HouseCaLLHouseCaLLb r i n g i n g b e a u m o n t e x p e r t i s e i n t o y o u r h o m e • F a L L 2 0 0 9

[PLUS+]Tips on handling

the holidays

MRIs and movies

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evOlUtiON Of sUrGery:

taNGleD MiNDsLearn the signs of autism and

know when to get help

Preparing a healthy meal for the family doesn’t have to break your budget

From the barber shop to the OR,surgery has come a long way

In These Pages V o l u m e 3 • I s s u e 2

Departments:

3 Trends:Top10tipsfor handlingtheholidays

10 HealthShortsand SecondOpinion

11 Innovations: CinemaVisionmakes MRIsfun

e-mail your thoughts about this newsletter to House.Call@beaumonthospitals.com

bRIngIngbeauMOnTexpeRTISe InTOyOuRHOMe FaLL2009

HouseCaLL

Features:

4 Evolution of surgery: FromthebarbershoptotheOR,surgery hascomealongway

6Healthy on a Budget Preparingahealthymealforthefamilydoesn’thave tobreakyourbudget.Withrecipesandtipsfrom ChefGordonBowman,youcancountondishes yourfamily(andyourwallet)willlove

8Tangled Minds Learnthesignsofautismandknowwhen togethelp

H O u S e C a L L [ P A G E 2 ] F a L L 2 0 0 9

10Beaumont Hospital, Troy achieves Magnet designationBeaumont Hospital in Troy has joined the Royal Oak hospital in achieving Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This is the highest honor for nursing excellence.

The Magnet Recognition Program recognizes hospitals that demonstrate excellence in nursing, including efforts to improve patient care, nursing leadership and respect for the cultural and ethnic diversity of patients, their families and other health care providers.

Magnet hospitals have better patient outcomes and more nurse involvement in patient care decisions, as well as a strong

commitment to teamwork and the nursing profession. “Magnet status recognizes our nurses for their

commitment to nursing excellence and high quality patient outcomes,” says Nancy Susick, R.N., chief

nurse executive at Troy. “We’re honored to receive this recognition and proud of the teamwork our employees,

physicians and volunteers demonstrate every day.”Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak was the first hospital in Michigan

to achieve Magnet status in 2004.

Radiation oncologists at Beaumont Hospitals are ranked among the top 20 in the nation for their research and its impact, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Radiology. When considering academic productivity and its impact among physicians, Beaumont ranks No. 1.

“One of the reasons I came to Beaumont from the Mayo Clinic was the promise of support for my research,” says Alvaro Martinez, M.D., chairman of Radiation Oncology at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. “But research doesn’t exist in a vacuum. At Beaumont, it translates into better, more advanced care for patients.”

The article’s authors used the Hirsch index, a measure of achievement that is based on a scientist’s research publications and their impact on other scientists.

Vaccinations – a Shot in the Arm for AdultsVaccinations aren’t just for kids. In addition to a yearly flu shot, there are other vaccinations for adults to consider, says Peter Tucker, M.D., a Beaumont Family Medicine Specialist in St. Clair Shores. “When you’re going for your annual physical, I recommend you discuss with your doctor what vaccinations you may need,” he says.

VACCINATION WHO NeeDS IT WHeN

Flu all adults yearly

PNeuMONIA seniors and those age 65 (for seniors); with diabetes, heart once by age 50

disease, asthma, COPD, for anyone with any liver disease or kidney of these diseases disease

SHINgleS everyone age 60 ask at your next and older doctor visit

TeTANuS all adults once every 10 years

CHICkeN POx those born before 1980 ask at your next (who probably weren’t doctor visit vaccinated as children) and those who haven’t had chicken pox

MeASleS, those who haven’t had ask at your nextMuMPS, any of these diseases doctor visitRuBellA

MeNINgITIS anyone whose spleen ask at your next has been removed and doctor visit students entering college

Upcoming Events:

Troy Women’s Health Conference – Friday, Nov. 13.This one-dayconference at the Best Western Sterling Inn promotes physical, emotionaland spiritual wellness among women. Call the Department of Education atBeaumontHospital,Troyformoreinformationandtoregister:248-964-8140.

