A Decade of Women: From Adolescence to Menopause

A Decade of Women: From Adolescence to Menopause
Piedmont Fayette Hospital’s Dessert and Discussion To Focus on Women’s Health

Bring your mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and neighbors to Piedmont Fayette Hospital’s Conference Room C, on May 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for a special tea time and panel discussion about women’s health. Local female health professionals Crystal Young, D.O. and Verna Thornton, M.D. will lead the discussion "A Decade of Women: From Adolescence to Menopause.” Topics will include the HPV vaccination, HPV testing, bone density, osteoporosis, pelvic health, breast care, heart disease, annual check-ups, menstrual cycles, menopause, nutrition and prevention throughout the years.

“This will be a special time for the women in our lives to learn about important health topics specifically related to them and to be aware of their health risks,” said Darrell Cutts, president and CEO of Piedmont Fayette Hospital. “This is a wonderful opportunity to hear and speak directly with some of our outstanding physicians and healthcare professionals."

Dr. Young, who is in family medicine, graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her internship and residency at Columbus Regional/ The Medical Center. Dr. Thornton, who is an OB/GYN, graduated from the Morehouse School of Medicine and completed her internship and residency at Emory University and Affiliated Hospitals.

Tea and catered refreshments will be provided, and door prizes will be offered at the event. Attendance is on a first come, first serve basis. Registration is encouraged for this free event as space is limited. Please make reservations by calling 770-719-6060. For more information on Piedmont Fayette Hospital please visit www.fayettehospital.org.

PIEDMONT FAYETTE HOSPITAL OPENS HEART FAILURE CENTER

More than five million Americans are living with a diagnosis of heart failure, and each year 550,000 new cases are diagnosed. To educate and improve the daily lives and health conditions of people in the Fayette community who are living with heart failure, Piedmont Fayette Hospital opened a state-of-the-art Heart Failure Center in April on the second floor in the Cardiology Department.

The Heart Failure Center provides individualized care management and a variety of services including outpatient clinic visits, patient and family education, follow-up phone calls, outpatient intravenous infusions, and medical management. The Heart Failure Center also will provide advance heart failure care through pharmacologic interventions, based on American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Consensus Guidelines. Patients at the Heart Failure Center will have the opportunity to assist in developing their own care plan and long-term treatment plans.

“Heart failure is a serious condition, but early diagnosis, lifestyle changes and education can improve the health conditions of people living with heart failure,” said Sumandeep S. Sangha, M.D. “Piedmont Fayette Hospital's new Heart Failure Center provides patients with proper education and care to improve their overall quality of life."

Heart failure is a condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood throughout the body. Having heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped or is about to stop working. With heart failure the heart is not capable of delivering oxygen and nutrient rich blood to the body’s cells causing fatigue, shortness of breath, weight gain, and swelling in the legs or ankles.

"I am fortunate to be a part of the Piedmont Fayette Hospital family. It is exciting to watch our community hospital grow in a positive direction to meet the needs of this community,” said Karen Gooding, APRN, BC, nurse practitioner. “The new Heart Failure Center is a perfect example of Piedmont Fayette Hospital's commitment to excellence and quality healthcare service.”

A physician referral is required. For more information on the Heart Failure Center, call 770-719-6050.

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SPEECH AND HEARING THERAPY HELPS AREA RESIDENTS

SPEECH AND HEARING THERAPY HELPS AREA RESIDENTS
Piedmont Fayette Celebrates Better Speech and Hearing Month

Terrisita Terry’s life changed forever when the car she was driving was rear-ended two years ago. She suffered two brain aneurisms and a stroke and underwent two brain surgeries. Robert Beane’s life has been slowly changing since he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease more than four years ago. He suffers from a tremor in his hand and he cannot speak very loudly anymore. What do these two people with seemingly different situations have in common? They both undergo speech therapy at Piedmont Fayette Hospital to cope with their speech impediments. Effective communication skills are central to a successful life for all Americans. May is Better Speech and Hearing Month and the hospital encourages the community to have their own hearing and language skills checked by a professional.

“When I first returned home after my surgeries, I didn’t recognize my family. I have been married for 23 years, and I couldn’t even recognize my husband” said Terry. “It has been a battle to get to this point in my life, where I am ready to transition back into the workforce, and I really owe my speech therapist at Piedmont Fayette for helping me gain not only my speech, but my confidence back.”

