Tag Archive - st. david’s medical center

New Studies Highlight the Health Problems Related to Prolonged Sitting

May 9, 2012 in Exercise, Lifestyle Tips, Rehabilitation, Women with 0 Comments

A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine states that sitting for long periods of time increases your risk of all-cause early death. Those at greatest risk are people who sit more than eleven hours a day, followed by those who sit eight to eleven hours a day. If you sit four hours or less a day, you have the lowest risk.

This study is alarming considering the rise in sedentary jobs across the country. Don’t despair. For those with desk jobs, occupational health experts have developed a sit-stand workstation. These desks make computing comfortable for prolonged periods by allowing the flexibility to switch from sitting to standing with the flick of the wrist. Another option is the treadmill desk where you can slowly walk on the treadmill while working on the computer. If you don’t want to change your desk at work, incorporate standing and walking into your activities at least every hour. Climb the stairs. Bike or walk to work, if possible.

Prolonged sitting at work is not the only culprit. The average American sits for 90% of their leisure time. If an active lifestyle is not part of your leisure time, you are at risk for a number of health-related issues. For women, this includes diabetes and breast cancer. For all of us, it includes colon cancer, back pain and as stated above, risk of early death.

So whatever you do, get out of the chair and start moving. Consult a physical therapist if you need help establishing the right exercise program for you. Now, it’s time for me to walk my dog.

Diane Owens, PT, FACHE
Assistant Administrator
St. David’s Rehabilitation Hospital

Guest Blogger: Matthew Dare, CEPS, on New Cardiac Ablation Technology Trends

January 25, 2012 in AFIB, Heart, Heart Rhythm with 0 Comments

This month, we welcome Matthew Dare, CEPS, as guest blogger on the TCAI blog.  Matt is Research and Technology Coordinator at TCAI and is our go-to guy whenever we have questions or issues with the high-tech equipment used in the EP Lab here.  Matt’s expertise is invaluable to the daily operation of the lab.  If you have questions for Matt, please feel free to contact him at matthew.dare@stdavids.com.

One of the things I have always loved about EP is the myriad of cutting edge technologies we use on a daily basis.  With technologies such as integrated control and video systems, 3D mapping, remote navigation, telepresence and a dizzying array of ablation technologies that include radiofrequency, cryo and lasers, a modern EP lab resembles something closer to a video game or mission control at NASA than an operating room.  And as a member of a generation raised on video games, I feel right at home.

Now, we didn’t get to this point of high tech integration overnight.  It has taken years and years of advances to get us to where we are now.  With that thought in mind, I’d like to look back on the advances of this past year and some promising pieces of technology we might see in the coming year.

