House Call Spring 2011

HouseCaLLHouseCaLLB R I N G I N G B E A U M O N T E X P E R T I S E I N T O Y O U R H O M E • S P R I N G 2 0 1 1

NO

N-P

ROFI

T O

RG.

U.S.

PO

STAG

E PA

ID

CLEV

ELA

ND,

OH

PE

RMIT

NO.

170

2

Barbecue Without The(Heart)burnThe Greatest Reward

[PLUS+]

WAITINGFOR LIFEA Southfi eld man with kidney and liver disease hopes for a second chance.

STEP INTO SUMMERWalks and runs for charity organizations are a great family activity.

HEADS UP!Prevent concussions and help keep the summer fun going.

In These Pages V O L U M E 5 • I S S U E 1

Departments:

3 Trends: Top 10 tips for fun and healthy summer activities

5 Health Shorts and Second Opinion

11 Innovations: The eye inside

e-mail your thoughts about this newsletter to [email protected]

BRINGING BEAUMONT EXPERTISE INTO YOUR HOME SUMMER 2011

HouseCaLL

H O U S E C A L L [ P A G E 2 ] S P R I N G 2 0 1 1

Want easy, on-the-go access to Beaumontdoctors and locations? Be sure to download a bookmark to your phone for a shortcut to Beaumont’s new mobile website. The website, which is easily accessed on iPhone, Android and BlackBerry devices, allows users to: • search for a doctor by name, specialty or condition • find a doctor’s educational background and contact information • filter a search by insurance accepted, office location and gender • locate Beaumont facilities by searching for a location or service Best of all, there are no apps to download. Just visit beaumonthospitals.com on your mobile device and then create ashortcut to your mobile device’s home screen by adding the site toyour bookmarks and saving it to your home screen or bookmark folder. For more information, go to www.beaumonthospitals.com/mobile.

Mobile site providesaccess to Beaumont

A new Beaumont research study suggests that magnetic resonance imaging may be used to detect early degenerative changes in knee cartilage leading to arthritis, even when there are no symptoms.

Joseph Guettler, M.D., director of Sports Medicine Research for Beaumont’s department of Orthopaedic Surgery and lead investigator, says that this technique can even detect differences in the structure of cartilage between collegiate athletes in an impact sport like basketball and a non-impact sport like swimming. Oakland University’s women’s basketball and swimming teams were involved in the study.

“By detecting the early changes in knee cartilage before symptoms occur, the hope is that it may lead to improvements in training and treatment regimens for young athletes,” says Dr. Guettler. “We want to beat arthritis to the punch.”

Features:

4 Step Into Summer Walks and runs for community organizations are a great family activity.

6 Barbecue Without The (Heart)burn Summer barbecues bring family and friends together but may also spark reflux symptoms.

8 Waiting For Life A Southfield man with kidney and liver disease hopes for a second chance for a heathy life through double organ transplantation.

The Greatest Reward Former stutterer finds helping others with speech and language issues adds meaning to his life.

By earning a prestigious accreditation and unveiling a newly renovated unit, Beaumont further enhanced its reputation for excellence in orthopedic care, including total joint replacement. The enhancements include:• Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak has

earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for its total hip and total knee replacement programs. Beaumont met or exceeded the benchmark guidelines and clinical expectations in earning the designations. Fewer than 100 of the nation’s 8,000 hospitals have been awarded the Total Knee and Total Hip Gold Seal of Approval through the Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification Program, designed to evaluate clinical programs across the continuum of care.

• The Grosse Pointe hospital recently opened a newly renovated orthopedic unit, the Janet A. and H. Richard Fruehauf Jr. Center

for Orthopaedic Medicine. The 46-bed unit features redesigned rooms with home-like amenities, including upscale bathrooms and flat screen televisions. Each room is barrier-free and located close to a physical therapy gym. Patients in the center are treated to foot

massages, fruit smoothies and aromatherapy.

