The East Texas Medical Center Sleep Disorders Center in Tyler recently received program re-accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

Medical director Dr. Raymond Perkins II says the ETMC Sleep Disorders Center was awarded a five-year accreditation for meeting or exceeding all standards by AASM.

“The accreditation process involved a detailed inspection of our facility, staff, testing procedures and training,” said Dr. Perkins. “We are very pleased to receive this recognition again.”

“The AASM congratulates ETMC on fulfilling the high standards required for receiving reaccreditation as a sleep disorder center,” said Dr. Mary Susan Esther, AASM president.  “The center is a significant resource to the local medical community and provides academic and scientific value in addition to the highest quality care for patients suffering from sleep disorders.”

The AASM currently accredits more than 1,500 sleep medicine centers and laboratories across the country. The AASM is a professional medical society for clinicians, researchers, and other healthcare providers in the field of sleep medicine.  The AASM is dedicated to setting standards and promoting excellence in sleep medicine heath care, education and research.

The ETMC Sleep Disorders Center is located at 3900 Southpark Drive in Tyler.  For more information call (903) 531-8079.

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:00:00GMT http://www.etmc.org/athensmammofundraiser.htm By Toni Garrard Clay

Kathy Means

For three years now, Kathy Means has focused on the month of October to join the fight against breast cancer, putting her business and her money into the event she calls Making a Difference in Henderson County.

“It’s a horrible disease,” said Means, who has not personally experienced breast cancer but has friends who have. “It’s a disease where many times early detection can save someone’s life, and we want to help that happen.”

Means is the owner of Kathy’s Boutique in Athens. Every October, for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Means uses the boutique to raise funds to provide mammograms at ETMC Athens Breast Care Center for women who meet financial screening guidelines.

Falling between the cracks
“There are a lot of women who fall between the cracks (of government assistance programs), and that’s primarily who I see as the people we’d like to help,” explained Means.

ETMC Athens offers top-notch digital mammography unit ETMC Athens is now using a state-of-the-art full field digital mammography unit, having replaced the film-based imaging station. The difference is much like going from a 35 mm camera to a digital camera. With the digital unit, images can be manipulated in a way that isn’t possible with film, and the image resolution is notably higher. Once the images are captured, they are sent to a CAD program (Computer Aided Device) that “looks” at the images prior to the radiologist and identifies any areas of potential concern. From there, they are sent to a reading station where the radiologist examines them. “We were already using CAD, but we couldn’t manipulate the images with the film-based units,” explained Radiology Department Director Richard Vasquez. “Now, if there’s an area of interest, the radiologist can make it lighter or darker or manipulate the contrast levels as needed.” Women will also be happy to know the digital mammography unit has significantly shortened the amount of time it takes to actually capture the necessary images. “We still have to compress, but the image comes up instantly now,” said Licensed Mammographer Shelly Robertson. “I can decide immediately whether it’s what we need or not.” To schedule an appointment or for more information about the mammography system at the ETMC Athens Breast Care Center, please call 903-676-2169.

To raise the money to be used, Means asks people to buy and personalize hearts to be left on display at the boutique, as well as ETMC Athens.

“It’s like a tree of hope,” she explained. “Hearts are cut from pink paper and tied with a simple ribbon. Each person is asked to personalize the heart in honor of a survivor, in memory of someone lost, in support of someone fighting the battle or just for the cause.”
The hearts are $10 each. In addition, during the week of October 20th, 10 percent of all sales from the store – located at 122 N. Palestine Street – will be added to the money collected from the sale of the hearts.

Funds raised
The funds raised will go into a special account at the ETMC Foundation that will be utilized throughout the year to assist the ETMC Athens Breast Care Center and the women it serves.

“This is our third year for the Making a Difference in Henderson County event, and the results have been wonderful,” Means said. “Everyone likes the idea that the money is going to stay in Henderson County.”

“ETMC is thrilled to partner once again in Kathy’s efforts to promote the importance of mammography and to help ensure that mammograms are available to Henderson County women,” said ETMC Foundation Director Marty Wiggins. “Her October outreach will touch many lives – and potentially save a life – as together we fight breast cancer in the
community. Kathy is an inspiration as to what one woman can do!”

Applying for assistance and scheduling a mammogram
To apply for financial assistance in obtaining a mammogram, please contact ETMC Athens Financial Counselor Bailey Bishop at 903-676-1155.

To schedule an appointment without applying for financial assistance or for more information about the mammography system at the ETMC Athens Breast Care Center, please call 903-676-2169.

