WakeMed’s new expansion of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) opened to patients on February 20, 2014.  Not only did it add 12 new patient beds, but it marked the introduction of “single-room care” for NICU patients, which includes 27 private rooms.  Single-room care allows families to spend almost unlimited time with their babies and makes it easier for nursing mothers to have privacy.

Carol Engrahm, RNC-NIC, has worked as a nurse on the NICU at WakeMed for almost 24 years.  She recently shared her thoughts about the NICU expansion – also called the “Garden of Life” expansion – and how it has positively impacted staff, patients and families.

Our new, individual-room NICU is very different than our existing unit.  Every baby and family has a private room.  As a nurse who has only worked in an open concept NICU, I had a few apprehensions at first.  I am used to actually “seeing” all of my patients and families and being accessible to them instantly.  However, after working a couple of shifts [in the new expansion], my fears were gone.  With the monitors and nurse call system going directly to my phone, and with central monitoring outside of the rooms, we are always within safe and easy accessibility.  If there are any changes in a baby’s heart rate or other vital signs, I know immediately through a ring to my phone. 

I take a lot of comfort in knowing that our babies can only benefit from being in the private rooms.  They are not subjected to the noise, lighting and other disturbances that can be experienced in the open NICU.  The surroundings in each private room can also be tailored to each baby’s needs.  For example, lighting can be adjusted to different levels, parents can provide music to play softly and the TVs are controlled through the nurse call system in-room pillow speaker so the volume is never blasted throughout the room.  Some rooms have windows to the outside as well.  These windows are controlled by an advanced blind system that can let in as much or as little outside light as a family prefers.

It’s been wonderful to see that families love the private rooms.  As a nurse, it’s a priceless feeling to observe families relaxing with their babies.  They are sheltered from the happenings in the rest of the unit, such as light, noise and other critical situations close to them, and they can truly focus on their own baby.  I believe this allows them to bond sooner and more closely.  They can “learn” their baby as a true individual and have private time to be a family .  It can sometimes be difficult for NICU parents to feel like they are actually “parents” while their baby is a patient.  The individual rooms in the Garden of Life expansion help give them more control of their baby’s care, as well as more alone time with baby.

I love the Garden of Life expansion.  It’s beautiful and calming both to me and the babies and families for which I have cared.  Whenever you can say that a critical care unit is “beautiful and calming,” it’s quite impactful.  The expansion is so quiet even when it’s busy – I can’t imagine a NICU expanding in a different format now that I have seen and experienced these benefits.  It will truly help foster and provide family-centered care.

To learn more about WakeMed’s newly expanded NICU, click here. Thank you to Carol Engrahm, RNC-NIC,  for sharing her thoughts and perspective for this post!

This week (March 2 – 9) is National Sleep Awareness Week, marking a time when we should all think about issues concerned with sleep and evaluate if we are getting enough of it.  To support us in this effort is Dr. Asma Afzal of WakeMed Physician Practices – Parkway Primary Care in Cary, N.C.  She offers helpful information on sleep and how to get more of it.

Every part of the body benefits from sleep.  Our tissues, brain, heart and muscles all need enough rest to rejuvenate themselves each day and function properly.  For adults, getting enough sleep means 6 to 8 hours per day.  Teenagers often need about 9 hours of sleep each day, while babies, toddlers and children need even more because they are still growing.

A lack of sleep can have negative effects on your body.  Without enough sleep, you will probably not feel well or you’ll feel a bit off.  You might have trouble focusing or concentrating, suffer from headaches or not be able to function as you normally do.  You may feel slower or even sluggish.  If lack of sleep becomes a chronic problem, you could experience feelings of fatigue and even become depressed.

In general, you really can’t “catch up” on your sleep.  For example, sleeping more on the weekends than on the weekdays will not create the same health benefits as habitually getting enough rest on a daily basis.  If you are having trouble getting enough sleep each night, below are some strategies that may help you create better sleep habits or “good sleep hygiene.”

