1. science
2. medicine
3. surgery

Allenmore Hospital | Good Samaritan Community Healthcare | Mar y Bridge Children’s Hospital & Health Center | Tacoma General Hospital | MultiCare Clinics
HealthyLiving
WINTER 2008 | www.multicare.org
Jillian
Michaels
of TV’s The Biggest Loser
wants you to
Do Something Healthy!
Meet her Jan.
2
PAG E 8
KIDS
COUNT!
LOOK INSID E
[spotlight]
A message from the CEO
Happy 2008!
Most of us start out the new year brimming
with resolve—to eat better, exercise more
and be healthier. But
by February many of us
fall into our old ways
and are discouraged by
our lack of progress or
willpower.
Change is hard to
accomplish and sustain.
Research has shown
that it takes at least three weeks to shake old
habits and for new ones to take root—and that
relapses are normal.
Let MultiCare give you extra motivation to
stay on track at the ninth annual Do Something Healthy—featuring keynote speaker
Jillian Michaels from The Biggest Loser television program—Thursday, Jan. 2, from 6 to
9pm at the Greater Tacoma Convention and
Trade Center (see page 8 for details).
Last year more than 1,000 people attended
this inspiring event, where we also kicked off
Pierce County’s Biggest Winner in partnership
with the YMCA of Tacoma–Pierce County and the
Tacoma–Pierce County Health Department. Two
teams totaling 10 community members competed
to reach their fitness and weight-loss goals.
Read about how local participants Aaron
Stewart and April Waddington are faring almost
a year after the last competition in the article
on page 11. I think you’ll find their stories
highly motivating.
We’ll be kicking off the 2008 Pierce County’s
Biggest Winner competition at Do Something
Healthy. So call to reserve your spot today.
Good health is the best gift we can give to
ourselves, our families and our community.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2008.
Diane Cecchettini, RN
President and CEO
MultiCare Health System
Join MultiCare and the American Heart
Association on National Wear Red Day
for our Go Red For Women Rally,
featuring free health screenings, food,
entertainment and more!
MultiCare now answers the phones 2/7
You’ve got a lot on your plate. We know not everything can get done during regular workday
hours. That’s why MultiCare is pleased to unveil our new 2/7 call center.
Now you can call MultiCare for physician referrals and class and event registration
2 hours a day, seven days a week.
Appointment scheduling will continue to be available during the hours of 7am to 7pm.
MultiCare Health System is a leading-edge,
integrated health organization made up of four
hospitals, numerous primary care and urgent
care clinics, multispecialty centers, Hospice and Home
Health services, and many other services. A not-for-profit
organization based in Tacoma since 1882, MultiCare has
grown over the years in response to community needs.
Today we are the area’s largest provider of health care
services, serving patients at 93 locations in Pierce,
South King, Kitsap and Thurston counties. Learn more at
www.multicare.org.
HEALTHY LIVING is published as a community service for the
friends and patients of MultiCare Health System, P.O. Box 5299,
Tacoma, WA 9815-0299. 800-342-9919, www.multicare.org
For comments or suggestions about HEALTHY LIVING, please write
to us at hleditor@multicare.org. Information in HEALTHY LIVING
comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any
concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your
health, please contact your health care provider.
Copyright © 2007 Coffey Communications, Inc.
2 | Healthy Living
CUN21160c
7
Friday, Feb. 1
Tacoma Mall
(outside of Macy’s)
11am to 1pm
Mischief
makers at
it again?
Sharing toys and
games is great,
but germs? No,
thanks. Here are
a few quick tips
to keep pesky
germs at bay.
Go Red and Go Red For Women are
trademarks of AHA. The Red Dress
Design is a trademark of U.S. DHHS.
10
Kids’ weight:
Tackle the
issue now
Nowadays it’s
not just adults
who deal with
weight—your
kids are also
fighting the battle
of the bulge.
MARY BRIDGE CHILD
EXPRESS AT GIG HARBOR
Pediatricians,
after hours,
close to home
MultiCare Gig Harbor Medical Park’s Urgent Care
has long offered comprehensive urgent care
services for patients of all ages in Gig Harbor,
and continues to do so. A new addition to those
services is Mary Bridge Child Express.
Staffed by Mary Bridge pediatricians, Child
Express is open afternoons, evenings and weekends to augment our urgent care team with adMultiCare Gig Harbor Medical Park’s Healthy Reflections ditional pediatric expertise. Together we provide
Boutique carries hard-to-find health care items—
prompt treatment for children with non-emergency
exclusively for women—that can help enhance
health issues, such as abrasions, contusions,
your physical and mental well-being during pregsore throats, colds, lacerations, sprains and
nancy, new motherhood, surgery recovery or cancer sports injuries.
treatment, in a sensitive and supportive setting. Mary Bridge Child Express at Gig Harbor
Products include: • breast pumps and ac• Monday–Friday: 2:30pm to 10:30pm
cessories • nursing bras • nursing gowns and
• Saturday and Sunday: 10:30am to 6:30pm
night wear • partial, traditional and attachable
Child Express also offers a free vaccination
breast forms • mastectomy bras
clinic for children ages 0 to 18, every Tuesday
• post-surgical bras • wigs • Jane
from 2 to 7:30pm.
