In late 2011, we improved access to everyday health care services by partnering with the CVS MinuteClinic to provide health care at 31 locations across the metro Atlanta area without an appointment. As we brought in the New Year, we welcomed the newest member of the Emory Healthcare family, Saint Joseph’s Hospital. Partnering with Saint Joseph’s means two of Atlanta’s leading health care organizations are now working in collaboration to bring an unparalleled level of health care and access to our Atlanta and Georgia communities.

Because the health care needs of our communities are constantly growing, we’ve taken another step to broaden access to the unparalleled level of care provided to the Emory Healthcare community. We have established an agreement to enter into negotiations for Emory to manage Southern Regional Health System that will integrate the Riverdale, Georgia health care network into our own.

These talks come at quite a momentous time for the Emory Healthcare community. While we work to improve access to top-notch health care in Georgia through a partnership with Southern Regional, we also move towards a relationship that will establish the facility as a hospital partner in Emory’s Clinically Integrated Network serving the Southern Crescent area.

The partnership between Southern Regional Health System and Emory Healthcare is an intuitive one, according to Southern Regional’s CEO, Jim Crissey, due to Emory Healthcare’s commitment to high quality care, its strong local presence, proven financial strength and solid reputation in the community.
“Our board is confident that Emory’s mission aligns closely with our own and our shared values will help us to form a successful partnership,” said CEO Crissey.  “Most importantly, a partnership with Emory Healthcare will preserve access to high quality care for the communities we serve,” he said.

We will be sure to keep you updated as discussions with Southern Regional progress here on our blog. If you have comments or feedback on this blog, please leave them for us and our readers in the comments below!

The Festival kicks off Saturday morning with the annual 5K Scrub Run at 8 a.m. Proceeds from the 5K Scrub Run benefit the Emory Johns Creek Hospital 5K Fund, which provides life-saving AEDs (automate external defibrillators) to the community. Sign up for the 5K Scrub Run & we’ll see you on the 19th!

Related Resources:

• Emory Johns Creek Hospital Website

If you are a patient and have a clinic appointment in TEC  Buildings A or B, please give yourself a few extra minutes to get to your appointment as pedestrian traffic will be slightly rerouted during the construction period.  Please continue to park in the main Hospital/Clinic parking deck.  If you have a hard time walking, we encourage you to take advantage of the valet parking options still open and available next to Building A.

If you are visiting Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, please consider using the Uppergate valet parking area to avoid the traffic.

Visit www.emoryhealthcare.org/expansion for the latest exciting news on the expansion of Emory Healthcare.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but know you will be thrilled when the project is completed.

With that said, we want to inform our community of a recent situation that may impact some of our patients. Emory Healthcare has determined that 10 backup discs containing information on surgical patients treated between September 1990 and April 2007 are missing from a storage location at Emory University Hospital.

Upon discovery that the discs were missing, an extensive search and investigation was initiated and is continuing. It is important to note that there was no actual or attempted breach or “hacking in” of Emory’s electronic medical records or other systems.

Our investigation into the matter has determined that the discs were removed between February 7, 2012, and February 20, 2012. The information contained on the missing discs is related to approximately 315,000 surgical patients treated at Emory University Hospital, Emory University Hospital Midtown (formerly Emory Crawford Long Hospital) and The Emory Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center. The information did not relate to patients at other Emory Healthcare facilities or to patients treated after April 2007. Approximately 228,000 of the records on the discs included Social Security numbers; another approximately 87,000 records did not include Social Security numbers.

“We sincerely regret this incident and want to assure our patients that we are committed to safeguarding their personal information,” said John T. Fox, president and CEO of Emory Healthcare. “While we have no evidence at this time that any personal information has been misused as a result of this incident, we want to take all precautions to ensure our patients’ information is safe. We are moving forward expeditiously with providing all affected patients, at our cost, access to identity protection services, including credit monitoring.” Our patients are being informed through personal letters mailed to their homes, which provides details on the occurrence, actions taken to locate the discs and steps patients can take now to protect themselves against possible identity theft. Emory Healthcare is recommending that individuals regularly review their credit reports for anything they do not recognize, and to consider using the other services being provided by Emory, as specified in the letter. For more information on steps patients can take to avoid potential problems, view Emory Healthcare’s “Notice to Our Patients” at www.emoryhealthcare.org/protection.

Our Emory Healthcare culture supports open organizational dialogue. We are grateful for all of our team members who support our culture by raising their hands when they find an opportunity for us to learn from teachable moments such as this one.

Emory Healthcare has launched an institution-wide initiative to reinforce and clarify existing policies and procedures for safeguarding the security and privacy of sensitive information. In addition, Emory is conducting a comprehensive inventory of all physical spaces across the system to ensure data are properly secured.

A toll-free Emory Healthcare Support Center hotline (1-855-205-6950) providing information on the incident has been established to address patient questions and is available 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time).

