Issuu

APRIL 2012 VOL. 28, NO. 2 MASON GENERAL HOSPITAL & FAMILY OF CLINICS

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Yoga benefits extend beyond the physical Page 7

Surgery wing near completion

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ER physician

sees world from behind the lens

Photo by Dean Gushee, M.D.

Dr. Gushee sees the world through emergency medicine Like a thousand-pound missile

launching itself straight out of the water, a hungry leopard seal with its mouth wide open shot toward MGH’s Medical Director Dean Gushee, M.D., who was photographing emperor penguins a few feet from the frozen water’s edge. For an agonizing moment, the giant beast’s mouth grabbed onto Dr. Gushee’s arm – before suddenly letting go and disappearing back under the icy water. And that was not the only incident during this visit to Antarctica where the fine line between adventure and disaster began to blur. “It’s a very uncomfortable feeling to suddenly realize you’re not at the top of the food chain,” Dr. Gushee remembered.

2 S C O P E

This close call took place during one of many trips Dr. Gushee has embarked on to Antarctica, where he enjoys wildlife photography while serving as the ship’s doctor. Ironically, if he had been injured during the trip, it really would have been a disaster, since he was the only doctor around for miles. When not in Antarctica, Dr. Gushee, board-certified in Emergency Medicine, is medical director and chief of Emergency services at Mason General Hospital. He travels as an on-board emergency physician with an eco-tourism company called Lindblad Expeditions. “It’s a perfect fit for me, because it’s kind of what I do anyway,” he said. Dr. Gushee also has his Master of Science degree from Oregon State University in Oceanography – his first love, before attending medical school.

Since 2001, Dr. Gushee has had fun exploring the globe with Lindblad, accompanied by friends he has made along the way. Through these worktravel opportunities he has visited almost every continent, and more than once has been to the Arctic and Antarctic Circles within the same year. “It’s like being in perpetual sunlight,” he said. Attacks by large, wild animals weren’t the only excitement he and his travel

continued on page 7…

On the cover: Dean Gushee, M.D., MGH Emergency department, has traveled around the world as a ship’s doctor. While on board he had the opportunity to photograph many unusual sites. Cover portrait by Cooper Studios. Arctic photos by Dean Gushee, M.D.

get moving Yoga’s benefits span ages, reach beyond fitness What can yoga do for you? Certified Yoga Instructor

Michelle Pugh sees yoga help her students in multiple ways. “There has been an overall progression among all of my students in strength, balance, flexibility, meditation, and relaxation,” Pugh said.

Practicing the “dancer’s pose” in her studio is local Yoga Instructor Michelle Pugh.

Michelle Pugh, who teaches locally at her studio, Joonbug Yoga, offers classes for beginners and children, as well as people looking for a more intense yoga workout. Many seniors also enjoy her classes. “You don’t have to be a ‘pretzel’ to practice yoga,” she said. In her own experience, yoga’s benefits extend beyond fitness: “Yoga has made me smile more, and I see my students doing the same. Learning to love ourselves so that we can give to others is key. I have been able to make choices in my life that allow me to take more risks – yoga removes boundaries. I have seen students do the same in making positive career changes in their lives, letting go of depression, increasing confidence, and building the self-trust to try new poses as their bodies progress with practice. I’ve seen many of the students who are under a lot of stress restore a sense of peace and calm in their lives, ‘connecting with the breath’ on a more regular basis,” said Pugh. Being an active, athletic mother who works full-time, Pugh has personally felt yoga improve her state of mind. “Getting back on the mat regularly increased my flexibility, balance, and

Goldsborough Creek

Photo courtesy Jessie Ackley.

rejuvenated my overall mental and physical health, even as I was raising my son and working full time. I found I had more patience in life and noticed an attitude of positivity in myself and others,” she said.

Have you started to “move”? Tell us your story. These Get Moving articles are to encourage the beginner, non-athlete to ‘get moving’ for a healthier mind and body. The key is to do some form of exercise no less than three times a week for at least 30 minutes each time. As Michelle Pugh and others have pointed out, “Not only does it help your physical health, but also your mental health.” Let us know if you, too, have taken this challenge to ‘get moving’. We would love to hear about your success(es), so please e-mail your story to: VMcCarty@MasonGeneral.com.

Saturday June 2, 2012

7-mile Walk or Run 2-mile Walk or Run Quarter-mile Junior Jog

All proceeds benefit MGH & FC

Have fun with family & friends and at the same time support MGH & FC!

