December 2013

At 59, Mike Schwalbach enjoys being active. Most days, he can be found working on the grounds of Riverview Baptist Church in Pasco, where he has served as Jack-of-all-trades and the children’s “Pastor Mike” for 30 years.

When he’s not busy with his children’s program or paint-ing those familiar white buses, he’s working on his own 5-acre property down the road, hunting with his dogs, or playing with his grandchildren. What you won’t fi nd him doing is sitting still.

To look at Pastor Mike, it would be all but impossible to tell that just a few short months ago he underwent major surgery to replace his left knee, and just four months before that, his right hip.

After 20 years of gnawing pain from arthritis and cartilage injuries, it was in the offi ce of Michael Sherfey, DO, medical director of the Trios Health Joint Replacement Center and joint specialist with Benton Franklin Orthopedic Associates, where Schwalbach fi rst asked about pursuing joint replacement. He was there for a cortisone injection in his knee, but was ready for a better, longer-lasting solution for both aching joints.

Moving Beyond the PainOne Tri-Cities man’s faithful journey to joint health

Don’t Wait Any Longer to Get HelpIf you would like more information about joint replacement at Trios Health, call 509-586-5674.

Health Bridge

trioshealth.orgfacebook.com/TriosHealth

Mike Schwalbach says that, because of a bad knee and hip, simple things like getting down low to repair a lawn mower or change the oil in his car became really hard. But now he is back to doing what he loves, thanks to the team at the Trios Health Joint Replacement Center.

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CHRISTOPHER SMITH, MD, joined Trios Medical Group as a full-time anesthe-siologist on Oct. 1. He works in the Trios Surgery Center located at 900 S. Auburn St. in Kennewick.

Dr. Smith previously worked as medical director at Pacifi c Surgery Center in Poulsbo, Wash. He has also worked at several Seattle-area healthcare organizations, including Group Health Cooperative and Olympic

Anesthesia Inc.; Virginia Mason Medical Center; and the University Hospital & Medical Center.

Dr. Smith has completed residencies in anesthesiology at Virginia Mason Hospital and Education Center in Seattle and in pharmacy at Idaho State School and Hospital in Nampa, Idaho. He received a pharmacy degree from the University of Montana and a medical doctorate (MD) from the University of Washington. He is a published researcher and is board certifi ed by and a mem-ber of the American Society of Anesthesiology.

To learn more about Trios Surgery Services, go to trioshealth.org/SurgeryServices. p

Enough Is Enough“I wasn’t able to work much anymore. And even though I still pushed through my annual hunting trip to Wisconsin last year, I was badly limping.”

Recently, Pastor Mike read a story about a local man who had successful joint replace-ment surgery, and met another in the barbershop who was moving around really well. “After thinking about it for a year or two, these live illustra-tions helped me decide to go for it myself,” he says.

“My previous doctor had done a few cartilage repairs on my knee, and had told me someday I’d need it replaced,” he adds. “It was time.”

Ready to RollIt went quickly from there. “We decided to do my hip fi rst, because it was the sim-pler of the two and I’d need the stability of my new hip to

help after knee replacement,” recalls Schwalbach.

Following Dr. Sherfey’s referral, Pastor Mike and his wife, Kelly, sat down with Trios Joint Replacement Program manager Nikki Schrom to learn about the process ahead.

“Each person’s journey is unique,” Schrom says. “We’ve designed a comprehensive program that ensures they have the best care and overall experi-ence possible. It’s important that they see and feel us beside them, caring for them above and well beyond the inpatient portion of their treatment and recovery process.”

“Nikki instantly made us feel welcome, and told us exactly what to expect,” Schwalbach says. “Really the entire staff—my surgeon, every single nurse on every single shift, and my therapist—was awesome. They gave me everything I needed.”

He was amazed that he was able to get up and walk the day after surgery. “I thought it was going to be really gruel-ing,” Schwalbach muses. “But with help from therapy and pain medication, it wasn’t bad. Nothing you can’t handle.”

“Today’s joint replacement patients are younger, more active, and more demanding of their joints, and they expect a quick recovery of function after surgery,” Dr. Sherfey explains. “Through this program, those needs are met in a uniquely patient-focused and compas-sionate environment.”

In addition to program staff, Pastor Mike credits extra support from his wife, fl ex-ibility and teamwork at his job,

diligence in caring for himself and following doctor’s orders during recovery, and—most of all—his faith as major contribu-tors to his successful experience.

A Breath of Fresh AirSchwalbach also shares that fol-lowing a long recovery from a motorcycle accident in 1972, “I could only bend my knee to about 90 degrees. Now, a couple months after knee replacement surgery on that same leg, my range of motion is better than it’s been for more than 40 years.”

Schwalbach took his dogs hunting for the fi rst time this season on Oct. 14, just 11 weeks after knee replacement surgery. And the twinkle in his eyes says it felt good. p

VAMSI KANNEGANTI, MD, joined Trios Medical Group on Oct. 1 as a kidney care specialist (nephrologist). He joins Obioma Onuorah, MD, and Matthew Palmblad, ARNP, in the nephrology practice located at the Trios Care Center at Vista Field, 521 N. Young St. in Kennewick.

