Meriter Fitchburg

Come and celebrate the opening of Meriter’s seventh primary care clinic: Meriter Fitchburg. The open house will give you the opportunity to meet our three Family Medicine physicians, as well as tour the clinic and enjoy light refreshments. Bring your family, as kids receive a free gift! A representative from Physicians Plus will also be on-site to answer your questions.

Meriter Fitchburg Community Open House
Thursday, May 24, 2012
5 to 7 p.m.

Meriter Fitchburg is located at 2690 Research Park Drive, Suite F, Fitchburg, WI 53711. The clinic is located just off the intersection of Lacy Road and Fish Hatchery Road.

Meriter Fitchburg will officially open for business on June 11, 2012, although appointments can be made today by calling 608.417.8585. Click here for more information.

 The best way to prevent pertussis is through immunization. The immunization for pertussis is given in combination with tetanus and diphtheria. The recommended immunization schedule for DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis) is 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12-18 months and 4-6 years. Each immunization provides increased protection. This protection wears off with time, so adolescents and adults should be given one booster dose of the vaccine Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis). This is typically given at age 11-12, but has only been available since 2005, so many adults have not received this booster. They may have received a tetanus booster (Td) that contains tetanus and diphtheria, but not pertussis. Even if an adult is not due for a tetanus booster, it is safe to receive the Tdap booster dose sooner. Since infants are especially vulnerable to serious complications of pertussis, it is particularly important for adolescents and adults that are in frequent contact with children under 12 months of age to ensure they are immunized. This decreases the likelihood they will become infected and spread the whooping cough infection to an infant. Meriter and St. Mary’s, as well as other area hospitals, offer mothers the Tdap vaccination after giving birth if they have not had it previously.

Treatment for pertussis is a course of antibiotics. This limits the spread of the infection, but the cough may persist. Like all vaccinations, the pertussis vaccination is not 100 percent effective. If a person was in close contact with someone who is diagnosed with pertussis, prophylactic antibiotics may be needed. If you or your child have a known exposure, it is best to contact your doctor to determine if testing and/or antibiotic treatment are warranted. This is especially important if you or your child have close contact with infants under 1 year of age.

Someone with pertussis or suspected pertussis should stay isolated (avoid contact with others) until they have completed 5 days of treatment or had the cough for 21 days.

Dr. Dana Johnson
Pediatrician
Meriter McKee

Modified from Column originally printed in Wisconsin State Journal on January 19, 2012.

Read more: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/ask/dr-johnson/dr-dana-johnson-can-i-protect-my-child-from-whooping/article_df8d5d38-4129-11e1-8141-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1uJAeeNbJ

Meriter’s NICU families had the opportunity to purchase commemorative t-shirts and raffle tickets to win the 6 unique baskets including the Grand prize an IPAD, Bucky Badger, Family Fun Activities, Community Activities/Restaurants certificates, Tool kit and Date Night. The donations will support our new family care suite. The suite will allow a family to stay at the hospital if their newborn is in the NICU.

The children had their photo taken and then colored a Mother’s Day card. They also had the opportunity to enjoy the following activities: bean bag toss, sucker tree, Plinko, duck pond, bean counting, temporary tattoos, a Rainbow Play System, and meet our therapy Dogs on Call.

We would like to thank all of our volunteers and donors that allowed this event to be such a success.

Meriter NICU Reunion Video #1 – A Patient’s Story

Meriter NICU Reunion Video #2 – Interview with Kathy Kostrivas, AVP, Women’s Health at Meriter

Photos on Facebook of the Meriter NICU Reunion

This May, Meriter is part of the nationwide effort to raise awareness and spread hope about stroke – the nation’s #3 killer and leading cause of long-term disability for adults.

It is projected that 795,000 Americans of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds will suffer a stroke in 2011; however, the condition is largely preventable. With the National Stroke Association, Meriter is committed to reducing the incidence and impact of stroke by educating the community on risk factor management, acting F.A.S.T. upon stroke symptoms, and spreading hope about stroke recovery.

Quick Facts about Stroke
• There are approximately 795,000 strokes that occur every year in the United States
• Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke
• Every 3-4 minutes, someone in the United States dies from a stroke
• Approximately 15% of strokes are preceded by a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
• About half of patients who experience a TIA fail to report it to their health care provider

Stop Stroke
Through recognition and management of risk factors and lifestyle changes, up to 80% of strokes can be prevented. Stroke factors that you can control include:
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Tobacco use
• Alcohol use (drinking more than 2 drinks per day)
• Obesity/excessive weight

Act F.A.S.T
Stroke requires emergency treatment. Every minute counts! Act F.A.S.T. by learning the signs and symptoms of stroke, it could save yours or the life of a loved one.
• Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg- especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one of both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

Spread Hope
Help raise awareness and spread hope about stroke by donating to the National Stroke Association or the Meriter Foundation Stroke Program fund.

How Meriter Helps
If your or a loved one has symptoms of a stroke, time is critical. Our trained experts are available 24 hours-a-day to care for your emergency.

If you experience a stroke, our Rehabilitation Medicine Physicians provide a full array of consultative, diagnostic, treatment and case management services for both inpatients and outpatients. They focus on restoring function to provide you with the best possible outcome.

