The weather is finally warming up and it is a great time to get outside.  Whether in your backyard or on the Appalachian Trail, avoiding poison ivy is key to an enjoyable outdoor experience.

Poison Ivy Facts

Fact: You’ve all heard the phrase “leaves of three, let it be.” Poison ivy and poison sumac (commonly known as poison oak) are easily identifiable because they grow with leaves in clusters of three.

Fact: Poison ivy is contracted when oils from the leaves of the plant make direct contact with the skin.  Poison ivy oil can also be spread by touching exposed animal hair and clothing.  In other words, it is possible to get poison ivy when you pet a dog that has come in contact with the plant.  It is also possible to re-infect yourself by handling shoes or clothing that have been exposed and have not be properly decontaminated.

Fact: Poison ivy cannot be spread by touching blisters on the skin (either on your skin or other’s skin). You must have direct contact with the plant or touch something that has come in contact poison ivy to experience a reaction.

Fact: There is no proven, effective treatment to treat poison ivy.   Calamine lotion, hydrocortisone and other topical products will only temporarily help relieve itching.  Steroids may reduce itching and the duration of the rash but are not 100 percent effective.

Even though this plant is common and the vast majority of us are allergic to it, the plant and its allergic reaction are very misunderstood.   Understanding how you get poison ivy is your best defense to avoid a maddening rash.

Michele Casey, MD, is the director of Primary Care for WakeMed Physician Practices and a Primary Care Physician atWake Specialty Physicians -Falls Pointe Medical Group

Medical researchers are advising physicians to strongly advocate for plant-based diets as a cost effective intervention to combat rising health care costs.

A special report published The Permanente Journal states that unhealthy lifestyle choices are contributing to the spread of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The article stresses the importance of limiting meats, dairy and eggs as well as refined and processed foods, and recommends that all physicians consider talking to their patients about adopting a healthy plant-based diet.  A plant-based diet includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, and unprocessed soy products such as tofu, tempeh and soy milk.

The report also suggests that physicians often shy away from discussing nutrition with their patients and are quick to prescribe medications.  Rising health care costs, in terms of prescription drugs and surgical procedures, suggest that focusing on preventive approaches such as healthy lifestyle choices can make a significant difference.

Researchers recommend that physicians receive education on nutrition and plant-based diets; encourage hospitals and cafeterias to serve plant-based meals; and advocate for plant-based diets as the first step of treatment for weight management, diabetes and heart-related issues such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

The Food & Nutrition Services team at WakeMed Cary Hospital is proud to report that we implemented Meatless Monday this January, and our cafeteria serves entrées, sandwiches and salads using healthy plant-based recipes.  We also serve meatless options on other days of the week.

Read the entire journal article for more information.

Parul Kharod, MS, RD, LDN, is a clinical dietitian at WakeMed Cary Hospital and the state coordinator for the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  With questions regarding plant-based diets or vegetarian nutrition, contact Parul at askadietitian@wakemed.org.  To schedule individual nutrition counseling sessions, call Cary Hospital Outpatient Nutrition Services at: 919-350-2358.

WakeMed is home to two Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Centers in Raleigh and Cary, and once again, the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are honoring these 24/7 dedicated stroke teams with national Get With The Guidelines® awards for the high-quality care they provide to stroke patients.

• WakeMed Cary Hospital – Stroke Gold Plus
• WakeMed Raleigh Campus – Stroke Silver Plus & Target: Stroke Honor Roll

These awards mean that the WakeMed Primary Stroke Centers team – the physicians, nurses, pharmacists, technicians, EMS providers and therapists who care for you – uses the latest proven technology, medications and techniques to help save your life and prevent permanent disabilities that can result from stroke.

Free Stroke Screening
As part of the Life + Style healthy living campaign, the WakeMed Primary Stroke Centers team is bringing stroke screening to the sidewalks of Cameron Village. Featured are free blood pressure screenings, stroke risk assessments and stroke awareness education.

Come see us at three locations on the sidewalks of Cameron Village (maps & directions):
* In front of Fresh Market
* In front of Fifi’s
* In front of Palm Avenue
Thursday, May 23
Cameron Village, Raleigh – 11 am to 2 pm

Too busy to make it to the event?

Learn more about stroke risk factors, prevention, and identification here.  

Also, take a few minutes to complete the online stroke risk assessment.

Wake Specialty Physicians – primary care is offering sports physicals for the price of a $20 donation to the school or organization of your choice.

No appointment is required. So, come on out and take advantage of this great deal in support of your favorite cause.

