept. of Transportation. No fee for the service, contributions accepted. 2. American Red Cross, Wallingford/Meriden branch (265-6721). Transportation to out-of-town (outside Meriden) medical appointments. One week advance notice requested. Partially funded by grants from the Agency on Aging of South Central CT and United Way of Meriden and Wallingford. No fee, contributions accepted. 3. Northeast Transportation Co. (ADA Paratransit Program) (1-800-441-8901). Transportation to medical appointments in Meriden and Wallingford. Riders must complete an application to verify that a disability makes it difficult to use the fixed bus route. Fee charged. 4. American Cancer Society (1-800-227-2345). Volunteer drivers provide transportation for cancer patients to medical appointments. Three business days advance notice is requested. 5. Meriden Transit District (235-6851). Fixed route local bus service in Meriden with connections to Wallingford, Middletown, New Britain and New Haven. Special fare for senior citizens aged 65 and over with Medicare card or Transit ID card. The Meriden Advisory Board on Aging meets monthly at the Meriden Senior Center, 22 West Main St., Meriden. Please call the Center at 237-0066 for questions about the Board's activities. . Meriden Movers Community Walking Program - Come Walk with Us! Meriden Movers, a community walking program sponsored by the Meriden Health Department, welcomes all Meriden residents to attend weekly group walks at the Quinnipiac River Linear walking trail. The group walks on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 5:30-6:30pm. Walkers are to meet near the red bridge at the Linear walking trail, located at the corner of Oregon Road and Route 70 in South Meriden. A group warm-up and stretch will be held at 5:30, and then walkers can start their journey down the 1.3 mile trail. The trail is marked every quarter mile so participants know how far they have walked. Everyone is encouraged to walk at their own pace. Bring a water bottle, and dress for the weather. In case of rain, the walk is cancelled. Dogs on leashes are welcome. A limited number of pedometers are still available, and will be passed out at the walks. For more information, please call the Meriden Health Department’s Community Health Education office at 630-4238. Accepting Life’s Transitions The Center for Successful Aging and MidState’s LaPlanche Clinic will be jointly sponsoring a presentation titled “Accepting Life’s Transitions” on May 27, 2008. The presentation will be held from 10:30-11:30am in the mezzanine of the Max E. Muravnick Meriden Senior Center, located at 22 West Main Street in Meriden. As we grow older, we experience many changes in our lives. Aging is a series of transitions; some gradual and some abrupt. These changes could be to our physical health, a loss of a friend or loved one, or the change of residence to senior housing. We can also develop new interests and make new friends who help us adapt along the way. Edwina Ranganathan, MSW, LADC, will lead a discussion on how to cope and adjust to these changes. This presentation is free and open to the public. For more information please call Rita Kowalchik at the Meriden Health Department, 630-4222. May 16-23 is Stroke Awareness Week In recognition of Stroke Awareness Week, the Meriden Health Department will be hosting 2 free stroke awareness screenings for Meriden residents. The screenings will be held: May 21, from 9:30-11:30am at the Meriden Senior Center (22 West Main Street) May 22, from 9:00-11:00am at the Meriden Health Department (165 Miller Street). The screening is part of the Department’s new initiative called W.I.S.H.H. – Women Interested in Staying Heart Healthy – which encourages women to take control of their heart health by learning the signs and symptoms of a cardiovascular emergency (heart attack and stroke), controlling their blood pressure and cholesterol, and making healthy lifestyle changes. A stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. Stroke is the nations’ third leading cause of death, and is a medical emergency. Know these warning signs of stroke and teach them to others. Every second counts: Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination Sudden, severe headache with no known cause Appointments are required for the stroke screening. Please call the Meriden Health Department’s Clinic office at 630-4234 for more information on stroke and to make your appointment. Eating Well While Eating Out – May 5, 2008 As part of a new cardiovascular health program called W.I.S.H.H. (Women Interested in Staying Heart Healthy), the Meriden Health Department will be hosting a presentation called “Eating Well While Eating Out” on May 