The current session of Congress has left many important issues unresolved. Critical legislation is languishing in committees and vital budgetary decisions have yet to be made. With such inaction it's easy to assume this session of Congress is over.

But it's not!

In the coming weeks Congress will be focused on developing next year's federal budget. Let them know that increasing funding for Alzheimer's research should be their TOP PRIORITY.

Urge your members of Congress to provide an additional $200 million in Alzheimer's research funding.

Tour Day Part of Alzheimer's Awareness Month in November

 

DAVENPORT, IA (October 30, 2014) - Senior Star at Elmore Place is partnering with the creators of the Virtual Dementia Tour® (VDT), Second Wind Dreams®,to support national Take the Tour Day, November 6, to help build support for Alzheimer's Awareness Month in November.

Taking the VDT® is important as, according to the Alzheimer's Association website, every 69 seconds someone in the United States is diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  The VDT® is a creative tool that helps people understand the challenges of those facing dementia.  The VDT® guides participants through completing everyday household chores while facing some of the same challenges those with Alzheimer's encounter - blurred vision, difficulty hearing, interrupted concentration and more.

Each tour takes about 15-20 minutes and is led by the experienced associates of Senior Star at Elmore Place.  Associates at Senior Star provide compassionate and innovative care to those facing Alzheimer's making this team well prepared to address participants' questions.

This real-life experience is also important as persons first diagnosed with a form of dementia are often cared for by a family member.  The VDT® experience is an eye-opener for caregivers to better understand the challenges those with Alzheimer's face.

Tours are being conducted on November 6 at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.  Each tour is limited to 16 participants.  To take the VDT®, RSVP no later than November 5 by calling 563.484.5114.  If you're unable to participate on this date, call 563.484.5114 to arrange a private tour with the associates of Senior Star.

For more information about Senior Star at Elmore Place or to tour the community, call 563.484.5114.

About Senior Star at Elmore Place

Senior Star at Elmore Place, a Senior Star community, features 236 modernly decorated apartments spanning across 20 acres of beautifully landscaped property with many customized amenities to offer its residents three distinctive living experiences:  independent living, assisted living and memory care.  For more information, visit www.seniorstar.com.

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Early-stage colon cancer generally begins as a polyp, a growth that protrudes from the colon wall. Some polyps can turn into cancer, but regular screenings can help detect these polyps so they can be removed before they become cancerous. That's why regular screening for people over 50 and those at high risk of developing colon cancer is so important.

There are five main types of colon cancer screenings, including:
  • Fecal occult blood test. A series of stool samples are taken and examined for hidden blood, since some polyps and cancers bleed. If blood is found in the stool sample, your doctor may order a colonoscopy for further evaluation.
  • Double contrast barium enema. Liquid containing a contrast dye (to help it show up on an X-ray) is introduced into the colon through the rectum, and the area is X-rayed to check for polyps or abnormal lesions. If a polyp is found on the X-ray, a colonoscopy will be done as a follow-up test.
Learn about three other screening tests for colon cancer.

CONVENIENT CARE, BETTENDORF OPENS THURSDAY

BETTENDORF, Iowa _ Oct. 29, 2014 _ Genesis HealthPlex, Bettendorf will open Monday, Nov. 3, to offer 17 family medicine providers, lab services, an imaging center and urgent care at 2140 53rd Ave.

This will be the second Genesis HealthPlex - the first opened a year ago in Moline -- to give patients "one-stop'' access to health services that are now available at multiple sites. The $15 million investment by Genesis Health System is the future of health care in the region and located just west of the Center for Digestive Health and ORA Orthopedics.

Four days in advance of Monday's official opening, Genesis Convenient Care in Bettendorf will open its doors Thursday, Oct. 30, at the new Healthplex location. Convenient Care will move from 4017 Devils Glen Road.

The relocation of Genesis Imaging Center on Devils Glen Road in Bettendorf will be completed and the new location open on Monday at the HealthPlex, as well. Imaging services offered will include : MRI; CT; ultrasound; bone density testing, digital mammography and general x-ray.

HealthPlex Providers

A hallmark of the HealthPlex will be the addition of four recently graduated residents from the Genesis Quad Cities Family Medicine Residency Program. These new residency program graduates are: Ryan Boone, MD; Sheena Harker, DO; Stacie Salowitz, MD; and, Catherine Schierbrock, MD.

Also serving as their partners will be Chris Crome, MD, and Kurt Andersen, MD, who will move their individual practices from other Genesis Health Group locations.  

Providers from Genesis Health Group's Bettendorf Medical Center office on Devils Glen Road and Bettendorf Family Practice office on Lincoln Road will also move to the HealthPlex. These providers are: Steven Aguilar, MD; Mary Campbell, MD; Myra Daniel, MD; Andrew Edwards, MD; Jennifer George, FNP; Deborah Haas, ARNP; Jason Hagemann, DO, who graduated a year ago from the Genesis residency program; Mark Hermanson, MD; Robert Knudson, MD.; Joanne Miller, MD; and, Karl Treiber, DO.

