Health News from Sutter Health

The New Year is upon us, in all of its promising potential. A year of new beginnings, resolutions and possibilities.

There may be much we cannot change around us - the economy, our jobs, housing, insurance. But we all can focus on our most important foundation - our health - to help carry us successfully through the next year.

A theme of simplicity may help herald change this New Year and can be approached in many different holistic ways:

I will simplify my food. I will look at the ingredient labels of everything I eat and choose the foods with the fewest artificial ingredients, chemicals and additives.
I will pick whole grains and natural products in their most simple state possible (e.g. apple over apple sauce, milk over ice cream). I will take more time to shop for groceries and cook fresh produce, and eat out less.

I will simplify my finances. Instead of focusing on acquisitions this year, I will pick a debt to reduce. I will look at my monthly expenditures and find something to cut out - something I don't need or use. I will cut down on the frequency of shopping expeditions. I will carpool. I will eat out half as much as I used to. I will defer on a new wardrobe. I will explore second-hand shops. I will recycle.

I will simplify my living area. I will create serene and clean living surroundings. I will focus on what I don't need in my house and office, and give it away or recycle it (old furniture, books, clothes, toys). I will bring fresh plants into my living spaces. I will move into a smaller living area with smaller monthly expenditures. I will empty half of my clothes closet - anything I haven't worn in the past two years. 

I will simplify my health and my pill box. I will partner with my doctor in helping focus on prevention of one reversible illness I might have (pain, high cholesterol, obesity, depression, smoking). I will create an exercise regimen that I can do daily, with ease, which strengthens my body. By achieving better health, I will try to get rid of lifestyle meds - medications that I am on due to the lifestyle I had been choosing.

I will simplify my time commitments. I will say no to anything that is not a resounding yes. I will work less overtime. I will volunteer only for causes I am passionate about. I will simplify my social calendar. I will schedule time for exercise in my daily calendar, and watch less than one hour of TV daily. I will sleep seven hours a night.

We wish you a simple New Year, full of health, peace, and serenity.

Drs. Kay Judge and Maxine Barish-Wreden are medical directors of Sutter Downtown Integrative Medicine program. Have a question related to alternative medicine? Email adrenaline@sacbee.com.

This year Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento introduced a new program to provide pregnant women and their partners support for their baby with a condition that will require special care after delivery. It can be hard for families they learn their baby may have special needs. Our goal is to offer as much education and support to the family as possible and help them understand that they are not alone.

Called the Sutter Special Start Program, our coordinator offers education about the baby's health condition, coordinates a special team of health care professionals to be available for the baby's delivery and ongoing care and links the family with other parents who share in your same experience. Because Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento believes all families should have access to education and support, all these services are free of charge.

The following conditions are ones that the Special Support Program covers:

·         Cystic Fibrosis

·         Cleft Lip/Palate

·         Neural Tube Defects

·         Congenital Heart Defects

·         Abdominal Wall Defects

For more information, contact Jacqueline Masullo, program coordinator, at masullj@sutterhealth.org or call (916) 453-3468. Learn more about Sutter Women's Services for pregnancy and childbirth.

The 2011 Sutter Cancer Center Quilt Auction is going on now at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento. More than 700 quilts are currently on display at Sutter's downtown medical complex, including Sutter Cancer Center, Sutter Capitol Pavilion and Sutter General Hospital. 

Silent Auction: Quilts are currently on display for the silent auction which ends November 5.

Online Auction: Visit https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/AuctionHome.action?documentId=140235075

Live Auction: The Live Auction is the highlight of Auction Day. At 10 AM on November 5, 2011 the auctioneer will open the bidding on 50 exceptional quilts. The bidding is fast-paced and lots of fun. After the Live Auction there will be time to see if you are still the high bidder on your Silent Auction quilts or to bid on additional quilts. The Live Auction is held at Sutter Cancer Center, 2800 L Street, Sacramento.

The Breast Cancer Quilt Auction is a community service project to raise funds for Sutter Cancer Center's breast cancer research and patient treatment programs. In total, more than 1900 quilts and art quilt pieces were donated to the four prior auctions providing over $425,000 for the Cancer Center programs. Learn more at http://www.suttermedicalcenter.org/quiltauction/.