• Don’t eat, read or watch TV in your bed – use your bed for sleeping only.  Allowing your mind to connect your bed directly with sleep will help you fall asleep faster and more soundly.
• Turn off the lights in your bedroom, and cover any light coming from your alarm clock or other electronic devices.  Lights can affect your ability to fall asleep.
• Use a sound machine in your room.  Sometimes calming background noise can be helpful for falling and staying asleep.
• Take a warm bath before bed to help your body relax and prepare for sleep.
• Avoid caffeine and other stimulants after noon each day.  They can stay in your system for several hours and affect your ability to fall asleep at night.

Additionally, some people find that taking an over-the-counter, natural supplement such as melatonin helps them regulate their sleep cycle.

If snoring coupled with weight gain is an issue for you or your partner, you should schedule an appointment with your physician as sleep apnea could be a concern.  Sleep apnea is a condition that causes you to stop breathing during sleep.  Learn more about snoring and sleep apnea.

It is vitally important to practice good sleep hygiene for your overall health and well-being.  Remember that sleep is just as important to your health as exercise and eating a nutritious diet.  Make it a priority and enjoy reaching your full potential each day.

You may be wondering if your doctor’s appointment or scheduled procedure will proceed in spite of the winter weather.  As of 9 pm on Tuesday, March 3, the following services and offices will have modified hours. We will continue to update this blog as additional closings or delays are announced. Thank you!

Delayed Opening at 10 am on Tuesday, March 4:

• All WakeMed Physician Practices locations
• Accent Urgent Care - Raleigh & Cary locations
• WakeMed North Healthplex – Day Surgery, Outpatient Imaging and Lab
• WakeMed Apex Healthplex, Garner Healthplex and Brier Creek Healthplex– Outpatient Imaging and Lab
• Clayton Medical Park – Outpatient Imaging and Rehab
• Raleigh Medical Park (not including Capital City Surgery Center)
• WakeMed Healthworks
• All WakeMed Outpatient Rehab locations

*Note: WakeMed emergency departments are never closed nor do they ever have delayed openings!

Winter Health & Safety Information Please read these previous blog posts to help you and your family stay safe during winter weather events. WakeMed Emergency Departments typically see numerous weather-related accidents during each significant winter storm. Take special precautions to ensure you and your family’s health and safety.

• Falls – Falls are the number one injury we see during winter weather. Be careful.
• Wrist Injuries - The snow and ice that the season often brings can lead to slippery conditions outside. Wrists frequently take the brunt of a fall.
• Sledding Accidents – Sleds can be great fun, but they can also be extremely dangerous. See our previous blog about the proper way to sled and for goodness sakes wear a helmet!
• Preparedness on the Road – Remember the .25 inch of ice in 2005 that caused some to have an 8-hour commute? Preparedness is key to survival.
• Heart Health – Winter can put a strain on your heart. Learn how to protect yourself.
• Winter Blues – Being stuck inside can impact your mood. Learn how to stay happy and avoid cabin fever.
• Activities for Kids - After the snow turns to slush, entertaining the kids can be challenging. Use these tips to make everyone – even mom and dad – enjoy the snow day.
• In Labor & Snowed In? – Our best advice to you.

You hope it never happens to you, your family or your friends, but it is good to know  if you have a heart attack that the emergency responders and hospitals are on the ball.  Part One of this suspenseful video takes you behind the scenes of a Code STEMI in Wake County from the scene into the intensive care unit.

Learn more about Code STEMI and induced hypothermia.  

If you are having trouble viewing the video, click here for a direct link.

Contrary to popular belief, joint pain is not a normal part of aging. If your joints hurt, arthritis may be the culprit. Arthritis is the inflammation of a joint, and it can affect any structure inside a joint including the lining, bones, cartilage and supporting tissues.  Someone with arthritis may experience pain, stiffness, swelling, joint tenderness, limited mobility or even deformity.  Also, performing daily tasks will likely be challenging.  Arthritis can be caused by wear and tear, an infection, an injury or an autoimmune condition.

