Kenner Army Health Clinic
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LIFESTYLE GUIDE
Your Care. Your Trust. Our Mission.
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COMMANDER’S WELCOME 2015 Welcome to the Kenner Army Health Clinic Fall/Winter Healthy Lifestyle Guide. Inside you will find articles and information on the Performance Triad, which is the foundation of Army Medicine’s transformation from a healthcare system to a system for health.The Performance Triad is a comprehensive initiative designed to help individuals balance and sustain health through three main components: sleep, activity, and nutrition. At Kenner, we are committed to improving knowledge and behaviors in these three areas so our patients can prevent illness, improve physical/mental performance, and enhance their overall well-being. As we enter the fall season, I challenge you to embrace the Performance Triad and begin a personal journey toward optimal health. Research shows that adopting healthy habits can yield dramatic and immediate benefits even for elderly adults. It is never too late to start living healthy and the staff at Kenner is here to help. Through the Army Wellness Center, we can offer you an individual health assessment to measure your current health/fitness level. Following this assessment, we will develop a tailored plan to help you achieve your health, wellness, and fitness goals. I highly encourage you to take advantage of this free resource
Elements of Success: Kenner Facilities New, Improved and schedule an appointment with the Army Wellness Center today. Appointments are open to all military, family members, retirees, and Department of Defense civilians. In closing, thank you for placing your trust in Kenner Army Health Clinic. Our team is committed to enabling your health and providing you with the patient-centered services you deserve. We look forward to working with you as partners on your journey to optimal health.
LTC Brett H. Venable, CDFM, FACHE Commander, Kenner Army Health Clinic Fort Lee, VA
Publisher Laura Baxter Creative Director Tricia Lieurance Editorial Content Tereasa Wade Graphic Designer Susan Cofer
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BY CHARLES MOORE Deputy, Facilities Management, and Kenner Army Health Clinic The Kenner Facilities Department have been very busy in 2015, with construction and revitalization project activities on Medical buildings at Fort Lee and its growing needs, providing great customer support to its cliental; active duty personnel, the retirement community and its dependents. At the Kenner Army Health Clinic (KAHC) main facility, several seen and unseen projects have been completed or close to completion. The main FY15 project was the renovation of the Active Duty Clinic to meet the implementation of the Medical Home Model. This project was completed on 18 September 2015 and frees up clinical space in addressing the existing shortfall of provider space. The
newly renovated space is complete with a new 8 person double wall hearing booth. Another seen project completed was the installation of a new HVAC and Roof System at building 3219,Troop Medical Clinic 1. MEDCOM has initiated a Sustainability Program as part of the Army’s Green Initiative Program. This program is design to access the functional effectiveness and operational efficiency functionality in respect to energy conservation sustainment. The Facilities Department is ensuring Kenner is complying with these initiatives by installing a new high efficient chill water system, a new HVAC system and two (2) new cooling towers. This equipment is already paying major dividends by cutting Kenner’s energy savings by 35%, with an overall savings of 52.3% since MEDCOM’s baseline
inception. A less visible, but equally important project was the complete replacement of the Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS). These switches are instrumental in the area of Life Safety; these switches transfer electrical power to the backup generator system in the event of a power outage ensuring electricity is continuous throughout the facility thus maintaining the class 1 and class 2 medication temperatures. There are several projects planned for Kenner Army Health Clinic in FY16 to include, the complete renovation of building 8200, Medical Company and Human Resources, the conversion of the Pediatrics Clinic into a Medical Home Model, the installation of a new green, high efficiency roof on the main facility, and the renovation of the Records Section.
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2015-2016 HEALTH OBSERVANCES Month / Year
Health Initiatives
KAHC Event (s) Week Long
National Observance (s)
September 2015
Pediatric Asthma Women’s Health
Asthma Awareness, 14-18 Sep Retiree Appreciation Day, 26 Sep
Cholesterol Education Month Gynecologic Cancer Awareness
October 2015
Breast Cancer Mental Health
Think Pink, 12-16 Oct Wear Pink, 16 Oct KAHC 5K Volksmarch Day, 17 Oct
Breast Cancer Awareness National Mammography Day, 16 Oct
November 2015
Diabetes
Self-Care Skills for Diabetes, 9-13 Nov
American Diabetes Month World Diabetes Day, 14 Nov
December 2015
LDL, HTN
Healthy Habits for the Holidays, 30 Nov - 4 Dec
Kenner Wide Healthy Tips
January 2016
Cervical Cancer, Breast Cancer Screenings
Early Screening Saves Lives
Cervical Health Awareness Month
February 2016
LDL (Cholesterol) HTN, Diabetes
Heart Healthy Go Red, 5 Feb (Dress in Red)
Go Red for Women (Heart Disease)
March 2016
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Dress in Blue Day, 4 March
Colon Cancer Alliance Dress in Blue Day
May 2016
Women’s Health Measures
Women’s Health Week, 8-14 May
Women’s National Health Week National Check Up Day, 9 May
Health Screenings: Am I Due? BY MARY ANN CRISPIN, RN, Disease Management Clinic Military treatment facilities including Kenner Army Health Clinic (KAHC) take an active role in developing processes to improve the health of our beneficiaries. Recognizing the importance of early detection with health screenings is a part of Kenner’s mission of care. The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information, referred