In the past year, Donna became more and more familiar with cancer. She started off the year modeling for the Cancer Resource Center and ended it with a champagne celebration for a good friend who had found out she did not have kidney cancer.  The day after the party, she discovered an unusual spotting of blood in her underwear.

"First I thought it was a urine infection," said Donna. "But the bleeding didn't stop."

Donna went into see her OB-GYN for an exam and ultrasound. The results showed that she had a thickening of the uterus. She was then given the news that she had an aggressive form of uterine cancer.

"My doctor told me that my best chance of survival would be if they sent me to Sutter Cancer Center," said Donna. "So they referred me to the Gynecological Cancer Clinic and gynecological oncologist Dr. Susannah Mourton."

Even with the looming thought of her cancer diagnosis on her mind, Donna continued with her life and tried to stay positive by going on a pre-planned girls snowshoe trip. When she returned she got the call from Dr. Mourton's office to come in for an appointment.

"I immediately fell in love with Dr. Mourton," said Donna. "We exchanged stories about our dogs and hobbies and she immediately put me at ease. She was honest and didn't guarantee me any results. She told me to take things one step at a time."

Donna had a few more tests and a PET scan. The results showed that her cancer was contained in her uterus and Dr. Mourton gave her the good news that she was a candidate for da Vinci Robotic surgery.

The night before surgery Donna was surrounded by her husband and best friends. "When I went into pre-op at Sutter Memorial Hospital the anesthesiologist Charles Collins, M.D., was so relaxed and had a great sense of humor," said Donna. "And when they rolled me into surgery Dr. Mourton showed me the da Vinci machine and how it worked. I was surprisingly at ease."

Donna woke up a few hours after surgery. Her nurses explained that they would help her sit-up and eventually walk around. But when they left, Donna decided to try it on her own - and thanks to her strong core muscles from her yoga practice - she was able to support herself.

"The morning after surgery Dr. Mourton came to see me and asked how I was doing," said Donna. "I told her I was fabulous. And after she examined me, I was discharged to go home - I wasn't even in my hospital bed for 24 hours."

Donna returned home to the care of her husband. Within a few days she was grocery shopping. Soon after she asked Dr. Mourton when she could re-start her yoga and weight lifting.

"Dr. Mourton told me I could do yoga, but that I should listen to my body," said Donna. "I did learn the more rest I had, the faster I healed. So I slowed down a bit."

Donna is on the track to remission with sessions of chemotherapy. She has rejoined her Singing and Dancing Jazz Choir and walking routine. And in the spirit of her hair loss, her good friend shaved off all his hair and they decorated their heads with spray paint.

"I believe in living my life to the fullest," said Donna. "I have some great wigs and still love to be social and go out to parties. I am so thankful for Dr. Mourton. She definitely had the right touch. And I couldn't imagine having this treatment and what my limitations would be if I didn't have the option for minimally invasive surgery."

Learn more about da Vinci surgery for GYN cancer.

Kids with autism eventually turn until teenagers and adults with autism. And with the recent rise in the number of children diagnosed with autism there is a new need to focus on their transition into adulthood. Sutter Neuroscience Institute is teaming up with the Sierra 

Sacramento Valley Medical Society Alliance to open a new discussion on Autism-The Teen Years. During this informative lecture learn about:

• Hormone Changes and Drug Efficacies
• Evolving Relationships and Sexuality
• Executive Functioning and Behavior
• Emerging Co-Morbidities and Diagnosis and Treatment
• Trusts and other Legal Entitlement

Lecture Details

Date:       Thursday, April 7, 2011  

Time:     6:00 - 7:00 P.M. Registration, Appetizers, & Vendors

                 7:00 - 9:00 P.M. Program 

Place:   Sutter Cancer Center,  2800 L Street, Classrooms 1-4, Sacramento, CA 95816

Fee:   Free / $25.00 if Nursing CE desired (cash or check only, pay at the door)

The lecture is free, but RSVP's are mandatoy. To register email MEDALLNC-ASD@yahoo.com. If you have questions, please call 916 453-5801.

