Health Talks with HRH

Dr. Mirza Baig, a nephrologist with Hendricks Regional Health explains kidney-friendly nutrition and the many benefits modifications can have for patients.

Glenda Spaulding shares what a respiratory therapist is, what are some common respiratory conditions respiratory therapists treat, what symptoms people should look out for that would indicate they may need to see a doctor for respiratory therapy treatment, and types of treatments respiratory therapists provide.

Sharon Monahan, RN, CCST explains the pros and cons of different car seats, safety tips for installation including the use of coats and blankets, and how long your baby should stay rear-facing.

Tammy Navarro discusses feeding and swallowing difficulties in babies and small children, what parents need to watch out for and the treatment options available for this concerning disorder.

Palliative Care is often confused with Hospice. Dr. Elaina DiOrio explains the difference between the two, the types of services palliative care provide and the types of patients who may benefit from palliative care.

Whether you're enjoying a day on the beach or sweating it out at a summer sports camp, proper hydration can make the difference between a good day and a day that ends in the hospital. Emergency Medicine physician Dr. Mark Tompkins, discusses proper hydration and warning signs for dehydration.

The CDC recently released safety tips for interacting with animals at state fairs, zoos, aquariums and in the home. Sandy Benson, an Infection Preventionist at Hendricks Regional Health, discusses these tips and offers advice on how to keep your family's next animal adventure a healthy one.

Many families plan get-togethers during the summer – but if you are not careful, these celebrations of summer fun and sun can end up making everyone sick. Sandy Benson, an Infection Preventionist at Hendricks Regional Health, is here to tell us how four simple steps (clean, separate, cook, chill) can protect you and your loved ones from food poisoning.

Patients who visit the emergency department often return to the ED within 24 to 48 hours. Readmission occurs when patients still have concerns about their condition or medication. Hendricks Regional Health’s new Emergency Department Discharge Clinic provides follow-up care after emergency visits.Amy Wilson, RN, discusses the importance of follow-up care, checking patient progress, and more details on the new clinic.

When the weather warms up, people engage in a number of activities that make them vulnerable to fleas, ticks, mosquitoes. According to the CDC, there has been a steady increase in the occurrence of vectorborne diseases over the last couple of years. There are preventative actions people can take to prevent exposure.Sandy Benson, BSN, RN, discusses the ways in which you can prevent vecterborne diseases and to improve awareness so that people know how to protect themselves and their communities from mosquitoes, ticks, bugs, flies and other vectors.

Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), which is the same virus that causes chickenpox and it can cause a painful rash and many other uncomfortable symptoms. The only way to prevent and protect yourself from shingles is by getting vaccinated. Elizabeth Wright, MD, discusses the new two-dose shingles vaccine, Shingrix and why it might be a more effective vaccine.

The peak of flu season may be winding down, but it’s still a great time to discuss infectious disease prevention. Sandy Benson, RN, discusses the difference between viruses and bacteria, including colds, pneumonia, and strep throat, and how to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting sick.

Although the concept of self-care is simple in theory, it is not easy to carry out consistently. Good self-care is key to better health, improved mood, reduced anxiety, good relationships with oneself and others and so much more.Awareness of how you are doing physically, emotionally and spiritually requires practice and constant attention. Too many of us wait until we are in crisis before we take the time to care for ourselves.Joining the show to discuss the importance of self-care is April Johnson, MD. She is a pediatrician with Hendricks Regional Health.

If you are someone who is in need of health insurance, or you pay medical bills, you might have noticed the terminology can be a little confusing. When you get bills for medical expenses, do you understand what a copay is, or what it means when they say you have to meet your deductible, or out of pocket max?Understanding some of the more important terms can go a long way to helping you get the insurance that will work for you and to help you  figure out exactly how much a treatment will cost. It can be tricky to navigate health insurance and healthcare in general.Marisa Price is a Patient Financial Advocate at Hendricks Regional Health, and she is here to help clear up the confusion and sort through some of the terminology that accompanies health insurance.

