A Publication for Senior Dimensions Members • Winter 2002 Women’s Health: How to Add Life to Your Years Inside: • Help Fight Antibiotic Resistance • Meet Your Personal Assistant Team HEALTH&FITNESS • HPN Employees Aid in NYC Relief Efforts T Keeping Track of Your Health Numbers 2001 National Cholesterol Education Program Guidelines LDL Cholesterol 100 or less Optimal 100-129 Near optimal/above optimal 130-159 Borderline high 160-189 High 190 or greater Very high Total Cholesterol 200 or less Desirable 200-239 Borderline high 240 or greater High HDL Cholesterol 40 or less Low 60 or greater High Triglycerides 150 or less Normal 150-199 Borderline high 200-499 High 500 or greater Very high 2 o be an effective part of your own healthcare team, you need to know on a frequent basis how your body is functioning.These guidelines will help you keep track of important readings on how healthy you are and what you need to work on so you can enjoy good health for a long time. Classification of Blood Pressure for Adults Ages 18 and Older Optimal Normal High-normal Systolic (mm Hg) <120 <130 130-139 and and or Diastolic (mm Hg) <80 <85 85-89 Hypertension Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 140-159 160-179 ≥180 or or or 90-99 100-109 ≥110 Category Patient Safety Alert If you have an implanted neurostimulation device, you need to inform anyone who treats you that you cannot have any shortwave diathermy, microwave diathermy, or therapeutic ultrasound diathermy. Diathermy is a medical device therapy that is applied externally to deliver energy into the patient’s body and is typically used to relieve pain, stiffness, and muscle spasms, reduce joint contractures, reduce swelling and pain after surgery, and promote wound healing. Diathermy is used by a variety of healthcare professionals including doctors, dentists, chiropractors, nurses, physical therapists, sports therapists, ophthalmologists, and others. Before receiving any treatment, you should inform every healthcare professional you see that you have an implanted neurostimulation device. For more information about this patient safety alert, call Medtronic’s Customer Service at 1-800-328-0810 or log onto their website at www.medtronic.com/patients/patients.html. Senior Spotlight Nell Biggs F or many, retirement is a time to slow down. Not for Nell Biggs.“There are so many things I’d love to do that I’m not stopping now,” says the Sun City Summerlin resident. Not only is Nell a master gardener accredited through the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Services, she is an avid photographer, quilter, painter, reader, and traveler. On past driving trips across the U.S., Nell would select a theme in her photographic endeavors, such as windmills or historic buildings.“Taking photographs of these items forced me to stop; otherwise, I would have kept on driving,” she says. When asked about gardening, Nell says it is the best therapy one can get. She cites studies that show children who play in the mud have better immune systems, and hospital patients recover much faster when surrounded by flowers. She is a Mohave Guide at the Desert Demonstration Gardens and even designed and maintains her own yard. She is also a docent at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, where she gives historical and botanical tours of the ranch house and grounds. Her daughter, Kim, now a Seattle police officer, previously lived in Europe for six years, which gave Nell the opportunity to travel extensively in Europe and into Russia. She has a son, David, who is a real estate entrepreneur in the San Francisco Bay area. Nell also has two grandchildren. In 2000, Nell represented Nevada and Senior Dimensions at the “March on Washington” in Washington, D.C., that was coordinated by the American Association of Health Plans.The purpose of the march was to urge Congressional lawmakers to correct the inadequacy of government funding in order to stabilize the Medicare+Choice program. Even with all her endeavors, Nell still finds time to help others. She volunteers as a Friendly Companion with Senior Dimensions and helps a homebound senior each week with household chores and muchappreciated visits. After retiring from a micro photolithography firm in Silicon Valley, California, Nell moved to Nevada in 1992 where, she said, she “didn’t know a soul.” Now, as a member of her community’s Book Club,Travel Club, Solo/Singles Club, Investment Club, not to mention many other activities, it’s easy to see why she now says she has “jillions of friends.” 