ETMC Athens is now using a state-of-the-art full field digital mammography unit, which has replaced the film-based imaging station. The difference is much like going from a 35 mm camera to a digital camera.
The digital mammography unit has significantly shortened the amount of time it takes to actually capture the necessary images.

“We still have to compress, but the image comes up instantly now,” said Licensed Mammographer Shelly Robertson. “I can decide immediately whether it’s what we need or not.”

The American Cancer Society recommends women from the ages of 20 to 39 have clinical breast exams performed by their healthcare providers at least every three years and do self-exams once a month. Ask your healthcare provider to teach you the proper way to perform a thorough breast self-exam.

Women 40 and over should have mammograms and clinical breast exams performed every year, as well as performing breast self-exams each month.
If you have a history of breast cancer in your family, discuss mammography screening guidelines and scheduling with your healthcare provider.
Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:00:00GMT http://www.etmc.org/athensfitnessplus.htm When Nancy Mills joined the Fitness Plus exercise class seven years

Will Conley is a wanted man. 

As the lead technologist in nuclear medicine at ETMC Athens, he holds a key position in a very specialized field, one that enjoys nationwide demand.

As a major in the 225th Engineer Brigade out of Louisiana, Conley also knows another kind of demand: one that is calling him, again, in service to his country.

In October, Conley will head to Iraq for a month, where the current combat engineering unit on the ground will debrief him.

In this file photo, Major Will Conley of the 225th Engineer Brigade out of Louisiana (pointing) conducts a briefing in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Conley, the lead technologist in nuclear medicine at ETMC Athens, will soon begin a 15-month tour in Iraq as an intelligence and electronic warfare officer. As a member of the National Guard, Conley also served a 12-month tour in Afghanistan.

“I’ll see what they’re doing construction-wise and see what’s happening with the route clearing, then I’ll come back and pick up the rest of the brigade,” said Conley.

Army National Guard
His brigade is part of the Louisiana Army National Guard, which Conley joined right out of high school. He has spent time serving the Louisiana National Guard both in the infantry and combat engineers ever since.

This tour in Iraq – expected to be 15 months – is far from Conley’s first rodeo.

His combat heavy engineering battalion spent 12 months, from 2004 to 2005, in Afghanistan as Part of Operation Enduring Freedom. There, they converted a 95-mile path from Kandahar to Tarin Kowt into a full-fledged road, despite temperatures that soared to around 140 degrees and occasional rocket attacks on their tent compound.

“It went from a goat trail to a blacktop,” said Conley, whose job was to control the movement of equipment and troops and determine mission assignments. Whenever possible, though, he was checking back in by email on the nuclear medicine department he helped create.

“Every e-mail I got from him was, ‘How’s the department doing?’” recalled Richard Vasquez, director of radiology at ETMC Athens.

Conley had been back at the hospital less than three months when his National Guard unit was re-activated to help prepare for the approaching hurricane Katrina. As it turned out, his battalion was one of the first units assisting on the initial repair work to the levee system in New Orleans.

“We were a quick fix to stop the massive flooding,” said Conley, who served as operations officer.

In the three years since, things have been relatively quiet until a few months ago when he received word he would be heading to Iraq.

“That’s the drawback of having a specialty like combat engineering,” he said. “There are just not enough engineers out there.”

This tour of duty
This tour will be different for Conley, who will be serving as S-2 Intelligence Officer/Electronic Warfare Officer. He just returned from two months attending Electronic Warfare Officer Training School, where he studied the methods of using the electromagnetic spectrum to block radio-controlled IEDs. IEDs – or improvised explosive devices – are what have injured and taken the lives of so many soldiers and civilians traveling the roads of Iraq.

“In 2005, 80 percent of IEDs were radio controlled – meaning they could be activated from miles away. Now it’s about 15 percent,” said Conley.

A major factor in the decline of radio-controlled IEDs can be attributed to the technology taught at the school Conley attended.

“We have to figure out the trends of what the enemy is using to activate the IEDs – a child’s electronic toy, a garage door opener, a cell phone – and then employ the same type of signal to jam the device,” said Conley.

“Before training, I wasn’t so sure about the technology. But now, I’m telling you, I believe. … They still have command-wire IEDs and pressure plates, but they don’t have the security of being cowards near as much anymore. Somebody’s got to be within shooting distance to detonate it. Our guys mostly want a chance at a fair fight.”

The main mission of the 225th Engineer Brigade will be to clear the route sites. And Conley will be “hands-on and doing Intel.” That is, he will be mixing with the populus in an attempt to gain useful information to execute that mission.

“When Will departs again to serve his country, he’ll be missed here very much,” said Radiology Director Vasquez. “We’ll all pray for his safety and well-being and count the days till he returns.”

