New moms at Genesis BirthCenters are discovering a baby's peaceful sleep and peace of mind are attainable. Even for brief moments at the same time.

Since Valentine's Day, babies born at Genesis BirthCenter locations in Davenport and Silvis get a first bath and then are wrapped in a HALO SleepSack wearable blanket. The SleepSack wearable blankets are replacing loose blankets, crib bumpers and stuffed animals in baby sleep spaces.

The idea is to establish a safe, comfortable sleep routine in the hospital with hopes the routine will go home with the baby and parents.

The SleepSacks wearable blankets have a design that swaddles the baby with closeable cloth "wings.'' The baby's arms can be within the blanket or out. A zipper allows easy access for diaper changes.

SleepSacks also allow babies to kick their feet naturally and unrestrained. The International Hip Dysplasia Institute has called SleepSacks "hip healthy."

"It allows the babies to have their feet and legs in a frog kick position rather than having them restrained by blankets,'' explained Genesis Health Group pediatrician Curt McClellan, D.O. "The babies seem to sleep more comfortably and soundly.

"A lot of hospitals across the country are now starting to use these in their birth centers.''

Unexplainable Tragedy

What isn't known scientifically yet is whether the wearable blankets further reduce the tragedy of sudden unexplained death in infants. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, remains a mystery because the condition cannot be explained after an autopsy or a review of the infant's clinical history.

Jenny Atzen, nurse midwife with The Group in Davenport, was a Genesis BirthCenter nurse in 2002 when Elizabeth, her 31/2-month-old daughter, died in the home of a care giver. There was no explanation for the death.

"I still miss her like crazy every day,'' Atzen said. "I was a nurse and it happened to me. If this can happen to me, the message is 'wow, this can happen to anyone.' SIDS doesn't only happen to someone else. It happens to people who think they are doing everything right.''

Atzen said she has never placed any blame on anyone. Elizabeth was sleeping in an adult bed with pillows around her and she was sleeping on her stomach.

"She slept on her stomach at home too,'' Atzen said. "We knew about the recommendations for back to sleep but Elizabeth slept better when she was sleeping on her stomach.

"Unfortunately, this is a very common practice by many parents. We paid the worst possible consequence of not following the recommendations.''

The national "Back To Sleep'' campaign recommends that newborns be placed on their backs to sleep. Since the campaign began in 1994, unexplained infant deaths have decreased by more than 3,500 each year.

"That day changed everything for me,'' Atzen said. "I can talk about it now because I think our experience can help educate others. It's very important to educate everyone about the safe sleep of babies.''

Genesis BirthCenter manager Deb Renner said the transition to SleepSacks at Genesis is part of a national trend. Hospitals across the country are creating safer sleep environments for newborns by using the wearable blankets.

"As a Magnet organization, we are very in tune with best practices and using these wearable blankets is certainly a best practice,'' Renner said. "If we can get new parents to experience the safest sleep practices for the baby in the hospital, it is a good start toward them following best sleep practices for baby at home.

"We would like to think SleepSacks could prevent the tragedy that Jenny experienced. Her experience impacted everyone she worked with because at the time we had a lot of nurses who were having babies. It made us all aware that this could happen to anyone.''

Tips For Safe Sleep

While SIDS is still a mystery in many ways, there are standard recommendations for safe sleep for infants.

• Babies should have their own sleep space, like a crib or bassinet, not an adult bed

• Babies should be put on their backs to sleep

• All toys and bedding should be removed from the baby's sleep space

• Never dress the baby too warmly for sleep

• Never allow anyone to smoke around your baby at home, or in a car

Renner said the Genesis BirthCenters would like to be able to send the SleepSacks home with babies but the expense doesn't make that possible at this time.

"We'd love for someone to say, 'this sounds like a very good idea' and make a donation through the Genesis foundation,'' Renner said. "We think this is important enough that every baby should go home from Genesis with a SleepSack.''

Gifts to the Genesis Foundation have an impact on the health of the communities served by Genesis Health System. Find out more by calling (563) 421-6865.

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Davenport, Iowa - Making ends meet should not mean going without your medication. Medicare prescription drug coverage, known as Part D, helps fill the gap for eligible Quad Citians but unfortunately many don't review their policies and find themselves spending more money on prescriptions drugs then may be necessary. This is why it is so important for Medicare recipients to take part in the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period, October 15 through December 7.