3 W O M E N ’ S H E A LT H How to Add Years to Your Life …and Life to Your Years by Sue Stainbrook, Ph.D., Health Educator T he current generation of women who are 45 and older can choose to be healthier than any generation of women in history.Thanks to advances in medical technology, increased emphasis on disease prevention, and better medications, many women will live into their 80s, 90s, and even past 100. Developing good health habits increases your chances of having the physical ability to enjoy life to its fullest in your later years.You may possibly add years to your life and life to your years by taking a few minutes to evaluate your health risk for heart disease and osteoporosis. Cardiovascular Disease A woman’s number-one health concern should be heart disease. Misperceptions still exist that cardiovascular disease is not a real problem for women. It is estimated that 1 in 2 women will eventually die of heart disease or stroke, compared with 1 in 25 who will eventually die of breast cancer.The American Heart Association has identified the following as cardiac risk factors. Being a: • man 45 years or older • woman 55 years or older or at least 45, postmenopausal, and without estrogen replacement therapy • person who uses tobacco products • person with high blood pressure or currently on high blood pressure medication • person with diabetes • person who does not engage in 20 minutes of exercise three times per week • person who is overweight • person who has a family history of early heart disease—parent or sibling 55 years or less if male and 65 years or less if female • person who has low HDL cholesterol (less than 35 mg/dL) 4 How many risk factors do you have for heart disease? What are your cholesterol numbers, including the “good” and “bad” cholesterol? What is your current blood pressure reading? What is a healthy weight for your height? If you do not know the answers to these questions without hesitation, then it’s time to take control of your health.You may just save your own life! Osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become more porous, gradually making them weaker and more brittle. Healthy bone is dense and strong and is able to withstand a great deal of pressure. But when osteoporosis sets in, bones thin out and become fragile, making them more likely to break. In the early stages, osteoporosis can have few, if any, physical effects that are noticeable. However, as the disease progresses, fractures can occur, especially in the spine (backbone), wrists, and hip bones.This can lead to pain, loss of height, restricted mobility, or a curved backbone.These physical effects can result in a loss of confidence and strength.There are ways to combat both the physical and emotional effects of osteoporosis: One is early detection; another is treatment. Medical studies of over 20 years in duration show that a woman’s risk of having a fracture can be predicted with a bone-density measurement.A bonedensity measurement can predict your risk of having an osteoporotic fracture. In addition, a measurement of blood pressure can predict your risk of having a stroke, (continued on page 6) Yo u r H e a l t h C h e c k u p G u i d e Type of Health Exam How Often Purpose of Exam Breast Self-Exam First day of every month or after To look for changes in skin or nipple your period discharge, and to feel for any lumps Skin Self-Exam Every 3 months To look for changes in any moles, or for growths or sores that don’t heal Height and Weight Every year or as needed To measure changes Blood Pressure Every year or as needed To check whether your blood pressure is too high Clinical Breast Exam Every year or as needed To look for changes and to feel for any lumps Mammogram Every year or as needed To look for changes in the breast that cannot be felt Pelvic Exam and Pap Smear Every year or as needed To look and feel for any changes in the vagina, cervix, uterus, ovaries, or other female organs Fecal Occult Blood Every year or as needed To check for blood in your stool Dental Exam Every year or as needed To check for cavities and gum disease Eye Exam Every two years To check your vision and look for other conditions, such as cataracts or glaucoma Blood Sugar (Glucose) Every 3 to 5 years or as needed To check your blood sugar levels Cholesterol Every 3 to 5 years or as needed To check the amount of different types of fat in your blood Sigmoidoscopy Every 3 to 5 years or as needed To check for changes or growths in your intestines Electrocardiogram As needed To check your heart rate or rhythm Bone Density As needed To check the thickness of your bones Hearing Exam As needed To check how well you hear Clinical Skin Exam As needed To look for changes in any moles or for growths Vaccinations How Often Purpose Flu Shot Every year To prevent the flu Pneumococcal Vaccine Once around age 65 To prevent a type of pneumonia Tetanus Shot Every 10 years To prevent tetanus, a serious bacterial infection For more information on women’s health, nutrition, heart disease, and other health issues, please contact Health Plan of Nevada’s Health Education & Wellness Division at (702) 877-5356. All programs and consultations are open to the community. 