According to The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), one in six Americans has a communication disability, and many do not know they can get treatment. There are 28 million people suffering from hearing loss and 14 million suffering from a speech or language disorder. Communication disorders can cause problems for people in their education, employment, and their overall well-being. An individual may be born with a speech or language disorder, or it may be caused by accidental injury or illness.

“We treat people with a range of disorders from not being able to speak after a stroke to children who have a small stuttering problem,” said LaKita Garrett, M.A. clinical lead speech-language pathologist at Piedmont Fayette Hospital. “Even slight hearing loss or a small stutter is treatable, and once the problem is recognized, patients can begin treatment to learn ways to help them cope with their disorder.”

Speech-language pathologists are the professionals who treat all types of speech, language and related disorders. They work in schools, private practice, hospitals, clinics, and other health and education settings. At Piedmont Fayette Hospital, they use written and oral tests, as well as special instruments to diagnose the nature and extent of impairment and to record and analyze speech, language and swallowing irregularities.

“On my first day of therapy, LaKita had me singing the scale. I was very self-conscious to be beginning therapy this way and I am not the best singer either,” said Beane. “But after a couple weeks, I now feel comfortable, and I realized that is what therapy is all about, stepping outside your comfort zone in order to get better.”

In addition to general speech-language services, Piedmont Fayette Hospital's Rehabilitation and Fitness Center also offers pediatric speech-language services. Without receiving treatment, speech and language disorders can limit academic achievement, social adjustment and career advancement. These disorders can affect anyone of any age at any time. For more information, call the Piedmont Fayette Hospital Speech Pathology Department at 770-719-7290. Physician referral is required and for more information about Piedmont Fayette Hospital, please visit www.fayettehospital.org.

FDA Approves Relistor for Opioid-Induced Constipation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Relistor (methylnaltrexone bromide) to help restore bowel function in patients with late-stage, advanced illness who are receiving opioids on a continuous basis to help alleviate their pain.

Opioids are often prescribed on a continuous basis for patients with late-stage, advanced illness to help alleviate pain. This includes patients with a diagnosis of incurable cancer, end-stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) from emphysema, heart failure, Alzheimer’s disease with dementia, HIV/AIDS or other advanced illnesses.

Opioids can interfere with normal bowel elimination function by relaxing the intestinal smooth muscles and preventing them from contracting and pushing out waste products. Relistor acts by blocking opioid entrance into the cells thus allowing the bowels to continue to function normally.

“This new drug will be helpful to patients who experience severe constipation associated with the continuous use of morphine or other opioids, which are an important part of care for patients with late-stage, advanced illness.” said Joyce Korvick, M.D., deputy director of the Division of Gastroenterology Products, FDA.

Relistor is an injectable medication. It can be administered as needed, but not to exceed one dose in a 24 hour period. The recommended starting schedule is one dose every other day as needed for patients with late-stage advanced illness. Relistor is not recommended for patients with known or suspected intestinal obstructions.

Common side effects include abdominal pain, gas, nausea, dizziness and diarrhea. If severe diarrhea, vomiting, nausea or abdominal pain occurs while taking Relistor, patients should discontinue use of the medication in consultation with their health care professional.

The safety and effectiveness of the drug was demonstrated in clinical studies conducted by the sponsors. The two randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled studies involving a total of 287 participants were conducted over a four month period. The median age of the study participants was 68 years, and 51 percent of the participants were women. In both studies, all patients had advanced late-stage illnesses with a life expectancy of less than 6 months. Prior to treatment with Relistor, participants had either less than three bowel movements in the week prior to treatment or no bowel movement for more than 2 days. Patients who were treated with Relistor had a significantly higher rate of elimination than those receiving placebo. The safety and effectiveness of Relistor have not been studied in pediatric populations.

Relistor is manufactured by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc., Philadelphia, PA., and Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY.

Actavis Totowa (formerly known as Amide Pharmaceutical, Inc.) recalls all lots of Bertek and UDL Laboratories Digitek® (digoxin tablets, USP)

Actavis Totowa LLC, a United States manufacturing division of the international generic pharmaceutical company Actavis Group, is initiating a Class I nationwide recall of Digitek® (digoxin tablets, USP, all strengths) for oral use. The products are distributed by Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., under a "Bertek" label and by UDL Laboratories, Inc. under a "UDL" label.