to as HEDIS, is the most widely used set of standardized performance measures for the majority of health care plans in all facilities – military and civilian. Many of these nationally recognized standards measure preventive screenings or management of chronic illness such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, diabetes and chlamydia with the goal of provided improved health care quality. These key concepts are developed into
a group of nine measures collectively termed HEDIS, a set of standardized performance measures to establish accountability in health care. For the patient, it means that the health care received at KAHC is measured against all other health plans. A facility that provides care and follows HEDIS measures receives a score. A facility that maintains its excess of benchmark goals receives funding. If the benchmark is not maintained no funding is received. The revenue generated from HEDIS can increase the quality and delivery of care for the facility. The increased revenue will be used for more educational programs, equipment or staff to increase the services avail-
able, all by simply maintaining good preventive screenings or management of chronic conditions. A successful “report card” is achieved when all agencies work together to get preventive screenings done. Disease Management at KAHC is involved in the collection of data that is used to monitor, develop, implement and evaluate HEDIS measures for a specific population. The benefit of this process is helping beneficiaries maintain the necessary health screenings, lab work and followup care to reach optimal health. Disease Management provides education, resources and outreach to beneficiaries to help patients’ manager their care. Reminder letters, birthday cards
and health fairs are just some of the ways Kenner uses to market the importance of health screenings. KAHC provides ambulatory services and specialty care with services available in a robust network of providers within the community. Health screenings may also be done “outside” of Kenner. Beneficiaries may choose to have a network provider complete health screenings. Please ensure you provide a copy of outside screenings to Kenner to ensure a complete record of care is maintained. Contact your clinic provider team to schedule preventive screenings by calling the Kenner Patient Appointment Line at 1-866-LEE-KAHC.
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Joy.
Helping deliver a bundle of joy into the world is a great privilege. In fact, we celebrate each new arrival by playing a lullaby throughout the hospital. If you’re expecting, you can expect more from us. To find an OB/GYN or to schedule a tour of The BirthPlace at Southside Regional Medical Center, call 804-765-5381 or visit SRMConline.com.
PHARMACY NEWS YOU CAN USE Good news for TRICARE beneficiaries living in the Fort Lee area. The next time you receive a prescription from an offpost provider, you will not have to squint to decipher the doctor’s handwriting and neither will the Kenner pharmacy team. That’s because electronic prescribing, better known as e-prescribing is now available at Kenner Army Health Clinic The best part about e-prescribing is it allows civilian prescribers to electronically transmit prescriptions to Kenner for dispensing, optimizing safety through the reduction of transcription errors due to illegible hand-written prescriptions. The first and last name, date of birth, and gender must match along with one of the following identifiers on E-RX for pharmacy to validate and process all E-RX from outside. a. Department of Defense identifier (DoD ID) b. Patient’s Social Security number (SSN) c. Street address, city, state, and zip code Kenner has provider network pharmacies with a list of formulary to ensure they are aware of medications available at Kenner. E-Prescription saves time and helps prevent medication errors by sending prescription(s) instantaneously from doctor’s office to our pharmacy. It also helps in suggesting generic and other medications, resulting in cost effectiveness.
If you have further question regarding Tricare Formulary please visit www. Tricare.mil/pharmacyformulary. Effective October 1, 2015, all TRICARE beneficiaries with prescriptions for chronic health issues such as high blood pressure medicine, diabetic drugs, cholesterol-lowering medicines, and antidepressants and more will have to utilize Tricare Mailing Order Pharmacy (TMOP) service or fill it at a Military Treatment Facility Pharmacy such as Kenner. According to the new rule, it does not apply to prescriptions for generic drugs, for drugs to treat acute illnesses, and for prescription covered by other medical insurance. Under the new rule, Tricare beneficiaries will be able to save lots of money on their maintenance medications because co-payments are lower and most medications are available through TMOP or at MTF Pharmacy for up to 90 day supply. This program does NOT apply to active duty service members, beneficiaries living overseas, or those with other health insurance that includes a prescription drug benefit. Beneficiaries can still fill their new maintenance medications twice at a retail pharmacy before they need to switch to Home Delivery or a military pharmacy. Military pharmacies offer prescriptions at no cost to beneficiaries, but do not carry all medications. Beneficiaries should call MTF Pharmacy to make sure it carries their drug. Please visit www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE for more information.
Beautiful, spacious birthing suites Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Board-certified OB/GYN physicians Experienced nursing staff Internet access to stay in touch with family and friends
In-room, private portrait sessions Birthing classes and postpartum education Advanced infant security system Certified lactation consultants Board-certified neonatologists and pediatricians
Minutes count. Less than 15 minutes away from Fort Lee. Southside is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff.
