Healthy

Living
June 2014
Table of Contents
Complementary treatment: Western, Chinese medicine work together......4
Renovations at Sterling clinic make treating patients more efficient............6
Community tours of EMCH expansion set for end of June............................8
Making adjustments: Proactive Chiropractic settling into Fort Morgan......9
Hospital picked for Duke University Quality Care Initiative.........................11
Senior Stretch classes keep seniors in motion................................................12
City gears up for 32nd Brush Rush!...................................................................13
Home care an option for those of any age........................................................14
Weigh & Win kiosk in Brush a success for northeast Colorado...................15
Board of Health discusses licensed swimming pools.....................................16
Hantavirus poses risk: officials urge residents to take precautions..............17
Looking good: Annual eye exams vital to maintaining health........................18
Adults on Medicaid can now receive dental coverage.....................................19
Better living starts here.......................................................................................20
Many in-home injuries preventable for seniors................................................21
Skin cancer: Ounce of prevention worth lb. of cure.........................................23
Jenni Grubbs / Fort Morgan Times
Walking regularly on outdoor paths, such as those in Riverside Park in Fort Morgan, can be part of a healthy lifestyle.
JUNE 25, 2014 3
Complementary treatment
By Dan Barker
Times News Editor
W
estern medicine and
traditional Chinese
medicine can work
well together.
Each does certain things
well, and those things can be
complementary, said acupunc-
turist and herbalist Caitlin Dil-
li, who owns the Herbs and
Acupunture Clinic in Fort
Morgan.
She offers traditional Chi-
nese medical treatment such
as medicinal massage, acu-
puncture, herbs and nutrition-
al guidance.
Chinese medicine is not a
catch-all, but Western medi-
cine does not do what Chinese
medicine can do, Dilli noted.
Western medicine views the
human body as a machine that
can be reduced to its parts.
Repairing damage is in some
sense like mechanics of the
body. The stress is on disease
and treatments, and Western
medicine can mostly only fix
whats broken, not nurture
what is good in the body, she
said.
The Western model sees
disease as an invasion or
breakdown of the body, Dilli
said, but it has excellent tech-
niques for repairing trauma
and treating infections
through drugs, antibiotics and
surgery, Dilli said.
Chinese medicine, on the
other hand, considers the per-
son as a whole, looking at who
the person is, how he or she
lives, the persons social con-
nections and their psychologi-
cal life, she said. It works to
preserve conditions in which
people thrive.
It is very much a proactive
approach, Dilli said.
In a sense, she is like a gar-
dener who cultivates life, help-
ing people to adapt to mental,
physical and emotional chal-
lenges, she said, while also
considering the environments
in which people live.
There is an emerging new
model, in which traditional
Chinese medicine and West-
ern medicine work together,
Dilli explained. And more
Western doctors are recom-
mending treatments like acu-
puncture.
See CHINESE, pg. 26
Dan Barker/ Fort Morgan Times
Caitlin Dilli is the owner of the Herbs and Acupuncture Clinic of Fort Morgan, which offers traditional Chinese medicine. This is her
treatment room, where she does acupuncture and massage.
Western, Chinese
medicine work together
4 JUNE 25, 2014
JUNE 25, 2014 5
Office
makeover
By Sara Waite
Journal-Advocate managing
editor
I
n 2001, Salud Family
Health Centers opened
the doors to its Sterling
clinic. The facility was
housed in a former optome-
try office built in 1988, with
minor renovations made to
convert it into a medical and
dental clinic.
In January, the clinic
unveiled the results of a
6-month renovation project
that completely changed the
look of the interior.
Center director Dr. Bori-
ana Pumpalova, who also
serves as dentist for the
Sterling Salud, said every-
thing inside the building
was retouched. The medi-
cal clinic added two exam
rooms; the dental side got
another operatory.
Throughout the building,
there were technology
upgrades, including a new
computer system. Upstairs,
space was made for patient
education. An elevator was
See SALUD, pg. 7
Photos by Sara Waite / Journal-Advocate file photo
Medical assistant Christine Torres talks about changes to exam rooms in the Sterling Salud clinic while giving a tour of the
renovated building during a celebratory event in January.
A six-month renovation of the Sterling Salud clinic created an
open nurses station to allow for more efficient workflow.
Renovations at Sterling
clinic make treating
patients more efficient
6 JUNE 25, 2014
SALUDfrom page 6
installed to better serve
disabled patients.
The improvements make
clinic operations much more
efficient, Pumpalova said,
because we simply have
more room.
She said the six months of
renovations werent without
challenges noise made it
difficult to communicate with
patients, and the dental clinic
had to reduce the number of
patients it could see when
only one operatory was func-
tional but dealing with
those difficulties and con-
struction delays was all
worth it. The work began in
June 2013 and was largely fin-
ished in late December,
although some finishing
touches were done after the
new year.
Funding for the renovations
came in part from a Health
Resources and Services
Administration grant through
the Affordable Care Act. John
Santistevan, deputy CEO of
Salud, said the federal funding
covered $600,000 of the $1
million project; the rest of the
funding came from capital
reserves.
He said the grant applica-
tion process involved compet-
ing nationally for a portion of
the funding pool; some of the
features he thinks helped
Salud stand out were safety
measures, like second access
point for the top floor.
The Sterling clinic serves
patients from a large area,
Pumpalova said, including
Holyoke, Julesburg and
Yuma. Some patients will trav-
el two hours to get medical
care even in a blizzard, she
said because it is the near-
est medical facility that
accepts all patients. In 2012,
the latest year for which data
is available, the Sterling site
served 3,837 patients and pro-
vided 13,053 visits.
Of those patients, 42 per-
cent were uninsured; another
43 percent were covered by
Medicaid, Medicare or CHP+.
Salud offers a sliding scale of
discounts based on the
patients income.
The clinic offers a full range
of services, including prenatal
care and developmental
screenings for children, lab-
work and testing for various
conditions, access to a dis-
count pharmacy, family and
pediatric dentistry and behav-
ioral health services. They
have bilingual staff, and also
serve as a teaching institution
for students from the high
school level on up to medical
and dental schools.
For more information, visit
saludclinic.org.
Sara Waite / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Renovations to the second floor of the Sterling Salud clinic
provide space for diabetes education and other patient
interactions.
QUALITY, AFFORDABLE
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
We accept Medicaid, Medicare, Private Insurance, CHP+ and sliding fee scale payment.
Family Medicine, Pregnancy Care &
Delivery, Physical Exams
(Sports, Schools, INS), Family Planning, Health
Education, Laboratory, Ultrasound, Pediatrics
& Well-baby Check-ups, Behavioral Health Care, Pharmacy. Dental Services:
Family and Pediatric Dentistry, Preventative Services and Education, Emergencies.
Fort Morgan Salud Family Health Center
729 Railroad Avenue
Fort Morgan, CO 80701
To Schedule an appointment call:
Medical: (970) 867-0300
Dental: (970) 542-9243
JUNE 25, 2014 7
Community tours for EMCH
expansion set for end of June
By Lisa Jager
Brush News-Tribune Staff Writer
T
he East Morgan County
Hospital (EMCH)
expansion project in
Brush continues to be on
track and walking tours of the
expanded facility will be held
June 27 for the area communi-
ty and staff, EMCH Chief
Executive Officer Linda Thor-
pe said at the hospitals quar-
terly community relations
lunch on June 4.
Thorpe said the tours will
likely be held from 7 to 9 a.m.
and from 4 to 6:30 p.m. She
provided an update on the
project which is progressing
as scheduled with the building
construction part of the proj-
ect to be completed at the end
of September. This will be fol-
lowed by approximately two-
and-half months of furnishing
installations. An open house
for the new facility is planned
for the second week in
December.
