Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / March 4, 1999, edition 1 / Page 9
Part of The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Health & Fitness '99 e Thursday, March 4, 1999 Herald/Times Section A, Page 9 - | Studies show your shoes are not the problem i With podiatry medicine in the forefront of news regarding older “As with an exercise program, you gradually work your way into increased activity, increased work hours and of course, inheritance.” ) u generations, Dr. C. Jeff Mauney, D.PM., would like to clear up a amore vigorous workout,” Dr. Mauney said. “Your feet need the same Dr. Mauney and Kings Mountain Hospital (KMH) were very i | common misconception - shoes are not the cause of foot problems. consideration.” instrumental in the state movement for podiatry physicians to have ; I On the contrary shoe design is better than they have ever been. The In 1976, Dr. Mauney took over Foothills Podiatry, the practice his hospital privileges. The third hospital in the state of North Carolina : i shoe industry has taken a progressive step toward improving the father started in the late 1930's. With offices in Shelby and Kings to offer podiatry physicians privileges, KMI assisted other hospitals 7 quality of shoes being manufactured over the last 20 years ago. Mountain, Foothills Podiatry, is conveniently located to serve patients and physicians in detailing the scope of services that were to be offered. e a Podiatry problems are usually inherited from previous from Kings Mountain, Bessemer City and west Gaston County. An advantage to having hospital privileges is the ability to perform & generations. To prevent injuries or problems, people should always Foothills Podiatry provides medical attention and treatment either complex procedures as outpatient surgery. ! use common sense. Wear comfortable shoes, donot over exert yourself at the of fice or in the hospital as an outpatient. Rarely do patients Dr. Mauney and his associate Dr. Ronald A. Maskarinec, D.P.M., i by keeping up with your running /walking partner, and take care of require overnight stays in the hospital. currently treat patients in Kings Mountain on Monday and hy your feet. Some people don’t understand when they walk an extra “We treat all ages of patients,” said Dr. Mauney. “Podiatry Wednesday. For more information about Foothills Podiatry, call mile or two a day their feet will experience the most discomfort. problems are common among the general population. This is dueto (704)739-7653. Emergency Departments serve the high priority needs by Dr. Ken Flowe, hospitals the size of Kings Mountain Hospital (KMH) Patients who use the ED as a replacement for a exact cause of an illness at the Medical Director, is approximately 2.5 hours. Often KMH ED staff are primary care physician lose out on all of these benefits. time of the ED visit. Kings Mountain Hospital ED able to see patients more promptly than this, but no The ED physician has limited knowledge of the Sometimes the symptoms a patient describes ED is known for fast treatment of non-emergent - patient’ s medical history as compared to the primary can be caused by a variety of illnesses. The ED medical conditions. care physician. In some cases, the ED physician must physician is trained to rule out any life- ei * An ED is staffed by its own physicians. provide a brief supply of medication that lasts until threatening reasons” for the symptoms. A hospital emergency department (ED) excels at People often think that they should be able to the patient can see his or her primary care physician. Sometimes this can be done by simply running a diagnosing and treating acute and life-threatening access their primary care physician through the ED. e Treatment in the ED may be more expensive than few tests. There are may be times when a life- ) emergencies quickly and efficiently. While it Many primary care physicians refer patients tothe ED treatment through a primary threatening condition is ruled out, but the doctor provides medical services 24 hours a day, it differs from doctor's offices and urgent care centers in many ways. * An ED treats the sickest patients first. In the ED, a nurse assesses all patients as quickly as possible to insure that the sickest patients are treated first. This process is called “triage.” Because of the triage process, the ED cannot offer appointments or assurances of a quick visit. The order of treatment is based on need, not discrimination of nonmedical issues (race, insurance status, etc.). This would be unethical and illegal. ED staff can also treat non-emergency conditions like colds, aches and pains, but only after the patients with acute and life-threatening emergencies have been treated. Unfortunately, this may cause a several hour delay in treatment for patients with non-emergency conditions. The national average time for an ED visit in for care after hours, but they do so with the understanding that the ED physician is in charge of the diagnosis and treatment of the patient. A primary care physician does have access to any information or records created as a result of a treatment in the ED, but he or she may not see this information until