Not only will the 43,140-square-foot HealthPlex serve current Genesis Health Group patients but also newly insured patients in the region who have enrolled in health insurance plans available under the Affordable Care Act. Thousands of people in the Quad Cities region have health insurance for the first time and need to establish relationships with primary care providers.

Growing Ddemand For Primary Care

Genesis, not unlike health care providers across the country, has recognized a need for more primary care physicians.

"We understand the concerns nationally and in our own region about access to a primary care physician as thousands more Quad Cities-area residents will have health insurance,'' said Genesis Health Group President Richard Kishiue, M.D. "Genesis has been aggressively recruiting new primary care physicians and specialists. We want patients to establish a relationship with a primary care physician rather than using emergency departments as their gateway for health services."

The HealthPlex model will lead to more collaboration among providers, who also have had an active, ongoing role in the design and processes put in place at Genesis HealthPlex, Bettendorf.

"Putting doctors in one location where we can share resources gives us the opportunity to do things we can't do in our own small practice," said Dr. Andersen, who led a tour for the media on Wednesday. "Not only is it more convenient for the patient, but it also allows us to develop care teams and have access to services in the same location, such as lab and imaging."

He added, "We're not only providing quality and more efficient care, but we're giving patients the right care, at the right time, at the right place."

Estes Construction of Davenport was the general contractor. Genesis HealthPlex, Bettendorf was an IMPACT construction project using local skilled trades.

Genesis Health Group, the largest multi-specialty group in the Quad Cities' region, has close to 100 primary care physicians; about 50 specialists; and 50 mid-level providers throughout the Quad Cities region.

To find a physician accepting patients, visit www.genesishealth.com/BettHealthPlex. Effective Monday, the main number for Genesis HealthPlex, Bettendorf will be (563) 421-5700.

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'The Michael Jordan of Lung Surgery' Lists Principles that Reliably Yield Success

As we enter the year's final quarter, Dr. Robert J. Cerfolio, a world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon, says it's never too early to think about self-improvement for the New Year ... and this year.

"Habitual procrastination can really hurt you in the long run because waiting to take care of something that's obviously important to you - health, money, family matters - weighs on your subconscious," says Dr. Cerfolio, known as "the Michael Jordan of lung surgery."

Understanding one's personal "line of gratification" is the foundation for sticking to self-improvement goals, he says.

"There are many kinds of lines of gratification," he says. "For some, they're the number of zeroes in their bank statement; for others, the curves of their muscles after they leave the gym. It's good and healthy to look back on your hard work and admire what you have accomplished before moving on to the next task."

Dr. Cerfolio, author of "Super Performing at Work and at Home: The Athleticism of Surgery and Life," shares tips on how to make those lines of gratification more impressive.

•  Be an early riser. The main reason operating rooms hum into action at 7 a.m. is tied to human physiology; the bodies of patients are better able to handle the stress of surgery at that time.

"People are generally better off getting work done early in the day when we're better prepared for stress and performance," he says. "And getting a job done early frees you up later in the day."

•  Love what you do. Why wouldn't you want to take ownership, responsibility and pride in what you do for a living? When you treat a job as only a means to a paycheck, you are missing the point. If your job isn't the one you'd really love to have, don't make it worse with a negative attitude. Instead, make it your own. Make it a point of personal integrity and principle to challenge yourself to achieve something every day. After all, 40 hours a week is a long time to stay anywhere.

•  Ask yourself: Did I really try my best? "I tried my best" is a common refrain from those who haven't reached their goals. An honest response you can ask yourself is, "Am I sure?" This question is not about being overly critical. It's simply about realizing that, if you had practiced or studied an extra 10 minutes each day, you would've been that much closer to your goals.

•  Set specific, measurable goals. Results define goals. Every individual should have clear goals that are objective and measurable. Goals such as "to be happy," "to do well at work" or "to get along" are too nebulous. To be successful, you have to be able to define your goals by measurable results.

•  Find the high ground. In anything you do, aspire to live up to the noblest, highest aspect of your job. Certain jobs - such as police work, firefighting, teaching or working in health care - are service oriented, so it's easier to feel good about your contributions. Look for the contributions you're making in your job and take pride in what you're doing to make the world a little better.

•  Be the go-to guy or girl. This takes time, practice and the confidence necessary to want the ball in a critical situation. Being the go-to guy or girl means being willing to take responsibility and risk failing. A go-to person is also willing to speak up about problems or changes necessary in a business or organization, and suggest solutions.

About Robert J. Cerfolio, MD, MBA

Robert J. Cerfolio, MD, MBA, is the James H. Estes Family Endowed Chair of Lung Cancer Research and Full Professor Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He received his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine, surgical training at the Mayo Clinic and at Cornell-Sloan Kettering hospital, and has been in practice for more than 26 years. The author of "Super Performing at Work and at Home," Cerfolio, who was a First Team Academic All-American baseball player in college, is a world-renowned chest surgeon and recognized as one of the busiest and best thoracic surgeons in the world.