The community has seen
the project progress since its
groundbreaking in September
2013, and Thorpe said nowthe
exterior framing is 100 per-
cent complete. The drywall is
currently going up inside, and
both the stucco and the brick
on the outside are being built
to tie in with the existing
building. Also, the walls in the
existing building are being
painted to tie together with
the inside of the newbuilding.
Most of the equipment such
as generators, fuel tanks and
mechanical systems are
onsite and ready to be
installed. Thorpe said win-
dows are currently being
installed and work has also
started on grading the park-
ing lot, which will expand the
parking space for the hospital.
We are working hard to
meet the deadline for the end
of September for getting con-
struction complete, the CEO
explained.
The $20 million, 32,000-foot
project will create a new wing
for the hospital to replace the
existing patient rooms, which
were built in 1967, with new
semi-private rooms with sin-
gle-occupancy suites. The new
facility will be outfitted with
state-of-the-art technology and
provide ample space for
patients, as well as visitors,
families and hospital staff.
The new construction
includes:
19 single-patient rooms
Enhanced technology
Expanded intensive care
New medical equipment
Additional telemedicine
capabilities
Relocation of the hospitals
main entrance
Additional parking
A new central utility plant
and infrastructure upgrades
In addition, the expansion
will include a new main entry
and lobby, as well as a new
kitchen and dining room with
outdoor seating. The EMCH
expanded facility will employ
from 15 to 20 additional
employees.
Thomas Loff, who was hired
as EMCHs chief financial offi-
cer last October, calls the
expansion unprecedented.
Loff has 33 years of experi-
ence in rural health care
finance working with hospi-
tals, clinics, nursing facilities
and home-based and home
medical equipment operations
in 10 states.
In my experience in many
different systems I have not
seen a rural facility do what
this facility is doing, Loff
said. The amount of coopera-
tion and coordination is
extraordinary. There is really
no boiler plate for it. It is an
exciting time.
Lisa Jager / Brush News-Tribune
Expansion work at East Morgan County Hospital continues with hospital officials to offer walking
tours to the public the end of this month.
$20M project will create new
wing to replace exisiting rooms.
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8 JUNE 25, 2014
Making adjustments
By Dan Barker
Times News Editor
P
roactive Chiropractic
tries to offer services
that are affordable and
convenient.
There are times in the day
when people can just drop in
for a quick adjustment, and
other times when they can
spend time in depth with own-
er and chiropractor Leif Ste-
phens.
Although the practice has
been around for a relatively
short time, many people are
flocking to Stephens office,
where they find they can have
their needs filled the way they
need.
When a person first begins
with Stephens, he likes to do a
complete workup. He says
that adjustments can be
approached by treating symp-
toms or by treating the struc-
tural problems.
It can sometimes be valu-
able to use a digital x-ray to
examine exactly how bones
are aligned before starting
treatment, he said. That is
why he offers a special price
on a first appointment that
includes that x-ray at his office
at 329 E. Platte Ave. in Fort
Morgan.
Stephens said misalignment
of the spine like having a tour-
niquet on a persons upper
arm. If it is on long enough,
the persons hand will turn
purple and it will hurt. Howev-
er, those are just symptoms,
and the treatment is to take
the tourniquet off, rather than
just treat the pain.
If the bone and spine struc-
ture is not right, the body
function will be out of kilter,
he said.
Stephens also looks at how
the nerve paths are affected.
Nerves along a persons spine
could be pinched, which can
affect the electrical pathways
and cause problems.
Patients decide their own
treatment whether to treat
symptoms or the real prob-
lems but in some cases he
can show them before and
after x-rays that reveal how
they were treated, he said.
After a problem is solved, it
can be helpful to do some
maintenance on the area to
keep the problem from com-
ing back, Stephens said. That
can mean another appoint-
ment for alignment or some
other kinds of treatments that
help bones to stay aligned and
muscles to mold into the right
places.
For example, there are spe-
cial pillows that people can
use for sleep that help keep
the spine in place and let the
muscles adjust into the cor-
rect positions, he said.
Also, he has a special
orthotics molding device that
allows him to design the right
shoe insert to help a persons
spine and bones to stay in the
right places.
A patient walks across a
pressure plate, and that shows
where weight is placed while
walking, how the energy of
walking goes through the feet,
Stephens said. Ashoe insert is
created based on that data.
This makes sure that the
patients back is not slowly
injured without showing
symptoms, he said.
That silent injury is why
x-rays can be valuable. A per-
son might not be experiencing
any pain or other symptoms,
but an x-ray can reveal what is
going on in a patients body,
Stephens said.
Without the x-ray, he can
only go by symptoms and by
feel.
After he figures out what is
wrong, he can help a patient
See PROACTIVE, pg. 10
Proactive Chiropractic settling into Fort Morgan
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1300 Barlow Rd, Fort Morgan
(970) 542-2291
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JUNE 25, 2014 9
PROACTIVE
from page 9
opt for a plan or correction,
Stephens said.
Proactive Chiropractic has
varied office hours to allow
people to find the right time to
come in. It is open from 9 a.m.
to 6 p.m. on Mondays and
Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on
Tuesdays, 3 to 6 p.m. on
Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to 11
a.m. on Fridays.
Established patients can
drop in almost any time for
quick adjustments, which is a
convenience they enjoy, Ste-
phens said.
He has an open adjustment
area, where he can treat peo-
ple and others can see what he
does. People can learn more
about their own conditions
and treatments by observing.
Its a really friendly atmo-
sphere here, Stephens said,
especially since most of his
business comes fromreferrals
by peoples friends.
Stephens said it has been
wonderful to move his prac-
tice to Fort Morgan and feel
honestly welcomed.
He grew up in Big Timber,
Mont., a town about the size of
Wiggins. After his chiroprac-
tic studies in Texas, he moved
to Colorado, where he has
lived in Durango and Denver.
Some close friends encour-
aged him to move to Fort
Morgan, and supported him
in that move.
Once his practice was open,
it took off like crazy, Ste-
phens said.
Besides chiropractics, his
office has two massage thera-
pists.
To schedule an appoint-
ment, call 970-458-5216.
Chiropractor
Leif Stephens
has a practice
called Proactive
Chiropractic in
Fort Morgan. He
said he tries to
offer affordable
and convenient
service. He is
standing by a
piece of art by
local artist Ann
Iungerich that
illustrates how
spinal
alignment can
affect the body.
Dan Barker/
Fort Morgan Times
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PATIENTS SURGERY OPTIONS:
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10 JUNE 25, 2014
Hospital picked for Duke
University Quality Care Initiative
By Sandy Schneider-Engle
Special to the Times
P
roviding quality care in
a safe environment has
always been one of Col-
orado Plains Medical Centers
top focuses. Due to Lifepoint,
CPMCs parent company,
being selected as a national
Hospital Engagement Net-
work (HEN), and LifePoints
partnership with Duke Uni-
versity Health System, the
local hospital now has the
opportunity to achieve even
more significant advance-
ments in quality and patient
safety performance through a
unique pilot quality accredita-
tion program Duke has devel-
oped.
Mike Patterson, CPMCs
Chief Executive Officer, noted
that if the hospital meets cer-
tain quality benchmarks over
the next 12 months, it will
achieve the Duke Quality des-
ignation. CPMC is one of
three LifePoint managed hos-
pitals who are enrolled in the
new quality program. There
are plans to eventually roll it
out to all LifePoint system
facilities in the future.
The Duke quality initiative
focuses not only on HEN per-
formance measures, but also
on leadership, performance
improvement, and the safety
culture at the hospital. Mem-
bers of the Duke National
Quality Team and LifePoint
were recently at CPMC to
introduce the program and
perform an onsite baseline
assessment. A self-assess-
ment, documentation review,
and resources reviewwill also
be a part of the process.