Conley is fully aware of the risk involved and makes no bones about the fact that leaving his family and profession – the life he knows – for 15 months is not something he’s pleased about. He is, however, committed to doing the best job possible and even excited about using the new training he’s acquired.

“I’m going with my friends, who I’ve trained with and been around forever. But I’m concerned about leaving here. You do what you gotta do.”

Conley and his wife, Cindy, have two daughters: Autumn Parrish (she and her husband will soon become new parents) and Brooke Oliver.

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:00:00GMT http://www.etmc.org/dexafairfield.htm

Fairfield, Texas – ETMC Fairfield has installed a Hologic DEXA unit, which is used to measure bone loss associated with osteoporosis.

What is DEXA?
DEXA, also known as dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, is a quick, painless imaging procedure. It uses very low dose x-rays to evaluate a person’s bone mineral density and predict their risk of bone fractures before osteoporosis develops.

“Patients can benefit tremendously from a DEXA test,” said Anne Brooke, ETMC Fairfield radiology manager. “Because osteoporosis usually has no warning signs or symptoms, bone mineral density testing with the DEXA unit can alert a physician that his or her patient may be at risk for the disease. Medications can then be prescribed to improve bone density.”

The Exam
The exam takes about 15-30 minutes. The patient lies on their back on a padded scanning bed and breathes normally while a scanner passes over either the lower spine or hip, measuring the bone density.  No special preparations are needed prior to the exam, although patients are asked not to take calcium supplements for two days prior to their appointment. A physician’s order is required to have a DEXA bone screening.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation notes that people who fit the criteria below may benefit from having bone mineral density screening:

• Postmenopausal women under age 65 with one or more risk factors for osteoporosis
•  Men age 50-70 with one or more risk factors for osteoporosis.
• Women age 65 or older, even without any risk factors
• Men age 70 or older, even without any risk factors
• Women or men who have broken a bone after age 50
• Women going through menopause with certain risk factors
• Postmenopausal women who have stopped taking estrogen therapy (ET) or hormone therapy (HT)

Steps for good bone health
The NOF recommends these steps for good bone health and osteoporosis prevention:

• Get your daily recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D
• Engage in regular weight-bearing exercise
• Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol
• Talk to your healthcare provider about bone health
• When appropriate, have a bone density test and take medication

ETMC Fairfield is part of the East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System – a nationally recognized system of hospitals that seeks to maximize the quality and level of care offered by each community’s hospital.

Other ETMC hospitals include those in Athens, Carthage, Clarksville, Crockett, Gilmer, Jacksonville, Mt. Vernon, Pittsburg, Quitman, Trinity and Tyler.
ETMC is a not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life in communities throughout East Texas.

Kathy Curless, OTR, CLT, an occupational therapist at the ETMC Rehabilitation Center in Crockett, has completed studies to become a certified lymphedema therapist.
Ms. Curless is now certified to perform manual lymph drainage and complete decongestive therapy for lymphedema patients. She completed a 135-hour training program in Houston in July, including the anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the lymphatic system, through the Academy of Lymphatic Studies, which is based in Florida.

“The certified lymphedema therapist qualification means that I have completed the studies required to establish and carry out a treatment plan for patients who are in the various stages of lymphedema, including those with possible lymphedema complications,” she said. “Patients in this area will benefit from the convenience in receiving lymphedema therapy in Crockett. Before I received the certified lymphedema therapist qualification, lymphedema patients had to drive to College Station, Tyler, and similar distances for care.”

According to the National Lymphedema Network, lymphedema is an accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the body’s interstitial tissue that causes swelling, most often in the arms and/or legs, and occasionally in other parts of the body. Lymphedema can develop when lymphatic vessels are missing or impaired (primary edema), or when lymph vessels are damaged or lymph nodes removed (secondary edema).

Secondary lymphedema, or acquired lymphedema, can develop as a result of surgery, radiation, infection or trauma. Specific surgeries, such as surgery for melanoma or breast, gynecological, head and neck, prostate or testicular, bladder or colon cancer, all of which currently require removal of lymph nodes, put patients at risk of developing secondary lymphedema.

Other conditions which can be successfully treated with components of CDT include: chronic venous insufficiency, lipedema, post traumatic and post surgical swelling, inflammatory rheumatism, fibromyalgia and more. Ms. Curless is well-versed in the application of basic and advanced techniques of manual lymph drainage, basic and advanced techniques of compression bandaging and is certified in the measurement and fitting of medical compression garments.

