Healthy
MARCH 2012
A guide to better health
from The Backus Health System
CONNECTIONS
One step
at a time
Teen’s improbable recovery continues one year later
TOP NEWS
FROM THE CEO
Our latest vision
Reimagined publication brings news directly to you
O
ur Backus Health System is proud to provide
our community with the latest health
information, news and trends. Our newly
designed Healthy Connections magazine is our latest way of doing that.
Our goal is to provide clear, comprehensive,
important and timely information that you won’t
get anywhere else. Ten times per year, Healthy
Connections will be mailed directly to your homes,
and we hope you enjoy it and find news you can
n Dave
Whitehead,
Backus
Hospital
President
and Chief
Executive
Officer
use to improve your health
and that of those you love.
Thank you for allowing us to serve you. If you
have any questions or
suggestions for our publication, please do not hesitate to call our Director
of Communications and Community Relations,
Shawn Mawhiney, at 860889-8331, ext. 2312.
Three-Bean Chili
Makes 8 single-cup servings
n This multicolor chili takes just 30 minutes to prepare, and it’s chock full of fiber. Serve it with
brown rice or warmed tortillas and a green salad.
n Heat 1/2 cup water in a large pot. Add onion and cumin seeds
and cook over high heat, stirring often, until onion is soft, 3 to 5
minutes. Add a bit more water if onion begins to stick.
n Stir in garlic, bell pepper, and 1/2 cup water. Reduce heat to
medium and cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
n Add tomatoes or tomato sauce, chili powder, and remaining 1
cup water. Cover and simmer 5 minutes.
n Add beans and their liquid. Cover loosely and simmer 15
minutes.
“This vegetarian dish is great for helping control weight.
It’s low in calories, high in protein and high in fiber,
which may help keep you feeling full longer.”
— Whitney Bundy, registered dietitian and Associate Administrator of
Clinical Support Services
Nutrition Analysis (per single serving): 174 Calories; 1 g Fat; 0.2 g Saturated Fat; 5.1% Calories from Fat; 0 mg Cholesterol; 10.8 g Protein; 32.5 g
Carbohydrate; 3.7 g Sugar; 8.3 g Fiber; 395 mg Sodium; 96 mg Calcium; 3.9 mg Iron; 16.8 mg Vitamin C; 328 mcg Beta-Carotene; 1.3 mg Vitamin E
Source: The Survivor’s Handbook: Eating Right for Cancer Survival
Matthew Crowe takes a few steps with the
help of Physical Therapist Dimitri Arvanitakis, right, and Rehab Assistant Cindy
Bernier, left, during a therapy session two
weeks ago at the Backus Outpatient Care
Center. He has been receiving speech and
physical therapy at the center, including
walking with the aid of a walker.
2 l Healthy Connections
We want to know your comments,
questions or story ideas.
n Keith Fontaine, Vice President
and Chief Administrative Officer
[email protected] 860-823-6539
n Shawn Mawhiney, Director of
Communications and Community
Relations [email protected] 860-889-8331 x2312
MARCH 2012 Backus has named Mary Bylone, a
nurse with three decades of bedside nursing and management
experience, as
Vice President
and Chief
Nursing
Officer.
In her role,
Ms. Bylone
oversees
Patient Care
Services and all
n Mary
nursing funcBylone,
tions throughRN
out the Backus
Health System.
A trained intensive care nurse, she
spent much of her career managing critical care departments. She
is a published author, lecturer and
medical-legal nurse consultant.
n For more information
on these stories, go to
backushospital.org
PLEASE
RECYCLE
THIS
MAGAZINE
HOW TO REACH US
ON THE COVER
Backus Corporation and Hartford
HealthCare Corporation have
jointly announced that they are
exploring a formal affiliation of the
two healthcare systems.
The two organizations entered
into a non-binding Letter of
Intent, beginning a process that is
expected to take several months. If
successful, Backus would become a
member of the Hartford HealthCare
network.