Beaumont receives prestigious orthopedic accreditation, unveils new unit

Artificial knee on right

Learn more about common health conditions by tuning in to one of Beaumont’s upcoming webinars. The free, 45-minute presentations are held monthly and led by Beaumont experts.

You can register for the webinars and check out a list of topics for future webinars at www.beaumonthospitals.com/ask-the-doctor-webinars.

Not able to attend the live version? Submit questions ahead of time during the registration process and then watch the replay at your convenience online. Current topics available online include acid reflux, weight loss, women’s heart disease and colorectal cancer prevention and screening, with more topics coming soon.

Beaumont offers classes in everything from childbirth to senior fitness. Sign up online at www.beaumonthospitals.com; see a complete listing by clicking on “Classes” under the Services & Programs tab.

Improve your health through online learning

If you were watching the live coverage of the royal wedding, you may have caught the preview of the newest Beaumont commercials. In touching vignettes, the new television ads focus on personal relationships between families and friends, and feature Beaumont’s renowned cardiac care, advanced digital mammography services and obstetrics. To see the commercials, go to beaumonthospitals.com.

Researchers use MRI to predict arthritis in collegiate athletes

Beaumont debuts new ads

10

[ TRENDS ]

SKIP INTO THE PASTRemember “Miss Mary Mack” and “Cinderella Dressed in Yella?” Turns out you weren’t just having fun jumping rope and singing songs. “Jumping rope is an activity your child can do alone or with others,” says Deanna Robb, director of Beaumont Hospital’s award-winning Parenting Program. “Rhyming promotes literacy and helps with memorization, while jumping rope burns calories and also helps with hand-eye coordination.” Can’t remember the rhymes? Find a list at www.gameskidsplay.net.

AVOID THE RAINY DAY BLUESStorms can give anyone cabin fever, which may lead to hours of playing sedentary video games. Instead, choose a game that gets kids up and moving. Most major gaming systems -- Xbox Kinect, PlayStation 3 and Wii – have games that require the users to dance or to play a sport. Try them before you buy them by renting the latest release through video rental stores.

JUMP ON THE LETTERBOXING BANDWAGONPart treasure hunt, part adventure, letterboxing involves using online clues to find hidden, artfully carved rubber stamps in public places. Participants keep a journal to collect the stamps and leave their own personal marks behind. To find hundreds of letterboxing sites in the state, go to www.atlasquest.com or www.letterboxing.org.

INSPIRE THEIR INNER PICASSOSponsor a neighborhood chalk art contest on your sidewalk or use edible supplies such as pudding and pretzel sticks on paper plates. “Art is a great way to develop fine motor skills while having fun,” says Deb Adsit, supervisor of Pediatric Rehabilitation at Beaumont Children’s Hospital.

PICK A WINNERTeach your child about farming and nutrition by spending a day at a local U-Pick farm, which feature everything from strawberries in June to pumpkins in October. To find a farm, go to www.pickyourown.org.

SPRAY AND PLAYCool off at a wet zone in one of 13 Huron-Clinton Metropark nearby. The parks offer everything from lakes and swimming pools to “spraygrounds,” which feature water cannons, water tunnels and ground sprays. Find out more at www.metroparks.com.

CONSIDER A CAMPDay camps offer a break for you and fun for your child. Many organizations offer them, including Beaumont. Find information about safety camps offered through Safety City, U.S.A., or therapeutic camps for children with special needs by clicking on “Classes” under the Services & Programs tab on the homepage of www.beaumonthospitals.com.

SQUEEZE SOME LEMONSInspire your little entrepreneurs by helping them set up shop. While it can become a sticky mess, hosting a lemonade stand can teach a number of lessons, from counting change to honing interpersonal skills.

HOST A DECATHALONPick 10 activities — from doing 10 jumping jacks to zipping through hopscotch on one foot — and then time children as they race through them. The more giggle-worthy activities, the better, as this activity should be fun, says Lori Warner, Ph.D., director of the HOPE Center at the Center for Human Development at Beaumont. “While they develop gross motor skills and improve agility, this is just plain fun,” says Dr. Warner.

HIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKWhile you are there, watch your child’s play to make sure there are no risky behaviors. Also, check to make sure the play area is well maintained, including having a layer of fresh mulch or other soft landing material. “If there is a dangerous condition, find out who is responsible for the park maintenance and contact them,” says Donna Bucciarelli, trauma prevention coordinator at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak and program manager of Safety City, U.S.A., a community-based injury prevention and safety education center.

1

23456789

10

10 Tips for fun and healthy summer activities“Mom, I’m bored!” Who hasn’t heard – or, at one time, said – that phrase? Below are some suggestions to brighten even a rainy day while also building healthy habits for the whole family.

H O U S E C A L L [ P A G E 3 ] W W W . B E A U M O N T H O S P I T A L S . C O M

hether it’s a one-mile fun run to raise awareness of a disease or a

three-day, 60-mile hike to cure breast cancer, dozens of events are planned

throughout the state now until fall.Aside from getting the word out

about early detection and prevention of diseases or raising funds for research,

the events are also a great way for families to teach children the importance

of helping others, says Carla Schwartz, director of Community Affairs and Advocacy for Beaumont Hospitals. “This is a wonderful way to get your kids involved in community service and do something healthy together.”

At the same time, it is important to prepare for the events, especially if there is a level of activity required that does not match your day-to-day activity level, says Tom Spring, an exercise physiologist at Beaumont. Tom, who has participated in numerous charity sporting events, offers the following suggestions to prepare for an injury-free event:

Know what the event will require of you —While preparing for a one-mile walk is usually not necessary, the same cannot be said of a half marathon, says Tom. “Knowing ahead of time what will be expected of you will help you to create a plan to train for the event,” he says.

Take the time to train – Customize your training program to meet the goal of the event. If it is a more strenuous event such as a mini-triathlon or a 100-mile bike ride, start preparing three to six months ahead of the event, slowly building your endurance and ability over time. Tom suggests consulting a personal trainer if you are not sure how to plan.

Choose the right equipment and train in it – “Too many times, people will train in one set of clothes or

shoes and then wear something new on the day of the event,” says Tom, adding that doing so leads to blisters or other injuries. “Your equipment should be worn but not worn out.”

Round out your training – If you are walking or running a greater distance, be sure to do more than just walking or running as training. Include strength training to help build muscle, as well as improve flexibility. “Having a more well-rounded training plan helps reduce the chance of injury because it will help to build stronger, more stable joints,” says Tom.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate – One of the most common mistakes that people make while training for or participating in an event is ignoring the importance of hydration. The summer heat compounds the fluid loss from exertion, a combination that can bring about dehydration symptoms like thirst, dizziness, blurry vision, headache and nausea. Tom suggests drinking twice the amount of water than you normally would when training or competing outdoors.

Walks and runs for community organizations are a great family activity. Avoid injuries and make sure you get off on the right foot by following these tips.


W

Step into summer

For a list of community walks, click on Community Outreach

under the Health Resources tab on www.beaumonthospitals.com.


HealthShortsSecond Opinion

Q: When I was pregnant 10 years ago, I developed varicose veins. They weren’t bad and could be hidden under longer shorts during the summer. Lately, my legs have been sore, especially toward the end of the day. Should I be concerned?

A: Varicose veins happen when tiny valves in veins weaken, causing blood to pool and stretch the walls of the veins. Usually, these occur in the legs and have the appearance of blue or red twisted cords just below the surface of the skin. Varicose veins are very common, happening in about 55 percent of women and 45 percent of men.

While these veins can be uncomfortable, making your legs ache, throb or feel heavy, they sometimes can cause more serious problems such as blood clots. You should see a doctor about varicose veins if:• the vein is swollen, red, very

tender or warm to the touch • you develop sores or a rash

on the legs • skin on the ankle and calf

becomes thick and changes color

• the veins bleed• the symptoms interfere with

daily activities The good news is that

there are treatments that can reduce the appearance and eliminate the symptoms of varicose veins, allowing you to return to normal activities in less than a day. The minimally invasive laser treatments are usually covered by insurance and proven to be more than 97 percent effective.

