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TomGreen County targets preventable diseases
Keeping adults out of
the hospital for prevent-
able health conditions is
at the heart of the mission
of the Tom Green County
Partnership for Better
Health.
According to state and
county statistics, from
2005 to 2009, adult Texans
were charged $31.9 billion
for potentially prevent-
able hospitalizations, with
$160 million stemming
from Tom Green County.
The partnership—which
includes the Area Agency
on Aging of the Concho
Valley, the Angelo State
University (ASU) Caregiver
Research Institute, Baptist
Retirement Community,
San Angelo Community
Medical Center, Shan-
non Medical Cen-
ter and Tom Green
County Treasurer
Dianna Spieker—was
awarded $150,000
from the Texas De-
partment of State
Health Services to
raise awareness of
three medical condi-
tions that severely affect
hospitalizations in Tom
Green County:
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●
Bacterial pneumonia.
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Urinary tract infections.
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Chronic obtrusive pul-
monary disease.
The partnership’s goal is
to reduce hospitalizations
for these three conditions
by 15 percent over an
18-month span.
Know l edg e i s powe r
“These are health issues
with simple solutions,”
says Mimi Baugh, MSN,
RN, director of the ASU
Caregiver Research Insti-
tute. “We are educating
not only the adults affected
by these illnesses, but their
caregivers and the general
public as well.”
Tom Green County is
the first county in
which the initiative
has been introduced.
Af t e r t he i n i t i a l
18-month trial period,
the program could be
implemented in other
areas of the state, and
Tom Green County
could continue to see
state funding.
Some of the program’s
initiatives this year have in-
cluded a seminar about pre-
venting common illnesses,
featuring local doctors and
health care professionals,
and an immunization clinic
for adults in need of a pneu-
monia vaccine.
What’s next?
The next
event, “Generation Gray:
Strategies for Preventing
Hospitalizations in At-
Risk Populations,” is Friday,
Oct. 19, at the C.J. Davidson
Center on the ASU campus.
It is designed for health pro-
fessionals and will include
continuing education hours.
A special lunch presen-
tation, “Heloise’s Healthy
Hints for Preventing Com-
mon Illnesses,” will be
given by national advice
columnist Heloise.
For more information,
please call
325-657-5064
or email the ASU Care
givers Research Institute at
caregiverresearch@
angelo.edu.
A loss like
no other
T
he loss of a child is a
traumatic, unforeseen
event for most fami-
lies. And in these situ-
ations, support is vital
in helping to heal the
broken hearts of those
affected.
The White Rose Bereavement
Support Group at Shannon Medical
Center is devoted to giving sensitive
care to parents experiencing miscar-
riage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth or
newborn death. The group is open
and free of charge to any person in
need of this service.
Cindy Rogerson, RN, BSN, is the
White Rose Support Group coordi
nator. She understands the impor-
tance of support for the families
who are going through these tough
situations.
“I think most people don’t
understand how devastating the
loss is—they don’t realize this is
a child, just like an older child
would be,” she says. “People already
have dreams for their baby, even if
they are only 12 weeks pregnant. A
lot of times, these parents are kind
of lost. They need a lot of support
if they don’t have it from family
or friends, and we try to give it to
them here.”
She wants families to know that
life will get better.
The group meets the second
Thursday of each month in the Shan-
non staff development house (behind
the main hospital), 136 E. College
Ave., from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The
group also holds several annual
events to honor the precious babies
whose short lives have touched the
hearts and lives of their parents,
families and family friends.
The Walk to Remember, held
the first Sunday of October, and the
White Rose Candlelight Ceremony,
held the first Sunday in December,
honor those babies.
The 2012 Walk to Remember will
take place Sunday, Oct. 7, at 2:30 p.m.,
starting near the pine tree behind the
old Central Fire Station at City Park
(corner of Twohig and Magdalen). It
will then proceed to the Baby’s Rose
Garden at Shannon Women’s and
Children’s Hospital for the planting
of a rosebush in loving memory of
infants who have died.
“The walk is designed to raise
public awareness and to ensure that
families receive the sensitivity they
deserve,” Rogerson says.
The event will also include a
dedication for the new gazebo in the
Baby’s Rose Garden. The gazebo pro-
vides a place for individuals to relax
when they visit the garden.
For more information about
these services, please call
325-657-5098
.
Baked Greek
tomatoes
INGREDIENTS
2 large, ripe tomatoes,
halved
1 slice whole-wheat
bread, crust removed
2 tablespoons grated
Parmesan cheese
1 garlic clove, finely
minced
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and freshly ground
pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
■
■
Preheat oven to 350
degrees. Gently squeeze
tomatoes or use a spoon
to remove the seeds.
■
■
In blender or food
processor, make crumbs
of bread. In small bowl,
combine bread crumbs,
cheese, garlic, oil, oreg-
ano, basil, thyme, and salt
and pepper to taste.
■
■
Spoon crumb mixture
into each halved tomato.
Place tomatoes in cas-
serole dish.
■
■
Bake uncovered 25 to
30 minutes, until toma-
toes are soft—but not
mushy—and topping is
golden brown.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
Makes 4 servings.
Amount per serving:
62 calories; 3g total fat
(<1g saturated fat);
8g carbohydrates;
3g protein; 2g dietary
fiber; 103mg sodium;
84mg potassium.
Source: American Institute for Cancer
Research
A PLACE FOR PEACE: The new White Rose Gazebo,
located in the Baby’s Rose Garden in front of
Shannon Women’s and Children’s Hospital, will be
dedicated in a special ceremony on Oct. 7.
F A L L 2 0 1 2
H E A L T H B E A T
7
N E W S , V I E W S & T I P S
H E A L T H T A L K