Welcome W. Wilson, SR. visits with OakBend Medical Center and the Fort Bend community

Posted on March 9, 2012 by sage

On Wednesday, March 7, 2012, OakBend Medical Center was delighted to host a luncheon with Welcome W. Wilson, SR. Approximately 100 people from the community attended the event. The afternoon began with an introduction by our CEO, Joe Freudenberger, explaining that “Our goal with these events is to do things that a typical hospital cannot.” Not only do 70% of all OakBend employees live in Fort Bend county but OakBend is dedicated to being your community hospital. OakBend Medical Center and Welcome W. Wilson, Sr. both share a strong passion and devotion to serving the community.

Mr. Wilson used his keen sense of humor to engage a room packed with eager listeners.  He told the story of early in his career when his longtime friend and mentor R.E. “Bob” Smith had purchased 500 acres just off of Westheimer. Welcome remembered thinking to himself that he had missed the real estate boom in Houston when Bob said, “No one knows what’s coming in Houston. The boom hasn’t even begun in Houston.”  Welcome also shared with the audience the story of his father dropping him and his brother off on the University of Houston campus in 1945 with just $50 in his hand.  He laughed as he said, “Dad dropped us off at trailer 67 and said ‘call me up and I will tell you how to live without it.’ And from that moment on, I was on my own financially.”

Mr. Wilson went on to talk about assisting in the 1960’s in the desegregation process of Houston.  He would later be in a position to ask President Lyndon B Johnson, Vice President at the time, why the Vice President was not pushing the civil rights bill through congress.  The Vice President responded, “When I can do something, I am going to.”  This was weeks before the death of JFK.  Mr. Wilson recalled how the Vice President kept his word, and in the few weeks after taking the office, the civil rights bill was passed.

The afternoon ended with Mr. Wilson talking about his Alma Mater, the University of Houston, where he currently serves on the Board of Regents.   He spoke with great pride about how he has seen the University grow into the thriving system that it now is.  The University of Houston has the honor of having more alumni who are CEO’s of SMP 500 than all but five other schools in the United States.

We would like to thank Welcome W. Wilson, SR. for his time and his insight on the value of fortifying your community.

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OakBend CEO Joe Freudenberger top chamber honoree

Posted on January 18, 2012 by sage

Joe Freudenberger, Chief Executive Officer of OakBend Medical Center, was named Business Person of the Year at Central Fort Bend Chamber’s annual awards luncheon Friday at Safari Texas Ranch.

“Joe Freudenberger will be my chairman next year,” said Shanta Kuhl, President/CEO of Central Fort Bend Chamber. “He has worked real closely with me and the Chamber. He’s a great supporter and does a wonderful job with our community hospital, and we’re proud and honored to give him this award.”

*The information above was taken from The Fort Bend Herald. http://www.fbherald.com/news/article_8b77ae32-3ebe-11e1-ba06-0019bb2963f4.html

 

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The Best Stroke Management Plan: Prevention

Posted on January 11, 2012 by sage

The Third Leading Cause of Death in the United States Preventable for Large Part of Population

As Spring approaches and educational efforts are launched to help everyone understand the important early signs of a stroke and key risk factors, there is one message I hope to communicate above all others – for many, stroke is completely preventable.

In the United States today, stroke is the third leading cause of death.

While generally affecting the elderly (risks doubling each decade), the risks for a growing portion of the younger population have increased as diabetes has risen, synthetic hormone use becomes more prevalent (contraceptives, hormone replacement and other hormone therapies), and negative lifestyle choices are made in lieu of healthier ones.

Not only is a stroke devastating for the individual, but it also creates a vulnerability in the family and on society.  Caring for a stroke patient can deteriorate the health of family members as well and poses an economic challenge on a broader scale – as only 10 percent of stroke patients will fully return to work.  Nearly 60 percent are left with some form of disability. The economic impact of stroke is broad reaching.