Student Heart Screening – Saturday, Nov. 14 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).This free screening is a community benefit for high school students. Theprogramfeaturesanin-depthheartscreeningwithamedicalhistoryreview,bloodpressureassessmentandEKGtolookforthepotentialriskofsuddencardiacdeath.Toregister,callBeaumont’sPhysicianReferralServicetoll-free,1-800-633-7377.

Health and Wellness Fair –Sunday,Nov.8(noonto4p.m.).Whetheryouorafamilymemberhaveahealth-relatedquestion,makeplanstotalkwithhealthprofessionalsat theHealthandWellnessFairat theBeaumontMedical Center in Sterling Heights. Visit www.beaumonthospitals.com fordirectionsandmoreinformation.

Holiday Music for Hospice – December. Stop by the South TowerConcourse at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak during the holiday season tohearavarietyofmusicalperformances.

Jersey Boys – Thursday, Dec. 17. Help the Beaumont Cancer Institutecontinue to pioneer new treatments and healing services by participatinginBeaumont’sBroadwayPremiereNightatthepremiereofJerseyBoys.Formore information, visit www.beaumonthospitals.com/foundationevents orcall248-964-8173.

National Women’s Health Week –May9–15,2010.Staytunedforevents,screeningsandeducationalforumstohonorwomen’shealth.

Beaumont cancer specialists rank high in nation for research

e-mail your thoughts about this newsletter to House.Call@beaumonthospitals.com

H O u S e C a L L [ P A G E 3 ] w w w . b e a u M O n T H O S p I T a L S . C O M

[ trends ]

KeepHeaLTHyFOOdSOnHandTotingpre-portionedsnackswithyoucanbethedifferencebetweenhavingacalorie-controlled,healthysnackorahigh-fatmeal.“whetherit’sapowerbarorabanana,keepsomethinghealthyinyourpurse,”saysSilviaVeri,aregistereddietitianatthebeaumontweightControlCenter.

uSeTHe”5ds”TOKeepCRaVIngSInCHeCKgrandma’scheesypotatoesandyourneighbor’sbuttercookiesmaybecallingyournamebutyoucanwardoffthetemptationtoindulgebyusingthefive“ds,”saysJacquelineOdom,ph.d.,directorofpsychologyattheweightControlCenter.youcan:

• delaytheurgetoeatby10minutes

• distractyourselfwithaphysicalormentalactivity

• distanceyourselffromthefoodsourcebywalkingaway

• determinehowimportantitistoconsumeit

• decidehowmuchisareasonableamounttoeat

bReaKupyOuRexeRCISeROuTInedon’thaveahalfhourtoworkout?Find10minutes,threetimesadaytotakeawalkordoexercisesatyourdesk.

bRIngHeaLTHyFOOdSLoadatraywithfreshveggiesandfruitandbringitforthenextparty.Sendafruitbasketinsteadofabasketofbakedgoods.

aVOIdaLCOHOLalcoholhasuselesscaloriesthatarestoredasfatandlowersyourinhibitions,puttingyoumoreatriskforconsumingfoodsyouwouldnormallyresist.

geTRIdOFpaRTyFOOdLeFTOVeRSdon’tbringthemtotheofficetotemptyouallday.Insteadsendleftovershomewithguests.

MaKeSLeepapRIORITyalackofsleepincreasesstressandleadstopoordecisionmaking.“whenyouaretired,youdon’thavethesamepresenceofmindtomakebetterchoicesforyourself,”saysSilvia.

dOn’TbeapeRFeCTIOnISTHere’sMarthaStewart’ssecret:Shehasastaff.Cutbackonyourlistof“required”holidaychorestoallowyourselftohavefun.

FIndyOuRbeSTSTReSSReLIeF…andSTICKTOITFindanactivitythathelpsyoutofindinnerpeace.“beplayful,ifyoucan,”saysgailevo,directorofIntegrativeMedicineatbeaumont.“It’samatterofexperimenting.”

FORgIVeyOuRSeLFIfyougiveupyourworkoutforaweekoroverindulgeonaholidaydinner,getbacktoyourhealthyroutineassoonasyoucan.“Letgooftheguiltandgetbackontrack,”saysJackie.“nobodyisperfect.”

Thehustleandbustleoftheholidayscanmakestickingtoahealthydietandexerciseroutinedifficult.beaumontexpertsprovideadviceonsurvivingthestresswhilemaintaininggoodhabits.

