Diabetics needs to be extremely diligent about their wound care. Symptoms of diabetes include poor circulation, nerve damage and a compromised immune system. As a result, wounds take longer to heal and can lead to dangerous infection if not treated properly.

Tips for Treating Wounds at Home
If a wound is bleeding severely, call 911 as soon as possible for immediate professional assistance. It is usually possible to treat minor wounds at home, and in severe cases you will have to take the initial steps yourself before paramedics arrive. It’s a good idea to keep a first aid kit handy at all times to treat simple wounds yourself or to stabilize injuries before medical attention is administered.

According to the National Library of Medicine, the following treatment tips should be followed when treating wounds at home:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap or use an antibacterial hand sanitizer to prevent infection
• Wash the cut with mild soap and water and be sure to rinse away all soap residue
• If you see objects inside the wound or a body part is protruding, seek medical attention
• Apply pressure directly to the wound to stop bleeding
• Apply an antibacterial ointment, such as Neosporin
• Apply a clean bandage that will not stick to the wound

Things to Remember

• If a cut appears to be more than a quarter inch deep, you should seek medical care as it may require stitches to heal properly
• Poisonous snake bites, spider bites, stings, and animal bites can cause severe damage and require immediate medical attention

Long Term Wound Care

• Be sure to change dressings on a wound daily or as directed by your physician
• Follow proper wound cleansing techniques as determined by your physician
• Treat the wound with antibiotic ointment or use medication exactly as prescribed
• Carefully check for infection while changing the dressing
• Signs of infection include: red or swollen skin, a foul smell and warm skin
• Keep regular appointments for wound care

If you are experiencing a serious medical emergency, call 911 for assistance. University Hospital and Medical Center’s emergency department provides treatment to all patients as quickly as possible. The Wound Healing Center at UHMC also offers patients care specific to their medical condition to prevent the onset of dangerous infection. Please call our free Consult-A-Nurse® service to learn more about our wound healing services or for a physician referral at 1-888-256-7728.

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Help Prevent Heart Disease with These 4 Steps
Although some things that contribute to heart disease are hereditary, you can make lifestyle changes regarding the following four risk factors:

1. Quit smoking. Smoking is the most important preventable cause of death in the U.S. and research has found that smoking is a major cause of heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, atherosclerosis—the buildup of fatty substances in the arteries—is a main contributing factor to the high number of deaths from smoking.
2. Eat a healthier diet. The old saying “You are what you eat” has a lot of truth behind it. Diet plays a major role when it comes to heart disease. To keep your heart in tip-top shape, be sure to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, choose whole grains, and low-fat proteins. Limit your intake of saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium. Obesity also contributes to heart disease, and a healthier diet can help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
3. Exercise regularly. Not only does exercise help you look and feel better, the CDC has found that regular physical activity reduces the risk of dying from heart disease.
4. Manage high blood pressure. High blood pressure causes the heart to work harder and over time, this causes the heart to weaken. If your doctor has diagnosed you with high blood pressure, be sure to follow all medical advice and take medications as prescribed.

If you or a loved one begins to experience heart attack symptoms, get to the emergency room as quickly as possible.  If you have non-urgent heart-related questions, our Consult-A-Nurse® nurses and referral specialists provide consultation 24 hours a day by phone at 1-888-256-7728.

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Organize Your Health Needs
Staying in shape and eating healthy can mean many things to many people. Take the time to get organized and put together a set of nutritional goals based around your personal health needs. What are you aiming to do? Some may be looking to cut calories, lower salt intake, reduce the amount of red meat they consume or simply cut out fast food meals. Organizing yourself so that you have a realistic action plan to reach an achievable goal is half the battle.

My Plate
Are you looking for some nutritional guidance that is easy to understand? My Plate is a recent USDA nutritional campaign aimed at clearly illustrating healthy nutrition. My Plate helps to explain proper proportions for grains, fruits and vegetables, meats and dairy. You might be surprised to find that fruits and vegetables should be one of the biggest portions served in your meal!