It is important to both understand the early signs of a stroke as well as the “modifiable risks” than can help reduce the likelihood of stroke, in order to change the current statistics.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is severely restricted.  This restriction can be the result of a number of conditions – hypertension, high cholesterol, peripheral artery disease and more.  The symptoms of a stroke can be as subtle as the rapid onset of a headache, numbness or dizziness, or as pronounced as slurred speech and paralysis.  Recognizing symptoms early, though, can have a dramatic impact on recovery.

If a stroke patient is seen at a Joint Commission Primary Stroke-certified hospital within the first four and a half hours, an advanced new medication known as intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can improve outcome significantly.  This is very important.

Another strong effort for those working in this field is to help people understand that prevention is the best Stroke Management plan – and includes first and foremost modifying diet and exercise level to decrease diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.  Supportive medication may also be required to address high blood pressure and hypertension.

Additionally, eliminating harmful habits such as smoking and drug and alcohol use can reduce stroke risks in just months.

Working with OakBend Medical Center, an American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recognized Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award Hospital, Dr. Amitabh Shukla will participate in a Stroke Awareness community education event May 19.  Look for details at www.oakbendmedical.com.

Dr. Shukla is board certified in Neurology, Electromyography, Sleep Medicine and Vascular Neurology.  He is Stroke Director at OakBend Medical Center and passionate about educating patients on life-long health habits.  To learn more about stroke prevention and warning signs, go to www.neuroshukla.com.   To schedule an appointment, call (281)565-8005.

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Childhood Obesity Claiming Our Children’s Future

Posted on December 28, 2011 by sage

Advertisers, School Administrators…..Even Parents Feeding an Addition as Dangerous as Alcohol and Drugs

Childhood obesity in our society has reached epidemic proportions and is affecting kids at a younger and younger age. Despite the scientific studies revealing the devastating effects obesity can have on the human body – from Type 2 Diabetes, hypertension and heart disease to cancer – children in our society are continuing down this dangerous path.  If this trend does not change, the future for our next generation will be bleak.

It is an ongoing challenge to override the constant messages kids receive from advertisers, school administrators and even parents reinforcing poor dietary habits and food choices.  But, it is critical that we try.  The barrage of advertising geared towards children creates an acceptance of processed and packaged foods.  This kind of food, while less expensive than fresh fruits and vegetables generally has less nutritional value and contains many unhealthy additives.

This type of food is also mainstream in most schools, because it can transport easily is bought in bulk and is cost-effective.  I don’t know what it costs to actually feed breakfast and lunch to the students in our schools, but I do know the physical costs when I see nine and eleven year olds in my office suffering from hypertension, high cholesterol and gout.  School administrators would not make alcohol or drugs available to students on campus, but they are serving up addictive foods with little nutrition and continue to contribute to obesity and related diseases and conditions that are just as dangerous.  There really needs to be greater emphasis on nutritional counseling in school.

Often times, families believe they’re making the right choices but are unaware of the high fructose corn syrup and other unhealthy ingredients added to seemingly healthy foods. And some parents simply carry on unhealthy habits they learned when they were young.

As a family physician, it is important that I help the entire family understand what will create optimal health.  It starts with simple, small changes – taking a walk around the neighborhood, going for a bike ride together, cooking a meal from scratch rather than eating out or putting a frozen dinner in the microwave.  In so many cases, patients can quickly turn their poor health around with nutritional therapy and lifestyle modifications.  The positive impact can be seen in as little as a few weeks in some cases.  It is really amazing.

Unfortunately, many parents just don’t know how significant a role unhealthy diets, limited exercise and excess weight play in their children’s health.  But as quickly as these things can damage the body, healthy food choices, regular exercise and a good weight can reverse it.

Dr. Robbyn Franklin is a board certified family physician committed to combating childhood illnesses and adolescent diabetes.  She has a passion for preventative medicine and reversing the obesity epidemic in her community.  Prior to joining OakBend Medical Center, she completed her residency at Wesley Family Medicine in Wichita, Kansas.

