Top Reasons To Immunize Your Infant

Calendar May 14, 2012 | Posted by laicos

An infant's safety and care are every new parent's top priority. So, when it comes to your child's health, a little “prevention” can go a long way. In fact, immunizing your newborn provides protection for up to 14 different diseases. By immunizing your child, you are protecting your child, your family and the community around you. Vaccinations now available have eradicated diseases that once took our children’s lives but they can reappear if we stop vaccinating our population.

The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics provide a recommended schedule of immunizations for infants that include combined vaccines, therefore minimizing the number of shots you baby will receive. Here are four good reasons to maintain a vaccination schedule and protect your little ones.

  1. Immunizations are the norm. Despite what you see on television or hear on the news, the number of parents getting their children immunized are at record highs. If you have any concerns about vaccination risks, be sure to discuss them with your physician. They will provide you with detailed information about each vaccination.
  2. Diseases are disappearing. Rubella, once a life-threatening illness for expectant mothers and their unborn children, is no longer a major concern. This is due directly to this disease's high immunization rate.     
  3. Reduction before eradication is dangerous. For your child’s long-term safety in a society where all are protected from deadly disease, immunization is the answer. If we stopped immunizing now, before a disease is eradicated from the population, that disease would have a resurgence resulting in unnecessary illness and death. 
  4. A mother's protection can only last so long. If you thought that a newborn shares her mother's immunities – you are correct…but only for a small amount of time. Protect your child before they are exposed to disease and illness found outside the home.

Keep these reasons in mind, be wise and immunize. It is one of the best gifts to give your newborn baby.

Need more answers to your health questions? Would you like a physician referral? Contact Brandon Regional’s Consult-A-Nurse service at 1-888-327-2637, where nurses and referral specialists are on standby to address your needs, 24/7.

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How to Prevent Distracted Driving

Calendar May 7, 2012 | Posted by laicos

It is extremely easy to become distracted while driving. With increased awareness, drivers can prevent becoming just another car accident statistic. Follow these guidelines to prevent distracted driving. You could save someone’s life – or your own.

Causes of Distracted Driving
According to distraction.gov, distracted driving is caused by anything that diverts the driver’s attention away from driving. Distracted driving puts everyone at risk – the driver, the passengers and bystanders. While most people think of cell phone use as the most common type of driving distraction, there are many types of distractions, including:

  • Eating or drinking
  • Adjusting a radio, MP3 or CD player
  • Texting
  • Talking to passengers
  • Using a cell phone
  • Brushing hair/applying makeup
  • Reading, including maps
  • Using a GPS
  • Watching movies/TV

Out of all of these distractions, text messaging is considered the most dangerous. It requires the driver to utilize manual, visual, and cognitive attention – a triple threat against safety.

Startling Statistics
The facts are staggering. Whether a driver is texting, putting on lipstick, changing the radio station or making a phone call, tragedies can and do happen every day. Check out some of the frightening facts about distracted driving:

  • 5,474 people were killed in distracted-driver crashes in 2009, and roughly 448,000 were injured. (NHTSA)
  • In 2009, 16% of fatal crashes and 20% of injury crashes reportedly involved distracted driving. (NHTSA)
  • The most common age group to be involved in a distracted driving fatal crash is teenagers. 16% of teen drivers involved in a fatal crash in 2009 were reported to be distracted. (NHTSA)
  • According to a report by Pew, 40% of American teenagers report being in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger.

The bottom line? Distracted driving kills, so don't put lives at risk.

For answers to your health questions or for a physician referral, please call Brandon Regional's Consult-A-Nurse service at 1-888-327-2636. 

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Finding Allergy Relief This Spring

Calendar May 1, 2012 | Posted by laicos

Spring is here and with it comes the blossoming of beautiful flowers, trees and sneezes galore. With one in ten Americans suffering from pollen allergies, you may dread this time of year. Along with the warmer temperatures and bright colors of spring come the tell-tale symptoms all too familiar for those who suffer from seasonal allergies. 