the next working day. * An ED is not a replacement for care by a primary care physician. There are many benefits to establishing a long-term relationship with a primary care physician. These include the physician “getting to know you as a person;” having a personal knowledge of a patient's physical, emotional and psychological health; and generally having more time to have discussions without interruption. Patients get the opportunity to become familiar with the nurses and other staff who provide care. The primary care physician office also can serve as a central location for all medical records, lab results and X-rays. The seven "C's": for your good health (NAPS)—Today’s managed health care environment, with its rules, restrictions, and regula- tions, can be difficult to navigate. How can you be sure that you are getting the best health care possi- ble? Who is looking out for your best interests? The number one advocate for your health care needs is you. Pathologists, doctors who care for patients through laboratory medicine, recommend that you find a partner to serve as your advocate—someone who will champion your needs and work with you so that you can stay healthy and treat any health problems that arise. And your best partner is your physician. Your physician—in an open, communicative relationship with you—can help guide you to deter- mine what’s best for you and help ensure that you and your loved ones receive appropriate care. To help you establish a produc- tive partnership with your doctor, look to the following seven “Cs.” Credentials: Investigate the doctor’s professional reputation. Ask friends or family, call the doc- tor’s office, contact your state a medical society, or look on the i Internet. Choice: Remember that you, as a health care consumer, have the What Are Sinuses? Sinuses are any of the four pairs of air-filled cavities located E behind and around the eyes and nose. They are connected to the nasal passages by thin channels. When functioning normally, these channels allow mucus and air to move through the nasal passages into the sinuses. What Causes Sinusitis? The sinus channels are very small and become swollen due to a cold, allergies, medications, infec- tion or inhaled irritants. This swelling is exacerbated by a build- up of bacteria, dirt and dust in the mucus. The result is that the channels become obstructed, trap- ping air in the sinuses, preventing mucus drainage and causing the pain and pressure that spell mis- ery for sinus sufferers. A number of triggers can cause or contribute to these symptoms. These include allergies, personal habits, such as smoking cigar- ettes, and environmental factors, such as cold, damp weather and EE right to a second opinion or to change doctors. If you're not com- fortable with a particular doctor, find one who is responsive to your needs. No Conflict of Interest: Be sure that there is no conflict of interest that could compromise the quality of your care. In some plans, a doc- tor is paid a set fee for seeing and treating each patient, regardless of the care given to each patient. Some fear that this may encour- age physicians to limit treatment or tests in order to save money. Competence: A physician’s cre- dentials don’t guarantee compe- tence. You should ask your doctor to: ° itemize solutions to medical problems; *® describe the benefits of each solution; ® describe the risks and down- sides of each solution; * describe any other options; and * put all of it in writing. Communication: Candid, open communication with your doctor can help separate helpful health information from the harmful. Ask questions. Be forthright with information that can help your doctor treat you. If you're afraid to ask your doctor questions, you may have the wrong doctor. Compassion: Your physician air pollation. Also, sinus sufferers frequently experience problems in the fall when the cold season gets underway and environmental trig- gers such as pollen and molds are at high levels. “People who have a history of sinus problems are more likely to have another attack,” says Robert Naclerio, MD, a sinus expert at University of Chicago. “It is important for these people to iden- tify the causes of a sinus attack and treat it appropriately to mini- mize the number of occurrences.” Symptoms Of Sinusitis A number of symptoms can indicate the onset of a sinus attack. The number and severity of symptoms often varies from person to person and from attack to attack. The Harris poll revealed that a majority of sinus sufferers (67 percent) have had five or more symptoms, which include stuffy nose, head congestion, sinus headache, sinus pressure, facial pain, a cough and post-nasal drip. Treating Sinusitis The prescription ut Rem ttm tet smn me re wh pminn should show you respect and demonstrate that he or she sees you as a human being. Continuity of Care: It takes time to develop a trusting rela- tionship. Having a long-term rela- tionship with your physician can help ensure that you receive the best care. According to pathologists, by being your own advocate, by learn- ing as much as you can about your health plan, and by working closely with your doctor, you and your