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WINTER2 0 11A Strong RecoveryThanks to total knee replacement surgery atOverlake, BeBe Burns still excels at competitivepowerlifting—and has taken up runningPLUS: S peedy Care Saves Heart Attack Victims’ LivesOverlake’s New Downtown Bellevue Clinic
From the President & CEOThe start of a new year is a time to reflect and look forward.At Overlake, 2010 was a year worth remembering, as wecelebrated our 50th anniversary with many of you at ourannual Eastside Vitality Health Fair in October, wherewe provided over 1,000 important health screenings at nocharge. That same month we opened a beautiful new primarycare clinic in the heart of downtown Bellevue to providemuch-needed primary care services to those who live andwork there.2011 promises to be a year of further growth and changefor Overlake and for healthcare nationally, as our electedofficials work to implement and improve healthcare reformlegislation. In whatever way our country’s healthcare systemevolves, providers who deliver high-quality care mostefficiently will be the ones patients seek out. To that end,I’m pleased Overlake is one of the most efficient hospitalsin the state of Washington and one of the highest-qualityhospitals in the nation. In fact, The Leapfrog Group recentlyannounced that Overlake ranks in the top 10 percentof hospitals in the nation in efficiency and quality, andHealthGrades has ranked us in the top 5 percent in thecountry for patient safety three years in a row.I wish you good health and happiness in the new year.Overlake Named Blue DistinctionCenter for Bariatric Surgery by Premera Blue CrossThis designation recognizes Overlake’s Weight Loss SurgeryProgram and its comprehensive process, which helps patientssuccessfully lose weight and enjoy better health.Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery demonstratetheir commitment to quality care, resulting in better overalloutcomes for bariatric patients. To qualify, Overlake’s programmeets stringent clinical criteria developed in collaboration withexpert physicians and medical organizations.Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery provide a fullrange of bariatric surgery care services, including inpatientcare, postoperative care, outpatient follow-up care andpatient education.Overlake Promotes Health andWellness in the WorkplaceOverlake was recently named a Start! Fit-Friendly Workplace.This distinguished status, part of a nationwide campaigncreated by the American Heart Association, designates Overlakeas an organization that promotes health and wellness to itsemployees in ways such as providing healthy snack options,providing walking routes and offering perks for those whochoose to bike or bus to work.Sincerely,Studies show that promoting a healthy lifestyle and cultureof activity in the workplace provides a multitude of healthbenefits, including reduced stress, better heart health andincreased productivity.Craig HendricksonPresident & CEOOv e r l a k e H o spita l M e d i c a l C e nt e rH e a lth y Outlo o k W I N T ER 2 011B o a r d o f T r ust e e sBertrand ValdmanGregory Engel, MDchairmanChief of staffLarry HebnerWalter Smith, MDimmediate past chairman Chief of staff electCecily HallCraig HendricksonChair ElectPresident and ceoJohn MurphyDouglas AlbrightsecretaryHospital counselTom Clevelandtreasurer2Healthy OutlookPatricia BedientRobert CampbellGregory CollinsJim DoudJanine FlorenceKemper Freeman Jr.Kathleen Gibson, MDKen JohnsenDoug MartinJerome E. MathewsSkip RowleyRussell StockdalePatricia Wangsness1035 116th Ave. NEBellevue, WA 980045708 E. Lake Sammamish Pkwy. SEIssaquah, WA 98029425-688-5000w w w. ove r l a ke h o s p i t a l . o r gOverlake Hospital Medical Center is a nonprofit, independently operated regional medical center offering, in association with medical staff, a wide range of health technologies and specialtyservices. Earnings are devoted exclusively to the continuation and improvement of patientservices and facilities, as well as educational, outreach and research activities. The informationin this publication is not intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing. If you have concerns about health issues, contact your personal physician.Periodically, we send communications to friends and neighbors in our community that describe thehealthcare services and products we offer. If you would prefer not to receive communications likethis from our organization, please call 425-467-3548 or e-mail healthyoutlook@overlakehospital.org.Healthy Outlook 2011. Published by the Overlake Marketing Department. Executive Editor:Mary Beth Walker.Photography by Scott Areman.For an e-copy, visit www.overlakehospital.org/healthyoutlook.