Bylone named Chief
Nursing Officer
Recipe of the month
2 cups water, divided (1/2 cup plus 1/2 cup
plus 1 cup)
1 large onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
6 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1 green bell pepper, seeded and
chopped
1 cup crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 15-ounce can black beans, undrained,
or 11/2 cups of cooked black beans with
1/2 cup of added water or vegetable
broth
1 15-ounce can great Northern beans,
undrained, or 11/2 cups of cooked
Northern beans with 1/2 cup of added
water or vegetable broth
1 15-ounce can red beans, undrained, or
11/2 cups of cooked red beans with 1/2
cup of added water or vegetable broth
Backus to explore
affiliation with
Hartford HealthCare
NEED BACK ISSUES OR REPRINTS?
n Ginny James, Communications
Assistant [email protected] 860-8898331 x4211
OTHER RESOURCES
n The Backus Hospital website contains
a wealth of useful healthcare information, including an archive of past issues
of Healthy Connections
www.backushospital.org
n Subscribe to HealthE*Connections,
our free e-newsletter. Visit our website
to enter your e-mail address.
n Follow Backus on:
facebook.com/backushospital
twitter.com/backushospital
youtube.com/backushospital
Copyright © 2012 • Backus Corporation
• March 2012 ~ Vol. 12 ~ Issue 3
The William W. Backus Hospital
Matt Crowe’s
road to recovery
May/June 2011
n Returned
home and
began going
to the Backus
Outpatient
Care Center
for continued
outpatient
services,
including physical and occupational therapy.
Oct. 26, 2010
n “Code Red” arrival
at Backus following
a car crash in Griswold. Transferred to a
Rhode Island hospital
for treatment for his
traumatic brain injury.
2010
October 2011
n Able to roll over on one side and
get himself into a sitting position.
Also able to walk short distances
with a walker and an ankle brace.
2011
2012
January 2011
March 2011
December 2011
n Returned to Backus in a
coma, for management of
infection and ongoing care
after multiple surgeries in
Rhode Island. After administration of medications to
help gain consciousness, he
first opened his eyes and
tracked a nurse with his eyes.
n Discharged from
Backus alert and using
signs to communicate.
Sent to Mount Sinai
Rehabilitation Hospital in Hartford for a
six-week program of
physical, occupational
and speech therapy.
n Matt received botox injections in his
legs to help stabilize
them, and his walking has continued
to improve. He still
walks with assistance and an ankle
brace.
PATIENT PERSPECTIVE
From trauma
to thank you
After a
terrible crash,
Matt Crowe
is beating
the odds
Matt Crowe
sends his
thanks to
Backus in his
own handwriting.
F
ollowing a 2010 car crash, teen ager Matthew Crowe wasn’t
expected to make much of a
recovery. He suffered many injuries — including brain trauma.
But one year after receiving extraordinary care from a number of clinicians at Backus, he’s come out of a coma
and is learning to eat, walk, talk and write again.
“When Matt came to our unit his prognosis wasn’t good,” said Terie Anderson, RN. “A lot of us are parents on
the floor and we wanted the best for him. We never gave up on Matt. He touched everybody’s life.”
With an unbreakable spirit, Matt is beating the odds. Today he enjoys drawing and playing Wii games. This
inspiring young man has even started work on his GED and wants to
walk unassisted by next year.
n To view a video about Matthew’s recovery,
“I tell him to take each day as it comes,” said Matt’s mother, Dawn
go to backushospital.org/multimedia or
Majoria.
“He doesn’t always see a difference in himself, but we do. He
scan this QR code with your smartphone.
gets better everyday.”
The William W. Backus Hospital
MARCH 2012 Healthy Connections l 3
Identify patient safety risks
PATIENT
SAFETY
First, do
no harm
P
atient safety is a partnership. Bonnie Thompson, APRN,
Assistant Vice President, Organizational Excellence, said
Backus Health System employees focus on high quality care every day, but patients and caregivers need to take an active role as well.
National Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 4-10, is a time to
raise awareness about patient safety issues.
The Joint Commission, which oversees hospital accreditation,
recently released its 2012 Hospital National Patient Safety Goals. Let’s
take a look.
Identify patients correctly
W H AT B A C K U S I S
D O I N G Use at least two
ways to identify a patient — for
example name and date of birth.
This is done before administering
medication, blood transfusions and
when taking blood samples.