Know the Signs
Every minute counts. Knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke could save your life or the life of a loved one. Click here to download or request a free pocket guide on the signs and symptoms.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium eggplant
• 1 medium red onion, peeled
• 2 red bell peppers, seeded
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the eggplant, bell pepper and onion into 1-inch cubes.  Toss them in a large bowl with the olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.  Spread over a baking sheet.  Roast for 45 minutes, until the vegetables are lightly browned and soft, tossing once during cooking. Cool slightly.

Place the vegetables in a food processor fitted with a steel blade, add the tomato paste and pulse 3 or 4 times to blend. Serve along side whole wheat pita or multigrain chips.

Recommended by Meriter’s Clinical Dietitian, Krista Kohls.

Minimally Invasive Options and Unparalleled Expertise

Varicose vein disease is a common medical disorder. Heredity, age and pregnancies significantly contribute to the development of varicose veins.

“Patients with symptomatic varicose veins experience pain or aching in the legs, heaviness and fatigue with prolonged standing, swelling, and sometimes tenderness over the dilated veins,” explains Sandra Carr, MD, board certified vascular surgeon at Meriter Wisconsin Heart.

“In advanced cases, a patient may develop discoloration and dark staining of the skin, a red itchy rash, or even sores over the leg and ankle that are difficult to heal. People with large untreated varicose veins can sometimes develop superficial thrombophlebitis, which is hard, tender, reddening vein due to clotted blood under the skin.”

People will often suffer with symptomatic varicose veins for many years because they fear the treatment will be painful or expensive. However, most patients with varicose veins can be treated in the office with less invasive procedures. At the Meriter Wisconsin Heart Comprehensive Vein Care Center, state-of-the-art technology is used to treat diseased veins with minimal pain, little (if any) scarring and quick return to normal activities. Instead of stripping an abnormal saphenous vein, endovenous laser ablation (EVLT) is used to close off a diseased saphenous vein, which diverts blood flow into the normal deep veins.

Painful, bulging varicose branch veins are often treated in the office setting with sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy involves the use of very small needles to inject a solution into the abnormal vein, which causes the vein to collapse and eventually disappear.

Many people develop spider veins over the thighs, lower legs and ankles. Although not painful or dangerous, spider veins are often cosmetically unappealing. Cosmetic vein injections are performed in the office using an FDA approved medication, Asclera (polidocanol).

Although varicose veins are often easily seen on physical exam, it is necessary to look at vein function to identify areas of abnormal blood flow to make an appropriate treatment plan. Duplex ultrasound is a painless exam to determine which larger feeding veins are abnormal. The accredited vascular lab and experienced technologists at Meriter Wisconsin Heart are able to perform accurate, painless ultrasound exams in the office.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment, visit the Vein Care Center webpage or call Meriter Wisconsin Heart at 608.260.2100.

By: Dr. Dana Johnson, pediatrician at Meriter McKee Clinic

Sun Protection Tips

• Wear sunscreen.
• Try to avoid prolonged sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the strongest.
• A cap with a bill can protect the face and sunglasses with UV protection (at least 99%) protect the eyes from the sun’s rays.
• Remember that UV rays can bounce off water, sand, snow and concrete.
• UVA and UVB rays can come through clouds so sunscreen is needed even on cloudy days.
• It is best to keep babies under 6 months out of the sun by staying in the shade of a tree, umbrella, etc.
• Set a good example, like with everything else, kids learn best from their parent’s example.

Sunscreen Basics

• For any new type of sunscreen, apply to a small area first to test for an allergic reaction. Apply carefully around the eyes, avoiding eyelids.
• It is best to use water resistant or waterproof sunscreens.
• Use at least sun protection factor (SPF) of 15.
• Use “broad-spectrum” so that it screens out both UVA and UVB rays.
• Sunscreen should be used on anyone over 6 months.
• If sun exposure is unavoidable for babies under 6 months, it is OK to use sunscreen on sun exposed areas. I recommend giving the baby a bath when you get back inside to decrease possible skin irritation.
• Use a generous amount of sunscreen on all sun-exposed skin and rub it in well. Apply at least 30 minutes prior to going outdoors, after getting wet, and every two hours while in the sun.
• Sunblock with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are great for sensitive areas such as the nose, cheeks, ears and shoulders. They often stay visible even when being rubbed in, so some come in fun colors.
• Applying sunscreen is protection – not a reason to stay in the sun longer.
• Contact a doctor if a baby under 1 year develops a sunburn or if an older child develops blistering, pain or fever with sunburns.

Article posted in the Wisconsin State Journal on April 5, 2012

Tuesday, May 8 at 6:00pm
Managing Low Back Pain Without Surgery and Healthy Movement for the Arthritic Spine: A Physical Therapist Perspective
by Jared Greenberg, MD and Ellen Braatz, PT, MOMT
Location: Meriter Deming Way auditorium, 2275 Deming Way (lower level), Middleton

Thursday, May 10 at 6:00pm
A Helping Hand for your Arthritis
by Ann Matyas, OT, CHT, CLT
Location: Meriter Monona, 6408 Copps Avenue, Monona

Thursday, May 22 at 6:00pm
The Treatment of Fibromyalgia
by Bill Shannon, MD
Location: Meriter Monona, 6408 Copps Avenue, Monona

Cost: Free but registration is required
Register: meriter.com/classes

Meriter Health System is providing free informational sessions to help people talk about their future healthcare wishes and learn how to complete an advance medical directive. To register, please call Lynn Zima, Meriter Clinic Social Worker at (608) 417-8300.