Michael Bischoff, M.D., a board

certified interventional radiologist,

is the director of the Beaumont

Vein Center. Appointments for laser

vein treatments are available at

the center by calling 248-964-2099;

the same treatments are available

at Beaumont

Hospital, Royal

Oak (248-898-

2195) and at

Beaumont

Hospital,

Grosse Pointe

(313-473-1084).

Heads up!Simple steps to prevent concussions can help keep the summer fun going.Spring and summer weather in Michigan is perfect for sending the kids outside to play — flying kites, climbing trees and endless hours riding bikes.

But it’s nearly impossible to be too careful when it comes to preventing your child from suffering a head injury. So how do you know when a headache caused by a crash on a bike or fall from a tree requires medical attention?

“Headaches, confusion, blurred vision and even loss of consciousness can all occur and may be the result of a trauma to the head,” says Daniel Michael, M.D., director of Neurotrauma and Critical Care at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. “Symptoms like these will usually subside in time, but it is important to seek medical attention right away.”

The most common type of traumatic brain injury is a concussion, which is caused by a blow or bump to the head. Often, concussions seen in children are caused by sports injuries and bicycle accidents.

It is important to stay on top of the signs and symptoms your child exhibits after experiencing a blow to the head. In addition to the symptoms Dr. Michael listed, nausea, balance or memory problems and light sensitivity also can be attributed to a concussion.

For most people, concussion symptoms resolve without specific treatment. Although there is no general treatment plan for concussion, doctors usually prescribe rest and very limited physical activity.

“The best way to deal with concussions is to stop them from ever happening,” says Dr. Michael. “Injuries like these are very avoidable and studies have shown that repeated concussions can cause extensive and even permanent brain damage. Concussions are brain injuries, and there is no such thing as a ‘safe amount’ of brain injury.”

To prevent concussions, Dr. Michael offers the following tips:

• Always wear a seatbelt when traveling in the car. • When playing sports or bicycling, use appropriate helmets, mouth guards and padding. • Follow all safety rules for a sport. • Wear proper footwear. Slips and falls that result in hitting your head can easily be prevented.

However, if a concussion is unavoidable in a child, Dr. Michael says it is important to keep the child out of play, avoid other physical activities and seek prompt medical attention. “Concussions take time to heal,” he says. “There is plenty more time to play, and summer is just getting started.”

[ FOOD ]


Preparation:• Prepare grill.• Combine 1 tsp. mustard, oil, rosemary and thyme in small bowl. Mix

well and brush on chicken. Coat grill with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place chicken on grill. Grill for six minutes on each side or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

• Combine 1 T mustard, mayonnaise and water in small bowl and serve alongside grilled chicken.

Grilled chicken with rustic mustard cream

Summer barbecues are a wonderful way to bring family and friends together. But the meals are often filled with common acid reflux triggers – tomatoes,

onions, citrus fruit, barbecue sauce, fatty side dishes and alcohol – which can ruin anyone’s fun. Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak’s Christine Eagle, a registered

dietitian, and Ed Gillis, a chef, provide healthful summer recipes to please a crowd and to avoid symptoms of this common condition.

Barbecuewithout the

(heart)burn

1 T plus 1 tsp. whole-grain Dijon mustard, divided

1 T olive oil

1 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary

1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme

4 six-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Cooking spray

3 T light or fat-free mayonnaise

1 T water

Nutritional informationYields four servings234 calories 8 grams fat99 mg cholesterol3 grams carbohydrate36 grams protein221 mg sodium

Did you know …Almost 60 million Americans have acid reflux disease, a symptom of which is heartburn. If not treated properly, acid reflux can lead to esophageal cancer. Through the Center for Reflux and Esophageal Cancer, Beaumont provides each patient with a team of specialists – gastroenterologists, otolaryngologists, general and thoracic surgeons and dietitians – to create individualized treatment plans. For an appointment, call 888-99-REFLUX (888-997-3358).

