health guide - plainview daily herald › file › 179 › 8 › 1798-health... · 4 | 2016...

Plainview HeraldWednesday, September 28, 2016

Health Guide

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r. Brad Hough encourages moderation in lifestyle, and is firmly against cutting out any particular food group, including the much-vilified carbohydrates.

“Go with a balanced diet,” he said. “People in general don’t do well by cutting out carbs. If you’re not diabetic, eat from the five food groups, eat frequent

meals and practice portion control.” When it comes to including carbs in your diet, Dr. Hough said complex carbohydrates contained in foods such as potatoes and zucchini are best. Dr. Hough advises his patients to avoid sodas, but even these; both diet and regular, can be enjoyed in moderation. Coffee, too, can be part of a healthy diet – once again, in moderation. To Dr. Hough “moderation” means one to two cups a day. Dr. Hough is cautious about the notion of superfoods. However, he says that certain foods such as green tea and blueberries have been found to contain antioxidants, which can both help with inflammation and decrease the incidence of diseases such as cancer. A recent addition to the Regence Health Network team in Plainview, Dr. Hough is a Texas native who received his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, and completed his residency in Conroe, Texas. He is also certified in wound care and hyperbaric medicine. Before joining RHN, Dr. Hough worked in Spring, Texas, as a family medical physician. When it comes to prevention, Dr. Hough advises that parents and caregivers make sure kids stay current with inoculations such as tetanus and MMR. As for adults, and especially geriatric patients, flu, pneumonia and shingles vaccines can help them avoid serious diseases and complications. It’s important for everyone to remember good health basics such as getting good sleep at night, staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water, controlling diabetes and blood pressure, and managing stress. “Increased anxiety really knocks the immune system down,” Dr. Hough said. Especially for older patients, Dr. Hough advises routine screening, including colonoscopy, mammograms, PAP smears and cytology. And, of course, they should avoid alcohol, illegal drugs and tobacco. When it comes to living to a healthy old age, “Some of it’s genetic,” Dr. Hough admits. Recently, HIV self-tests were approved by the FDA and have become available in pharmacies. Dr. Hough is pleased with the progress that has been made in diagnosing and treating HIV-AIDS, but he believes the home test works best when used in consultation with a physician. “The tests are pretty reliable, but they’re not reportable, so it’s hard to keep statistics,” Dr. Hough said. “Also, when someone finds out they’re HIV positive, they need to have someone there to tell them there’s treatment. It’s better to find out in a controlled environment.” As a federally qualified health center, RHN accepts patients with no insurance, provided they bring in proof of income. They are then billed on a sliding scale. If the patient cannot pay the full amount, they may make payments over time, according to Practice Administrator Ashley Venhaus. Regence Health Network also takes Medicare and Medicaid patients as well as private pay insurance. RHN offers mental health services through LPCs Dr. Perry Collins and Dr. Cassie Collins. There is also a dental clinic. A laboratory allows blood work and other tests to be run quickly, and an onsite pharmacy helps to make RHN a one-stop healthcare shop. Dr. Hough has settled into the Plainview community along with his wife Joy and their three sons, ages 8, 5 and 2. He said he enjoys being in Plainview with its friendly atmosphere and dry climate. “We are accepting new patients and will be happy to see them,” Dr. Hough said.

RHN is located in the John C. Anderson Bldg., 2601 Dimmitt Rd. Suite 104, Plainview. To learn more, visit rhn.md or call 806-291-0297.

Courtesy Photo/RHNDr. Brad Hough recently joined the team at Regence Health Network in Plainview. He is board certified in Family Medicine.

Dr. Brad Hough discusses diet, healthy lifestyle and HIV self-test

BY GAIL M. WILLIAMSPlainview Herald Correspondent

D

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Family Medical Services

Jennifer Sepeda, FNPNancy Almanza, CMA

Bradley Hough, M.D.Veronica Hernandez, CMA

Michelle Nolen, FNPSharon Rangel, CMA

• Accepting New Patients• Walk-Ins Welcome• Most Insurances Accepted;Including Medicaid & Medicare

John C. Anderson Bldg.

