Dameron Hospital | Health Outlook | Fall 2019

2 HEALTH OUTLOOK Lorraine P. Auerbach Information in Health Outlook comes from a wide range of medical experts. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your health care provider. 2019 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. HEALTH Dear friends and community members, Now that the temperatures aren’t soaring into the triple digits on a regular basis, we can enjoy the cool, comfortable weather and colors of the fall season. It’s that time of the year when we really can’t say it’s “too hot” or “too cold” to step outside for some fresh air and activities. It also signals the beginning of preparations for the coming holiday season and enjoying activities that may include family gatherings, shopping and even some snow. Regardless of what we plan to do, the one thing that enables us to enjoy life is good health. Frequently an afterthought until we lose it, the gift of health is truly a gift. In the early days of our lives, we felt invincible— our youth gave us the ability to run, play, grow, develop and heal faster. As time goes on, we begin to realize that good health cannot be assumed—it has to be earned by taking better care of ourselves. Here at Dameron, we view good health as a gift. As your community hospital, we strive to help you achieve the quality of health that you seek. One of the ways we’re doing this is by sending you Health Outlook , which has information that can assist you in your quest for good health and a good life. When less is more With San Joaquin County having one of the highest rates of obesity in California, the negative health consequences it is having on our residents is a major public health problem. Chronic obesity is something that can be addressed in a variety of ways, and our Bariatric Weight Loss Program provides an effective approach to helping people lose a significant amount of extra weight and the comorbidities associated with it. We’ve been able to help many people improve their health, and in this issue we feature a unique story of a mother and daughter who supported each other as they successfully went through this program together. She needs to fly Patients with hip problems typically limit their activities to avoid the pain associated with the deteriorating condition of the cartilage in their hip joints. But, you’ll learn that this was not the case with the hip replacement patient featured in this issue. As an active skydiver, our patient’s situation presented a unique set of requirements for her orthopedic surgeon, and she was on a mission to resume her incredibly demanding sport as soon as possible. “Taking it easy” is not in this woman’s vocabulary, and her journey from diagnosis to full recovery and jumping out of airplanes again is truly inspirational. Wow! Always here when you need us With the recent expansion of our Fast Track area, our Emergency Department is fully prepared to help you when accidents and illnesses occur. We provide around- the-clock care with a comprehensive array of services to provide timely diagnosis and treatment of your medical condition. When something doesn’t feel right and you’re not sure what to do, rest assured that we have medical professionals who can help. In closing, we hope that you find the information in Health Outlook useful and interesting. We really do want to let everyone know that as your community hospital, it is an honor for us to care for you and we appreciate the trust you have placed in us over the years. Thank you for giving us the privilege of serving you. Yours in health, Lorraine P. Auerbach President and CEO CEO Corner WHAT IS HAPPENING AT DAMERON