Iredale skin care products and minFor more information, visit www.multicare.org/
eral makeup
gigharbor.
Our staff is certified in bra and
prosthetics fitting to provide women
with personalized attention and a
customized fit (appointments are
recommended for fittings).
Visit www.multicare.org/hrboutique
or call 253-530-8118 for additional
information and directions. Open
Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Healthy Reflections Boutique:
Wellbeing for women
11
Catching
up with
the losers
MultiCare’s
Biggest Winners
are still going
strong. Check
their progress
since the
contest.
13
Take steps
for better
health
From yoga and
aerobics to support groups and
safety classes,
MultiCare wants
to help you take
charge of your
health.
www.multicare.org | 3
[winter sports]
Protect your knees this winter sports season
The slippery slope of
winter sports
Regardless of the activities you participate in this winter, safety should be a
top priority—especially when it comes to
protecting your knees.
“The knee is the largest joint in the
body and one of the most easily injured,”
says David Coons, DO, orthopedic
surgeon with MultiCare Sports Medicine.
“Each year millions
of people end up in
doctors’ offices with
knee pain.”
When pain management and lifestyle
David Coons,
changes are not enough
DO, orthopedic
to keep knee pain
surgeon
from interfering with
your life, a surgical
procedure may be a good option. With
recent advances in surgical procedures,
knee surgery has become increasingly
less invasive—reducing pain, scarring
and recovery time. And specialists like
Dr. Coons, who is fellowship-trained in
sports medicine and arthroscopy, can offer
the most advanced procedures available,
such as ligament reconstruction and
cartilage transplants, to help people return
to their active lifestyles following a knee
injury.
3 common injuries
The three most common winter sports knee
injuries are meniscus tears, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and cartilage
damage.
The meniscus is cartilage that acts as a
buffer between the two large bones of
the knee. Tears in the meniscus can occur
when you twist or overflex your knee.
“A clean tear in a younger athlete can
most likely be repaired,” Dr. Coons explains. “Removing the damaged area is a
more likely option for the older adult, as
the meniscus becomes more brittle with
age and is more prone to tearing.”
With a very traumatic injury, he says, a
meniscus can be transplanted.
Ligaments are bands of tough, elastic
connective tissue that surround a joint
to give support and stabilize the joint’s
movement. The ACL is frequently injured
when the knee is force-twisted. The
1 2 damaged ligament can be reconstructed
using a strip of tendon from the patient’s
knee or donor tissue.
Cartilage is the smooth, connecting
tissue that covers the ends of the bones
in a joint and enables joints to support your
weight when you bend, stretch, walk and
run. Cartilage loss can occur when there
is trauma to the knee caused by a sports
injury or accident.
A cartilage transplant—taking healthy
cartilage from another location in the joint
and placing it in the damaged area—is often the best option in this case. Dr. Coons
has written articles on this technique and
has years of experience performing this type
of procedure.
Another option for repairing damaged
cartilage is microfracture surgery, in which
the bone is penetrated to expose marrow
cells. The cells can then access the damaged
area and fill in the cartilage gap.
3 Small incisions mean
big improvements
Arthroscopy enables surgeons like Dr. Coons
to diagnose and treat knee disorders by
Children on the slopes: Playing it safe
More than 60,000 children are treated
in emergency rooms each year for winter
sports-related injuries. Help your kids stay
safe this season.
• Buy your children properly fitted winter
sports helmets for skiing, sledding and
snowboarding.
• Make certain that their helmets and other
equipment are in good working order.
| Healthy Living
• Look for clothing made of newer coldweather fabrics that provide warmth without
bulk.
• Ensure that they wear sunglasses or
goggles.
• Arrange for them to take lessons before
they try to ski or snowboard.
• Remind them to watch out for trees, rocks
and other people.
• Train them to monitor their speed so that
they can stay in control.
• Supervise their activities.
• Direct them to skating rinks instead of
ponds.
For more information about keeping
your family safe this winter or helmet rentals and sales, call the Mar y Bridge Center
for Childhood Safety at 253-403-1234.
providing a clear view of the inside of the knee through small
incisions, using a pencil-size instrument called an arthroscope. The
scope has a small camera that transmits an image of the knee to
a television monitor. during the procedure, surgical instruments can be inserted through other small incisions in the
knee to remove or repair damaged tissue.
arthroscopy involves smaller incisions, which can
mean faster healing and recovery and less scarring.
