The Medical Center is pleased to accept a $20,000 grant from the Amerigroup Foundation to further the development of health and medical services for children in Columbus covered by Medicaid.

Dr. Tunde Sotunde, CEO of Amerigroup-Community Care of Georgia, made the announcement today at the Columbus Regional Conference Center at The Medical Center. Dr. Sotunde and Dr. William Alexander, Chief Medical Director for Amerigroup-Community Care of Georgia, saluted the efforts of Columbus Regional and The Medical Center in making quality pediatric care available to all children in the community.

“We are delighted to play a role in supporting The Medical Center in its efforts toward providing quality care to the underserved in our communities,” Dr. Sotunde said.

“We accept this grant from Amerigroup Foundation with gratitude and sincere appreciation,” said Mike Hill, CEO of Evergreen Medical Group, a physician-hospital organization jointly owned by Columbus Regional Healthcare System and community physician partners. “Amerigroup has a strong commitment to providing support to the Medicaid population. They requested the grant funding be used to further pediatric medical care in Columbus, and we are delighted to put the funds to good use for the children of our community.”

Columbus Regional is the region’s leading provider of women and children’s services, including hospital and outpatient care for children, Mr. Hill added. From July 2010-June 2011, The Medical Center recorded 1,562 pediatric inpatients, well over 30,000 outpatient pediatric visits, 169 admissions to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and 11,800 pediatric visits to The Medical Center’s Emergency and Trauma Center.

Sometimes, we get so caught up in our work that it’s tough to take a break. We become convinced that taking a vacation would not be possible. It’s hard to see the benefits sometimes when you know just how much work needs to get done. What you probably don’t know is that taking a vacation has some pretty important benefits that might just help you come back strong and make your work even better.According to recent research, vacations are essential to a healthy brain. Even if you simply take a day trip to a museum or the aquarium, vacations can have lasting benefits. Here are a few:

Taking a vacation can improve your memory. By shaking things up and visiting new places, your brain experiences something new and unfamiliar. This releases dopamine into your hippocampus, the part of your brain that creates memories.

Vacations also boost creativity. They encourage people to try new things and increase your awareness of hidden connections, which boosts creativity.

When you become stressed, your body begins to lose focus. This makes working tougher to do. By taking a vacation, you can lower your stress and re-focus when you return to work.

While on vacation, you tend to sleep longer and get better quality sleep. This boosts your reaction time, while recharging your batteries.

Now that you know the benefits, what is the best kind of vacation to take? Research suggests that getting away from your normal surroundings will give you the best results. Go somewhere far away from your home. Also, make sure you remove the stress of vacationing by planning ahead. Eliminate the stress from the vacation and plan ahead. Finally, remove yourself from work. You will experience far better results when you disconnect from work (and your phone) and just enjoy the vacation.

Now get out there and relax!

It’s 2012 and your resolution is to lose weight. Why not include the family and get healthy together? Go for a walk together after dinner. If the kids aren’t interested, make the activity fun. Start up a game, such as soccer, freeze tag or kickball. Kids want something engaging and stimulating.

When meal time comes, get the children involved. Cook healthy meals and educate your children on cooking the right kinds of food. You can teach them the skills they need for the future and get them involved in their own well being. Also, they will learn which foods they should be eating when you are not around. Cooking a healthy dinner is a nice way to spend time together while avoiding the calories of pizza night or going out.

Remember: keep it fun! Play games on xbox or wii like Dance Central, Kinect Sports or Just Dance. These games require you to be up and moving. They even have fitness modes designed to get you active. These are great on rainy or really cold days! Outdoors, you can walk in the park, play games, hike a nature trail and more! The only limit in 2012 is your imagination. Have fun and stay healthy!

Please come out tonight at 6PM as we kick off the Tree of Light Ceremony! This year, Gwen Cogar will share her family’s personal journey with her triplets Caroline, Olivia and Emily, and how they benefited from the services of the NICU and The Medical Center. Guests at this ceremony will enjoy holiday musical sel…ections from Clubview Elementary School Chorus and the Bob Barr Community Band. Donations to the Tree of Light can be made by contacting Nancy Williams at (706) 571-1480 or nancy.williams@crhs.net

Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Having type 2 means your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t properly use the insulin it does produce. Some symptoms of type 2 diabetes are frequent hunger or thirst, very dry skin, infections, greater need to urinate and weight loss.

Though not cureable (yet), type 2 is managable. Talk with your doctor about a healthy diet and physical activity routine.

Changing your diet can be tough at first, but it’s critical to your health. Begin by adding high fiber foods including fruits and vegetables. Physical activity, such as jogging or playing sports, can be a big help in lowering your blood sugar. Medication may also be necessary. You may need to begin using insulin as well.

 If you are a smoker, you will want to get help and stop smoking. Testing your blood sugar levels will also be important before and after meals.

Above all, stay motivated. This is your health and you are in the driver’s seat. Find a friend to help you through the rough patches and talk with your doctor if you feel something needs to change. Someday, there will be a cure for diabetes. For now, we must all take the proper steps to manage this issue and remain healthy!

