Managing Your Health With CHS MyChart

Keeping track of doctor’s appointments, test results, prescriptions and immunizations for you and your family can be challenging. CHS MyChart, a secure patient portal, can help you better manage this important information. Available from a home computer, smartphone or other personal device, MyChart gives you password-protected access to portions of your health record so you can view past and upcoming appointments, request prescription renewals, review medications and immunizations, communicate with your doctor, receive test results and much more.

“Your health is important to us, and it is essential that you’re engaged with your providers during treatment for illnesses and that you follow preventive guidelines to maintain good health,” explained Vice President of Medical Informatics Alan S. Katz, MD. “CHS MyChart offers patients the ability to learn about their conditions, review their test results and securely communicate with their providers for optimal health care, all from their computer or smart device.”

Part of CHS eHealth, along with the Epic electronic medical record (EMR), MyChart helped CHS to earn the Most Wired designation from the American Hospital Association. All six CHS hospitals—and many physician practices—use the shared EMR. This means better, more comprehensive care for you, as your health care providers can quickly review results and vital information through a secure network. Using the unique alphanumeric code provided at discharge from the hospital or by your primary physician, you can activate a MyChart account in just minutes by entering key information, including a secret answer to a security question.

Look for the program about CHS MyChart on “CHS Presents: Lifestyles at the Heart of Health” early this year on Telecare TV or CHS’s YouTube channel. Also, you can learn more about CHS MyChart and how to get started at http://www.chsli.org/content/chs-mychart. Technical support is available at (631) 465-4200.

High Blood Pressure: The Silent Killer

High blood pressure is a dangerous condition. There are usually no symptoms, so many don’t know they have it. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

The good news is that it is possible to prevent and control it. How? By making some fairly simple lifestyle changes:

• Losing weight, if necessary, and maintaining a healthy weight 
• Being physically active 
• Following a healthy eating plan 
• Eating less salt, and 
• Limiting your alcohol consumption
  

Joseph Bruni, MD, who is board certified in internal medicine, stated, “One step to begin right away is to gradually eat healthier foods. This can reduce chances of developing high blood pressure and lower blood pressure, if it's already high.”

A healthy diet contains ample servings of fresh fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy products. It is moderate in total fat and low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Included are whole grains, poultry, fish and nuts. Reducing sodium intake is an important component.

Here are some tips to help you help you eat healthier:

• Make small changes like adding a serving of fruit or vegetables at lunch and dinner. 
• Slowly increase your use of fat-free and low-fat dairy products to three servings a day. 
• Gradually cut in half the amount of butter, margarine or salad dressing you eat. 
• If you now eat large portions of meat, cut them back by a half or third at each meal. 
• Try two or more vegetarian-style (meatless) meals each week. 
• Try casseroles, pasta and stir-fry dishes, which have less meat and more vegetables, grains and dry beans. 
• Try fresh or dried fruits, raw vegetables, or low fat and fat free yogurt for snacks.

Start eating better today. It can save your life.

If you need a family practitioner, please visit www.chsli.org or call 1-855-CHS-4500.

Winter Storm Takes Its Toll on Blood Supply

The winter months tend to be the most difficult time of the year to collect blood to meet the needs of patients. Twenty inches of snow make this challenge even more real as blood collections were curtailed for almost two full days this week.

With nearly 2,000 donations needed each day in New York and New Jersey alone, including all Catholic Health Services hospitals which are served exclusively by New York Blood Center, it’s cruicial for donors to set aside an hour to donate. 

"Thankfully, we were able to anticipate the blood drive cancellations caused by the storm, and our hospital partners received the life-saving blood products they needed to endure the storm," said Rob Purvis, New York Blood Center Vice President of Customer Service.

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Platelets can be given every seven days – up to 24 times a year. Anyone between the ages of 17 and 75 who is in good health and weighs at least 110 pounds can donate blood. Healthy individuals 75 and older can donate blood, if they present written permission from their physician obtained within two weeks of their donation.

To find a blood drive or donation center near you, visit http://www.nybloodcenter.org/donate-blood/where-to-donate-today/

If you need a family practitioner, please visit www.chsli.org or call 1855-CHS-4500.

I’m Perfectly Healthy, So Why Do I Need to See a Doctor?

You feel fine.  You seem healthy, so why should you visit the doctor?

“This is a question I often hear,” commented Adam Carpentieri, DO, a board certified family practitioner affiliated with St. Joseph Hospital.  “There are many reasons why you should visit a physician annually.  For a person without any significant medical concerns, the most compelling is to catch issues before they become problems.  We need to be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to our health care.”

This point is often forgotten, as we go about our busy lives, taking care of others, our homes, our cars, neglecting our health.  On flights, they tell you in an emergency to first put on your oxygen mask, then help others.  The correlation follows: If we don’t care for ourselves, we won’t be able to care for our loved ones.

An annual exam can uncover a number of hidden problems, such as the beginning of adult onset diabetes, elevated blood pressure or cholesterol or weight issues.  During an exam, discuss any new aches or pains, which could be early signs of arthritis.  Extra weight can cause undue pressure on your joints.  Addressed early, some issues can be treated or avoided.

Dr. Carpentieri explained some patients don’t visit their family doctor because they are seeing specialists.  Patients might say, “I’m seeing a cardiologist or urologist or gynecologist, so why do I need to see another doctor?”