Food Labels
If you are heading to the grocery store, be prepared to do a little reading. For any focus on nutrition to be successful, buyers must read food labels to see what they are consuming. Pay careful attention to the serving sizes, also. One serving size may be a lot smaller than expected so you could very easily double or triple your calorie, salt or fat intake. Keep track of these totals and percentages.

Depending on your dietary needs, look for higher counts of

• Protein
• Calcium
• Vitamins and minerals

Look for lower counts of

• Calories
• Carbohydrates
• Fats
• Cholesterol
• Sugar
• Sodium (salt)

Balanced Diet
Keep in mind that not all carbohydrates, cholesterol or fats are bad. It is is important to eliminate as many empty calories as possible so that the food you are consuming is being processed by your body as efficiently as possible.

Health by Numbers
If you are looking for simple ways to calculate your health needs, Heart.org offers a free fat calculator while SheerBalance.com provides a free nutritional calculator. Another fun tool offered by MealInformation.com is a daily requirements calculator. If you would like to organize and track your diet and fitness routine, try out the Super Tracker tool.

Understanding Your Daily Requirements
The above charts are helpful but do not take into account your personal body type or individual health needs. Make sure to include your doctor when creating your dietary regimen. Your personal physician will be able to offer advice that is geared toward your personal medical condition and even your family medical history.

University Hospital wants to help you with your commitment to diet and nutrition. Call us to ask questions, find a physician or schedule an appointment. Our free Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-888-256-7728 is available 24-hours a day.

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Organ donation can offer another person a new chance at life when certain organs or tissues no longer function. Organs that can be transplanted include the kidneys, heart, liver, pancreas, intestines and lungs, as well as skin, bone and bone marrow, and the corneas. The National Institutes of Health explains that while most organ donations occur after the donor’s death, some organs and tissues can be donated while the donor is alive.

Organ Donors Change Lives

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 20 people die each day waiting for transplants that can’t take place because of the shortage of donated organs. You could help make a difference! Here are five top reasons why you should register to become an organ donor on National Donor Day:

1. You can save a life. One organ donor can save up to eight lives, and statistics show that many people live long and healthy lives after receiving a transplant.

2. The demand is high. Over 100,000 people are waiting for an organ at any given time.

3. It’s free for you. There is no cost associated with becoming an organ donor. Your family will not be charged for the medical procedures involved.

4. Minority need is high. Certain blood types are more prevalent in ethnic minority populations such as African-Americans, Asians, Native Americans, and Hispanics. Matching blood type is necessary for organ transplants, so the need for minority organ donors is high.

5. Everyone is eligible. There are over 80 million Americans currently signed up to be organ donors, and age is not a factor. Parents can authorize organ donation for children under the age of 18 and organs have even been donated from donors in their 70s and 80s.

University Hospital and Medical Center is committed to the health and well-being of our community and we encourage you to consider organ donation. Florida residents can register to become an organ, tissue and eye donor online at Donate Life Florida. You can also sign up for the national registry of potential bone marrow and blood stem cell donors at Be the Match. 

If you have questions or concerns about organ donation or any other health-related issue, please contact Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-888-256-7728. Our nurses and physician referral specialists are available by phone 24 hours a day.

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How to Be Prepared
Learn the locations of your local emergency rooms in the event that you need to drive to the ER on a moment’s notice. Multicare.org suggests keeping an organized list of all of your family’s medications, illnesses, allergies, operations, physicians and pharmacies. Be sure to share this data with your family and associates so that they can communicate to emergency medical technicians more effectively on your behalf. You should also educate your children about their medications in the event they need to tell ER personnel. KidsHealth.org suggests leaving relevant medical information for babysitters as well.

What You Should Carry on Your Person
Once you have organized and created a list of all your family’s medical conditions and needs, be sure to bring it with you to the ER. Don’t forget that HCA hospitals offer the ICE card (In Case of Emergency). This will help inform ER staff about your medical needs and conditions, ensuring the best medical care possible.