Fun Run

& Walk*

*A Mason County Forest Festival Association Event ** An Affiliate of MGH Foundation

Title Sponsor Regence BlueShield Sponsors

Armstrong & Armstrong Christmas Trees Gillis Auto Center Hiawatha Evergreens Lynch Creek Farm McCarty & Associates “a marketing firm” Simpson Lumber Company Don Small & Sons, Oil Distributors South Sound Radiology SCOPE 3

caring Medela breast pumps and accessories available at MGH Breast pumps offer lactating mothers

options for flexibility when dealing with busy schedules, and high quality pumps are available through rental at MGH’s Birth Center. MGH Auxiliary Gift Shop, temporarily located downstairs, across from the cafeteria, sells Medela Symphony Breast Pump Kits for $49.99 (plus tax). The Birth Center’s Symphony breast pump rental prices (for use with the Medela Symphony kits): 1 month $65.00 3 months $176.00 4 months $196.00 5 months $210.00 Each additional month $42.00 Sales tax applies to all rentals.

For more information about breast pump rental, or to extend your rental, call The Birth Center at (360) 427-9558. MGH Auxiliary Gift Shop is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and can be reached at (360) 426-1611 ext. 3307 (after Gift Shop hours the kits can be purchased at the Birth Center). Detailed pricing on breastfeeding equipment sold at the Gift Shop can be found on The Birth Center web page at www.MasonGeneral.com.

Mine.

Karen Hilburn

The annual mammogram

saved a life... MGH Diagnostic Imaging (360) 427-9590

4 S C O P E

During my regular mammogram screening in 2002, a small tumor was discovered in my right breast. A biopsy determined that the tumor was cancerous. After discussing the treatment options with my physician, I decided the best course of treatment in my case was to have a lumpectomy, followed by six weeks of radiation therapy. In addition, I opted to take a prescription medication for the next five years, to increase the odds that the cancer would not return. Today, I am cancer free. However, I make sure to get my mammogram at Mason General Hospital every year. It is so reassuring to know that the cancer hasn’t returned. For this, I trust my life to the caring staff in MGH’s Diagnostic Imaging Department, as they monitor my health with the latest mammography technology. I always highly recommend MGH’s Diagnostic Imaging Department to my friends and family.

Employee focus Karl Hentschel, network administrator in Information Technology (IT), has worked at MGH & FC for the past three years. In his position, Karl is responsible for enterprise support. “Because of the leadership and IT achievement at Mason General, we have better access to leading-edge technology than other hospitals,” said Karl, as to what he likes best about his job. MGH has received healthcare’s Most Wired Hospital award, four years straight, since 2008.

Employees of the Month Congratulations to MGH & FC “Employee of the Month” for March – Jessica Haynes, R.N., ER; and for April – Tom Hornburg, CIO, information technology.

Recognition MGH & FC was recently recognized by SightLife™ and Northwest Tissue Center for the Hospital’s service to patients for corneal and other tissue donations. SightLife is an affiliate of the NW Lions Foundation, and Northwest Tissue Center is a part of Puget Sound Blood Center.

Welcome new staff Tina Pearson, director of patient accounts, began working for MGH & FC in January upon the retirement of longtime employee, Julie Lamphiear. In her position, Tina oversees all aspects of the business office. She comes to MGH & FC after working as manager of patient accounts for another local hospital. She also served seven years with the U.S. Navy as a dental technician,

spending two of those years in Japan. Tina has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Healthcare Administration. Edith Kroha, ARNP, MSN, has joined the staff at Mountain View Women’s Health and Mason General Hospital, working alongside boardcertified Obstetrician/ Gynecologists Lystra B. Wilson-Celestine, M.D.; Nkem Nwosa, M.D.; and Alford N. Vassall, Jr., M.D. Edith completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at the University of Arizona in 1977, and went on to get her Family Nurse Practitioner training from the University of California, graduating in 1988. She later got a Master’s degree in Nursing from California State University – Sacramento in 1998. To make an appointment at Mountain View Women’s Health, call (360) 426-0955.

