Lourdes Health Talk

Dr. Jenice Baker offers up things you can do to be an empowered patient or visitor in the Emergency Department.

Dr. Alfred Sacchetti discusses the important risk factors we all should know about stroke, the acronym F.A.S.T for symptom recognition and what to do if you or someone you love seems to be experiencing a stroke.

March is Nutrition Month, so it's the perfect time to talk about nutrition and maintaining a healthy diet. Clinical Nutrition Manager Kelly A. Murray breaks down the basics of healthy eating.

Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, a designated comprehensive stroke center, recently performed its first procedures using a device to close a hole between the chambers of the heart. The hole, called a patent foramen ovale (PFO), is a congenital heart defect and can cause ischemic strokes.Ibrahim Moussa, D.O.,F.A.C.C.,FSCAI, discusses a device that Lourdes interventional cardiologists are using is called a GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder to permanently close the hole. It is made of fabric similar to that found in durable waterproof clothing.

Although the 2017-18 flu vaccine was only 36 percent effective at protecting against the flu, it doesn't mean you should skip the shot this year. That's because each year people die from flu, and some protection is better than none.Dr. Jason Moraleda covers what we can expect for this years flu season and how vaccination is one of the best ways to protect your family and the community from a nasty flu outbreak.

Before surgery, technicians unwrap sterilized instruments from a sheet of plastic material that cannot be recycled, and these sheets end up in the trash bin. Lourdes surgical technician Dana Scarangelli and nurse anesthetist Laura Faust have started sewing these sheets together to create mats, blankets, sleeping bags and tote bags for the homeless.

Sharps injuries are typically the result of using hazardous equipment in a fast-paced and stressful environment. Lourdes Medical Center is among the top five teaching hospitals with the lowest sharps injury rates. Peg Johnson, Employee Health Clinician, discusses best practices for sharps injuries and how their team remains focused on safety, training and a goal of zero injuries as the way that Lourdes Medical Center achieved this distinction.

Tracy Lanoza, DNP, APN, FNP discusses which patient populations are at greatest risk of readmission, post acute care management (including working with nursing homes) to prevent patients from being readmitted to the hospital and how receiving quality home health care can help keep a patient from being readmitted to the hospital.

We all have stress from time to time. However, when your stress begins to affect your quality of life, it might be time to consider trying a form of stress relief that does not involve medication. T'ai Chi Chih's gentle movements release stress by relaxing and rejuvenating the body while refreshing the mind. Michelle Carlino, E-RYT 500 YACEP , and Sheila Finamore, CTRS, discuss Tai Chi Chih for Stress Relief and the ways in which this gentle moving meditation balances and circulates the Chi, the intrinsic energy inherent in all life.

Staying watchful for health issues related to the breast, and taking the optimal and most timely care steps in breast health, is important for a woman and can mean the difference in a woman's health. Just as important as understanding the latest age-related recommendations for preventive breast x-rays and other screening steps is finding a center for imaging that maintains advanced digital equipment and provides a service with the highest quality standards.Kathleen Greatrex, MD, discusses the latest breast cancer screening guidelines and clears up the confusion for women wondering whether to have an annual mammogram.

For those frequently experiencing stomach pain, sensitivity or irritation, a food allergy or intolerance may be at the root of the problem. Dr. Rober Shmuts, a gastroenterologist at Lourdes Medical Center, discusses celiac disease, and other food-related sensitivities or allergies and what treatment options might be available at Lourdes Health System.

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States, right behind heart disease. While new therapies are helping more people survive cancer, they also can cause heart problems.A new medical specialty called cardio-oncology is working to solve this dilemma. At Lourdes, cardiologists work closely with oncologists to help prevent heart disease in people before, during and after cancer therapy.Dr. Jay Rubenstone discusses the very specialized field of cardio-oncology and how to keep your heart healthy while you are going through cancer treatments.

With the excitement of a new baby, focus often shifts to baby’s needs. Meanwhile, new mothers can experience physical, mental and hormonal changes that can make adjusting to a new life challenging. Dr. Rachel Shmuts, a psychiatrist at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, discusses postpartum depression, signs to watch for and when to seek help.

A large portion of the population experiences acid reflux in the esophagus either occasionally or chronically. Those who suffer from it regularly have gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD), one of the most common of GI conditions. While GERD is not uncommon, it is often misunderstood.Dr. Linda Miller, Gastroenterologist at Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, discusses GERD treatments, and clears up some common misunderstandings and myths.