The lymphedema management program is provided as part of ETMC Outpatient Rehabilitation Services, which has served the Crockett area with comprehensive physical and occupational therapy services for more than 10 years. ETMC Outpatient Rehabilitation Services is located in Suite 150 of the medical office building located adjacent to the hospital. For more information, please call 936-545-4333.

There’s great news for women across Henderson County: ETMC Athens is now using a state-of-the-art full field digital mammography unit.

The new unit replaces the film-based imaging station, with the difference being much like going from a 35 mm camera to a digital camera.

And while film-based mammography units are still being used nationwide, there are definite advantages to the new digital unit, said Richard Vasquez, director of the ETMC Athens radiology department.

“With the digital unit, we can manipulate the image in a way that isn’t possible with film. And the image resolution is so much higher now,” he said.

Once the images are captured – and no, ladies, that part of it hasn’t changed – they are sent to a CAD program (Computer Aided Device) that “looks” at the images prior to the radiologist and identifies any areas of potential concern. From there, they are sent on to a reading station where the radiologist examines them.

“We were already using CAD, but we couldn’t manipulate the images with the film-based units,” explained Vasquez. “Now, if there’s an area of interest, the radiologist can make it lighter or darker or manipulate the contrast levels as needed.”

Women will also be happy to know the digital mammography unit has significantly shortened the amount of time it takes to actually capture the necessary images.

“We still have to compress, but the image comes up instantly now,” said Licensed Mammographer Shelly Robertson, RT-(AART)(R)(M). “I can decide immediately whether it’s what we need or not.”

With the film-based mammography station, Robertson would capture several images and then develop those in the dark room – a process taking six or seven minutes – before being able to determine if they were useable or more images needed to be taken.
“It’s instant now, and that’s a significant plus,” said Robertson.

The American Cancer Society recommends women from the ages of 20 to 39 have clinical breast exams performed by their healthcare providers at least every three years and do self-exams once a month. Ask your healthcare provider to teach you the proper way to do a thorough breast self-exam.

Women 40 and over should have mammograms and clinical breast exams performed every year, as well as performing breast self-exams each month.

 If you have a history of breast cancer in your family, discuss mammography screening guidelines and scheduling with your healthcare provider.

To schedule an appointment or for more information about the mammography system at the ETMC Athens Breast Care Center, please call 903-676-2169.

Rhonda Hardin is passionate about extolling the benefits of breastfeeding. So with World Breastfeeding Week nearly upon us, the certified lactation counselor is inviting the community to a celebratory reception at ETMC Athens.

“We’re having a breastfeeding celebration reception at the hospital on August 6,” said Hardin. “I want to celebrate breastfeeding moms and, hopefully, make the community a little more aware of breastfeeding.”

The Reception
The reception will be held Wednesday, Aug. 6, from noon until 2 p.m. in the hospital’s Dining Conference Room, off the cafeteria. Door prizes will be given away – such as a nursing stool and nursing pillows – and cake and punch will be served. Hardin is working alongside Breona Jacobs of the Athens WIC office on the event.

“WIC is a wonderful organization that is helpful to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, as well as young children,” said Hardin, a registered nurse and OB educator at ETMC Athens.

More on World Breastfeeding Week
World Breastfeeding Week, Aug. 1-7, is designed to heighten awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding. A host of organizations, from the American Academy of Pediatrics to the World Health Organization, agree that breastmilk is the very best nutrition for infants for the first year of life.

“I definitely think the practice of breastfeeding is coming back around,” said Hardin. “It goes in cycles. There will be a period of time where the majority of new mothers will choose breastfeeding and then we’ll go through a period of time when formula is preferred by more moms.

“But I think we’re in a period now where the majority of new moms do start off breastfeeding.”

Benefits of Breastfeeding
Hardin attributes that development to the public’s growing knowledge of breastfeeding’s benefits.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:
• the initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of life;
• exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months;
• continued breastfeeding as the main source of nutrition throughout the first year of life (even after complimentary foods are added);
• the continuation of breastfeeding after that for as long as is mutually desired by mother and baby;
• waiting to introduce pacifiers until the breastfeeding relationship is well established;
• and likewise waiting for the introduction of supplemental bottles of breastmilk.

Hardin points out that breastfeeding helps reduce the chances of a woman suffering postpartum hemorrhage after delivery; speeds the time it takes for mom’s uterus to get back to its pre-pregnancy state and size; can reduce mom’s chances of some types of cancers later in life – including breast cancer; and releases a hormone that has a calming effect on a mother’s body.