You may be surprised to learn that there are 106 different types of arthritis; however, the two most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Affecting 50 percent of people over the age of 50, osteoarthritis is often called the “wear and tear” arthritis and can lead to breakdown of cartilage that covers the bones.  When bone rubs against bone, it can be very painful.  Rheumatoid arthritis affects 1.3 million Americans and is an immune-mediated disease.  It destroys cartilage while weakening tendons.  This leaves a person to suffer from pain, fatigue, fever and even anemia.

An evaluation by your physician is important to determining the type of arthritis you are suffering from and the treatment that will best help alleviate your symptoms.  The goal of any arthritis treatment is to improve quality of life and help decrease pain and suffering. 

An evaluation can include a physical exam, questions about your health history, lab tests, an X-ray(s), an MRI/CT scan and a joint fluid evaluation.  From there, your physician will discuss various treatments with you.  You might be prescribed medication or advised to use over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol, Aleve or Ibuprofen/Motrin.  Vitamins/supplements and some herbal/natural products may also help.  Other medications include dietary supplements and joint injections (steroid or synthetic joint fluid).  Additionally, other non-medication treatments include:

• Exercise programs
• Physical therapy
• Weight loss
• Assistive devices – i.e. cane, walker, etc.
• Hot/cold treatments
• Orthoses – i.e. shoe inserts or braces
• Acupuncture

If your arthritis is severe enough, surgery could be required.  Procedures such as arthroscopy and joint irrigation, realignment, fusion, joint replacement and cartilage grafting can help correct the condition.

Treatment is not only essential to helping alleviate your arthritis symptoms, it’s important to your overall health and well-being.  When you can be more mobile, you can perform more physical activity which benefits your overall health and well-being.  If you feel you could be suffering from arthritis, contact WakeMed Physician Practices – Morrisville Primary Care for an evaluation: (919) 235-6405. 

Dr. Swapna Chenna is a physician with WakeMed Physician Practices – Morrisville Primary Care.

This week, WakeMed opened its newly expanded Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). 

By adding 12 new patient beds, the expansion brings the total number of NICU beds to 48.  It also marks the introduction of “single-room care,” with 27 private rooms opening for babies and their families. 

Single-room care in the NICU represents an extension of WakeMed’s focus on patient- & family-centered care.  This format also allows families to spend almost unlimited time with their babies and creates more privacy for a mother to bond, breastfeed and care for her infant(s).

“Not only is the concept of care different, but the environment and approach is changing too,” said Tom Young, MD, (WakeMed Neonatology). “Improving the environment for families to spend quality time with their babies is very important, and the single-room care concept allows us to do that.”

The only one of its kind in Wake County, WakeMed’s NICU is already accustomed to operating at a high level of excellence.  The unit’s team of experienced nurses, physicians and pediatric specialists treats more than 600 premature infants and critically ill babies each year. 

In 2012, the WakeMed NICU was the proud recipient of the PRC Crystal Award – it had the highest patient satisfaction score out of 29 NICUs surveyed across the country.  The unit was also officially certified by the international Newborn Individualized Development Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP), only the fourth NICU in the world to receive this honor.  NIDCAP certification recognizes the excellent level of care the unit provides its infants and their families, as well as the exceptional level of care that is upheld for nursery staff.

The expansion of the WakeMed NICU was part of the WakeMed Foundation’s Just For Kids Kampaign, a $20 million fundraising effort. 

Learn more about the WakeMed NICU and view recent media coverage about the unit’s opening, includng this adorable video by News & Observer photographer Corey Lowenstein,  WRAL’s Go Ask Mom blog & watch for more in the News & Observer’s Sunday edition.

Athletes are not the only ones with Olympic dreams.  For Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer Elizabeth Coleman, the Olympics are a perfect place to share her special talent too.