Pressure ulcers are skin injuries caused by prolonged pressure. Commonly known as bedsores, these abrasions result from staying in one position for too long. They often appear on body parts where the skin is close to the flesh, like ankles, hips, heels and the tailbone.Eight months ago, Lourdes hospitals began using a unique monitoring device called the Leaf Patient Monitoring System with a goal of reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers, sometimes called bed sores, that occur at hospitals.Since that time, Lourdes has had a hospital-wide average of 90 percent patient-turn (repositioning of the patient) compliance, among the best of the hospitals working with Leaf Healthcare. Maria Brennan, DNP, RN, discusses how to prevent pressure ulcers, improve patient comfort and reduce hospital stays exacerbated by this condition.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. Psychiatric illness and depression are complex. The emotional pain and hopelessness can lead a person down an irreversible path.Dr. Rachel Shmuts, psychiatrist at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, discusses warning signs and help that is available to those who need it.If you or a loved one is in crisis, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), available 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week. The service is available to anyone. All calls are confidential. All calls are confidential. You can also text TALK to 741741. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Most health experts agree that if you eat a balanced, healthy diet and exercise, it can help you to keep a healthy heart, but what exactly does that mean?Vivek Sailam, MD,cardiologist, with Lourdes Cardiology, offers his best advice for how you can use food and fitness to keep a healthy heart.

Cancer of colon or rectum is one of the most common forms of cancer. Risk of the cancer increase once a person reaches late 40s and beyond. Gastroenterologists are usually the first to detect this problem, as a result of a colonoscopy. With better screening and earlier treatment, the death rate from this disease has continued to decline.Donald Petroski, MD, discusses colonoscopy, how easy and painless this procedure is and how it is the very best way to reduce your risk of colon cancer.

Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic disorder in the United States. About 100,000 Americans are thought to be living with sickle cell disease, and every year another 1,000 babies are born with the disease. Worldwide it is thought to affect more than 500,000 babies a year.Joseph Tropea, DO, discusses everything you need to know about sickle cell disease and the new infusion unit at Lourdes.

Recently the American Heart Association updated their blood pressure guidelines with five categories. Knowing which category your numbers fall in can help you take the necessary steps to keep it under control. Hafeza Shaikh, DO shares the five blood pressure categories and why it's important to know your numbers in order to live a healthier lifestyle.

Nearly 15 million Americans have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and it is the third most common cause of death in the U.S. Although there's no cure, there are many things you can do to slow the progression, including learning more about it. Candace Bromley discusses what you need to know about COPD.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that flu activity is now widespread across the United States. CDC officials say they cannot be certain how severe this season will be, but reports of severe illness and hospitalizations have been received.Emergency Department physicians at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center say there has been an influx of patients seeking relief from influenza symptoms.In this very important podcast, Dr. Jenice Forde-Baker, Assistant Director, Emergency Department at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, explains that it is not too late to get the flu vaccine and reiterates the importance of using some common-sense precautions to help prevent the flu.

Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center is among a select group of hospitals nationwide recognized for raising organ and tissue donation awareness in a national campaign sponsored by The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Lourdes was awarded the campaign's highest tier—Platinum Level.In recognition of organ donor awareness and to honor all organ donors, Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center will light the hospital's iconic 30-foot, 15-ton statue of the Blessed Mother green each time a patient is having an organ transplant at the hospital.In this inspiring segment, Christine Palms joins the show to sort through the myths and misconceptions about organ, eye, and tissue donation that might prevent someone from signing up. If everyone knew the true facts about donation, so many more lives might be saved.

Regenerative medicine is fast becoming an area of medicine with the potential to help heal damaged tissues and organs. It can also possibly offer solutions and hope today for people who have conditions that many thought before were beyond repair.Amniotic placental tissue injection is a treatment to help resolve acute tendon injuries, and is showing promise for regenerative effects on injured, painful joints, and back pain without the need for drugs or surgery.Here to discuss Placenta Allograft for regeneration of tissue, is Thomas Plut, DO. He is a sports medicine specialist with the Orthopedic program at Lourdes Health System.