Tips for handling the holidays

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h o u s e c a l l [ P A G E 4 ] F a l l 2 0 0 9

t sounds impossi-ble, but at one time surgery wasn’t per-formed by doctors – barbers did it. And even when barbers moved aside for surgeons, at first there was no anes-thesia available and

no one knew that infections could be avoided by simply washing hands.

Taking a peek inside a mod-ern operating room shows how far we’ve advanced. Operations take place in a “sterile field” and the surgical team wears masks, gowns and gloves in an effort to prevent infection. The patient’s vital signs are moni-tored constantly. If the surgeon needs to see an X-ray, CT scan or other image, a computer displays it on a nearby screen.

Instead of making large inci-sions that take a long time to heal and open the door to infection, surgeons do mini-

mally invasive surgery with several small cuts whenever possible, even to remove kid-neys for transplant. They wear magnifying loupes to do deli-cate microsurgery like rerout-ing nerves to give children with spina bifida bladder and bowel control.

At times the surgeon doesn’t make an incision at all. Instead, he makes a small puncture in a vein in the groin area and inserts a tube called a catheter that serves as a con-duit for his surgical instru-ments in an innovative, exper-imental procedure for heart valve replacement available at Beaumont. Or he puts aside his scalpel and uses heat to kill liver tumors or to burn off a thin layer of pre-cancerous esophageal tissue.

Surgeons even sit at a con-trol console and enlist the aid of a robot for greater fine motor control and enhanced access for a growing number

of surgeries.“At Beaumont, we embrace

continuous innovation in the delivery of surgical care,” says Charles Shanley, M.D., senior vice president and associate chief medical officer and chair of the Department of Surgery at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. “Our singular focus is patient safety and quality of care. To deliver on this prom-ise, we demand complete transparency for our patient outcomes.”

For this reason, all three Beaumont hospitals partici-pate in the American College of Surgeons’ National Surgical Quality Improvement Project that tracks clinical quality and patient safety measures for surgical patients. Beaumont is also leading a number of inno-vative programs to improve patient safety, including:

• Time outs: A partnership with the Michigan Health

& Hospital Association’s Keystone Center for Patient Safety & Quality to improve communication and teamwork by taking time before and after operations to ask questions and discuss the case.

• Learning: The Marcia & Eugene Applebaum Surgical Learning Center, where surgeons and surgical teams can practice their skills using computerized, programmable mannequin, was one of the first in the nation to be accredited by the American College of Surgeons.

• Research: Dr. Shanley received funding from the U.S. Department of Defense to use advanced technologies to actually measure a surgeon’s skills and teach surgical judgment.

From the barber shop to the OR, surgery has come a long way

Evolution OF SuRgERy

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h o u s e c a l l [ P A G E 5 ] w w w . b e a u m o n t h o s p i t a l s . c o m

Beaumont study sets standard for improving teamwork and communication in surgerytaking a few minutes so members of the operating room team can ask questions and address concerns before and after surgeries led to improved communication and teamwork, according to a study at beaumont hospital, royal oak.

details of the study are published in the august issue of The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety. what the study showed is that 90 percent of 40 caregivers who responded to a survey believe the pre-surgery briefings

improved communication and teamwork. overall, 69 percent of 39 caregivers who responded to a survey on the debriefings said they improved communication and 72 percent agreed they improved teamwork. seventy percent of both groups said the briefings and debriefings are feasible, given their current workload.

the preoperative communication briefings, launched at beaumont, royal oak in 2006, were designed to ensure all surgical team members could comment on any aspect of a case and that all questions or concerns were addressed. this included the operative plan, patient risks, potential hazards, safety concerns and knowledge of required equipment.

the postoperative debriefing reviewed concerns identified during the surgery regarding patient safety, quality and outcome. the surgical teams used a one-page briefing and debriefing worksheet as a tool.

From october 2006 to march 2008, staff conducted 37,133 briefings and debriefings.

the study was a collaboration between beaumont; the michigan health & hospital association’s Keystone center for patient safety & Quality; the Johns hopkins university Quality and safety research group; and blue cross blue shield of michigan.

“Sometimes the most common-sense solutions lead to major changes in the operating room team that enhance patient safety and the quality of our work.”

— Robert Welsh, M.D., vice chief of Surgical Services for quality, safety and outcomes,

and chief of thoracic (chest) surgery for Beaumont Hospitals

“Our singular focus is patient safety and quality of care.”