“New moms can definitely benefit from that!” enthused Hardin, who also noted that breastfeeding can provide a special closeness between mother and child.
In addition to the benefits for mom, breastmilk benefits babies by providing immunities that infants cannot get from formula; breastfed infants have fewer allergies; breastfeeding helps with infant brain development; breastfed infants have fewer digestive problems such as diarrhea and constipation; breastfeeding decreases an infant’s chances of having ear infections and respiratory tract infections; and it helps strengthen their facial cranial muscles, which can lead to straighter teeth and fewer speech impediments.

“It’s also worth noting that breastmilk is a natural resource,” said Hardin. “It doesn’t require water, energy, packing or storing – and it doesn’t cost a dime.”

The word “wow” usually represents a positive feeling, something we want our guests to express about the care they receive at ETMC. That’s why our healthcare system has adopted “ETMC WOW!” as the central theme for a new service excellence program.

A mission launch party to kick-off the program, which will involve in-depth customer service training for every employee; will be held on Thursday, July 31.

“The ETMC WOW! custom-designed program was developed by the enthusiastic men and women who make up our healthcare system,” said Elmer G. Ellis, ETMC president and chief executive officer. “The program will help the members of our team become even better at what they already do so well – care for people.”

A year's work
Bob Evans, senior vice president and ETMC Tyler administrator, said that ETMC WOW! is the culmination of a year’s worth of education, planning and hard work by a group of committed members of the ETMC team.  Evans said “We’re not implementing this program because there’s a problem with our current service. ETMC Tyler, for example, has historically scored well above average in patient satisfaction and has, at times, been among the leading hospitals nationwide in the Press Ganey survey.”

“As healthcare leaders, we must always be looking for ways to improve,” Evans said. He cited the increased scrutiny healthcare organizations are under today from
internet medical ratings and Medicare-related patient surveys that gauge a variety of factors, including guest satisfaction.

Service excellence studied
Carroll Rogé, corporate marketing director for ETMC, has been facilitating the work of the ETMC WOW! service excellence committee. Rogé researched extensively how hospitals and other organizations improve the way they interact with their guests.

Captain WOW will appear on internal ETMC materials to help encourage employees.

“When ETMC administration told me they wanted to look at ways to improve our service, the first step was to determine what the experts in customer service were saying we needed to consider.” Roge also attended the Disney Institute created especially for healthcare organizations. “Disney is well-known for their exceptional customer service and many of their business models can easily be applied to healthcare.”

The committee learned about a variety of approaches and then voted on the concepts they felt would be most helpful to improving service at ETMC. “When guests are happy, they’re better patients,” Rogé said. “They feel more assured and confident in their care.”

Deborah Walters, a committee member who works in nursing, said, “We want our staff fired up to say ‘Wow, I work at ETMC. We really care about our guests.’ And we want our guests to say ‘Wow, they really went above and beyond for me.’ So the WOW! theme seemed to be the perfect rallying cry for our program.”

The word “wow” reminded the members of comic book exclamations, like “pow!” and “bam!” So the group decided to use a superhero theme. “That’s really not that much of a stretch,” said Jacque Fowler, a committee member from volunteer services. “The employees who provide direct patient care are viewed as heroes. They take care of our guests. They save lives.”

ETMC will be known for its commitment to guest relations. As demonstrated by the service theme developed by the committee: “We treat our guests with compassionate care and exceptional service. WOW! That’s ETMC.”

All ETMC Tyler team members will attend special training over the next six months.
 “This is just the start,” Evans said. “We’re looking forward to seeing our team members get energized and create new ways to impress our guests. We want to make ‘WOW!’ our normal way of dealing with guests and synonymous with ETMC and our culture of care.”

ETMC Tyler has been recognized as a silver annual performance award winner for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The American Heart Association is spotlighting ETMC and other hospitals in a special ad in this week’s issue of U.S. News and World Report. Listed hospitals have successfully utilized the AHA’s Get with the Guidelines program for coronary artery disease, heart failure or stroke.  ETMC was recognized in the coronary artery disease category for 12 consecutive months at 85 percent or higher adherence to all performance measures.

Get with the Guidelines
Get with the Guidelines is the premier hospital-based quality improvement program for the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. It empowers healthcare provider teams to consistently treat heart and stroke patients according to the most up-to-date guidelines.

“ETMC implemented the AHA’s Get with the Guidelines program to expand and improve the care we provide in treating coronary artery disease,” said John Stewart, vice president of the ETMC Tyler Cardiovascular Institute. “We are very proud of this recognition by the American Heart Association.”

Chest Pain Accreditation
In 2008, ETMC Tyler received a full three-year accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers as a Chest Pain Center with PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention). PCI refers to a variety of procedures used to restore blood flow in patients with diseased arteries of the heart caused by a build-up of fats, cholesterol and other substances from the blood that can reduce blood flow and lead to chest pain or a heart attack. 