Deciding to have Bariatric Surgery is a major life decision. You can best prepare by knowing the benefits and risks of surgery. Bariatric surgery has evolved and improved over recent years making important strides toward even better results with each advance. Experience is critical when considering any type of surgery. That is why it is important to know that Lourdes Health System is one of the largest providers of bariatric surgery in southern New Jersey. Our surgeons are experienced with all minimally invasive approaches including gastric sleeve and will work with you to provide the best solution possible for your needs.In this informative segment Harish Kakkilaya, MD, surgeon with the Bariatric Surgery program at Lourdes, discusses how at Lourdes, we will take steps together to help determine if surgery is the right treatment for you.

A woman’s health depends on a lot of factors. Every woman should make time for healthy habits; regular exercise, stress management, eating the right foods, and she should also be scheduling routine health screenings so potential problems can be spotted early. In this informative segment Sherrilyn Parrish, MD, obstetrician and gynecologist at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, shares the five most important health screenings every women should have, and that regular health screenings can make keeping tabs on your health much more simple.

Sudden cardiac arrest may not always be so sudden, heart experts say.A recent study has found that cardiac arrest symptoms in men can appear at least a month ahead of time. Signs can include chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting or palpitations.Sudden cardiac arrest differs from a heart attack. Cardiac arrest occurs when electrical impulses in the heart become rapid or chaotic, causing the heart to stop beating. A heart attack happens when the blood supply to the heart is blocked.Joining the show to discuss early heart attack symptoms, sudden cardiac arrest, and what you can do to prevent this from happening, is John J. Finley IV, MD, FACC, FSCAI. He is an interventional cardiologist with Lourdes Cardiology.

The life work balance for is tough enough for any parent however, when you are a physician it may seem even more difficult. You have patients to care for that need your expertise, but your children need your time and guidance. How can a parent that is also a doctor find that delicate balance between their patients needs and their family? Here to speak with us about the incredible challenges a parent / physician faces raising a family and having a demanding career, is Dr. Heather Crawford, DO. She is an Obstetrician / Gynecologist at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center.

According to the Institute on Aging, more than 40 million Americans are age 65+. By 2030, as the last Baby Boomers turn 65, older adults are expected to reach 20 percent of the population. Seniors often prefer to live at home and remain independent, but healthcare needs can sometimes make that difficult. LIFE at Lourdes can help. The LIFE model honors what many seniors want; to stay in familiar surroundings, maintain autonomy and maintain their maximum level of physical, social and cognitive function.In this segment, Curtis Caldwell, Enrollment Specialist for LIFE at Lourdes discusses the five things to know about LIFE at Lourdes.

Each year more than six million Americans are diagnosed with a neurological disorder. In fact, more than 144 million Americans are, or will experience a neurological disorder, and this number is expected to rise as our population ages.At Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center and Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, neurologists are available to diagnose and treat a wide variety of neurologic conditions.Here to help us with some signs it may be time to see a neurologist is Sean Hubbard, DO. He is a neurologist and neuro-hospitalist at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center.

Minor foot problems, such as blisters or cuts, can cause complications if left attended, and even more so in people with diabetes. Good foot health is essential as your feet serve as the foundation for the rest of your body structure. If your feet are painful or not mechanically sound, this can effect the knees, hips and even the lower back. It is important to take good care of your feet. The good news is that you can prevent many foot complications with some simple everyday foot care.Listen in as Joseph V. Donnelly, DPM explains conditions and injuries that can affect the foot, and the importance of taking extra care with chronic conditions such as diabetes.

About 5 million people are diagnosed with heart valve disease each year, according to the American Heart Association. The cardiovascular team at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center is successfully performing mitral valve repairs using the innovative MitraClip® procedure—a minimally invasive treatment option for people with a severe leak in the mitral valve. The MitraClip® NT system is the world’s first transcatheter mitral valve repair therapy. It provides a proven treatment option for select patients with significant degenerative MR who are too high-risk for open-heart surgery and do not have other treatment options available to them.In this fascinating segment, Dr. Atiq Rehman discusses The MitraClip® procedure and how Lourdes Medical Center is leading the way in advancements for valve repair.

It’s estimated that 78 people a day die from overuse of opioids. Use of these drugs, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl, has skyrocketed in recent years, fueled by pharmaceutical companies and doctors eager to treat patients’ chronic pain and by addicts obtaining them illegally.  According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, more people die of heart and breathing problems caused by opioid use than accidental overdoses.In this segment, Lourdes cardiologist Jason Smith, DO, explains how opiates can be effective for short-term pain relief, but over time, when used improperly or in high doses, opiates can cause dangerous cardiac manifestations, such as irregular heart rhythms, heart attack, stroke or cardiac arrest.