While that pollen is busy doing it's job floating to find its way to new places, some of it ends up in your eyes, ears, nose and throat. If you suffer from pollen allergies, also referred to as hay fever or allergic rhinitis/conjunctivitis, you may experience any one or all of the following symptoms:

  • running nose
  • itchy or watery eyes
  • congestion
  • sneezing spells
  • sore or itchy throat

Avoiding the Problem. One potential source of relief is to simply try to avoid the trigger. If you know that spring time is when your allergies worsen, avoiding the outdoors can be helpful. Check the pollen reports on the news and try to find the best times to avoid the outdoors. For a lot of people, this is difficult as the outdoors can be a great place to be in the spring. 

Medications. If you are lucky, your allergies are seasonal, have a pattern and can kept in check with simple over the counter medications. These medications might include antihistamines, nasal sprays and decongestants. These are great if they work and can be used temporarily. However, some of these medications can produce side effects that can interfere with your ability to do daily activities (e.g. drowsiness, loss of alertness or coordination). 

Many medications, both over the counter and prescription are more powerful and non-drowsy antihistamines, and include brands such as Claritin, Alavert, Allegra, and Zyrtec. While there are many brand names, these are also available as generics (look for loritadine, cetirizine). It is a good idea to start by talking with your doctor about what medications might be right for you and your symptoms. 

Allergy shots. If over the counter or prescription medications are not working for you, perhaps allergy shots (also known as immunotherapy) might be a solution. Up to 80% of people experience a significant reduction in symptoms after a year of therapy. Talk with your doctor to find out if allergy shots are an option for you. They do involve a considerable commitment as you must return for repeated series of shots that help build up a particular allergen in your system so that you body produces an adequate immune response. 

For more health information visit Brandon Regional. You can also call our Consult-A-Nurse service at 1-888-327-2636, where registered nurses are standing by to address your health concerns and provide referrals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

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Brandon Regional Hospital Announces Appointment of New Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Calendar April 25, 2012 | Posted by laicos

Brandon Regional Hospital announces the appointment of Janice Balzano as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Ms. Balzano comes to Brandon from an HCA affiliated hospital, West Hills Hospital & Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, where she served as Chief Operating Officer. While at West Hills Hospital, Ms. Balzano’s accomplishments included leading major construction projects, the relocation, and startup of the renowned Grossman Burn Center and significant operational improvements in the Emergency Department. Her prior experience also included serving as Chief Financial Officer at both Sutter Solano Medical Center and Sutter Delta Medical Center in Northern CA, as well as administrative roles in multi-specialty medical group practice settings with Sutter Medical Foundation and Family Doctor Medical Group. 

Ms. Balzano received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting/Finance from Golden Gate University and her Master of Business Administration degree from Western Governors University. She enjoys hiking and outdoor activities.

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Brandon Regional Hospital’s Women’s Center Adds a Special “Professional” to the Baby Suites

Calendar April 23, 2012 | Posted by laicos

On Friday, April 13th at 5:22 p.m. Laura Hulsing gave birth to Noah Fredrick Hulsing-Drymon who weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces and was 18 inches long. This was no ordinary delivery.  Not only did Laura have her family and physician, Heidi Arnold, MD with her as she welcomed Noah into this world, Autumn, her companion and service dog, also welcomed Noah.

Autumn has been servicing Laura for six years for post traumatic stress disorder.  “When I was eighteen, I experienced a life changing event that resulted in post traumatic stress disorder,” explains Laura.  “Because of the incident, I tried to constantly prove to myself that I was not afraid of people and situations so I would attend business and marketing networking sessions all the time.  By 3 p.m. every afternoon, I was exhausted and would have to go to bed.  Trying to constantly prove myself took its toll.” 

At one these networking sessions, Laura met a women by the name of Pam Halley.  After speaking with Laura, Pam invited Laura out to visit her organization, K9 for Veterans.  K9 is a not-for-profit organization created by Pam and Mike Halley that provides disabled veterans and solders with service dogs for various disorders.  The disorders can include balance issues, diabetes, seizures, traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder.  Autumn has been Laura’s companion for five years.  He has been in training for over a year and fully certified for four months.

