Living Well. New Location for Physical, Speech and Occupational Therapy. Image to come

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1 Living Well artesiageneral.com Fall 2016 Image to come New Location for Physical, Speech and Occupational Therapy To provide greater convenience for our patients, Artesia General Hospital s Rehabilitation Center is now part of the beautiful new Bone and Joint Destination Center on the AGH campus at 606 North 13th Street, Suite 100. Read about our Rehabilitation Center services on page 2 and how physical, speech or occupational therapy can help you or a loved one recover from an injury, regain skills and get back to enjoying life. For more information about our new location, please call

2 Rehabilitation Center Helps You Get Back to Your Life If you or a loved one needs help recovering from an injury or illness, dealing with chronic pain, overcoming speech difficulties or improving cognitive skills, experienced therapists in the Rehabilitation Center at Artesia General Hospital are here to help. We offer physical, occupational and speech therapy on an outpatient basis, as well as for hospital patients and people in our senior care unit. We help people return to normal function, says Justin Hammer, DPT, Director of Rehab. Whether they have mobility issues, linguistic difficulties, trouble with cognitive processing or need help managing activities of daily living, we can help restore function and make them more independent. We re the only clinic in Artesia that offers outpatient speech and occupational therapy, he adds. PHYSICAL THERAPY Physical therapists provide help for rehabilitating any part of the body. Some of the most common reasons people seek physical therapy include: Arthritis Back or neck pain Balance problems Fractures Heart or stroke rehabilitation Knee, ankle or foot problems Newborn or infant disabilities Osteoporosis Posture problems including scoliosis Rehabilitation after serious injury including work, auto and sports injuries Shoulder, arm or hand problems including carpal tunnel syndrome Sprains or muscle strains Weakness 2

3 Physical therapy offers many other benefits, too, including: Improving balance and reducing the risk of falls: Physical therapy exercises can help older adults increase their ability to remain independent. Preventing injury: Abnormal movements and joint and muscle stress especially those incurred during sports increase the risk of injury. But physical therapists can design programs to combat this and reduce the risk of joint and muscle damage. Recovering from stroke: Physical therapy can help improve movement and regain some independence through techniques such as neuromuscular re-education to help coordinate nerves and muscles, proprioceptive training (which retrains the nervous system to aid in self-awareness of body position), treadmill training and arm restriction, which makes the body focus on the affected arm. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Occupational therapy focuses on enabling you to perform activities of daily life that have become difficult due to disease or injury such as bathing and toileting, using the telephone, preparing meals and climbing stairs. Occupational therapists often use repetitive actions and activities to help you regain lost skills. For example, if you experience difficulty eating with utensils, you may practice activities to re-develop fine motor skills. SPEECH THERAPY You may need speech therapy if you have suffered a stroke or brain injury that has impaired the part of the brain responsible for language. Diseases such as Parkinson s, Alzheimer s, Huntington s or multiple We re the only clinic in Artesia that offers outpatient speech and occupational therapy. Justin Hammer, DPT, Director of Rehab sclerosis may also require speech therapy. These conditions make it difficult to speak, communicate nonverbally or remember how to talk, read or write. Children may need speech therapy to assist with speech and articulation delays. Speech therapists evaluate and treat communication and swallowing disorders, such as retraining muscles to improve swallowing and food clearing. They use strategies related to language and cognition to help patients communicate as effectively as possible. Common treatments may include physical strengthening exercises, instructive or repetitive practice, or the use of audio-visual aids. GET BACK TO BEING YOURSELF AGAIN Receiving therapy is life-changing for many people, Hammer notes. As a therapist, you help people improve their quality of life. It s very gratifying. To learn more about Artesia General Hospital s rehabilitation services, including physical, occupational and speech therapy, call or visit artesiageneral.com

4 Could Physical Therapy Help You? Many Americans suffer from neck or back pain or encounter any number of conditions that prevent them from participating in normal activities at some point in their lives. Whether it s a muscle strain caused by running or you ve been diagnosed with arthritis, physical therapy may help you get on the road to recovery. WHAT IS PHYSICAL THERAPY? Physical therapy encompasses the treatment, healing and prevention of injuries and disabilities. Physical therapists are experts in movement and function. They develop individualized treatment programs to help prevent injury from occurring or to slow the progression of conditions that result from injury, disease and other causes. Physical therapists can help you improve the use of bones, muscles, joints and nerves through manual therapy, exercise, light, heat, electrical stimulation, hydrotherapy, ultrasound, magnetic fields and more. They can offer advice on proper posture and body motion in the workplace, treating injuries, keeping fit and administering physical therapy in the home. WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PHYSICAL THERAPY Each individual is different, so each physical therapy experience and program is unique. The first step is to undergo an evaluation during which the physical therapist does an assessment of your posture, gait, range of motion, strength, reflexes and more, depending on the injury or condition. This will help the therapist monitor and evaluate your progress throughout treatment. The type of condition you have will dictate how often you work with your therapist. It could be daily, weekly or monthly. Therapy typically involves: Pain relief Strength and flexibility training Proper postural alignment Regaining movement or range of motion Balance and coordination training Relaxation and stress relief techniques And more Your therapist may also design an appropriate home exercise program for you and teach you pain-relief methods and preventive measures you can follow at home or work based on your diagnosis. There is no standard timetable for finishing physical therapy. It all depends on the individual and his or her condition. A TREATMENT ALTERNATIVE More people are undergoing physical therapy as an alternative to surgery or medication, or they re using it as a first step in treatment in hopes of avoiding those options. If you think you could be a candidate for physical therapy, speak to your physician. 4

