A second home Mother and daughter share a love of nursing Hi-tech colonoscopy GI Genius puts artificial intelligence in expert hands 5 facts about hysterectomies What to know about this common surgery BestHealth SPRING 2022 S e r v i ng t he f ami l i e s o f s ou t hea s t K an s a s
BEST HEALTH is published as a community service for the friends and patrons of NEOSHO MEMORIAL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, 629 S. Plummer, Chanute, KS 66720, telephone 620-431-4000, nmrmc.com. Dennis E. Franks CEO Patricia Morris Communications Officer Wannetta Wiltse Volunteer Coordinator Information in BEST HEALTH comes from a wide range of medical experts. It should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your health care provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. 2022 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Celebrating an exceptional and caring staff At Neosho Memorial, it is because of our talented and compassionate providers and staff that we are able to bring you and your loved ones the exceptional care and service you deserve. This Best Health issue features some of these dedicated staff members, who treat our patients—and each other—like family. One story highlights Kyle Shultz, RN, BSN. A new career path led Shultz to joining our emergency department. He has devoted his efforts to the good of the community, first as a public servant and now as a well-trained and passionate ER nurse. I encourage you to learn more about Shultz’s journey to the medical profession in a column written in his own words. Next, we feature a top-notch mother and daughter team of nurses, Jill Costin and Lexy Costin Harvey, who both work at our hospital. Costin Harvey was born at Neosho Memorial, and her mom inspired her to become a nurse. We are thrilled they both choose to be part of our Neosho family. We also share information from two of our family medicine providers that can help you and your family make healthy lifestyle choices. With summer almost here, a walking routine might be just the thing to help your family enjoy some quality time together. As always, I want to thank you for the ongoing privilege of serving you and your family. We at Neosho Memorial strive to keep the members of our community as healthy as possible. You are our No. 1 priority. Sincerely, Dennis E. Franks, CEO Why I became a nurse: I wanted to be a nurse since high school. I knew people who had gone into nursing, and they seemed to thoroughly enjoy their jobs. I also wanted to help people. I did job shadowing at Neosho Memorial and had hoped to attend nursing school. After high school, however, I took a summer job that eventually led to full-time work in law enforcement. I worked with a great team, but after I lost my younger sister, Kaitlyn, to a car accident, I realized life is too short. It was time to achieve my goal of becoming a nurse. During nursing school, I worked in security at Neosho Memorial, eventually becoming a department director. I was fortunate to receive one of the hospital’s scholarships to help pay for nursing school. In 2020, I became an emergency room nurse at Neosho Memorial. Why I enjoy working here: My wife, Jordan, is also a nurse at Neosho Memorial, and my family is rooted in this area. Besides that, Neosho Memorial has done such a great job with building a culture that makes it easy to go to work each day. EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT Kyle Shultz, RN, BSN 2 nmrmc.com
What you need to know about this common surgery If you’re a woman, it pays to be informed about hysterectomies—if only because so many women eventually have them. At NMRMC, our board-certified OB-GYNs Cathy Mih-Taylor, MD, and Dawne Lowden, MD, have performed hundreds of hysterectomies. Here are the key points they think all women should know about this surgery. 1. During a hysterectomy, the uterus and usually the cervix are removed. “This means that women will no longer have periods and can’t become pregnant after a hysterectomy,” Dr. Mih-Taylor says. 2. There’s a misconception that a hysterectomy always means removing the ovaries, which causes women to be menopausal. “In most cases, we do not remove the ovaries,” says Dr. Lowden. “We often remove the fallopian tubes during a hysterectomy, though. And we have evidence that this may reduce the risk for ovarian cancer. 3. Abnormal menstrual bleeding (such as heavy periods) is the No. 1 reason women have hysterectomies. Pain is the second most common reason. “For example, fibroids, which are benign growths in the uterus, can cause heavy periods,” Dr. Lowden says. “The conditions adenomyosis (when uterine tissue grows into the uterine wall, making the uterus enlarged) and endometriosis (when cells of the uterus grow outside the uterus) also can cause abnormal bleeding and pelvic pain.” 4. There are alternatives to hysterectomies for some women. “For instance, if we can control the bleeding with hormone medications or long-acting contraceptives, that might eliminate a need for surgery,” Dr. Mih-Taylor says. 5. At NMRMC, most women have minimally-invasive hysterectomies. “That means we perform them with a laparoscope (lighted scope) or the da Vinci robotic surgical system,” Dr. Mih-Taylor says. Both Dr. Mih-Taylor and Dr. Lowden strongly encourage women to talk to their health care providers if they have questions or if they think a hysterectomy might be a good choice for them. 5 facts Cathy Mih-Taylor, MD Dawne Lowden, MD about hysterectomies NMRMC is here for you If you need a hysterectomy, you can learn how to prepare for surgery and learn about all the procedures we offer at nmrmc.com/services/surgery.