Learn more about the Sutter Autism Treatment Center or follow us on Facebook.

Sweet dreams...do you say those words to your child every night and hope that it comes true? If so, you are not alone. Night terrors, bad dreams, snoring and sleep apnea can affect your child's sleep -- as well as the sleep of your entire family.

Learn more about common, yet treatable sleep disorders our free lecture with pediatric neurologist Dr. Amer Khan at the Roseville Galleria on Tuesday, March 15.

Date: Tuesday, March 15

Time: 9 - 10 a.m.

Location: The Dining Terrace, Westfield Roseville Galleria

Cost: Free

RSVPs are mandatory. Please call (916) 781-4018 or visit www.sutterroseville.org/sweetdreams.

A free continental breakfast will be provided.

To learn more about Pediatric Sleep Disorders visit http://www.checksutterfirst.org/children/services/pedprgms/sleep.cfm.

The 3rd Annual Dount Dash to benefit Sutter Children's Center's Child Life Program has been set for Saturday, March 19.

The Donut Dash Run starts at the corner of Freeport Blvd., and Sutterville Rd. Participants will run, jog or walk two miles through shady Land Park to Marie's Donuts, eat four donuts (or six donut holes or nothing at all) and then two miles back.

All proceeds go to support the Child Life Program at Sutter Memorial Hospital to help pay for art supplies, toys, movies, video games, etc to benefit the children during their hospital stay.

Zack Wandell, a volunteer in the Child Life Program at Sutter Memorial Hospital since September 2004, started the Donut Dash in 2009 and raised $1,500. In 2010 they raised $3,000. This year Zach hopes to raise at least $5,000 by getting more runners and sponsors. If you are looking for a way to support the great work of Sutter's Child Life Program visit the Donut Dash's website, Facebook site or Active.com registration page! 

Learn more about Sutter's Child Life Program.

Are you expecting twins, triplets or more in 2011? Sutter Moms of Multiples (MOMs) Center provides comprehensive supportive care to mothers expecting twins, triplets or more, to make their pregnancy a positive and exciting experience. The program assists your Sutter obstetrician by providing a network of support to follow mothers through their entire pregnancy and beyond.

Because multiple gestation pregnancies are often consider high-risk, this program will provide valuable assistance to you, your spouse, and your physician beyond the medical aspects of your pregnancy.  Sutter Moms of Multiples Clinic is designed to improve perinatal outcomes and enhance the pregnancy and birthing experience for mothers.

Sutter works with referring physicians and provides prompt and ongoing reports about the support services their patient is receiving in the program.

The program is now offered free of charge! Learn more at http://www.checksutterfirst.org/women/services/momsofmultiples.cfm

More babies are born at Sutter Health facilities in the Sacramento Region than any other health care system. Our high risk pregnancy experts, neonatal intensive care units, personalized birthing experience and alternative labor options are among the reasons families choose Sutter.

Watch a video about our Family Birthing Centers at Sutter Memorial Hospital, Sutter Roseville Medical Center, Sutter Davis Hospital and Sutter Solano Medical Center.

Learn more about our prenatal care and birthing options at www.sutterwomens.org.

Health care. Anytime. Anywhere.

Want to access your medical records on the go? Now, when you sign up for Sutter Health's My Health Online (available as the MyChart app on iTunes), you get secure, on-the-go access via the iPhone^®, iPad^© or iPod touch^®!

• Send secure emails to your doctor
• View most lab results and upcoming appointments
• Receive preventive care reminders
• View your medications, allergies, immunizations and more

You must be a patient of Sutter Medical Foundation and enrolled in MyHealthOnline (formerly MySutterOnline). Learn how to enroll.

This is the season know for family gatherings. Unfortunately, families and friends share more than presents and pie - many spread their germs! Sure, you can protect yourself by washing your hands and keeping a good distance from others; but when Aunt Bertha with the cough or your nephew with the runny nose smacks a big kiss on your cheek, it's good to know where to find the closest Sutter Urgent Care or Express Care clinic.

Download our latest free application, iTriage, to your smart phone and you will always know where to go, where ever you are in Sacramento, Northern California, and beyond!