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the number five cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States.On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and nearly 800,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, a leading provider for advanced stroke care, was recently designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by the New Jersey Department of Health. Lourdes is only one of 13 comprehensive stroke centers in the state to receive this designation.Listen in as Debbie Gillen MSN, explains how comprehensive stroke centers offer the highest level of care, with proven state-of-the-art technology, specialized testing, highly technical procedures and other interventions.

Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center has been a pioneer in providing the highest-quality care to high-risk mothers and their babies. Our Lady of Lourdes has among the lowest Cesarean delivery (C-section) rates for first-time mothers in New Jersey. Listen is as Heather Crawford, DO , discusses the best tips for a healthy pregnancy and delivery and how at Our Lady of Lourdes, mothers come to us-many of them time and again-for a simple reason, they know that on their special day, there are just a few people surrounding them who will make the difference between a trip to the hospital… and an experience to cherish forever.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 40,000 adults will be diagnosed with primary liver cancer this year. More commonly, cancer will metastasize to the liver from another part of the body, such as the colon. It's estimated that more than 135,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2017. Roughly 50 percent of people with colorectal cancer will develop liver metastases.A minimally invasive radiation treatment for liver tumors is now available at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center. Yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization targets cancer by injecting special beads into the blood vessels feeding the tumor. The beads, called microspheres, deliver a high dose of short-range radiation to the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. In this segment, Dr. Joseph Broudy discusses this promising new treatment for liver tumors and the treatment options available at Lourdes Health System.

Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center is now one of a few select hospitals in the region to offer a new dime-sized pacemaker that is implanted directly in the heart. Normally, the pacemaker leads are inserted through a vein in the shoulder and placed in the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart. But by placing the leads on an area of the heart called the His-bundle, it can utilize the heart’s natural electrical pathways and create better synchronization between the bottom chambers of the heart.Listen as Dr. Devender Akula, an electrophysiologist at Lourdes, discusses that through new placement, and new technology, it is an exciting time to be at the forefront of innovation.

A new Post Anesthetic Care Unit and hybrid operating suite recently established at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center is enhancing Lourdes' neurosurgical and cardiovascular surgery capabilities. The new facility combines the advanced imaging capabilities of a cardiac catheterization laboratory with the environment of a traditional operating room.Listen as Dr Erol Veznedaroglu, internationally renowned neurosurgeon, discusses how this New Hybrid Lab at Lourdes enhances surgical capabilities to better serve the community.

Whether you’re just someone who is keeping fit to stay healthy or you’re an athlete looking to improve for your sport, personal training can take your fitness game to the next level. Getting back into the gym can seem daunting if you don’t know where to start, but it’s a lot easier than you might think. Listen as Tina Ermert Bortner, BA, ACE, Community Health Educator & Work Site Wellness Coordinator at Lourdes Health System, shares easy-to-follow fitness tips, tools and tech from leading experts.

The aging process can complicate the diagnosis and treatment of unique mental health needs that older adults sometimes face. Lourdes’ Senior Behavioral Health Program helps older adults and their families understand and learn to manage these challenges.Patients benefit from customized treatment plans developed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of a psychiatrist, medical physicians, social workers, nurses and occupational and recreational therapists. The program provides medical assessment and intensive psychiatric and physiological therapeutic intervention in a safe, structured and supportive environmentListen in as Amy Brennan and Esther Ammon discuss how the new senior behavioral health program at Lourdes can benefit an elderly loved one.

If you have joint pain, or an acute injury, you want to know whats causing that pain without having to go through many tests and procedures to find out. Lourdes Health System is now offering a new imaging device that can give patients realt time answers for joint injuries right in the comfort of the doctors office. The innovative device uses a needle with an integrated camera and light source to perform a diagnostic arthroscopy in the doctor's office—enabling patients to learn the cause of their orthopedic pain immediately rather than having to wait for the results of an MRI. Lourdes is first in New Jersey to offer the device. In this segment, Dr. Sean McMillan, chair of Orthopedics at Lourdes Health System, discusses the mi-eye™ system for faster results on the cause of your pain.

Coronary artery disease — blockage of the small vessels on the outside of the heart that provide blood to the muscle of the heart wall — is one of the most prevalent, serious progressive conditions in the population. It is the basis for many heart attacks and heart disease.In this segment, Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Adam Levine discusses Coronary Artery disease and the lifestyle modifications you can take to to help lower your risk for heart attack or worsening heart disease.