5, 2008. The presentation will be held at the Meriden Public Library, located at 105 Miller Street, from 6:00-7:00pm. Carol McGuigan, RD, CD-N, from MidState Medical Center will be the presenter. She will discuss ways to make healthy choices when we have to eat “on the go” and when we choose to eat at restaurants and fast food establishments. This event is free and open to the public; however seats are limited. The first 40 people to register will receive a fast food nutrition pocket guide. To register, please call Lea Crown, Community Health Educator, at 630-4238. National Immunization Week a Success! National Infant Immunization Week 2008 was honored the week of April 19-26. In recognition of the week, the Meriden Health Department distributed over 70 gift bags with immunization information and goodies to moms in the well-child and W.I.C. (Women, Infants, and Children) clinic. National Infant Immunization Week is an annual observance to promote the benefits of immunizations and to focus on the importance of immunizing infants against vaccine-preventable diseases by age two. At a time when infants and young children are most at risk, immunizations are one of the most important ways parents can protect their children against disease. As of January 1998, all children born in Connecticut were enrolled in a confidential immunization tracking program called CIRTS. If parents have questions regarding their child’s immunization record, they can contact Valerie Bryden, Immunization Coordinator, at 630-4251. The Meriden Health Department offers immunization services to Meriden children Monday-Friday from 9 am- 4pm. For immunization appointments please call 630-4234. We learned about germs and immunizations at the Meriden Public Library! The Stroke Center at MidState Medical Center Earns State Recognition MidState Medical Center proudly announces that its stroke program has earned designation as a Primary Stroke Center from the Connecticut Department of Public Health. By achieving this certification MidState’s Stroke Center has met the rigorous standards put in place by the American Stroke Association. The designation was based on the existence and evaluation of 10 key components that included, creation of the acute stroke team, thorough written care protocols, strong organizational commitment and support, widespread community education, and excellent neurosurgical, neuroimaging and laboratory services. “We are extremely proud of this accomplishment. Our certification by the state of Connecticut means that we have a high quality stroke program that is patient-focused, with clear cut guidelines for evaluation and treatment,” said Lori Nohilly, RN, Director of Inpatient Medicine. “This is a special recognition, as MidState is one of the first hospitals in the state to receive such designation. This distinction speaks to our dedication to progressive quality care for our community,” said Cindy Russo, Vice President of Patient Care. Every effort to save time is critical when dealing with a stroke patient. The faster a patient is evaluated and treated, the greater the chance for a more favorable outcome. Pat Giannelli, APRN, Stroke Coordinator, agrees: “There is a window of time from the onset of symptoms in which the appropriate therapy can be initiated. Our recent certification is an indicator that our institution has the ability to deliver quick and comprehensive care.” In fact, three MidState Stroke Team members, Michele Colby, RN, Manager of Pavilion D (The Stroke Unit), Giannelli and Nohilly, recently became certified in conducting the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale. This tool serves as a predictor of patient outcomes. It is used to evaluate presenting neurological symptoms and assist with determining the most appropriate treatment regimen to employ. Our multidisciplinary team of neurologists, physicians, nurses, phlebotomists, dieticians, social workers, resource managers, pharmacists and nursing assistants work collaboratively to quickly stabilize the patient’s condition and determine the appropriate plan of care. In addition, input is given by our physical and occupational therapists along with the speech pathologists to help the patients achieve their highest level of recovery. In honor of American Stroke Month in May and the American Stroke Association’s “Call to Action” week, MidState Medical Center will be sponsoring several stroke risk assessments: May 14th, 10-12 p.m., the LaPlanche Clinic at the Meriden Senior Center; May 16th, 10-2 p.m., MidState Medical Center conference room VI, and May 21st, 10-2 p.m., MidState Medical Center boardroom. For more information on these screenings, please contact us at (203) 694- 8509.