volume 4, issue 4 Reese Witherspoon Talks About Her Passion To Raise Breast Cancer Awareness Reese Witherspoon is on a mission As the Honorary Chair of the Avon Foundation for Women, the Academy Award®-winning actress is determined to help women become more knowledgeable about breast Women’s Health Issue Reese Witherspoon: A Passion to Raise Breast Cancer Awareness FREE e-newsletter cancer and the importance of early detection in fighting the disease. Why have you become so involved in the fight against breast cancer? I was never naïve about breast cancer, but when I learned that a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes in the U.S., that really put it all into perspective. As a woman, a mother, and a daughter, I find that statistic terrifying. Women close to me have battled the disease and are now soldiers in the greater fight against it. But the moment I heard “every three minutes,” I felt vulnerable and scared as I realized that anyone is susceptible. The only way for me to ease my fears was to take action. I needed to educate myself and others on this disease. As the Honorary Chair for the Avon Foundation, I had resources at my fingertips. I had access to an entire organization that is dedicated to giving back to women and educating people. So I started asking, “What do I need to know?” What did you learn? I found out the most important fact in breast cancer: Early detection saves lives. According to the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade, there is a 97 percent five-year survival rate when breast cancer is caught before it spreads (continued on page 2) Same-Day Surgery The Importance of the Pneumonia Vaccine Visit: www.wcchcares.com W Y T H E C O U N T Y C O M M U N I T Y H O S P I TA L Making Communities Healthier in Southwest Virginia (continued from cover) to other parts of the body. When breast cancer first develops, there are usually no symptoms, which is why women need to perform self-exams regularly and contact their doctor upon noticing even the smallest change. Of course talking about breast cancer and breast health is a personal thing. I, too, am a private person but encourage all women to break through their reservations and talk to their doctors and physicians. What else did you learn? We have to banish the myth that young women are not at risk for breast cancer. In my work with the Avon Foundation, I’ve met young survivors who were diagnosed in their 20s, an age when most women are graduating from college and just starting their lives as full adults. Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam by a health professional at least once every three years and women 40 and older should have an exam every year. Any final thoughts? Women’s Outpatient Imaging Center–New Extended Hours Remember October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time set aside to encourage YOU – and the women you care about –to schedule an annual mammogram. The Women’s Outpatient Imaging Center offers digital mammography, making exam times shorter, resulting in less anxiety and superior care for you. As part of our ongoing efforts to provide quality healthcare to our community, the Women’s Outpatient Imaging Center at Wythe County Community Hospital now has extended hours to accommodate your busy life and schedules. Monday and Thursday – 8:20 am -5:40 pm Tuesday and Wednesday – 7:20 am – 4:40 pm 590 West Ridge Road, Suite C Wytheville, VA 24382 276-228-1715 Ask your healthcare provider how to schedule your digital mammogram appointment. New Online Health Programs Sign up today for My Health NewsletterTM, our hospital’s FREE customizable e-newsletter. Readers who subscribe will have access to: • My Health NewsletterTM – monthly e-mail with selected articles on the topics you choose. • My Baby ExpectationsTM – monthly e-mail newsletter that steps soon-to-be new parents through preparation, delivery and baby’s first year, timed to their due date. • My Health AssessmentsTM - appraisals designed to increase awareness of your health status. • My Health RemindersTM – timely reminders of all recommended health screenings and exams. For your FREE subscription to My Health Newsletter, visit our website at: www.wcchcares.com I am passionate about fighting this devastating disease. I fight for my mother, myself, my children and future generations of women, so one day we will not have to be afraid of breast cancer. I began my fight by learning important first steps in breast cancer detection, and will not end my fight until every woman can stand together saying we are breast cancer free. Find out more about your specific risk for breast cancer, and for a link to an online risk assessment tool. Visit our website at: www.wcchcares.com Discover the Treasures of Volunteering at WCCH As volunteers serving Wythe County Community Hospital, we’re here to give your next hospital visit that friendly, personal touch which can mean so much. From working in the gift shop to helping family members receive the support they need in a time of crisis, our mission is one of services. “We are currently recruiting new members and are seeking people who are recently retired, professionals who have flexible hours, students who need experience, and anyone who has been thinking about volunteering,” said Betty Gallimore, President of WCCH Auxiliary. “We look at our volunteers as hidden treasures.” In addition to the self esteem gained by helping others, volunteers can also gain new skills and experience that can be helpful in future jobs or roles of service. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at WCCH, contact Betty Elmore, Director of Marketing or stop by the volunteer desk and pick up an application. There is a place for your hidden talents as a volunteer. The Advantages of Same-Day Surgery At A Full Service Hospital Thanks to new techniques and ongoing advances in technology, many surgical procedures are now performed regularly on an outpatient basis. These procedures, known collectively as same-day surgery, account for more than 60 percent of all surgeries at a typical hospital. Some of the more common same-day surgeries include general surgery, to include hernia repair, laparoscopic appendectomy, gallbladder, breast care, skin and soft tissue surgery and emergency surgical care. Same-day surgery offers many advantages. It is much more convenient because there’s no overnight hospital stay. Same-day surgery is often less invasive, so recovery times are much faster, allowing patients to go home on the same day of the procedure. That makes it much easier to get back to a normal routine. Patients undergoing same-day surgeries at Wythe County Dalkeith