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is a passion for this family For Lexy Costin Harvey, RN, BSN, Neosho Memorial is like a second home. She was born there, and as a young girl she and her younger brother would wait for their mom, a nurse, to finish a shift at the hospital. “I saw how much she enjoyed nursing,” Lexy says. “That stuck with me and was super impactful on my career choice.” Like her mother, Jill Costin, RN, BSN, Lexy is a nurse at Neosho Memorial. This is the story of their love for nursing. Sowing the seeds of service Jill grew up in Wilson County. Her parents farmed, and her mother also worked at a post office and a salon. Jill met her husband, Justin, in the sixth grade. After dating in high school, they eventually married and had Lexy and her brother, Wyatt. Long before marriage and motherhood, a middle-school-aged Jill would often visit her great-grandmothers, who lived in the same nursing home. “I liked watching the nurse aides take care of them,” she recalls. “They had compassion and had fun with the residents. I kind of wanted to be like them.” After high school, Jill attended nursing school in Chanute, working at a grocery store to help pay for college. In 2000, Jill began working as a registered nurse (RN) at Neosho Memorial. When her kids were young, Jill returned to college, earning a bachelor of science degree in nursing. Jill is currently a surgery charge nurse. “I really love working in surgery—it’s my passion,” she says. “I love connecting with my patients, getting to know them on a personal level. And the people I work with are my family away from my family.” Proud of each other and to serve In high school, Lexy began to consider the nursing profession. She took classes that earned her college credits and, by age 18, became a licensed CNA. Lexy then went to nursing school and earned a bachelor of science in nursing degree. Lexy, who works mostly in the emergency department, says she wanted to have a positive impact on people’s lives. “Nursing can be stressful,” Lexy says. “But when you have a patient who is so appreciative and pulls you aside and gives you a hug, it makes it worth it. And there is something for everyone’s interests.” Lexy calls her Neosho Memorial team “amazing.” “We all feel like a family,” she says. As you might imagine, Jill and Lexy are each other’s biggest fans. “The profession is lucky to have her,” Jill says of her daughter. “I am so proud of her and all that she has done.” “She’s awesome at her job,” Lexy says of her mom. “I’ve always been so proud of her.” “I love connecting with my patients, getting to know them on a personal level. And the people I work with are my family away from my family.” —Jill Costin, RN, BSN Jill and Lexy in 2007 Best Health • Spring 2022 5
Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in the U.S. But it doesn’t have to be. Screening tests for colorectal cancer save lives. And you have multiple screening tests to choose from, each with its own pros and cons. Types of screening tests Screenings for colorectal cancer can be divided into two main groups: ◆ Stool-based tests. ◆ Visual exams. Stool-based tests look at your stool for possible signs of polyps—growths that sometimes turn cancerous—or for colorectal cancer itself. You collect samples of your stool that are then sent to a lab for analysis. These tests don’t require the kind of colon preparation needed for a colonoscopy. But you need to do them more often—sometimes every year. A visual exam is a traditional colonoscopy. (Another visual exam, sigmoidoscopy, isn’t commonly used for screening in the U.S.) For a colonoscopy, you’re sedated while a scope is inserted into your rectum and fed through your colon. A doctor uses a camera on the end of the scope to look for precancerous polyps or signs of cancer. A major advantage of a colonoscopy: A doctor can remove any polyps discovered during this exam. Colonoscopies require you to clean out your colon with a mix of laxatives beforehand. Any abnormalities found on stool-based tests require follow-up with a traditional colonoscopy. Make it happen: Get screened for colorectal cancer 6 nmrmc.com
Advanced technology may help prevent more colorectal cancers Neosho Memorial is one of the area’s first hospitals to have this new technology Colonoscopies are one of the few cancer screening methods that can not only detect the disease but help prevent it. Here’s how: A doctor can view the entire colon and rectum during a colonoscopy and remove any polyps, which may become cancerous, during the exam. Now doctors at Neosho Memorial have an even better chance of finding polyps and removing them because of a tool called the GI Genius module. The GI Genius module uses advanced artificial intelligence software to highlight polyps with a visual marker in real time during a colonoscopy. It helps doctors detect polyps of all sizes and shapes by giving them an even clearer view of the colon and rectum. “I think the GI Genius will allow us to provide our patients with the highest quality of care available. By identifying more precancerous polyps, we will be able to prevent colon cancer in more patients,” says Matthew Leroy, MD. He and Charles Van Houden, MD, are general surgeons who perform colonoscopies at Neosho Memorial. When should you be screened? People at average risk for colorectal cancer should first be screened at age 45. Regular screenings should be done through age 75, as long as your life expectancy is more than 10 years. Screening until age 85 should be based on personal preference and risk. People at higher risk for colorectal cancer— such as African Americans or those with a family history of the disease—should be screened earlier than age 45. If you’re at increased risk, your doctor may suggest you get specific types of tests. You also may need to be tested more often. The most important thing is to get it done: The best test for you is the one you’re most likely to do. So talk with your doctor about your risk and the various screenings available. Sources: American Cancer Society; National Cancer Institute Matthew Leroy, MD Charles Van Houden, MD Best Health • Spring 2022 7
Page 2 Want a fulfilling career? See our current job openings at nmrmc.com/ about/careers. And look inside to see how an emergency room nurse found his calling. Walking is a great way to exercise because it’s simple to do, and it’s free. “As I tell my patients, walking has many physical and mental health benefits,” says Elizabeth Troilo, MD, of the NMRMC Family Medicine Clinic. “And it’s exercise you can enjoy without a gym.” 3 reasons to get moving 1. Walking is preventive medicine. As an aerobic exercise, walking can increase fitness and circulation. Over time, walking may also help control blood pressure, cholesterol and excess weight while reducing the risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and certain types of cancer. 2. Walking may lift your mood. When you’re moving, your body makes feel-good chemicals (endorphins) that help ease stress. Walking regularly may reduce your risk for depression. 3. Walking is an activity the whole family can enjoy—even with busy schedules. Family walks create opportunities to talk to your kids about their day. Take a walk after dinner or for a few minutes before breakfast. A little time here and there quickly adds up. “Walking just a few minutes at a time can be a good start,” says Matthew Strang, MD, also with the NMRMC Family Medicine Clinic. “Some activity is better than none.” Matthew Strang, MD Elizabeth Troilo, MD Need a checkup? Connect with an NMRMC doctor or provider who provides primary care. You can read their bios at nmrmc.com/physiciansproviders. Walk your way to better health 629 S. Plummer Chanute, KS 66720 Standard U.S. Postage PAID Walla Walla, WA Permit No. 44
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