— Charles Shanley, M.D.,

senior vice president and

associate chief medical

officer and chair of the

Department of Surgery

at Beaumont Hospital,

Royal Oak.

iF you’re considering surgery, use this checKlist as a guide to get you started in picKing the right place:

• are the surgeons board certified?

• is the hospital/surgical center accredited? is it a center of excellence?

• take an on-site tour. is the facility clean? do the employees act professionally?

• For a center that is not at a hospital, ask what the procedure would be if there were a medical emergency during your surgery.

• ask your doctor, family and friends for their recommendations.

• are there options for minimally invasive surgery?

[ food ]

h o u s e c a l l [ P A G E 6 ] F a l l 2 0 0 9

crust1/3 cup unsalted margarine

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 to 3 T water

Filling6 medium-sized apples, peeled, cored

and sliced (Granny Smith, Ida Red or

Rome Beauty recommended)

½ cup granulated sugar1/8 tsp. salt

Preparation• Prepare crust by cutting margarine into flour,

until the mixture is crumbly. add water until the mixture holds together. shape into a ball, wrap in waxed paper and put in the refrigerator for at least two hours.

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.• Place chilled dough on a lightly floured surface

and roll into a 12-inch circle. Place in a 10-inch pie pan; flute edges, trim excess dough and put aside for later.

• In a medium-sized bowl, toss apple slices with granulated sugar and salt. Place in a heaping pile in pie pan.

• combine brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and walnuts and mix thoroughly. Pour over apple slices and distribute the mixture evenly throughout the pie pan.

• Dot the top of the pie with leftover pastry for effect.• Place pie in oven for 45 minutes to one hour.

Note: Chilling the dough ensures the crust will be tender.

Nutritional InformationYields 10 slices286 calories5 g total fat34 mg sodium56 g carbohydrate2 g proteinGordon Bowman, executive chef

at Beaumont hospital, Royal

oak, has made it his mission to

surprise and delight people who

expect boring hospital food. he’s

been at Beaumont for 20 years,

overseeing more than 10,000

delicious entrees each day.

Apple Slices in Pastry

topping1 cup brown sugar

½ cup flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. nutmeg

¼ cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

Preparing a healthy meal for the family doesn’t have to break your budget. With recipes and tips from

Executive Chef Gordon Bowman, you can count on dishes your family (and your wallet) will love.

Healthy On A Budget

tIPs FRom cheF GoRDoN• look for best buys in produce.

If something’s on sale for below-market prices, take advantage of it that week, and look for items that are less expensive. carrots, onions and celery are generally inexpensive as are squash and cabbage, which are very nutritious.

• Ground beef is always cheaper in larger quantities. If you can’t get the lower-fat varieties, try mixing it with ground turkey to reduce the fat content.

• Be attentive to the cut —

• BeeF: When you’re buying beef, the cuts that are usually less expensive are from the chuck section (chuck roast or chuck steaks) or the round (bottom round for roasts or round steak). cuts from these meats can go a long way with noodles or potatoes.

• PoRk: shoulder cuts and pork loins are excellent choices, as they can be used for multiple dishes.

• chIckeN: Buy a whole chicken and cut it up yourself. a “smaller” bird (3 to 3.5 pounds) is more flavorful and doesn’t take as long to cook.

• stretch your dollar — to compliment your dishes, look for a variety of starches (potatoes, rice and pasta). also, think of items from the legume family such as lentils and beans. they hold their own as a mainstay and they also serve as filler in dishes or when served on the side. typically, potatoes work well with red meat; rice pairs well with poultry; and pasta can be used for meat, poultry or even vegetarian dishes.

Chicken Fricassee with GingerIngredients:1 T canola oil

4 four-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. fresh ground pepper

1½ cup baby onions, peeled (fresh or frozen, or used sliced onions)

1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

½ cup white wine

2 tsp. fresh ginger, minced

¾ cup evaporated skim milk

3 T flour

Preparation:• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.• heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. season chicken breast with salt

and pepper; place in skillet with smooth side down. continue cooking until both sides are browned, approximately three minutes each side.