W H AT PAT I E N T S
C A N D O Give your name and date of birth, and be
patient understanding if different providers ask multiple
times, because this is for your safety. “It is important to make
sure people know who they are and make sure we are giving
the right patient the right medication,” Ms. Thompson said.
Paramedic
Sondra Evans
verifies labels
to match
specimens with
patients.
W H AT B A C K U S I S
D O I N G Protocols are in place
to identify which patients have specific risks, for example, if a patient is
at risk for suicide or a fall. Patients are
assessed and their charts are marked
accordingly.
W H AT PAT I E N T S
C A N D O You might not be
Speech Therapist Beth
Conley confers with patients and families about
their questionsor concerns.
like yourself if you are sick or have
had surgery, so trust and work with
staff members assisting. For example,
don’t be embarrassed to ask for help
getting up or going to the bathroom
if you feel unsteady.
Improve staff communications
W H AT B A C K U S I S D O I N G
This year a
computerized system is being rolled out in inpatient units, similar
to what has been in place
in the Backus Emergency
Department and other outpatient areas. Computerized
Provider Order Entry (CPOE)
allows healthcare providers to enter orders directly
into the hospital’s electronic medical record. This
enhances communication
and benefits patients in the
areas of safety, quality and
timeliness.
W H AT
PAT I E N T S
C A N D O Do not
Nurse Sarah Meegan uses a
be afraid to ask questions
barcode scanner when
— write them down if
delivering medications.
you have to. Also, hospital
rounds are done at the
bedside, so patients should speak up at this time and participate in
their own care.
Prevent mistakes in surgery
W H AT B A C K U S I S D O I N G
Routine procedures include making
sure the correct surgery is done on the correct patient and at the correct place on the patient’s body. This is accomplished by checking the chart, marking the patient’s body and
pausing before surgery to triple check that a mistake is not being made.
W H AT PAT I E N T S C A N D O
Speak up to agree or disagree it is
the correct surgery. Unless it is an emergency situation, you should be awake during the
marking of the body part and you will be asked about the procedure and the surgeon
performing it.
4 l Healthy Connections
MARCH 2012 If needed,
Operating
Room nurse
Judy SheaUrsin can call
a safety stop
to confirm
the correct
surgical site.
The William W. Backus Hospital
Prevent infection
W H AT B A C K U S I S D O I N G
Many evidence-based procedures are in place to help
prevent infection, including specific guidelines for
when patients have a central line, a catheter, pressure
ulcers, or have had surgery. Clinicians should use hand
sanitizer or wash their
hands between patients
to prevent hospitalacquired infections.
W H AT
PAT I E N T S
CAN DO
Patients should be
vigilant with their visitors as well. Make sure
everyone who enters
your room washes
their hands to prevent
Nurse Erin Loughery
infection from spreadwashes her hands to
ing. If patients are on
help prevent the spread
special precautions, they
of infection.
need to understand
the gowns and masks are for everyone’s protection.
Another way to prevent infection is to take antibiotics
as prescribed, finishing the medication fully although
you may feel better after just a couple days. Also,
advise your visitors if they are not feeling well, they
should stay home rather than spread illness at the
hospital.
Use medicines safely
W H AT B A C K U S I S D O I N G
Staff ask patients what medications they are on at
home and compare them to any new prescriptions to
make sure there are no interactions. They also take special care with patients
on blood thinners.
Nurses discuss with
patients any changes
to their medications,
and what they should
be taking when they
go home.
W H AT
PAT I E N T S
C A N D O Keep
an updated list of all
your medications and
dosages, including
Environmental Services
over-the-counter
aides Kathy Hyde, front,
medicines and herbal
and Marisol Vargas clean
supplements. Use
and dry hospital equipone pharmacy, which
ment.
makes it easier to
track medication
history. If you don’t have a list, put all medications in
a plastic storage bag and bring them with you to the
hospital.
The William W. Backus Hospital
MONTVILLE HEALTH CENTER
New look, new doctor
Expansion plans accompany Linda Lacerte’s arrival
T
o make room for a new provider and
other enhancements, construction
is underway to expand the Montville
Backus Health Center.