Due to the post traumatic stress disorder, Laura suffers from severe anxiety.  Autumn watches Laura very carefully in public situations and will move to her side and watch as people pass, providing comfort and security.  “I was nervous about having Autumn in the hospital, especially the delivery room, because it was going to be a very stressful time for me and Autumn would see that,” expresses Laura.  “I spoke with the nursing staff at the hospital and for a few months before delivery, we brought Autumn to the hospital to get her used to the environment.  She met many people and we even had booties made so her nails would not make as much noise when she walked on the floor.”

For the last six months Autumn has been very protective of Laura, following her from the bed to the restroom and back in the middle of the night.  Laura still wondered how she would be in the delivery room during labor.  She worked very hard during labor to stay calm.  The trainer, who was also in the room with Autumn, told Laura that Autumn was good and it was ok to express her feelings, so she listened and began to express her feelings. At this, Autumn walked over to her bedside and offered comfort and when Laura felt calm again, Autumn returned to the trainer.  It was not until Noah began to appear that Autumn sat up and took notice of him. 

Autumn stayed with Laura through her stay in The Baby Suites at Brandon Regional Hospital and would offer comfort when needed.  She has allowed Laura to be a mom to baby Noah, but also gives Laura comfort.   The dog was attentive as to who was coming in and out of the room and would often go to Laura’s bedside. 

“I take no pills for anxiety.  Autumn is trained to know me and my body.  She not only watches me but she also anticipates when an anxiety attack may come and warns me.  She becomes aware of the situations that may trigger it and because of her, I am independent.”

K-9s for Veterans is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing disabled veterans and dogs.  Mike and Pam Halley created K-9s for Veterans in October 2008.  Clients are disabled veterans and soldiers in the wounded warrior units of their respective branches of the service.  The disabilities can include balance issues, diabetes, seizures, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and many more.

 

Photo:  Autumn, “professional” service animal, along with her family, Noah Fredrick Hulsing- Dryman, Laura Hulsing and Jason Drymon.

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Brandon Regional Hospital Awarded Disease Specific Certification from the Joint Commission

Calendar April 20, 2012 | Posted by laicos

Brandon Regional Hospital announces that it has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for the following disease specific programs: acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, and heart failure. Brandon Regional Hospital also received re-certification as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center. They have earned their certification by demonstrating compliance with effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care and an organized approach to performance improvement activities to continually improve on the care delivered.

“With Joint Commission certification, we are making a significant investment in quality on a day-to-day basis from the top down. Joint Commission accreditation provides us a framework to take our organization to the next level and helps create a culture of excellence,” says Bland Eng, Brandon Regional Hospital’s new CEO. “Achieving Joint Commission certification in acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, heart failure, and re-certification as an advanced primary stroke center, for our organization, is a major step toward maintaining excellence and continually improving the care we provide,” he added.

The certification award recognizes Brandon Regional Hospital’s dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission.  Brandon Regional Hospital underwent a rigorous, on-site survey in November, 2011. A Joint Commission expert conducted this survey and evaluated Brandon for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients. “In achieving Joint Commission certification, Brandon Regional Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its patients with acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, heart failure and stroke,” says Jean Range, MS, RN, C.P.H.Q., Executive Director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, The Joint Commission. “Certification is a voluntary process and I commend Brandon for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and instill confidence in the community it serves.”

The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification Program, launched in 2002, is designed to evaluate clinical programs across the continuum of care. Certification requirements address three core areas:  compliance with consensus-based national standards; effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care; and an organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve healthcare for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating healthcare organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 18,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States. The Joint Commission also provides certification of more than 1700 disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and healthcare staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.JointCommission.org.

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Brandon Regional Hospital to Commemorate Donate Life Month on April 25

Calendar April 13, 2012 | Posted by laicos

Brandon Regional Hospital to Join with LifeLink for the Commemorative Event
 
Brandon Regional Hospital, in cooperation with LifeLink, will hold a commemorative event in recognition of National Donate Life Month (April). The commemorative event will be held at 8 am on April 25 at Brandon Regional Hospital, 119 Oakfield Drive, Brandon, Florida 33511, at the main entrance of the hospital by the flagpole. The public is encouraged to attend.
 