Patients are often able to return home on the same
day of the procedure. every case and patient is unique,
dr. Coons notes, but typically, full recovery time from
arthroscopic knee surgery is two to six months, depending
on the procedure.
Getting you back in action
Regardless of the type or severity of a knee injury,
dr. Coons spends time with each patient to evaluate
his or her condition and provide the information and
guidance he or she needs to determine the best course
of treatment.
“I give my patients all the options and the pros and cons
of each one,” he says. “We work together to find the solution
to their problem and determine the best way to get them well
and back to living healthy, active lifestyles.”
High-level orthopedic
care in Gig Harbor
The expertise of MultiCare Sports Medicine is now available in Gig
Harbor. Orthopedic surgeon Gregory Popich, MD, is seeing patients on
Thursdays at the MultiCare Gig Harbor Medical Park.
Dr. Popich, a Gig Harbor resident, has been an orthopedic surgeon
in the Tacoma area for more than 20 years. His practice is primarily
focused on conditions of the knee and shoulder, with particular emphasis on arthroscopic knee surgery and reconstruction, knee replacement,
and traditional and arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
Dr. Popich is the medical director and team physician for the Tacoma Rainiers and serves as an orthopedic consultant for the Seattle Mariners. As
a member of the U.S. Olympic Sports Medicine Society, Dr. Popich also provides care
for Olympic athletes and works closely with
Gregory Popich, high school, college and club teams.
MD, orthopedic
He was the Gig Harbor High School team physician
surgeon
for many years and at one time was the only orthopedic
surgeon in Gig Harbor, practicing at a satellite office there
while based in Tacoma.
“I am very pleased to be back in Gig Harbor and seeing patients with orthopedic and sports medicine-related issues,” Dr. Popich says.
Dr. Popich is at the MultiCare Gig Harbor Medical Park on Thursdays from
1:30 to 5pm. He will also continue to see patients at MultiCare Orthopedics and
Sports Medicine Center in Tacoma. For more information, call 253-459-7000.
www.multicare.org | 5
Robotic-assisted surgery
Two years ago when Cathy Lensing
needed to have gynecological surgery, she
was concerned about the impact that the
surgery would have on her active lifestyle.
“I taught spin classes and circuit training,” she says. “I also love to run. I have a
hard time not being active.”
Even fit and healthy men and women
experience problems
that require surgery,
such as prostate issues
and gynecological ailments like abnormal
bleeding, endometriosis
and cancer. And, in the
past, these surgeries
Champ
were invasive, involving
Weeks, MD
long, painful recoveries
that could last months,
as well as significant
scarring.
But today roboticassisted surgical
techniques—many
of which were pioneered in this region
John P.
by MultiCare—
Lenihan, MD
eliminate these drawbacks and allow patients to return to their normal, active lives
within a matter of weeks.
“Robotics technology is used in surgical
procedures to create 3-D visibility and improved precision,” says Champ Weeks, MD,
a board-certified urology surgeon with MultiCare Urology Services. “It allows surgeons
to perform surgery with much smaller incisions, making surgery easier on the patient.”
In the case of prostate surgeries, this
| Healthy Living
fast
gets you back in action
means being able to remove the
cancer while bypassing nerves linked
to sexual function and urinary
incontinence. Studies show that
six months after robotic-assisted
surgery, 95 percent of men are
back to their old selves—a much
higher percentage than with traditional, open prostatectomies.
Patients who must have gynecological
surgeries also benefit from the low impact
that robotic-assisted surgeries have on their
bodies.
“I’m grateful that I listened to
what my surgeon at MultiCare
recommended,” says Lensing.
“The recovery time is a big piece
of it.” Lensing, who was one of
the first patients in the region
to have robotic-assisted surgery,
was back to teaching fitness
classes within four weeks.
Although health systems that use robotic technology often have similar devices,
robotic-assisted surgery programs are not
all alike. It is the skill and experience of the
surgeons using the technology that make
the real difference—and an area in which
MultiCare carries a distinct advantage over
new programs in the area.
“Patients definitely want to choose a
surgeon who has ample experience using the
robotics technology,” says John P. Lenihan,
MD, a board-certified gynecological surgeon
with Tacoma Women’s Specialists, who performs robotic surgeries regularly at MultiCare.
“The skills of a roster of surgeons who have
been performing these procedures for years
with a well-trained and experienced surgical
staff are the real core of a successful program
like MultiCare’s robotic-assisted surgery
programs.”
Cathy Lensing
Robotic surgery
at MultiCare
MultiCare was the first in the Pacific Northwest
to offer robotic-assisted gynecological and prostate surgical programs, starting in June 2005.