“Your family practitioner can act as your general contractor, coordinating your overall health and ensuring nothing is missed,” said Dr. Carpentieri.  “At St. Joseph, we have a close-knit medical staff.  We know one another, work well together and can collaborate.  This means better care for you.”

If you need a family practitioner, please visit www.chsli.org or call 1855-CHS-4500.

A Sound Sleep Mode to Avoid Shutting Down

Along with good nutrition and exercise, ample sleep is essential for good health, yet an estimated 28% of adults don’t get a full night’s rest. Lack of sleep can have a negative impact on cognitive performance, physical ability and quality of life, and safety. Studies have shown a connection between sleep deprivation and weight gain, dulled memory and even life-threatening disease.

Rest allows the lymphatic and immune systems to better repair the body. In addition, a study published in Science Translational Medicine (October 18, 2013) suggests that sleep actually clears the brain of toxins that accumulate when we are awake. Without sleep, we’re not ourselves; emotional IQ and empathy are some of the functions that shut down in sleep-deprived people.

“We all know that diet and exercise are very important for good health.  As medical professionals, we still need to get the message across that good quality and adequate sleep are key for optimal health and performance,” said Marta Maczaj, MD, sleep medicine physician, Sleep Disorders Center, St. Charles Hospital.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends at least 10 hours of sleep daily for school-aged children, 9 to 10 for teenagers and 7 to 8 for adults. With more than 100,000 auto accidents in the U.S. attributed to drowsy driving each year, the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project has just launched the “Awake at the Wheel” public education campaign. With initiatives such as this and a greater general awareness of the importance of a good night’s sleep, we can all enjoy the best of health.

Speak to a physician if you are having health issues. Visit www.chsli.org or call 1-855-CHS-4500 to find one near you.

Knowing the signs of depression:

With life’s ups and downs everyone feels sad from time to time. Sadness can be a normal reaction to life’s struggles, setbacks, and disappointments. But, if sadness or feelings of despair begin to consume your life you could be clinically depressed.

Depression varies for each person, but there are some common signs and symptoms. Understanding these signs, symptoms and causes can be the first step to overcoming the problem.

Signs and symptoms of depression can include:

• Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
  
• Sleep changes
• Anger or irritability
• Loss of interest in daily activities
• Appetite or weight changes
• Loss of energy
• Self-loathing
• Reckless behavior
• Concentration problems
• Unexplained aches and pains

“Many depressed people seek help from illicit substances and or alcohol to mitigate the pain only to find out that this not a solution,” said Ronald Brenner, MD, chief of Behavioral Health Service Line for Catholic Health Services. “On the contrary, it is at best a short lived measure and can lead to worsening of symptoms. CHS Behavioral Health Service Line offers help for individuals showing signs of depression.”

Speak to a physician if you are having health issues. Visit www.chsli.org or call 1-855-CHS-4500 to find one near you.

Lately there have been many reports about Enteroviruses in the news. What is Enterovirus, and how may it affect you?

Every year, millions of children become sick, exhibiting cough and cold symptoms, and experiencing body and muscle aches.  These are often caused by non-polio enteroviruses, which result in approximately 10 million infections in the United States each year.  In general, a variety of enteroviruses circulate annually, and different types of enteroviruses can be common each year.  In previous years, small numbers of Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) have been reported.  However, this year the number of people with confirmed EV-D68 infection is much greater than that reported in previous years.*

Enterovirus D68 was first identified in California in 1962.  People are more likely to become infected with enteroviruses in the summer and fall.  Since EV-D68 causes respiratory illness, the virus can be discovered in an infected person’s respiratory secretions, such as saliva.  EV-D68 likely spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes or touches a surface that is then touched by others.  This is why handwashing and personal hand hygiene is so important.*

How is Enterovirus D68 diagnosed?
EV-D68 can only be diagnosed by doing lab tests on specimens from a person’s nose and throat.  Specific diagnosis of EV-D68 is often made by some state departments and the CDC.*

Who is at risk of acquiring this disease?
“In general, the illness more likely affects the pediatric population, possibly because they have not yet developed immunity to the virus,” said Jason Golbin, DO, , vice president for medical affairs and chief medical officer for St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown. “Adults can become infected as well, but are more likely to have mild disease.”  Children with asthma may have a higher risk for severe respiratory illness caused by EV-D68 infection.*

What is the treatment for EVD68?
There is no specific treatment for patients infected with EV-D68.  Speak with your physician about the best way to control you or your loved one’s symptoms.  If there is severe respiratory illness, those patients may need to be hospitalized.  There are no antiviral medications currently available for people who become infected with EV-D68.*

What should children with asthma do?
Children with asthma are at increased risk of more severe disease with infection by EV-D68.  These children’s treatment should follow CDC’s guidance.

CDC recommends:

• Discuss and update your child’s asthma action plan with your pediatrician.
• Ensure your child takes any prescribed asthma medications as directed, especially       long-term control medication(s).
• Be sure your child has his/her acute reliever medication available.
• Make sure your child gets a flu vaccine (as long as there is no contraindication).
• If new or worsening asthma symptoms develop, follow the steps of the asthma action plan. If your child’s symptoms do not go away, call your pediatrician..
• Parents should make sure their child’s caregiver and/or teacher is aware of his/her condition, and they know how to help if the child experiences any symptoms related to asthma.*

* All information from www.CDC.gov