Wake Specialty Physicians – Garner Primary Care
Wednesday, May 22 & Thursday, May 23
5 to 7:30 pm

Wake Specialty Physicians – Apex Medical Group
Thursday, May 23
5 to 7:30 pm

Today, we officially launched a new website.  The site is designed to offer consumers candid dialogue about what works in healthcare, where there are opportunities for improvement as well as how WakeMed is addressing problems inherent in the current healthcare system.

The site presents issues that can be solved by hospitals, healthcare providers, insurance companies, consumers, and the government working together to enhance care for patients by making it more efficient, affordable, transparent, accessible and of the highest quality. 

Consumers deserve a straightforward dialogue – and meaningful answers – about the current state of the healthcare system in our country.  There is a lot that works, but there is also a lot that does not.  At WakeMed, we want to do more than talk about the problem. We want to fix it. 

Fixing the problems will require dedication and coordination across the healthcare continuum.  This means patients, insurance companies, lawmakers, physicians, caregivers, government and hospitals will have to be engaged in the process.  No one believes making changes to the system will be an easy journey, but it is necessary for the country to redirect its approach to healthcare.  Costs alone are impacting not only patient access but also the nation’s ability to compete economically.

One of the first areas of opportunity for hospitals is to be more transparent about healthcare costs and provide consumers with easy-to-understand bills.  At WakeMed, we are working toward that goal, and we will be detailing our journey as well as soliciting consumer feedback via the Let’s Fix This site.

- Bill Atkinson, WakeMed president & CEO

Visit the site to learn more.

Every single day, when we need them most, EMS is there. Without fail, they are ready, willing and able to take lifesaving action. During National EMS Week (May 19-25), and every week of the year, WakeMed acknowledges and honors the hard work and devotion of all the EMS providers serving to help keep our communities safe. From all of us at WakeMed, thank you.

Celebrate with Wake County EMS at their Open House.
Saturday, May 18, 10 am to 3 pm. EMS Station 1, 120 W. Davie Street, Raleigh.
Kids big and small will enjoy the vehicles on display, and CPR demonstrations.

In 2006, WakeMed first earned Level 1 Trauma Center designation, and remarkably was the first hospital in the state to move from a Level II to a Level I Trauma Center in 16 years. 

Yesterday, the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services renewed the Level 1 Trauma Center designation, citing:

• The excellent collaboration among area EMS providers, Trauma Service, Emergency Department and all the sub-specialty team members who care for trauma patients, including clinical team members, physicians, researchers and support staff
• An outstanding disaster preparedness program
• Noteworthy equipment, training techniques and facilities such as the Center for Innovative Learning
• A strong commitment to injury prevention, education and outreach

“Delivering superior trauma care is not only our responsibility, but our privilege,” commented Dr. Bill Atkinson, president and CEO.  “This re-designation exemplifies WakeMed’s commitment to trauma care and validates our expertise, experience and teamwork as a leader in this field.  Congratulations to all of our clinical team members, physicians, researchers, support staff and area EMS agencies who continue to set the standard in caring for trauma patients.”

WakeMed Raleigh Campus features Wake County’s only trauma center.  WakeMed’s trauma patient volume has increased by 93 percent during the past 10 years.

Thanks to Carolina Mudcats for visiting patients in the WakeMed Children’s Hospital today.  Later this summer, WakeMed and the Carolina Mudcats will partner for a special Families First event. Stay tuned for details.

Between Mother’s Day (May 12) and Father’s Day (June 16), the Women’s Pavilion & Birthplace at WakeMed Cary Hospital is hosting a diaper and wipes drive for families in need.

By partnering with The Diaper Train, a local not-for-profit diaper bank, diapers and wipes are distributed to organizations serving low-income families in Wake County.

Diapers in any size, pull-ups and baby wipes will be collected in bins located in the Women’s Pavilion & Birthplace lobby at Cary Hospital.

Anterior hip replacement is gaining in popularity because of its benefits to the patient. Only a handful of physicians in Wake County are certified in the anterior approach, including Dr. Timothy Harris and Russell Norris with Wake Orthopaedics.

The anterior approach to total hip replacement surgery means that doctors make the incision on the front of the hip rather than the side or back of the hip. It also makes it possible for the surgeon to spread the muscle instead of cutting it and separating it from the bone to replace your hip joint. This can reduce the pain patients feel during recovery. In addition to being a less painful approach, anterior hip replacement surgery offers the potential for less scarring, fewer restrictions during recovery, faster recovery and less chance of joint dislocation.

WRAL recently featured a story and interview with Dr. Harris. The New York Times also ran a story about the procedure and its benefits.