2601 Dimmitt Rd., Suite 104

Plainview, TX

(806) 293-8561www.rhn.md

Following a ribbon cutting and open house by the Plainview Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors on Aug. 20, the new West Texas Medical Plaza, 1605 W. Fifth, is open. The modern facility came online in three phases, offering Urgent Care, Family/Primary Care and Medical Spa. A formal grand opening will be held later. With a message of “Why pay ER copays or deal with long wait times?,” the Urgent Care portion of West Texas Medical Plaza started serving Plainview area patients on Monday, Aug. 29. It is staffed by Dr. Mu Chen and Stephanie Wade P.A.-C. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1-10 p.m. Sunday. Among benefits of West Texas Medical Plaza’s new Urgent Care facilities are reduced wait times and a quicker pace compared to traditional Emergency Rooms when dealing with non-emergency cases. Patients also won’t face the higher prices and co-pays normally associated with visits to the ER. The Family Practitioners unit at the new West Texas Medical Plaza is staffed by Dr. Mark McClanahan, DO, and Summer Richards PA-C. Dr. McClanahan started seeing patients at the new location Tuesday, Sept. 6, while Richards began seeing patients there Sept. 1. Family Practice hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. (Closed for lunch.) Hours for the Medical Spa, which opened Sept. 1, are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The new West Texas Medical Plaza offers a wide range of medical services, including CT scans, bone density scans, and ultrasounds.Patients are able to call a single number, 806-288-7891, to contact either Plainview location, 1605 W. Fifth or 1806 N. Quincy. Effective Aug. 29, West Texas Family Medicine no longer offers a late clinic, from 5-7 p.m. weekdays, or Saturday mornings, at 1806 N. Quincy. The new Quincy Street location hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed for lunch.

Doug McDonough/Plainview HeraldThe new West Texas Medical Plaza, at 1605 W. Fifth, is now open. The new facility joins existing West Texas Family Medicine clinics at 1806 Quincy and in Hale Center and Floydada.

West Texas Medical Plaza now openFrom Staff Reports


Doug McDonough/Plainview HeraldThe staff of Area Community Hospice meets often to determine how they can better serve each patient as well as their

families. Taking part in one of those sessions are Laura Castillo (left), director of billing; Suellen Bustamonte R.N., case manager; Oscar Chavez, chaplain; Casey Davis R.N., case manager; Nancy Kernell, administrator; Mike Thompson, admissions

coordinator; Michele Gaitan, receptionist; and Marcy Medina R.N., director of nurses

Area Community Hospice now offers bereavement support group

Based on the simple belief that no person should ever die alone, Area Community Hospital vows to “care for your family, like our own.” Area Community Hospice began serving Plainview and the area in 2004 with a desire to help individuals and families deal with the final days of their loved one’s journey in life, and to provide comfort, dignity and hope during a very difficult time. “At Area Community Hospice, we believe that every moment matters. We vow to care for you and your family just like we would our own,” is it’s mission. Hospice, in general, is not a physical place. It is a philosophy of care created to help people live with dignity, comfort and compassion at the end of life. Palliative care works to bring this philosophy of car to people earlier in the course of a serious illness. Hospice care brings comfort and support to those facing a life-limited illness. It also reaches out to provide support for the family and friends who love and care for them. Hospice care honors life’s final journey as it is experienced, by leaving a legacy of compassion and caring. It brings comfort, dignity and peace to help patients live each moment of their lives to the fullest, leaving loved ones with memories they can treasure. Area Community Hospice’s stated mission is to provide comfort, dignity and hope through professional teams, which are sensitive, understanding and filled with compassion to provide physical, social, emotional and spiritual care by enhancing the quality of life in those with life-limiting illnesses, one patient at a time. Nancy Kernell is owner/administrator of Area Community Hospice. She is a R.N. and CHPN (Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse. In addition to Area Community Hospice, she organized the non-profit Area Community Hospice Foundation, which helps patients who are in need of Hospice care, but have no insurance or funds to get the care they need. Hospice care is available as a benefit under Medicare Part A. It also is covered by Medicaid and most private insurance.Area Community Hospice has expanded to serve patients and families in Lubbock as well as throughout the area. It also has added a new bereavement support group, which is available for all its families.

Since 2005, Area Community Hospice has held an annual memorial program, now at First United Methodist Church, which culminates in the release of Monarch butterflies followed by a dinner for its Hospice families. Their first memorial service was in Brown Chapel on the Wayland Baptist University campus, with an overflowing crowd. It was soon moved to the FUMC chapel, but even that didn’t have sufficient seating. It’s now held in the FUMC sanctuary. “We encourage families to participate in this memorial program and to supply pictures of their loved ones, because it is a wonderful facet in the bereavement process,” Kernell notes. This year the memorial honored 105 individuals. As an example of the need for our Hospice services, Kernell said Area Community Hospice has served 1,380 patients since opening in 2004.

Area community Hospice is Plainview’s only locally owned and operated Hospice program serving Hale, Briscoe, Swisher, Floyd,

Lubbock, Lamb and Castro counties. Dr. Sergio Lara is medical director and Dr. Kevin Stinnett is

associate medical director.

For more information, call 806-293-2732 or visit www.areacommunityhospice.com.