The voluntary all lot recall is due to the possibility that tablets with double the appropriate thickness may have been commercially released. These tablets may contain twice the approved level of active ingredient than it appropriate.

Digitek® is used to treat heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. The existence of double strength tablets poses a risk of digitalis toxicity in patients with renal failure. Digitalis toxicity can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, low blood pressure, cardiac instability and bradycardia. Death can also result from excessive Digitalis intake. Several reports of illnesses and injuries have been received.

Actavis manufactures the products for Mylan and the products are distributed by Mylan and UDL under the Bertek and UDL labels. Bertek and UDL are affiliates of Mylan.

Any customer inquiries related to this action should be addressed to Stericycle customer service at 1-888-276-6166 with representatives available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm EST. Additional information about the voluntary recall can also be found at http://www.actavis.us/.

Retailers who have this product are urged to return the product to their place of purchase. If consumers have medical questions, they should contact their health care providers.

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.

Any adverse reactions experienced with the use of this product, and/or quality problems should also be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Program by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088, by Fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, by mail at MedWatch, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787, or on the MedWatch website at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/.

Coronary Artery Plaque Imaging Device Cleared by FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared for marketing a device that a doctor can use to see inside a blood vessel to assess the fat content of the plaque which builds up on the wall of the coronary arteries.

Plaque is a deposit made up of cholesterol-rich fat, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. As plaque accumulates on the artery wall, it reduces blood flow to the heart muscle and increases the risk of blood clots which can lead to a heart attack.

Nearly one million Americans suffer a heart attack every year and about half die. Many heart attacks occur when a fatty coronary plaque ruptures, forming dangerous blood clots. Pathologic studies of patients who died from heart attack have identified a large lipid (fatty) core among features of coronary artery disease that were associated with plaque rupture and thrombosis (blood clots). Research is currently underway to determine how plaques that are prone to rupture can best be identified before they cause a heart attack.

“This is the first device that can help assess the chemical make-up of coronary artery plaques and help physicians identify those plaques with lipid cores, which may be of particular concern,” said Daniel Schultz, M.D., director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

The InfraReDx LipiScan NIR Catheter Imaging System uses infrared imaging to detect lipid core-containing plaques of interest and assess a patient's coronary artery lipid core burden index. The device works by placing a catheter equipped with a fiber-optic laser light into the artery. The device shines the near infrared light delivered through the blood to the artery wall, and measures the light reflected back from the artery wall, a technique called spectroscopy. The reflected wavelengths vary depending on how much fat and other substances are in the plaque in the illuminated portion of the wall.

LipiScan is manufactured by InfraReDx Inc. of Burlington, Mass. The device is cleared for use by physicians who are evaluating patients with symptoms of coronary heart disease during a heart test known as cardiac angiography, to help in detection of plaques that have lipid (fatty) cores.

FDA Approves Amitiza for IBS-C

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Amitiza (lubiprostone) for the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C) in adult women aged 18 and over. There is currently no prescription drug therapy for IBS-C. With this approval, Amitiza becomes the only FDA-approved medical treatment for IBS-C available in the United States.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder characterized by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. IBS causes a great deal of discomfort and distress to its sufferers. It affects at least twice as many women as men.

"For some people IBS can be quite disabling, making it difficult for them to fully participate in everyday activities," said Julie Beitz, M.D., director of the Office of Drug Evaluation III, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA. "This drug represents an important step in helping to provide medical relief from their symptoms."

The safety and efficacy of Amitiza was established in two major studies involving 1,154 patients diagnosed with IBS-C. The majority of the patients studied were women (approximately 8 percent were men). Patients enrolled in the studies were experiencing at least mild abdominal discomfort or pain that was associated with at least two of the following additional symptoms: 1) fewer than 3 spontaneous bowel movements per week (that did not result from laxative use); 2) hard stools; or 3) moderate or severe straining with bowel movements. In the studies some patients received Amitiza and others were given a placebo. More patients treated with Amitiza reported that their IBS symptoms were moderately or significantly relieved over a 12 week treatment period than patients who received placebo. The safety of long term treatment was assessed in a study in which all patients were treated with Amitiza for a duration that ranged 9 to 13 months.

The efficacy of Amitiza in men was not conclusively demonstrated for IBS-C.Amitiza, like most prescription medications, is accompanied by some side effects. Common side effects of Amitiza include nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Other rare side effects include urinary tract infections, dry mouth, syncope (fainting), peripheral edema (swelling of the extremities), dyspnea (difficulty breathing), and heart palpitations.
Amitiza should be taken twice-a-day in 8 microgram doses with food and water. Patients and their health care professionals should periodically assess the need for continued therapy.