[ PR I M A RY CA R E ]Alex De Moraes, MDQuality Carefor Busy PatientsOverlake’s new clinic in downtown Bellevue offerseasy access to excellent medical careFinding a doctor on the Eastside can be challengingbecause of the shortage of primary care physicians inour area. Add in today’s jam-packed schedules, and it’sno surprise many people skip important wellness visits andregular checkups.With this in mind, Overlake is expanding its network ofphysicians and clinics, including its newest clinic in downtownBellevue. Located at 108th Ave. NE and NE 4th St., less than ablock from the Bellevue transit center, the new 6,000-squarefoot clinic is convenient for those who live or work indowntown Bellevue. The clinic just opened in October, andnow employees of companies like Microsoft, Expedia, EddieBauer and Puget Sound Energy, as well as downtown residents,are just steps away from quality care.In its early planning, Overlake met with area employersto ask what their workers needed, and it was clear that adultprimary care medicine was a high priority. In response, thenew clinic provides adult preventive care—including annualexams, and men’s and women’s health screenings—as well ascare for acute and chronic conditions.Overlake Medical Clinics Downtown BellevueWashington Federal Bank BuildingMonday through Friday400 108th Ave. NE8 a.m. to 6 �Everyone needs a good primary care physician to serveas their partner in health and wellness,” says Alex De Moraes,MD, associate medical director of Overlake Medical ClinicsDowntown Bellevue. “If and when needed, we can also helppatients manage acute and chronic conditions like a brokenbone, diabetes, anemia and cardiovascular disease.”The new clinic has 12 patient rooms and one procedureroom, and is staffed by Dr. De Moraes, a family practicephysician; Sai Mannem, MD, an internal medicine physician;and Susan Marcolina, MD, FACP, an internal medicinephysician. One more internist will join the clinic this winter,along with an advanced registered nurse practitioner.The clinic offers same-day appointments in most cases, andpatients can get in and out quickly, perhaps on their break orlunch hour.To that end, the clinic’s layout was designed to help the staffmove through the space efficiently. The clinic’s interior offers acomforting patient experience with a design that reflects PacificNorthwest style, incorporating soothing colors, lots of naturallight and healing artworks by local glass artist James Curtisand photographer Henry Domke, a retired physician.Every morning, the team meets to strategize the patientflow for that day, and each room’s placement of equipment andsupplies is standardized, so staff members can quickly finditems they need. Right in the exam room, the doctor can accessthe patient’s medical record via computer, add prescriptions orfuture appointments, make specialist referrals, and print outeducational handouts. “We also have an in-house lab that offerspoint-of-care testing and results,” says Dr. De Moraes.A convenient location is key for busy people in need ofquality healthcare, and that’s what the clinic provides. AsDr. De Moraes says, “Placing the clinic right in the heart ofdowntown and creating an open-access model allows people towalk a few blocks see their doctor and get back to their homeor office quickly.”Winter 2011 3
BeBe Burns4Healthy Outlook
[ j o i n t rep l aceme n t ]Back tothe LifeYouLoveA New Era in Knee, Hip and Shoulder ReplacementBeBe Burns knows all about joint trouble.When she was just 19, she badly injuredher knee—and ultimately had ligamentreconstruction—but her compromised joint hasn’tslowed her down much. Over the years, she’s playedvarious sports and has been a state-ranked tennisplayer. Now at age 68, standing 5 feet 2 inches talland weighing 105 pounds, BeBe is a competitivepowerlifter. “People always assume that I’m a greatathlete because I do these things, but I’m not,” saysthe affable Seattle resident. “It’s just that I try. It’sabout being silly enough not to be afraid to lose.”That “go for it” mindset has taken BeBe far—mostrecently to the Czech Republic, where she competedin the International Powerlifting Federation WorldMasters Powerlifting Championships. Along withpositive thinking, BeBe knows it is just as importantto have a body that cooperates. So last year, when thepain in that somewhat wobbly knee started flaringup, she knew it was time for total knee replacementsurgery, in which her own joint would be replacedwith an artificial one. “She’s extremely tough, butshe finally got to the point that she couldn’t do whatshe wanted to do anymore,” says BeBe’s longtimeorthopedic surgeon, Greg Engel, MD, of BellevueBone and Joint.Dr. Engel is just one of the skilled surgeons atthe Joint Replacement Center at Overlake, whichoffers advanced surgical procedures, state-of-the-artartificial joints and comprehensive education thathelps patients make a smooth transition back totheir favorite activities.THE SURGICAL SOLUTIONWhen a joint is compromised—whether due totrauma, osteoarthritis or another cause—pain,swelling, stiffness and instability can occur. Whileprevious generations were content to kick back andrelax in their 50s, 60s and beyond, most adults todayhave no such plans. “They want to be active doingthings, and they have higher-demand needs as theyage,” explains Dr. Engel.When more conservative joint treatments suchas braces, medication and injections no longer easethe pain, surgery can help. At the Joint ReplacementCenter, surgeons offer total hip, knee and shoulderreplacements, which give some people the chance toengage in activities they haven’t enjoyed for years.Winter 2011 5