We are excited to have
been selected for this quality
initiative. Colorado Plains
Medical Center has consis-
tently met other challenges
and performance measure-
ments. We were a high per-
former in recent HCAPS sur-
vey results with an 84 percent
achievement score. Over the
past couple of years, our phy-
sician satisfaction results have
been in the top 99 percentile.
We also have continually
maintained our Joint Commis-
sion accreditation. We certain-
ly feel that we, and more
importantly, our patients will
benefit from being a part of
this program, Patterson stat-
ed.
In December 2011, Life-
Point was among 26 organiza-
tions selected by the Centers
for Medicare &Medicaid Ser-
vices (CMS) to serve as a
HEN and identify and share
best practice solutions to
reduce healthcare-acquired
conditions. The program is
part of the Department of
Health and Human Services
(HHS) Partnership for
Patients initiative, which is a
public-private collaboration
that brings together leaders of
major hospitals, employers,
physicians, nurses, and
patient advocates along with
state and federal governments
in a shared effort to make hos-
pital care safer, more reliable,
and less costly.
So far, the results for partici-
pation have been positive for
LifePoint. HHS released per-
formance data on May 7 show-
ing an overall nine percent
decrease in hospital-acquired
conditions nationally during
2011 and 2012. The ambitious
goal set forth by HHS Partner-
ship for Patients initiative for
HENs is to achieve a 40 per-
cent decrease in these condi-
tions by December 2014. Per-
formance data for LifePoint
hospitals show that the com-
pany is on track to achieve this
goal, having already achieved
a 38 percent reduction by the
end of the first quarter of
2014, a performance measure
that is significantly better than
national benchmarks.
As a subcontractor to Life-
Points HEN, Duke University
Health System and the Duke
Patient Safety Center have
played significant roles in cul-
ture shaping and clinical per-
formance improvement. A
world-class academic medical
center, Duke is renowned for
its approach to patient safety
and quality and has been rec-
ognized as a national leader in
quality based on measures
established by CMS and The
Joint Commission. Duke and
LifePoint are exploring addi-
tional strategies to continue
their quality work beyond the
HEN, including the quality
designation program that
CPMC will be piloting this
year.
The knowledge and access
to resources through this pro-
gram will assist us in deliver-
ing excellent care that helps
everyone in the community
get healthy, stay healthy, and
return to health when they
need medical care or emer-
gency services, remarks Pat-
terson.
COLORADOPLAINSMEDICAL CENTER
JUNE 25, 2014 11
Classes keep seniors in motion
By Dan Barker
Times News Editor
T
he Senior Stretch class
offers low-impact exer-
cises and social time for
senior citizens of Fort Morgan
and the surrounding areas.
Each day is different. One
day the group might be doing
exercises to a video, another
day may feature strength
exercises, stretching or even
yoga, said Fran Benham, who
has been going to the sessions
since 2001.
The main focus is on main-
taining strength, flexibility
and range of motion so that
senior citizens can continue
leading active lives, she said.
Participants take the exer-
cises at their own level, doing
what they can handle.
Ages of the participants
range from a low of 60 to 85
years old right now, although
the membership is always in
flux, Benham said. In late
May, the group had just wel-
comed two more people to the
circle.
Everyone is welcome, she
said.
Usually, there are about 20
people at the sessions both
men and women although
there are days when there are
more or fewer participants,
Benham noted.
We need to keep moving as
we get older, she said.
This is a friendly group,
with people who joke and
share and enjoy the time, Ben-
ham said.
The Senior Stretch class
began with a local physical
therapy cen-
ter offering sessions for free,
said Harold Galassini, who
has been doing the exercise
since 1999.
Some people come two or
three days a week, others
come every day. Some like to
get there early to walk some
laps around the top floor of the
old Armory building in Fort
Morgan, which houses the
Fort Morgan Recreation
Department nowadays.
The group also throws
birthday parties once a month
for people born in that month.
The classes are held at 8
a.m. Monday through Friday
at the Armory. There is no
cost to attend and no registra-
tion is necessary.
The Senior Stretch
sessions at the Armory
building in Fort Morgan help
senior citizens to stay
active in a fun way.
Dan Barker/ Fort Morgan Times
The Senior
Stretch
sessions
include
stretches, but
people can do
all the exercise
at their own
levels.
Dan Barker/ Fort
Morgan Times
SENIORSTRETCH
(The Art and Heart of Caring)
Services offered
Nursing
Physical Therapy, Occupational and
Speech Therapy
Home Health Aide Services
Fully certifed and accredited
(Services available in Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips,
Washington, Yuma, and Morgan Counties)
Sterling
MEDCARE
Home Health, Inc.
614 S, 10th Avenue
P.O. Box 208
Sterling, CO 80751
(970) 522-6807
12 JUNE 25, 2014
City gears up for
32nd Brush Rush!
By Lisa Jager
Brush News-Tribune Staff Writer
T
he City of Brush is pre-
paring for the 32nd
annual running of its
premier road race the Brush
Rush!, which will be held on
Saturday, June 28.
Brush Director of Parks and
Recreation Lance Schwindt
said the programis once again
expecting close to 300 partici-
pants to the annual event,
which is one of the largest
running events in northeast-
ern Colorado.
The event will begin with
checkin at 7 a.m. at the East
Morgan County Library,
where the race will begin and
end.
Kicking off the event will be
a one mile youth fun run at
7:30 am. Runners and walkers
in the 5K (3.1 miles) will
depart at 8 a.m. Awards,
refreshments and music will
be held in the library park at
10 a.m. The top three placers
in each division will receive
ribbons, and the top overall
finishers also will receive
plaques.
The divisions are 12 &
under, 13-16, 17-19, 20-29, 30-
39, 40-49 and 60 and over. Pre-
registration is $20 and $25 the
day of the race. Early registra-
tion is underway and will con-
tinue through June 27. Race
day registration is from 7 to
7:45 am at the library.
In addition to the Brush
Rush!, for the last nine years
Brush has held a 5K St. Pat-
ricks Day Fun Run/Walk in
March, which now attracts
nearly 200 racers each year.
This event begins and ends at
the Jaycee Building and is fol-
lowed by green beer and tradi-
tional Irish fare of corned beef
and cabbage.
Also at the 2013 Brush
Oktoberfest last September
Brush held its first Volks-
march 5K walk, which attract-
ed about 30 participants. Sev-
eral walkers, including then
Mayor Dan Scalise dressed in
traditional German attire.
Volksmarch means peoples
march in German and is a
form of non-competitive fit-
ness walking that developed
in Europe. Participants typi-
cally walk 10 kilometers (6.2
mi) or a 5K on an outdoor
path.
For more information about
the city of Brush recreation
activities, visit www.brushco-
lo.com or call 842-5280.
Lisa Jager / Fort Morgan Times
The 32nd annual Brush Rush! 5K Run/Walk will be held
Saturday, June 28 in Brush. It is one of the largest road races in
northeast Colorado, attracting nearly 300 participants yearly.
JUNE 25, 2014 13
Home care an option
for those of any age
By Sandy Schneider-Engle
Special to the Times
T
raditionally viewed as
only a service for the
elderly, home health
services can be of benefit for
those of all ages including
those who have an acute or
chronic health condition, need
wound care or have been pre-
scribed infusion services.
This health service line allows
patients to live independently,
providing vital support for
families, while improving a
patients quality of life.
Caring for patients in their
homes truly is a privilege for
us, says Susan Jones, director
of Colorado Plains Medical
Center Home Care. Home
care professionals, volunteers
and modern medicine make it
possible for people to stay in
their homes, regardless of
their condition or age.