From Staff Reports


New medica l t rea tment re l i eve s hear tbur n

“My doctor told me I have a hiatal hernia that causes bad heartburn, but he said there’s nothing to do about it. So, I just put up with it. “Don’t suffer needlessly from heartburn. There are treatments available. What is heartburn? What is a Hiatal Hernia? A Hiatal hernia is a condition where the stomach slides up into the chest cavity because the natural opening through which the esophagus (or food pipe) goes through the diaphragm becomes enlarged. Anatomists named this opening the esophageal Hiatus. When the stomach slides up into the chest, in a potential space behind the heart that can cause problems. The most common problem is Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease [GERD] or heartburn. GERD is the regurgitation of stomach juices upstream into the esophagus because the natural mechanisms that close off the stomach and keep stomach juices where they belong become non-functional when the stomach is out of place. Many people with GERD are treated adequately with medication. The most popular medications are proton pump inhibitors; these medications decrease the amount of acid produced in the stomach so that the juices that reflux upstream are not as caustic. However, a lot of people don’t get complete relief from these medications and surgery can be an option. There are surgical options to restore normal anatomy -- “fix the foundation”-- and re-enforce the body’s natural defense against Gastro Esophageal Reflux. The first step is hiatal hernia repair-utilizing laparoscopic surgery; much like a routine gallbladder surgery, surgeons can bring the stomach back to its normal position and repair the enlarged opening in the diaphragm back to its normal caliber. The hiatal hernia repair is most often combined with a procedure to re-inforce the Lower esophageal sphincter [LES]-the body’s natural mechanism to keep the stomach closed. The first successful procedure to accomplish this is the Nissen fundoplication. With this operation, the surgeon wraps the floppy upper part of the stomach around the esophagus to re-create a “flapper valve” effect in the stomach. This operation works well, but sometimes too well. About 20 percent of people with a Nissen wrap have difficulty belching or upchucking. Because of these side effects medical experts have been working for years to develop alternatives. Two alternatives have emerged as excellent alternatives to a Nissen wrap. The TIF procedure or Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication is a procedure performed inside the stomach to create a flapper valve and a partial wrap of stomach to esophagus. Many times TIF is performed in conjunction with laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair. The TIF procedure is very effective at controlling reflux symptoms yet has much lower incidence of side effects than the old fashioned operation. The Linx device is an elegant invention of a bracelet of magnetic beads that’s placed around the lower esophagus with a short laparoscopic operation. The procedure is usually performed as day surgery. The Linx bracelet is placed loosely around the LES to prevent the unwanted regurgitation of stomach juices, but the magnetic beads are weak enough to open completely to allow swallowing and even belching or upchucking if needed. Dr. Douglas G. Cummins, based in Plainview, is the only surgeon in the Panhandle/South Plains region to offer all these options to patients who suffer from uncontrolled heartburn.

Please call our Plainview Surgical Care office today at 806-296-9300 to schedule a visit to see what’s right for you.

By Douglas G. Cummins M.D.


Area Home Care, located at 201 W. 4th, has been serving Plainview and the surrounding areas for 15 years. The agency serves six counties: Hale, Castro, Briscoe, Floyd, Swisher and Lamb. Area Home Care provides skilled nursing services, physical, occupational and speech therapy services and home care aides. The agency’s most recent star rating from Medicare is 4.5 out of 5 stars, which is above average in the industry. The agency has also formerly been nationally recognized by HomeCare Elite. Becky Steffens, RN, co-owner, added that the agency staff specializes in disease and medication management and education as well as wound and ostomy care.Area Home Care offers services such as drug administration, IV therapy, wound care, lab services, wound care, ostomy care, medication and disease management and tele-health services. Area Home Care is licensed and certified by Medicare and the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. Plus, they are the only local, family-owned and operated home care agency in Plainview, meaning they are not part of a chain or franchise and do not have a CEO or Administrator who does not live in Plainview. Steffens owns the agency with her mother, Peggy Norris, LVN, and together they have more than 40 years of experience in home care. They both live in Plainview, attend church in Plainview and are part of the Plainview community.Becky has served the community in a variety of ways. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Plainview Chamber of Commerce and is a Leadership Plainview Alum. She has served as a member and Board Member of Soroptimist International of Plainview. Becky attends church at St. Alice Catholic Church and has previously served as a member and President of the Parish Council. Becky currently serves on the school board of Plainview Christian Academy.“We have a vested interest in the people of our community,” said Steffens. “Our patients are also our friends, neighbors, people we go to church with . . .”“ Our goal is to keep people out of the hospital or nursing home and independent in their own home as long as safely possible,” Steffens added. “Home is my favorite place to be, what a blessing to be able to help others stay at home” Steffens said. Area Home Care’s staff seems like family. “We have a wonderful staff. Each and every one of them go above and beyond what they are required to do every day,” she said. “Our staff is absolutely dedicated to their profession and it shows. Many of us have worked together for 15-20 years.”

To be eligible for services with Area Home Care, Steffens said the person must be considered home-bound. However that does not mean a patient can never leave their home. It means they require the assistance of a device or another person

and it takes a considerable and taxing effort to leave the home. The agency accepts Medicare and other insurance plans. The home care agency you use to provide service to you and/or your family member is YOUR choice.

If you require home care services, discuss this with your physician and let your physician know the agency you would like to use. We appreciate those who support our local businesses.

For additional information please call Area Home Care at 296-2323.