Amitiza is not approved for use in children and men. It is not to be administered to patients suffering from severe diarrhea or patients with known or suspected bowel obstructions. Its safety and efficacy has not been established in patients with renal or hepatic impairment, pregnant, or nursing mothers.
Amitiza is also approved for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC), but the dose for that indication is higher, 24 micrograms twice a day.

Amitiza is manufactured by Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Bethesda, MD, and will be jointly marketed by Sucampo and Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc., Deerfield, IL. As with all FDA-approved products, the agency will monitor Amitiza throughout its life cycle. Consumers and health care professionals are encouraged to report adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program at 800-FDA-1088 or online at www.fda.gov/medwatch/how.htm.

For more information about Irritable Bowel Syndrome, visit:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases—Irritable Bowel Syndrome http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ibs/

FDA Approves Cimzia to Treat Crohn's Disease

A new drug has been approved to help sufferers of Crohn's disease, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today. Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) received approval for adults with moderate to severe Crohn's disease who have not responded to conventional therapies. This product was approved with a Medication Guide.

Crohn's disease is a chronic, inflammatory bowel disease that affects more than 1 million men and women worldwide. It has no cure and its cause is unknown. Crohn's can cause diarrhea, fever, rectal bleeding, malnutrition, narrowing of the intestinal tract, obstructions, abscesses, cramping, and abdominal pain. It also can lead to abnormal connections (fistulas) leading from the intestine to the skin or internal organs.

"Crohn's is a debilitating disease that disrupts the quality of life for its sufferers," said Julie Beitz, M.D., director of the Office of Drug Evaluation III for the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "This drug works to reduce the signs and symptoms of Crohn's, but it also carries risks that will require patients on it to be closely monitored by their physicians or other health care professionals."

Patients treated with Cimzia will receive an injection every two weeks for the first three injections. Once benefit has been established, Cimzia should be given once every four weeks.

The most common side effects of Cimzia are headache, upper respiratory infections, abdominal pain, injection site reactions and nausea.

Patients taking Cimzia are at increased risk for serious adverse effects, including serious infections that can lead to hospitalization or death. Because Cimzia affects the immune system, it can lower the body's ability to fight infections, such as tuberculosis and other opportunistic infections. Cimzia is a blocker of TNF (tumor necrosis factor) and may cause lymphomas (a form of cancer) and other malignancies. Although an increased risk of tumors was not seen in studies of Cimzia, the modest size and relatively short duration of the controlled studies prevents any firm conclusion. Post-marketing studies and clinical trials will be required to obtain long-term safety data.

Patients taking Cimzia should be educated about how to identify an infection and be instructed to contact their health care professional at the first sign of infection while on Cimzia. In cases of serious infections, the drug should be discontinued immediately.

Cimzia is manufactured by UCB, Inc., Smyrna, GA.

For more information on Crohn's disease, visit:Crohn's Disease–National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/crohns/index.htm

FDA Clears Glove Made from New Type of Latex

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared for marketing the first device made from a new form of natural rubber latex, guayule latex. The product, the Yulex Patient Examination Glove, is derived from the guayule bush, a desert plant native to the Southwestern United States.

Traditional latex gloves are made from the milky sap of a rubber tree, Hevea braziliensis. The sap contains a protein that may trigger allergic reactions, especially after prolonged and repeated contact. Sensitized people may experience mild reactions such as skin redness, rash, hives, or itching. More severe reactions may include respiratory symptoms such as difficulty breathing, coughing spells and wheezing. Rarely, shock may occur.

Estimates vary, but anywhere from 3 percent to 22 percent of all health care workers are sensitized to traditional latex. Available data on the new guayule latex show that even people who are highly allergic to traditional latex do not react on first exposure to guayule latex proteins.

"This approval has the potential to make a significant difference to both the general public and the medical community at large," said Daniel Schultz, M.D., director of FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. "Gloves made from guayule latex may prove to be a safer alternative for some people with sensitivity to traditional latex. And yet they will not sacrifice the desirable properties of traditional latex such as flexibility and strength."

Health care workers first began using traditional latex gloves in the 1890s. But concerns about allergic reactions increased in the late 1980s after modifications in glove materials made them more sensitizing just as glove use was soaring in response to the HIV epidemic. Some health care institutions have since responded by shifting to alternative glove materials for their workers.