1 T olive oil

1 tsp. curry powder

4 cups of assorted vegetables

for grilling, including

zucchini, summer squash,

eggplant, mushrooms, baby

potatoes, sweet potato

chunks, leeks and radishes


Preparation:• Prepare grill.• Combine olive oil and

curry powder.• Wash and dry vegetables. Toss with olive oil and

curry powder mixture.• Grill vegetables for 15 minutes or until done.

Grilled vegetables

4 egg whites

1 1/8 cups white sugar

1 tsp. distilled white vinegar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 T cornstarch

Cubed melon, blueberries, sliced peaches and pears

Preparation:• Preheat

oven to 350 degrees.

• Beat egg whites and sugar in a large bowl with electric mixer until stiff peaks form. In a separate bowl, mix together vinegar, vanilla and cornstarch until smooth. Pour cornstarch mixture into egg white mixture and beat until thick and glossy, about four minutes.

• Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and draw an eight-inch circle in the center. Spoon or pipe mixture inside the circle and within a little less than one-inch from the circle’s edge. Build the edges of the circle, leaving a depression in the center.

• Place in preheated oven, reduce temper-ature to 200 degrees and bake for one hour. Turn oven off and leave pavlova to cool inside.

• To serve, decorate cooled pavlova with seasonal summer fruit.

Nutritional informationYields four servings286 caloriesLess than 1 gram fat0 mg cholesterol69 grams carbohydrate4 grams protein56 mg sodium

Summer fruit pavlova

Nutritional informationYields 4 servings69 calories3.5 grams fat0 mg cholesterol9 grams carbohydrate1.5 grams fiber1 gram protein4 mg sodium

1 slice fresh ginger

2-4 T pomegranate juice

8 ounces freshly brewed

green tea

Preparation:• Combine all

ingredients and enjoy.

Nutritional informationYields one serving5 calories0 grams fat0 mg cholesterol1.4 grams carbohydrate0 grams protein0 mg sodium

Green tea with ginger and pomegranate juice

A Southfield man with kidney and liver disease hopes for a second chance through a double organ transplant.


Waiting for

o John Andersen, waiting has been the hardest part of being sick.

As a patient with end-stage liver and kidney disease, waiting has been an

integral part of Andersen’s life since he was first placed on a transplant list in 2007. Every day, he waits for a beeper he wears to sound, a message from a transplant team letting him know organs may be available. At the same time, this means waiting for someone else’s

life to end so that he may live.“I had two phone calls in January and one in March,

and I was ready each time,” says Andersen, adding that each time the organs were not suitable for transplantation. “Every time I see a phone call coming in from the hospital, I wonder if this is the call. I try to put it all in the background, try to get on with my life until the real call comes in. But the waiting is the hardest part of this.”

Andersen, 49, of Southfield, is one of more than 110,000 Americans waiting for a kidney, liver, pancreas, heart, lungs or intestines, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. With medical advances that prolong the lives of individuals who need organ transplants, the list grows longer every day. Unfortunately, the number of willing donors has not grown as rapidly.

“It is growing but not as fast in Michigan as it is in other states,” says Kathy Swartz, organ donation program coordinator at Beaumont Hospitals. She said that 24 percent of Michigan’s licensed drivers and state identification card holders were listed on the donor registry, while the national average is closer to 39 percent.

LifeT

John and his wife, Sharon, go for a walk in their apartment complex.

Marco Pisa, a dialysis technician, prepares John Andersen for his dialysis treatment at the Beaumont Dialysis Center in Berkley.


Dispelling the mythsThere are a number of myths about organ donation that may lessen the number of potential donors, says Kathy Swartz,

organ donation coordinator at Beaumont. Here are a few:

• Go to any Secretary of State’s

office branch and fill out the form

• Sign up online at

www.giftoflifemichigan.org (takes

about 30 seconds)

• Call Gift of Life Michigan at

800-482-4881

TO REGISTER TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR:

“There are a lot of myths about organ donation and a lot of education that we have to do with the public to help increase the number of potential donors,” she says.