Optimizing Gut Health: The Source of Wellness
WHEN:Nov. 6, 2014
Thursday
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
WHERE:
Be Well QC lobby
150 16 1/2 St.
Rock Island, Ill.
COST:
Free
ABOUT:
QC Colon Hydrotherapy is proud to invite Dr. Sayed Shah of Mandala Integrative Medicine to discuss the important topic of gut health and its role in overall wellness in the areas of mental, physical, and emotional well being.Dr. Shah, M.D. is an accomplished physician with over ten years of experience as an internist
and hospitalist. During this presentation, Dr. Shah will detail how digestion affects one's health and how to cover the basics when it comes to optimizing your own gut health. Dr. Shah is the Medical Director and CEO of Mandala Integrative Medicine, where he works as a partner in wellness for his clients by tailoring appropriate treatment plans and effective support utilizing conventional healthcare practices alongside more holistic traditions.
CONTACT:
For more information for this event or to RSVP, please email qccolonhydrotherapy@gmail.com or call (309) 235-0764. More information can also be found online at www.qccolonhydrotherapy.com.
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CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today ordered the Illinois Department of Public Health to require a mandatory 21-day home quarantine for high-risk individuals who have had direct contact with an individual infected with the Ebola virus while in Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea.

The mandatory quarantine order includes any high-risk medical personnel who have performed medical services to individuals infected with the Ebola virus. The order will be implemented by local health departments across the state. Previously these high-risk individuals were subject to a voluntary quarantine.

"This protective measure is too important to be voluntary," Governor Quinn said. "We must take every step necessary to ensure the people of Illinois are protected from potential exposure to the Ebola virus. While we have no confirmed cases of the Ebola virus in Illinois, we will continue to take every safeguard necessary to protect first responders, healthcare workers and the people of Illinois."

This directive was issued to every local health department in Illinois earlier today.

For the most up to date information visit http://www.idph.state.il.us/ebola/index.htm.

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Simon: Screening is key to early detection, saving lives

 

CHICAGO - Oct. 24, 2014. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today highlighted the importance of receiving regular mammograms to detect breast cancer in its early stages. Simon visited Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago where she underwent a mammogram and urged all women to make their health a priority and seek proactive screenings.

"Studies show that as we get older, women are at an increased risk of breast cancer," said Simon. "But this disease, which takes away so many of our mothers, daughters, wives, sisters and aunts, can be preventable and treatable with an earlier warning. I'm urging all women to get screened."

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society recommends all women age 40 and older have a mammogram every year to screen for breast cancer.

"Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and early detection plays a critical role in its treatment," said Erin I. Neuschler, MD, associate director of breast imaging clinical operations for Northwestern Medicine and assistant professor of radiology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "When breast cancer is detected at an early stage, it can be treated effectively in most women, and mammography is a proven method for early detection."

Simon chairs the Governor's Rural Affairs Council and advocated for improved access to women's health care in underserved areas. Throughout her term as Lt. Governor, Simon has used her own breast cancer screenings as a tool to encourage women throughout Illinois to seek proactive treatments.

"The process of getting a mammogram is quick and painless, and usually private," Simon added. "But if giving a peek into my exam room convinces even one woman to go out and get a mammogram, it's worth the discomfort."

Please see above for satellite uplink coordinates. Footage includes b-roll of Lt. Governor Simon's exam, as well as interviews with Simon and Dr. Neuschler.

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The Texas Roadhouse in Davenport is helping to fight the battle against Breast Cancer. Join us on Friday, October 24th through Friday, October 31st and, when you donate $5, you'll receive a $5 Voucher* for your next visit with us!

All proceeds raised will be donated locally. So, come on over and enjoy our Fresh-Baked Bread, Hand-Cut Steaks, Fall-Off-the-Bone Ribs and Made-From-Scratch Sides while supporting this cause.

Get the gang together and help fight against breast cancer.
CHICAGO - The following is a joint statement from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and members of the Chicago Ebola Resource Network: the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the University of Chicago Medical Center, regarding Ebola testing in Illinois.
IDPH preliminary test results for the patient at the University of Chicago Medical Center were negative for Ebola, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed these results.  The patient has been discharged from the University of Chicago Medical Center.
The patient tested was a child who vomited one time while on a flight originating from Liberia and traveling to Chicago O'Hare International Airport.  The child was immediately taken to Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago for a full medical evaluation. After consulting with the University of Chicago Medical Center and Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, public health officials determined it was in the best interest of the patient to be transferred to the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital.
After consultation involving the University of Chicago Medical Center, CDPH, IDPH and CDC, testing was done to rule out Ebola.
IDPH received approval earlier this week from the CDC to perform testing for Ebola.  All testing must first be approved by IDPH, and then CDC.  A second sample is sent to CDC to confirm state lab results.
The statewide Ebola Task Force, announced Wednesday by Governor Pat Quinn, the Chicago Ebola Resource Network, hospitals and local health departments across Illinois will continue to work together to quickly identify a person who could potentially be at risk of Ebola, and take quick action in order to protect the health and safety of all Illinois residents. The Chicago Ebola Resource Network is a coalition of CDPH and four leading Chicago-area hospitals formed as part of a coordinated effort to prepare for and respond to possible diagnoses of Ebola within Chicago.
For questions, call the Ebola informational hotline at 1-800-889-3931.
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