6 • HEALTHY LIFESTYLE GUIDE • 2015
THE BENEFITS OF USING TRICARE ONLINE BY CPT AARON D. LEMONS Chief, Managed Care Division Kenner Army Health Clinic TRICARE Online (TOL) is the Military Health System’s patient portal for internet access to available healthcare services. TOL provides secure access to online features for DoD beneficiaries receiving care through a military hospital or clinic. The TOL multifunctional website allows beneficiaries to: • Make, change, cancel, and review appointments for yourself or your authorized family members. • Receive email and text message appointment reminders. • Refill and check the status of your prescriptions at your military treatment facility. • Review, print, or download your personal health data from your military elec-
tronic health record. TOL users are required to register their DoD CAC identification card prior to their first use on TOL. To register your DoD CAC, beneficiaries may use the following steps. First, register for a MHS iAS Username and Password account by selecting the “Click Here to Register Your CAC” link on the Tricare Online main page. After registering for a Basic Logon account, use your CAC or DFAS myPay account to quickly upgrade to a Premium DS Logon account. If you do not have a DFAS myPay account, you can use the “Upgrade” icon under the “My Access Center” link on the TOL homepage. Please keep in mind that TOL users are required to register their DS Logon Account prior to their first use on TOL. Have you heard about the TOL “Blue Button” feature? The TOL “Blue Button” allows authorized users the ability to
view, print, and save their available personal health data. It provides convenient access to your personal health data and offers a way for beneficiaries to participate in their own health care. For example, access to the “Blue Button” feature allows beneficiaries to: • Explore medication, allergy, and partial demographic profile information, lab results, problem lists, and encounter data. • Tailor personal health data preferenc-
es; view all available personal health data or a summary of select personal health data. • Download and save personal health data to your own computer. • Print personal health data. For more information on the service and support of Tricare Online (TOL), please contact TOL customer service at 1-800-600-9332 or www.tricareonline. com. Both services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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2015 • HEALTHY LIFESTYLE GUIDE • 7
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A Review of the Performance Triad BY CELIA MURRAY, R.N., Wilkerson Pediatric Clinic Last year at this time we presented you with an article about The Surgeon General’s new (at that time) initiative known as the Performance Triad which was created when the U.S. Army Medical Command began transitioning from a health care system to a system of health. You may remember there were three pillars of the program intended to promote health and wellness by balancing sleep, activity and
nutrition. Keep in mind the Triad is helpful to both children and adults. Hopefully, you were able to put this program into practice for your family. We want to quickly recap the pillars of the Performance Triad, in hopes this helps you to evaluate if you are achieving the goal of the initiative – optimal performance and health. Don’t despair if you have not yet reached success in all areas. If you find you have not made the progress you or your health care provider would like you to achieve, you can certainly continue to incorporate changes into your daily routine to move in the right direction. So here’s what we want to remind you. The Triad focuses on the three pillars of optimal
health – a balance of Nutrition, Activity and Sleep. We know that nutrition is directly linked to school performance. Studies have shown that kids who eat a well-balanced breakfast and lunch do better in school. Kids who eat breakfast have more energy throughout the day, have improved concentration, get better grades and maintain a healthy weight. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans describe a healthy diet as one that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products. Your children should have at least eight servings of fruits and vegetables each day for optimal performance at school or anywhere. A healthy diet is low in saturated fats, trans-fats, cholesterol, salt and added sugars. It includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts. These serve as fuel for your body. Fueling the body well also helps to exercise it. An ever increasing number of children are overweight or even obese. Lack of proper diet and physical activity paired with improper sleep habits are as big a problem for young people as they are for adults. There really is something to that old adage that what you get out of your body (general health and optimal performance in this case) is only as good as what you put into it by way of food and exercise. You have to fuel your body well enough for it to sustain your activities and to restore and rejuvenate you when you sleep. The previous recommendations still apply – vigorousintensity physical activity at least three days a week.; muscle-strengthening activity such as, playing on playground equipment, climbing trees, playing tugof-war, lifting weights or working with resistance bands at least three days per week; bone strengthening physical activity such as running, jumping rope, basketball, tennis and hopscotch a minimum of three times per week. The important thing is that children should get a minimum of an hour of exercise either during or after school every day. Moderate or vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity such as run-
ning, hopping, skipping, jumping rope, swimming, dancing and bicycling should compromise most of the 60 minutes or more a day. Studies show that children who are more active score better on tests and get better grades. Developing an active lifestyle when we are young has lifelong benefits. Again, studies prove that children who are active from a very early age have lower rates of injury, better bone health, and are less likely to become overweight or obese as adults. As important as it is to fuel the body, resting it is as important as well. Adequate sleep is needed for a child to perform his or her best. Children aged 3-5 years require the most amount of sleep: 11-13 hours; children aged 5-10 need 1011 hours of sleep and adolescents and teens aged from 10 to 17 need 8.5 to 9.5 hours each night. One study in The Journal of School Health reported that fifth grade students who got adequate sleep had better weight statuses. Studies continue to emerge that link the relationship between length of sleep and being overweight or obese. If you take time out of your busy schedule to think about it you will find this is true for yourself as well. You are at your best when you are well rested. While children generally get plenty of exercise during their summer vacation some may slip a bit when it comes to getting adequate rest. They will quickly get back into a set routine with the return to school and as we noted in last year’s article this is an opportune time to institute changes using the Performance Triad’s three pillars of sleep, nutrition and physical activity. Your staff at the Wilkerson Pediatric Clinic is here to help mothers and fathers with keeping their children healthy and performing at peak levels. Feel free to reach out to us at any time. Lastly, remember you can find a multitude of resources available to help you or your children learn about healthy living. We recommend you visit Army Medicine at http://armymedicine.mil.