By Special to the Plainview Herald

Area Home Care serving Plainview and surrouding areas for 15 years

Courtesy Photo

“Let our family take care of your family.”


West Texas Owned & Operated

516 N. Ash • Plainview • 288-9977

Dedicated to ProvidingHigh Quality Home

Medical Equipment andServices

• Full ServiceOxygenProvider

• ProfessionalRespiratory Staff

• Sleep Apnea Testingand Products • Nebulizers • CPM’s

• Lift Chairs • Hospital Beds,Mattress • Wheelchairs & Walk Aids

• PowerWheelchairs & ScootersNow ProvidingMedela Breast Pumps

David DeLeon,Selena Reyes,Jake Galvan


Baker ready to serve area’s dietary needs

In their continued dedication to providing superior medical care for the people of the South Plains, Covenant Health Plainview is proud to welcome new registered and licensed dietitian Hannah Baker to the community. “I love it, I’m from a small town, so I appreciate the small town atmosphere of Plainview,” said Baker who has worked as the hospital’s dietitian since May. Originally from Dalhart, Baker received her dietary education from Texas Tech University before joining the Covenant Health network. A critical service in ensuring the well-being and health of Covenant Health Plainview patients, Baker is responsible for providing expert dietary guidance to both inpatients and outpatients of the hospital. “Basically, patients come in and I council them on whatever the doctor needs me to,” said Baker. This would include medical needs like diabetes, heart disease, weight loss, weight gain, renal failure and much more. Baker said diet plays a pivotal role in a patient’s road to health, recovery and prevention. “Living with diabetes doesn’t mean you have to cut carbs completely, it’s about learning which foods have carbs and

how to stay within your carb range at each meal or snack. Counseling is especially important with type-1 so they know how much insulin to dose based on how many carbs they are taking in,” Baker said. An aspect of her job includes outpatient dietary counseling which educates patients. “My job is to help them understand, implement changes, and to also be a motivator,” Baker said. Baker said diet fads can often give a lot of misinformation and habits to consumers on what is healthy and what is detrimental.

By HOMER MARQUEZCovenant Health Plainview

Courtesy Photo

Hannah Baker, registered dietitian, Covenant Health Plainview

“I love it, I’m from a small town, so I appreciate the small town atmosphere of Plainview,”

But helping patients with facts and their food choices is something Baker has always been passionate about and is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. “I grew up with my grandma being diabetic and watching her read the nutrition label on everything she ate. From a very young age I was so intrigued why she did that,” said Baker with a laugh as she recalled what first sparked her interest in becoming a dietitian. “And I was always interested in science and the body.” Baker said she is ecstatic to join the compassionate staff of

Covenant Health Plainview and serving patients in the region.


Country Dental in new location

After six years at 3109 Olton Rd., Dr. Oliver Rusher, DDS, jumped at the chance to move his Country Dental practice to a refreshing new location at 700 Joliet, overlooking Lloyd Woods Park. “This truly is a wonderful facility that I plan to call home for many years to come,” he explains. “I’m glad I was able to take advantage of this opportunity when it became available.” The building was formerly occupied by the late Dr. Ricky Cross, another dentist. After being remodeled inside and out, Dr. Rusher moved his practice there in June. “There’s more than 1,700 square-feet in this building,” Dr. Rusher said, “and plenty of parking. We’re not having to share with anyone else, and there’s plenty of space behind the building if we ever need more.” After looking around Plainview for other possible sites, Dr. Rusher quickly settled on the Joliet Street location once he saw it. “This has to be one of the prettiest spots in Plainview, overlooking the park,” he said. An additional bonus is being located across the street from the First United Methodist Church, and being able to hear the church’s bells chime on the hour throughout the day. “The view across the park combined with the bells are very calming and soothing.” Since the building has been remodeled, Dr. Rusher says it’s basically a new office inside and out with updated electrical and plumbing. But a big plus is the building’s interior layout. “From the very start, it was designed to be a dentist’s office back in 1963 for Dr. Curtis Baldwin, and that accounts for making it so very functional for us.” The building includes three treatment rooms, reception area, break room, working lab and private office. “It’s a much better layout that our previous location,” he said. In addition to Dr. Rusher, the staff of Country Dental includes Rhonda Buckner RDA, Valerie Valdez RDH/office manager, Lisa Jimenez RDA and Andi Venard RDH. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Phone 293-8374.