It began with a diagnosisFor Anderson, the diagnosis that led him to the waiting

list happened not long after he married. The father of three sons, Anderson was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease about 25 years ago; the same disease killed his father and grandfather. A new father at the time of his diagnosis, he knew he had to take care of himself in order to take care of his children.

But when his condition worsened, Andersen entered the Multi-Organ Transplant Program at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. Under the leadership of Alan Koffron, M.D., the program recently became the third in the state to perform liver transplants. The program’s team includes three surgeons, two hepatologists, two transplant nephrologists, anesthesiologists, transplant nurses, a social worker, a patient financial advisor and administrative staff.

“Our goal is to provide patients with an entire spectrum of personalized care, from medical treatment to organ replacement, from a team with an enormous amount of transplant experience,” says Dr. Koffron. “When a patient is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, they want answers fast. Our specialists, with the help of a nurse navigator, coordinate their appointments and follow them through the entire transplant process, including post-transplant care.”

As a part of the program, Andersen met with a nutritionist who helped him to modify his diet to put less stress on his kidneys. She also told him he had to lose weight.

“She said, ‘You are going to have to lose 60 to 80 pounds,’” he says, laughing at the memory. “I have always been a big guy. I was 330 pounds at the time. I just told her, ‘That isn’t going to happen.’

“But now, here I am, 235 pounds. I made it happen. I was motivated to be the best candidate I could be. It was my job to prove to the transplant team that I wanted this transplant and would do anything to improve my chances.”

In January 2010, he received a call that a donor kidney was available and headed to the hospital where he underwent surgery. Despite the effort, the kidney never functioned properly and was removed four months later. Two months after that surgery, his liver, also affected by his disease, began to fail. He was hospitalized again, during which time doctors drained 14 liters of fluid from his abdomen.

Hopes for the futureNow, Andersen is back on the kidney waiting list and

has been added to the liver transplant list as well. Three times a week, he heads to the Beaumont Dialysis Center in Berkley for hemodialysis. Every two weeks, he goes to the hospital to have fluid drained from his abdomen; the fluid results from his failing liver. He also wears a beeper that is only triggered by the transplant team at Beaumont.

And he waits. Still, Andersen looks forward to the future when he has his transplant and is able to set and achieve new goals. “I want to be a grandpa,” says Andersen. “I just want to teach my boys the things they need to know. I want to go camping, hunting and fishing with them. I want to live for years and years.”

Learn more about Beaumont’s kidney and liver transplant programs. Call 800-253-5592 for kidney transplants or 248-551-0729 for liver transplants.

John Andersen uses his cell phone as the link between him and Beaumont to let him know when there is a prospective donor.

Sharon and John joke with sons Andrew, 16, and Steven, 14, as they set the table for dinner.

MYTH: Doctors won’t work as hard

to save my life if they know I am a

donor.

TRUTH: Every effort to save a life is

made before organ donation is even

considered or discussed. By law, the

team that treats you is separate from

any transplant effort.

MYTH: I won’t be able to have an

open-casket viewing.

TRUTH: Organ donation methods are

done in a specific way that does not

interfere with a funeral director’s

ability to prepare a body for viewing.

MYTH: I am too old to donate.

TRUTH: Donation can occur into the

eighth and ninth decade of life.

While some organs may not be

suitable for transplantation due to

medical conditions, other organs may

still be viable. Tissues and bone can

also be donated.

Mark Peipsney works with Dylan Chunn on improving his speech and language abilities.


ark Piepsney stuttered his entire life. And while his stuttering may occur when he is feeling stressed or nervous, under pressure for time or even when excited, Piepsney has refused to allow his speech impairment to hold him back from what he believes he was always meant to do: help children who stutter.

“I’ve stuttered for as long as I can remember,” says Piepsney, a speech-

language pathologist at the Beaumont Health Center in Royal Oak. “When I was 3 years old, my parents realized that I had issues with my speech, and shortly thereafter I was diagnosed as ‘a child who stuttered severely.’”