Most people think of physical therapy as exercises to regain mobility after surgery and recover from orthopedic and sports injuries. However, physical therapists can also help patients find relief from cancer related issues and other health concerns in the pelvic area. Joining the show to tell us more about the role physical therapy can play in cancer care and pelvic health is Christy Wilson. She is a physical therapist with Hendricks Regional Health.

When your child needs surgery it is bound to cause some anxiety, for both of you. Your job as a parent is to help make the process as easy as possible for your child. But that can be hard to do when you are experiencing your own worries and concerns. Research shows that kids feel better faster and heal more quickly when they are prepared for their surgery. Here to speak with us today about steps the hospital takes to get children (and their parents) comfortable for an upcoming pediatric surgery, is Marie Frazier, RN, BSN. She is the Clinical Manager at Hibbeln Surgery Center at Hendricks Regional Health.

ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed behavior disorder of childhood. It is characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and, in some cases, hyperactivity. These symptoms usually happen together. However, one may happen without the other(s).In this information packed segment, pediatrician Ruth McCluskey, MD., joins the show to discuss raising a child with ADHD and treatment options available at Hendricks Regional Health.

Headaches are something many people experience. If your headache symptoms are severe enough, your primary care doctor may refer you to a neurologist.The neurodiagnostic services offered at Hendricks Regional Health assist physicians in diagnosing and treating neurological disorders and diseases.Neurologists are medical specialists that focus on diagnosing and treating disorders of the nervous system. Some of the common conditions they treat include headaches or migraines, stroke, dementia, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson's disease. They help manage chronic pain, as well as carpal tunnel syndrome and sleep disorders.In this segment, Joseph Herr, MD., joins the show to discuss at what point someone suffering from headaches should seek out a visit with a neurologist and what other roles a neurologist plays as part of your health care team.

The Care Act enacted January 2016 in Indiana has impacted who can make a decision concerning a patient's health care choices. And many patients are easily confused by the number of Patient Designees they may be asked to designate to make health care choices for them should they become incapacitated or unable to communicate wishes. Rhonda Conrad, Director of Transitions of Care at Hendricks Regional Health, has information that is important for anyone who may need to stay in the hospital or designate a care giver.

When you first start a relationship it can seem like everything is new and exciting. However, to have a successful long-term relationship, effort is needed by both parties to ensure the relationship is healthy and that it lasts.How do you build a healthy, long lasting relationship?Dr. Tanya Farman, with Hendricks Regional Health, joins us today to explain the basic characteristics of a healthy relationship and to provide guidance on when a person may want to seek professional assistance.

Your 50’s are a new stage in your life. Even though you’ve always done things the same way for decades and everything has worked out fine, entering a new life phase means new preventative measures to take to stay healthy for decades more. In this segment, Dr. Jennifer Allen discusses the important screenings people over 50 years old should have performed and how to interpret the results.

As a women, do you understand the results of the exams you receive from your gynecologist?There seems to be a misunderstanding that might be exacerbated by new guidelines that women should have a pap smear done every three years. This leads some women to think they don’t need to visit their gynecologist for 3 years, when in fact, the annual exam covers several body parts including the uterus, breasts and ovaries as well as other preventive healthcare checks including STD screenings, mammograms, blood pressure checks and weight checks.Listen as Megan Fish, NP clears up some of the confusion and discusses the importance of yearly preventive health screenings for women.

The most common cause of hand or wrist pain we treat is carpal tunnel syndrome. Over time, prolonged positions — such as typing on a keyboard — can cause swelling along the carpal tunnel. This narrow passageway allows nerves and tendons to reach your fingers. Swelling can press down on the nerve, resulting in feeling pain in the hands, numbness or tingling with activity, cramping, or difficulty performing routine tasks.Listen as David Harsha, MD discusses different treatment options for CTS according to levels of severity – i.e. how advanced does the disorder need to be to qualify for his non-surgical treatment.