Linda Lacerte, MD, who has practiced in Salem
for years, will begin seeing patients at the health
center March 1.
Before she arrives, the center is tripling its exam
room capacity by adding seven exam rooms and
increasing the clinical support, reception and lab
areas to accommodate the expected increase in
patient volume and
the additional staff
About the
Linda Lacerte, MD
that has been hired Montville
to support the
health center
provider team.
“This is an extensive renovation of the current space,”
n Address: 80
said
Deanna Drake, Practice Manager of the Backus
Norwich-New London
Health Center and Backus Physician Services. “We’ve
Turnpike, Uncasville.
n Hours: Monday –
undertaken this project to meet the growing needs of
Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
primary and urgent care in the Montville community.”
Saturday 9 a.m. to 2
Dr. Lacerte will join the Montville Health Center
p.m.
primary
care team of Evelyne Miller, MD and Kristin
n Phone: 860-848Mahan, APRN. Rich Moro, PA, will be joining the
1297.
n Servies offered:
Montville team in mid-March as its urgent care provider.
Primary care, urgent
“We are delighted to have Dr. Lacerte join the Backus
care, lab and diagnosHealth System and are looking forward to her arrival
tic imaging services
in early March,” said Susan Barrett, Director of Practice
Management Operations. “She brings a patient-centered
approach to primary care and is a great addition to our Montville primary care team.”
“I am very pleased to be joining the Backus Medical Staff and especially to work at
the Montville Health Center,” said Dr. Lacerte. “Providing the best comprehensive and
individualized primary medical care to each of my patients has always been my goal
and is the source of great personal satisfaction.”
The Lacerte file
Professional background and credentials:
n Board certified in Family Medicine
n Undergraduate degrees in biophysics and German from the University of Connecticut
n Medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine
n Completed residency at Brown University’s Department of Family Medicine
Professional interests: “My main satisfaction is providing comprehensive care to
my patients. I enjoy the variety of family medicine.”
Hobbies: Yard work and gardening, reading, traveling and visiting with family.
Best advice: “I believe in being practical. I like working with patients and having
them be part of the decision-making process for better health. With such busy
lives, I strive to help patients build upon their smaller successes.”
MARCH 2012 Healthy Connections l 5
PROGRESS IN PLAINFIELD
At your service
Plainfield ER to include
imaging and lab services
B
y now, people are pretty familiar with the
emergency services that will be offered at
the new Plainfield Emergency Care Center
on Route 12, which is scheduled to open in
July 2012.
It will include around-the-clock care, 12 treatment rooms, board-certified emergency physicians,
convenient care and other features that you would
expect to find in an emergency department. The Backus Health System is adding
a 13,000-square-foot facility to bring
n To see weekly photo updates on the
construction of the $7 million facility, go to
backushospital.org/plainfield-emergency
The latest look at the ongoing
construction of the Backus Plainfield
Emergency Care Center.
A closer look at:
Diagnostic Imaging
n A full range of services
to support the emergency
department.
OUTPATIENT SERVICES
by appointment
needed services closer to those
who need them in northern New
London County and southern
Windham County.
What is not so well known
is that the center will also
offer a wide array of
Diagnostic Imaging and
Laboratory services.
“We will be offering a fairly broad range of
outpatient services, as well as
serving the primary focus of
the emergency department,”
said Julius Kocsondy,
Administrative Director
of Diagnostic Imaging at
Backus Hospital.
n CT scan
n Digital mammography
n DEXA bone density
screening
n Ultrasound
n X-ray (walk-in)
A closer look at:
Laboratory Services
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
n Hematology
n Chemistry
n Urinalysis lab
n Basic coagulation
OUTPATIENT SERVICES
n Walk-in blood work
Fundraising update
n Backus is seeking community support for its Plainfield Emergency Care Center.
Lynne Quintal-Hill, owner of The Quintal Insurance Agency in Central Village and
a Backus Board member, is spearheading the fundraising campaign. For more
information about how you can help bring emergency care to Plainfield and the
surrounding communities, please contact the Backus Office of Philanthropy and
Development at 860-823-6331.
