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October 2007 eNews

Sanford at the Bridges Now Open

Sanford at the Bridges goes beyond offering a convenient location for on-the-go women. The comfortable and unique setting transforms a woman’s experience by offering a variety of health options in one place.

Sanford is forging the path to personalized medicine with a new location built on changing the way women experience the delivery of healthcare services. Sanford’s new location for women’s services merges medical and retail services. The result is a one-stop shop with a synergy of services based in science and driven by consumers. Sanford at the Bridges is an extension of Sanford’s core business-physician lead clinical services and medical care utilizing state-of-the-art technology. Delivering consumer-demanded women’s services in a retail setting is Sanford’s next step in being the provider of choice for women in the region. Jacquie Kluck, Vice President of Sanford Clinics says, “This cohesive approach to women’s health and well being in mind, body and spirit is unique to the region.”

The Sanford Women’s Health Plaza opened in October and is a unique facility designed to provide all ages of women, adolescents through adults, a variety of health options under one roof. The Women’s Health Plaza is based on convenience, access, state-of-the-art technology, and a service experience. Services offered include internal medicine, OB/GYN, digital mammography, bone density testing, diagnostic incontinence, women’s physical therapy, women’s mental health, x-ray, ultrasound and laboratory. Specialty services offered initially at the Plaza include cardiology, dermatology, vascular medicine, gastroenterology and orthopedics. In addition to the clinical services at the Plaza, women will find the Mutch Women’s Center for Health Enrichment, formerly known as the Women’s Resource Center, offering daily health education, healthy lifestyle coaching and physical activity classes. Women’s health programming at the Plaza is led by Lisa Ellis, MD.

Services Offered Will Include:

Internal Medicine

OB/GYN

Digital Mammography

Bone Density Testing

Diagnostic Incontinence

Daily health education, healthy lifestyle coaching and physical activity classes

Women’s Physical Therapy

Women’s Mental Health

X-Ray, Ultrasound, Laboratory

Specialty services include: Cardiology, Dermatology, Vascular Medicine, Gastroenterology and Orthopedics

Also located at Sanford at the Bridge will be Vivaz Medical Spa. Opening a few weeks later, Vivaz is a medical spa facility whose medical program is under the supervision of Heather Karu, MD of Sanford Clinic Plastic Surgery. Vivaz services will include medically directed treatment of body hair, wrinkles and skin aging. Medically directed treatments include services using state-of-the-art technology in light source laser treatment. A full line of medical grade products for skin will also be offered. Vivaz will offer a variety of medically directed minimally invasive and innovative skin care treatments all backed by science and research and provided by medically trained staff. In addition, the medical spa will offer complementary health and wellness services including massage.

Sanford Clinic Watertown Imaging to Open in November

This November, Watertown area residents will be able to receive state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging at the new Sanford Clinic Watertown Imaging Center. The new imaging center includes CT, MRI, digital radiology and a sleep center. Because of the new imaging center, Sanford Clinic Watertown patients will experience shorter wait times and with digital imaging, faster results to requesting physicians. "In addition to the convenience of the new imaging center, many of our patients will have less out-of-pocket expense," Steve Hilpipre, Director of Clinic Operations for Sanford Clinic Watertown said. "Because we can provide imaging services in-clinic, the charges are often lower."

The new imaging center is located in the Prairie Commons building in northeast Watertown.

An Eye Opening Experience at Sanford USD Medical Center

When Sheldon Summers moved to Brandon, SD from Utah this past spring, he knew he needed surgery to repair a cataract in each of his eyes. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. The 66-year-old man’s vision had gradually clouded and yellowed over the years, and before his move to South Dakota, his physician in Utah recommended cataract surgery. Sheldon thought he would need to return to Utah for the procedure, but as he explains, he’s glad he made the decision to receive his surgery at Sanford USD Medical Center.

“The experience was far more pleasant than I had imagined. Dr. Vance Thompson with Sanford Clinic Vance Thompson Vision and his associates were courteous, efficient and very professional. They provided me with all of the information, materials and support I needed. The surgery has left me with vastly improved vision and the recovery time has been trouble free.

The staff at Sanford USD Medical Center was flawless in its attention to both me and my wife. We were met at the door at the Surgical Tower by the valet, greeted by name at the front desk and taken directly to the room. During the prep, surgery and the post- surgery period, I was full attended to and all of my questions were addressed. My wife was even escorted to a hospitality room! When we left, our car was at the door and running.

Exceptional! I have been in several hospitals for various procedures during my adult life. I have never been treated with more courtesy, concern or professionalism. I would recommend Sanford USD Medical Center to anyone, with no reservations."

- Sheldon Summers

Physician Spotlight

Adela Casas-Melley, MD - Pediatric Surgeon
Sanford Children's Specialty Clinic

Family: Husband - Peter
Children - Peter-5, Matthew-4, Patrick-2, Daniel-8 months
Education: Medical School – Medical College of Georgia
Fellowship Training: Pediatric Surgery at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA
Hometown: Born in Havana, Cuba; moved to Miami at 2 years old
Time Your Alarm Goes Off: 4:00 am
Favorite Family Food: Cheese pizza ("no round things on top Mommy")
Most Played DVD: Scooby Doo
Best Packing Tip: Find somebody else to do it for you
Favorite Restaurants: Original House of Pancakes and Foleys
Family Hobby: Harry Potter books on tape
Sanford Birthday: November 2006

If there’s a family "on the move," it’s yours! In 11 months, you moved four times, including moves from Philadelphia to Sioux Falls and then a hotel to two apartments. First, how did you decide to come to South Dakota from Pennsylvania
My life was becoming very busy and complicated with doing the pediatric surgery and pediatric transplant. With three boys and a fourth one on the way, Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia specifically, is not a great place to raise your children. When this job opportunity became available, I found a city where I thought I could do that for the kids and make a difference in the care of children in the state. I love it here. We bought some land out in the country and are almost finished building our house.