Heart attack facts
Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, with 600,000 dying annually of heart disease. “The goal of the Society of Chest Pain Centers is to significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality rate of these patients.  This is accomplished by reducing the time that it takes to receive treatment, improving the appropriateness and effectiveness of treatment, and by educating the public to recognize and react to the early symptoms of a possible heart attack,” according to Jerrie Hacker, ETMC chest pain center coordinator.

Van residents needing to see an internal medicine physician now have the convenience of scheduling these appointments at the ETMC First Physicians Clinic in Van.
Katrina Duplechain, MD, a board-certified internal medicine physician, sees patients by appointment at the Van clinic on Tuesday afternoons. Dr. Duplechain has served as the clinic’s medical director for several months, working closely with Family Nurse Practitioner Gina Blount.

“Gina is great, and she’s referred patients to me in Mineola over the past two years, even before I started going to Van, so we’ve worked together for some time now. She is excellent at what she does, and I’m looking forward to seeing patients who need additional care there.”

As an internal medicine specialist, Dr. Duplechain specializes in the healthcare of adults, and has received extensive training to care for patients with complex diseases, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. “Much of my patient population is older folks and the elderly. I see them every few months, monitoring medications and doing labwork for them.”

She encourages young adults to get established with an internal medicine physician, too. “We love to have young patients in their twenties with no medical problems, and we see them once or twice a year when they’re sick. We love for them to stay with us as they get older, and we take care of scheduling their screenings – mammograms and colon cancer screenings and the things they need.”

Dr. Duplechain is a Mt. Pleasant native. She graduated from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, and completed a three-year residency in internal medicine at Scott & White Hospital in Temple. She is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

While Dr. Duplechain’s focus will be on adults who have complex healthcare needs, Family Nurse Practitioner Gina Blount will continue to provide full-time care of patients of all ages, including children, at the Van clinic.

Did you know that more people in the U.S. die from extreme heat exposure than from hurricanes, lightening, tornados, floods and earthquakes combined?

The ETMC First Physicians Clinic in Quitman invites you to a free luncheon program on preventing heat-related illnesses from noon until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, in the ETMC Quitman hospital conference room, 180 Parker St. in Quitman.

Terry Dickey, Family Nurse Practitioner, will discuss:

•  Heat exhaustion and heat stroke
• Who is at risk?
• Tips for preventing heat-related illness Reservations for this free luncheon are required.

Registration information
Please call 903-763-6336 to register. ETMC is a not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life in communities throughout East Texas.

ETMC Mt. Vernon has completed renovations to its CT room and replaced its previous unit with a Phillips Mx8000 Dual EXP CT, which will enhance patient care at the hospital.

According to the CT’s manufacturer, Phillips, “The Mx8000 Dual offers the power, speed and clinical versatility derived from a wide range of multi-slice scanning techniques. To improve patient care, Mx8000 Dual includes some of the newest clinical applications, such as prospective gated cardiac calcium scoring, perfusion examinations, whole-body CT and vascular studies.”

“The new CT scanner will provide greater benefits for our patients by 1) providing multiple exams that were not previously available, 2) reducing the total scan time, which would decrease radiation exposure to the patient and 3) obtaining Multi-Planner Reconstruction (MPR), which greatly aids the radiologist in making better diagnostic decisions,” said Stephen Pitts, ETMC Mt. Vernon administrator.

Upgrades to prepare the existing CT room at the hospital for the Mx8000 were completed in about three weeks, and represent a $97,000 investment in the area. New finishes, including new wood flooring, ceiling tiles, doors and new electrical services for the room were part of the project.

ETMC Mount Vernon is part of a regional system that seeks to maximize the quality and level of care offered by each community’s hospital.

Other ETMC hospitals serve the cities and surrounding areas of Athens, Carthage, Clarksville, Crockett, Fairfield, Gilmer, Jacksonville, Pittsburg, Quitman, Trinity and Tyler.

East Texas cancer survivors can participate in East Texas Medical Center Cancer Institute’s annual “Great Getaway” spring retreat April 22-24 at the Bluffs at Pine Cove, located southwest of Tyler near Lake Palestine. 

The retreat gives cancer survivors a chance to relax and refocus and provides opportunities for meeting others who share some of the same concerns associated with living with cancer. Any adult who has been diagnosed with cancer is invited to attend.

Get away from day-to-day life
“This is a chance to get away from the stress of day-to-day life and enjoy the company of others who have been through similar experiences,” according to Todd Sigmon, ETMC Cancer Institute vice president.  “Healthcare professionals, as well as cancer survivors, will be on hand to assist with retreat activities.”