Studies have shown that
home care provides care in
the patients home and in
familiar surroundings, which,
in itself, has a positive and
therapeutic effect. Through
technological advances,
home-delivered health care
has grown far beyond basic
professional nursing and
home care aide services.
Todays modern home care
agency, such as Colorado
Plains Medical Center Home
Care, offers a wealth of nurs-
ing, rehabilitation therapies,
counseling, podiatry services,
wound care, and personal
care. Additionally, key compo-
nents of the local health care
agency also include wellness
services and disease preven-
tion.
Home care services are paid
by public and private sources,
or directly by patients and
their families. Third-party pay-
ers include commercial insur-
ance, managed care organiza-
tions and workers
compensation. Medicare and
state-operated Medicaid are
also significant payers. In fact,
under the Affordable Care
Act, coverage of home care
and hospice services will be
significantly expanded
through Medicaid.
What is even more comfort-
ing to those considering care
through CPMCs home care
agency is its track record of
meeting high quality stan-
dards. This past winter, the
agency was named in Home-
Care Elites list of the top 25
percent of home health care
providers nationwide. It also
received top honors of making
the list of the top 500 agencies
of home health care provid-
ers.
The 2013 HomeCare Elite
is the compilation of the most
successful home care provid-
ers in the United States. Now
in its seventh year, this mar-
ket-leading review names the
top 25 percent of agencies
based on such performance
measures as quality of care,
quality improvement, patient
experience, process measure
implementation, and financial
management. Out of this
group, it also recognizes the
Top 500 and the Top 100 agen-
cies.
This recognition goes to
show the excellent care we
give our patient, the customer
service we provide, as well as
the great operational achieve-
ments we make with our
homecare service line, stated
Mike Patterson, chief execu-
tive officer at Colorado Plains
Medical Center.
This is the fifth time in the
past seven years that Colora-
do Plains Medical Center
Home Care has made the
prestigious list and the first
year as a Top 500 winner.
According to Jones, The
2013 HomeCare Elite is the
only performance recognition
of its kind in the home health
industry. It is an honor and
reflects the extra efforts our
staff puts forth on a daily basis
to ensure we are taking care
of our community at the high-
est level.
Founded in 1992 as Alliance
Healthcare, Colorado Plains
Medical Center Home Care
provides numerous skilled
services for the patient who
requires assistance to return
See HOME CARE, pg. 26
This is the fifth time in the past
seven years that Colorado Plains
Medical Center Home Care has
made the HomeCare Elite list and
the first year as a Top 500 winner.
Shop All Family Pharmacy
Hiway 34 &59 ~Yuma, CO80759
(970) 848-5427
shopallyuma.com
Voted
READERS CHOICE
Best Home Health Care
3 years in a row
Northeast Plains
Home Health Care,
L.L.C.
Voted
READERS CHOICE
Best Home Health Care
3 years in a row
Northeast Plains
Home Health Care,
L.L.C.
731 West Main Street
Sterling, Colorado 80751
(970) 522-3045
Holistic Health Center
Health food store with a whole lot more!
Jo-Anne Rohn-Cook, Owner
305 Main St., Fort Morgan, CO
970-867-4852 www.joannerohncook.com
Celebrating 36 years of
providing hospice and
palliative care services
to northern Colorado.
970-867-8668
SERVING MORGAN COUNTY (Est. 1978) www.HospiceofNorthernColorado.org
14 JUNE 25, 2014
Weigh
&Win
By Lisa Jager
Brush News-Tribune Staff Writer
T
he Colorado Weigh and
Win weight loss pro-
gram kiosk in Brush
has been an overwhelming
success to date.
The kiosk was installed in
January and in its first quarter
192 people enrolled in the pro-
gram via the kiosk and collec-
tively lost 375 pounds. The
kiosk is located in the East
Morgan County Hospital
(EMCH) clinic lobby and is
the only kiosk located in
northeast Colorado.
Colorados Weigh and Win
See KIOSK, pg. 26
Lisa Jager / Brush News-Tirbune
In its first quarter beginning in January northeast Colorado
participants utilizing the Weigh and Win program kiosk in Brush
collectively lost 375 pounds. Weigh and Win is a free program
that pays participants to maintain a healthy weight
Kiosk in Brush
a success for
northeast Colo.
29 LEAN CUTS. ONE POWERFUL PROTEIN.
WHEN ALL THE STEAKS GET TOGETHER
THEY CALL THIS ONE BOSS.
Youve gotta love this lean, protein-packed
powerhouse. Some succulent slices of
T-Bone will dish out enough delicious to
feed the entire crowd come dinnertime.
Learn to love all 29 tantalizing cuts of lean
beef at BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.
Funded by The Beef Checkoff.
Fort Morgan
Feeding The World
www.ichoosecargill.com
JUNE 25, 2014 15
Board of Health discusses
licensed swimming pools
By Deanna Herbert
NCHD public information officer
D
uring their May meet-
ing, members of the
Board of Health dove
into the Voluntary Swimming
Pool and Spa safety program
at the Northeast Colorado
Health Department. As the
program is entering its fifth
year, board members ques-
tioned how it was coming
along and inquired about par-
ticipation.
The swimming pool and spa
safety programwas created in
an effort to reach out to the 33
See POOLS, pg. 25
The Sterling
Recreation
Center is one
of nine pool
facilities that
participate in
the Northeast
Colorado
Health
Department's
voluntary
swimming pool
safety
program.
Journal-Advocate
file photo
NORTHEAST COLORADO HEALTH DEPARTMENT
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16 JUNE 25, 2014
Hantavirus poses risk
By Deanna Herbert
NCHD public information officer
W
ith the return of
warmer tempera-
tures local public
health officials at the North-
east Colorado Health Depart-
ment are warning residents to
avoid hantavirus exposure
while cleaning buildings,
sheds and barns that may
have been closed up during
the winter. Although there has
never been a reported case of
hantavirus in northeast Colo-
rado, neighboring Weld Coun-
ty has had several cases over
the past few years. The virus
can infect humans who inhale
dirt and dust contaminated
with deer mice urine and
feces, when working in or
cleaning out rodent-infested
structures. The infection can
be deadly.
Hantavirus is a serious
respiratory disease carried by
deer mice that are common to
rural areas throughout Colo-
rado. Deer mice are brown on
top and white underneath and
have large ears. Common
house mice are all gray, have
smaller ears and dont carry
hantavirus. As spring and
summer months are typically
when Colorado sees the most
human cases of hantavirus,
residents are warned to take
precautions if they see mouse
droppings and other signs of
mice when theyre cleaning.
Those precautions include:
Use special precautions
when cleaning rodent-infested
structures. Open doors or
windows to provide good ven-
tilation for 30 to 60 minutes
before cleaning out struc-
tures. Avoid stirring up dust
by watering down areas of
mouse infestation with a mix-
ture of bleach and water (one
part bleach to nine parts
water).
Thoroughly soak poten-
tially contaminated areas with
the bleach mixture.
Use rubber gloves to pick
up saturated waste, including
nesting materials or dead
mice. Double-bag the waste
using plastic bags, and bury
or dispose of it in an outdoor
garbage can or landfill.
Disinfect gloves with
bleach and water before
removing. Wash hands thor-
oughly afterwards.
In cases of sever infesta-
tion, or when ventilation and
dust suppression are not pos-
sible, use a rubber face mask
equipped with a high efficien-
cy particulate air (HEPA) fil-
ter.
Rodent proof buildings by
plugging holes or other
mouse entryways. Conduct
year-round rodent control,
using traps or poisons, or hire
See HANTAVIRUS, pg. 24
Health officials urging residents
to take precautions against exposure
JUNE 25, 2014 17
LookingGOOD
By Jenni Grubbs
Times Staff Writer
G
etting a new pair of
glasses or new con-
tacts can be fun.