• Remove chicken breasts and place in an oven-safe dish.• add onions to the large skillet and sauté until onions begin to brown, approximately four

minutes. • Place onions over chicken in dish. add the chicken broth, white wine and 1½ teaspoons of the

ginger. cover dish and place in oven for 50 minutes.• after 50 minutes, remove chicken and strain off the onions; keep both the chicken and the

onions warm.• Whisk together evaporated milk and flour until smooth. add to the remaining liquid in the

oven-safe dish. cook the combination on the stove for two to three minutes, until thickened slightly. stir in remaining ginger, chicken and onions. continue to cook on stove to heat it through, approximately a minute.

h o u s e c a l l [ P A G E 7 ] W W W . B e a u m o N t h o s P I t a l s . c o m

2 medium apples, cored and

coarsely shredded (matchstick size)

1 cup green cabbage, shredded

1 cup red cabbage, shredded

2 T cider vinegar1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 T red onion, sliced

4 T raisins

1 T honey1/8 tsp. salt1/8 tsp. white pepper

Apple Spiced Slaw

Preparation:• combine all ingredients together and gently toss. • allow combination to sit for 15 minutes to let the flavors absorb.• Re-toss before serving.

Nutritional InformationYields four servings196 calories8 g total fat21 mg cholesterol503 mg sodium11 g carbohydrate33 g protein

Nutritional InformationYields six servings50 calories0 fat70 mg sodium11 g carbohydrate

Healthy On A Budget

gLearn the signs of autism and know when to get help

h o u s e c a l l [ P A G E 8 ] F a l l 2 0 0 9

Natalie Rhymer and her son Jonas have constructive playtime naming colors.

atching a child grow and develop is usually

a source of delight for parents. But sometimes his

behavior just isn’t typical. For Jill and Drew Crossman,

the experience changed from joyful to concerning when their

son Tom was four years old. “In the beginning I thought he was typical. But as he got older, he wasn’t making noises,” Jill says.

And for Natalie and Mat Rhymer, they noticed their son Jonas avoided eye contact and didn’t make discoveries or share them.

Both sets of parents knew something was wrong, but they didn’t know what.

Lori Warner, Ph.D., director of Beaumont’s HOPE Center in Berkley, which specializes in treating children diagnosed with autism, says it’s important to recognize early warning signs that may tell parents that it’s time to seek a professional opinion:

• Delayed language milestones: Babies should be babbling by 10 to 11 months and using words or “word approximations” (like “ook” for “book” or “uice” for “juice”) by 15 months.

• Lack of interaction with other children or parents by one year (e.g., making eye contact, mimicking gestures like clapping or waving bye-bye). “Kids are naturally so interested in each other,” Warner says.

• Absence of orienting to something you’re pointing to or using pointing to get your attention by 18 months. Absence of pretend play such as talking on the phone, stirring a pot or hugging a doll.

“Early intervention is crucial. All the research points to the necessity of diagnosing as early as possible and beginning intense evidence-based intervention,” says Dr. Warner.

But how do you know what’s right for you and your child? The Crossmans and the Rhymers took similar paths, but are achieving the therapy they need for their children in different ways.

Jill Crossman took Tom to Beaumont’s Center for Human Development for testing and diagnosis. “As a parent, I was prepared and almost happy to have a label for what was going on with Tom,” she says.

The Crossmans then decided to go

through the GIFT of Hope program in 2005 at the Center for Human Development’s HOPE Center. “It was the roughest 12 weeks of my life, but I’d never take it back. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. The look of confusion in Tom’s eyes was gone,” she says. “He was a little lost soul, found.”

The Rhymers took a different approach to therapy for Jonas, 3, who was diagnosed with autism around 18 months. Natalie and Mat, along with Jonas’ grandparents and tutor, go to weekly sessions with an applied behavior analysis therapist at the Center for Human Development. There, they learn the training from the GIFT of Hope program, spread out over a longer time.

“Our goal is to help Jonas learn the things he needs to know to live in this society and to quell the inappropriate behaviors associated with autism,” says Natalie. “Early intervention is so important, we really jumped in to get the ball rolling.”

The next step for Jonas is preschool. “We found a preschool program in our district specifically for children with autism,” says Mat. “We are going to do whatever it takes to help Jonas succeed in life.”