Congratulations to Mountain View Women’s Health … for a very successful score in an “unannounced” Department of Health Rural Health Clinic Survey conducted in February. Office Manager Karen Sperry, the providers, and staff continually work hard to maintain the clinic in state of “survey readiness”. The Surveyor was very impressed with the clinic operations, their documentation, and performance in every aspect of the detailed survey. “This is an important milestone for MVWH, as it was their first Rural Health Clinic Survey since becoming part of MGH & FC,” said Terry Megiveron, chief of provider services. Three board-certified Obstetrician/ Gynecologists – Lystra B. WilsonCelestine, M.D.; Nkem Nwosa, M.D.;

Alford N. Vassall, Jr., M.D.; and Nurse Practitioner – Edith Kroha are on staff. MVWH provides treatment for women of all ages with gynecological and obstetrical needs, including general and high-risk obstetrical care, well-woman care, family planning, peri-menopausal and menopausal care, treatment for urinary incontinence, UTIs, and gynecological surgery. Gynecological procedures are performed at MGH, and Digital Imaging is also done at the Hospital, bringing together every aspect of care with close-to-home convenience. MVWH is affiliated with The Birth Center at MGH and MGH Oakland Bay Pediatrics, for a seamless continuity of care.

Classes/Support Groups CPR Free Community CPR class in April & May MGH & FC is offering two more FREE Adult, Child, and Infant Basic Life Support CPR classes, on Thursday, April 12 and on Thursday, May 10 from 6 to 9 p.m. in MGH & FC’s Learning Center, located next to McDonald’s on Olympic Highway North. The classes are open to the entire community, and everyone is advised to wear comfortable clothing. A Spanish interpreter will also be made available on request. Class size is limited, so please pre-register by calling The Learning Center at (360) 427-3609. This is not a First Aid class. Diabetes Living Well with Diatetes class in April If diabetes is a part of your life, plan to attend MGH & FC’s two-day class entitled “Living Well With Diabetes.” The two consecutive mornings will be Tuesday and Wednesday, April 17 and 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Ellinor

Room at the Hospital. Due to limited space, advanced registration is required. Diabetes education is a covered service under most insurance plans. To preregister, call Sue Barwick, R.N., certified diabetes educator, at (360) 426-1611, ext. 3301 (from Allyn (360) 275-8614, ext. 3301). “All About 9-1-1” – April topic for Shelton and Allyn Diabetes Support Group Meetings Keeping diabetes under control is the best way to prevent a diabetic emergency. If a medical crisis were to arise, knowing how to deal with it ahead of time is essential for the best possible outcome. “All About 9-1-1” will be the topic for discussion at the next MGH Shelton and Allyn Diabetes Support Group meetings set for Thursday, April 19, 2012 from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Ellinor Room at MGH, and Thursday April 26, 2012 from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Port of Allyn downstairs meeting room. Local firefighter and paramedic, Jess Fulkerson, will provide valuable information on how to be prepared for a diabetic emergency, and to address concerns ranging from – how to alert emergency services ahead of time, to how your pets will be handled during your emergency, to ambulance transportation procedures and costs – with much of the session reserved for questions and answers. The Shelton and Allyn Diabetes Support Groups, affiliated with the American Diabetes Association, meet one Thursday of every month from September to June. They are free and open to people with type 1 and 2 diabetes, their friends, and family. For more information call Sue Barwick, R.N., C.D.E. at (360) 427-7332 (from Allyn (360) 275-8614, and ask for the Diabetes Wellness Center).

SCOPE 5

community Foundation seeks nominations for 2012 American Business Women’s Award Mason General Hospital Foundation is

preparing a tribute to our community’s most outstanding business women, and is seeking nominations for its 15th annual American Business Women’s Award. The awards will be presented at a Luncheon held in their honor on Friday, September 21, 2012 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Due to the Campus Renewal Project, the location will be announced at a later date. Tickets for the event are $25 per person. Every year, MGH Foundation honors outstanding business women in our community who are or were successful in their occupations, work or have worked in Mason County, and are active and volunteer in their community. Past honorees include: 1998 – Miriam Hall, Janet Thornbrue, and Patti Tupper; 1999 – Nita Bariekman, Jean