On October 15, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will announce its Part D plans for 2015.  According to CMS, there are several plan changes which will impact Iowans. "Iowa will have 29 stand-alone drug plans in 2015, compared to 32 for 2014," says Kris Gross from the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP).  "It is very important that Iowans do a Part D check-up and see if their current plans will still provide the best coverage for 2015."

According to SHIIP, seven plans were dropped and four new plans were added. Thirteen plans show reduced premiums and thirteen plans increased theirs.  None of the plans cover brand name drugs in the coverage gap, but several cover generic drugs.  There are five plans which are available at $0 for people who qualify for the full Part D extra help.

Going through this process can be confusing that is why the Center For Active Seniors, Inc. (CASI) is offering free assistance through its SHIIP program. Five specially trained SHIIP volunteers will be available, during the open enrollment period, by appointment, Monday through Friday, to offer assistance in finding coverage that best fits a Medicare recipient's needs.

Those interested in meeting with a CASI SHIIP counselor must make an appointment, in advance, by calling 563-386-7477. Counselors will offer this free assistance from October 15 through December 7 on the following days and times: Noon-5 p.m. on Mondays, 1-6 p.m. on Tuesdays; 9 a.m. - Noon on Wednesdays, 9 a.m. - Noon and 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Thursdays and from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Fridays. Counselors ask that you have a valid photo identification card, your Medicare card and a list from your pharmacy of all current medications. If a list cannot be provided, CASI's SHIIP counselors ask that you bring all your prescription medications to your schedule appointment.

During this same period you can enroll in a Medicare prescription drug (Part D) plan if you missed the enrollment deadline earlier this year.  SHIIP counselors can assist you with enrollment in a Part D plan also.  If you're happy with the plan you have and what it's going to be offering next year you don't need to do anything.  Your enrollment will continue into next year.

CASI was established in 1972 and serves the needs of older adults by providing a variety of events and activities focused on health and wellness, social engagement, lifelong learning, and community involvement. CASI also provides a senior advocacy program to assist older adults, their families, and caregivers in needs assessment and referral for services. Jane's Place at CASI is the only adult day services center in Eastern Iowa serving adults with Alzheimer's and dementia. Please contact CASI for additional information.

Salt is Good for You, Calcium Supplements are Bad,
and the Lab Test Everyone Should Get
4 Tips for Getting Seriously Healthy from One of the
'Best Doctors in America'*

There's a reason - well, several - why so many diseases are increasing in frequency in the United States, making some that were almost unheard of 100 years ago commonplace today, says Robert Thompson, M.D., an OB/GYN and integrative medicine specialist deemed by his peers to be in the top 5 percent of U.S. physicians.

"The United States is now 46th in men's mortality and the absolute worst country in the industrialized world for first-day infant mortality," says Thompson, author of "The Calcium Lie II: What Your Doctor Still Doesn't Know," (calciumliebook.com), a new book that details the roles minerals play in overall health and how to identify and correct deficiencies and imbalances.

"Based on the current rate of autism diagnoses, there will be no 'normal' male babies born in the U.S. by 2030," he says. "The current rate of diabetes suggests 95 percent of our adult population will be diabetic by 2030. The number of children with life-threatening allergies has increased more than 1,000 percent since 1995."

A perfect storm of corporate power, profits and public misinformation has succeeded in overwhelming the basic biochemical and physiological tenets of good health, says Thompson, who published his first book, "The Calcium Lie: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know Could Kill You," in 2008.

"Mineral deficiencies are responsible for a host of health problems, which are incorrectly treated by drugs," Thompson says. "We're told by the government and the medical community that we should be ingesting certain amounts of vitamin and mineral supplements to prevent disease, like osteoporosis, when in reality, the recommendations lead to other very serious health problems."

Thompson offers these suggestions for Americans to take charge of their health:

•  Get a hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) to determine your mineral status.
This may be the most important health test that exists, Thompson says. Only when you and your doctor know for sure your mineral status and important ratios can you adapt your diet, minerals and supplements to work toward proper balance.

Thompson recommends using Trace Elements, Inc. clinical lab in Addison, Texas, because it adheres to the highest standards. The lab accepts only samples submitted by health-care providers, including physicians, nutritionists, and others, so you need to find one who does HTMA and uses that lab. (Individuals who can't find a provider can call the lab for help in locating one; HTMA is prohibited in New York state.)