A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse with advanced clinical training in diagnosing and treating illness in patients of all ages. NPs perform physical examinations, provide preventative healthcare services, prescribe medications, perform minor procedures and help patients better manage chronic medical conditions. These advanced practice nurses work independently and collaboratively on the healthcare team to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors and prevent illness.Listen as Gina Leman, NP explains how a family nurse practitioner can provide many aspects of patient care.

Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.HRH Medical Staff Members in conjunction with Nursing Leadership have worked to put in place a Sepsis Protocol intended to improve the care of sepsis patients at HRH.Listen as Kevin Hartzell, MD explains the importance of preventing infections that can lead to sepsis and recognizing it as soon as possible for the best treatment outcomes.

You don’t need to be an athlete to benefit from sports medicine care. Anyone experiencing muscle or joint pain, soreness, loss of motion, or weakness is a candidate for treatment.Listen in as Dr. Robyn Fean discusses that with the right mix of therapeutic approaches, you will soon return to the activities you love.

Many illnesses are now very rare in the United States because of the success of vaccinations. Vaccinating your child provides protection from many childhood diseases. Along with many school systems around the country, the Indiana State Department of Health Immunization Program has recently updated the required immunizations for school entry.Listen as Dr. Tony GiaQuinta, explains the importance of vaccinations for your children and why, by vaccinating them, you are protecting them from vaccine-preventable diseases that can be very serious, may require hospitalization, or even be deadly - especially in infants and young children.

Taking a baby to get their vaccinations can be just as hard for the parents watching. However, vaccinations are a vital part of keeping your baby healthy. Also discussed in this segment, while newborns do sleep much of the time, their sleep is in very short segments. As a baby grows, the total amount of sleep gradually decreases, but the length of nighttime sleep increases.Listen in as Beth Summers, MD gives great advice about newborn vaccinations, their sleep cycle & behavior.

According to the American Thyroid Association, women are more likely than men to have thyroid disorder. One in eight women will develop thyroid problems during her lifetime.Listen in as Dr. Priya Menon, Endocrinologist with Hendricks Regional Health, discusses Thyroid disorders and the treatments available that can help to dramatically increase your quality of life.

Helping our community live healthier means giving residents the tools they need to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Obesity affects quality of life, and is linked to conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, stroke and more.Listen as Martha Rardin, RD, Registered Dietitian and Director of the Nutrition and Dietetics program at Hendricks Regional Health, helps you to understand your eating habits, teaching you to shop healthier and even give you meal ideas that the whole family will love.

If you or someone you love is living with diabetes, you already know it can be challenging. Living a full, healthy life with diabetes is within reach, but it takes commitment and the right team of health care professionals. Hendricks Regional Health offers a comprehensive team of nurses, dietitians and certified diabetes educators. Listen as Angie Thompson, NP , Diabetes Educator and Family Nurse Practitioner with Hendricks Regional Health Diabetes Center , explains that the The Hendricks Regional Health Center for Diabetes Excellence helps patients learn how to manage and live well with diabetes – whether they are newly diagnosed or have had diabetes for years.

Sleep apnea, and other sleep disorders, can have serious consequences if not treated. Not getting proper sleep can negatively impact your health in so many ways. It can affect your job, your personal relationships, and impair your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.Listen as Matt Rees, Supervisor, Sleep Disorders Center at Hendricks Regional Health, discusses the importance of quality sleep and the treatments available to help you finally get a good night's sleep.

Everyone experiences aches and pains from time to time. Steps like applying ice, resting, or using over-the-counter anti-inflammatories will sometimes take care of the problem. But when these approaches don’t help, it may be time to consider a physical therapy evaluation. Indiana’s “Direct Access” law allows you to go directly to a physical therapist for evaluation and treatment without the added step of a doctor’s referral.Listen in as Ryan McNeely, PT, Senior Physical Therapist, with Hendricks Regional Health Physical Therapy, explains that with direct access to PT, everyone can now get the physical therapy help they need without a referral.