6 l Healthy Connections
MARCH 2012 The William W. Backus Hospital
CALENDAR
March ’12
TO YOUR HEALTH
Education
Programs,
Clinics, Events
and Screenings
Amputee Clinic
For new amputees or amputees
considering a new prosthesis.
Usually held the first Tuesday
of the month. Individualized
sessions.
• Tuesday, March 6
• 1 - 3 p.m.
• Backus Outpatient Care Center,
111 Salem Tpke., Norwich
Program free but registration
required. Call 860-823-6317.
Community Blood Pressure
Screenings
Free blood pressure screening
on the third Wednesday of each
month.
• Wednesday, March 21
• 1 - 2 p.m.
• Backus main lobby conference
room 3
Program free; no registration
required.
Enjoy LIFE: “Brown Bag
Medication Review”
“Ask the Pharmacist” all your
medication and supplement
questions by bringing all of your
medications,
vitamins, and
supplements in a
brown paper bag
for a 10-minute
private consultation with a pharmacist. Get good
advice about any
problems or interactions.
• Thursday, March 15
• 6:30 - 8 p.m.
• Plainfield Recreation Center, 482
Norwich Road, Plainfield, on the
Backus Mobile Health Center
Program free, but registration
required. Call 860-889-8331, ext.
6381 for more information.
Freedom From Smoking
Put out those cigarettes for good
by joining this new American
Lung Association cessation
program. Led by a
Backus Respiratory
NEW
Therapist, you’ll
find the support
you need to get smoke-free.
• Tuesdays, March 6, 13, 20, 27, April
3, 10, 17
• Quit Day: Thursday, March 29
• 6 - 8 p.m.
• Backus Outpatient Care Center,
111 Salem Tpke., Norwich
Registration is required and there
is $50 fee for this program, but
a full refund will be given if you
attend all eight sessions. Call 860889-8331, ext. 6381 to register or
for more information.
The William W. Backus Hospital
HIV Education
and Testing Site
Offers free, anonymous and
confidential HIV education,
counseling and testing. Ongoing
Mondays and Wednesdays 5 - 8
p.m. and Tuesdays 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
at 107 Lafayette St. Program free
but registration required. Call 860823-6343.
Hospice Southeastern
Connecticut
Offering a wide variety of griefsupport groups for children, teens,
adults and seniors, these sessions
are for anyone grieving the loss of
a loved one. All six-week groups
are free of charge. Please go to
www.hospicesect.org to see the
full list of meetings. Pre-registration
is required by calling 860-848-5699.
Prepare for Surgery, Heal
Faster for patients having
surgery at Backus
Use Guided Imagery and relaxation to help feel calmer before
surgery, have less pain after
surgery and recover more quickly.
The techniques also help lessen
anxiety. The patient will receive
a book, CD and a 90-minute
instructional class. Ideally the class
is taken 1-3 weeks prior to surgery.
A friend or family member may
accompany the patient. Instructor:
Paula Novak, RN, Certified Healing
Touch Practitioner.
• Wednesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28
and by appointment
• 2 - 3:30 p.m.
• Backus Outpatient Care Center,
111 Salem Tpke., Norwich
There is a $20 materials fee for a
CD (and optional $15 book fee) for
this program and registration is
required. Call CHI at 860-425-3877
to register.
Sail Through Surgery
A pre-op program for children,
ages 18 and under, and their
parents, to help prepare for an
upcoming surgery.
• Friday, March 2
• 4:30 p.m.
• Backus Same Day Surgery waiting
area
• Saturday, March 17
• 10 a.m.
• Backus Same Day Surgery waiting
area
Program free but registration
required. Call 860-823-6328.
Sexually Transmitted
Disease Clinic
Diagnosis and treatment of most
sexually transmitted diseases; HIV
and Hepatitis C testing is available.
Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:30
- 7:30 p.m., at 107 Lafayette St.,
Norwich. No appointment needed.
Only eight patients seen each
clinic session. No new registrations
accepted after 7 p.m. Program
free. Call 860-823-6344.
Childbirth and
Infant Care
Breast-feeding
Preparation Class
• Thursday, March 1
• 6 - 8 p.m.
• Backus E-260 conference room
Program free but registration
required. Call 860-425-3863 or
e-mail [email protected].