FDA has taken numerous steps to address the glove allergy problem including working with industry to develop a consensus standard that identifies maximum protein and powder levels for medical gloves. A 1998 rule requires that all medical devices containing latex carry a statement on the label warning about the risk of allergic reactions (http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/dsma/fr93097.html). Because there is no data on people’s long-term experience with the Yulex glove, the product will carry a warning for now about the potential for allergic reactions.

The Yulex glove is made by the Yulex Corporation of Maricopa, Ariz.

Pregnancy Rate Drops for U.S. Women Under Age 25

Pregnancy rates for females under age 25, including teenagers, in the United States declined in 2004 compared to 1990, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The report says nearly 38 percent of pregnancies in 2004 were to women under age 25, down from nearly 43 percent in 1990. The proportion of pregnancies among teens under age 20 dropped from 15 percent in 1990 to 12 percent in 2004.

The report, "Estimated Pregnancy Rates by Outcome for the United States, 1990-2004," prepared by CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, shows there were almost 6.4 million pregnancies in 2004 among women of all ages, about 6 percent fewer than the nearly 6.8 million in 1990. The 2004 total included 4.11 million live births, 1.22 million induced abortions, and 1.06 million fetal losses (such as stillbirths and miscarriages). In 1990, there were 4.16 million live births, 1.61 million induced abortions and 1.02 million fetal losses.

"This latest pregnancy outcome report finds that there was little change in births and fetal loss numbers between 1990 and 2004. However, abortions fell 24 percent over this time period," said Stephanie Ventura, head of the Reproductive Statistics Branch at CDC/NCHS.

Other findings of the report:

* Nearly half (45 percent) of the 6.4 million pregnancies in 2004 occurred among unmarried women. Pregnancy totals for unmarried women increased from over 2.7 million in 1990 to over 2.8 million in 2004.

* Pregnancy totals among married women declined from 4.1 million in 1990 to 3.5 million in 2004.

* The average U.S. woman is expected to have 3.2 pregnancies in her lifetime at current pregnancy rates; black and Hispanic women are expected to have 4.2 pregnancies each, compared with 2.7 for non-Hispanic white women.

* Seventy-five percent of pregnancies among married women ended in a live birth in 2004, while 19 percent ended in fetal loss, and 6 percent ended in abortion. For unmarried women, slightly over half of pregnancies (51 percent) ended in live birth, an increase from 43 percent in 1990. Thirty-five percent of these pregnancies ended in abortion and 13 percent ended in fetal loss.

* More than two-thirds of pregnancies for non-Hispanic white (67 percent) and Hispanic women (69 percent) and half of pregnancies to non-Hispanic black women ended in live birth.

* More than a third (37 percent) of pregnancies for black women ended in abortion compared with 12 percent for non-Hispanic white women and 19 percent for Hispanic women.

The full report is available at www.cdc.gov/nchs.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Among Top Atlanta Hospitals in Patient Satisfaction

In the first national, standardized, publicly-reported survey of patient satisfaction, Piedmont Fayette Hospital ranked third of 38 hospitals in the Atlanta market. Piedmont Hospital ranked first, and Piedmont Mountainside Hospital was fourth among all greater Atlanta hospitals participating.

HCAHPS, Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, is a standardized survey that reflects a patient’s perspective of hospital care, and data is posted quarterly on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare website, at www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov.

Nationwide, 63% of patients gave their hospital experience an Overall Rating of 9 or 10, and 67% on Willingness to Recommend. Georgians ranked the average hospital at 65% for Overall Rating and 68% on Willingness to Recommend. Piedmont Fayette Hospital’s Overall Rating was 73%, and its Willingness to Recommend score was 79%.

"Assuring that our patients receive the best in quality and service is a top priority for Piedmont Fayette Hospital," said Darrell Cutts, president and CEO of Piedmont Fayette Hospital. "We continually conduct our own patient satisfaction surveys and listen to our patients. The high rankings on the independent HCAHPS survey are a testament to the employees at Piedmont Fayette, who set the bar very high in achieving patient satisfaction."

The HCAHPS survey was created with three primary goals. First, the survey was designed to produce data about patients' perspectives of care that allow comparisons of hospitals on topics that are important to consumers. Second, public reporting of the survey results creates new incentives for hospitals to improve quality of care. Third, public reporting serves to enhance public accountability in health care by increasing the transparency of the quality of hospital care provided in return for the public investment.