Our specially trained surgeons have completed
more than 300 robotic-assisted surgical procedures since the programs’ inception.
For more information or to find a surgeon who specializes in robotic-assisted
surgery, visit www.multicare.org.
Are
your
kids
making
you
sick?
Be a germbuster!
1
LATHER UP! Use soap and water all over
your hands—don’t miss a fingernail! Scrub
20 seconds, long enough to sing the “Happy
Birthday” song twice.
2
AH-CHOO!
If you can’t
reach a tissue, sneeze
or cough into the inside
of your elbow (not your
hands—YUCK).
3
Keep germs at bay
There are several ways to reduce the germs
your kids bring home, Patrick advises:
• Teach kids to wash their hands well,
especially after using the toilet. you can
find pointers for effective handwashing
techniques at the right or at the U.s.
Centers for disease Control and Prevention’s website, www.cdc.gov/cleanhands.
show kids how to cough and sneeze into
their sleeves rather than into their hands.
encourage kids to keep their hands
away from their faces.
find out if your child’s school permits
the use of alcohol-based sanitizers or
antibacterial cloths. Wiping off shared
surfaces will reduce the germs in the
environment.
In addition, a strong immune system
helps kids fight off infections, Patrick says.
so make sure your child is eating right and
getting enough rest and exercise.
“getting vaccinated for vaccine-preventable illness is [another] good way to
stay healthy this winter,” adds Rosalind
Ball, RN, MN, CIC, Infection Control
Practitioner, good samaritan Hospital.
Visit www.multicare.org/kids for more
tips about keeping kids healthy.
4
BE SURE
TO WASH:
• Before touching
food • After
handling pets
• After coughing,
sneezing or nose-blowing • Before and
after touching a wound or being with
a sick person • After touching
garbage • After using
the toilet (FOR
SURE)!
•
•
•
✂
yoU TeaCH your kids to share their toys
and games. But how do you teach them not
to share their germs?
“Think about the 25 to 30 students in
typical classrooms,” says Marcia Patrick, RN,
MsN, CIC, director, Infection Prevention
and Control at MultiCare. “That’s a lot of
germs being shared, and lots of opportunities to bring something home.”
Consider all of the shared areas in
classrooms—desks, pencil sharpeners,
pencils, crayons, light switches, textbooks
and other instructional materials, computer
keyboards, and cafeteria and gym surfaces.
“any or all of these can contain germs
from the mouths and noses of kids, as well
as fecal matter from hands not washed
thoroughly after using the toilet,” Patrick
says. “another child comes along and
touches that surface, then rubs his eyes
or nose, and ends up with the infection,
which he, of course, takes home with him.”
NO WATER? Gellin’
works too. Rub cleaning gel (at least
60 percent alcohol) all over
your hands until they’re dry.
Sources: Marcia Patrick, RN, MSN, CIC, and the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
www.multicare.org | 7
The Big
T
THeRe’s a picture of Jillian Michaels on her website sporting a black, sleeveless T-shirt with “Bully”
written across the front.
sure, the black team’s coach on TV’s The
Biggest Loser has the title of television’s toughest
trainer. But ask MultiCare Center for Healthy
living’s elizabeth Barnard her impressions of
the weight-loss reality show star, and she’ll
point out how Michaels cares and wants
others to reach their healthy goals.
“she’s trying to help people realize that
they can do it,” says Barnard, the Center’s
Community events Coordinator. “she’s not
pushing them beyond their capabilities—
she’s pushing them to their capabilities.”
If you’ve seen the show, you know
Michaels is extremely fit, and you’ve watched
her help others lose a lot of unwanted
pounds and learn how to live healthy lives.
Now you can see Michaels in person at
this year’s do something Healthy event,
which is bound to include an inspirational
dose of “anybody can do it” when it comes
to getting physical, eating well and maintaining a healthy weight, Barnard says.
“People want to live a healthy life, but
You can win by
Jan. 24
Do Something Healthy 9
Meet Jillian Michaels and sign up
for the Million Minute Mission.
8 | Healthy Living
February
Start classes at the
YMCA. (Register online:
www.tacomaymca.org.)
gest Winners
are the biggest losers
sometimes they don’t know how to get motivated or where to start,” Barnard says. “Do
Something Healthy is a great first step to
learning more about health and nutrition
and getting the motivation to make healthy
changes to their lives.”
In addition to helping others succeed,
Michaels’ own healthy pursuits have led to
several personal successes. She has a weekly
radio show, fitness DVDs and two published
books, including her latest, Making the Cut:
Thirty Days to the Strongest, Sexiest You.