The ceremony will begin with a message from Bland Eng, CEO of Brandon Regional Hospital, followed by a message from Liz Lehr of LifeLink of Florida. This will be followed by two testimonials:

  • Karen Code will address the group. Her daughter was an organ donor after she died from complications relating to cystic fibrosis.
  • Jamari Hallam will speak for her grandson, Issac, who – at just four years old – is enjoying life thanks to a liver transplant.  His liver failed shortly after birth due to unverified circumstances, and he has faced a difficult road, but expects to live a happy, long life alongside his twin brother.

In addition, Al Higginbotham, County Commissioner, will speak briefly on the importance of donation.   LifeLink will then ask everyone present if they themselves are an organ donation recipient or if they knew someone who has received an organ. The ceremony will conclude with a flag-raising and complimentary refreshments will be served.
 
Following the ceremony Ms. Dori Blanc, of LifeLink, and Ashlee Blank of the University of Miami Tissue Bank will remain to register all interested employees or community members for organ donation.
 
Nearly 900 people in the local area are waiting a lifesaving organ transplant. More than 113,000 people nationally are waiting the gift of life. One organ donor can save the lives of eight people through the donation of a heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, and small intestine. With the primary exception of living kidney donations, organ donation occurs after death. Organ donation is supported by all major religions as an act of kindness, and places no financial burden on the family or the donor. All costs associated with organ donations are picked up by LifeLink. For 30 years LifeLink has served the west and southwest Florida community in saving thousands of lives through organ donation.
 
Other interesting facts:

  • People of all ages should consider themselves potential donors. Nationally one in ten donors is over 65.
  • Physicians who treat patients at the time of death are not involved in the donation process. Every effort is made to save a life before donation can be considered.
  • It is a federal crime to buy or sell organs in the United States.
  • 113,000 people await a lifesaving organ transplant; 4,000 in Florida alone. 900 of those who are waiting are from the local area.

For more information go to www.DonateLifeFlorida.org.

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Does My Loved One Have a Bipolar Disorder?

Calendar April 2, 2012 | Posted by admin

Most people have experienced what we call a "mood swing" more than once in their lifetime. It is normal for human emotions to vary and change, especially during different stages in a person's life and development. However, for approximately 2.6% of the adult population in the United States, a more serious issue is taking place: bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder, also referred to as manic-depressive illness, is typically diagnosed in early adulthood at around 25 years old. Characterized by dramatic shifts in mood, activity level, energy, and ability to carry out everyday tasks, the symptoms of this brain disorder can have devastating repercussions in a person's life. Untreated, the symptoms of bipolar disorder can lead to damaged relationships, ruined careers and even suicide. Bipolar disorder symptoms may look like separate unrelated events, often making it difficult to diagnose.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
In general, if a person is having manic and/or depressive symptoms, nearly every day, all day for up to two weeks, they may be in the midst of a bipolar episode. Symptoms fall into two general categories: manic or depressive. 

Manic symptoms may consist of mood changes that might include:

  • extended period of feeling "high" or extremely happy
  • extended periods of agitation or irritability

Behavioral changes can include:

  • fast talking, skipping from one idea to the next
  • insomnia
  • easily distracted
  • increased goal directed activities
  • impulsiveness
  • risk-taking behaviors

Depressive symptoms might include:

  • extended duration of sadness, loneliness, or feeling worried
  • loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
  • feeling tired or slowed down
  • inability to make decisions
  • change in eating habits
  • thoughts of suicide

Bipolar disorder is a serious illness that can be treated if properly diagnosed. People can live healthy, productive lives if the disorder is managed with medications and care. While bipolar disorder does run in families, most children of parents with bipolar disorder will not develop the disease. If you or a loved one are concerned about symptoms which might be indicative of bipolar disorder, the most important thing you can do is to seek treatment. A correct diagnosis is critical, followed by proper care and support.

You can find these services at Brandon Regional Hospital, where our Behavioral Health Center offers state of the art, multidisciplinary care that is  compassionate and private. If you or a loved one believe that immediate care is needed, please call (813) 653-1065 and a healthcare professional will assess your situation. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For additional health information or a physician referral, call our Consult-A-Nurse service at 1-888-327-2636.