Lee, and Norma Taylor; 2000 – Kay Gott, Colleen Hunter, and Doris Wilson, M.D.; 2001 – Mary Helen Anderson, Beth Johnston, R.N., and Betty Wolfe; 2002 – Carol Hunter, Rose Nye, and Cherrie Reitsch; 2003 – Janis Byrd, Carolyn Olsen, and Gayle Weston; 2004 – Patti Case, Betty Wing, and Catherine Ann Wolf; 2005 – Angela Wake Olsen, Michelle Schnitzer Corral, and Renee Youngs; 2006 – Xinh Dwelley, Irene Locke, and Virginia J. McCarty; 2007 – Lynn Busacca, Vicki Gonzalez, and Lynn Harvey; 2008 – Laurie Buhl, Pam Hanson, and Billie Howard; 2009 – Kristy Buck, Sharon Tibbits, and Lisa Woodard; 2010 – Janene Pettyjohn Bandes, Pamela Hunter Schlauderaff, and Cheryl Stewart; and 2011 – Barbara Dunbar, Deb Nielson, and Gretchen Schodde. If there is a special business woman you’d like to nominate for this year’s award, print out an entry form from the Hospital website at

Save the date!

Making Miracles Happen

www.MasonGeneral.com, or obtain one from the MGH & FC Development Office at Gateway Center, 2505 Olympic Highway North, Suite 460, Shelton, 98584. Nomination forms must be completed and returned to the Development office postmarked or received by Thursday, May 31. For more information call (360) 427-3623 (from Allyn (360) 275-8614).

Women: Whole grains keep you thin Women who ate more high-fiber, whole grain foods consistently weighed less than women consuming less of these foods, according to data from 74,000 female nurses. Women eating larger quantities of whole grain foods were also less likely to gain weight over a 12-year period. [SOURCE: S. Liu, et al, “Relation between changes in intakes of dietary fiber and grain products and changes in weight and development of obesity among middle-aged women,” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November, 2003]

Don’t shave too much off an onion

This year’s theme is “Making Miracles Happen.” It will start with the annual Women’s Health Event on Saturday, May 5, and include a special presentation by Dean Gushee, M.D., medical director and chief of emergency services for MGH & FC, Thursday, May 10, 6 p.m., Ellinor Room at MGH.

Onions rank high on the nutrition scale, with generous levels of quercetin and other flavonoids. But don’t peel too much off the onion; the outer layers contain the highest concentration of these heart-healthy phytonutrients. Too much peeling of a red onion, for example, could result in the loss of 20 percent of its quercetin and about 75 percent of its anthocyanins.

For more details, see pages 2 and 12 in this issue of Scope.

[SOURCE: “What’s new and beneficial about onions,” The World’s Healthiest Foods.]

Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics will Celebrate National Hospital Week, May 5 - 12.

6 S C O P E

business Dr. Gushee

Campus Renewal Project By Derek Rae, Construction Manager, Associate, OAC Services, Inc.

continued from page 2…

companions experienced on their most recent trip. In November, they were with a National Geographic team in Antarctica where they also saw penguins leaping as high as 10 feet out of the water. Dr. Gushee has befriended and traveled with many world-class professional photographers from National Geographic, who have shown him some techniques in the art and science of photography. Before all this, Dr. Gushee would look at pictures in National Geographic publications and think, Well, I could take a picture like that. Now he knows that he could only do so if he were standing in that very spot where the photo was taken. The latest National Geographic expedition, which had a budget in excess of $100,000, required the logistical cooperation of five countries and a decade of planning. The work may be dangerous and at times, unpleasant – but necessary, in order to find the ideal circumstances for “the perfect photograph”. National Geographic photographers may take tens of thousands of shots for a single story in the magazine. “It’s a lot of very hard work,” Dr. Gushee said. Editor’s note: Dr. Gushee will make a presentation of his photography on Thursday, May 10 at 6 p.m. in MGH’s Ellinor Room, where he will talk about his ship experiences and photography. The presentation is FREE and open to the public.

Mechanical and electrical rough-in is completed. Drywall and ceilings will soon be up.