Dr. Kanneganti has specialized training in permanent dialysis catheter insertion, removal, and exchange, and peritoneal

dialysis and plasma exchange therapies. He was most recently a nephrology fellow at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill., and completed residency training in internal medicine at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, which is affi li-ated with the University of Illinois in Chicago.

Dr. Kanneganti is board certifi ed in internal medicine.

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Make an Appointment TodayCall 509-585-5222 to schedule a visit with Dr. Kanneganti. Find one of our other physicians at trioshealth.org/FindPhysician.

Welcome New Providers

Pastor Mike thanks Nikki Schrom, program manager.

2 trioshealth.org

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It may not be the stuff Christmas miracles are made of, but having a place to take children suffering from the not-so-pleasant gifts of winter can certainly help make the season a little brighter. But what if your pediatrician is booked solid, skiing at Mt. Bachelor over New Year’s, or has closed his or her office for the day?

We all know illnesses or injuries are rarely conveniently timed, or convenient at all for that matter. But it can feel espe-cially troublesome when a child is involved. At Trios Health, we’re here for you with no-appointment Urgent Care Centers in three convenient locations, two with on-site laboratory and X-ray services. One also includes the area’s only after-hours pediatric care services for kids 17 and under.

‘Tis the SeasonHelping kids get their merry back when illness comes caroling

Trios After-Hours Pediatrics7201 W. Grandridge Blvd., Suite 100, Kennewick509-783-2222

p �Monday through Friday, 5 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon

p �On-site X-ray and labora-tory services

p �No appointment needed.

For information about our other Trios Urgent Care Center locations, visit trioshealth.org/UrgentCare.

Quick TipWhat are the top 10 ways to spread viruses like colds

and flu? Look no further than the tips of your 10 fingers. Washing your hands fre-

quently and thoroughly with soap and water can help

you stay healthy.

It’s Worth a ShotA flu shot, that is. Flu vaccines have proven highly effective for many people during peak cold and flu season in either preventing the flu or lessening symptoms. It may not be too late to protect your child from this year’s flu bug. Ask your family doctor or pediatrician for a flu shot, or visit your local Health Department office.

For more information about what vaccinations you may need and when, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules. For a list of Trios family and pediatrics physicians, visit trioshealth.org/FindPhysician.

If your child suffers a traumatic injury, we should be your first stop. Trios Health is the only Tri-Cities medical facility with a Level III Pediatric Trauma Service designation from the Washington State Department of Health. Only three hospitals in the state have achieved higher Level I or II designations, just one of which is in Eastern Washington (Providence Sacred Heart in Spokane, Level II).

Our Level III designation means our facility and providers meet the exacting standards for caring for infants, children, and adolescents in trauma situations. It’s an important distinction given the anatomical and physiologi-cal differences between children and adults. Our trauma surgeons are available 24 hours a day to respond to trauma emergencies, and nurse clinicians attend to each trauma patient throughout their stay.

We are proud to have met the stringent requirements to serve our community in this way, helping us deliver on our promise to be here for you whenever and how-ever you need us, for life.

What’s in a Name?When it comes to trauma capabilities, it means a lot

3December 2013

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Trios Health PO Box 6128 Kennewick WA 99336

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDStevens Point WIPermit No. 103

TRI-CITIES FAMILY EXPODates: Jan. 24 and 25Times: Friday, noon to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Location: TRAC, PascoTwo fun-filled days for the entire family. Stop by the Trios Health booth as part of your visit to learn about heart health in some fun and engaging ways. Watch for more information online at tcfamilyexpo.com.

FREE HEART SCREENINGSDates: Feb. 14 and 15 Location: Southridge Sports Complex (Feb. 14); Trios Care Center at Keene Plaza (Feb. 15)FREE Heart Smart screenings provided by Trios medical staff. First come, first served. Watch the Trios Health website and Facebook page for more details. Visit trioshealth.org or facebook.com/TriosHealth.

Calendar of Events

Getting CloserOur new Southridge Hospital continues to take shape. Follow the progress as we get closer to move-in day. Visit trioshealth.org/Southridge.

Trios Health Achieves Top Quality RankingThe Joint Commission recently recog-nized Trios Health as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® for 2013, put-ting the hospital among the top third of Commission-accredited hospitals nation-wide. The achievement demonstrates

Trios Health’s commitment to ensuring that the right things are being done for patients at the right times, in accordance with spe-cific quality measures.

As a top performer, Trios Health is included in the “Improving America’s Hospitals” 2013 annual report on the Joint Commission website. Visit jointcommission.org/accreditation/top_performers.aspx.

Have You Explored Our Website?Our new website, trioshealth.org, has something for everyone. You can:p �See a list of available classesp Browse the latest Trios Health newsp �Search our extensive physician directoryp �Find employment opportunitiesp �Learn how to help us give back.And more! Check back often as we con-tinue to add features with you in mind.

The Power of ThreeOn the day we first became Trios Health—Oct. 10, 2013—something special hap-pened in our Family Birthing Center … our first three Trios babies were born!p�At 1:05 a.m.—A baby boyp�At 1:12 p.m.—A baby girl p�At 2:59 p.m.—A baby girl

This is what it’s all about. For life. Visit trioshealth.org/FamilyBirthing.

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