fam- ily can have the health care you want and need. For more informa- tion about how to navigate through the managed care maze, call the College of American Pathologists at 800-LAB-5678. [Communication ii No Conflict of Interest @ Sinus problems are nothing to sniffle at Numerous options are avail- able to treat sinus problems, including the use of steam inhala- tion, humidifiers, nasal sprays and oral medications, such as decongestants, antihistamines and antibiotics. Ideally, people with sinus problems should treat both the pain associated with their condition and the congestion that causes it. One medication that provides relief of both the pain and congestion of a sinus attack is Motrin® IB Sinus, which contains the pain reliever ibupro- fen and the nasal decongestant pseudoephedrine. Dr. Naclerio stresses that any sinus condition persisting for more than one or two weeks may be caused by a bacterial infec- tion, and a doctor should be con- sulted. Sinus infections can be treated only by prescription antibiotics, although the symp- toms can still be managed by an over-the-counter pain reliever that combines a pain reliever and a decongestant. care physician. ED’s are staffed with specially trained nurses and physicians 24 hours a day. ED’s are equipped much like a hospital intensive care unit, not a doctor’s office. These enormous costs results in a larger bill for an ED visit as compared with a doctor's of office Visit. Additionally, ED physicians are required to conduct an examination in order to rule out any potentially life-threatening reason for a symptom. This . could involve very expensive testing. At a doctor's office, a patient's treatment will often address the most obvious and probable cause for a symptom. This is very safe and appropriate for a primary care. physician who knows the patient’s history. Treatment for non- emergency conditions, such as flu or sore throats is usually much less expensive in the doctor's office. ® The ED cannot treat patients over the telephone. Although some patients may be able to describe their symptoms and receive a course of action via a telephone call to their primary care physician, an ED physician doesn’t have access to a patient’s medical records like a primary care physician. It is therefore generally impossible to make an adequate diagnosis over the telephone. To prescribe medications without assuring the proper diagnosis is unsafe. Therefore, patients will be asked to come into the ED for an provided: * An ED physician may not be able to pinpoint the may not have the exact cause of the symptom. ED physicians execute a medical work-up to a point at which they are certain that whatever caused the symptoms will not cause irreversible harm to the patient in the immediate future. Once they reach this point, the ED physician is trained to discharge the patient from the ED and refer the patient to the most appropriate kind of doctor's office so that the work-up can be completed. For many conditions, the cost of such a complete work-up in the ED would be far too great. * The ED welcomes and is prepared to treat any ‘patient who is concerned that their symptoms could indicate a serious condition. This is especially true if the patient's doctor is not immediately available. The sooner a heart attack or stroke can be identified and treated, the fewer lives are lost. The sooner a case of appendicitis or bowel obstruction can be identified, the better chance a patient has of a full and uncomplicated recovery. One should never hesitate to use the ED for what it is designed to do - to rule out the possibility of a severe, emergency or life-threatening medical condition. One should never be embarrassed if the chest examination before prescriptions or treatments are pain turned out to be indigestion instead of a heart attack. Just be thankful that there is somewhere you can turn, at any hour, just in case. Kings Mountain Hospital And These Plans Unlock The Power Of The System For You PPO PLANS “Aetna US Healthcare Alliance Preferred Network BlueCross BlueShield of NC CAPP CARE CIGNA CNA Health Partners Ethix Southeast Health Care Savings HealthStar Healthsource Jefferson Pilot Joan Fabrics Mecklenburg Medical Society MedCost NC Teachers /State Employees PHP of SC Premier Primary Physician Care Prudential SC State Employees United Healthcare Wal-Mart WellPath POINT-OF-SERVICE PLANS Aetna US Healthcare Atlantic Health Plans BlueCross BlueShield of NC CAPP CARE CIGNA Flexcare S Kings Mountain Hospital Carolinas HealthCare System 706 W. Kings Street P.O. Box 339 Kings Mountain, NC 28086 > (704) 739-3601 Companion Health Care Doctors Health Plan Ethix Southeast Health Care Savings HealthStar HealthSource Jefferson Pilot Kanawha HealthCare MedCost PHP of SC Premier Prudential The Wellness Plan United Healthcare WellPath HMO PLANS Aetna US Healthcare Atlantic Health Plans BlueCross BlueShield of NC Companion Health Care Doctors Health Plan Healthsource HMO Blue Kanawha HealthCare PHP of SC ! Prudential The Wellness Plan United Healthcare WellPath
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 4, 1999, edition 1
9
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75