Your health is important wherever you go. And now that many people are spending a large part of their day sitting at a desk or inside an office, implementing health programs inside the workplace has become a vital piece of a healthy lifestyle. According to the CDC, Chronic diseases such as depression and hypertension can lead to a decline in the overall health of employees in a workplace, contribute to an increase in health-related expenses for employers and employees, and lead to lower productivity and/or days of work missed.Listen in as Jenny Bates explains that Hendricks Regional Health is pleased to offer wellness programs addressed to meet the unique needs of employees, and provide custom programming to address almost any health-related topic for a healthier workplace.

Stress is often defined as the body’s response to the demands of life, The American Institute of Stress calls stress “America’s leading health problem.” When the stress of life leads to chronic physical ailments or pain, it may be helpful to meet with a physical therapist to receive treatment for the manifested symptoms of stress and work through the issues causing it.Listen in as Cindy Myers, PT, Hendricks Regional Health Physical Therapist, gives great tips on how to keep those everyday stressors in your life from causing real physical pain that could affect your quality of life.

Healthy food choices are important for good health and well-being. Eating well means eating a variety of nutrient-packed foods. You have the power of choice to decide which foods to buy at the grocery store. Making the healthiest food choices when shopping and eating out is key to consuming a well-balanced diet.Listen in as Kaitie Delgado, registered clinical dietitian with Hendricks Regional Health and Wellness, shows you how to shop smart at the grocery store to make the healthiest choices for your better lifestyle.

When you bring home baby, there are a lot of things to know right away — we understand it can be a little overwhelming at first.Newborns have many needs, like frequent feedings and diaper changes. Babies can have health issues that are different from older children and adults, like diaper rash and cradle cap.Your baby will go through many changes during the first year of life. You may feel uneasy at first. Ask your health care provider for help if you need it.Listen in as Beth Summers, MD discusses the best ways to take care of your newborn and the signs to watch for that might signal a call to the pediatrician.

The technology we use in the Hendricks Regional Health Women’s Center includes an advanced risk assessment tool. The results provide a woman and her doctor with her risk of developing breast cancer within the next five years and within her lifetime. Each patient with increased risk is meticulously tracked and followed more closely.Listen in to Monet Bowling, MD as she explains how additional care for high-risk patients was created to reduce risk where possible and find cancer early for improved outcomes.

Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. About 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. That’s why it’s so important for women of all ages to be aware of their breast health, and for women age 40 and over to schedule an annual mammogram. Our Center for Breast and Bone Health is among a prestigious group of breast centers nationwide named to the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, and has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence.Dr. Anne Mattingly is here to discuss the Center for Breast and Bone Health at Hendricks Regional Health, and how women can be their own best health advocate when it comes to their breast health.

Whether you’re throwing a ball on the athletic field, or reaching to pick up your grandchild, your shoulders are key to your body’s mobility. Shoulders consist of several joints that – combined with tendons and muscles – allow a wide range of motion in your arms.Causes of shoulder pain, strain, stiffness, and other injuries can originate from a multitude of sources, depending on age and activity.Hendricks's staff is highly skilled in diagnosing and treating shoulder injuries — and ensure your continued care is comfortable and effective.Listen in as Chad Waits, MD, discusses how at Hendricks, we offer award-winning patient care and shoulder services.

Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. It is important to recognize the signs of a heart attack and to act immediately by calling 911. A person's chance of surviving a heart attack increases if emergency treatment is administered as soon as possible.James Nossett, MD, is here to discuss the symptoms of a heart attack and why it is so important to get help as soon as possible.

Med-Peds is a shortened term for “Combined Internal Medicine & Pediatrics”.A physician trained in Med-Peds can care for the newborn to the geriatric patient.Med-Peds physicians tend to the care of patients throughout their life span. Caring for multiple generations of the same family requires an understanding of family dynamics, epidemiology and the impact of acute or chronic illness at all ages, all in the context of family systems. Linda DeCesare, MD, is here to explain how Med-Peds physicians draw from the knowledge and skills of pediatricians and internists to bring breadth and flexibility in their approach to clinical medicine.