- Cancer Care, Community, Women's Health, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs a breast cancer survivor, Lucretia Jackson knows what it’s like to be a patient. As an elementary school principal, she understands the importance of listening. Lucretia brings both of those skill sets and a seemingly endless supply of energy and dedication to her role as a patient advisor to the hospital safety committee. On the hospital safety committee, we discuss various topics dealing with quality and patient safety. We also talk about what patient advisors can do to advocate for whatever we see that can be improved within the hospital from a patient’s perspective. One of the things we emphasize with regard to patient care is nothing about me without me. As a patient, nothing should ever happen to you without you being part of it. I think it’s crucial to build a culture of patient and family centered safety. We did a lot of brainstorming about different things we could use to improve the handbook that we give to the patients. We thought about videos that we can show to patients as they enter the hospital. I worked very closely with the company that created the hospital whiteboards—a communication tool. The hospital whiteboard is posted inside the rooms and has all the important information pertaining to that patient. It has contact information for the physician or nurse on-call, and uses the SMART acronym: Symptoms, Medications, Appointments, Results and Talking points. It can also include the potential discharge date and the family spokesperson. It even has a spot where a family member can say “contact me” or if they have a question they can pose a question on it and ask for an answer to that question. Patient input on this type of thing is very beneficial. It’s more beneficial than anything for me to raise awareness of the importance and benefits of the patient/family perspective at every point along the continuum of healthcare and decision making and delivery. In my heart, I feel it is an invaluable experience for anyone to serve as a patient advocate–I’m getting to know the “ins and outs” of the hospital and I have an opportunity to see how extremely hard the staff work to make sure everything is done efficiently and effectively when it pertains to patients. They’re with us 100 percent.
- Men's Health, Weight Loss, Women's Health, Wellness, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAt 47, Andrew Henderson was frustrated by decades of struggling with weight loss and tired of ever-increasing doses of medication for his diabetes. So he enrolled in one of AAMC’s weight loss seminars and—with careful guidance from Alex Gandsas, MD—determined that surgery was the right option for him. Just weeks after his gastric sleeve procedure, Andrew was well on his way to a healthier life. When I first went to the seminar I was 402 pounds and that’s the biggest I’ve ever been. I had tried different diets. I work out. I exercise. I did everything my doctors asked since 2000, but I hadn’t lost any weight. I would come down to 380 and then I’d put the weight on again. I was compliant with my sugar, but my system gets used to the medication and then my doctor would have to put me on more medication. I said to myself ‘I’m getting tired of this. I had the surgery December 6, 2013, and now, a month later, I have lost nearly 50 pounds. When I came home, I was on a liquid diet. After about two weeks, my diabetes doctor said he wanted to take me off the insulin and I’ve been doing well with that. The surgery made a great difference. I have more energy, but I need to keep my protein level up. I know I have to eat smaller meals. You have to make your mind up to change things that you like. I don’t do fried foods. I’ve been eating fish and chicken. My meal plans have really changed, but then the nutritionist in the program helps with that. You have to be compliant and it grows on you. I just started working out a little more. I’m getting ready to start the hospital’s exercise plan that is part of the program for this kind of surgery. My twin brother is going to go through the procedure as well. We’re getting ready to retire in a few years and we want to be healthy. We have been carrying this weight for a long time and we need to make a change.
- Community, Men's Health, Women's Health, Heart Care, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAfter John Weitzel had a heart attack at just 47-years- old, his energy levels were down and he just was not able to do the things he used to do. But AAMC’s cardiac rehab program is helping him regain his strength and energy in a safe environment. The cardiac rehab has probably been the most important thing that I’ve done. It’s a safe place to work out while being monitored instead of going to the gym. At the gym, if you’re not feeling right there’s nobody there that can tell you what you need to do. It gets you in the right frame of mind because everybody up there has gone through the same thing and we all have a common goal and the nurses are just fantastic. They’re friendly and they are there when you need them and it’s a great atmosphere. I lost 25 pounds doing the cardiac rehab program and I try to go three or four times a week. The rehab gym is only 15 minutes away from my home—it couldn’t be any more convenient for what I need to do, it’s easy to get there and it’s easy to get in and out. That’s what I would recommend to anybody after a heart attack. Stick to the exercise program. Take advantage of that cardio rehab program, it will get you back on the right track.
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Wellness, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLife has changed for Scott Zimmerman. He has a new attitude and outlook on life. He feels 20 years younger now that he is 70 pounds lighter and no longer needs treatment for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea. How did this husband, father of two teens and HVAC specialist at AAMC do it? Last April, he had weight loss surgery. “The moment of truth came when I thought I wouldn’t wake up to see my kids,” says Scott, who knew his health was going in the wrong direction. “This wasn’t so much about weight loss as it was about health gain and getting back my energy. Now I want to do things and not just sit around the house,” he says. “I’m enjoying life again.”
- Men's Health, Women's Health, Wellness, Patient StoriesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhen she saw her July 2012 vacation picture, Melissa Staud of Harwood knew she had to make a change for the better. She weighed 275 pounds and knew she needed to lose weight to improve her life and her health. “I honestly tried on my own to lose weight, but I wasn’t successful no matter what I tried, even Weight Watchers and working out at the gym,” says the 34-year-old. “For me, the problem was portion control, and I also made bad food choices. After vacation, I looked into weight loss surgery and decided it was a good option for me.” In January 2013, Melissa had gastric sleeve surgery, in which a portion of her stomach was removed. The surgery opened a whole new world for Melissa, who acknowledges that people used to treat her differently. “I don’t get stares anymore, and I like the way I look. Now I can bend over, tie my shoes, actually get boots on, and buy clothes from a store.” She’s thrilled to take longer horseback rides and ride smaller horses. “Horses are my passion,” she says. She expected to lose about 50 to 60 percent of her excess weight after the surgery and was pleasantly surprised. “Thanks to the surgery, my complete lifestyle change and formation of new habits, I have surpassed those average numbers and have lost nearly 90 percent of the excess weight,” she says. Not only that, she also eliminated her high blood pressure and sleep apnea. The change required a lifetime commitment to new eating habits. “I cleaned out my kitchen cabinets and restocked with healthy items. I only drink water and decaf unsweetened tea. I’ve learned to snack on fruits and vegetables, use spices to flavor foods [instead of salt], and eat correct portions.”
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