  • New Irrigated Catheter Designs – Several companies are in the midst of studies new irrigated catheters that promise better lesion formation with more efficient cooling.  These more efficient designs allow for lower saline flow rates than those currently on the market.  This will help offset some the fluid overload issues we see with current catheters.  One thing to watch with these new catheters will be how lab practices change due to the lack of temperature feedback from the catheter.
  • Force Sensing Catheters – Contact force has always been a factor in creating good lesions, but up until now, physicians have not had a reliable way of determining how much force they are actually applying to the tissue.  That will change with the catheters currently being studied as both competing technologies, magnetic sensor based and fiber optic sensor based, will allow physicians to determine contact pressure down to one gram.  Ideally this should allow for better, more consistent lesion formation while also helping prevent complications from applying too much pressure.
  • Multielectrode RF – While this technology has been studied for several years, the EP community was able to see more data this year along with broader investigational use.  The idea of being able to create complex lesion sets with a single application is very intriguing.  Unfortunately, the current non-irrigated implementation of this technology has had difficulty in creating deep lesions.  In addition, several centers and studies have reported a significant rate of silent embolization in cases utilizing the current system.  The addition of irrigation electrodes has the potential to solve both of these issues.
  • Cryo Balloon – This year, the cryo balloon became just the second device to receive an indication for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation from the FDA.  Since receiving that indication, the cryo balloon has enabled many centers that were not previously equipped for AF ablations to perform this complex procedure.  As the device is limited to isolation of the pulmonary veins, it does have its limits, but it has the potential to be an important tool in the EP toolbox.
  • Laser Balloon – The laser balloon is another device that has been in studies for several years, but has recently gone through a redesign of the laser console and of the balloon itself.  These changes have made the system much more user friendly than previous iteration and even allow for one handed operation of the balloon by the physician.  While the laser balloon is similar to the cryo balloon in the fact that it is basically limited to isolating the pulmonary veins, it provides the physician with the ability to target specific regions around the pulmonary veins.  In addition to more localized ablation, the laser balloon also allows physicians to actually see where the lesions are being placed via an endoscope located within the balloon itself.
  • Radiometric Temperature Sensing Catheter – The last technology I want to mention is a newer system that allows for the measurement of actual tissue temperature.  This device integrates passive radiometric sensors into the tip of an irrigated ablation catheter rather than the traditional thermocouple or thermister found in most ablation catheters.  The systems works by detecting microwaves emitted from heated tissue during radiofrequency ablation.  This enables the physician to see the temperature of the tissue three millimeters from the tip of the catheter.  As I mentioned earlier, one of the drawbacks of newer irrigated catheter designs is that they provide no real temperature feedback during ablation.  This system has the potential to remedy that issue.

As you can see, this upcoming year promises to be another year filled with exciting advances in EP.  Hopefully these new technologies will allow the EP community to provide broader access and improved outcomes for our patients.  It will certainly be interesting to see what we think a year from now

Holiday Tips for Expecting Moms!

December 7, 2011 in Baby/Infant, Children, Community, Holiday, Lifestyle Tips, Pregnancy, Women, Women: Ages & Stages with 0 Comments

Here are some helpful holiday tips for expecting Mom’s!

During the holidays we are all participating in many activities that generally bring happiness, but may also cause stress.

If you are pregnant, be sure to listen to your body this holiday season! Here are some tips to take care of yourself and your unwrapped present during this time of year:

  • Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep – you are growing an entire human being, congrats! That is hard work. Make sure to take time out for yourself and rest when you body tells you to.
  • Stay hydrated! During the winter months people generally don’t drink enough water since the temperatures outside are dropping. Water is key to a healthy pregnancy and feeling well. Being dehydrated can lead to fatigue and even uncomfortable contractions. Make sure to keep a water bottle with you throughout the day and take small, frequent sips!
  • Eat smaller meals, but eat often- This is especially important for women who are farther along in pregnancy. As the baby grows, he or she will push on your stomach causing you to feel discomfort if you are eating a large meal. Small snacks throughout the day may help you avoid tummy discomfort and heartburn. We often see women in labor & delivery reporting abdominal pain after eating a Christmas feast! Eating smaller meals can most certainly help avoid this discomfort.

What tips have you received for surviving the holidays while pregnant? Share with us, we would love to hear them!

Happy Holidays-

Meg

Neonatal Care at It’s Finest

November 10, 2011 in Baby/Infant, Women: Ages & Stages with 2 Comments

The NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) at St. David’s Medical Center was recently voted: “Best Preemie Team” by the Austin Chronicle – 2011 Best of Austin edition!

Our team comes with experience, compassion, dedication to neonates and their families; but their top priority is the exceptional care they are able to give.

“Each baby and each family has unique needs.  We strive to understand those needs so that we can provide the best care for our patients and their family.” say’s NICU director Rhonda Sageser.

The NICU provides care to babies that are born prematurely, which is less than 37 weeks gestation, as well as infants that are born needing extra help.  For some babies, it may just be some transitional difficulties with breathing.  But for other babies, it could be something life threatening that requires closely managed expert care or possibly even surgery.

Whether the issue is big or small, our NICU team at St. David’s Medical Center can handle it all.