Pine Cove comforts
Pine Cove offers comfortable, motel-style rooms that accommodate up to six people and have private baths. All lodging, meals and snacks are included in the $50 registration fee.  Arrival time begins at 3 p.m. Tuesday, and the retreat will continue through 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Registration forms and fees must be received by March 21. Space is limited and priority will be given to first-time attendees. A limited number of scholarships are available if you need financial assistance. For more information please call the ETMC Cancer Institute at (903) 595-5550 or (800) 541-0592.

The ETMC Cardiovascular Institute has a new tool to aid cardiologists in diagnosis and planning. ETMC has acquired East Texas' first Live 3D TEE (transesophageal echocardiogram) probe.

Phillips' Live 3D TEE imaging provides more perspectives of the heart, including the surgeon's view--a perspective of the mitral valve from the left atrium as well as from the left ventricle. The 3D heart is displayed in motion, in real time and reduces the need to reconstruct pathology from multiple 2D views.

Determining valve repair needs
Kathy Woods, echo lead technician says the 3D TEE probe will help surgeons determine more easily valve repair needs, rule out blood clots, if there are holes in the heart and much more. "Before, we used a 2D technology that required piecing all of the images together, but now we can rotate the image instantly and see all sides which allows on-the-spot evaluation."

The patient is under anesthesia for about 20 minutes while the probe is inserted down their esophagus. The snake-like tube can move around while providing different views of the heart. Communication is facilitated, as these images contain the information surgeons, anesthesiologists and cardiac staff need so a comprehensive plan can be in place before the first incision.

Live 3D TEE was introduced in 2007.

ETMC Tyler has received full accreditation from the national Chest Pain Society as a Chest Pain Center with PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention).

PCI refers to a variety of procedures used to treat patients with diseased arteries of the heart caused by a build-up of fats, cholesterol and other substances from the blood that can reduce blood flow and lead to chest pain or a heart attack.

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, with 600,000 dying annually of heart disease. More than five million Americans visit the hospitals each year with chest pain. The goal of the Society of Chest Pain Centers is to significantly reduce the mortality rate of these patients by teaching the public to recognize and react to the early symptoms of a possible heart attack, reduce the time that it takes to receive treatment, and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment, according to Jerrie Hacker, ETMC chest pain center coordinator. "The goal is also to decrease morbidity and to improve the patient's future quality of life."

Key Areas
With the rise of Chest Pain Centers came the need to establish standards designed to improve the consistency and quality of care provided to patients. Key areas in which a Chest Pain Center must demonstrate expertise include:

• Integrating the emergency department with EMS
• Assessing, diagnosing and treating patients quickly
• Effectively treating patients with low risk for acute coronary syndrome and no assignable cause for their symptoms
• Continually seeking to improve processes and procedures
• Ensuring Chest Pain Center personnel competency and training
• Maintaining organizational structure and commitment
• Having a functional design that promotes optimal patient care
• Supporting community outreach programs that educate the public to promptly seek medical care if they display symptoms of a possible heart attack ETMC Tyler received a three-year accreditation.

RUSK, Texas - ETMC Rusk announces a significant upgrade to its services with the opening of the ETMC Rusk Emergency Center, effective Feb. 1. With the upgrade to emergency services, people needing medical care can be seen by a physician 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Prior to February 1, Express Care services were available at ETMC Rusk, with a physician's assistant available to provide care during certain hours of the day.

If care was needed after hours, a patient often had to drive or be taken by ambulance to ETMC Jacksonville.

"The availability of emergency services in Rusk will provide greater peace of mind for people living in southern Cherokee County, and it is a great selling point for the community's economic development efforts," said DeLeigh Jones Haley, RN, MSO regional director for ETMC. "ETMC has made several internal operational changes which have made it feasible for us to offer this enhanced service to Rusk."

"Patients who are experiencing an emergent healthcare situation will now be able to receive stabilization- such as defibrillation or resuscitation - by an emergency center physician. If a higher level of care is needed, patients can be transferred to ETMC Jacksonville or ETMC Tyler by ETMC EMS ambulance or ETMC Air 1 helicopter, both of which will serve ETMC Rusk," she said. "Patients with less emergent needs, such as wound stitching or setting a broken bone will also benefit by seeking care at the emergency center."

ETMC Rusk, a 24,000-square-foot facility, features a host of medical services designed to enhance health services, foster healthy lifestyles and provide an essential lifeline for area residents.

In addition to the emergency center, the facility features an ETMC First Physicians Clinic, advanced diagnostics, and an ETMC Rehabilitation Center and fitness facility. ETMC is a not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life in communities throughout East Texas.

