The annual Light the Town Pink event kicks off Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Make the Pinky Promise St. John’s and area hospitals collaborate to improve breast health screening rates. Pledge today to get your recommended screening.

Mammography screening rates for women in Wyoming and Idaho are among the lowest in the country. (Wyoming is in last place, although Teton County rates are higher than the state average.) Leaders from several regional hospitals recognized an opportunity to work together to address a top women’s breast health issue. “Together we decided we couldmove the needle on this important community health indicator,” says Karen Connelly, St. John’s community relations officer.

The new education and outreach program invites women to take the Pinky Promise, a

pledge that they will talk to their physicians about breast cancer screenings and make an appointment for recommended mammograms.

Women can make the Pinky Promise at tetonpinkypromise.com. “The women I know are eager to join their friends in helping to elevate Wyoming to a higher ranking in women's health,” says Connelly.

St. John’s Medical Center has joined five other regional hospitals in this

commitment to help guide area women to information about

breast health and mammography.

Part of the outreach will involve dispelling common

myths. The five most

common excuses to bypass this important screening include:1. Breast cancer doesn’t run in my

family.2. Mammograms are painful.3. I’m too busy.4. I’m afraid that the mammogram

will find something.5. I’m too young.

Many women may believe they can’t afford a mammogram. That myth can also be dispelled in Teton County, WY, thanks to resources like the Women’s Health Care Fund of the St. John’s Hospital Foundation.

For more facts about breast health, talk with your primary care provider and visit tetonpinkypromise.org.

HealtHMatterswith St. JoHn’S Medical center and St. JoHn’S HoSPital Foundation

fall 2015 | tetonHoSPital.org

To schedule a mammogram,call

307.739.7531.

InsIde3 Your Care

Relief for Allergies

4 Your Hospital

Hospice Care Improves Lives

6 Your Legacy

Foundation Wellness Initiatives

2 | HealtH MatteRS | FALL 2015

PHySicianS: Mds and dosFor many, a physician—either a doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO)—fills the role of primary care provider. A primary care physician may specialize in internal medicine, family practice, or pediatrics. Both MDs and DOs are fully qualified physicians licensed to prescribe medication and perform surgery. A nurse practitioner or physician assistant can also be your primary care provider.

nurSe PractitionerS (nPs)Nurse practitioners are licensed in all states and provide high-quality care in a variety of settings, ranging from clinics to emergency rooms to private practices. For decades, NPs have helped with the shortage of primary care providers, especially in rural locations. All NPs must complete a master’s or doctoral degree program and have advanced clinical training beyond their initial professional registered nurse preparation.

PHySician aSSiStantS (Pas)Physician assistants are nationally certified and state licensed to practice medicine. PAs perform a range of medical roles, from primary care to assisting in major surgery. PAs are educated at the graduate level.

Many SiMilaritieSMDs, DOs, NPs, and PAs can:• Order,perform,andinterpret

diagnostic tests, such as lab work and X-rays

• Diagnoseandtreatchronicoracute conditions (for example, diabetes, an injury, or high blood pressure)

• Prescribemedications• Developtreatmentplans• Counselpatientsonhealthy

lifestyles and disease prevention

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BaCk PaIn? We CAn HeLP

Often, back pain goes away with time. But if yours lingers—or comes along with symptoms like numbness or tingling—it’s time to seek medical help. To whom can you turn when your aching back interferes with your daily life? Meet the potential members of your back care team:

1 Your primary care provider can offer treatment options or refer you to a specialist.

2Physical therapists can help you manage pain, and they provide

guidance and hands-on work to strengthen your muscles.

3Physiatrists, or rehabilitation physicians, specialize in non-surgical

treatment of injuries that interfere with movement.

4Orthopedic surgeons can advise if surgery is likely to help your

condition. Referral not required.

5Pain specialists can help you cope with pain and may prescribe medication

or perform procedures that relieve pain.

6neurologists can determine if your back pain is stemming from

nerves or nerve roots and recommend treatment.

To learn more, visit tetonhospital.org/spine.

fInd a PrOvIder at findadoctorJH.org.

What's the DifferenceBetween MDs, DOs and NPs, PAs?

Q How can a St. John’s navigator help after a new cancer diagnosis?

AAt St. John’s, we understand that when a person hears the words, “You’ve got cancer,” he or she

embarks on a journey. Having a navigator along the way can help make the journey smoother.

A patient navigator does just what the name suggests—guides the patients and their families through the complexities of cancer treatment and the health care system.

The patient navigator can explain next steps, coordinate care, help patients work with their insurance providers, and arrange for financial assistance. The

services of a patient navigator are available as soon as diagnosis and can extend through a patient’s recovery. These services are free, confidential, and customized to each patient.