The survey asks a random sample of patients from over 2,500 U.S. hospitals 27 questions about their hospital experience, including 18 items about key aspects of the hospital experience including communication with nurses and doctors, the responsiveness of hospital staff, cleanliness and quietness of hospital environment, pain management, communication about medicines, discharge information, overall rating of hospital and recommendation of hospital.

“We know that patients have many choices in where they receive healthcare services in greater Atlanta. At Piedmont Healthcare hospitals, our employees have made a promise to reinforce their personal commitment in delivering best-in-class care,” said R. Timothy Stack, president and CEO of Piedmont Healthcare. “While this is only one snapshot of patient ratings from October 2006 to June 2007 and we consistently work to improve, we are proud of how our Piedmont hospitals compared to others.”

Forget CPR, Give CCR Instead

Link for entire article is at the end of the article:

Adults Who Collapse Need Chest Compression, Not Mouth-to-Mouth
By Daniel J. DeNoon WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
March 11, 2008 -- For adults who collapse after cardiac arrest, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is dead.
A new lifesaving technique, cardio-cerebral resuscitation, is much more likely to save lives than the old cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR technique, an Arizona study shows.
It's a big change. Instead of using their mouths to give the "breath of life," rescuers should use their hands to keep blood moving to the hearts and brains of cardiac arrest victims, says Bentley J. Bobrow, MD, medical director of Arizona's emergency services system and an emergency physician at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Scottsdale....

...New Advice: Don't Stop Chest Compressions
The old CPR technique called for rescuers to give 30 chest compressions followed by two quick emergency breaths into the mouth of the victim, notes Mary Ann Peberdy, director of the resuscitation program at Virginia Commonwealth University.
"It takes about halfway through that chest-compression cycle to build up a marginal pressure to the heart and brain," Peberdy tells WebMD. "As soon as you stop, that pressure almost immediately falls to zero. After giving ventilation, it takes halfway though next cycle to get the pressure back up -- so you are constantly chasing your tail."...

...
How to Do CCR for Cardiac Arrest
A cardiac arrest isn't the same as a heart attack.
"A heart attack is a plumbing problem, and a cardiac arrest is electrical," Peberdy says. "A heart attack is a block in a pipe, and unless the pipe unclogs the heart muscle will die. A cardiac arrest is a sudden catastrophic electrical problem where the heart cannot beat at all. Cardiac arrest equals sudden death. You die unless you are resuscitated."...

Read the entire article, you could save a life: http://www.webmd.com/news/20080311/forget-cpr-give-ccr-instead?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Pregnant Women Who are Obese Linked with Greater Health Care Services

Obesity during pregnancy is associated with greater use of health care services and longer hospital stays, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente Northwest Center for Health Research. The study, published in the April 3, 2008, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, is the first to document the effect of obesity during pregnancy on the use of health care services.

The study looked at pregnancies within numerous categories: three obese categories (obese, very obese and extremely obese) along with underweight, normal weight and overweight. Using data from 13,442 pregnancies that resulted in a live birth or stillbirth between 2001 and 2004, researchers found that, compared with pregnant women of normal weight, obese pregnant women had longer hospital stays and more obstetrical ultrasounds, used more outpatient medications, and were more likely to be seen by physicians rather than nurse midwives and nurse practitioners.

"The increased health care use by obese pregnant women will have substantial cost implications," explained Susan Chu, Ph.D., lead scientist on the study. "About one in five women who give birth in the United States is obese, which means that of the four million births each year, about one million are to obese women. Thus even a small increase in utilization associated with obesity will have considerable economic impact."

For instance, for prenatal visits with a physician, normal women had an average of about four visits, while very obese and extremely obese women had five and six visits. The primary reasons for the increased utilization of these services were increases in Caesarean section and obesity-related high risk conditions. Caesarean delivery rates were 45.2 percent for extremely obese women, compared to 21.3 percent for normal weight women.

Given the health and economic costs, the importance of preventing obesity in women of child-bearing age in order to enhance health during pregnancy and throughout the course of life still remains a vital public health concern.