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Identifying the Risks and Early Signs of Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib) by Dr James McClamrock

Posted on December 16, 2011 by sage

As people are living longer we’re seeing a greater number of heart rhythm abnormalities and addressing more frequently Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib)-related conditions.  The good news is today we better understand many of the contributing factors and have early diagnostic tools and treatment options.

Helping people understand how they can reduce their risk for A-Fib, as well as recognizing early signs of cardiovascular distress can dramatically change the outcome.

While A-Fib can happen at any age, it is much more common as we get older.  Maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle throughout life could decrease the number of cases seen each year – as heart disease and obesity increase risks.  When despite best attempts to protect heart health a cardiovascular event occurs, such as a heart attack or “transient ischemic attack (TIA),” A-Fib risks increase substantially.

Recognizing risks can help your physician monitor your particular situation and avoid the most significant downside of A-Fib, a stroke – which is preventable.

In fact, there are five well-recognized risk factors which increase the chances of a resulting stroke from A-Fib by five times.  These include:

  • Congestive heart failure
  • Hypertension/elevated blood pressure
  • Over the age of 75
  • Diabetes
  • A previous stroke or TIA.

Possible A-Fib symptoms to discuss with your doctor include chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath and dizziness.  An EKG, echocardiogram (ultrasound) and possibly a stress test will identify abnormalities.  Depending on the severity of the abnormality identified, we’ll either recommend a treatment plan to try and reverse the A-Fib or manage it – a rate control strategy or rhythm control strategy. These treatments vary and can include a procedure known as A-Fib Ablation, medications such as Warfarin and blood thinners, as well as a monitored exercise program.

While the heart is a cardiac muscle and not as responsive to exercise to the same extent that skeletal muscles are, it does respond favorably to exercise.  It is important for A-Fib patients to work closely with their physician in order to determine the most effective level

of exercise for their cardiovascular health.  Even among those over 75 years of age have shown significant improvements simply walking 10 to 15 minutes a day several times a week.

 

Those wanting to avoid A-Fib or reduce the effects of the condition and required medication if diagnosed will find a regular exercise program and heart healthy diet extremely beneficial.

Dr. James R. McClamroch is a member of the OakBend Medical Group.  He specializes in cardiovascular disease.  He graduated from the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans where he began an internship and residency training program and was named Chief Medical Resident in Internal Medicine.  He completed a fellowship program in Cardiovascular Diseases at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.

 

 

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Caring for those suffering from Dementia part 2

Posted on December 9, 2011 by sage

There are 2 ways of communicating: verbal and non-verbal.  Often, we focus on verbal communication. This includes word choice and sentence structure involved in the spoken and written word.  However, we frequently forget about the importance of non-verbal communication.  Aspects of non-verbal include tone, volume, and body language.

As dementia progresses, repetition of the same conversations may begin.  They may ask “What time is lunch” every few minutes, having no memory of having asked the question before.  Or they may have a certain word of phrase that they repeat over and over.  It may also be a favorite hymn or prayer. Does your loved one do this?

In addition to verbal skills, people with dementia slowly lose their ability to read and understand written information. Some people with dementia may still be able to read words but not understand what they mean.  So they may, for example, read the words on a door, “Do not enter”, then they will go ahead and enter a room.

Some patients will revert back to their native language.  This occurs because as the disease progresses, the individual loses the most recently learned information.  So commonly if English was learned as a 2nd language, they will lose that language first.

As the dementia worsens, some people lose their ability to speak in complete sentences.  They may still speak, but it may be very difficult to understand what they are trying to say.  This is sometimes described as a word salad.  The main components of the sentence are there, but not in order. For example, using “room”, “leave”, and “dog” in a sentence: what could be possible sentences?

Depending on the type of brain damage they have, some people can’t speak but can understand what is being said to them.  Others can’t understand what is being said to them but can speak. Some people can’t speak or understand.  So we can’t assume people can’t understand just because they can’t speak.