Watch a video

Download iTriage

Though the nation is experiencing its first ever two-year decline in elective premature births, three Northern California, Sutter Health affiliated hospitals have partnered with the March of Dimes to participate in their pilot toolkit to inform expectant mothers the dangers of electing to deliver their baby prematurely in an effort to alleviate the rate in California.

Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, Sutter Roseville Medical Center and Mills-Peninsula Health Services in Burlingame are among nine hospitals statewide helping March of Dimes pilot this new hospital toolkit to ensure that all deliveries are done at the right time.

The toolkit, Elimination of Non-medically Indicated (Elective) Deliveries Before 39 Weeks Gestational Age, provides patients educational materials focused on the adverse consequences of early elective delivery as well as tools for health care providers and hospital staff to develop efficient and successful quality improvement program.

Traditionally, pregnancy has been thought of as a nine-month process. Today, through advances in science, it is now seen that pregnancy should be measured in weeks as 40 weeks is the accepted benchmark for full term pregnancy. The ultimate goal with this program is to eliminate all elective early births prior to 39 weeks, and the toolkit shows the development of the brain at 40 weeks, opposed to the brain at 36 weeks, or nine months, another viable way to help dissuade expectant mothers.

"The last six weeks of pregnancy, the babies brain nearly doubles," said Leslie Kowalewski, associate state director for the March of Dimes in California. "The baby's brain connections for balance and coordination are still developing in that time."

A lot of times these elective early births occur is because mother's grow tired of being pregnant are do not want to deal with the stress of pregnancy any longer.

"If you ask any women why they want to deliver early and they'll tell you that the last few weeks are rough," said Dr. Connie Mitchell of the California Department of Public Health's Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division. "If she can wait, the mother and the baby will be much better off."

The success of the implementation of this program could not only change birth outcomes, but this could ultimately be a benchmark moment for early delivery rates nation wide.

Please visit for more information on this tool kit developed in partnership with March of Dimes, California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC), and the California Department of Health, Maternal Child and Adolescent Health Division.

Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento

Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento is the foundation of Sutter Health, Northern California's largest health network with 29 acute care hospitals, more than 5,000 primary care physicians and specialists, home health, occupational health, psychiatric care and more. The downtown Sacramento medical center is made up of several facilities that include Sutter General Hospital, Sutter Memorial Hospital, Sutter Oaks Midtown, and Sutter Center for Psychiatry. Visit the website at www.sutterhealth.org.

Sutter Roseville Medical Center

SRMC is an acute care medical facility and is a level II American College of Surgeons verified Trauma Center serving a seven-county region that includes Placer, Yolo, Nevada, Sutter and Yuba counties, and portions of Sacramento and El Dorado counties. Visit the hospital at www.sutterroseville.org.

Mills-Penninsula Health Services

Mills Health Center in San Mateo provides a wide range of outpatient services, including surgery, rehabilitation and diagnostics. It also is home to Mills-Peninsula's inpatient rehabilitation program. For more information visit www.mills-penninsula.org.

PJ Petersen is a student at California State University, Sacramento and an intern with Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region

When Rosie Carollo was hospitalized at the Sutter Children's Center, Sacramento due to a rare form of epilepsy at just 6 months old, she was cheered up by the toys, movies and activities in the hospital's Child Life Program.

After her passing in 2004, just shy of her second birthday, her parents, Nicole and George Carollo, were set on keeping Rosie's memory alive by giving back to the Sutter Children's Center located at Sutter Memorial Hospital after they provided such great care for their young daughter.

"When Rosie passed away, we wanted to do something in her memory to repay the wonderful care we got and to help out other children like Rosie in the Child Life Program," said Nicole Carollo.

While walking trough their neighborhood admiring holiday decorations and looking to get a few ideas for their own house, the Carollos noticed bins in front of houses for people to donate food as they too strolled down the street admiring the decorations. It was at this moment that the Carollos had the idea to have a toy drive in Rosie's honor.

After seeing how much joy that toys brought Rosie while she was in the hospital, the family decided the best way to honor Rosie and give back to the hospital was by donating toys to the unit in hopes of creating joy for other children during their time in the program.