5 Flu Season Is Coming. Are You Ready? Getting a yearly flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. Everyone 6 months of age and older should be vaccinated against the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).* In addition to getting a flu shot, several basic good health habits can help prevent the spread of flu: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them. Wash your hands often. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth. Studies have shown that influenza viruses generally can survive on surfaces such as phones and doorknobs for between two and eight hours. If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. * People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs, as well as certain other individuals, should not be vaccinated without first talking to their doctors. Dr. Joe Salgado Bianca Ortega, PA-C Monday Thursday 612 N. 13th Street, Suite D Artesia, NM am 5 pm For appointments, call: Get Your Flu Shot Our Family Practice Providers Can Help Memorial Family Practice Welcomes Two New Family Nurse Practitioners Maddy Riley, MSN, FNP Regina Gina Smith, FNP-C, PMHS Marilyn Hines, DO Ryan Morin, DNP Maddy Riley, MSN, FNP Terah Maupin Sexton, PA-C Gina Smith, FNP-C, PMHS Monday Friday Memorial Family Practice 702 N. 13th Street Artesia, NM am 5 pm for appointments 7 am 6 pm for Walk-ins Open through lunch For appointments, call: Maddy Riley, MSN, FNP, received her undergraduate and masters degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Her residency was was also completed at MUSC. She is board certified in Family Practice and focuses on Urgent Care. Maddy enjoys outdoor activities in her free time. Regina Gina Smith, FNP-C, PMHS, graduated Cum Laude from the University of New Mexico. She continued her education at the Texas Tech Health Science Center graduating with another Cum Laude distinction. She is board certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She specializes in working with patients who struggle with migraines, headaches and sleep issues. Gina enjoys reading, spinning, yoga and camping in her spare time. For appointments, call Memorial Family Practice, 702 N. 13th Street, Artesia 5

6 Living Well Fall 2016 In This Issue New Location for Physical, Speech and Occupationl Therapy Rehabilitation Center Helps You Get Back to Your Life Could Physical Therapy Help You? Flu Season Is Coming. Are You Ready? 702 NORTH 13 TH STREET ARTESIA, NEW MEXICO ARTESIAGENERAL.COM LIKE US ON FACEBOOK Like Us on Facebook! For news, events, info and more at Facebook.com/ArtesiaGeneral This publication does not constitute professional medical advice. Although it is intended to be accurate, neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage due to reliance on this material. Websites not belonging to this organization are provided for information only. No endorsement is implied. If you have a medical question, consult your medical professional. Images may be from istock and/or Fotolia Bluespire Marketing bluespiremarketing.com Healthy Eating With Diabetes Whether diabetes affects you or someone in your family, the following serving size guidelines can help you all to eat smarter. Size Up Your Servings Lean meat, fish, poultry: 3 oz. (about the size of the palm of your hand) Low-fat cheese: 1 oz. (about the size of your thumb) Low-fat milk, Greek yogurt: 1 cup (about the size of a tennis ball) Susan Dade, Diabetes Educator and President of the New Mexico Diabetes Advisory Council, can help you create Fresh vegetables: 1 cup Whole-grain bread: one slice Brown rice or cooked pasta: 1 /3 cup Potato or corn: ½ cup Unsweetend dry cereal: ¾ cup a personalized healthy eating plan. She sees patients in Artesia and Carlsbad. Call to learn more! or Susan Dade Diabetes Educator Alzheimer s FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP PLEASE JOIN US! EVERY THIRD THURSDAY of the MONTH 10am-11am ARTESIA GENERAL HOSPITAL { CLASSROOM } Refreshments will be Served Come share your experiences and hear how others are dealing with these issues. WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Families dealing with a loved one with Alzheimer s or dementia. Families dealing with a hospitalized loved one with Alzheimer s or dementia. People wanting to learn more about Alzheimer s and dementia. QUESTIONS? - CALL artesiageneral.com