Later in the disease, people with dementia cannot communicate concepts and plans and even forget even simple verbs, until eventually they may be left with only a few words or phrases or none at all.

To overcome these challenges, we need to understand the basics of communication.

Over 90% of our communication is non-verbal. When we look back at our communication challenges, most pertain to verbal communication. We need to learn how to communicate without words.

Going back to Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, communication satisfies our social and emotional needs. Communication is a necessity.

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Caring for Those Suffering From Dementia – Part 1

Posted on December 2, 2011 by sage

Communication is the way people stay connected with one another. It is important that we continue to communicate with our loved ones with dementia, though at times it may be difficult.  Alzheimer’s disease dramatically alters the dynamics between the diagnosed individual and his or her loved ones.   While the challenges and heart breaks of memory loss are real, diagnosed patients maintain many of their individual preferences, interests, abilities, and emotional attachments.  We at OakBend, are committed to giving and teaching caregivers the tools they need for effectively communicating and connecting with individuals that are experiencing dementia.

Our Senior Care Unit is there for treating individuals with mental, emotional or behavioral problems as well as providing treatment for individuals who have a combination of psychiatric and medical issues.  In Fort Bend County, it is difficult to find help for individuals that require treatment for psychiatric issues and significant medical problems.

Health is more than getting enough to eat, regulating blood pressure, and keeping a pulse…it is a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being.  We have a pretty good sense of what we need to maintain physical well-being.  But what do we need to maintain mental and social well-being?

These are a few of the possible indicators that care may be needed:

  • Depressed mood or extreme sadness
  • Feeling useless, helpless or hopeless
  • Experiencing changes in eating and sleeping patterns
  • Confused thinking, difficulty concentrating, or disorientation
  • Excessive fears, anxieties or suspiciousness
  • Hearing voices or imagining things that do not exist
  • Refusal to take needed medications
  • Growing inability to cope with daily living

For years researchers have studied what people need in order to survive and live a happy life.  Most agree that we have both physical and social needs. Physical needs include food, water, shelter & safety; these needs also include moving around and keeping clean.  Psycho-social needs include obtaining acceptance, feeling connected, having a job, achieving success, having a sense of purpose, meaning,  and creativity, and leaving a legacy.  Although people with dementia experience cognitive decline, they still share these basic human needs.

Our job as caregivers is to understand and respond to this range of needs.  Part of achieving social and mental well-being is communication and interaction. The Senior Care Unit is committed to providing you support in managing the care and well-being of your long-term care residents.

Stay tuned for our continuation on this discussion next week.

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A Special Thank You to Lester Smith

Posted on November 16, 2011 by sage

On Thursday, November 10, 2011, OakBend Medical Center had the honor of hosting a luncheon event for philanthropist and cancer survivor Lester Smith. Through humor and a charming charisma that only he could pose, Lester shared how paying it forward changed his life.  He told the crowd “When you begin to see how little it takes to pay it forward, anyone can do it.”  This two-time cancer survivor challenged everyone to be brave of heart and that a coward dies 1,000 deaths, but a brave man only once.

We got the chance to speak with attendee Ilene Robinson who is a life-long friend of Lester.  When asked what brought her to the luncheon, she stated, “OakBend is a special place.  It’s the hospital that we come to with all our family because we know they will be treated with dignity and respect.”  Sisters Tina Davila and Olga Cantu raved how uplifting it was to hear Lester’s story.   Olga went on to say that it was perfect timing and a great reminder of how truly important it is to pay it forward.  Listening to the crowd’s comments afterwards, you kept hearing words like “captivating”, “charming” and “humorous”.  Even the staff, caterers and audio teams were talking about Lester’s impact on their lives in just a few short minutes.

Lester has lived an amazing life and has beat insurmountable odds, but never once stopped.  He has left his mark on many lives and yesterday, left his mark on OakBend Medical Center.  We are honored to have him as part of our lives.