Stuttering is a sudden, intense breakdown in the fluent production of speech. In early childhood, it appears as word or syllable repetitions that often resolve. More severe silent hesitations, sound prolongations or muscle tremors may develop into more resistant behaviors.

Throughout Piepsney’s childhood, his stuttering was considered severe and would occur frequently, leading to his enrollment in an intensive speech program. As a young boy, he endured teasing from other children

because of the way he talked. Nonetheless, Piepsney continued with treatment within the Troy school district for more than 10 years. Never allowing his stuttering to define him or prevent him from excelling in school, he graduated as one of three valedictorians in his senior class.

“One of the biggest moments of my life was giving a speech at the honors convocation during my senior year of high school in front of hundreds of people,” says Piepsney. “It proved to me that I could do anything that I set my mind to.”

But eight years later, while working in Chicago as a computer systems analyst, Piepsney had an epiphany about what he really wanted to do in life. “It finally dawned on me that I could help people who stutter since I understand it so well from a personal perspective,”

says Piepsney.Piepsney returned to school and

earned a master’s degree in speech-language pathology and now treats and evaluates children between the ages of 2 and 13 with a variety of speech and language disorders, including autism. He now finds his greatest reward in the achievements of his patients, including hearing a child’s first word, reducing the severity of their stutter

or helping children communicate more effectively.

Piepsney says he has always been searching for a passion in life. What he once considered to

be his greatest weakness, he now recognizes as his greatest strength.

“I believe I have found my true calling,” he says.

GreatestReward

Former stutterer finds helping others with speech and language issues adds immeasurable meaning to his life.

M

The

For more information on treatments and services

offered through the Beaumont Stuttering Program,

call 248-551-2100 or visit www.beaumonthospitals.

com/speech.

Inside


[ INNOVATIONS ]

A new tool brings hope for better treatments, earlier diagnosis for lung cancer patients

IRobert Welsh, M.D., uses the superDimension iLogic bronchoscope to diagnose lung tumors.

t almost sounds like something out of science fiction: a tool so tiny and agile that it can deftly snake its way through the tiny lung passages, allowing doctors to biopsy tumors that normally would have required more invasive procedures.

The good news is that it’s real. As the newest weapon in lung cancer treatment, the superDimension iLogic bronchoscope uses electromagnetic navigational technology and CT scans as maps to traverse far further than traditional bronchoscopes to remote areas of the lung where many early stage lung cancers exist. According to the manufacturer, the technology improves the chance of obtaining a conclusive diagnosis in these far lesions from 14 percent in standard bronchoscopy to 69 to 74 percent with the new technology.

“With this device, there is a greater likelihood that can make an accurate diagnosis earlier, potentially increasing the chances of long-term survival in some lung cancer patients,” says Robert Welsh, M.D., director of Thoracic

Surgery at Beaumont Hospitals in Royal Oak and Troy.

The technology is also used to create more precise treatment plans, including 3-D reconstruction of tumor images to help with surgical planning. Dr. Welsh says that the scope may also be used in the future to provide more localized treatment of cancerous lesions, thus potentially reducing damage to healthy tissue around the tumors.

“The hope is that tools like this bronchoscope will greatly improve our ability to diagnose and treat this disease,” Dr. Welsh says.

The Eye

The new tool uses GPS-like technology to navigate to lesions, much farther then traditional bronchoscopes.

As long as your health insurance allows you to go anywhere, maybe you shouldn’t confine yourself to the neighborhood. Because this isn’t dinner. This is your life.

Year after year, in independent studies, the people of Southeast Michigan have rated Beaumont as their most preferred hospital: for doctors, for nurses, for surgery, and for overall quality of care.

So maybe, when you’re looking for a hospital, the criteria should be quality, instead of convenience.

It’s your life…Do you have a Beaumont doctor?

We think nothing of driving half an hour to a good restaurant.

But we’ll settle for a hospital that’s right around the corner.

800.633.7377

Documents

House Call Spring 2011