For many people, the New Year is a time of planning and making resolutions. If losing weight is your goal for next year, why not begin taking small steps that will set you up for success? We all can feel that Winter is coming. The leaves will begin to fall and occupy your yard. Why not spend some time raking them up? This will burn calories and get you outdoors.

When you are indoors, find little ways to change your habits. Going up a few floors? Try using the stairs instead of the elevator. It’s small steps that really add up during the day. Have some extra time on your lunch break? Go for a short walk. Find a work-walking buddy who will encourage you to keep it up.

Losing extra pounds takes time, but why add more to the total? When sitting around at holiday meals, slow down, take your time and scoop out smaller portions. If you give yourself time between servings, you may find you aren’t as hungry as you thought.

Getting healthy and eating right are two important goals to have. Getting a head start could get you in a great position to accomplish your goals in 2012!

Halloween is rapidly approaching once again, bringing with it cooler weather and the promise of candy. But before you and your child head out to roam the neighborhood, it’s important to be careful and remember these safety tips.

Costume:
When making or picking out your child’s costume, there are several factors to take into consideration. When choosing costume accessories, such as wands and swords, keep in mind that these should be made from safe, flexible materials and not have any sharp edges. Make sure costume fabrics and accessories are made of flame-resistant materials, such as nylon or polyester. Finally, avoid masks that block children’s vision and costumes that could cause them to trip, such as baggy pants and high heels.

Walking the Neighborhood:
Your goal when walking the neighborhood is making sure your child is visible and out of harm’s way. Help your child by equipping him or her with a flash light. Be sure children are aware of the potential dangers from strangers, and remind them to stay in familiar areas. Travelling in groups is always a good idea, as long as there is an adult chaperone.

At the End of the Night:
Once you are safely in your home again, you are almost done with the night! Be sure to take a look at the candy brought into the house. Remove candy that isn’t wrapped or isn’t age appropriate, such as jawbreakers for yound kids. Once this has been completed, you can relax and enjoy the rest of your night.

As flu shots become available for the 2011 flu season (October-May), the CDC is urging Americans to get out there and get their flu shots. It takes your body 2 weeks to develop antibodies that protect against influenza virus infection, so be sure and get one early! Avoid the flu this year!

Even if you get the flu shot, there are several ways to help yourself avoid the flu. Washing your hands is a great way to avoid the flu. Remember to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. A simple concept that often gets overlooked. Use a tissue to capture germs or sneeze/cough into your elbow, rather than your hands. Be sure to promptly discard used tissues and then wash or sanitize your hands.  This will cut back on the spread of germs, as you tend to touch things with your hands, even after a sneeze or cough.

If you feel sick, do not go to work and risk spreading the virus. Though you may hate to miss work, you are doing everyone a great service. By staying home, you allow your body to rest while preventing the spread of the disease to others. You should stay home until you are fever free for 24 hours.

Hopefully, by acting early and staying healthy, you will avoid the flu and other bugs this coming winter. If you have questions or require additonal tips, let us know!

As soon as a woman becomes pregnant, she begins to consider how she will feed her baby. If she decides to breastfeed, it seems that everyone has a “horror story” to tell. “It hurts!”  “I didn’t make enough milk!”  “All I did was feed and pump; I never slept!”

So is breastfeeding really as hard as we hear? Isn’t it supposed to be natural? Well, natural does not always equate to easy. We live in a society that expects immediate gratification, and the learning required for successful breastfeeding is often not immediate.

If women judge the entire breastfeeding experience based upon what occurs the first few days after birth, they are quite likely to find the whole thing way too hard. Babies have tiny tummies, and they need to feed very frequently. The first milk, called colostrum, is so thick and creamy that it takes a long time for the baby to suck it out. And after the hard work of being born, many babies are sleepy and disorganized.

So what is a woman to do? Here are some tips that may help:

1. Educate yourself. Attend a prenatal breastfeeding class.
2. Surround yourself with supportive people. Find a friend or co-worker who has had a positive breastfeeding experience, and pick her brain for ideas.
3. Have realistic expectations. Some feedings will go perfectly; some will not. Do not be too hard on yourself.
4. Remind yourself that any amount of breastmilk your child receives is a gift from Mother Nature.
5. Seek assistance from your in-hospital nursing staff and from the Columbus Regional Lactation Center at (706) 321-3765

–Jennifer Lamb Fletcher, RN, M.Ed., IBCLC

Get up on the wrong side of the bed? Here are some tips that should put you on the path to a better day.

(1) Daydream. Reflect on some good memories you remember from happier times. Doing so can activate different parts of your brain that can boost your mood.
(2) Get in control. Organize your desk or your purse. Rearrange your office or balance your checkbook. Doing a small task that produces results can boost your mood.
(3) Give thanks. Sit down and write about some things you are thankful for. It can make you think about those good memories again. Reflecting on the good can outweigh the bad.
(4) Stand tall. Reflect a happy disposition. Smile and breathe deep. If your physical body seems happy, it can make your mind believe you are happy.
(5) Chat with a stranger. Even if you are not an extroverted person, talking with someone can be a real day brightener. This outward gesture to connect with another person can boost your mood and get you over the morning blahs.

Hopefully, these tips will help you get over your bad mood and feel good about the new day.