 

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Five Quick Fixes to Healthier Eating

Calendar March 26, 2012 | Posted by admin

Have you been making an effort to eat healthier? We know how hard that effort can be with so many unhealthy, easy-to-make meal options available. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated, time-consuming or boring. March is National Nutrition Month — so, now is the time to learn some quick fixes for your diet to establish better eating habits and a healthier approach to eating.

National Nutrition Month’s goal is to "Get Your Plate in Shape." In support of the USDA’s MyPlate model, Get Your Plate in Shape emphasizes a few easy, quick and nutritional meal fixes.

  1. Make at least half you grains whole. Thanks to recent food label changes, it is easy to figure out what grain products are 100% whole grain. The first ingredient on the list should say “whole” or the labeling on the product should indicate "100% whole grain."
     
  2. Make the switch to fat free milk. You can enjoy the same amount of calcium critical for bone health without all the fat and calories.
     
  3. Cut back on sugar. This is easier to do than you think. Cut out full sugar sodas, which have up to sixteen teaspoons of sugar in them. Switch to water and stay away from fruit juices or mix them with sparkling water. Don't forget to read food labels, too!
     
  4. Mix up your protein sources. Try to get seafood on your plate twice a week. Don’t forget that beans are a tasty protein option as well. When your protein is from an animal source, make sure it is lean and small in portion size.
     
  5. Veggies and fruits should play a starring role during your meals. Half of your plate — that’s right, half — should be made up of veggies and fruits. This can be fresh, frozen or canned. If you go canned, make sure the label says “low-sodium” or even better, “no salt added.”

To learn more about National Nutrition Month, like them on Facebook. You’ll get tips, updates and important nutritional information.

These are five easy, quick fixes to eating healthier. No major overhauls involved. Just make smart choices while planning your meals and shopping. For more health information, visit Brandon Regional, or call our 24/7 Consult-A-Nurse service at 1-888-327-2636. Registered nurses are on standby to address your health questions, concerns and referrals. 

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Quit Smoking For Good This Time

Calendar March 19, 2012 | Posted by admin

The statistics are not a surprise to anyone. Smoking is a dangerous habit which not only costs you financially, it can cost you your health, too. One cigarette contains at least 69 known carcinogens and, as a result, 400,000 deaths a year are due to smoking and tobacco use. Now is the time to quit, even if you’ve tried numerous times before. Most smokers will attempt to quit smoking 5-7 times before they are successful. Here are a few tips to get you on the road to success.

Get some assistance. We all want to feel like we are in control. However, nicotine has been shown to be more addictive than many illicit drugs. So seeking help with something that is not only highly addictive, but ingrained in your daily routine, just makes sense. Research has documented that a combination of counseling (such as quit lines and tobacco cessation classes) and medications will help most people achieve success.

Create a quit plan. Careful planning and preparation will boost your confidence in your ability to quit smoking. Depending on how long you have been smoking, you have a habit that you have learned, practiced and perfected. While smoking may have started as a novelty, over time, you’ve linked it to specific triggers (e.g. stress, happiness, sadness, or boredom) and now you don’t even think about why you smoke. A quit plan gives you the opportunity to set a date and build up to it by having resources in place, thinking about what you can do when you get a craving, and building a support system to help you.

Remember the 4 D’s. Delay, do something, drink water and deep breathing. It’s pretty simple and to the point. When you get that all too familiar urge, break routine and try to spend 10 minutes doing something else. Drink a big, cold glass of water. Play a round of Internet solitaire. Take 15 deep belly breathes to get some clean air in your lungs and help you relax.

Don’t Make Excuses. A slip is a one-time mistake. The best step to take if this happens is to acknowledge it and move on with your plan. The worst thing to do that will derail your entire quit plan is to use a slip as an excuse to have a full relapse. Make sure the temptations for a slip are not present. Throw out cigarettes, lighters and other tobacco products. Don’t go into convenience stores (paying  at the pump makes this easy). Avoid alcohol and other smokers.

A great place to start is by looking online. Tobacco Free Florida has a number of excellent resources to get you started. You can get enrolled in a web program, call the state quit line and learn more about why kicking the habit is important.

For more health information or a physician referral, contact Brandon Regional Medical Center’s Consult-A-Nurse service at 1-888-327-2636. Nurses are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist you with your health care needs.

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