Wounds can happen at home under a variety of circumstances. They can occur while cooking, when a sharp object accidentally scrapes the skin, or during minor accidents like falling off of a bike and skidding on the pavement. Animal bites are another type of injury that often occur at home, and more severe wounds can happen during car accidents or other traumatic events.

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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Have you decided to be more healthy in 2012? We understand that focusing on the numbers of nutrition can be intimidating. Breaking down your nutritional needs sometimes takes on a complexity that can be off-putting. Here are some ways to make it easier for you.

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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A trip to the ER is almost always unexpected. To make this scary time easier on you and to make sure that you or your loved one gets the best care possible, take some steps to prepare for the trip ahead of time.

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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The New Year is just about here! What are some of your New Year’s resolutions? We hope that some of yours are focused on your health this year. Why? By making every effort to stay healthy now, you are investing in your health, happiness and longevity in the years to come. That’s right, what you do now will affect you years from now and it is up to you to decide to prioritize your health above everything else. WomansDay.com notes that you should not wait for motivation but rather allow your actions toward health to motivate you. Getting started now is the right decision.

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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Addiction can take a toll on both a person’s physical and mental well-being. It can be devastating for many and affect their livelihood, family and ability to function normally on a daily basis. For those who want help with their addiction, there is effective treatment and recovery is possible. Sometimes simply knowing what to expect can help a person suffering from addiction take the first step toward recovery.

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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At University Hospital & Medical Center, we are committed to meeting the needs of our community and providing compassionate care with first-rate physicians, advanced technology and top quality services. We’re here for you when you need us, and when you do, there are several simple ways in which you can contact us.

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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Flu season is here. Keeping you and your family healthy during the winter months is easy if you plan ahead. In fact, knowing what can precipitate influenza may help you to avoid it entirely. You may want to follow these simple recommendations for flu prevention.

Flu Prevention Tip 1: Wash Your Hands

CleanLink.com recommends washing hands as one of the top ways to avoid influenza. Washing your hands frequently during flu season is easy. Simply being aware that your environment may harbor influenza will help remind you to maintain good hygiene. Washing your hands after shaking hands or handling stair railings and doorknobs can help to reduce the chances of getting sick.

Flu Prevention Tip 2: Avoid Touching Hands and Face

It may be difficult to avoid touching your hands and face but Flu.gov recommends it as a top preventative measure when fighting influenza. Because you will touch items all day long, it is a good idea to get used to keeping your hands away form your eyes and mouth. Washing up before meals will help, also.

Flu Prevention Tip 3: Monitor Children

Children may fall victim to flu simply because of their habits. Your little ones want to touch everything, and they love to play with the toys of other children. Unfortunately, this is an easy way to spread flu viruses. A Clover Park Technical College article suggests wiping down shared items with an antibacterial. Help your children by monitoring what they touch and look out for flu symptoms in other children.

Flu Prevention Tip 4: Don’t Go to Work Sick

An article by Infection Control Today related that nearly a third of Americans surveyed said they would go to work despite being sick. This has the potential of spreading the flu throughout a workplace. Staying home while you are sick with the flu will help to protect your coworkers and will prevent them from spreading it on to their family and other associates.

Flu Prevention Tip 5: Vaccination

One of the best ways to prevent you and your family from getting the flu is vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control recommends yearly flu shots. Each year, new vaccines are created to protect against the most common flu viruses. Get your flu shots now to help keep you and your family safe this flu season.

University Hospital & Medical Center wants to see you get through the 2011-2012 influenza season in good health. To get your flu shot, schedule an appointment with one of our physicians, or to find out more about flu prevention, call our free Consult-A-Nurse® service now at 1-888-256-7728.

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Aging can be a difficult process, especially for those who are far away from family, or who have already lost their spouse and closest friends. Behavioral health conditions are common for older adults – a Surgeon General report states that nearly 20 percent of adults over 55 are experiencing a mental illness. Unfortunately, the older a person is, the more likely their symptoms will remain trivialized and undiagnosed. Family or caretakers are often quick to consider unusual behavior patterns to be a natural part of the aging process. 

Depression
As a person reaches the twilight years of his life, he is likely to encounter an increasing amount of daily challenges. His spouse might die, along with his closest friends. He may have to give up high-energy activities that he enjoyed in the past. Financial or medical problems may begin to weigh down on his mood. Although temporary and natural periods of grief, worry, frustration, or loneliness are not a sign of mental illness, many older adults will find themselves dealing with untreated clinical depression that persists for several years. 

Alzheimer’s Disease
Forgetfulness is a natural sign of aging, but if occasional memory loss starts to become a daily occurrence, along with confusion, aggression, or hallucinations, Alzheimer’s disease might be the culprit. There is currently no cure to Alzheimer’s, and patients with this condition will need increasing levels of special care as the disease progresses.

Anxiety Disorders
The Surgeon General reports that 11.4 percent of adults over 55 have some kind of anxiety disorder, ranging from phobias to OCD. The most common anxiety disorder for older adults is agoraphobia, which often results in patients who are uncomfortable in places other than their home or the homes of their loved ones.

If you suspect that an aging family member may have a behavioral health condition, call UHMC at 954-724-6502 for a free assessment with no future obligation. We can provide resources and referrals for professionals who can help. Please visit our website to learn more. 

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You know from reading our posts earlier this month that The Pavilion at University Hospital offers patients a tranquil setting and access to a wide variety of mental health professionals along with high-quality care.

At The Pavilion, we provide inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care for adult, child and adolescent patients. We care for such problems as alcohol and drug abuse; anxiety disorders like post traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and separation anxiety; mood disorders like bipolar and depression; and schizophrenia. We offer crisis intervention, family counseling, marriage counseling, individual counseling, group counseling, recreation and art therapy, and referrals to community support groups.

We are also proud to offer a very special kind of complementary therapy that has proven benefits for all patients: pet therapy.

Pet therapy programs have been used successfully for years in hospitals. Numerous studies have demonstrated the many health benefits for patients.

Visiting with an animal lowers a patient’s blood pressure, and decreases anxiety, depression and loneliness. It provides a welcome distraction from pain and illness. An animal also improves a patient’s interaction and responsiveness. Animals motivate patients to look, speak and reach out to make contact.

So, why does pet therapy work so well?

Acceptance

Animals accept you without qualification. They don’t care how you look or what you say. They are forgiving. Their acceptance is nonjudgmental and a welcome respite for many patients.

Mental Stimulation

Animals’ presence brightens the atmosphere and increases amusement. The positive distraction often goes a long way toward decreasing a patient’s negative feelings and increasing their engagement.

Outward Focus

Patients coping with mental illness focus on themselves. Animals help them change focus. Patients stop thinking about themselves and their problems and start watching, talking and interacting with the animals.

Physiological

Patients relax in the presence of animals, especially when petting them. Numerous studies have shown a marked decrease in blood pressure.

Rapport

Animals can improve communication between a patient and a mental health professional. They help create an atmosphere that is emotionally safe and may break down a person’s initial resistance. Children are especially likely to connect with an animal.

Socialization

Studies have shown that when animals come to visit a facility, there is more laughter and interaction than at any other event. Animals encourage socialization among clients, staff, family and visitors.

Touch

Much has been written about the correlation between touch and health. Patients who live without touch don’t develop healthy relationships. They often fail to thrive and grow. Having an animal to hold can make a world of difference to people who might otherwise have no positive, appropriate physical contact.

The Pavilion at University Hospital offers the care and expertise that patients need to overcome their mental illness. If you think you may be at risk for depression, please take this short self-assessment test and then visit The Pavilion website for more information. We can help.