What Determines Emergency Room Wait Times?
The number one reason for your ER wait to be longer is that the medical staff may be treating patients with severe or life threatening conditions. The ER staff has the difficult job of determining who gets treatment first. Being patient is key, since those seen before you may have a more serious (even life-threatening) health condition. Other factors that may effect ER wait times are;

• Community size
• Holidays
• Nearby colleges

How Does a Hospital ER Prioritize Patient Needs?
Different emergencies require different response times and the hospital emergency staff must respond appropriately. Individuals requiring resuscitation receive care first, followed by emergent conditions such as heart attack, overdose, hypothermia and other life-threatening conditions. Next, ER personnel will treat visitors by determining if their care is urgent, semi-urgent or non-urgent. If your condition is semi-urgent or non-urgent, you may need to wait until the medical staff has seen to patients with greater health risks.

University Hospital works hard to keep ER wait times down. Visit our website to find out our current wait time. To find out more about our ICE card please call 1-866-4HCA-DOCS (442-2362.) To learn the location of University Hospital, to find a physician or to schedule an appointment, please call our free Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-888-256-7728

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Your Options
Significant joint or back pain that affects your daily life needs to be treated. The question is “how?” The first step is to set up a consultation with a physician who specializes in orthopedics. Typically, a physician will consider using oral medication, topical agents, injections, physical therapy or home care methods before discussing surgery with you. Every patient is different, with different causes for pain. While certain methods for pain treatment work better for some patients than others, you and your physician will determine a plan of action to treat your specific condition.

Risk Assessment
The Orthopedic and Spine Institute has online risk assessment cards for back and joint pain, athletic injuries, and other orthopedic issues. Review them here and if you answer “yes” to any of the six questions on the card, then you should be evaluated by a physician or orthopedic surgeon.

Physical Therapy and Rehab
Building up muscles to support and stabilize your joint or spine can make a significant difference to your mobility. Whether therapy is needed before or after surgery, exercising regularly under the direction of a trained therapist could be the answer to your pain issues and recovery.

Preparing for Surgery
If surgery is the best option to treat your pain, there are a number of ways to prepare so that you know what to expect. UHMC offers a concierge service for pre-op patients to answer questions and assist the patient and the family before and on the day of surgery.

UHMC also offers a Pre-Operative Education Class. Information is shared about diet suggestions, home preparation during recovery, and what to expect from the procedure itself. You will also meet other pre-op patients with your same concerns and experiences.

If you would like to meet with a physician or orthopedic surgeon at UHMC, please contact our Consult-A-Nurse service for a free referral at 1-888-256-7728. For more information about the Orthopedic and Spine Institute, please visit our website.

1. Stay active. Whether that means taking the stairs instead of the elevator or joining a Zumba class after work, increased physical activity will assist with weight loss, reduce your cholesterol levels, and keep your arteries clear of blockages.

2. Stop smoking. Smoking actually doubles your risk for stroke by weakening blood vessels and increasing your blood pressure. Schedule an appointment with your doctor today to learn about ways to quit.

3. Eat a healthy diet. By cutting back saturated fats and increasing your fruit and vegetable intake, you will lose weight, clear your blood vessels and put less strain on your circulatory system.

4. Have your cholesterol level checked regularly. By becoming more aware of your cholesterol, you will understand your risk for stroke and the effect diet has on your levels.

5. Limit alcohol use. Alcohol use can raise your blood pressure and potentially harden your arteries.

6. Manage your diabetes. Sufferers often have high blood pressure and high cholesterol thanks to increased levels of blood sugar.

7. Maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight will strain your circulatory system, increase your blood pressure, and put you at a higher risk for diabetes.

8. Monitor your blood pressure. Be sure you are aware of your blood pressure and have it treated if it is too high. High blood pressure greatly increases your chances of having a stroke.