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WEIGHT LOSS SUCCESS – COUPLE LOSES WEIGHT TOGETHER BY TEREASA WADE Public Affairs Officer, Kenner Army Health Clinic Tackling weight loss together is the name of the game for Connie and Marvin Johnson. The couple has lost a combined 119 pounds since beginning their joint effort of dieting and exercising just over a year ago. Connie has lost 61 pounds and Marvin is down 58 pounds. “I started out eating around 1,200-1400 calories a day and I am now eating around 1,400-1600 calories a day to maintain my weight loss,” said Connie. Tackling weight loss together, exercising has become a huge part of their lives. Marvin quickly got onboard with the weight loss, “I liked what I saw,” said Marvin. “Connie looks amazing,” he said. Connie spends an hour to an hour a half in the gym five days a week. They try to spend time in the gym together as often as possible. In August last year, Marvin began meeting with Kathleen Viau, Kenner Dietitian. Tackling weight loss together is the key to their success. Medical issues made Marvin realize that losing weight was a “must.” Knowing how much knee pain he was suffering from helped him stay motivated to make healthy choices until the habits became second nature. “One and a half years ago, I had all sorts of pain,
especially in my knees, before losing my weight,” said Marvin. “After dropping the weight, I no longer suffer from knee pain and I have more energy,” he said. The Johnson’s have been married 28 years. Their relationship revolved around their eating habits. They would go out to eat and indulge in one unhealthy meal after another. They knew that in order to get healthy, they needed someone to steer them in the right direction. So they sought help from Kenner’s dietitian, Kathleen Viau. Ms. Viau began first with Connie. “Connie came to see me almost two years ago, having tried everything from supplements to extreme dieting to lose weight and keep it off, said Ms. Viau. “We started with small changes, such as simply increasing her awareness of her food choices. I wanted Connie to realize that those food products she was eating would never really satisfy her nutrient needs or her hunger, but would just drive her to eat more and more calories.” “I started eating a whole lot more fruits and vegetables, instead of sweets and processed snacks,” said Connie. “But I wasn’t really tracking calories the first few months and I had a lot of lose a few, gain a few weeks, even though I was making healthier choices overall and exercising. It wasn’t until I really started tracking calories that I saw the weight steadily come
off. Plus, I was seeing Kathy every week for accountability, encouragement and advice for managing difficult food environments or situations. After five months I had lost 31 pounds and there was no stopping me after that,” she said. The couple started using a smartphone app, “My Fitness Pal” to track the calories they consumed. In the beginning, they ate at restaurants only on special occasions and prepared all meals at home. Connie found recipes for healthier versions of the foods they loved.Their diet primarily consists of lean meats with lots of fruits and vegetables. Even today, everything they eat goes into a food journal. The weight came off quickly for Marvin during the first month alone. Connie has maintained her weight loss and then some for almost 1 year. They tried to keep the weight loss steady after that, knowing they couldn’t expect to see such a big number month after month without being disappointed. Weekly meetings with the dietitian helped keep them on track. “Marvin was the perfect patient, commented Ms. Viau. He was highly motivated and once he saw that it was a matter of knowingly eating fewer calories, he started tracking from day one.” “We use the app to help determine if we should partake in that cheat or opt
out for a healthy snack,” Marvin said. And going to the Dietitian was fun! The first meeting she asked what I ate and I told her Dove. ‘Like the bird?’ she said. “Yes,” I told her, I hunt.” “I remember that,” said Ms. Viau. “The next visit they showed up bearing a gift wrapped in foil and told me since I had never eaten Dove; they wanted me to try it. I was really hesitant to open up the package, but, well, I needed to be polite. I was very pleasantly surprised and relieved to find two bags of Dove chocolates! Working with Marvin and Connie over the past two years and being witness to their transformation has been such a great experience. They are a testimony to changing lifestyle habits to feel better, be healthier, can- be-done. As they begin to move into the maintenance phase of their diet, the couple has allowed themselves to indulge and Marvin’s birthday is one time they plan to treat themselves. “August 31, Marvin’s birthday, we will treat ourselves to all you can eat crab legs,” Connie said. They still give in to cravings from time to time.
Connie says she has a sweet tooth, but she controls cravings by distracting herself with activities such as walks or opting for a healthy alternative, like strawberries with cool whip. “Typically, we do not have starches very often and do not keep breads in the house.” What keeps her on track is understanding that “No matter how many times you slipped or messed up, you just make your very next choice a healthier one, and eventually you’ll get there,” she said. “You have to stay positive and remind yourself that you’re human and nobody is perfect.” Even though they’ve managed to lose a substantial amount of weight the couple still face daily struggles, that’s where their weekly meetings with Viau helps them stay focused. “I don’t see myself as quite as small as what Marvin tells me I look,” said Connie. Through both the struggles and triumphs they have found support in each other. They say that doing this as a team has brought them closer together, and they feel like they are almost newlyweds again. “We are a lot more ad-
One and a half years ago, I had all sorts of pain, especially in my knees, before losing my weight. After dropping the weight, I no longer suffer from knee pain and I have more energy.” - Marvin Johnson
venturous and outgoing now that we have dropped weight. Our outlook has changed almost completely thanks to the guidance and support from Ms. Viau and our own perseverance” said the couple. To learn more about Kenner’s nutrition counseling services for diet, and health, weight management, stress and emotional eating, vegetarian guidance, building muscle, and more, please contact your provider team for a referral.