ETMC Quitman is pleased to announce that nurse practitioner Shelbi Mullins, MS, RN, FNPC, will join Dr. Beverly Waddleton and Terry Dickey, FNPC, at the ETMC First Physicians Clinic in Quitman effective December 17.

While Shelbi will be a staff member of the Quitman First Physicians Clinic, she will temporarily see patients at the ETMC First Physicians Clinic in Mineola located next to Brookshire's.

In March, she will join Dr. Waddleton and Terry in the Quitman clinic permanently. Shelbi has most recently worked in a family practice clinic in Southlake, and prior to that was employed as a nurse for two years at Harris Methodist HEB hospital in Bedford and also worked at Children's Medical Center as a trauma/neuro ICU nurse.

Although she will see all types of patients at ETMC Quitman's family medicine clinics, Shelbi has a particular interest in the care of women and children. She is a May 2007 graduate of Texas Woman's University with a master of science degree in family nurse practitioner studies.

She received her bachelor of science degree in nursing there in 2003.

"We are excited that Shelbi has chosen to further her professional goals by moving to Wood County and working with the ETMC First Physicians Clinics," said David Simpkins, ETMC Quitman's regional clinic director. "Our clinics continue to experience growth in the numbers of patients served, which means people in this area are able to receive the healthcare they need closer to home."

ETMC is a not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life in communities throughout East Texas. For more information about the ETMC Regional Healthcare System, please visit on the internet at www.etmc.org. Other ETMC facilities include hospitals in Athens, Carthage, Clarksville, Crockett, Fairfield, Gilmer, Jacksonville, Mt. Vernon, Pittsburg, Quitman, Trinity and Tyler.

ETMC Quitman CEO Chris Stipe presents a certificate to Suzy Terrell, recognizing her as an Outstanding Rural Scholar.

QUITMAN, Texas - East Texas Medical Center Quitman's Suzy Terrell has been recognized by the Texas Office of Rural Community Affairs as an Outstanding Rural Scholar.

The Outstanding Rural Scholar Recognition Program is a competitive forgiveness loan program. It assists rural communities in "growing their own" healthcare professionals by matching state funds with rural community funds to sponsor individuals pursuing healthcare professions that are needed in the sponsoring rural community.

In turn, the healthcare professional returns to the sponsoring rural community to practice healthcare, upon licensure.

"I am very honored to be a recipient of this award," Mrs. Terrell said. "To be chosen from a pool of excellent applicants and awarded loan forgiveness has been a great motivator to me as I work toward my degree."

Mrs. Terrell is currently studying to become a Family Nurse Practitioner through the University of Texas at Tyler/ Texas Tech University collaborative master's degree program. A Quitman native, she plans to stay in Quitman and work as a Family Nurse Practitioner after receiving her degree in 2009.

To be considered as an Outstanding Rural Scholar, Mrs. Terrell was nominated from within the Quitman community, and completed a comprehensive application process.

As a recipient, her application was evaluated and received a high ranking by a twelve member advisory committee composed of academic and healthcare professionals from across the state. ETMC is a not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life in communities throughout East Texas.

The ETMC Cancer Institute is pleased to announce the expansion of full-field digital mammography services to Quitman, effective January 2008. The ETMC Digital Mobile Mammography unit will visit ETMC Quitman each month providing patients with multiple scheduling options.

The addition of full-field digital mammography is an upgrade to the current mammography services currently available in Wood County. Analog (film-based) mammography has long been the standard screening tool to aid in early detection of breast cancers.

"Digital mammography is quickly becoming the standard in breast imaging," explained Michael Klouda, M.D., medical director of the ETMC Breast Care Center. "Mammography is the best tool for early detection of breast abnormalities, giving patients a much better chance of survival. Digital mammography is a progressive step toward making this tool even better for the community"

With digital technology, a radiologist can view and manipulate images on high-resolution computer monitors enhancing visualization of the structures within the breast tissue and reducing the likelihood of patients having to come back for additional images.

They can also adjust brightness and contrast and zoom in on specific areas to detect small calcifications, masses and other changes that may be signs of early cancer.

"We are pleased to make this sophisticated technology available to the women of Wood County," said Chris Stipe, ETMC Quitman administrator. "Having digital mammography available at ETMC Quitman through the mobile mammography unit will provide a great convenience and allow them to stay closer to home for this important diagnostic test."

To make an appointment on the ETMC Mobile Mammography unit, please call please call 1-800-648-8141 and press "3."

ETMC is a not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life in communities throughout East Texas.

For more information about the ETMC Regional Healthcare System, please visit on the internet at www.etmc.org.