From Staff Reports


Interim HealthCare team is on your side

Interim HealthCare of West Texas is one of the state’s largest and most experienced providers of home healthcare services. It’s celebrating its 50th anniversary during 2016, and has been a part of Plainview for more than a decade. Brenda Simmons is director of the Plainview office, 113 W. Eighth St. (phone 806-288-0220) after starting with Interim HealthCare in Amarillo. A registered nurse, she was as a traveling nurse for Interim before being named director of the Plainview office. “We are working hard to serve and renew our commitment to the community, as well as grow outside into the region as well,” she says. Interim HealthCare, which provides both home care and Hospice services, serves an area from Matador to Abernathy, and from Dimmitt to Happy. That includes the communities of Olton, Lockney, Floydada, Hale Center, Tulia, Petersburg and Kress.“One of our more popular programs is called CarePoint. It’s designed for people who would rather stay at home than go to the doctor’s office,” Simmons explains. Instead, a physician’s assistant (PA) makes house calls when needed. CarePoint, according to Interim, is a progressive illness management program that uses the specialty of palliative care. Interim HealthCare provides both medical and nursing services to patients through four tenants of care – pain and symptom management, advance care planning and medical goals of care, medication manage and setting management. “We get patients the right care, at the right time,” an informational brochure notes. “CarePoint and palliative care focuses on the pain, symptoms and stress of progressive illnesses. It’s for patients who are not ready for Hospice and who still are seeking aggressive treatment,” Simmons says. CarePoint is specialized medical care provided in combination with curative and/or restorative treatments, and is proved to patients in whatever setting they call home. It doesn’t replace current clinical care. Rather, it is a specialty consultative medical practice that addresses many aspects of care, and provides the patient with care management support. Interim HomeCare has a local staff of 20, and is making an effort to reach out to the community in a number of activities. They will be participating in the Fall Festival at Prairie House as well as the First Responders Breakfast at Abundant Grace Church. They also participate in the monthly support group that meets at Covenant Health Plainview.

“Our goal is to help people throughout the community,” Simmons explains. “And our first priority is to provide the very best in care.”

From Staff Reports

Herald PhotoSome of the local staff of Interim HealthCare, which provides home care and Hospice services, include Estella Gomez (left), Sonya Rodriquez, Brenda

Simmons, Teresa Abbott, Sylvia Duquette and Bob Dupont.


Still Your Best Choice ...Skilled Care • Rehabilitation

1301 Mesa Drive • Plainview, TX • 806-293-4855www.prairiehouselivingcenter.com


S h i n g l e s v a c c i n a t i o n : W h a t e v e r y o n e s h o u l d k n o w

Your risk of shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) increases as you get older. CDC recommends that people 60 years old and older get shingles vaccine to prevent shingles and PHN.Shingles vaccine has been used since 2006. Zostavax is the only shingles vaccine currently approved for use in the United States. This vaccine reduces the risk of developing shingles by 51 percent and PHN by 67 percent. It is given in one dose as a shot, and can be given in a doctor’s office or pharmacy.

Who Should Get Shingles Vaccine? People 60 years of age or older should get shingles vaccine. They should get the vaccine whether or not they recall having had chickenpox, which is caused by the same virus as shingles. Studies show that more than 99 percent of Americans aged 40 and older have had chickenpox, even if they don’t remember getting the disease. There is no maximum age for getting shingles vaccine.Even if you have had shingles, you can still receive shingles vaccine to help prevent future occurrences of the disease. There is no specific length of time you must wait after having shingles before receiving shingles vaccine, but generally you should make sure the shingles rash has disappeared before getting vaccinated. The decision on when to get vaccinated should be made with your healthcare provider. Shingles vaccine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for people aged 50 years and older. However, CDC does not have a recommendation for routine use of shingles vaccine in people 50 through 59 years old. Protection from shingles vaccine lasts about 5 years, so adults vaccinated before they are 60 years old might not be protected later in life when the risk for shingles and its complications are greatest. Adults 50 through 59 years who have questions about shingles vaccine should discuss the risks and benefits with a healthcare provider. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have questions about shingles vaccine. Shingles vaccine is available in doctor’s offices and pharmacies. To find doctor’s offices or pharmacies near you that offer the vaccine, visit Zostavax or HealthMap Vaccine Finder.

Who Should Not Get Shingles Vaccine? Some people should not get shingles vaccine:--A person who has ever had a life-threatening or severe allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or any other component of shingles vaccine. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies.--A person who has a weakened immune system because of:--HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system,--treatment with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids,

--cancer treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy, or--cancer affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic system, such as leukemia or lymphoma.--Women who are or might be pregnant. Women should not become pregnant until at least 4 weeks after getting shingles vaccine.--Someone with a minor acute illness, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. But anyone with a moderate or severe acute illness should usually wait until they recover before getting the vaccine. This includes anyone with a temperature of 101.3°F or higher.

What Are the Types of Shingles Vaccine? Zostavax is only shingles vaccine currently approved for use in the United States. It is given in one dose as a shot, and can be given in a doctor’s office or pharmacy.

How Well Does Shingles Vaccine Work? Zostavax, the shingles vaccine, reduced the risk of shingles by 51 percent and the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia by 67 percent based on a large study of more than 38,000 adults aged 60 years or older. Protection from shingles vaccine lasts about 5 years.While the vaccine was most effective in people 60 through 69 years old, it also provides some protection for people 70 years old and older. Adults vaccinated before age 60 years might not be protected later in life when the risk for shingles and its complications are greatest.

