Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi - (Page 5)

At the weight station, she learned how important it is to weigh daily, record it and report fluctuations. She also took home a folder full of information, including some about prescription assistance and tobacco cessation, as well as a personal health record to take to each physician and pharmacy visit. “It has changed my state of mind, being educated about what’s going on inside my body,” she says. For the first month after she left the hospital, a nurse from Nurse Link called every week to reinforce what she had learned and answer any questions. Once a week for several months, a Home Health nurse came to Gaillard’s apartment to check her blood pressure and other vital signs, and help with managing her medication. Gaillard says the Self-Care College definitely raised her comfort level. “I felt like I wasn’t just thrown out there by myself,” she says. “I was scared because I didn’t know anything about this disease. The program let me know I wasn’t alone.” Stop CHF in Its Tracks the best way to prevent heart failure is to control risk factors and conditions that cause heart failure, including: • coronary artery disease • diabetes • high blood pressure • obesity • high cholesterol Get Smart Everything that Andrew Myrick learned at the SelfCare College was beneficial, but his meeting with the dietitian really made an impression. Not only did the program help manage the congestive heart failure he was diagnosed with in June 2011, but it also helped control the diabetes he has known about for 15 years. Andrew Myrick “I eat much differently,” says the 55-year-old Tupelo resident. “I am learning to eat less and eat the right foods. I have cut salt out of my diet. I know to eat all fresh vegetables, fish and chicken—no canned goods.” By applying what he learned, Myrick has already lost more than 50 pounds. To help with his new medications, the pharmacist gave him a seven-day planner to organize what he needs to take and when. “I check my blood sugar every day now and I weigh every day,” he says. “I know if I weigh more than 244 pounds, I need to call someone.” NMMC’s program is the first of its type nationwide, and Greer says it is already paying big dividends. “By coaching the patient, we can make an impact on their lives and empower them to take control of their disease,” he says. “The measure that we use to judge how we are doing is hospital readmissions. We know that patients with chronic diseases like congestive heart failure are very vulnerable, but if we are successful in our efforts the patient will be much less likely to have an unplanned readmission to the hospital.” In the previous fiscal year, 19.6 percent of patients with congestive heart failure were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. In the first quarter of its existence, the Self-Care College helped reduce NMMC’s 30-day readmission rate to 12 percent for these patients. Fewer admissions mean healthier— and happier—patients. CaLL For more information about the Congestive Heart Failure Self-Care College, call 800-THE DESK (800-843-3375) or visit www.nmhs.net/chf.php. How Can the Self-Care College Help You? Vim & Vigor • SPRI NG 2012 5 http://www.nmhs.net/chf.php

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi
Opening Thoughts
Building Healthier Hearts
Young at Heart
Caring for the Little Ones
Get Real
How Far We’ve Come
Patient Survival Guide
Perfect Attendance
Jennifer Hudson, Grammy-winning recording artist
Lean on Me
Intimidated by the Gym?
What Is Your Volunteer Style?
A Prescription for Relief
Virtual Health
SPECIAL You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby
Get Heart Healthy!
Growing Stronger
The Doctor Will See You Now
Catch the Spirit

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi

https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2016spring-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2015winter-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2015fall-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2015summer-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2015spring-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2014winter-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2014fall-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/nmmc_communityreport_2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2014summer-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2014spring-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2013winter-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/nmmc_communityreport_2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2013fall-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2013summer-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2013spring-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2012winter-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2012fall-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/nmmc_communityreport2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2012summer-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2012spring-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2011winter-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2011fall-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/nmmc_communityreport2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2011summer-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2011spring-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2010winter-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2010fall-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2010summer-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/nmmc_communityreport09
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2010spring-nm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2009winter-nm
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com