“If you are having a bad day, do something nice for someone else!”  ~Lester Smith

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What’s Up Doc? 2011

Posted on October 28, 2011 by sage

OakBend Medical Center would like to take a moment and say “Thank You” to everyone who attended the event last week for What’s Up Doc?.   With over 500 in attendance and more than 50 Doctors, this year’s What’s Up Doc? was one of our most successful yet.  We began this special evening with a welcome from our Chief Executive Officer, Joe Freudenberger and a video highlighting many of OakBends values and attributes.

What\’s Up Doc? 2011

During the evening, Chief Executive Officer, Joe Freudenberger gave a presentation highlighting some of the new additions to OakBend.  We at OakBend strive to provide quality care to each and every person that walks through our doors.  Our goal is to be your first choice for healthcare.  Keeping up with the latest technologies and providing convenient locations are some of the ways we achieve this.  Over the past several months we have also added six additional doctors, implemented the “No Wait” ER process, opened the Grand Parkway ER and added a Pain Physician.

At OakBend we are proud to be your community hospital.  That is why 70% of our staff not only work in Fort Bend County, but live here as well.  We are not just your doctors and health care professionals; we are your neighbors and friends.  We offer the only advanced level trauma program in Fort Bend County as well as Gold Plus Rated Stroke Program.

OakBend Board President Joe Guercky thanked our 50 plus sponsors and underwriters.  All of the physicians that were present took time to dine with and answer questions from the guests.  The evening concluded with a special presentation to Allison and Cassandra Wen for their unparalleled support of OakBend Hospital.

Once again we would like to thank everyone for attending and we look forward to seeing you on November 10th for a special lunch with Lester Smith.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/euthman/sets/72157627828682743/

 

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What Does Cholesterol Really Mean in Monitoring Heart Health? By Dr. Dale Allen Faulkner

Posted on October 12, 2011 by sage

A “Normal” Cholesterol Reading in Otherwise High Risk Individuals May Not Tell the Whole Story

There is tremendous emphasis today on cholesterol levels in determining overall heart health.  But in many individuals with notable risk factors, additional cholesterol tests may be necessary to give an accurate picture of cardiovascular health.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among both women and men of all racial and ethnic groups – affecting nearly a million Americans each year and representing nearly 40 percent of all deaths.

While prevention and early detection are key to reducing these numbers, those with high risk factors such as a family history for cardiovascular or coronary artery disease, obesity related conditions, hypertension and high blood pressure may require special testing for accurate cholesterol readings.

Cholesterol plaques that build up in artery walls slowly block blood flow in the arteries.  While most adults have some plaque in their coronary arteries by middle age, the acute event occurs when this plaque ruptures or breaks open spilling the cholesterol contents into the lumen of the blood vessels – causing a blood clot, which causes the acute event.

The ruptured plaques often cause only mild or moderate narrowing of the blood vessel,

60 percent or less.  Unfortunately, unless the narrowing is 70 percent or more, it will not show up on dye studies at heart catheterization.  This can falsely reassure patients.

A “normal” cholesterol reading in those individuals identified as “high risk” requires additional testing.  The four measured cholesterol parameters are similar to the tip of an iceberg above the waterline.

We know that in high-risk individuals those with “normal” cholesterol often have abnormal cholesterol “subfractions” when the abnormalities “below the waterline” are measured.  These abnormalities often lead to premature cardiovascular events.

The good news is by finding those individuals with asymptomatic coronary or carotid disease and defining their specific lipid abnormalities, these problems can be treated and events prevented.

Dr. Dale Allen Faulkner is a fellowship trained cardiovascular and internal medicine physician who specializes in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Formerly Chief of Staff at Fort Bend Hospital and Chief of Internal Medicine at Memorial Hermann Fort Bend and OakBend Medical Center as well as Chief of Cardiology at Memorial Southwest, Dr. Faulkner has lead the direction in cardiovascular care as the Medical Director for the Cardiopulmonary and Coronary Care Unit at OakBend where he currently serves as an active member of the staff.

 

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