9. Know your family history. If there is a history of stroke in your family, your chances of having one increase. It should be noted that your age, gender, race, and ethnicity statistically either increase or decrease your chances of stroke also.

10. Talk to your health care provider. The more proactive you are about your health and diet, the lower your risk of stroke will be. Your health care provider can help you map out an effective way to apply all of these prevention techniques in your daily life.

University Hospital is committed to preventative health care for its community. If you have any questions about stroke prevention or if you need a physician referral, please call 1-866-442-2362. To learn more about the services we offer at University Hospital, please visit our website.

Sources:
Stroke Prevention (National Stroke Association)
Stroke (CDC)

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Resolve to Be Healthy
Poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle and obesity are three major roadblocks to good health. Start your 2012 resolutions by choosing a proper diet. Keep in mind that it is not all about your figure when it comes to dieting. Be sure to choose a meal program that promotes cardiovascular health, fights cancer, and keeps your cholesterol in good balance. However, you will probably find that healthy food choices will result in weight loss if you reduce your daily calorie count.

Exercise keeps your muscles and your internal organs fed with much-needed oxygen. Health experts recommend as little as 30 minutes  of regular exercise a day to help stave off disease and illness such as diabetes, high blood pressure and various heart conditions.

Safe Health Resolutions
If you are obese, elderly or have been sedentary for a long period of time, be sure to consult a physician about changing your lifestyle habits. Certain exercise routines may be safer or more beneficial than others. You should also know your calorie and nutrient requirements. Your doctor can advise you about which foods can help prevent or delay certain conditions specific to you. Just remember that it is never too late to start a healthy diet and exercise routine.

Make Your Health Resolutions a Reality
Get started now by making an appointment with your doctor. FamilyCircle.com reminds us that early diagnosis puts you a step ahead when fighting disease. Start your new health routines by learning your current condition so kick off your 2012 health resolutions with a checkup.

University Hospital wishes you a safe, healthy and happy New Year! For more health related information or to schedule an appointment, please call our free Consult-A-Nurse® service now at 1-888-256-7728.

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Dedication
At University Hospital & Medical Center, we work hard to help a person on his or her journey of recovery. Our mission is to help patients gain independence and control over their recovery from substance dependence. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring that each patient receives the services and support necessary to continue this recovery in his or her own community.

Trust and Confidentiality
Our substance abuse program offers specialized outpatient programs for persons with substance difficulties. We treat patients who are medically stable and who can safely detox while remaining in the environment in which they’ll function when they are drug free. All of our programs are staffed by highly experienced professionals, and patients can recover in an atmosphere of confidentiality and trust.

A Continuum of Care
We offer a range of care services including: individual counseling, family counseling, group counseling, crisis intervention, education, and information about community services and support groups.

To learn more about University Hospital & Medical Center behavior health services, visit us online or call us at 954-724-6502.

Sources:
University Hospital & Medical Center
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

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Find a physician, by searching our easy-to-use directory by name, location or specialty.

For physician referrals and/or health information, use our free Consult-A-Nurse® service. Our nurses and referral specialists can help you find a doctor, schedule an appointment, register you for classes or events, and answer healthcare-related questions. They can provide information in regard to a physician’s medical specialty, skills and experience; let you know which physicians are accepting new patients; and inform you of a physician’s office hours and location. And while our nurses don’t diagnose conditions, they are available to talk with you about your health concerns. Our nurses are available 24 hours a day by phone; simply call 1-888-256-7728.

If you’d like to request a copy of your medical records, just print and complete the Authorization for Release of Protected Health Information form. Also make a legible copy of a valid photo I.D. and include your phone number. Then mail, fax or bring your request to our Health Information Management Department. For more information or assistance, call us at 954-724-6354.

If you’d like to visit the hospital in person, we provide helpful maps and directions online.

For other needs or questions, consult our online Department Directory, or simply call our main number at 954-721-2200.

Source:
University Hospital & Medical Center

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