While some patients like BeBe are extremelyactive, the goal is simply to get people back to theirnormal activities, whatever they may be. “For someof our older patients, that may be bowling, gardeningor shopping,” says Sheryl Ward, RN, nurse manager.“For some of our younger patients, it’s cycling, skiingor golfing.” Patients should talk to their doctor aboutwhat’s achievable for them.A range of artificial joints is available, and thesurgeon chooses the best type of artificial joint for thepatient based on his or her lifestyle. For BeBe, Dr. Engelchose an artificial knee with an innovative rotatingplatform that would give her both support and therange of motion an athlete needs. Artificial joints haveimproved dramatically in recent years, offering morenatural movement and greater longevity. “We’ve foundfewer than 15 percent of artificial joints have worn outat 15 years,” Dr. Engel says.A FULL-SPECTRUM APPROACHOverlake provides not just joint replacement surgerybut also comprehensive care that begins before theprocedure and continues afterward. Patients attend apre-operative joint education class taught by nurses,physical therapists and occupational therapists so theyknow what to expect while they’re in the hospital andthereafter. “We’re much more oriented to physicaltherapy and recovery than many other places,” Dr.Engel says. “The patient’s spouse or significant otherwill come in—or their kids—and they’ll learn exerciseswith the therapist, so the patient has a coach at home.”Surgery takes about one and a half hours, and thepatient then spends an hour in the recovery roombefore moving to a postoperative room on the jointreplacement floor at Overlake. “The sooner they getmobile, the sooner we can get that joint moving, so wetry to start physical therapy the day of surgery or firstthing the next morning,” Sheryl says. As a result, mostOverlake joint replacement patients can walk 150 feet bythe time they’re discharged.Patients need to have someone at home who canhelp them with cooking and other daily activities atfirst, and an Overlake social worker can assist withdischarge planning for those who need rehab servicesor home health services.Upon emerging from surgery with a brand-newknee, BeBe was determined to get back into action,but slowly. Also a two-time cancer survivor, she6Healthy Outlookis a member of Team Survivors—a nonprofit thatencourages women to use exercise as they recoverfrom health issues—so she needed no convincingof physical therapy’s value. She took care of heroverall health, took pharmaceutical-grade nutritionalsupplements to reduce inflammation and exercisedpatiently and consistently to build strength andstability around her knee. Eventually, she was ableto get back to Seattle Strength and Power, whereshe works out with her powerlifting coach, ToddChristensen. “It’s like anything else—you get what youput into it,” she says. “If I hadn’t had a good surgeon,physical therapists, acupuncturists, a chiropractor anda massage therapist, I couldn’t have done it. They’re alljust incredible.”STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCEWhile the Joint Replacement Center maintainshigh standards, the team continuously seeks waysto improve care even further. “We have joint teammeetings, and our lead physicians help guide us todecide if we should change a practice in our program,but it must be evidence-based [based on research],”Sheryl explains. “And we have changed our practicerecently. For example, patients not only get one-onone therapy but now they also go to the gym and doexercises as a group, which helps them to realize theperson down the hall is having the same issues theyhave. They really encourage each other.”BeBe, now well mended, suggests that peoplewho have severe joint pain talk to their doctor aboutsurgery. “I could have waited until I started limpingwith pain, but I knew it wasn’t going to get better, sowhy wait?” she says.In the past two years, BeBe has competed in onenational and two world powerlifting championshipsand has even taken up running—a sport that typicallyisn’t recommended for knee replacement patients. “Ihad never run a race, so just to see if I could do it, I did acouple of 5Ks and 10Ks, and then I did a half-marathonand the Danskin Triathlon,” she says. “It doesn’t hurtwhen I run, and I’m building other muscles and meetingnew people. Now I want to take up paddle boardingbecause I haven’t had a chance to do things like that. I feellike a kid with a new toy!”For more information, call the Joint ReplacementCenter at Overlake at 425-688-5579 or 866-777-4142, orvisit www.overlakehospital.org/totaljoint.