What Are the Possible Side Effects of Shingles Vaccine? A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. However, the risk of a vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.No serious problems have been identified with shingles vaccine.

How Can I Pay For Shingles Vaccine?MedicareMedicare Part D plans cover the shingles vaccine, but there may be a cost to you depending on your plan. There may be a copay for the vaccine, or you may need to pay in full then get reimbursed for a certain amount.Medicare Part B does not cover the shingles vaccine.

MedicaidMedicaid may or may not cover the vaccine. Contact your insurer to find out.Private health insuranceMost private health insurance plans cover the vaccine for people 60 years of age or older. Some plans cover the vaccine for people 50 through 59 years of age.

Centers for Disease Control

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Taking it seriously Wayland counselor discusses suicide prevention

At night, when the campus dorms are quiet, students’ cell phones may light up with texts from a friend that says goodbye or talks about doing away with himself or herself. “I take all suicide threats seriously,” said Teresa Moore, Licensed Professional Counselor at Wayland Baptist University. “I would rather be wrong. If they send a text out, even if it’s just for attention, I still feel they need help. It’s a serious thing.” The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has declared September 2016 as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. “In the United States, around 1,100 students attempt suicide per year,” Moore said. “Wayland has had several attempts in the last few years. One succeeded.” WBU recently emailed employees a guide titled Assisting the Emotionally Distressed Student. The guide points out behavior that is or is not helpful when dealing with a student contemplating suicide:

this student.”

student.

consultation.

“Nothing matters; it’s no use.”

It is important as well to recognize when your skills are not enough to effectively deal with the situation. “If it gets to the point where it’s serious, call 9-1-1,” Moore advised. Campus RAs are an important part of the equation when it comes to preventing suicide or helping with other types of emotional distress. “RA training with Ron Trusler is the same as employee training,” Moore said. Trusler, with Central Plains Center, teaches Mental Health First Aid.Moore said that by using an online referral form, employees can require troubled students to come and see her. Moore said she holds individual sessions with 400 students a semester. She adds that the number tends to go up sharply around mid-term when students learn that they may be failing. Students may be struggling with life events such as a death in the family, or they may be dealing with past hurts. As a counselor licensed by the state of Texas, Moore is somewhat limited when it comes to bringing up the subject of faith.

However, “If the student opens the door, I have the freedom to speak with them, and I love that about working here,” she said. For students struggling with questions of faith and doubt, wondering “what do I really believe,” Moore said the university’s religion professors are wonderful to talk to. For those uncertain about their future, My Plan is a website that offers four personality tests to help students make career decisions. Moore is part of a team that assists with counseling students. Team members include Perry and Cassie Collins, Brian McClenagan, Donnie Brown, Brad Miles and Lonnie Burton of Wayland Police. Concerning the stress that freshman, in particular, face, Moore said some of them need help learning life skills.

so easy at the college level. Or maybe they were successful athletes, and realize that other players are more skilled than they are.” Moore recommends that freshman take no more than 12 credit

sessions, helping them learn to “be real with their professors” and get involved in campus life.Study skills are particularly important, and Moore recommends that students have a non-negotiable appointment with themselves every day to sit down and study. Students may also have accountability

Without parents or other support present, students need a support system, “and a lot of staff have become that for them,” Moore said. She mentioned one secretary that was like a “mama

Physical activity is also helpful in dealing with mental stress. A

p.m. Monday through Thursday in the aerobics room upstairs at the Laney Center.

For more information on WBU counseling, visit www.wbu.edu/student_life/counseling.

If you know someone in crisis, call the local crisis hotline at 806-774-3435 or the U.S. crisis hotline at 800-687-1300.

Helpful To:

Not Helpful To::

BY GAIL M. WILLIAMSPlainview Herald Correspondent

Teresa Moore, MAC, LPC, Director of Counseling, Career and Disability Services at Wayland Baptist

University

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Douglas E. Kopp MD has served as an ophthalmologist for 34 years which includes the four years of training after medical school graduation in 1982. Kopp has practiced medicine in Plainview for 30 years.

This update will be help us to recruit the top notch physicians and hospital staff that our community deserves. As we are able to maintain and expand our quality health services this will help Plainview and the surrounding communities to build on their strengths, and keep these areas as vibrant locations to live and work. Our hospital and community can work together to provide a bright future for our citizens.

James Durbin/Midland Reporter TelegramDouglas E Kopp MD is an ophthalmologist at the Diseases and Surgery of the Eye office at 2222 West 24th St, Suite #10 in Plainview.

Q: Can you describe Covenant Health Plainview’s commitment to the community? CHP is here to serve the community with health care services that are needed for our towns and people to succeed. With the ongoing upgrades the local hospital and the Covenant/St Joseph systems show their determined commitment to a long future in health care in Plainview.

Q: In your opinion, what are the caliber of doctors, nurses, administrators and medical staff working in Plainview?