10 • HEALTHY LIFESTYLE GUIDE • 2015
Your Virtual Office is Now Open BY KIMBERLY SCHOEN, Chief Nurse in Charge, Family Medicine Clinic For the Past three years, Kenner Army Health Clinic has welcomed you into our “Patient Centered Medical Home” seeing patients utilizing smaller care teams, which are able to provide you with greater continuity and coordination of care. We are further expanding our services by offering you an alternative to seeing your provider face to face; iIt is called a virtual office visit. Virtual office visits are simply provider-patient interactions that occur via e-mail or through a Webbased portal.They offer our patients an alternative way of communicating with their providers regarding health issues that do not require face-to-face contact, such as simple urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections or routine follow-up of chronic diseases, that we may be able to take care of without inconveniencing you. Virtual visits satisfy patients’ thirst for timely access to care and allow them to communicate with their provider when it’s convenient for them, whether from home or work, regardless of the time of day. With a virtual visit, patients don’t have to wait on hold to schedule an appointment, they don’t have to miss work and they don’t have to waste time in a waiting room. This type of information exchange allows our patients to describe their problem and formulate their questions without feeling rushed, and because they have their provider’s
response in writing, they can reread the information as often as they like to understand the content. “I think it is a great way to communicate with the patients/parents to provide anticipatory guidance and simple advice,” said Dr. Sylvia Lee, Wilkerson Pediatric Clinic. We offer three different ways to obtain medical advice. Army Messaging Secure Messaging Service powered by Relay Health® is an email portal that you can register for in the clinic and allows you to go online and directly message your care team with questions, request appointments, and receive periodic messages from Kenner about upcoming events and services provided. This option is completely secure and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant. Tricare Online is a web portal that is available for booking appointments directly with your health care facility, and offers you the ability to view certain diagnostic results within 7 days after having them done. The Nurse Advice Line can be reached by dialing 1-800-874-2273, option1. There is a live Nurse available 24/7 to answer questions, and direct patients to either an urgent care facility, or an Emergency room if needed. It is important to note, that virtual visits are not for urgent matters such as chest pain, and that you should call 911 in case of an emergency. You should also be aware that physicians can take up to 24 hours to respond to your secure message.
FORT LEE DENTAL CLINIC COMMAND SAFEGUARDS MISSION READINESS BY COL LARRY ROTHFUSS Staff Dentist Dental readiness supports three of the Army’s four ARFORGEN imperatives, namely Sustain, Prepare, and Reset. Dental problems may impair a Soldier’s ability to function on the battlefield or in garrison. Consequently the lack of dental readiness may negatively affect a service member’s ability to complete a mission. Something as unpretentious as a toothache, resulting from an untreated cavity, can escalate into a significant inconvenience for the patient and his/her unit. Obtaining annual dental exams and necessary dental care can help avoid dental emergencies and improve readiness in addition to the dental wellness of the unit. The current oral health status of military personnel is classified as the following:
• Dental Class 1: Indicates patients with a dental exam that is current (within one year) who do not require dental treatment or re-evaluation. These patients are worldwide deployable. • Dental Class 2: Patients with a current dental exam, which require non-urgent dental treatment or re-evaluation for oral conditions which are unlikely to result in a dental emergency within 12 months. Examples of non-urgent dental treatment are minor defective restorations and dental decay, as well as cleanings. Class 2 patients are worldwide deployable. • Dental Class 3: Patients require urgent or emergent dental care. Class 3 patients are not worldwide deployable. These patients require treatment for large dental decay, tooth fracture involving pain or defective restorations that cannot be
maintained by the patient and also, chronic oral infections associated with wisdom teeth. • Dental Class 4: Patients require an annual dental exam or those with unknown dental classifications. These patients are not worldwide deployable. The Colonel Bull Dental Clinic is located at 2601 C. Ave. Bldg. 8204, with operating hours of: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sick Call hours are 7:3010:30 a.m., walk-in exam hours are 7:30-10:30 a.m. and from 12:30- 4 p.m. For more information, call the clinic at (804) 734-9607 or 734-9608. The Mosier Dental Clinic is located at 300 Central Ave., Bldg. 18036 on the Ordnance Campus. Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., sick call is from 7:30-10:30 a.m., walk-in exam hours are 7:30-10:30 a.m. and 12:30-4 p.m. For more information, call 734-5365 or 734-5454.
Periodic Health Assessment (PHA) BY SGT JOSHUA K. GREEN, Healthcare Specialist, Active Duty Clinic
The Active Duty Clinic, Kenner Army Health Clinic, provides care for the active duty personnel on and surrounding the Fort Lee area. One of those services provided is the periodic health assessment; a yearly requirement for every service member. The process starts with the service member filling out a survey online on AKO. After the survey has been completed, the next step entails the service members go to the Active Duty Clinic and fill out the appropriate form stating age. The ages are either under or over 35 years of age. The PHA process varies with age, but with some similarities. One similarity is the hearing test which is administered yearly, prior to the scheduling of the face to face health assessment. After the hearing test is administered and cleared by the hearing technician, the service member, if less than 35, will be checked to see if all of their medical readiness prerequisites are green and then be scheduled to see the provider at a later date. If the service member is a male 35 – 39 years of age, they will need to have a lab test done to test for cholesterol. If the service member is between the ages of 40-49,
they require labs testing for cholesterol, diabetes and HIV. All service members require an EKG to look for irregularities in their heart. The EKG must be performed every 5 years and will be done prior to the face to face exam. If the service member is a male, they also need a Prostate blood test prior to their exam. Female service members are required to have a Mammogram and a well woman exam must be current and on file with the clinic Service members over the age of 50, require a chest x-ray and male service members are required a stool test (yearly) or a colonoscopy every ten years. Once all prerequisites have been completed by the service member, their part two exam is scheduled with their provider. The part two appointment will not be the same day as the prior testing and will also include a vision test prior to seeing their provider. The provider evaluates all the tests performed in addition to the online questionnaire to determine the overall health of that service member. Once all the information has been verified the provider will sign off on the periotic health assessment, thus completing the process. Once the process has been completed it may take 2-3 weeks to reflect the service member’s medical readiness. If you have further questions, regarding the PHA process, please feel free to contact the Kenner Active Duty Clinic.