Its always nice to be able to
see more clearly or to have
the latest trend in glasses
frame style or shape.
But there are more impor-
tant reasons why people
should see eye doctors every
year, regardless of whether or
not they currently use vision
correction.
Optometrists and opthamol-
ogists can tell a lot more about
a persons health during an
annual eye checkup than what
it takes to be able to read the
bottom line of tiny letters cor-
rectly with each eye, accord-
ing to Dr. Michael Hilbert, an
optometrist at Family Vision
Clinic & Optical in Fort Mor-
gan.
While the need for vision
correction definitely is one
cause for seeing an eye doc-
tor, were really looking at
many other areas, as well
when asking a patient if 1 or
2 is clearer and shining
bright lights in eyes, he said.
When eye doctors check
patients vision, they also are
looking at overall eye health
and lots more, Hilbert said.
That gives us insight into
systemic health, he said of
the eye exam tests.
There are signs of diseases
like diabetes, high blood pres-
sure, high cholesterol and
glaucoma that eye doctors can
spot during regular eye check-
ups, Hilbert said.
Catching any of these ill-
nesses early and being able to
treat them can lead to far bet-
ter outcomes, especially glau-
coma, which he called a very
silent disease.
Even something that seems
as simple as slight blurring of
the vision can be indicator of a
more serious problem, Hil-
bert said.
Anyone with personal or
family history of the afore-
mentioned illnesses should
get annual eye exams, he said.
But those are not the only
people who should be aware
and vigilant about their eye
health, Hilbert said.
People with 20/20 vision
also should regularly see an
eye doctor.
They assume their eyes are
working properly, so their
health is OK, he said.
But that may not be the
case; they just may not realize
there is a problem with their
eyes because they can still
read clearly.
Far-sighted people can have
this problem even more often
than the near-sighted, he said.
That may be because far-
sighted people could think
that because they can read
signs far away, they do not
need to get a checkup or use
correction even though it is
getting harder to read books
or menus.
That then means their over-
all eye health is not getting
regularly checked, either.
There are many silent con-
ditions out there, like glauco-
ma, that many people used to
go blind from, but as long as
people keep up with regular
eyecare, that allows the eye-
care professional to detect
them early, Hilbert said.
Treatable vision loss could
become permanent and other
detectable illnesses could get
far worse if people wait too
long to get an exam, he
warned.
Correction advances
Solutions for vision correc-
tion remain an important part
of an eye exam, though.
And there have been many
advances in the options avail-
able to optometrists and
opthamologists patients, Hil-
bert said.
He said that glasses, con-
tacts and Lasik surgery have
all come a long way.
In particular, there have
been break-throughs in con-
tact lens technology that could
mean that those who thought
they could never use contacts
may be able to wear them
now, he said.
If you were told you were
not a candidate, you should
follow up again, Hilbert said.
There have have been
advances in the technology
and fine-tuning. You may
come back and find out that
were able to do something for
you.
See EYE EXAMS, pg. 24
There are many silent
conditions out there, like
glaucoma, that many people
used to go blind from, but as
long as people keep up with
regular eyecare, that allows the
eyecare professional to detect
them early.
Dr. Michael Hilbert
Optometrist at Family Vision Clinic & Optical
in Fort Morgan
Annual eye exams vital to
maintaining health
18 JUNE 25, 2014
Adults on Medicaid can
nowreceive dental coverage
By Deanna Herbert
Northeast Colorado Health Dept.
M
any adults who are
on Medicaid are
unaware of the fact
that they nowhave dental cov-
erage. The Northeast Colora-
do Oral Health Coalition
wants to spread the word
about this and to encourage
Medicaid recipients to find out
about this important new
health benefit and make an
appointment with a dental pro-
vider.
Since April 1, eligible adults
enrolled in Colorado Medic-
aid have had access to dental
benefits. The new benefit will
provide Medicaid enrolled
adults, age 21 years and over,
an annual dental benefit of up
to $1,000 in dental services.
Historically, only emergency
dental services were covered
for adult Medicaid clients.
This benefit will enable
adults on Medicaid to get
cleanings, minor fillings and
diagnostic imaging services.
Numerous studies have
shown healthy teeth play a
significant role in improving
ones self-esteem, impact eco-
nomic opportunities and lead
to a better quality of life.
The new benefit is autho-
rized by legislation passed last
spring and will be implement-
ed in two phases:
April 1, 2014 Basic adult
dental preventive, diagnostic
and minor restorative dental
services (such as x-rays and
minor fillings) and treatment
planning will be covered.
July 1, 2014 More com-
prehensive adult services
such as root canals, crowns,
partial dentures, periodontal
scaling and root planing (and
other procedures requiring
prior authorization) will be
covered.
The Joint Budget Commit-
tee has also included funding
for complete dentures (with
prior authorization) in the
FY2014-2015 state budget.
To find local providers that
accept Medicaid and CHP+
the Northeast Colorado Oral
Health Coalition has a dental
provider directory of the
northeast region. That direc-
tory is available on the North-
east Colorado Health Depart-
ments website,
www.nchd.org/oral_health,
or by contacting Alisa Dykstra
or Michelle Pemberton at
NCHD, 970-522-3741. Eligible
adults can also search for den-
tal providers in their area by
visiting the Department of
Health Care Policy and
Financings website.
For more information,
including frequently asked
questions about the new den-
tal benefit, visit the Health
Care Policy and Finance
Departments Benefits page.
Another web site to visit to
learn about dental care in Col-
orado is Oral Health Colora-
dos website at www.oral-
healthcolorado.org. It is also
good to call your local Depart-
ment of Human Services to
learn about newbenefits avail-
able through Adult Medicaid.
For additional questions
regarding Medicaid, CHP+ or
finding private insurance,
NCHD has a couple of pro-
grams and dedicated staff that
can help. If you have children
20 or younger or are pregnant
and on Medicaid or CHP+, our
Healthy Communities staff
can assist you with the follow-
ing: verify eligibility, explain
benefits, in-person application
assistance, troubleshoot bill-
ing and pharmacy issues,
assistance in finding Medic-
aid/CHP+ providers and
referrals to community
resources. If you are looking
for insurance, our Connect for
Health staff can provide: in-
person application assistance,
unbiased help to shop and
compare plans, general infor-
mation about changes to
healthcare, and referrals to
local insurance brokers.
If youre still uncertain
about health insurance in light
of all the recent changes,
there are several ways to get
help. Call NCHD at 970-522-
3741, visit www.colorado.gov/
peak for information related to
Medicaid, or visit www.con-
nectforhealth.com to seek
financial help to lower the cost
of private health insurance.
Dr. Terry Cummings
Board Certifed Doctor of Audiology
At Columbine Audiology and Hearing Aid Center, were dedicated
to providing the highest level of medically oriented diagnostic and
treatment services for hearing loss. Its our focus to provide state of
the art hearing aid technology with professional care at afordable
prices you deserve and expect.
Hear
for life.
Over 30 Years of Exceptional
Hearing Care for Northeast Colorado
Main Ofce: Columbine Medical Building
108 Delmar Street - Sterling
970-522-8622 www.columbineaudiology.com
Specialty Clinic: East Morgan County Hospital
2400 Edison Street - Brush
JUNE 25, 2014 19
By Sara Waite
Journal-Advocate managing editor
T
he Northeast Colorado
Health Departments
service area Logan,
Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick,
Washington and Yuma coun-
ties has a higher rate of
healthy food outlets per
10,000 residents than the state
of Colorado in general, but
also the highest rate of child-
hood obesity in the state.