Check back for upcoming interviews with neonatologist Dr. Jennifer Desireddi & more information about our Baby Matters program!

~*~Meg

Walk for Health, Walk for Hope

November 1, 2011 in Community, Exercise, Weight Loss, Women with 0 Comments

As it turns out, an excellent way to get in shape is an equally excellent way to get involved.  Sometimes it takes the gentle nudging of a cause greater than ourselves to propel us into action.  The  Komen Austin Race for the Cure will be held on Sunday, November 13th, and I plan on participating in this annual event in the fight against breast cancer.  The race is 5K (or 3.1 miles), or you have the option of  a 1 mile family walk.  Not only will your participation provide physicial activity for yourself, but you will be among many who are making a difference in the lives of women everywhere.

Here are a few FAQs about Race for the Cure.

Q:  Is this something in which occasional exercisers can participate?

A:  Of course!  You can choose to participate in the timed race, or the untimed walk which is a pet friendy, family friendly walk of a little over 3 miles, or you can choose the 1 mile family walk.

Q:  What if I begin to feel too tired during the walk?

A:  You should slow down if you are getting too tired, and you can always stop and rest.  Water stations will be available for you along the walk as well.

Q:  Do you have to be a member of a team to participate?

A:  It’s not required that you join a team, but you are certainly welcome to join one.

Q:  Is there a fee to join Race for the Cure?

A:  Yes.  The fee is $30 online, or $40 on the day of the race at the registration tent.

Q:  How is the money that is raised by this event used?

A: 75% of net funds raised locally is used locally.  The Komen Austin provides funding to local non-profit healthcare organizations for breast health services for the  underserved men and women in Travis, Bastrop, Hays, Williamson and Caldwell Counties. The remaining 25 percent funds the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Grants Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research.

So, let’s get out there and make a difference!  Let’s choose to walk for health, walk for hope.  To find out more information, register, or locate a team please visit www.komenaustin.org.

 

 

5 Myths about Breast Cancer – Knowledge is Power

October 6, 2011 in Cancer Care, Lifestyle Tips, Women, Women: Ages & Stages with 0 Comments

To kick off Breast Cancer awareness month here are 5 myths about breast cancer from Brenda Baumann, director of The Breast Center here at St. David’s Medical Center

Myth 1: I don’t need a mammogram until 50 years of age-

A new study by researchers at the University of Missouri found that screenings in women ages 40 to 49 detected smaller cancers with less chance of spreading to the lymph nodes- which makes them easier to treat –and these cancers might not have been detected on a clinical exam.

Mammograms save lives of women in their 40’s. Women should begin screenings at age 40 and annually thereafter.

Myth 2: Mammograms cause cancer-

The radiation dose during a mammogram is low. It is the amount you would receive from flying for LA to Paris – a trip most of us would not give a second thought about taking.

Myth 3: If Breast cancer does not run in your family, you are not at risk-

Most women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history and many who do have a family history will never develop the disease. The danger lies in a false sense of security. Every woman should talk to her doctor about her individual risks, including age, hormonal factors, and breast density.

Myth 4: Monthly self exams are not necessary-

Though you may have heard advice suggesting self exams do not save lives, many experts still encourage them since mammography and clinical exams are not perfect. Using all three methods is your best chance of early detection. Early detection can improve your odds of being cancer free with less dramatic treatments. Download an instructional self exam card here.

Myth 5: Breast cancer always appears as a lump-

Signs of breast cancer can take many different forms. See you doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

  • A change in the size or shape of your breast
  • A dimpled or puckered appearance to the skin that resembles an orange peel
  • An itchy, scaly area
  • Nipple discharge other that breast milk
  • Pain on one spot
  • Swelling or redness of the breast
  • An inverted (pulled inward) nipple if it has not always appeared this way
  • A lump

Join us this month in supporting awareness and raising money to find a cure! If you would like to join the St. David’s Healthcare team, simply log on to komenaustin.org, click “join existing team” and search for St. David’s Healthcare.