According to her website, the energetic fitness trainer and life coach struggled with her
own weight, so she knows firsthand about the
challenges. Then came martial arts, a source
of her passion for fitness training.
This passion, along with Michaels’
desire to help people reach their fitness goals,
should make the Do Something Healthy
event all the more inspirational and exciting.
In addition to Michaels’ featured presentation, Do Something Healthy will include
a health fair and screenings, and a registered
dietitian and personal trainer will be available
to answer attendees’ questions about nutrition, healthy eating and physical activity.
And if previous events are an indication—
this is the ninth year Do Something Healthy
is taking place—people will walk away with
something they can use to better their health,
perhaps profoundly so. Barnard has seen it
before: “Participants have taken information
from this event,” she says, “and used it to
change their lives.”
Do Something Healthy 9
Meet Jillian!
When: Thursday, Jan. 24, 6 to 9pm
Where: Greater Tacoma Convention and
Trade Center, 1500 Broadway, Tacoma
Join the Million Minute Mission
Here’s your mission, should you choose to accept it: Help your Pierce County friends and neighbors reach a goal of logging millions of exercise minutes.
It’s called the Million Minute Mission—a community-wide fitness event led by the MultiCare Center
For Healthy Living—and it’s a fun way to get physical, get healthy, and win individual or team prizes.
Here’s how it works: You register online—it’s easy—and then log
an average of 30 minutes of physical activity five or more days a week,
Jan. 24 through June 14. Kids can aim for 30 to 60 minutes.
You also track your progress online, so you can see your healthy
minutes add up! Get the details at www.multicare.org/mission.
This year’s theme: Weight Maintenance—
Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle
Special guest: Jillian Michaels, trainer from
NBC’s The Biggest Loser, 7pm
•
•
•
•
Health fair and screenings, 6 to 7pm
Bring a question for “Ask the Dietitian”
Have Michaels sign her book
Cost: $10
Preregistration is required.
Register online at www.multicare.org.
losing­ — one inch at a time
March
Get your Passport
to Healthy Dining at
www.piercecountygetsfit.org.
April
Tracking your weight each
week is one good way
to monitor your health.
www.multicare.org/mission
May
Thirty minutes a day:
Keep logging your exercise at
www.multicare.org/mission.
June 14
Sound to Narrows
Fun and fitness for a great
cause and the Biggest Winner
finale. See you there!
www.multicare.org | [healthy families]
gRoWNUPs aReN’T the only ones at
risk for being overweight or obese. More
and more children are too.
What can parents do to help? Take
action, says nutrition expert Monica
dixon, Phd, Rd.
dixon is working to establish an optimal
Weight Clinic at MultiCare’s Mary Bridge
Children’s Hospital & Health Center. she
is researching the causes of the childhood
obesity epidemic and exploring what
hospitals, schools, governments and others
can do to turn the tide.
It’s a complex matter, she says. But she
adds that the best place to begin preventing
childhood obesity is at home.
“There’s a lot parents can do to help kids
manage their weight,” dixon says.
get started by following these tips:
Serve whole foods. “Think fresh fruit,
vegetables and dairy, whole grains, nuts and
oils, and less processed foods,” dixon says.
offer kids water instead of pop or juice.
Eat together. family meals give you
better control of food choices and are also
a chance to bond with your kids and teach
them manners.
“There are so many advantages,” dixon
10 | Healthy Living
Help your kids
manage their weight
says. “There are even studies that show
that kids who eat with their families often
are less likely to use drugs or join gangs.”
Exercise as a family. “There are lots
of things you can do together—hiking,
biking, playing in the park,” dixon says.
“Having an active family helps children
remain active as adults.”
Talk to your doctor. your child’s doctor
can determine if your child is overweight.
He or she also can give you advice on safe
ways to help children take off extra pounds.
for more information, visit Kids get
fit at www.piercecountygetsfit.org.
Pierce County gets your family fit
Pierce County residents, are you ready to
make good on those New Year’s resolutions?
Let Pierce County Gets Fit help you and your
family meet your 2008 fitness goals.
Pierce County Gets Fit is a partnership
between MultiCare Health System, the YMCA
of Tacoma–Pierce County and the Tacoma–
Pierce County Health Department. Formed
in 2005, the goal of Pierce County Gets Fit
is simple: Help you and
your family get fit by promoting good nutrition and
physical activity. Best of all, it’s easy to
participate.
Whatever your health challenges or fitness
goals, Pierce County Gets Fit has something
for adults and kids alike.
Visit www.piercecountygetsfit.org today.
[update]
Catching up with
the Biggest Winners
lasT feBRUaRy, two teams of five contestants took part in a four-month weight-loss
competition modeled after The Biggest Loser
TV show. a collaborative effort of MultiCare
Health system, the yMCa of Tacoma–Pierce
County and the Tacoma–Pierce County
Health department, Pierce County’s
Biggest Winner contest and ongoing
weight-maintenance program were
designed to help Pierce County residents
adopt healthier lifestyles.