Lizy in front of the rings at the Olympic Training Center

It takes a lot of skill and dedication to help Olympic athletes deliver their peak performance.  Athletic trainers, physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, doctors, dietitians, coaches and other support staff all serve as a sort of a ‘pit crew’ to help the athletes succeed.

Elizabeth (Lizy) Coleman has been a physical therapist and athletic trainer for 25 years.  Prior to joining WakeMed, she practiced at Beaumont Hospital in Detroit and came to know many of the trainers and athletes associated with the Detroit Figure Skating Club – one of the top three figure skating training sites in the United States.  The experiences she had treating the athletes has fueled her desire to one day go to the Olympic Games.

To get to the Olympics as an athletic trainer, you have to be almost as dedicated as the athletes.  A trainer must have worked with a professional team, which Coleman did when she was the head athletic trainer for the Carolina RailHawks for three seasons.  A trainer must have experience treating athletes during large competitions.  Lizy has  spent countless hours volunteering for championship events like the Figure Skating Sectionals and Nationals in North Carolina and many events at the Detroit Skating Club.  A trainer must also become part of the national provider network for their chosen sport.

Lizy is well on her way to achieving her Olympic dreams, recently becoming part of the National Provider Network for U.S. Figure Skating and completing a two-week volunteer opportunity at one of the Olympic Training Centers in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Although she paid her own way to get to the Training Center and took vacation time from her real job treating outpatient rehab patients at WakeMed to volunteer, once onsite she shared transportation, accommodations and food with the athletes.  (Lizy confirmed that the athletes have it pretty good!)  She provided therapy for Olympic hopefuls including figure skaters, wrestlers, gymnasts, weight lifters and paralympics athletes.

Treating these athletes helps put physical therapists and athletic trainers at the top of their game.  Not only do they need to know the latest techniques and treatments, but they also have to be able to quickly fix issues athletes have had for some time but have ignored all while under tremendous pressure from athletes and coaches.

But the benefits are worth it.  Just think how it would feel to watch the Olympics through Lizy’s eyes.  She knows Charlie White and Meryl Davis, has met Ashley Wagner, Gracie Gold and many of the coaches from the U.S. Figure Skating Team.  And, one day, maybe Lizy will be there marching in with the athletes in the opening ceremonies and on the sidelines cheering the athletes on as well.

Since WakeMed performed Wake County’s first open heart surgery in 1968, we’ve led the way in heart care. Today, WakeMed Heart Center is the area’s leader in cardiovascular care by partnering with our patients and families, physicians, clinicians and community resources to support heart health and well-being, while managing complex cardiovascular conditions, navigating ongoing care and achieving optimum health.

Our outstanding team of cardiologists, surgeons, nurses and specialists representing the highest level of expertise while utilizing the latest technology/techniques in our care for you. It’s this exceptional care and our commitment to quality and safety that has made WakeMed a cardiac leader and innovator for more than 50 years.

And we are proud to be a pioneer in Wake County, and beyond, for offering breakthrough procedures, treatments and operations:

• First Open Heart Surgery in Wake County
• First Cardiac Catheterization Procedure in Wake County
• First Angioplasty Procedure in Wake County
• First Transradial Angioplasty in the United States
• First in Wake County to treat blocked arteries with stents
• First in Wake County to use drug-eluting stents
• First in the prevention of restenosis
• First in Wake County to open carotid arteries with stents
• First minimally invasive heart surgery in Wake County
• First Hypothermia treatment in Cardiac Arrest
• First in North Carolina with 24/7 complete on-site Catheterization Lab operations
• First Wake County interventional carotid stent for stroke
• First Catheterization Lab requiring 100% Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialists (RCIS) credentials for team members in the United States

Another First in Wake County – Subcutaneous Implantable Defibrillator
Patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest are now offered a revolutionary new option in defibrillation therapy – the Subcutaneous Implantable Defibrillator (S-ICD system), a new technology that provides lifesaving measures of defibrillation therapy without touching the heart.