he Campus Renewal Project is over half way there! The contractor has completed 14 patient rooms and has 12 more to go. The Birth Center wing is now complete, and the contractor is working on four rooms at a time in the medical/surgical/ pediatrics area. Work will begin on the new ADA patient rooms in May. Outside of the patient rooms, finishes are being upgraded in the corridors with new paint, flooring, and ceilings being installed every day. Last month work in the Diagnostic Imaging department began first with upgrading the corridors, then moving into individual rooms. On the northwest side of the Hospital in ICU most of the finish upgrades are complete. Eight of the 10 rooms are complete and construction of a new nurses’ station is under way. Outside of ICU new finishes have been completed in the corridors. It was tricky installing finishes in the corridor adjacent to the Pharmacy because of all the traffic. Work had to be done on one half of the corridor at a time to allow for patient, staff, and public flow. The contractor is looking forward to having the ICU work complete in early May. In the new surgical wing, drywall is being installed throughout, and once the plaster is dry the primer and paint can start to go on. After the first coat of paint the mechanical and electrical subcontractors can start finishing up their work and installing fixtures. Outside the building on Sherwood Lane, the new pedestrian path is going in. Once complete, the new paved path will meander all the way along Sherwood and turn east onto 13th, making a complete loop around the MGH campus. Get your walking shoes ready! Look for the contractor’s “Construction Progress” board at the north entrance for more detailed updates. SCOPE 7

quality Medical records process updated and streamlined Dealing with medical records is now easier

than ever. MGH & FC recently upgraded and streamlined its patient records via a system called “DocuWare”.

ER acknowledged for T-system use MGH & FC recently received a $500 check from T-System, maker of the

electronic health record system used in the Emergency department. This award was given in acknowledgment of the staff’s effective utilization of the T-system. Those present for the award-giving were (standing, l to r) Eric Moll, MGH & FC CAO; Sunny Sanyal, T-System’s CEO; Cheryl Graf, T-system’s client relationship executive; Bob Appel, MGH & FC CEO; (seated, l to r) Tom Hornburg, MGH & FC CIO; Dean Gushee, M.D., medical director and chief of emergency services; and Sabrina Lyons, R.N., MGH & FC director of the Emergency department.

February 2012 , Dr. Payal Shah ICU to you and the d te b e d in re a nd I ng My family a mpassion duri co d n a re ca r u for yo ical staff (at MGH) en in the med e b e v a h I r. e my fath r experienced e the passing of v e n e v a h d n 0 years, a ily, field for over 3 ed me, my fam id v ro p u o y g rin ou the depth of ca nate to have y u rt fo so re e w We and my father. time. GH during this M t a ff a st e th and — Wade Colvin 8 S C O P E

“We wanted a system that could work handin-hand with Meditech, our health information system, to provide the staff with real-time patient information throughout all areas of the Hospital and Clinics,” said Laura Grubb, MGH & FC director of Health Information and privacy officer. “Another need was to streamline our information processes with automatic indexing and easy retrieval, to reduce the amount of staff dedicated to scanning, indexing, and managing paper medical charts. Additionally, the new system needed to simplify the process of transferring electronic information to external medical coding services, and to be in solid compliance with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations.” DocuWare allows MGH & FC to unite information from many different departments into one upto-date, electronic medical record. Regardless of which software program the information was entered into, one search in Meditech brings up all relevant patient data. Patient information can be limited, based on predefined criteria, so that hospital employees can only access the information they require. “Healthcare is complex; handling patient records shouldn’t be,” added Grubb. “DocuWare helps us manage our records so that we can focus on providing the best healthcare services possible to our patients. Putting the complete medical record into the hands of our physicians and nurses easily, at the point of care, is a vital part of providing a higher quality of care to our patients.”

Dr. Ou is glad to be back in the Northwest Coming in 2013

Open MRI

With family in both Seattle and Portland, Shelton’s central location is ideal for Stephen Ou, D.O. (left), orthopedic surgeon at MGH Shelton Orthopedics. “Being right in the middle allows me to shuttle back and forth easily,” he said.

Originally from Portland, Oregon, Dr. Ou completed his undergraduate degree at Pomona College in Los Angeles, California. He did advanced, post-graduate studies at Portland State University before attending medical school at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and completed his residency program at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY in 2010. He also has a Fellowship in Sports Medicine from the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson. In August, Dr. Ou joined the staff at MGH Shelton Orthopedics, practicing general orthopedics and specializing in sports medicine. “Coming back to the Northwest was kind of a priority for my wife and me,” he said. Our Campus Renewal Construction Project is making room for a new, state-of-the-art Open MRI unit. Many new pieces of high-tech medical equipment will be installed during the construction, and the Panorama High Field Open MRI is at the top of the list.

Chronic or severe wound? Don’t suffer any longer. Stay close to home when your physician refers you to MGH & FC Wound Care Services at (360) 432-3285.