Understanding what services are available and how to access them is crucial during cancer treatment. People concerned that they have cancer (or that a loved one has cancer) often feel alone, but when they work with a patient navigator, they find they have another player on their team.

In addition to other nursing roles at St. John’s, Katie previously worked as a pediatric oncology nurse at the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver.

tetonhospital.org | 3

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You may associate allergies with the spring and summer, but allergy season can last through the fall, and indoor allergies last year round. Fall is also a good time to prepare for allergy season next spring.

The mainstays of allergy treatment are oral antihistamines, nose sprays, and eyedrops. If those don’t provide relief, there are other treatments available. Your doctor may suggest allergy testing. For allergy shots, an allergy specialist formulates a serum using small quantities of the substances that trigger an allergic response. By administering increasing doses of the allergen, sensitivity is decreased over time.

St. John’s Ear, Nose, Throat & Allergy suggests that allergy sufferers come in for testing after the first frost and then begin their allergy shots when they have minimal symptoms. That way, when spring allergy season arrives, patients will be more comfortable.

fOr aLLerGY TesTInG and TreaTMenT,

call St. John’s ear, nose, Throat & Allergy

at 307.739.7665.

Seek ReLIeF fOr aLLerGIesHeaLTH sCreenInGs

november is Alzheimer’s Brain and Awareness Month. It’s also American Diabetes Month. St. John’s is pleased to offer our community these confidential screenings:

Memory screening dayTuesday, november 3Call 307.739.7434 for your appointment9 am to 5 pmComplimentary diabetes screening dayTuesday, november 10Call 307.739.7620 for your appointment9 am to 4:30 pm$10 donation

katie Lane, Bsn, rn, CPHOn, Ons Patient navigator Cancer Care and Infusion Services 307.739.6195

ask THe exPerT

John passed away from a terminal illness at his home in June. His final weeks and days were filled with music, visits with friends, and other treasured activities. He was able to orchestrate this arrangement through the support of St. John’s Medical Center Hospice and his doctor, Bruce Hayse.

“John chose to die the death he wanted, in his home with his family,” says Christine. “His sister and parents had died in hospitals. He knew that extreme medical measures

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4 | HealtH MatteRS | FALL 2015

John Hess’ home was a home filled

with music. He was the co-owner of

Snake River Music and cherished

husband of professional musician

Christine Langdon, who has played

for more than two decades with the

Stagecoach Band.

HOsPICe Care IMPROveS LIveS

A study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management (March 2007) looked at nearly 4,500 terminally ill patients with either congestive heart failure or cancer of the breast, colon, lung, pancreas, or prostate. Researchers found that patients who received hospice services lived an average of 29 days longer than those who did not receive hospice care.

“There’s an inaccurate perception among the American public that hospice means you’ve given up,” said J. Donald Schumacher, president and CeO of the national Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. “Those of us who have worked in the field have seen firsthand how hospice can improve the quality of—and indeed prolong—the lives of people receiving care.”

HoSPice care

Christine Langdon and John Hess

The Comfort and Compassion of

were not going to restore his quality of life. Hospice, our incredible nurse Tye Byrd, and our social worker Christina Riley made his final wishes possible.” He had visits from nurses, certified nurse assistants, a social worker, and hospice volunteers.

She adds that John was in hospice for three months, a decision that was made out of concern for his family, not his own needs.

tHe BeneFitS oF HoSPiceThinking about end-of-life care for a loved one can be a struggle for many families. Knowing more about hospice can make that discussion—and decision—easier.

Hospice programs are designed for people who have less than six months to live, although hospice care has been shown in some studies to extend patients’ lives (see orange box at left). Hospice can take place at a home or in a hospital setting.

Hospice programs strive to relieve the dying person’s physical symptoms and ease the practical and emotional challenges the family may face. They provide the family with education on the dying process and available comfort measures. They also help surviving family members cope with grief in the months that follow.

a coMPaSSionate teaMHospice care teams include a number of specialists, including a doctor, nurses, home health aides, social workers, therapists, spiritual counselors, and trained volunteers.

Trained volunteers are able to help with household chores, running errands, and picking up medications. St. John’s offers trainings once a year to volunteers who are emotionally mature, empathetic, skilled in listening, and sensitive to the needs of families in stressful situations.

It takes very special people to provide hospice care. Their compassion, care, and kindness turn what might be a scary situation into a very peaceful and beautiful one.