2015 • HEALTHY LIFESTYLE GUIDE • 11
DENTISTS & ORTHODONTISTS in one location, just down the road.
Wayne J. Browder, DDS
David P. Roberts, DDS
Christoper Cios, DDS
Melanie Spears, DDS, MS, Orthodontist
We are your new neighbors, just a few minutes down the road from Ft. Lee. We would love to be your new dentist too. As a multi-specialty practice, we can take care of your entire family’s dental needs under one roof. And with 50 dentists in 11 locations, Virginia Family Dentistry has been making Central Virginia smile for over 40 years.
Call us or visit VAdentist.com today to schedule your appointment.
50
Tri-Cities Location 4710 Puddledock Rd Prince George, VA 23875 (804) 526-4822
50
%OFF
Teeth Whitening
Zoom In-Office Teeth Whitening Reg. $500.00 Nite White at Home Whitening Reg. $200.00
%OFF
New Patient Visit
New patients only. Discount does not apply to PPO Insurance Plans. Includes x-ray, cleaning, and exam. Regular new patient visit $126 - $284.
WE ACCE P T THE FOLLOWING INSUR ANCE Aetna
•
Ameritas
•
Anthem
•
Assurant
•
Cigna PPO
•
Delta Dental Premier
•
Dominion Dental
•
Guardian
•
Humana
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Metlife
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United Concordia NFFS
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UHC (United Healthcare)
12 • HEALTHY LIFESTYLE GUIDE • 2015
Fort Lee Commissary Committed to Healthy Living
FOOD SUBSTITUTIONS FOR HEALTHIER COOKING
Time... Cost… Flavor. Three of the main reasons Americans say is the reason they do not adopt healthier eating habits. For the Fort Lee Community, those barriers are easily removed with one trip to the Fort Lee Commissary or the Commissaries.com website. Healthy Living is an online resource designed to support patrons in meeting their health, nutrition and wellness goals. On that site, you will find health and nutrition information and resources along with tips to help you develop healthy habits and maintain a healthy lifestyle. • Healthy Habits: This page features timely articles on health and nutrition along with related recipes that are both tasty and nutritious. • Healthy Eats: This is where you’ll find “Quick Meal Solutions” and healthy recipe suggestions to help in developing your meal plan and shopping list. • Resources: On the Resources page you’ll find an archive of past Healthy Habits articles, along with links to related resources. • Cooking Tips: Under Cooking Tips you’ll find articles, tips and more, including time-saving shopping techniques and advice to help you tackle your everyday challenges in preparing healthy meals for you and your family. Just in time for back-to-school and eating on the go, the current Healthy Habits article features ideas and suggestions for putting together quick, nutritious, and a bit nontraditional, lunches and snacks. The link to Mason Jar Salads is the creative solution to transporting salads and veggies without worrying about any messy dressing leaks, soggy lettuce or veggies losing their freshness. Simply pour your dressing at the bottom of the jar and pile on your favorite veggies, salad greens and goodies on top. These salads keep for days in the refrigerator. With a little time spent in preparation, The Mason Jar Salad method makes having a healthy salad every day easy and economical. To further make healthy eating convenient, affordable and good tasting, the Commissary links its sales flyer to those items currently on promotion in the store. Additionally, those sales items are featured in recipes in the Healthy Eats “Thinking Outside the Box” section on their website. Be sure to check out the sales flyer every two weeks at commissaries.com.There will be a new “Thinking Outside the Box” and quick and healthy meals solution. To stay in the know about sales and events and receive nutrition information and recipe suggestions, be sure to like their Facebook page and follow them on twitter.
BY KATHLEEN VIAU, Kenner Dietitian
Website: www.commissaries.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/YourCommissary YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DefenseCommissary Twitter: www.twitter.com/YourCommissary Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/ Commissary Connection: www.commissaries.com/subscribe.cfm
Plain, fat free, Greek yogurt makes a great healthy swap in many ways:
for some only half the amount still results in a delicious outcome.This substitution method may also work with other purees such as prunes, pears, pumpkin, bananas or even black beans!! Experiment with some of your own! For the more adventurous and health conscious cooks concerned about the trans fat and sodium in condensed soups, here is the perfect substitute: Ingredients: 1 cup non-fat dried milk ¾ cup cornstarch ¼ cup bouillon (if you have cubes, you have to smash them up) 4 Tablespoons freeze dried minced onions 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon pepper Directions: Mix all ingredients up. Multiply ingredients to make a larger batch.