Thanks for all the great information Brenda!

-Meg

5 Recommendations for Record Breaking Heat and Pregnant Women

August 22, 2011 in Baby/Infant, Children, Community, Heat Safety, Lifestyle Tips, Outdoors, Women, Women: Ages & Stages with 0 Comments

This week I interviewed one of our new Maternal Fetal Medicine physicians, Dr. Linda Fonseca. Here in central Texas, we all know the heat has been exhausting and it has the opportunity to take an even greater toll on those who are pregnant.

Here are the things we chatted about:

Meg – How does the heat affect women who are pregnant?

Dr. Fonseca – “Pregnant women are more susceptible to dehydration because of the pregnancy and it can lead to serious problems. Heat can exacerbate dehydration from other conditions such as morning sickness or the stomach flu worse. Dehydration during pregnancy can lead to pre-term contractions or pre-term labor which can affect the outcome of the baby.”

Meg – What are the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and also heat stroke?

Dr. Fonseca – Many of the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion can be easily disguised as something else. For heat exhaustion, be on the lookout for such things as: headaches, dizziness, cold or clammy skin, thirst, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, dark urine and fatigue. Dr. Fonseca states that the signs and symptoms for heat stroke are much more severe and life threatening including: mental confusion or lethargy (an abnormal state of drowsiness), core body temperature of 104 degrees, seizures and lack of perspiration.

Meg – What can a patient do to decrease the risk of heat exhaustion?

Dr. Fonseca – “During these days of high temperatures, make sure to stay indoors as much as possible”. Dr. Fonseca encourages women to run errands in the early morning hours when it is still cool outside as opposed to the middle of the day when temperatures are the highest. She also recommends staying hydrated – “carry around a water bottle and take several sips throughout your day even if you are not thirsty”. Dr. Fonseca would like to remind women that they should increase their water intake if they are doing anything outdoors and to stay away from caffeinated drinks like soda or tea that can increase dehydration. “Caffeine is a diuretic which can cause your body to dehydrate much more quickly.” She also recommends wearing light clothing when doing anything outdoors and try to stay in the shade as much as possible.

Meg- What is an adequate water intake to prevent dehydration? Many women feel like 8-10 glasses of water per day are hard to achieve because they feel very full.

Dr. Fonseca – “The goal is still 8-10 glasses per day especially in these high temperatures.” Dr. Fonseca encourages women to take small sips of water throughout the day to prevent those uncomfortable “full” feelings that accompany the growing fetus. The plastic water bottles most people are familiar with are approximately 16oz so a person would need 4-5 bottles of water per day to meet the water requirement.

Meg – Any special foods or drinks you recommend to ward off dehydration or electrolyte imbalance?

Dr. Fonseca – “I generally encourage my patients to eat fresh fruit (instead of dried fruit), especially in the summer that is high in water such as peaches, watermelon, or cantaloupe.” Dr. Fonseca tells her patients to stay away from caffeine and sugary drinks that may rob your body of water. She encourages them to drink water and supplement with electrolyte enhanced liquids such as Gatorade, vitamin water or pedialyte.

Always an advocate for sunscreen, she reminds patients to make sure they are wearing an SPF in the summer wherever their skin will see light, but especially on their face. “During pregnancy there is an increase in melanin which can increase the chance of chloasma during pregnancy. Chloasma is hyper pigmentation caused by an increase of hormones while you are pregnant. Make sure to wear an SPF daily when leaving the house.

-Has anyone out there had a baby during these summer months? What advice do you have for our moms to be?!

Stay cool-
Meg

Baby-Friendly : St. David’s Medical Center

July 12, 2011 in Baby/Infant, Children, Community, Pregnancy, Women, Women: Ages & Stages with 0 Comments


You are officially invited on the baby friendly tour! St. David’s Medical Center downtown is embarking on a journey to become a designated “Baby-Friendly” hospital and we would like you to come along, watch our progress and cheer us on.