We have excellent physicians in the community that provide a wide range of medical services. Our hospital has a top notch staff from the administration down to the nurses, technical and support staff that provide our patients with the care they need, often behind the scenes and without the accolades that they so deserve. Plainview is fortunate to have a facility and staff of this caliber that is poised to provide care for many years into the future.

Q: Personally, why have you decided to work in Plainview so long? I really enjoy working with the patients here and feel that I can provide a service that is truly needed. A day doesn’t go by in the office without someone thanking me for being and staying in Plainview all these years. Many physicians in larger communities really miss out on the real joy of working in a town where your patients are your friends too.

Q: Why are the renovations to Covenant Health Plainview important? This will allow CHP to keep up with the scientific and logistic changes in medicine that are a constant challenge and to provide our patients with the comforts they deserve at those stressful times when they have to be in the hospital. No one really wants to go to the hospital, but when you are there you to feel that you are in a place where things are high quality and yet inviting at that same time. Our surgery department expansion, which is the first part of the project, will allow our surgeons to provide top notch care with the latest in facility upgrades and equipment. When the Emergency Room upgrades are completed it will allow for smoother and more efficient care to be provided by our excellent ER doctors and nurses. Patient room upgrades will enhance the comfort of patients and their families. Other areas of the hospital, too many to mention, will also see upgrades as well, all with the goal of providing the best care possible for our deserving patients. Q: With the renovations under way, in your opinion, how will the local medical district grow even stronger and how important is that to the overall growth of Plainview? This update will be help us to recruit the top notch physicians and hospital staff that our community deserves. As we are able to maintain and expand our quality health services this will help Plainview and the surrounding communities to build on their strengths, and keep these areas as vibrant locations to live and work. Our hospital and community can work together to provide a bright future for our citizens.

Q: Can you describe Plainview’s medical district and highlight its strengths? Plainview’s medical community and hospital are here to serve Plainview and the surrounding communities with modern medicine with skills and expertise that is tailored to the needs of these rural communities. We have primary care doctors and specialists, physicians employed by Covenant as well as those who are independent, and we all work together for the goal of excellent patient care.

Longtime Plainview physician proud of community health

From Staff Reports



It’s a disorder that affects millions of Americans every night, and many don’t even know it. It is believed there are as many as 80 million undiagnosed cases. All they do know is the tiredness they feel each and every morning, despite getting “enough” sleep. “Many people don’t even know they have it, they just know they don’t feel right in the morning,” said Juan Escamilla, cardiopulmonary director for Covenant Health Plainview as he explained the effects of sleep apnea. “You wake up in the morning and you’re tired, you feel groggy all day, you have a headache, even though you believe you’ve slept eight hours.” However, in an effort to ensure everyone in the region has a chance to get a good night’s rest, Covenant Health Plainview has re-introduced a new and improved sleep lab that can pin-point and alleviate the suffocating effects of sleep apnea. “After I participated in the sleep lab and was placed on CPAP, the effects were immediate. I just felt great,” said Escamilla, who admitted he dealt with sleep apnea for a good portion of his life. “Sleep apnea is a disease where at night your airway shuts down, primarily, because the tongue tissue relaxes and blocks the airway in the back of your throat. When you’re going to sleep, when you are getting into that REM cycle, that heavy relaxed sleep, your airways collapse and begin to obstruct your breathing.” As a result, Escamilla said patients then start gasping for air. Without even realizing it, a person with sleep apnea can stop breathing several times throughout the night. “I tell you what, when I did my sleep study I found out I would stop breathing for up to 45 seconds several times an hour,” Escamilla said. On top of the grogginess a person might feel in the morning, the physiological strains associated with sleep apnea can lead to heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and other dangerous health risks. Surrounded with all the amenities and comfort of your own home bedroom, Covenant Health Plainview’s sleep lab features the latest Alice 6 sleep apnea diagnostic equipment. Once a sleep study has been ordered, patients are scheduled for an off-site overnight study where their sleep is monitored by polysomnographic tech and registered respiratory therapist Paula Hukill. “The tech will attach several wires with electrodes to your head to monitor your brain waves to determine the stage of sleet. Sensors on your chest monitor cardiac activity and respiratory rate. A finger sensor will monitor oxygen saturation.” said Escamilla. Escamilla said they try to make the experience as comfortable as possible as patients sleep in a queen sized bed while techs monitor in another room. Patients are encouraged to bring their own pillows or items from home to help them feel more comfortable. The most common treatment for sleep apnea is CPAP therapy which provides continuous positive airway pressure to the patient while they sleep. While wearing a mask, a small machine that supplies a constant and steady stream of air pressure keeps the airway open. Once diagnosed, the CPAP machine is applied and titrated to ensure optimal pressure for each patient. “They put that on me and I slept for about two hours, and I woke up feeling like I had slept 20,” said Escamilla after sleeping the first night with the CPAP. Risk factors for sleep apnea include excessive weight, neck circumference, smoking, family history, being male, and being older. Though the symptoms of a sleepless night can be felt in the morning, Escamilla said heavy snoring can also be a clue of sleep apnea. “Not everybody that snores has sleep apnea, but everybody that has sleep apnea snores,” Escamilla said. In many cases the bed partner is the first to recognize there is a problem because they may be awakened by the snoring, then notice breathing interruptions. Sleep studies can only be performed with a physician’s order so patients who may have symptoms should consult with their doctor.