Fruit purees are also ways to decrease calories and boost nutrition in many recipes: Substituting applesauce for oil will quickly become your favorite healthy swap! It saves on calories and fat without altering the taste. Use the same amount of applesauce as you would oil. But, note that most cookbooks say that you shouldn’t use more than 1/4 a cup of applesauce as a substitute for oil. Using more can change the chemistry of a recipe and it might flop. To keep that from happening, start with 1/4 a cup and increase it incrementally if the recipe calls for more oil. For example, if a recipe calls for 1/2 a cup of oil, then the first time use 1/4 cup applesauce and 1/4 cup of oil. If the recipe works, increase the applesauce by 1/8 a cup the next time. If it works again substitute applesauce for the the entire amount of oil. For some recipes, you can safely substitute the entire amount and
To use: Mix 1/3 cup dry mix with 1/1/4 cup water for the equivalent of one can of condensed cream soup. Cook until thick. Add additional flavorings as needed (chopped mushrooms, celery.) To substitute sugar with an alternative sweetener that is not artificial, experiment with the different
KATHLEEN VIAU stevias and stevia-blends. Domino has a light sugar/stevia baking blend and Truvia has a stevia/sugar baking blend and a brown sugar/ stevia baking blend. These blends are a one-to-one ratio substitution. Additional healthy substitutions include: • 2 egg whites for one whole egg • Whole wheat or whole wheat white flour for white flour • Cottage cheese for sour cream • Evaporated skim milk for heavy cream or full fat evaporated milk • Avocado or bananas mashed for butter For kid-friendly, healthy recipes visit: SuperHealthyKids.com
2015 • HEALTHY LIFESTYLE GUIDE • 13
FALL FITNESS TIPS BY CAPT ERIN JOHNSON, DPT, SP, Chief, Orthopedics and Physical Therapy, Kenner Army Health Clinic Fall is a great time of year to enjoy exercise outdoors. Temperatures begin to cool down and the changing of leaves make it is the perfect time for a walk, bike ride, run or just enjoying the beautiful scenery. Schedules experience a change as well, whether it is drastic with sending kids back to school, getting involved with sports or just minor shifts. As all of these changes are occurring, it is important to keep yourself on track with your exercise and diet so that you can continue to enjoy all of the activities that come available during the fall season. Here are a few tips to help you do just that. PLAN AHEAD – Planning out or scheduling your work-outs like you would a business meeting is important, but especially during the fall. If you have kids this can be a very busy time of year with school as well as after school activities. Make sure to plan some time for yourself. Not only will it be good to continue to get recommended amounts of physical activity, but you may also find it to be a very effective stress reliever. Addition-
ally, it starts to get darker earlier, so keep yourself accountable and make sure you are able to complete your chosen form of physical activity with the changing daylight hours. OUTDOOR ACTIVITY PREPARATION – If you are planning on partaking in one of the many outdoor activities available during the fall season make sure you prepare accordingly. Temperatures are cooling, especially with daylight dissipating earlier. Wear or bring an extra layer to make sure you can stay warm enough. Hydration is also an important consideration. With cooler temperatures you may not realize that you are thirsty as readily as you would in the summer months, but make sure you are continuing to get your water intake. TAILGATES AND FESTIVALS – Fall is a great time of year when you get together with friends to cheer on your favorite teams or experience the local fare and festivals of the surrounding areas. Often times these events bring food choices that may not fit in with your healthy diet. It is important to remember that eating healthy is not all or nothing. You can have a bad day and then revert back to your healthier habits. Additionally, you can plan ahead to help limit temptation. If you have a healthy snack prior to going to these events you may not be as hungry or tempted to over-consume the less healthy options. You can also challenge yourself to pick the healthiest choice within the offerings, i.e. grilled instead of fried food. UPDATE YOUR GOALS – Take time to review old goals or start by creating new SMART (Specific, Measurable,Actionbased, Realistic,Time-sensitive) goals. This will help give you direction, and keep you motivated to continue with your fitness activities through the fall.
DO YOU
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MONOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS ALLERGIES SINUSITIS INFERTILITY FIBROMYALGIA HYPERTENSION MIGRAINE HEADACHES AUTO IMMUNE CONDITIONS STRESS
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14 • HEALTHY LIFESTYLE GUIDE • 2015
Management Tips for Asthma and Allergies BY MARY ANN CRISPIN, Disease Management Coordinator ALSO BY JOANNA BATEMAN, Industrial Hygienist, Kenner Army Health Clinic There are an estimated 45 million Americans living with allergies and 25 million with asthma. Being aware of what’s in the air and things you can do to reduce the risks are important to living an active and healthy life. The air we breathe, both indoors and outdoors, may contain irritants and substances which can threaten our health, especially those individuals with asthma and allergies. Allergies are diseases of the immune system which cause the body to overreact to substances called allergens. The most common allergy “triggers” include pollen, pet dander, mold, dust, smoke, grass, and chemicals or fragrances. Symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes. Asthma is a disease of the lungs in which the airways become blocked or
narrowed causing difficulty with breathing. If you have asthma, a reaction to an allergen can worsen your asthma symptoms. People with asthma are particularly sensitive to outdoor air pollutants, which include ozone or “smog” and particulates (soot) from vehicle exhaust, wood smoke and fumes. Staying active is very important to your overall health and wellbeing, especially for those with asthma. If exercising causes asthma symptoms, use your prescribed medication 15-30 minutes before any physical activity. Remember to monitor the air quality if you plan to exercise outside. Daily pollen counts for your particular area can be found at: http://www.pollen.com/allergy-weather-forecast.asp According to the American Lung Association: • 1 in 12 adults has asthma. • Around 11 million workers are exposed to at least one asthmagen, a substance that causes asthma symptoms, in their workplace.