While the competition ended months
ago, the contest’s top two “losers” are still
going strong.
What’s new with Aaron
aaron stewart may have been the contest’s
first-place winner, but he considers his improved health and lifestyle the real prize.
“It was the best experience of my life—
from the fellowship to the weight loss to
the whole transformation of my diet and
how I think about food,” he says.
a 32-year-old executive pastor from
University Place, aaron is a former college
football player who feels just as strong today
as he did while playing for Pacific lutheran
University more than a decade ago. aaron
weighed 295 pounds coming into the competition and has lost a total of 52 pounds,
or 20 percent of his body weight. He credits
MultiCare dietitians, the yMCa trainer,
fellow teammates and his wife for his success.
“What I really learned is that it’s
not about dieting,” he says. “It’s about
changing the way we eat.”
aaron continues to exercise
regularly at the yMCa with
his wife, as well as fellow team
member Chris Waiss. He’s kept
the weight off and plans to lose
five to 10 more pounds.
Checking in with April
april Waddington was determined to make
a dramatic change in her weight and lifestyle. and she did, coming in second overall
in the contest and losing nearly 50 pounds
and 17 percent of her body weight.
The 34-year-old family support worker
from Puyallup battled her weight for more
than a decade and was 278 pounds when
the competition began. athletic in school,
april was inspired to participate by the
competitive nature of the contest.
“Having such a great team motivated
me to do more—for myself and the team,”
she explains. “I had to be accountable to
someone, and that made a big difference.”
april looks forward to reaching her goal
weight of 165 pounds. The key, she says,
is combining low-fat proteins
and a high-fiber diet chock-full
of fruits and vegetables with an
exercise program that includes
fitness classes, weight training
and yoga.
“There’s no magic pill,” she
says. “It takes work, but it’s worth
it. I feel 100 percent better!”
2008: Be our next Biggest Winner!
MultiCare Health System, the YMCA of Tacoma–Pierce County and the Tacoma–Pierce County
Health Department challenge you to get fit and be healthy in 2008. A MultiCare physician and
registered dietitian, along with a personal trainer from the YMCA, will oversee the Pierce County
Biggest Winner program to ensure that participants are losing weight and exercising in a safe,
healthy way. Applications for the program are available at www.piercecountygetsfit.org.
www.multicare.org | 11
Lights out!
A checklist to help you weather winter power outages
IT’s WINTeR in western Washington,
which means rain, wind and, all too often,
power failures. sometimes these failures last
just a few hours, but it’s not uncommon in
some areas to go a day—or two or three or
five—without electricity.
The duration of the power failure and
the temperature outside your home can
determine whether an outage is a simple
inconvenience or a major disruption. With
a little preparation, you and your family
can keep the hassle of a winter electricity
loss to a minimum.
✔ Make sure you have enough supplies,
including water, food, flashlights, warm
clothing, a battery-operated radio, extra
batteries and medications.
✔ If you live in an area that loses power
regularly during the winter, consider investing in a gas-powered generator. Run
the generator a safe distance away from the
house so that the exhaust does not pose a
danger.
✔ Keep mobile phones fully charged and
consider hanging on to that outdated
corded phone. even corded phones won’t
work if phone lines are down, but all it
takes to disable your cordless phone is a
lack of electricity.
12 | Healthy Living
✔ fill your vehicle with gas and keep
plenty of gas on hand to operate generators. If power outages are widespread, it
may be difficult to find gas following a
storm.
✔ set aside some cash for necessary
purchases.
✔ Minimize your use of candles as a
source of light. Unattended burning
candles are a major cause of house fires
in the Us. It’s better to invest in a few
battery-powered lanterns and a supply
of fresh batteries.
✔ Keep barbecues and charcoal grills
outside. These items are not designed to be
used indoors, and their burning fuel can
emit fumes that are dangerous in an enclosed area.
✔ If you or a member of your family has
special medical needs that may be adversely
affected by a power outage (for example, if
you use home medical equipment or your
medication must remain chilled), make a
plan to accommodate those needs if the
lights go out.
Smart steps for a healthy life
January
through
March 2008
GET MOVING WITH
CLASSES AT THE YMCA
YMCA Women’s Fitness Center
CHECK YOUR HEALTH
Personal Wellness Profile
Body Composition Testing
Comprehensive wellness profile addresses
nutrition, fitness, stress and heart health.
Does not take the place of physician exams.