A better sleep with the help of Covenant Health Plainview


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It’s a token of appreciation to our military veterans. Additionally, Covenant Health Plainview hopes the gesture of their latest project will catch on across the community. “I believe all of our veterans are well deserving of this,” said Covenant Health Plainview facilities manager Landon Roberts, who came up with the idea of creating special veteran parking spaces at the hospital. While attending a national fire safety conference, Roberts said he learned of a trend where businesses reserved veteran parking spots at the front of their locations. “I thought, what a great honor it would be to provide those same parking spots at our hospital,” Roberts said. “So I made the recommendation to our administration and they were all for it.”With his facilities crew - which includes plant supervisor Juan Hernandez, Jose Flores, Margarito Rodriguez, Alfredo Ramirez and Henry Arteaga - Roberts went to work creating the spaces.And the parking spaces are hard to miss as the spots feature purple paint on the asphalt, a star-spangled painted sign pole and a patriotic sign designed by Graphic Zone. “So we are going to provide nine spaces; two at the rural health clinic, one on the eastside of the north parking lot of the hospital, two on west of the front parking lot, one outside the Anderson Building’s entrance on the north end of the hospital, one at the emergency room entrance, one at the Plainview Medical Plaza (2404 Yonkers) and one at Edgemere Medical Building (2406 Yonkers).”Roberts thinks the parking spaces will be huge convenience for veterans who have to visit the hospital. “Well, we have a lot of veterans who don’t want to park in the handicap spots and take them, so this gives them a place to park that’s close to the doors instead of being way out in the middle of the parking lot.” Covenant administration hopes their initiative to be the first to offer the parking spots in Plainview will set a precedent for other businesses in the community.“Covenant Hospital Plainview is honored to support our veterans. Through this small gesture of some special parking designations on our campus, we are modeling the way for perhaps other businesses in Plainview to do the same,” said Covenant Health Plainview Chief Operations Officer Robert Copeland.Roberts agreed. “I’m hoping it will set a trend for Plainview as well, and hopefully other businesses and other places will honor the veterans the same.”

Herald PhotoCovenant Health Plainview facility personnel Jose Flores and Margarito Rodriguez set an American flag sign on the new reserved veteran parking spots at Covenant Health Plainview.

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Covenant hospital introduces veteran parking From Staff Reports


Covenant Health Plainview earns 4-Star rating

Covenant Health Plainview’s dedication to health care excellence has pushed the local hospital to the front of the regional pack as it was announced the Plainview facility recently earned a 4-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The new CMS star rating system known as, Hospital Compare, awarded Covenant Health Plainview (CHP) one of the few 4-star ratings in the region for in the category of Acute Care Hospitals that offer emergency services. “Covenant Health Plainview is committed to providing quality care and service to our patients,” said Covenant Health Plainview CEO Bob Copeland as he praised the work of physicians and staff. “This 4-star rating is a great indicator of the outstanding work performed by all our co-workers and physicians,” The Hospital Compare overall rating system uses more than 60 measures to grade facilities, including hospital-acquired infection rates, emergency room wait times, physician and nurse care, cleanliness, pain management and many other medical capabilities. The CMS rating was created to help individuals, family members and caregivers access an easy to understand method of comparing hospitals and understand the quality of care they deliver. Covenant Health Plainview’s rating was on par with larger-city hospitals in Amarillo and scored better than most medical facilities in Lubbock, Brownfield, Hereford and Levelland. In the collected survey data, CHP scored above the Texas and national average in patients who felt their nurses and doctors “always” communicated well, their pain was managed well and their needs were quickly assessed. The same high trend of outscoring the state and national average continued in patients reporting “always” having a clean and quiet hospital room. Seventy-three percent of patients reported giving the hospital an overall high rating of 9 or 10, and 71 percent reported they would “definitely” recommend the hospital. To view the CMS ratings and other health care consumer information, visit Hospital Compare at www.medicare.gov.

Covenant Health Plainview’s roots began in 1912 with the establishment of the first hospital in Hale County, the Guyton

Nichols Sanitarium. For most of its 100-year history, the citizens of the region have benefited from the most advanced healthcare

available closer to home. Covenant Health Plainview is a thriving 68- bed facility which provides top-quality care with services that include cardiology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, urology, general surgery, a trauma-4 emergency room and much more. Covenant

Health Plainview is part of the integrated health care system of St. Joseph Health, broadening the scope of services available to you and strengthening the continuum of care. Covenant Hospital Plainview is a faith-based, not-for-profit institution rooted in the belief of the

healing ministry of Jesus.


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