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• 1 in 6 asthma cases is caused or made worse by occupational exposures. • 21.5% of working adults with asthma report that their asthma is made worse from exposures at work. Kenner Army Health Clinic’s Industrial Hygiene Section serves as a consultant on indoor air quality issues in the workplace, focusing on airborne contaminants and ventilation requirements to achieve acceptable indoor air quality. Fort Lee uses a team approach to investigate indoor air quality complaints, utilizing the expertise from the Directorate of Public Works (Engineering, Operations & Maintenance, and Environmental Management Divisions), the Garrison Safety Office, and Industrial Hygiene Section to verify the source and determine if there are feasible solutions to resolve concerns and prevent recurrences. Identifying and fixing leaks, adjusting humidity levels, ensuring adequate air exchanges are occurring, and providing guidance to water damage restoration and mold assessment and remediation are just of few of the steps in identifying and correcting deficiencies to provide a healthy working environment for all employees. Contact the Industrial Hygiene Section at (804) 734-9846 if you have questions or concerns regarding your work area. The American Academy of Allergy and Immunology and the American Lung Association offer the following suggestions for promoting a healthier environment for everyone in the home, school, or office: • Make sure no one smokes indoors. • Damp areas promote the growth of mold. Eliminate sources of moisture by fixing leaks and using exhaust fans when showering, cooking or washing dishes. • Keep humidity levels below 50 percent. • Ensure anything that burns gas (i.e. stove, dryer, water heater, and fireplace) is vented to the outdoors. • Pollen and mold from outdoors can enter the home through open doors, window, and vents. Keep windows closed; use air filters or air conditioning. • Clean surfaces in your home weekly with a damp cloth and HEPA-filtered vacuum. • Restrict pets. • Eliminate rugs. Hard floor surfaces are easier to clean. • Don’t use scented candles or fragrance deodorizers. • Monitor the air quality index forecast in your area when planning outdoor activities. • If possible, stay indoors when the pollen count or humidity is high. • Minimize early morning activities (generally between the hours of 5-10 a.m.), when pollen is usually produced.
• Do not mow lawns or be around freshly cut grass; mowing stirs up mold and pollen. • Do not rake leaves. This will also stir up mold. • Do not hang clothing out on the line to dry; pollen and mold may collect on them. • Good ventilation is required when using cleaning products; do not mix chemicals. • Use medications as prescribed. Contact your provider for more information about controller medications versus quick-relief medicine. • Keep controller medications available. Check expiration dates. • Review immunizations with your provider. Many regular immunizations can lend protection to both adults and children with lung conditions. • Make an Asthma Action Plan (to include your name, emergency contact information, contact information for your healthcare provider, your asthma severity classification and a list of known triggers that may cause an asthma attack). • Be mindful of co-workers with asthma and allergies by limiting strong perfumes, colognes, and surface dust on desk tops. Other culprits in the work place include air fresheners, scented lotions, scented candles (lit or unlit). Now that school is back in session, ensure your child has a current Asthma Action Plan, to assist you, your child, and staff in managing their asthma. Action Plans hold key guidelines and instructions on what to do to help manage asthma exacerbations. Asthma Action Plans also collect information such as triggers and provide instruction on when to change or increase medication based on signs of potential problems. It is very important that you and your child follow the plan as written by your asthma health care provider and that the plan is upto-date. Don’t forget to share the Asthma Action Plan with your child’s school nurse and childcare provider or anyone else that your child spends time with. The Central Virginia Asthma Coalition is sponsoring Camp Incredible, a free asthma day camp for ages 6-12, to be held on Saturday, October 3, 2015 from 1 pm to 4 pm at Northside Family Learning Center in Richmond, Virginia. For more information and registration, please call 804-874-LUNG or visit www.centralvirginiaasthma.org. Active-Duty Family members in the atrisk population should be enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program. For Details, call (804)734-9438. Please contact a health care provider for any questions or concerns about allergies or asthma.
2015 • HEALTHY LIFESTYLE GUIDE • 15
PROVIDING BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE FOR FORT LEE SERVICE MEMBERS & FAMILIES Dedicated Inpatient Unit and Day Treatment/Partial Hospitalization Programs staffed with former military physicians and treatment team members who understand military life to help servicemen and women struggling with: • Post deployment adjustment • The psychological effects of combat stress • Chemical dependency • Depression • And other behavioral healthcare concerns
HELP FOR FORT LEE FAMILIES INCLUDING: • Child and Adult Crisis Stabilization Units • Day Treatment/Partial Hospitalization Programs • Residential Treatment Center for Boys and Girls (Ages 11-17)
(866) 546-2229 24 Hours A Day • 7 Days A Week Take a virtual tour:
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16 • HEALTHY LIFESTYLE GUIDE • 2015
COMMONWEALTH DENTISTRY Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Mark Beltrami, D.D.S. • Bryan Dixon, D.D.S. David Malan, D.D.S. • Luiza Kreuzar, D.D.S. • Craig Blackham, D.D.S. Matthew Stafford, D.D.S. • Emil Christofakis, D.D.S.
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456 Charles H. Dimmock Pkwy., Parkway West Colonial Heights (Behind Arby’s)
434-676-8023 Kenbridge, VA
458-3004
804-272-7040 Richmond, VA
210 N. 4th Avenue Hopewell, VA
434-645-7558 Crewe, VA