5 (continued from page 4) and a cholesterol measurement can predict your risk of heart disease. Who needs a bone-density test? (1) Individuals who have lost more than 1.5 inches of height; (2) individuals who have experienced a low-trauma fracture of the hip, wrist, or spine; and (3) women of any age considering hormone replacement therapy who need additional information. Other factors that contribute to risk include: • Women with a family history of osteoporosis • Caucasian and Asian women • Women who are thin or small-boned • Smoking • Too much alcohol • Too little exercise • Too little calcium (now or as a child) • A previous broken bone that resulted from a minor injury • Certain medications, such as steroids (commonly used to treat asthma and arthritis) and thyroid hormones (if the dose is too high) • Early menopause (before age 45) A daily routine of 30 minutes of weight-bearing exercise, adequate calcium intake, and 200 IU of vitamin D are lifestyle habits that will benefit the bone health of women regardless of age.A few examples of weight-bearing exercise include walking, hiking, weight lifting, gardening, bowling, and dancing (swimming and bicycling are not in this category). Vitamin D is necessary for the body to properly utilize the calcium you eat or get from a supplement.Vitamin D is made in the skin from exposure to the sun. Most individuals under the age of 60 do not need extra vitamin D unless they are not exposed to the sun.After the age of 60, a supplement may be wise. It is never too late to benefit from calcium.The National Institutes of Health’s daily guidelines for calcium intake for women are as follows: 25-50 years.......................................1,000 mg Over 50 years (on estrogen) ...............1,000 mg Over 50 years (not on estrogen) .........1,500 mg Over 65 years ...................................1,500 mg Pregnant or nursing ................1,200-1,500 mg Every woman can control a variety of things in her life that affect her health risks. Medical research shows that a woman’s risk for many health problems increases with age. So what medical checkups should you have, and how frequently should you have them? Your schedule depends on your health circumstances and your healthcare provider’s recommendations. Use the chart on page 5 as a general guide. 6 Take Advantage of More SD@YourService Features T wo new features have been added to SD@YourService SM, our online Member Center. Both features should prove to be very helpful because now you can: • change your address, online, whenever you need to and • order replacement health plan identification cards as necessary without having to call your personal assistant or leave your home SD@YourService was designed to provide you access to your health plan data.This Internet-based service provides secure, direct access to information such as eligibility, benefits, copayments, claims, and prior authorization status. Health Plan of Nevada members can get up-todate information, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, all at no cost. At the click of a mouse, you can get connected online to our Member Center, using your secure user ID and password. SD@YourService is another way we’re working to make your health plan meet your expectations. If you haven’t activated your secure password, you can visit our website at www.seniordimensions.com. Simply click on the SD@YourService button and follow the instructions on the screen.You’ll be shown how to log on and receive your secure password. Visit us online as we continue to add new features to SD@YourService! Some Friendly Faces to Go with Those Helpful Personal Assistant Voices Senior Dimensions Personal Assistant Team T hey are those friendly and helpful voices on the other end of the telephone when you call Member Services for help.You may have heard them for years, but you probably have never seen any of them. Since the personal assistants are often the only direct contact our members have with Senior Dimensions, we thought it was time you saw the faces of the entire team, the people who go with those comforting voices on the phone.They bring a lot of caring and concern to your questions and problems, and, despite their many differences, they all have the same goal—to help you receive the healthcare services you deserve! You can reach your personal assistant at (702) 242-7301 or 1-800-650-6262 (TTY at (702) 242-9214 or 1-800-349-3538), from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Q I AT W O R K ! New Medical Technology Review Process Safeguards Your Care T o keep pace with developments in new medical technology and to ensure that members have access to safe and effective care, Health Plan of Nevada has adopted a formal process to evaluate new medical discoveries. This process includes the review of new medical