Facey, D.O., M.B.A. General Surgeon Community Hospital receive the same high quality of care as our inpatients. Our highly skilled surgeons, expert staff and vital support services offer the same comprehensive care for all our patients. After your surgery, we will provide follow-up care as needed and additional For more information on same-day surgery, call 276-228-0200 or visit www.wcchcares.com services, such as physical therapy, patient teaching, etc. The Importance of the Pneumonia Vaccine Paul D. Williams, M.D. Family Medicine Reached Your Deductible? With the end of the year approaching, many people have reached or are about to reach their medical deductible. If that’s the case for you, consider scheduling necessary health appointments in 2011 instead of waiting until next year. That way, most of the costs will be covered by your health insurance because you’ve already met your deductible for the year. Contact your health insurance provider to find out where you stand with your medical deductible. The term pneumonia refers to an infection of the lung. Many, but not all, cases of pneumonia are caused by the Pneumococcus bacterium. In about 1 out of 4 cases of pneumonia caused by Pneumococcus, the bacterium can get into the blood stream and cause bacteremia. This is a particularly serious condition as about 20 percent of patients with bacteremia die even if they get appropriate antibiotics. Pneumococcal meningitis, a particularly serious complication of pneumonia, is associated with a very high fatality rate. Pneumonia caused by Pneumococcus is the most common form of infection occurring outside of a hospital in the U.S and Pneumococcus infection is to blame for over 6,000 deaths in the U.S. each year -- the highest number for any vaccine-preventable disease. The “pneumonia vaccine” can help prevent pneumonia and bacteremia that is caused by Pneumococcus. There are more than 80 different types of pneumococcus bacteria. The current vaccine covers 23 of the types that are most likely to cause infection. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta recommend vaccination for certain groups of people that are at higher risk for the development of pneumonia. Those recommended groups include: • People age 65 or older • People over two years of age who have problems with their lungs, heart, liver, or kidneys • People over two years of age with health problems like diabetes, sickle cell disease, alcoholism, or HIV infection or AIDS • Persons over two years of age who are taking any treatments that weaken the body’s immune system (such as steroids, cancer treatment or radiation therapy) • Alaskan natives and some Native American populations • People who have had their spleens removed One dose of the pneumococcal vaccine is all that is needed in most patients and unlike the “flu shot” it is not needed each year. With some patients, such as those over the age of 65 who got the vaccine before they were 65 or those with certain serious medical conditions, their doctors may recommend a booster dose. The pneumococcal vaccination does not protect against infection caused by viruses or other bacterial causes of pneumonia, nor does it protect against pneumococcal bacteria strains not included in the vaccine. It is reassuring to note that of the 80 different serotypes, the vast majority of infections are caused by the 23 serotypes contained in the vaccine. A recent, large study by the National Institutes of Health suggests that the vaccine prevents most cases of pneumococcal pneumonia. If you fit into one of the above categories or are worried about getting pneumonia, check with your personal physician about whether the vaccine is right for you. www.wcchcares.com O C T O B E R 2 0 11 W Y T H E C O U N T Y C O M M U N I T Y H O S P I TA L HealthPoint is published as a community service by Wythe County Community Hospital. It in no way seeks to diagnose or treat illness or to serve as a substitute for professional medical care. For individual guidance, consult your physician. For more information about Wythe County Community Hospital or anything found in this publication, please call 276-228-0200. Wythe County Community Hospital 600 West Ridge Road Wytheville, VA 24382 Important News and Helpful Advice for a Healthier Life inside: Women’s Health Issue Reese Witherspoon Same-Day Surgery The Importance of the Pneumonia Vaccine New Doctors Dr. Paul D. Williams - Ft. Chiswell Medical Center Call 276-637-6641 for an appointment. Dr. Kenneth Dowler - Forest Family Care Call 276-228-6499 for an appointment. Dr. Dalkeith Facey - Advanced Surgical Associates Call 276-228-4440 for an appointment. WCCH Welcomes New Physicians As part of its continuing effort to provide quality healthcare to the communities it serves, Wythe County Community Hospital is pleased to welcome three new physicians to its medical staff to include Paul D. Williams, M.D., Family Medicine, Kenneth Dowler, D.O., Family Medicine and Dalkeith Facey, D.O., M.B.A., General Surgery. Dr. Williams is currently seeing new patients at Ft. Chiswell Medical Center located at 791 Ft. Chiswell Road. in Max Meadows, VA. Dr. Williams received his medical degree from James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, in Johnson City, Tennessee. He completed his family practice residency at Bristol Family Practice Residency Program affiliated with Bristol Memorial Hospital (now Bristol Regional Medical Center) in Bristol, Tennessee, and the James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University. Dr. Williams is married to Karen Hodges Williams, formerly of Rural Retreat, and they have one son, Adam. Dr. Dowler has joined Forest Family Care located at 1785 W. Lee Highway in Wytheville where he will see patients from newborn through senior adults. Dr. Dowler will be joining practice with Dr. Susan Griffin, Susan Moore and Jill Snider. Dr. Dowler received his Doctor of Osteopathy from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, West Virginia. He later received a Ph.D. in microbiology at the West Virginia University Medical Center. He and his wife, Carmen, have 2 daughters, Heather and Katya, and one son, Bryan. Dr. Facey opened Advanced Surgical Associates located at 590 West Ridge Road, Suite A in Wytheville on September 1, 2011. His office is located on the hospital campus adjacent from the main hospital. He received his degree from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine/NYIT, in Old Westbury, New York. He completed his residency at St. Johns Episcopal Hospital in Queens, New York. In his free time Dr. Facey enjoys playing soccer and tennis and also has a passion for tutoring Algebra, Chemistry, and Biology.