The percent of adults who
visit a dentist at least once a
year is low, while the number
of people with heart disease,
diabetes and other chronic
diseases is high.
That data and more can be
found in the 2013 Public
Health Improvement Plan
(PHIP), a document devel-
oped by NCHDas required by
the 2008 Public Health Act.
The plan was put together in
phases. The first two phases
planing the process and iden-
tifying and engaging stake-
holders were done in May
and June of 2012. Later that
year, NCHDconducted a com-
munity health survey in each
of the six counties, as well as
holding meetings with key
stakeholders and gathered
health data from various
sources.
Phase 4, a capacity assess-
ment, was completed at the
end of January 2013. The
steering committee then pri-
oritized the identified issues,
and the health department
published the plan.
Data in the plan is broken
down into several sections:
community characteristics,
determinants of health, physi-
cal environment, and popula-
tion health outcomes. Those
sections are further broken
down into categories like eco-
nomic opportunity or quality
of life.
Each section is summa-
rized, with strengths like a
high number of religious con-
gregations and low rates of
breast cancer -- and challeng-
es such as the number of
radon tests that were above
the recommended limit or the
high rates of child maltreat-
ment and elder abuse -- identi-
fied.
The capacity assessment
shows gaps and duplication of
services within the regions
public health system. The
project management team
broke the data from the com-
munity down into common
themes: mental health, oral
health, substance abuse,
chronic disease and access to
care; then further refined the
See ROADMAP, pg. 24
Northeast Colorado Health Department
creates roadmap to healthier communities
Better
living
starts
here
20 JUNE 25, 2014
Many in-home injuries
preventable for seniors
By Jenni Grubbs
Times Staff Writer
A
s they get older, adults
need to be aware that
the homes they may
have lived in comfortably and
safely for many years may
need some adjustments to
remain safe.
The everyday clutter and
objects people are used to
stepping over or avoiding can
become tripping hazards and
lead to falls for seniors and to
serious injuries and health
problems.
There are many things peo-
ple whether the seniors
themselves, or their adult chil-
dren and/or care-givers
can do to prevent such acci-
dents and falls and make
homes safer for older adults.
The Colorado State Univer-
sity Extension Office offers a
fact sheet about this issue, and
businesses that deal in senior
care, like Home Instead
Senior Care of Northern Colo-
rado, offer resources, as well.
The 65-plus population will
be radically transformed as
the baby-boom generation
ages, the CSU Extension
Fact Sheet stated. No seg-
ment of the population will
change as much as mature
Americans. There are current-
ly 40 million people (13 per-
cent of Americans) aged 65 or
older. By 2050 this will
increase to 88 million. There-
fore, it is crucial to consider
the housing needs of the
elderly.
Accidents in the home can
cause many injuries and even
death for seniors, according to
CSU Extension.
The elderly are especially
vulnerable to serious injuries
fromhome accidents, the fact
sheet stated. Older bones are
often less dense, more brittle
and break more easily. A sim-
ple fall can become a serious,
See SAFETY, pg. 22
WikiMedia Commons
Bathrooms can offer many safety hazards for older adults.
Getting in and out of a standard bathtub can lead to falls, but
installing a tub with a door, like the one shown above, can help
prevent that problem. Putting up well-anchored grab bars also
helps.
Families,
caregivers
can remove
tripping hazards,
make safety
modifications
JUNE 25, 2014 21
SAFETYfrom page 21
disabling injury that limits
independence.
Home Instead recently did a
survey of 100 emergency
room doctors and found that
nearly a third of the injuries in
the homes that sent their
senior patients to the ERcould
have been prevented, accord-
ing to a press release.
Tripping hazards at homes
can include throw rugs, loose
railings, strewn out electric
cords and pulled up metal
strips in doorways between
flooring types.
When falls lead to injuries,
this can affect the seniors
ability to continue to live inde-
pendently.
Preparation and simple
changes are key in preventing
such accidents and injuries,
according to both CSU Exten-
sion and Home Instead Senior
Care.
The home should be the
safest and most comfortable
place for aging seniors, stat-
ed Mike Maguire, of the
Home Instead Senior Care
office serving Northern Colo-
rado. It is critical for families
and seniors to invest the time
in identifying the necessary
home safety modifications to
ensure it stays that way.
To that end, Home Instead
is offering free home safety
checks for seniors in June as
time is available, according to
the press release.
Senior home safety experts
recommend that adult chil-
dren of seniors take at least
one day each year to perform
a thorough safety check of
their parents home, the
Home Instead press release
stated.
Basic suggestions
Some of the things that can
make homes more safe for
seniors include:
Installing strong dead bolt
locks on entrances from out-
doors;
Posting emergency num-
bers and home address by
each telephone and adding
that information to cell
phones;
Setting water heater ther-
mostats to 120 degrees Fahr-
enheit to prevent accidental
scalding;
Keeping a lamp or flash-
light within reach of the bed;
Making sure door handles
are easy to operate;
Placing electrical cords
out of the traffic flow and not
underneath rugs and furni-
ture.
Checking to be sure
smoke and carbon monoxide
alarms are installed and in
working order.
Assistive listening devices
are used for small roomampli-
fication, personal listening
and TV listening.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms frequently have
readily fixable issues that
could lead to accidents and
falls.
While there are more
expensive things that can be
done to modify bathrooms for
seniors changing needs, such
as installing walk-in bathtubs,
simpler fixes may suffice, like
adding grab bars on the wall
and more easily accessible
storage solutions.
Other ideas: add nonskid
mats or strips to showers;
ensure towel bars and in-
shower soap dishes are firmly
installed; ensure bathroom
flooring is not easy to slip on.
Other rooms
Some of the things that can
help prevent accidents and
problems in kitchens include:
ensuring stepladders are stur-
dy; getting extension grab-
bing tools for reaching items
on shelves; and unplugging
small appliances when not in
use.
In the stairways and halls,
making sure railings are
secure, rugs are not loose and
clutter is minimized are
important. Removing or
replacing raised door thresh-
olds also helps.
In the living room, make
sure electric cords are placed
along walls; chairs and couch-
es are sturdy and secure and
able to be used for sitting or
getting up; and there is ade-
quate lighting.
Outdoors
Outdoor areas also can have
many hazards for older adults.
Things to check include:
whether steps and walkways
are in good condition and
have secure handrails; there
is adequate lighting in door-
ways, steps and porches; and
gates, fences and railing pre-
vent are in place to prevent
falls off ledges, balconies and
porches.
An annual safety check can
help seniors avoid dangers
that could threaten their inde-
pendence, Maguire stated.
When we go into homes, we
see a lot of red flags that are
easily overlooked by those
who are familiar with the
home. Most of the time, these
are relatively easy and afford-
able fixes and they could be
the difference between a trip
to the emergency room and
staying safe at home.
Home Instead safety checks
for seniors are part of the
companys Making Home
Safer for Seniors program.
To request a free home safety
check in June or the home
safety checklist, call the area
Home Instead Senior Care
office at 970-494-0289.
Cords for lamps,
phone chargers and
other electronic
gadgets can create
tripping hazards for
older adults.
Organizing and tying
them up can help
prevent falls, and
moving power strips
away from head
vents and
unplugging cords not
in use can prevent
electrical fires. Tools
to aid with grabbing
items from the floor
or shelves, like the
one shown above,
also can be useful in
preventing accidents
for seniors.
Times File Photo
22 JUNE 25, 2014
Skin cancer: Ounce of
prevention worth lb. of cure
By Sandy Schneider-Engle
Special to The Times
W
ith nicer weather
arriving, many indi-
viduals will be
spending more time outdoors.