Nationally Recognized in Cardiac Care
U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals ranks WakeMed as “high performing in cardiology and heart surgery.” Our heart and vascular programs also received the following recognitions for outstanding quality:

• WakeMed was chosen to participate in the American College of Cardiology Patient Navigator Program providing personalized services for patients.
• American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation’s NCDR ACTION Registry – Get With the Guidelines Platinum Performance Achievement Award – Recognizing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients.
• Get With the Guidelines – Heart Failure Gold Quality Achievement Award – Recognizing heart failure care according to the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology recommended guidelines.
• WakeMed Raleigh Campus received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® Gold Quality Achievement Award STEMI Receiving Center for our commitment and success in implementing the highest standard of care for heart attack patients.
• WakeMed Health & Hospitals is a Blue Distinction Center+ for Cardiac Care by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.
• WakeMed’s Heart Failure Program and Chest Pain Centers – Nationally accredited by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care.

For more information about the innovative heart and vascular services offered at WakeMed Heart Center, visit hearts.wakemed.org.

You may be wondering if your doctor’s appointment or scheduled procedure will proceed in spite of the winter weather.  As of 9 am on Thursday, February 13, the following services, meetings and offices will have modified hours.  We will continue to update this blog as additional closings or delays are announced.  Thank you!

Closed Thursday, reopening at 10 am on Friday:

• All WakeMed Physician Practices locations
• Accent Urgent Care - Raleigh & Cary locations
• All WakeMed Outpatient Rehab locations
• WakeMed North Healthplex – Day Surgery, Outpatient Imaging and Lab
• WakeMed Apex Healthplex, Garner Healthplex and Brier Creek Healthplex– Outpatient Imaging and Lab
• Clayton Medical Park – Outpatient Imaging and Rehab
• Raleigh Medical Park (not including Capital City Surgery Center)
• WakeMed Healthworks
• Wound Care

Open 11 am to 7 pm Thursday:

• WakeMed Outpatient Pharmacy

*Note: WakeMed emergency departments are never closed nor do they ever have delayed openings!

Winter Health & Safety Information

Please read these previous blog posts to help you and your family stay safe during winter weather events.  WakeMed Emergency Departments typically see numerous weather-related accidents during each significant winter storm.  Take special precautions to ensure you and your family’s health and safety.

• Falls – Falls are the number one injury we see during winter weather.  Be careful.
• Wrist Injuries - The snow and ice that the season often brings can lead to slippery conditions outside.  Wrists frequently take the brunt of a fall.
• Sledding Accidents – Sleds can be great fun, but they can also be extremely dangerous.  See our previous blog about the proper way to sled and for goodness sakes wear a helmet!
• Preparedness on the Road – Remember the .25 inch of ice in 2005 that caused some to have an 8-hour commute? Preparedness is key to survival.
• Heart Health – Winter can put a strain on your heart. Learn how to protect yourself.
• Winter Blues – Being stuck inside can impact your mood.  Learn how to stay happy and avoid cabin fever.
• Activities for Kids - After the snow turns to slush, entertaining the kids can be challenging.  Use these tips to make everyone – even mom and dad – enjoy the snow day.
• In Labor & Snowed In? – Our best advice to you.

WTVD’s Amber Rupinta interviewed WakeMed Dietitian Shelley Wilkins to learn about the impact gluten free has on grocery bills.  The piece offers tips on how to stretch your budget while grocery shopping for gluten-free foods.   Shelley mentions that following a gluten-free diet can raise your existing grocery bill by about 20 to 30 percent, especially if your grocery list historically featured lots of convenience items and processed high-sugar foods.  She also gave some good tips on what foods are naturally gluten free and how to read labels to make sure what you are buying is truly gluten free.  

For individual nutrition counseling, call WakeMed Outpatient Nutrition Services at 919-350-2358.