[ j o i n t rep l aceme n t ]Anticoagulation Clinic:Staying Healthy After SurgeryFollowing joint replacement surgery, manypatients may be prescribed anticoagulationmedication. Everybody responds toanticoagulant medication (also called bloodthinners) differently. The food you eat andmany other factors can affect your responseto the medication so regular blood tests areneeded to check that the dosage isn’t toohigh (increasing the risk of bleeding) or toolow (leading to undercoagulation).Overlake’s Anticoagulation Clinics inBellevue and Issaquah ensure patientswho are on warfarin (Coumadin ), heparinor similar medications can get their bloodchecked regularly without having toschedule doctor appointments. For moreinformation, please call 425-688-5846.To schedule an appointment, call425-688-5700.Is Joint ReplacementRight for You?Painful joints can keep you fromthe activities you love most. If you frequently experience any ofthe symptoms shown on the lowerleft, talk to your doctor about jointreplacement surgery: Pain in your hip or knee that keeps you awake at night. Joint pain that continues to worsen over time. Joint pain that isn’t relieved by pain medication. Difficulty walking or climbing stairs. Trouble standing up from a seated position. Having to limit or stop doing activities you enjoy due to pain.Motion Is LifeJoin us for a free seminar to learn moreabout options for joint pain relief; timeallowed for questions.Wed., Jan. 19 or Tue., Mar. 22,6:30 to 8 p.m.Preregistration required and space islimited; call 425-688-5259.Winter 2011 7
Visit the Donor Recognition Displayin the corridor between the SouthTower and the Gift Gallery.Displaying Our Deep Appreciationfor Your GenerosityOverlake wouldn’t be the world-classmedical center it is today without thecontinued backing of our community. To honorour donors, the Overlake Hospital Foundationand Auxiliaries recently unveiled a digital DonorRecognition Display to acknowledge those who’vesupported Overlake over the years.“I invite everyone to stop by and see ourbeautiful, interactive donor wall,” encouragesRobin Webster, donor relations director. Thedisplay adorns the west wall of the first floorhallway, connecting the main hospital building tothe South Tower.This is not a traditional brass nameplate display.In researching available options, Foundation andAuxiliaries staff sought a more creative and high-techapproach to acknowledge community support of thehospital’s mission. Because Overlake is a nonprofithospital that receives no public tax support, it relieson donations from small businesses, corporations andindividuals to provide its essential healthcare services.The simple, elegant display reflects Overlake’ssoothing healing environment. Nearly 1,000donors and honorees are listed in five categories:8Healthy Outlook A nnual donors of more than 1,000. Benefactor Society members. L ifetime donors with more than 100,000 incumulative giving. Named endowments. I ndividuals honored or remembered throughtribute gifts.Touch screen provides virtual tourA portion of the exhibit includes a touch-screeninteractive station where visitors can quicklyscan information ranging from spotlights on keyleadership and service lines, to profiles of majordonors, to details on how to join an auxiliary.The static parts of the display, such as the panelthat features donors who contributed 1,000 ormore in the previous fiscal year, will be updatedannually.According to Craig Hendrickson, Overlake’spresident and CEO, “We are privileged to workamong such inspired philanthropists who shareour vision, and we are proud to display this tokenof gratitude for their overwhelming support ofOverlake, year after year.”
[ F O U N D A T I ON & A U X I L I A R I E S ]Beloved Patient Offers Heartfelt Thanksto SupportersPHOTO BY GARLAND CARYAfter 18 different procedures over 27 years,Kip Steele knows Overlake intimately. Andthere is no place he would rather be whenin need of healthcare. When Foundationstaff asked if he would speak at the annualCommunity Partners Breakfast held inOctober at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, Kiprecalls, “I had mixed emotions about askingsuch a large group for money. I was anxiousabout doing it right, but this concern wasminor as I would do anything for Overlakeand particularly for the people who havebeen so kind to me.”At the breakfast Kip shared his verypersonal accounts of the leading-edgetechnologies and expert care receivedthrough Overlake that have literally savedhis life more than once. “You made me—anold, pro-hockey tough guy—cry when Iarrived home from Overlake and could liftmy 5-year-old granddaughter. She kissed mycheek and said ‘I love you granddad.’ ”Kip’s talk was both moving and humorous.“I’m a premier member of Overlake’s GurneyMileage Club, and have gained my ownrewards card,” he said proudly with a twinklePHOTO BY MARY GRACE LONG“It’s your fault I’m still here!”in his eye. The frequent-flier-style card wasconceived by Melody Fawcett, Over
Bellevue, WA 98004 5708 E. Lake Sammamish Pkwy. SE Issaquah, WA 98029 overLake NaMed BLUe dISTINcTIoN ceNTer for BarIaTrIc SUrgery By PreMera BLUe croSS This designation recognizes Overlake’s Weight Loss Surgery Program and its comprehensive process, which helps patients successfully lose weight and enjoy better health.