Dr. Ou’s interest in sports medicine started in high school, where he competed in track, cross country, and snow skiing – often sustaining injuries. Those injuries introduced him to orthopedic medicine. Later, in medical school, he came to appreciate the wide variety of treatments available through orthopedics. “And the ortho guys in medical school always seemed to be having a good time,” he added. These days, in his free time Dr. Ou and his wife have fun scuba diving. They earned their diving certification here in the Puget Sound area. As they settle in, they also hope to find a house with a home theater, if possible. “My wife and I are big movie fans,” he admitted.

Prevent diabetes with diet, exercise More and more Americans, even children and adolescents, are being diagnosed with type 2 or adult onset diabetes. And, according to one recent study, changes in diet and exercise patterns may be the best way of reversing this trend. Most often blamed for the increase in diabetes diagnoses is the “Westernized” or American lifestyle – a high-calorie, high-fat diet coupled with lack of physical activity. A review of eight studies concluded that interventions aimed at changing dietary and exercise behaviors were effective ways of preventing type 2 diabetes. These interventions also had a modest effect on cholesterol and a more substantial effect on blood pressure. [SOURCE: L. J. Orozco, et al, “Exercise or exercise and diet for preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus,” Cochrane Database System Review, July 16, 2008]

Diabetes is more than sugar problem Nearly 4 million Americans have diabetes, and the prevalence of the disease is growing rapidly, particularly among youth. While the primary manifestation of diabetes is an abnormal level of glucose in the blood, the major health risks are long-term complications involving the heart, brain, blood vessels, nerves and kidneys. About 65 percent of Americans with diabetes die from heart attacks or strokes. It’s estimated that moderate weight loss coupled with 30 to 45 minutes of walking daily would reduce the incidence of diabetes by 58 percent. [SOURCE: C. Tissa Kappagoda, “Diabetes and preventive cardiology,” Medscape, 2003] SCOPE 9

giving Quality Care Open

Golf Tournament set for June 29, Alderbrook Yacht & Golf Club, Union

Thank you to our Sponsors Women’s Prize Sponsor Christmas Village

Hole Sponsor(s) Level A Flakus Family

Men’s Prize Sponsor Squaxin Island Tribe

MacEwen for State House

Banquet & Catering Services Food Services of America

Robert W. Johnson PLLC

Prize Sponsor Dynamic Collectors, Inc. Tent Sponsor Electrocom

Peninsula Community Federal Credit Union

Hole Sponsor(s) Level B Bill Schultz Insurance Brady Trucking Co., Inc.

Banner Sponsor Taylor Shellfish Farms, Inc

DeMiero Enterprises

Awards Dinner Sponsor Mt. St. Helens Evergreens/ The Eveland Family

EFI

Putting Contest Sponsor Hiawatha Corporation Golf Cart Sponsor OAC Services, Inc. Tournament Patron Sponsor Washington Casualty Company Hospitality Cart Sponsor Healthcare Management Administrators Event Underwriting Coffee Creek Espresso, LLC

(As of March 13, 2012) 10 S C O P E

Shelton Hospital Association donation

D. R. Gardner, CPA, PS Green Diamond Resource Company Hackney Family Dentistry Hoffman Construction Hood Canal Communications Joe L. Snyder and Andrea L. Huff, Attorneys at Law Olympic Panel Products Shelton Chiropractic Center - Dr. Damon J. Ernst South Sound Radiology Sterile Surgical Systems Wittenberg CPA, PS

To register a team or to be a sponsor, contact MGH at (360) 427-3623 or go to www.MasonGeneral.com.

Shelton Hospital Association (SHA) once again has made

a large donation to MGH & FC. This time it is for $56,000 to purchase external security cameras at MGH. In the past, SHA donated funds toward medical equipment, and this time they wanted to enhance security and safety at the Hospital. Over the years, the SHA has donated more than $1.3 million to MGH. SHA was started with assets from the sale of Shelton Hospital in the 1960’s, and its proceeds of $250,000 were invested and have now grown to a portfolio worth more than $1 million. Present at the check donation were (l-r) Dick Taylor, SHA; Bob Appel, MGH & FC CEO; Bruce Jorgenson, SHA president; Eric Moll, MGH & FC CAO; Scott Hilburn, MGH & FC Commissioner; Bill Hunter, SHA; and Don Wilson, MGH & FC Commissioner.