For more information, patients may also visit: www.emoryhealthcare.org/protection.

Related Resources:

• Emory Healthcare Notifies Individuals Regarding Missing Data

The “Name the Robot” contest winner will get a behind-the scenes tour of one of Emory Johns Creek Hospital’s operating rooms, and everyone in the winner’s class will receive acoupon from Chick-fil-A. A prize is also being awarded forthe most artistic coloring. The kids did a great job, and their colorful entries will be display in the hospital’s cafeteria from April 23 to May 8. We cannot wait to announce the winner Tuesday, May 8, at our “Name the Robot” Open House! We will celebrate with juice and cookies and a robot demonstration, and you are invited to join us. We hope to see you there!

RSVP to our Facebook event!

The study, published online in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, assessed the association between physical activity and erectile function in young, healthy men ages 18 to 40. Previous studies have suggested that erectile dysfunction in men under 40 is correlated with increased cardiovascular risks.

“The men in our study who exercised more seemed to experience a protective benefit against erectile dysfunction,” says Wayland Hsiao, MD, co-author of the study and assistant professor of urology, Emory University School of Medicine. “We hope that early screening for ED may be a gateway issue to help motivate young men to live healthily on a consistent basis so that they can possibly avoid health issues associated with a sedentary lifestyle, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We see this as just the beginning.”

For the study, a group of men ages 18 to 40 kept a record of their exercise and sexual function. Researchers found improved erectile function in men under 40 with increased exercise, as well as higher rates of sexual dysfunction in sedentary men under 40. The study also noted that men can start experiencing issues with erectile dysfunction as early as their 30s.

“Several studies have evaluated the relationship between exercise and erectile function in older or obese men,” says study co-author Chad W.M. Ritenour, MD, director of the Emory’s Men’s Health Center and associate professor of urology, Emory University School of Medicine. “Our goal with this particular study was to determine if there is a connection between increased exercise and better erectile function in younger men.”

Drs. Ritenour and Hsiao recommend that men follow the recommendations of the CDC and get at least two and a half hours of physical activity a week, ideally spread throughout the week. Also, men should eat a diet that includes variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as limit foods and drinks high in calories, sugar, salt, fat and alcohol.

Related Resources:

• Emory Men’s Health Program

But is salt really the problem?  Yes and no.  Salt consumed at the recommended serving size of 2300 mg a day is fine for seventy percent of the population who are not considered sodium sensitive.  The problem is that on average Americans consume two to three times the recommended serving size…every day.  But the larger issue is that many of us are completely unaware that we’re sodium offenders.  According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about ninety percent of Americans eat more than the recommended amount of salt.  We think we are eating right by counting calories, bringing our own lunches to work, and refraining from sprinkling salt on the more bland foods we consume.  Unfortunately, you can remove calories without removing salt.  And did you know that if you dined out for even just one meal today, it’s possible you’ve already reached or exceeded your sodium allotment for the day?

The good news is that you can easily take control of your sodium intake.  The CDC has identified the ten offending food types responsible for nearly half of the sodium we consume; those foods include: breads, cold cuts and deli meats, pizza, fresh and processed poultry, soups, sandwiches, cheese, pasta dishes, meat mixed dishes such as meat loaf with tomato sauce, and snacks such as chips, pretzels, and popcorn. That doesn’t mean that you can never eat these foods, but that you should be on the lookout for sodium information when you do.  As part of the National Salt Reduction Initiative, many companies are reducing the sodium they put in their products. On the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygene website they have a list of companies committed to reducing the amount of sodium in their food products.  The list is a good one and includes pre-packaged food products you can buy at the grocery store as well as commercial restaurants.

Another great way to track your salt intake is with your smart phone.  There are lots of apps out there that provide a free and easy way to record what you eat by scanning the barcodes on food packaging, counting your calories for you,  or even evaluating your personal sodium consumption.

As you evaluate what you eat and the salt that comes along with it, you will often find you do not need to add any additional salt to your food.  At Emory Healthcare we have a helpful chart that makes recommendations for herb and spice substitutes to salt.  We hope you find this chart useful and incorporate it into your diet strategy.

“The laser basically works by heating and shutting down the abnormal blood vessel(s) or those that feed a lesion,” says Emory otolaryngologist Adam Klein.

According to Klein, Laser Therapy is ideal for patients with recurring conditions—such as papilloma, dysplasia, or rebleeding blood vessels—because it does less damage to surrounding tissue and can be performed as an outpatient procedure. The procedure allows patients to be treated without the risk of radiation or damage to the underlying tissue, which better preserve the natural voice.  The treatment can be done under general or local anesthesia, and poses minimal risk of damage to vocal cord tissue. And it’s not just for singers.  Watch this video to hear about Darryl’s experience with laser therapy.