Check your body-fat percentage
and lean-mass percentage and set a goal
for your weight.
fee: $15
253-530-8974
fee: $45
253-403-6340
Resting Metabolic Rate Screening
Bone Density Screening
Comprehensive DEXA screening for osteoporosis.
allenmore Hospital
253-403-1059
Men’s and Women’s HeartAdvantage Screening
A personalized consultation, risk assessment
and basic lab tests.
Get the exact measurements you
need to successfully lose weight. The comprehensive target calorie report will show you how
to eat the maximum amount of food and still
lose weight.
fee: $40
253-530-8974
The YMCA Women’s Fitness Center is
now open at the MultiCare Gig Harbor
Medical Park, 4545 Pt. Fosdick Drive
NW.
This one-stop wellness and fitness facility is available to our female
members (age 15 and older) and
features a 30- to
40-minute circuit
that utilizes intervals
of cardio training and
strength training.
Yoga, Pilates, toning
and other classes are also
offered and are included
in your YMCA membership.
Membership is also valid at
the Gig Harbor YMCA and all
Tacoma–Pierce County branches.
Monday through friday, 6:30am to 8pm
Child care is available from 8am to 7:30pm.
253-853-YMCA (253-853-9622)
Virtual tour: www.ymcatacoma.org
fee: starts at $55
Tacoma general Hospital
800-342-9919
MARCH IS NUTRITION MONTH!
QuitTobacco Support Group
start the month off right—get your Passport to Healthy dining.
MultiCare Center for Healthy living—in partnership with the
Washington state Restaurant association, Tacoma-Pierce County
Health department and the yMCa of Tacoma-Pierce County—will
present a yearlong program designed to provide you with healthy meal
options in restaurants. The get fit Passport to Healthy dining gives
you a list of restaurants that will be offering four get fit meal options.
each meal option will meet our get fit healthy criteria.
But wait, there’s more! Not only will you
have get fit meal options, but you can also
earn get fit incentives. for every 10 get
fit meals you purchase, you’ll be able
to receive an incentive, such as a
pedometer, a water bottle and more.
for more information, please visit
www.piercecountygetsfit.org.
Great success rates! No matter where you are in the
quit process, this group is for you. Topics include
tobacco addiction, successful cessation practices,
individualized quit plans, nicotine replacement
therapies, cessation medications, withdrawal symptoms, coping skills, relapse and recovery. Drop-ins
and support people are welcome; low-cost nicotine
patches are available. For best results, we recommend
weekly group attendance for one year following your final
quit date. Call for more information.
• allenmore Hospital, boardroom: Mondays, noon to 1pm
• good samaritan Community Healthcare: Mondays, 7 to 8pm
• Tacoma general Hospital, 6M: Tuesdays, 11:45am to 12:45pm
• MultiCare gig Harbor Medical Park: Wednesdays, 7 to 8pm
253-223-7538
www.multicare.org | 13
[calendar of events]
Smart steps for a healthy life
FAMILY HEALTH AND SAFETY
Call for times and locations.
BRIDGES: A Center for Grieving Children
Free life jacket loaners
available year-round. Loaned for
up to one week, limited quantities.
Grief support groups with children 4 to
18 years old who have experienced the loss
of a parent or sibling. Concurrent groups
for parents and children.
Kent, olympia, silverdale, Tacoma
253-403-1234
Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
253-272-8266
Get custom-fit helmets, available in both child
and adult sizes, to use with bikes, scooters,
skateboards, skates, skis and snowboards.
Wearer must be present for custom fit.
Car Seat Inspections
Car seat inspections and phone
consultations by certified child passenger
safety technicians.
Custom-Fit Helmet Sales
Kent, silverdale, Tacoma
253-403-1234
Bike helmet: $7
Multi-impact helmet: $10
ski helmet (Nov.-feb.): $15
Covington, Kent, olympia, silverdale, Tacoma
253-403-1234
Children’s Asthma Education
Parenting Love and Logic
Individualized education for parents and
families who have children with asthma.
Based on the parenting philosophy that allows
children to live with the consequences of their
choices while giving them loving guidance and
support.
Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
253-403-3131
TAKE CONTROL
Life Jacket Loans
Tobacco Cessation QuitSmart™
Children’s Diabetes Education and Clinic
Identify and conquer your personal
challenges in quitting tobacco by laying
a solid foundation for a successful quit.
Class topics are designed to take you
through the first year of quitting. A variety of activities ensures easy absorption of
the material. You don’t have to have quit
to come to class, just have an interest in
learning how to do it! QuitSmart works
in conjunction with our support groups.
Workbook included.
Individual education for children newly
diagnosed with diabetes and for their families.