Infant-Child CPR
For parents and parents-to-be in
the instruction of CPR infants and
children. Classes limited to eight
people.
• Thursday, March 8
• 6 - 8 p.m.
• Backus main lobby conference
rooms
There is a $35 per couple or $20
per person fee and registration
is required. Call 860-425-3863 or
e-mail [email protected].
Nurturing Your Newborn —
An Infant Care Class
Two-hour class teaches normal
newborn behavior, tests and procedures in the hospital, and how
to care for your baby in the first
few days at home. Topics include:
safe sleep, swaddling, bath
demonstration, feeding, newborn
appearance and behaviors and
when to call the doctor.
• Thursday, March 15
• 6 - 8:30 p.m.
• Backus main lobby conference
room
Program free but registration
required. Call 860-425-3863 or
e-mail [email protected].
Prepare for your Scheduled
Cesarean Section
Learn what will happen when you
come into the hospital for your
c-section. Learn ways to decrease
discomfort and take care of your
newborn while recovering from
surgery.
• Thursday, March 22
• 6 - 8 p.m.
• Backus Birthing Center confer-
ence room
Program free but registration
required. Call 860-425-3863 or
email [email protected].
Sibling Class
One-hour class helps big brother
or sister, ages 3-6, prepare for the
new addition. Tours of the Birthing
Center and practice caring for a
new baby are included, so bring a
favorite doll or stuffed animal.
• Tuesday, March 13
• 10 - 11 a.m.
• Backus Birthing Center
Program free but registration
required. Call 860-425-3863 or
e-mail [email protected].
Support
Groups
Brain Injury Support Group
For persons who have experienced
a brain injury, and for their families
and friends. Usually held on the
first Thursday of the month.
• Thursday, March 1
• 1:30 - 3 p.m.
• Backus Medical Office Building
conference room
Program free; no registration
required. Call 860-889-8331, ext.
4060.
Breast Cancer
Support Group
For breast cancer patients and
their families, sponsored by Backus
Hospital and ECHO. Usually held
on the third Tuesday of each
month.
• Tuesday, March 20
• 7 - 8 p.m.
• Backus Medical Office Building
Radiation Therapy Waiting Room
Laryngectomy
Support Group
Tri-County New Voice Club for
laryngectomy patients and family.
Meets on the third Sunday of the
month.
• Sunday, March 18
• 1- 3 p.m.
• Backus Medical Office Building
Radiation Therapy conference
room
Program free; no registration
required. Call 860-889-8331, ext.
3480.
Leukemia, Lymphoma,
Blood Cancer Support Group
Eastern CT Hematology and
Oncology offers a support group
for persons, family members and
friends dealing with leukemia,
lymphoma and other blood cancers. Meets on the third Tuesday of
every other month.
• Tuesday, March 20
• 5 - 6 p.m.
• Backus Medical Library
Program free; no registration
required. Call 860-892-2777.
Program free; registration is
requested but not required.
Refreshments provided. Call 860886-8362 ext. 293.
Cardiac Support Group
For patients with cardiac problems
and their families, meetings focus
on heart disease, cardiac systems
and new changes in patient
care. Usually meets the second
Wednesday of every month.
Lyme Disease
Support Group
Talk with others about how Lyme
disease has impacted your life and
learn the latest on diagnosis and
treatments. Usually meets the first
Thursday of the month.
• Wednesday, March 14
• 6 - 7 p.m.
• Backus Medical Office Building
conference room
Program free; no registration
required. Call 860-889-8331, ext.
2554.
Diabetes Support Group
A Day Diabetes Support Group,
usually held on the first Tuesday of
every other month. The evening
support group is usually offered
every other month on the first
Wednesday. Perfect for individuals to share information and learn
from others with diabetes.
• Tuesday, March 6
• 10 - 11 a.m.
• Backus Outpatient Care Center,
111 Salem Tpke., Norwich
Program free but registration
required. Call 860-892-6906 and
leave a message on the Diabetes
Patient Education line.
Head and Neck Cancer
Support Group
For cancer patients, survivors and
caregivers. Education and support
group during treatment and
afterward. Usually held the third
Tuesday of the month.