procedures, drugs, devices, and new uses for existing technologies. New medical technology is reviewed against medical standards and clinical research for its effectiveness and safety. HPN requests medical opinions from local and national specialists during the review process. The new technology must: • be approved by the appropriate government regulatory body; for example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves new medications • show a positive effect and improve health outcomes • be as beneficial as any established alternatives • be able to show improvement beyond the experimental setting • show cost-effectiveness Physicians, health plan members, and other interested parties may request a new medical technology review. For more information on new medical technology, please call Allan Ebbin, M.D., M.P.H., at (702) 2427731 or Bobbi Perodeau at (702) 242-7347. Jonathon W. Bunker President Managed Healthcare Division Copyright © 2002 General Learning Communications. This publication is not meant to replace professional medical advice or service. Personal health problems should be brought to the attention of physicians and appropriate health professionals. Rodney D. Drake Manager Corporate Communications & Editorial Compliance Printed on recyclable paper P.O. Box 15645 Las Vegas, NV 89114-5645 Employees Pull Together for New York Firefighters H ealth Plan of Nevada employees reacted to the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon the same way you did—with disbelief, shock, and sadness. Then, like the rest of the nation, our employees wanted to do something to help their fellow Americans. In addition to giving blood, displaying flags at the workplace, and attending rallies and vigils around the city, Sierra Health Services (the parent company of HPN) asked employees in all of their subsidiary healthcare companies to donate what they could to a fund established for the New York City firefighters and their families. The employees responded quickly and generously to this call for help. Contributions totaled nearly $29,000 in two weeks, and, as part of the campaign, Sierra offered to match employee contributions dollar-fordollar, doubling this sum of money. We sent a check for $58,000 to help the firefighters who gave so much to those directly affected by the terrorist attacks. We received touching notes from employees whose children gave up their allowance, baby-sitting, and even tooth fairy money to help those in need in New York. We’re proud of our HPN employees, and we hope you are too. As Benjamin Franklin so rightly said, “Compassion makes a nation powerful, not its armaments.” BACTERIAL VS. VIRAL You Need to Know the Difference! S ometimes rest, lots of liquids, and a little tender loving care is the best medicine. Throughout the winter cold and flu season, we want our members to be aware that antibiotics are powerful medications and should only be used when needed. Some infections that you get are bacterial and others are viral. Bacterial infections (like strep throat) require the use of antibiotics. Viral infections (like a cold and the flu) do not. Your doctor can tell if your infection is viral or bacterial, and should prescribe antibiotics only when you need them. Antibiotic treatment cannot cure viral infections. If given when not needed, antibiotics can actually be harmful.Your body can build up resistance to antibiotics; if that happens, when you need them, they will not work for you. So when you have a cold or the flu, drink plenty of fluids, get lots of rest, use throat lozenges or a cool mist vaporizer to relieve your symptoms, even a little chicken soup, but don’t ask your doctor for drugs you don’t need.That way, when you do need them, they will be ready to work for you to help defeat your bacterial infection. Health Plan of Nevada is proud to be a part of a statewide program to promote the appropriate use of antibiotics. Nevadans for Antibiotic Awareness (NAA) is a coalition of health plans, state and county agencies, and healthcare providers working together. If you would like more information on appropriate antibiotic use, please call Donna Riddle at (702) 383-1378. PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Las Vegas, NV Permit No. 952 HNS Senior Dimensions is a division of Health Plan of Nevada, a Medicare+Choice Organization under contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly known as the Health Care Financing Administration) to offer a Medicare+Choice plan.Anyone entitled to Parts A and B of Medicare may apply. Members must use plan providers for routine care unless accessing care under the point-of-service benefit. Members must continue to pay Medicare Part B premiums (and Part A premiums if applicable). Limitations and restrictions may apply. Drug coverage subject to limitations. Benefits and premiums vary by county.