After a long winter, they
often forget the importance of
precautionary measures
against strong sun UV rays,
such as wearing sunscreen
and hats, and limiting sun
exposure in order to prevent
skin cancer.
Despite reminders by medi-
cal personnel, newscasters
and professional athletes,
approximately 2 million peo-
ple will be diagnosed with skin
cancer this year. About 68,000
of these cases will be melano-
ma, the most serious type of
skin cancer.
There are three main types
of skin cancer, including non-
melanoma basal cell carcino-
ma, non-melanoma squamous
cell carcinoma and melanoma,
according to Dr. Ed Lopez,
general surgeon on staff at
Colorado Plains Medical Cen-
ter in Fort Morgan.
Non-melanoma basal cell
carcinoma and non-melanoma
squamous cell carcinoma are
usually found on sun-exposed
areas of the body, such as the
face, lips, neck, ears and back
of the hands. They typically
dont spread to other parts of
the body and have a high like-
lihood of being cured if detect-
ed and treated early.
Melanoma, much more seri-
ous than the two forms of skin
cancer mentioned above, is
the most common type of skin
cancer among young adults.
Originating in the cells that
produce skin coloring and pig-
mentation called melano-
cytes melanoma is below
the surface and, therefore,
more difficult to detect and
diagnose.
Malignant melanoma
accounts for about 8,700 of the
11,790 skin cancer-related
deaths each year. According
to the American Cancer Soci-
ety, skin cancer is often cur-
able, if caught and treated in
its early stages.
Symptoms of skin cancer
include:
Any change in the size or
color of a mole or other darkly
pigmented growth or spot;
Any new skin growth;
The spread of pigmenta-
tion beyond a growths bor-
der, such as dark coloring that
spreads past the edge of a
mole or mark; or
A change in sensation,
itchiness, tenderness or pain
of a growth or spot.
Scaliness, oozing, bleed-
ing or change in the overall
appearance of a bump or nod-
ule.
Access Colorado Plains
Medical Centers website at
coloradoplainsmedicalcen-
ter.com more information.
J. Scott Hadley, DDS
Complete Dental Services Available
Including:
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Restorative
Cosmetic
One visit CEREC Crowns
Let Dr. Hadley restore and help maintain the
beauty of your smile.
1604 Pheasant Ridge, Sterling, CO
(970) 521-7267
www.drscotthadley.com
New Patients
of All Ages
New Patients
of All Ages
Welcoming
Welcoming
i t
JUNE 25, 2014 23
HANTAVIRUSfrom page 17
a professional exterminator.
Make home or work areas
uninviting to rodents by keep-
ing indoor areas clean, espe-
cially kitchens. Dispose of gar-
bage in sealed containers.
Eliminate food sources by
storing food in rodent-proof
containers, including food for
pets, livestock and birds.
Remove rodent hiding
places near the home such as
wood, junk and brush piles.
Store firewood at least 100 feet
from the house. Keep vegeta-
tion around the house well-
trimmed.
Hantavirus causes death in
nearly half of all cases and
symptoms begin with a high
fever, severe body aches, a
headache and vomiting. The
onset of these symptoms
begins from one to six weeks
after exposure. Initially, there
are no respiratory symptoms
present. Because no effective
treatment exists for hantavi-
rus, prevention is the key to
avoiding this infection.
For detailed information on
hantavirus, including how to
protect yourself, how to prop-
erly clean rodent-infested
areas and information on
rodent-proofing your home,
visit the hantavirus informa-
tion link at www.nchd.org or
call (970) 522-3741.
Hantavirus,
spread by deer
mice, causes
death in nearly
half of all
cases. Officials
recommend
avoiding
exposure to
the urine and
feces of
rodents in
order to not
spread
infection.
EYE EXAMSfrom page 18
He pointed to bifocal con-
tacts as one of these big
advances.
With glasses, he said that
there have been improve-
ments in things like Transi-
tions lenses that darken in
bright light, such as when a
person steps outside in sun-
light, and lighten when they
go back inside.
These color-changing lens-
es have been around quite a
while, but theyve gotten bet-
ter, Hilbert said.
There also have been signif-
icant improvements in the dig-
ital technology that helps cre-
ate the lenses.
Digital technology is where
things are headed, Hilbert
said.
That technology will allow
lens-makers to have the abili-
ty to produce a lens prescrip-
tion that is accurate to the
100th of a power. The tradi-
tional way of producing lenses
is not nearly as accurate.
This also will allowfor more
accuracy regarding the
frames shape that the lens fits
into and the distance to the
patients eye, he said, which
can help cut down on periph-
eral distortion.
The newtechnology is able
to balance that out, Hilbert
said. The accuracy of the pre-
scription is much better and
much more successful.
As to lens materials, types of
plastic are more recommend-
ed by eye doctors than glass,
Hilbert said. While glass is
harder to scratch, plastic usu-
ally is much safer.
There are many available
lens coatings that can cut
down on concerns about
scratching, glare and smudg-
es, he said, which also makes
the safer choice of plastic lens-
es an easier choice for many
patients to make.
There have been lots of
advances in coatings, he said.
Anti-reflective coatings have
allowed people to clean their
glasses more easily, and the
new technology is much bet-
ter.
He said the newer coatings
are less likely to smudge or
even crack and peel off the
lenses than the older versions.
ROADMAPfrom page 20
list to mental health; oral
healt; and nutrition, physical
activity and healthy weight.
After assessing the capacity
and burden of each topic, the
team went through a prioriti-
zation process. They decided
to focus primarily on physical
activity, nutrition and healthy
weight, but to also look at the
relationship that topic has
with mental and oral health
issues.
NCHD also conducted an
internal assessment to identi-
fy which core public health
services need improvement.
The final section of the doc-
ument is the plan itself. This
plan is our road map to pro-
viding better public health
services to the residents of
northeast Colorado, address-
ing issues we know are
important based on feedback
and statistics, with resources
we know are available
through our capacity assess-
ments, the PHIP states.
The overarching goal of
the five-year plan is to
reduce peoples risk for
chronic disease and the
upward trend of overweight
and obesity through strate-
gies focusing on physical
activity, nutrition and health
weight.
This is broken down into
five-year goals:
Increase awareness of
the overweight/obesity and
chronic disease issues in the
northeast region
Take an inventory of cur-
rent resources across the
region that address physical
activity, nutrition and healthy
weight; compare those
resources against evidence-
based practices and define
areas in need of improve-
ment
Partner with and/or sup-
port existing and new con-
cepts/programs/resources
that support the emphasis
area of physical activity,
nutrition and healthy weight
Evaluate how mental
health and oral health con-
tribute, influence and impact
our overarching goal.
The plan includes five
objectives, with two to three
action steps listed for each.
The full PHIP is available at
the Northeast Colorado
Health Department offices,
and online at www.nchd.org.
24 JUNE 25, 2014
POOLSfrom page 16
swimming pools and spas in
northeast Colorado to help
monitor what could be a
potential source for disease
outbreaks, including gastroin-
testinal, skin, ear, respiratory,
eye and wound infections.
Although swimming pools
and spas are required to meet
health and safety regulations
per state statute and federal
regulations, there is no agen-
cy in this area to enforce those
regulations. When NCHDs
program was approved by the
Board of Health in late 2009,
members voted to make par-
ticipation voluntary to avoid
passing on mandatory fees to
facility owners. Facilities that
choose to participate in the
licensing program pay a year-
ly fee, which includes biannu-
al inspections for things such
as inadequate disinfectant lev-
els, pH concentrations and
main drain visibility; are pro-
vided pool safety education;
and are classified as being
licensed and regularly inspect-
ed by NCHD.