Tan led Minds

h o u s e c a l l [ P A G E 9 ] w w w . b e a u m o n t h o s p i t a l s . c o m

hope center brings help For Families

the hope center at beaumont’s center for human Development offers programs that teach parents of children with autism spectrum disorders therapies that can be applied at home. the programs are tailored to the needs of the child and the parents. the therapies are based in applied behavior analysis, which focuses on changing behaviors through repetition and reward.

the giFt of hope — a daily, 12-week program that teaches parents behavioral intervention with their preschool-age children. each session is limited to six children and their families.

care — children with autism reaching excellence offers preschoolers individual sessions for four months, focusing on transitioning into school.

tlc — at the toilet learning clinic, behavioral psychologists work one-on-one with families during the seven-hour program. books, videos and dolls are used to help children understand toilet training. to help parents enforce what they learn at tlc, the psychologist is available by phone for 48 hours following the clinic.

the abcs of aba — a free, two-day seminar introduces parents to applied behavior analysis, or aba, and its application to treating autism.

hugs — Families affected by autism are invited to take part in hope united group support. these informal gatherings provide family support, activities and expert speakers. The Crossmans enjoy an evening playing together on their swingset

in the backyard.

if you would like more information on autism evaluations or therapy programs, call beaumont’s center for human Development at 248-691-4744 or visit www.beaumontchildrenshospital.com/center-for-human-development. For more information on the hope center, call 248-691-4772 or visit www.beaumontchildrenshospital.com/hope.

Mat Rhymer participates in Jonas’ therapy at the HOPE Center.

Whether it’s fluttering, thumping or racing, an estimated 5.9 million Americans experience the irregular heartbeat of atrial fibrillation. With the upper chambers of the heart beating up to 400 beats a minute, this serious condition requires medical attention.

“Most irregular heart beats are not concerning, but if they persist, they may represent atrial fibrillation,” says David Haines, M.D., director of Cardiovascular Disease at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak and a national heart rhythm expert. “We urge everyone who has an irregular heartbeat to talk to a doctor about it.”

People with A-fib are susceptible to stroke because blood can pool in the heart’s upper chambers and form a clot that can travel to the brain, cutting off its blood supply.

A heart specialist can diagnose A-fib using tests such as: • electrocardiogram• echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to create a

picture of the heart• ambulatory monitor, which records the heart’s rhythm

around the clock • CT scan

A-fib can be treated with medicine, electric shock, implanted devices and ablation (a procedure in which a doctor uses a laser to destroy damaged tissue that’s caus-ing the heart to malfunction). People with A-fib may also take a blood thinner to guard against a clot forming.

At Beaumont’s Atrial Fibrillation Center, evaluation and treatment is designed by a specially trained registered nurse clinician who works closely with a physician who specializes in treating heart arrhythmias.

“Our staff uses the most advanced technologies and therapies, and works as a team to coordinate each patient’s treatment,” says Dr. Haines. For more information on Beaumont’s Atrial Fibrillation Center or to make an appointment, call 248-898-6575.

HealthShorts

Q. For years, my husband treated his heartburn with over-the-counter medication and never went to a doctor about it. I’ve heard heartburn can be serious. Is that true? What can we do about it?

A. Gastroesophageal reflux disease, more commonly known as acid reflux or heartburn, is very common and occurs when gastric acid backs up from the stomach into the esophagus, a muscular tube that normally delivers food from the mouth to the stomach. Symptoms include:• burning pain in the chest or

throat• taste of acid on the palate• difficulty swallowing or the

feeling of food sticking in the throat

• sore throat• chronic cough or throat

clearing• vocal hoarseness

Many people diagnose themselves and treat their symptoms with over-the-counter medication. But they, like your husband, should see a gastroenterologist. Only a doctor can tell if the chest pains are heartburn or a symptom of something else, such as a heart condition. Reflux occasionally can be deadly. Two to 3 percent of all reflux patients develop life-threatening complications, including esophageal cancer, bleeding or a stricture (narrowing caused by scar tissue). A gastroenterologist can properly assess the symptoms, perform tests to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe the proper therapy.

Even when untreated, reflux has led to the formation of a pre-cancerous condition known as Barrett’s esophagus. A gastroenterologist can make sure you receive the latest treatment, a new therapy available at Beaumont known as BARRX Medical Halo ablation. Using this leading-edge technology, Beaumont doctors selectively remove only the very thin layer of the esophagus lining. BARRX is performed on an outpatient basis and has an 80 to 90 percent success rate as shown in a landmark recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine, as compared to a success rate of 50 percent or less with older technologies. It also has a very low complication rate. A half dozen Beaumont doctors offer this high technology procedure.