The study findings are consistent with previous reports that demonstrated that obesity during pregnancy is associated with serious pregnancy-related complications, such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes which occurs in a woman who develops diabetes during her pregnancy, and Caesarean deliveries. To learn more about reproductive health, visit CDC's Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/index.htm
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CARDIOLOGY OF GEORGIA IN FAYETTEVILLE JOINS PIEDMONT HEART INSTITUTE

Cardiology of Georgia (COG) on Highway 54 West in Fayetteville has become part of the Piedmont Heart Institute (PHI). Piedmont Heart Institute expands its expertise with the addition of the 20-member cardiovascular physician practice, Cardiology of Georgia, P.C., through a formal agreement with Piedmont Healthcare effective April 1, 2008. With eight locations including Fayetteville, Buckhead, Canton, and North Fulton, COG will become a new group practice under the Piedmont Heart Institute and an important addition to PHI as it continues to propel new programs in cardiovascular research, education and excellence in prevention, arrhythmias, coronary and vascular intervention, stroke and cardiac imaging.

"Cardiology of Georgia has been an integral part of the history and foundation of cardiovascular care at Piedmont for more than 30 years," said Michele M. Molden, President and CEO of the Piedmont Heart Institute. "COG will continue to serve our communities with clinical expertise and now, with involvement in the leadership and direction of the Piedmont Heart Institute."

The Piedmont Heart Institute (PHI) is the first of its kind affiliated with a community hospital system in greater Atlanta. It brings prominent cardiovascular physician groups together with one of the premier cardiac centers in the region. In fact, Piedmont Hospital was recently named Best in Atlanta for Overall Cardiac Care and Cardiac Surgery (2008) by HealthGrades®, the leading healthcare ratings organization.

Seeking greater alignment of the physicians and our hospitals, the Piedmont Heart Institute has implemented a new care delivery model in Atlanta that eliminates the barriers to working more closely together and creates a platform where leadership is shared with enhanced care and services for the community. This fully integrated financial model will ultimately improve the patient experience, care efficiencies, quality and outcomes.

William A. Blincoe, M.D., with COG in the Fayetteville and Buckhead offices, said, "Piedmont has been home to us for more than 30 years. It is only natural that we pursue this affiliation under the Piedmont Heart Institute with its vision of advancing cardiovascular care for those we serve."

Since the mid-1960's, Piedmont Hospital has continued to earn recognition as a leader in the prevention and treatment of heart disease. Piedmont was one of Georgia's first hospitals to establish a dedicated coronary care unit (CCU), the first to hire a full-time director of a community CCU, and one of the first in the country to use telemetry monitors throughout the hospital. Piedmont has successfully developed cardiac catheterization, interventional cardiology, comprehensive electrophysiology and arrhythmia services, advanced heart failure management, open-heart surgery, and peripheral vascular services. This expertise culminated in 1994 with the centralization of services at the Fuqua Heart Center of Atlanta at Piedmont Hospital.
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Iraqi Officials Open Middle School, Health Clinic

FORWARD OPRATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - Citizens who once were afraid to leave their homes because terrorists were among them freely gathered March 26 to celebrate the grand opening of a middle school and health clinic in Adwaniyah, Iraq.

Much of the work was done using Commander's Emergency Response Program funds, and although coalition forces assisted in rebuilding the school and clinic, the Iraqi government was key to the projects' success, officials said.

The Iraqi government has recognized the school and clinic, officials added, and will keep teachers and medical professionals working at each location.

One soldier at Patrol Base Dolby, near Adwaniyah, is pleased to see the Iraqis taking charge of their community and said educating Iraq's children is essential to rebuilding the country.

"They will eventually inherit this country," said 2nd Lt. Steven Kim, a platoon leader in the 3rd Infantry Division's Troop B, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team. "Giving the kids an education will help them learn how to make their country better."

An Iraqi Health Ministry doctor said the clinic will offer Adwaniyah residents basic medical care, such as preventive medicine, vaccinations and maternal care, and also will treat minor dental problems and basic illnesses.

"We all want to do what we can to address some of the medical needs in Adwaniyah," Dr. Saud Abdullah said. "This clinic will help Adwaniyah." For major surgeries and traumas, residents still will need to go to hospitals in Mahmudiyah and Baghdad.

Happiness at improving their city was apparent as citizens smiled and shook hands with U.S. and Iraqi soldiers and Iraqi government officials.

Kim said it was a good day for the troops.

"You get to know the people," the Los Angeles native said. "I'm happy for them; it's good to see their community improve."

- Author Army Sgt. Jason Stadel serves in the 3rd Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.
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