According to Carmen Van-
denbark, NCHDs environ-
mental health administrator,
the program has had steady
participation from nine facili-
ties in northeast Colorado
since 2010, but despite follow-
up education, no other facili-
ties have come on board.
We feel very fortunate that
weve had the voluntary par-
ticipation from the facilities
that have stepped up and
enrolled in this program, said
Vandenbark. Their willing-
ness to open themselves up to
local inspection and education
really benefits the community
members taking advantage of
their facilities and helps keep
our residents healthy.
According to Vandenbark
the nine facilities that partici-
pate in the program include
Best Western Sundowner,
Buffalo Hills Properties and
the Sterling Rec Center, all in
Sterling; Colorado Plains
Medical Center therapy pool
and Star Athletic Club in Fort
Morgan, East Morgan County
Hospital in Brush; Holyoke
Municipal Pool, Holyoke;
Wray Aquatic Center, Wray;
and City of Yuma swimming
pool.
We feel very fortunate that weve had the voluntary
participation from the facilities that have stepped up
and enrolled in this program. Their willingness to open
themselves up to local inspection and education really
benefits the community members taking advantage of
their facilities and helps keep our residents healthy.
Carmen Vanderbark
NCHD environmental health administrator
Life, Health, Retirement,
Disability, Annuities, Senior
Health Care
Sharon Kauffman,
LUTCF, CLU, RHU
229 W. Kiowa
Fort Morgan, CO
(970) 867-4822
"Where Your Health Is Our Main Concern"
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Check us out at www.beehiveassisted.com
JUNE 25, 2014 25
CHINESE from page 4
Clinic
Dilli does various kinds
of acupuncture, a medici-
nal massage called tui na
and herbal remedies,
which clients can choose
between as they wish.
For example, a person
may come in just for an
herbal consult, or just for
acupuncture, she said.
The idea is to offer
holistic health for those
who want to look and feel
their best, Dilli said.
Most people have heard
that acupuncture can treat
pain, but it can also help
with digestion, fertility,
womens health and ath-
letic performance, she
said. It does this by modu-
lating the neural endo-
crine system, increasing
circulation and decreas-
ing inflammation.
Many people notice the
effects with the first treat-
ment, but it takes multiple
and consistent treatment
for the full effect, Dilli
explained. Following up
with more treatments in a
sense reminds the body
of its balance.
Dilli grew up in Little-
ton, and earned a bache-
lor of arts degree at Wil-
lamette University in
Oregon with an emphasis
in genetics in 2010, but
could not picture herself
working in a laboratory all
the time.
Also, she saw a discon-
nect with how Western
medicine views health,
especially chronic condi-
tions, she said.
Dilli went on to earn a
masters degree at the
Colorado School of Tradi-
tional Medicine in Denver
last August, and also prac-
tices at the Lifesource
Health Partners health
center in Lakewood.
In Fort Morgan, she
practices on Wednesdays
and Thursdays in the
same building with
Advantage Merle Norman
Salon, just behind the
7-Eleven store on East
Platte Avenue.
People of all ages and
backgrounds have come
to see her, and she said
she appreciates how con-
siderate and friendly peo-
ple in Fort Morgan
behave.
There are many options
for clients. Today, more
and more insurance com-
panies offer to cover a
certain number of acu-
puncture treatments.
Initial acupuncture
treatments take 1.5 hours,
because Dilli takes a
detailed health history in
addition to the treatment.
That costs $75, and hour-
long followup treatments
cost $50. Acute treatment
for a flare up of a condi-
tion costs $25 per half-
hour.
Sometimes, acupunc-
ture on just the ear can be
helpful, and that costs $25
for a half-hour treatment.
Ear acupuncture can help
with stress, addictions
and general health, Dilli
said.
Massage treatments are
deep massage, not just
light massage, and usual-
ly last 30 minutes for $25,
although she can do an
hour for those who wish.
Dilli said she carries
about 300 different herbs,
which constitute a wide
variety of plants, minerals
and animal substances.
Some people might be
familiar with are garlic,
ginger and ginseng.
People are welcome to
come in for a free 20-min-
ute consultation, with a
chance to ask questions.
Contact Dilli at 303-349-
4575.
Contact Times News Edi-
tor Dan Barker at 970-
867-5651 ext 231 or
business@fmtimes.com or
follow www.twitter.com/
DanBarkerFMTime
HOME CARE from page 14
to independence. Services are
also provided on a long-term
basis for disabled patients requir-
ing skilled care who do not meet
homebound criteria if payment is
from Medicaid.
In addition to Jones, 19 other
employees are part of the home
health care team. They include:
Tiffany Berhost, Judy Edson,
Teresa Edwards, Briana Gol-
drick, Cassie Gray, Aaron Guer-
rero, Tammi Linker, Teresa
McCort, Kimberly Moore, Lynn
McCourt, Sandy Pogorelz,
Michelle Romero, Deena Schen-
del, Jennifer Schwindt, Toni
Segelke, Shelley Thiel, Isabel
Wiens, Ann Waters, and Kathy
Young.
I believe that home care is
poised to play a key role in the
coming years, noted Jones. As
more of the population ages and
requires health services, as well
as mounting societal pressures
to provide care more efficiently
and cost effectively, people can
count on home care as a means
to do this. All of us at Colorado
Plains Medical Center Home
Care are proud to make a differ-
ence every day for our communi-
ty.
For more information on home
care services or eligibility, call
867-3013 or visit Colorado Plains
Medical Center Home Care on
the campus of Colorado Plains
Medical Center, 1000 Lincoln
Street, Suite 200, in Fort Morgan.
KIOSKfrom page 15
program is a free program that
pays people to achieve a healthy
weight through daily emails and/
or text messages, a weekly jour-
nal, 24/7 health guide and access
to personal trainers through
phone or email interaction.
Participants can stay account-
able and visually track their prog-
ress through photographed
weigh-ins at the private scales
kiosks. Weight improvement
enables participants to earn
quarterly cash rewards, if their
initial BMI is 25 or greater, and
all participants are eligible for
monthly prizes just for participat-
ing.
Cash rewards are distributed
quarterly to participants who
achieve weight improvement
according to the following struc-
ture:
Percent of Weight Improvement
and Quarterly Cash Rewards
5% = $15; 10% = $30; 15% = $45;
20% = $75; 25% = $105; 30% = $150
Weigh and Win also hosts sev-
eral team challenges throughout
the year, the most recent one
being from Feb. 1 to April 30.
The Brush area had more than
five teams participating in the
healthy competition with the
EMCHFoundation teamthe win-
ner.
According to Weigh and Win
Marketing Manager Jillian Ton-
gate, the next teamchallenge will
be held fromAugust 1 to Oct. 31.
Tongate said Weigh and Win is
also holding a social media pro-
motion for program participants
in June. Participants will share a
photo of their healthy summer
goal, such as drinking more
water or being active with their
kids. The photo with the most
votes wins a prize with three run-
ner-ups chosen at random.
Those instrumental to bring-
ing the program to Brush
include Eben Ezer Lutheran
Care Center Purchasing Manag-
er and City Council member
Vicky Quinlin, Brush City Clerk
Andrea Strand and EMCH Chief
Executive Officer Linda Thorpe.
Quinlin also is a participant in
the program and said it doesnt
teach you how to diet, it teaches
you how to eat.
The program provides specific
food lists, as well as shopping
lists, for three meals and three
snacks per day. Quinlin said,
Thats what really has made a
difference for me. Im not ever
really all that hungry thats
what I like about this program.
She also said, The foods are
realistic.
Enrollment in the program is
ongoing. Average weight loss in
the Weigh and Win program,
sponsored by Kaiser Permanen-
te, is 17.7 pounds. For more
information visit http://
www.weighandwin.com/
26 JUNE 25, 2014