The Carollos began their charitable toy drive in 2007 when they were inspired to give back to the Sutter Children's Center after experiencing first-hand the heartache of having a child hospitalized there, but at the same time were overjoyed with the care that the facility gave their young daughter.

This year marks the fourth anniversary of the Rosie Carollo Christmas Lights Toy Drive, which will be held from 5-9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, and is part of the Carollos' elaborate Christmas display at their home at 3961 Fair Oaks Blvd. in the Arden-Arcade area of Sacramento. New, unwrapped toy donations, as well as any cash or check donations, will be collected to give to the brave children at the Children's Center.

In the three previous years, this event has made quite a splash in donations. During the inaugural event in 2007, the Carollos collected 741 items and $236 in cash. In the three years of its existence this special event has collected nearly 2,500 items and approximately $3,676.

This year, the Carollos and the Child Life Program are requesting: non-fabric infant rattles and toys, board games, toy doctor kits, crib-side soothers - such as Fisher Price's aquarium or rain forest - arts and crafts kits, and comfortable slippers for school-aged and teen patients.

"The first year we did it, we had no idea it would become this big," said Nicole. "We just thought it would be a little toy drive."

Four years later, the Carollos look forward to the company of hundreds of Sacramento residents who gather in celebration of little Rosie's life and the life of every child cared for at the Sutter Children's Center.

"This is easily the happiest day of the year for me," said Nicole.

Guests and their families enjoy the elaborate Christmas lights display along with cookies, hot chocolate and even a special visit from Santa Claus. In addition, Sacramento firefighters will be there giving out official fire department stickers and coloring books.

The Carollo family - which now also includes 5-year-old Claire, 2-year-old Grace and 1-year-old Lily - has made it their lifelong goal to spread little Rosie's story and increase the awareness of infantile spasms. In the future they hope to set up a foundation in Rosie's name to raise funds for infantile spasm research.

If you would like to be a part of this event but cannot make it out on Dec. 12, the family is gladly accepting donations for the entire month of December at their doorstep located at 3961 Fair Oaks Blvd, at the corner of San Ramon Way and Fair Oaks Boulevard. For further information on how you can help, e-mail Nicole Carollo at N_Carollo@yahoo.com.

The Child Life Program is an important part of each child's hospital experience at the Sutter Children's Center. Child Life specialists work with the child, parents and hospital staff to make life as normal as possible and to minimize the emotional trauma to the infant, child or adolescent and his or her family. As a member of the health care team in both outpatient and inpatient settings, Child Life specialists provide essential life experiences for gaining a sense of mastery, for play, for learning, for self-expression, for family involvement and for peer interaction. The program also "employs" three full-time canine therapists as part of its Pet Therapy Program.
The Sutter Children's Center is a comprehensive children's "hospital-within-a-hospital" that offers on-site 24-hour pediatric and neonatal care physicians. It provides a patient- and family-oriented approach of more than 50 board-certified subspecialists and a full medical transport team. The Sutter Children's Center is nationally recognized as a center for excellence by the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions for its outstanding care for children. Additionally, the Sutter Children's Center is approved by California Children's Services and is the only non-university facility in Northern California granted associate membership with the California Children's Hospital Association. For more information, visit http://checksutterfirst.org/children/.
 

"Sara had been living with stomach pain and digestive problems for more than a year before we were finally referred to Dr. Barad," says Shawndra, Sara's mother. "But once we saw him, everything started to get better."

When she was 10, Sara began to suffer from heartburn and stomach problems. "It was awful to see my young daughter go through that," Shawndra says. "Sara's energy level dropped; she quit soccer and didn't want to walk our puppy anymore. She also lost 10 pounds - a lot for a sixth-grader her size. I knew something was wrong." Read more.

 With the holidays right around the corner, it might be beneficial to begin eating healthy today.

In honor of "Start Eating Healthy Day," Reetu Sharma, M.D., cardiologist with the Sutter Heart & Vascular Institute, shares information about tasty, healthy food alternatives to holiday temptations.

View the story as reported by New10.