Processed meat ups diabetes risk Regular consumption of processed meat – sausages, bacon and ham – was associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in Diabetes Care [November, 2011]. The rate of diabetes was 30 percent higher for subjects eating five or more servings of processed meat a week. By comparison, the study found no increased risk of diabetes for subjects eating unprocessed red meat such as beef, pork, veal or lamb. “One explanation for these results is that added nitrates and salt in processed red meat may have a biological effect on glucose metabolism,” the lead author wrote. [SOURCE: Martin Lajous, Diabetes Care, November, 2011]

Mason County Youth Foundation donates to clinic

MGH Foundation contributors memorialized MGH Foundation would like to acknowledge former contributors. Listed below are supporters, now deceased, that the Foundation would like to recognize for their past support of our mission and work in the community. Please join us in acknowledging their support of the Foundation during their lifetimes.

Mason County Youth Foundation (MCYF) recently donated

$27,890 to MGH Oakland Bay Pediatrics (OBP), a part of MGH & FC, to help children seeking medical treatment through OBP. MCYF was dissolved in October 2011, which made the donation to OBP possible. Established in 2005, MCYF provided temporary financial assistance to families in Mason County. Over the years, funding was given to qualifying families with children under the age of 18 who suffered from catastrophic accidents or illnesses and needed help paying for medical treatment. MCYF has helped more than ten families. “We felt our mission statement would be best mirrored through our local hospital in continuing to help the youth in our area, and we wanted to see our funds put to work where they are most needed,” said Gene Strozyk, president of MCYF. At the check presentation, which took place in the lobby of OBP, were (l to r) Merle Brandt, MGH & FC CFO; Robert Armenino, MCYF vice president; Terese Pizanti, ARNP, OBP; Eric Moll, MGH & FC CAO; Maria Rowena Ramirez, M.D., OBP; Gene Strozyk, MCYF president; Marv Rowley, MCYF vice president; Vicki Gonzales, MCYF secretary/treasurer; Coni Cookston, clinic manager, OBP; and Terry Megiveron, MGH & FC chief of provider services.

Strength training also important Persons wishing to prevent diabetes or manage blood sugar more efficiently are advised to engage in regular aerobic exercise such as brisk walking for 30 to 45 minutes a day. But strength training – through weight lifting, pushups or sit-ups – is also important in order to build muscle tissue. Insulin is more readily introduced into cells in individuals who have a good ratio of lean muscle mass to body fat. [SOURCE: Emilia Klapp, RD, BS, “Who else wants to lower blood sugar with exercise?” The Diabetes Club]

Janice M. Baird Nancy A. Greves James E. Connolly Delbert P. Hartwell Debi L. Dunlap George K. Hausser Victoria M. Dowling

Memorial contributions made to MGH Foundation MGH Foundation has received generous donations in memory of the individuals listed below. Donors and memorialized individuals listed in this report reflect contributions made to the Foundation beginning December 28, 2011 ending February 22, 2012.

Roger & Linda Hoff In memory of: Bob Brewer Scott Brown Debi Dunlap Don Kantas John MacRae

James & Lois K. Kent In memory of: Kessie Smith Leland & Cathie Rhodes In memory of: Jim Connolly Bellaine West In memory of: Gerald Wilson

Please be advised that every effort has been made to ensure the integrity of this listing. If we have inadvertently omitted any names, please accept our apologies and most sincere thanks for your generosity and continued support of Mason General Hospital Foundation. S C O P E 11

Mom’s smoke puts baby’s eyes at risk

Get early vision check for infants

Infants who have been prenatally exposed to cigarette smoke through their mothers are twice as likely to develop strabismus compared to children of non-smokers. Strabismus is a misalignment of the eyes that can lead to permanent vision loss in one eye if not detected and treated early enough.

In order to allow early detection and treatment of strabismus and other congenital eye problems, parents are advised to have their child’s vision checked by a pediatrician or family physician between three and three and a half years of age. A child who fails the vision check should then be referred to an ophthalmologist for a complete eye exam.

In infants prenatally exposed to psychoactive drugs, the prevalence of strabismus is 24 percent. [SOURCE: R. E. Christianson, “The relationship between maternal smoking and the incidence of congenital anomalies,” Journal of Epidemiology, 1980;112(5):684-695; L. B. Nelson, et al, “Occurrence of strabismus in infants born to drug-dependent women,“ AJDC 1987;141:175-178]

Join the fun... & “Take control of your life!”

FREE

Women’s Health Event Saturday, May 5 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Main Entrance of MGH