•  Do not take calcium supplements unless tests indicate a deficiency. We've all been told that we must ingest lots of calcium to ensure strong bones. In fact, calcium is just one of at least 12 minerals in our bones, all of which must be present in the right balance for good bone health. Calcium has been added to so much of our food, it's unlikely most of us are deficient. And yet, people are told to take calcium supplements. Excess calcium can cause kidney and gallstones, arterial plaque, bone spurs, calcium deposits in tissues other than bone, and brain cell dysfunction, brain shrinkage and dementia. Instead of calcium, Thompson instructs all his patients and readers to take a minimum of 3 grams of trace minerals derived from sea salt every day.

•  Salt - sodium - is necessary for digestion, nutrient absorption, cell function and metabolism.
Limiting salt intake is not only the wrong advice for 90 percent of the people at risk for high blood pressure, it also contributes to the lack of minerals in our bodies. Many of us are actually deficient in sodium.

Salt is a mineral, and unrefined sea salt and rock salt is the best source of sodium and ionic minerals. If you are sodium deficient, add harvested pure sea salt liberally to your foods. It is important to use pure sea salt, and not the common table salt, as processing has stripped common table salt of its mineral value.

•  Use only vitamin supplements made from 100 percent organic whole foods that have been vine-ripened.
Almost all of us need supplements because contemporary food supplies lack adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals, thanks to soil depletion. Most store-bought vitamins include just one component of the many complex molecular elements contained in the naturally occurring vitamin source. You need all of the nutrient components to get the full benefits.

The best natural sources of readily available vitamins include raw seeds, stabilized rice bran powder, vine-ripened fresh fruit and berries (vitamin C).

*Robert Thompson, M.D., was added to the peer-reviewed directory, "Best Doctors in America," in 1996.

About Robert Thompson, M.D.

Dr. Robert Thompson is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, and a nutrition specialist who helps patients get long-term relief from chronic disease, including obesity, diabetes, hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue. His newest book, "The Calcium Lie II," is available for free at calciumliebook.com. Dr. Thompson received his medical training at the University of Kentucky and has been a leader in medical advances for more than 30 years.

More than 685,000 People Now Have Access to Quality Health Coverage Under the Affordable Care Act

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced that since open enrollment began nearly one year ago, more than 685,000 people across Illinois now have access to quality healthcare through the Affordable Care Act. State officials are gearing up to ensure even more residents sign up for healthcare in year two of the Affordable Care Act's open enrollment period, which begins Nov. 15. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to ensure all people have access to quality healthcare and improve the health and well-being of the people of Illinois.

"Thanks to the leadership of President Obama and the Affordable Care Act, we have made health coverage a reality for hundreds of thousands of people across Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "Today, more than 685,000 people have access to healthcare who didn't have it just one year ago. We have come a long way but we are not going to stop until everyone in Illinois has the quality care they deserve."

According to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, 468,000 people have enrolled in the expanded Medicaid program under the ACA, more than double the state's initial projections. Coupled with the 217,000 who enrolled in private health plans through the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace, approximately 685,000 people have enrolled in health care as a result of the state's aggressive enrollment efforts. The state's Marketplace enrollment during the initial six-month enrollment period exceeded the federally established goal of 143,000 Marketplace enrollees by 52 percent.

Get Covered Illinois is in the process of training and preparing navigators for the second open enrollment period under the ACA, which will begin Nov. 15 and run through Feb. 15.

Governor Quinn made the announcement at Alivio Medical Center in Pilsen, one of the dozens of trusted community organizations across the state that is participating in the state's In-Person Counselor (IPC) program. The federally-funded program establishes a network of "navigators" across the state whose job is to educate consumers about the financial assistance available under the ACA for those who qualify based on their income, and help them navigate through their healthcare options and enroll in a healthcare plan.

The Illinois Department of Public Health recently announced that 37 community organizations around the state, including Alivio, were selected through a rigorous application process to participate in year two of the IPC/navigator program.

"Alivio Medical Center is very proud to have the opportunity to serve our community for a second year by participating in Get Covered Illinois' IPC program," Alivio Medical Center's CEO Esther Corpuz said. "We see families coming through our doors every day who remind us of the critical need for access to healthcare and the role it plays in allowing children and families to achieve their full potential in life."

Governor Quinn has long supported affordable and effective healthcare for all. In addition to the success of the ACA, Governor Quinn has signed multiple pieces of legislation to clarify and expand the scope of practice for certain health care professionals in order to ensure that Illinois residents have access to the health care they need. He also supports efforts to streamline and expedite veteran applications for professional licenses to benefit military families seeking employment and consumers seeking access to qualified health care professionals.

For more information about Get Covered Illinois and the state's implementation of the ACA, go to: www.GetCoveredIllinois.com.