• Tuesday, March 20
• 5 - 6 p.m.
• Backus Medical Office Building
Conference Room
Program free; no registration
required. Call 860-892-2777.
Lap Band/Bariatric
Support Group
For patients who have undergone
or considering bariatric surgery.
Meets on the third Tuesday of the
month.
• Tuesday, March 20
• 5- 6 p.m.
• Backus Outpatient Care Center
conference room 1, 111 Salem
Tpke., Norwich
Program free, but registration is
requested. Call Joan Sommers at
860-889-8331 ext. 4965.
• Thursday, March 1
• 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
• Backus Medical Library
Program free; no registration
required. Call 860-303-9020.
Lymphedema
Support Group for
Breast Cancer Patients
Offers an opportunity to share
experiences and learn about risk
reduction and treatment of lymphedema. Meets quarterly.
• Tuesday, March 6
• 4 - 5:30 p.m.
• Backus Outpatient Care Center,
111 Salem Turnpike, Norwich.
Program free but registration
required. Call 860-823-6317.
Psycho-Educational
Support Group for Cancer
Patients and Survivors
“Diagnosed with Cancer? What
You Need to Know” is for anyone
affected by cancer. Held the second Tuesday of every month.
• Tuesday, March 13
• 5 - 6 p.m.
• Backus main lobby conference
room 1
Program free; registration
requested but not required. Call
860-889-8331, ext. 4239.
Sharing and Caring:
Stroke Support and
Conversation Group
For persons who have experienced
a stroke, and for their families and
friends. Usually held on the second
Thursday of the month.
• Thursday, March 8
• 1 - 2 p.m.
• Backus Outpatient Care Center
conference room 1, 111 Salem
Tpke., Norwich
Program free; no registration
required. Call 860-823-6317 and
ask for Pam or 860-889-8331, ext.
3480.
MARCH 2012 Healthy Connections l 7
Healthy
PRESORTED
STANDARD
US POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT #130
SPRINGFIELD, MA
CONNECTIONS
In this issue
n Teen-age car crash victim’s
stunning recovery
n Patient safety is a
year-round job at Backus
n New doctor arrives at
Montville health center
n New Plainfield ED will
have diagnostic imaging,
lab capabilities
backushospital.org
ASK THE
NURSE
The truth about
blood pressure
Q:
My blood pressure was about 140/90 for
many years and my doctor was satisfied with
that. Now he says that is “too high according to the
latest guidelines.” Why did this change?
A:
You are correct that years ago a BP of
140/90 was considered normal, but extensive
with
research has provided evidence that this is indeed
ALICE
too high. Blood pressure is the force of blood
FACENTE,
against the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure is
RN
recorded as two numbers — the systolic pressure
(as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as
the heart relaxes between beats.)
In December 2003, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes
Next Backus blood of Health released these new guidelines:
pressure screening
n Normal is 120/80 or less
n Pre-hypertension is 120-139 systolic,
n Wednesday, March 21
over
80-89 diastolic (either number)
n 1 - 2 p.m.
n
Stage
1 hypertension is 140-159 sysn Backus main lobby
conference room 3
tolic, over 90-100 (either number)
n Stage 2 hypertension is 160/100 or
higher (either number)
Consistently high blood pressure causes stress and ultimately injures the brain, arteries, eyes, kidneys and heart.
Early detection is key
March is Colorectal Cancer
Awareness Month
Colorectal cancer is more treatable when discovered early,
so screenings are especially important.
HEALTH TIP
March is National Colorectal
Cancer Awareness
Month. The
American Cancer
with SERGIO
Society estimates
CASILLAS,
that in 2012 there
MD
will be 103,170
new cases of colon
cancer in the United States and 40,290
new cases of rectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancerrelated deaths in the United States among men and women.
“In most cases, colorectal cancer is a slow-growing cancer,
so when it is discovered in its early stages, it is more treatable and there are more options available for treatment,” said
Sergio Casillas, MD, a board-certified colorectal surgeon with
Backus Physician Services. Colorectal cancer usually develops from polyps or precancerous growths.
A colonoscopy is safe and is the most accurate screening
test available, Dr. Casillas said.