By appointment for those who need further
education or review. Classes, camps and
support groups are also available.
fee: $80 (scholarships available to incomequalified participants)
• allenmore Hospital: saturday, Jan. 19,
9:30am to 3:30pm
• good samaritan Community Healthcare:
saturday, feb. 9, 9:30am to 3:30pm
• MultiCare gig Harbor Medical Park:
saturday, March 15, 9:30am to 3:30pm
If you’re at least 55, enroll
now and enjoy benefits in
health and finance, travel,
and entertainment.
six-week class, 6:30 to 8:30pm
fee: $50/person
Tacoma general Hospital
253-680-7500
253-403-3131
Good health for active adults
EverActive®
fee: $25/single or
$39/couple
800-485-0205
Grandparenting
for the 21st Century
Learn the latest on childbirth, infant care and
childproofing your home.
Plus, tour the Family Birth
Center!
fee: $42/couple
Unless otherwise noted, visit www.multicare.org/classes
or call 800-342-9919 for information or to register.
1 | Healthy Living

Unless otherwise noted, visit www.multicare.org/classes
or call 800-342-9919 for information or to register.
s
’
l
r
 i ht
g
i
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Ou
Healthy Reflections Medical &
Day Spa Education Seminars
MultiCare Gig Harbor Medical Park
YOUR HEALTHY
PREGNANCY
OUR HEALTHY COMMUNITY
Healthy@Work
Boost productivity and reduce absenteeism
with this work-site wellness program.
Program offerings include health screenings,
tobacco cessation, and health education
programs and classes, all taught on-site for
both large and small companies.
Bates Technical College,
in cooperation with Tacoma general Hospital’s
family Birth Center,
offers a variety of childbirth and related classes
at Tacoma general.
To register, visit www.
bates.ctc.edu/registration
or call 253-680-7500.
253-403-7895
MultiCare Center For Healthy Living
Education and programs for community
members and corporations. We promote
health and wellness with exercise, nutrition, weight loss, life balance and tobacco
cessation. (This community resource is
made possible by generous gifts donated
through the MultiCare Health Foundation.)
800-485-0205, www.multicare.org
Breastfeeding Classes
Choose the best feeding option for mom
and baby with current
information.
fee: $15/couple
Everything You Ever
Wanted to Know About
Rejuvenating Your Skin
Massage for Pregnancy
and Labor Class
• Jan. 21, 5:30 to 8:30pm
Featuring laser procedures, hydrofacials
and physician-strength products.
Massage techniques
for labor support
partner and mom.
SmartMenu
The MultiCare Center For Healthy
Living offers free menu analysis to
restaurants participating in the Tacoma–
Pierce County Health Department’s
menu labeling program.
fee: $42/couple
Learn About Nonsurgical
Facial Enhancements
Prepared Childbirth
• March 17, 5:30 to 8:30pm
Walter Rooney, MD, will present
options such as:
■ Botox
■ Restalyne
■ Radiesse
Five-week series or
weekend classes prepare
mom and partner for
birth and parenthood.
Plus, tour the Family
Birth Center!
To R.s.V.P. for these events, call
253-530-8005.
253-403-7894 or 253-405-8024
fee: $80/couple
Give your skin its winter fix
The stress of the season and the
harshness of winter can wreak
havoc on our skin. If you are
experiencing dryness, dehydration
or acne and want to look your
best, we have a solution for you!
A Winter Fix Facial from the
Healthy Reflections Medical &
Day Spa can help calm, soothe
and hydrate your skin while
gaining control over those breakouts caused by stress.
Call us today for an appointment and discover radiant skin.
Don’t wait!
For more information and a
complete list of services and treatments, call 253-530-8005.
fee: $60 (a $15 savings)
$15 OF
This offer expires on
March 31, 2008.
F
Healthy Reflections Medical
& day spa
MultiCare gig Harbor Medical Park
4545 Pt. fosdick drive NW
www.multicare.org | 15
[support]
SM
Keep in touch with CarePages
CaRePages aRe free, private, personalized web pages that allow you to stay in
touch with family and friends before, during and after hospitalization. all MultiCare
patients and families can create and update
a web page where they can share their latest
news with friends and family and receive
messages of support.
before
CarePages let you:
Update your loved ones all at the same
time without repeated phone calls or e-mails.
Create web pages that are not open to
the general public.
send comments and compliments to
caregivers.
share photos, contact information,
•
•
•
•
See what Pierce
County’s 2007
Biggest Winners
look like now!
MultiCare Health System
P.O. Box 5299
Tacoma, WA 9815-0299
visiting hours and other information on
your schedule.
CarePages provide a free, convenient way
for you to keep loved ones updated and
for them to provide you with emotional
support.
Visit www.multicare.org or www.
marybridge.org to create a CarePage.
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
MultiCare
Health System
Page 11
GH
STAY HEALTHY THIS WINTER! | SIGN UP FOR A CLASS. SEE PAGE 13.