Mitchell Cappell,

M.D., Ph.D.,

is the chief of

Gastroenterology

at Beaumont

Hospital,

Royal Oak.

Your doctor said you have a high-risk pregnancy. You want a comfortable delivery, but you also want to know what medical services will be available to ensure a safe delivery.

According to Stanley Berry, M.D., corporate chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology for Beaumont Hospitals, high-risk moms should look for certain attributes when choosing a hospital:

• ReputAtion: Make sure the hospital and the physicians have an excellent reputation. Ask your doctor, family and friends and search online.

• MedicAl seRvices: “It’s important to have a neonatal intensive care unit on site,” says Dr. Berry. At Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak and Troy, neonatal support is available as soon as the baby is born, with an on-site NICU.

• expeRts: “For high-risk moms, having access to high-risk obstetricians or maternal-fetal medicine specialists is an imperative,” says Dr. Berry. To find maternal-fetal medicine specialists in your area, visit the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine online at www.smfm.org.

“Having a high-risk pregnancy means you need to take a few extra steps to make sure you and your baby stay healthy and safe,” says Dr. Berry. “I find that the more research soon-to-be parents do on the hospital they choose, the more comfortable they are when it’s time to deliver their baby.”

High-risk pregnancy:

For a Beaumont physician who specializes

in maternal-fetal medicine, visit

www.beaumonthospitals.com or call

Beaumont’s Physician Referral Service toll-free,

1-800-633-7377.

A-fib: A serious condition

How to find the right hospital for you

H O U S E c A l l [ P A G E 10 ] F A l l 2 0 0 9

For a Beaumont heart specialist,

call Beaumont’s Physician Referral

Service toll-free at 1-800-633-7377.

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[ innovations ]

magine strapping on a pair of goggles to watch a movie or relaxing video while undergoing an MRI. Sounds too futuristic to be possible? It’s not.

Beaumont Hospital in Grosse Pointe and Royal Oak are using goggles, which allow patients to watch a favorite flick during an MRI.

The goggles are said to reduce the incidence of claustrophobia (a fear of enclosed spaces) in patients who have the condition. Having an MRI can spark fearful feelings as the test takes place in a relatively narrow, tube-like machine. As a result, individuals who become agitated must be anesthetized; others refuse to undergo the testing altogether rather than deal with the fear. The goggles are also proven to help children undergoing the procedure to remain still, a requirement for clear images.

“CinemaVision has helped our claustrophobic patients get through their MRI procedure with little to no pre-medication, and has generally made every patient feel more relaxed in the MR environment,” says Rob Kilpatrick, director of Radiology at Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe.

MRIs and Movies CinemaVision makes MRIs fun

I“CinemaVision has helped

our claustrophobic patients get through their MRI procedure with

little to no pre-medication.”

— Rob Kilpatrick, director of Radiology

at Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe

800.633.7377

A National Reputation. A Local Celebration.

Less than one-half of one percent were good enough to make the list.

Of the nearly 5000 hospitals in America, only 174 were ranked among the best by U.S.News & World Report this year.

These ratings are based on a rigorous review of how well a hospital handles complex and demanding health problems like replacing an 85-year-old man’s heart valve or diagnosing and treating a spinal tumor. It’s high stakes health care.

Ranked on factors like reputation, survival rates, patient safety and nursing care, the top 50 hospitals in 16 medical specialties are selected.

This year, all three Beaumont Hospitals were ranked among the nation’s best. Overall, Beaumont’s Royal Oak hospital was one of only 32 hospitals ranked in eight or more different specialties.

Choosing a hospital could be the most important decision you’ll ever make.

Do you have a Beaumont doctor?

Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak:Diabetes/Endocrinology – 18th

Digestive Disorders – 39thGeriatrics – 36th

Heart/Heart Surgery – 21stNeurology/Neurosurgery – 40th

Orthopedics – 43rd Respiratory Disorders – 30th

Urology – 34th

Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe:Neurology/Neurosurgery – 34th

Orthopedics – 47th

Beaumont Hospital, Troy:Neurology/Neurosurgery – 49th

All three Beaumont Hospitals make U.S.News & World Report “Best Hospitals” list.

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