“[John] had a beautiful end-of-life experience,” says Laura-Lee Berrett, director of the hospice program at St. John’s Medical Center. “He was ready, and his family was prepared to support him.”

tetonhospital.org | 5

Lean On us To learn more about St. John’s hospice care services or to become a hospice volunteer, please visit tetonhospital.org/hospice or call 307.739.7465.

HoSPice care LIGHT uP a LIfeWednesday, December 9St. John’s Hospice invites the public to Light Up a Life on Wednesday, December 9 at 7 p.m. in the lobby of St. John's Medical Center. Please join hospice staff and volunteers in a lighting ceremony to remember and celebrate loved ones. The ceremony will include live music as lights are illuminated. A $10 donation inscribes a loved one’s name in the Book of Honor. All gifts are tax deductible and benefit St. John’s Hospice programs. To learn more, please call 307.739.7465.

The Comfort and Compassion of Mark Your

Calendar

6 | HealtH MatteRS | FALL 2015

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Improved Community Health

Make a dIfferenCe. To get involved in St. John’s Hospital Foundation as a benefactor, a volunteer, or a supporter, call 307.739.7512 or visit stjohnshospitalfoundation.org.

Partnering For

St. John’s Hospital Foundation supports a wide range of endeavors, from health programs to facility

needs. Here, we highlight St. John’s commitment to community wellness.

At St. John’s Hospital Foundation, we work with many departments of St. John’s Medical Center to support their initiatives, increase their effectiveness, and ensure that they have the resources they need to make our community as healthy as possible. In the coming year, we will continue to support Wellness, Cardiology, and

Cognitive Health programs to improve your health.

WellneSS PrograMSSt. John’s wellness programs focus primarily on stress reduction, weight management, healthy eating, lifestyle, and behavior change. There are three primary objectives:1. Reward individuals already making

healthy lifestyle choices.2. Encourage at-risk individuals to

make positive lifestyle changes.3. Establish a culture of wellness.

Heart diSeaSe PreventionThere is a clear need for education and prevention services related to cardiovascular disease. Studies show that, in many cases, heart damage is in place by age 45. Community members will benefit from prevention

education offered by St. John’s new cardiology group and St. John’s wellness team.

cognitive HealtH outreacHThe Foundation has long supported St. John’s Cognitive Health. As we expand support for wellness programs, there will be opportunities for outreach and education about memory loss. These might include activities like movement for memory, nutrition classes, and brain training—all of which can benefit from increased support from the Foundation.

tetonhospital.org | 7

1 Dan Press, PhD, was the 2014 keynote speaker at the annual Cognitive Health Speaker Series, which draws nearly 200 attendees from around the region.

2 With the recent hiring of Dr. Ellen Gallant, St. John’s

now has a full-time cardiologist.

3 This year, St. John’s Annual Community Health Fair partnered with Teton County/Jackson Parks and Recreation for the Spring Runoff 5K.

3

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TO Learn MOre about St. John’s community wellness programs, visit tetonhospital.org/wellness. To explore our cognitive health services, go to cognitive.tetonhospital.org or call 307.739.7434. For information on St. John's heart programs, go to tetonhospital.org/cardiology.

2

St. John’s hospital P.O. Box 428625 East BroadwayJackson, wY 83001

Postal Patron ecrWSS

Nonprofit org.u.s. postage

paidpermit #81

Jackson, WY

Louis Hochheiser, MDchief executive officer

Karen Connellychief communications officer

John GoettlerFoundation president

Health Matters is a publication of st. John’s Medical center and the st. John’s hospital Foundation. the information contained in the publication is intended to educate readers about subjects pertinent to their health, not as a substitute for a consultation with a personal physician. © 2015 printed in u.s.a. 403

fOLLOW us on Twitter and Instagram @tetonhospital, on Facebook at facebook.com/tetonhospital, and on Google+ at +tetonhospitalorg for more hospital updates!

HealtHMatters

Billing Process Trail GuideThis trail guide will help you navigate the billing and payment system for St. John's Medical Center and St. John's Physician Practices. And don’t worry! You can always call 307.739.7550 for assistance.

in-netWork, out-oF-netWork, uninSured, or unSure?No problem! Our Financial Services team is here to guide you through understanding your coverage so you can plan ahead and be prepared. We will help you determine your out-of-pocket costs, receive pre-authorization, and even negotiate with your insurance company so there are no surprises.

BillingSt. John’s Medical Center will take the charges from your account and bill your insurance on your behalf.

your viSitAfter you leave the clinic or hospital, charges for your medical service will be applied to your account.

aFter you receive your BillDo you have questions or need help determining your payment options? Our dedicated Financial Services team will answer your questions, help you set up a payment plan, see if a discount can be applied, and ensure that all charges are competitive with the region.