Related Resources:

• More on Voice Laser Therapy

Dr. Wayland Hsiao

When the Urology Department of Emory Healthcare started offering no-scalpel, no-needle vasectomies as part of their men’s health treatment options, our ears perked up. Obviously, as the name implies, this type of vasectomy procedure allows doctors to forego the scalpel and needle combination used in traditional vasectomies, but what is used in their place? And what are the benefits? To get our questions answered, we went straight to the source, Emory’s own Dr. Wayland Hsiao, who is one of the surgeons performing the procedure. Our questions for Dr. Hsiao (and his answers) are below:

What exactly does it mean when we say no-scalpel, no-needle vasectomy? Can you describe the procedure?

A vasectomy is a procedure in which when the outflow of sperm through the vas deferens is interrupted to stop the outflow of sperm. It is a permanent form of male contraception. The procedure has no effect on sexual function. The no-scalpel vasectomy is a technique that allows us to perform the vasectomy through a puncture. The puncture is made in the scrotum and requires no suturing or stitches.

When compared to the conventional vasectomy, the primary difference is that the vas deferens tissues and blood vessels are spread aside from the surgical site rather than cut with a knife. This is less traumatic, and results in less pain and fewer postoperative complications. To numb the patient before the vasectomy, a Madajet injector is used. This is a tool that facilitates a highly pressurized lidocaine (anesthetic) to be sprayed on and through the scrotal skin to numb the skin and the underlying vas deferens. No needle is used in this anesthetic technique.

So, in terms of how the procedure is performed, what are the biggest differences?

We are able to replace the traditional scalpel with a specially design sharp clamp, which alleviates the need for an incision. The traditional incision is replaced by a small puncture hole which seals itself after the procedure. We also replace the needle with an anesthetic spray (diffused via the Madajet injector) that is applied to the scrotal skin and the vas deferens itself.

What are the benefits to no-scalpel, no-needle vasectomy?

Good question. There are several. With the no-scalpel vasectomy, there is less bleeding. In fact, the bleeding rate decreases from being seen in about 3% of patients down to 0.3%. In other words, there is 10 times lesser chance of bleeding. The infection rate after vasectomy is also decreased with the no-scalpel, no-needle technique. Infection is seen in 1.4% of patients with a traditional approach, while we only see infections inabout 0.1% of men undergoing the no-scalpel technique.

The bladeless vasectomy procedure is also faster, because the need for suturing is eliminated because there is no incision. The hole or puncture (2-3mm) created from the procedure will close up on its own.

Are there any risks associated with this procedure? If so, what are they?

The no-scalpel, no-needle vasectomy doesn’t come with any additional risks that we don’t already see with the standard vasectomy procedure, which include the risk of hematoma (with no-scalpel, this risk is significantly lowered to less than 0.5 %) and infection. As is true with all vasectomy procedures, the procedure is not guaranteed to be 100% effective. The general post-vasectomy failure rate is less than 0.5 % (1 in 500 short term failure; 1 in 4500 long term failure).

How long does the no-scalpel, no-needle vasectomy take?

The procedure takes about 30 minutes.

What can patients expect after the no-scalpel, no-needle vasectomy?

Patients can expect to experience swelling of scrotom for 2-3 days and bruising for up to a week. They might also experience a feeling of heaviness or dragging testes for 2-3 weeks.

How long is the recovery? How soon can I have sex post-procedure?

To achieve full recovery, patients should wait approximately 2 weeks after the procedure before participating in intercourse, but men should consult with their physician for guidance here.

Related Resources:

• Emory Urology – Vasectomy Information
• Emory Urology – Men’s Health

What does this mean for you? It means that two of Atlanta’s leading health care organizations are now working in collaboration to bring an unparalleled level of health care and access to our Atlanta and Georgia communities.

You may have heard us say before that we believe collaboration is truly the best medicine. Whether this means collaboration between patients and families to make informed decisions about their care with their care team members, or between organizations to improve the quality and access to care provided, we all benefit from collaborative communication and action. Our partnership with Saint Joseph’s Hospital will allow us to take collaboration around Atlanta health care to the next level.

The expertise in education and academic research that serves as the backbone of the technology and level of patient- and family-centered care provided at Emory Healthcare is mirrored by the level of excellence in local community health care we’ve seen from Saint Joseph’s from the very beginning.

We are so pleased to be able to kick off the New Year by bringing such a meaningful partnership to our community. Working with Saint Joseph’s Hospital means our patients and families will have even more access to the very best patient- and family-centered health care in Atlanta being driven by the leading academic research taking place at Emory. We hope you’re as excited about this news as we are! We’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback in the comments below. And if you’re interested in learning more, check out the resources below, including a blog post from the Saint Joseph’s team on what our partnership means to them. Happy New Year, everyone!

Related Resources:

• Full press release on Emory Healthcare & Saint Joseph’s Hospital partnership
• Saint Joseph’s Hospital Blog Post – New Year. New Partners in Excellence.