Health News from Sutter Health

Donut Dash to Benefit Sutter Child Life

2012-01-17T16:20:24Z

Ready ... set ... run and eat donuts!! On Saturday, March 24th the 4th Annual Donut Dash will take place in Land Park. This family friendly (and pet friendly) run benefits the Child Life Program at Sutter Children's Center, Sacramento.

The event starts with a two mile run/jog/walk through Land Park to Marie's Donuts. Then you get to eat four donuts or six donut holes (or nothing at all). And then run back the two miles to the finish.

The event started in 2009 with 25 numbers and in 2011 the event grew to more than 500 participants.

To learn more or register visit donutdash.org or Donut Dash on Facebook.Learn more about Sutter Children's Center, Sacramento

Simplicity can lead to a healthier life

2011-12-30T19:53:47Z

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.

Sutter's Special Start Program

2011-11-14T19:01:14Z

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.

Quilt Auction to Beneft Breast Cancer Programs

2011-11-01T20:19:15Z

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/.

A Gynecologic Cancer Survivor Story

2011-06-24T20:00:54Z

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.

Class: Parent Children with Health Issues

2011-06-01T15:34:08Z

Friday, September 9, 2011

8:30am-4:30pm

Sutter Medical Plaza-1625 Stockton Blvd. 95816

Guest Speakers: Dr. Foster Cline, Child Psychiatrist and Co-founder of the Love and Logic Institute and Lisa Greene, Co-author of Parenting Children with Health Issues

Dr. Cline is an internationally renowned child psychiatrist as well as co-author of Parenting Children with Health Issues. He will address handling refusals to take medication, strategies for preventing arguments and avoiding power struggles, promoting responsibility without nagging or lecturing and enabling children to make good self care decisions. Lisa Greene, co-author of Parenting Children with Health Issues is a parent of two children with cystic fibrosis who will speak on her professional and personal experience with this topic.

Class is open to parents, caregivers and clinicians working with children with chronic health issues. Breakfast, lunch and class materials are included.

Sponsored by Sutter Health and Electromed

Considering Bariatric Surgery

2011-05-09T17:07:23Z

Gary Grinberg, M.D., bariatric surgeon at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento addresses the factors that are weighed when considering weight-loss surgery.

In order to talk about who is a good candidate we first must define certain medical terms. It was a common practice to say that an individual has a diagnosis of obesity if they are 100lbs over their ideal body weight. This definition however, did not account for the person's height and as such a more accurate measurement was created called body mass index or BMI. BMI accounts for both height and weight thus giving a more precise understanding of patient's overall health. Obesity is defined as BMI >30, morbid obesity as BMI>40. Follow our link to calculate your body mass index.

Weight loss surgery is a very effective and safe method of significant weight loss for patient's who have a clinical diagnosis of obesity. We now know that obesity increases individuals chances of diabetes almost four fold, cardiovascular disease by 300% and increases risk of death up to 50-100% compared to a person of normal weight. Obesity also significantly increases the risk of developing certain cancers such as colon cancer and breast cancer.

At this time, the surgery is indicated for any person who's BMI is greater than 40 kg/m2. However, if a patient is afflicted with illnesses related to obesity such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol or lipids, sleep apnea and others, the surgery is indicated for BMI 30 or greater. Thats because many of these illnesses can be improved or even cured after surgery. If you meet the above criteria, your weight loss physician will be able to further determine if you are a good candidate for surgery.

Learn more about bariatric surgery at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento.

Less Invasive Treatment for GYN Conditions

2011-04-04T19:09:36Z

These days there are not many topics that are "off the table" when it comes to talking with your girlfriends. Still, some women don't feel comfortable talking about the gynecological issues they face. Uterine fibroids, endometriosis, uterine bleeding - the list goes on - are common and treatable.

The gynecological experts at Sutter Health treat a wide variety of gynecologic conditions. Our philosophy is to identify the least invasive and most effective approach depending on the woman's unique diagnosis. There are a number of minimally invasive surgical techniques available today, which can often be performed in place of traditional surgeries requiring long incisions and lengthy recoveries. Many of these techniques can now be performed in an office setting and under light sedation rather than general anesthesia.

Minimally Invasive Treatment Options

· Hysteroscopic Diagnosis and Surgery

· Laparoscopic Diagnosis and Surgery

· da Vinci®: Computer-Assisted Surgery

Learn more about gynecological conditions treated with minimally invasive surgery at Sutter.

Autism The Teen Years - Free Lecture

2011-03-21T16:47:45Z

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.

Sleep Disorders in Children

2011-02-23T00:09:23Z

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.

Donut Dash to Raise Funds for Sutter Child Life

2011-02-10T16:38:20Z

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.

Expecting Multiples?

2011-02-01T21:11:55Z

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

Tour our Birthing Centers

2011-01-14T17:28:35Z

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.

MyHealthOnline iPhone App Now Available

2011-01-04T20:49:37Z

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.

Take Sutter on the Go with iTriage

2010-12-22T17:37:41Z

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