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global program which is sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to encourage & recognize hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for infant feeding (babyfriendlyusa.org).

St. David’s Medical Center nurses have been reading, watching, learning and shadowing breastfeeding experts to be able to assist you in your endeavors to successfully breastfeed.

Did you know that recent studies show that women who breastfeed enjoy decreased risks of breast and ovarian cancer, anemia, and osteoporosis? (babyfriendlyusa.org)

We can’t wait to share with you all the great things we have learned.

Check out Commitment to Breastfeeding below!

-Meg

TCAI Nurse Awarded for Nursing Excellence

May 6, 2011 in AFIB, Heart, Heart Rhythm with 0 Comments

May 6, 2011– Today was a particularly proud day at TCAI! Cindy Williams, one of our Atrial Fibrillation Nurses, was chosen as recipient of the 2011 St. David’s Medical Center Nursing Excellence Award. Each year, St. David’s Medical Center honors two nurses with this award during National Nurse’s Week. Nurses are nominated for exceptional nursing care by their peers and the doctors and nurse practitioners they work with. This year, the nominees were so exemplary that three Nursing Excellence Awards were given!

Cindy has been an AFib nurse at TCAI since 2009. Since then, she has been a shining example of the kind of caring and compassion that St. David’s nurses are known for. A perfect illustration of Cindy’s dedication to her patients occurred in February of this year, when Austin experienced a once-in –a-blue-moon snow storm. Cindy drove in on treacherous roads and realized that her car would not make it up the last hill on the way to the hospital, so she got out of her car and walked the rest of the way to work. Since most of the other employees could not get here, Cindy happily picked up the slack and visited everyone’s patients for them. 

Although Cindy is an expert in the field of heart rhythm interpretation and a seasoned nurse, she knows that a nurse’s education is never finished. When the breakthrough new anticoagulation drug, Pradaxa, came on the market in March, Cindy took time outside of work to attend lectures about the drug to be sure that she could properly educate her patients and peers about it. 

A mentor to her peers and an exemplary patient educator, Cindy truly does embody the spirit of the Nurse Excellence Award. “ I love working at St. David’s,” Cindy said during her acceptance speech. “I love the job I get to do.”– Jamie LaRue, RN

What’s So Special About St. David’s?

March 18, 2011 in AFIB, Community, Heart, Heart Rhythm, Lifestyle Tips with 0 Comments

Almost all TCAI procedures – from cardiac ablations to transesophageal echocardiograms – are performed at St. David’s Medical Center [SDMC]. At nearly 90 years young, not only is SDMC the flagship hospital of St. David’s HealthCare – one of Texas’ largest healthcare systems – but it’s also consistently ranked within the top 100 hospitals nationwide by Thomson Reuters.

Which is grand. But here are some of the little things that seem to make a big difference for St. David’s patients and their families.

Arrive in SDMC style

You know all about bedside manner, but how about a little curbside service? SDMC offers valet parking, available M-F, 7a.m.-6p.m. and conveniently located out in front of the hospital lobby. Of course, SDMC also provides plenty of covered self-parking in our Central Garage, which is complimentary for individuals age 55 and over.

Dine in SDMC style

The traditionally dreaded term “hospital food” is being deliciously redefined at SDMC. Patients can order from a room-service menu – featuring a wide variety of entrees, seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables, salads and desserts – anytime between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., and their hot, made-to-order meal is delivered within 45 minutes. Guests can also order an in-room meal for an extra fee.

Location, location, location

If you’ll be spending some time in Austin before/after your procedure, then SDMC is where you want to be. SDMC is located in the heart of the city, just minutes from downtown, the Capitol and UT Austin. Beautiful parks, extraordinary eateries and of course, lots of live music are all within easy reach of St. David’s.

Click here for more reasons SDMC is so great!
~ Jamie LaRue, RN