Along with building your home, you really hope to build pediatric care at Sanford Children’s. What do you see in the future?
I have a really big vision of what we can do with the development of pediatric surgical care. That includes an addition of another pediatric surgeon and pediatric orthopedic surgeon and adding pediatric ENT care, and pediatric neurosurgery and other subspecialities that would round out a full-fledged pediatric hospital. There we can provide pediatric care that’s unmatched by anyone else in the area. It would be no different from the quality of care you would receive from any other pediatric institution in the country.

What’s it like being a pediatric surgeon and parent?
It makes you understand what people are going through when their child is ill, even as a mom of healthy kids you don’t understand, because it’s so different to have a child that has a problem. One of my kids has had several surgeries and I’ve been on the other side. I know all the things you go through. It also gives you a little more understanding of the kids themselves and patience for what they’re going through.

What’s a typical day like at the Casas-Melley home?
We get up at four in the morning every day so we can get the boys up and dressed. I get here at 6:30 a.m. so I can see my patients every day. I’ve got a wonderful husband who does a lot of the day-to-day patching up of things I can’t get to. He takes the kids to daycare in the morning so I can start my day early. Where ever we go, the boys go. Most of the restaurants in town know us and probably run the other way when they see us coming!

Do you ever get tired?
Even at the time when you’re the most tired and when you get a phone call and one of your kids is having a problem or there’s a kid in the emergency room, it’s like a brand new, surge of energy. You start from scratch and do what you have to do.

Sanford Announces New Breast Health Initiatives

Sanford Clinic Breast Health Institute Opens New Locations This Fall

As a leader in the field, Sanford Clinic Breast Health Institute is pleased to announce expanded services and new locations. The Breast Health Institute is now housed in the new Sanford Cancer Center, located on the north end of the Sanford USD Medical Center campus. The Breast Health Institute will also have an additional location in the Sanford Women’s Health Plaza which opens in October. This new facility, located at 57th Street and Western Avenue in Sioux Falls, will offer extended hours for digital mammography screenings and bone density testing.

The facility expansion of Breast Health Institute, now in two locations, will provide more access to screening mammography and diagnostic services for women. The state of the art technology, along with specialty physicians and staff, provides the most comprehensive approach to breast health in the region.

"For example, our digital mammography service uses computer aided detection for interpretation of mammograms which has been proven to increase diagnostic accuracy. Our MRI scanner provides a greater ability to pinpoint a cancer’s location using anatomical and biological tumor information." says Betty Meyer, Director of Clinic Operations.

Sanford Clinic Breast Health Institute has also recently introduced "The Breast Project". The recent selection of Sanford Health as a pilot site for a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Cancer Center Program (NCCCP) coincides with the expansion of Sanford’s multidisciplinary disease-focused Cancer Clinics to now include breast cancer.

The Sanford Breast Project includes over 35 members, including several physician specialists, nurses, breast imaging specialists, clinical research nurse specialists, genetic counselors, Information Technology experts, and others whose professional lives focus on women’s breast health issues. The Sanford Breast Project focuses on integrating major new imaging techniques into clinical practice, surgical and medical treatment, genetic and genomics, improving patient comfort during cancer care and streamlining the patient journey through the frightening encounter with breast disease as well as survivorship.

The weekly Breast Care Conference focuses on specific patients with challenging breast problems that require the expertise of a team approach. Physicians from different specialties including surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, breast imaging, plastic surgery, pathology and hematology meet to review specific patient cases and work together to customize and create treatment plans. Michael Keppen, MD, sums up the significance of the Sanford Breast Project. "The Sanford Breast Project combines the substantial expertise and technologic assets of Sanford Health to bring a new level of care to women in the Upper Midwest. Sanford Health is now a major contributor to the National Cancer Institutes battle against breast cancer…right here, right now."

Health & Fitness Fair Serves 1,000 Community Members in Southwest Minnesota

Three Sanford Health Network facilities recently made healthcare information and low cost screenings available at the 5th Annual Health & Fitness Fair in Currie, Minnesota. Sanford Tracy Medical Center, Sanford Westbrook Medical Center and Murray County Medical Center collaborated on this yearly event.

Attendance at the Health and Fitness Fair has grown each year since its inception in 2002. The 2007 Fair exceeded the number of guests expected with an estimated 1,000 individuals taking advantage of the services provided. The fair provides an opportunity for those who are uninsured or under-insured to take advantage of basic diagnostic tests at affordable costs.

Selected for its central location between the three healthcare facilities, the End-O-Line Park came alive with tents and buildings filled with more than 40 vendors offering information on health related issues, long term care, hearing and vision, nutrition and dental health. Park buildings housed ultrasound screenings, ABIs (ankle brachial index) exams, laboratory draws, heel scans and skin screenings. Other screenings included a low cost PSD and full chemistry blood panel. Cartoid, abdominal and vascular ultrasound examinations also drew people to the health fair.

The day’s activities began with more than 75 community members participating in the 5K fun run/walk.