Aspirus Health Talk

Population Health Management is about looking at key groups of people and devising ways to maximize their wellness. In health care, it might focus on top users of health care services, or people with specific conditions, or people at high or rising risk for developing certain conditions. This is a very distinct departure from how health care traditionally addressed issues as they appeared, rather than preventing issues from developing at all or better managing existing conditions to maximize quality of life and avoid unnecessary problems.Listen as Renee Smith, MD., Chief Medical Director, Aspirus Network Inc, explains the practice of Population Health Management at Aspirus Networks inc.

Dry needling is an invasive procedure in which a solid filament needle is inserted into the skin and muscle directly at a myofascial triggerpoint. A myofascial trigger point consists of multiple contraction knots, which are related to the production and maintenance of the pain cycle. Listen as Matt Ironside, PT explains dry needling at Aspirus Riverview Therapies.

Our mental and emotional health can influence how we think, feel, and behave toward ourselves and others. It can also affect our ability to cope with stressors and to overcome challenges.Listen as Linda Murphy, LCSW discusses the importance of maintaining a  healthy mind and healthy body to help you stay emotionally well.  

The electronic health record is a powerful tool for today’s clinicians. It can provide access to current information in multiple locations at once, it can help avoid errors and duplication in service, and it can make care more convenient and timely for patients. But it has required, and continues to demand, changes in how doctors and other clinical workers provide care. Listen as Ryan Gossett, MD explains how Aspirus is leveraging this important and powerful new technology to benefit our patients.

Whether it's diet, exercise or any other new years resolution you might be considering, sticking with them may be a real challenge.Listen as Stacy Bussiere gives great advice about how to make resolutions to get healthier this year that you can really stick to.

Sleep is absolutely essential for your health and well being. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), 40 million Americans suffer from over 70 different sleep disorders and 60 percent of adults report having sleep problems a few nights a week or more.Listen in as David Warren, BS, explains the importance of a good nights sleep and how healthy sleep tips and healthy sleep habits can make a big difference in your quality of life.

Contraceptives are devices, drugs, or methods for preventing pregnancy either by preventing the fertilization of the female egg by the male sperm or by preventing implantation of the fertilized egg.Choosing the appropriate contraceptive is a personal decision. Listen in as Peggy Groeneveld, pharmacist with Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital, discusses questions to consider when selecting a birth control method.

Quite a few people will make comments similar to; “Oh I’ve never had good balance.” Or they say, “I get dizzy, but it goes away eventually. There’s nothing to be done for it."Kaitlin Eichman, Physical Therapist with Aspirus Therapy and Fitness- Medford, is able to address these statements. She discusses the 3 main systems that affect one’s balance/vestibular well-being, as well as the different services offered at Aspirus and what might be available within your community that are beneficial for your balance, as well as overall wellness.

MyAspirus E-Visits provide patients with increased access to Aspirus providers for non-emergency health care concerns without the need to travel to an in-person office visit.E-Visits can help established Aspirus patients with minor medical concerns through a secure online questionnaire available to anyone with a MyAspirus account.Listen in as Laurence R. Gordon, DO explains how MyAspirus lets you view your medical information online to help you be your own best health advocate.

If you have concerns about the ability of an aging parent or relative to live independently, you may want to investigate assisted living—and sooner rather than later. When that time has come to consider moving into an assisted living facility, how do you choose an assisted living that is right for you or your loved one? .Some important questions to consider are: What types of services are offered, and how much does it cost?Sherry Meyer, coordinator of Admissions and Marketing for Senior Care Services, is here to answer these and other great questions about assisted living facilities.

Honoring Choices is a free program offering individuals help with advance care planning. It is held the fourth Tuesday of every month at Aspirus Medford Hospital (135 South Gibson St., Medford).Advance care planning involves thinking about future medical decisions, including end-of-life preferences.An Advance Directive is a document that allows you to appoint someone to make your health care decisions in the event that you become unable to make decisions for yourself.Listen in as Sherry Meyer explains the Honoring Choices program at Aspirus Medford Hospital & Clinics.To learn more about upcoming Honoring Choices: Advance Care Planning classes please call Aspirus Customer Contact CenterM-F, 8am - 5:30pm (Central)715-847-2380 | 800-847-4707

Helping shape your children's behavior is a key part of being a parent. It can be difficult as well as rewarding. While at times it can be challenging, a few key principles can help. Parenting is one of the most important responsibilities we will ever undertake. Yet what training do we receive for this awesome task?So, how do you raise happy and responsible children? Emily Tracey, PA-C is here to give advice to parents on how children learn by watching everyone around them, especially their parents, and when you use manners and good coping strategies, you teach your children to do the same.

It might look like your child is just "playing", but your child is hard at work learning important physical skills as they gain muscle control, balance, and coordination. Parents should give their child many opportunities to practice their developing skills while providing supervision so they stay safe while they learn and grow.Emily Tracey PA-C, is here to discuss how parents can help in the overall development of their child by allowing them to explore and experience all varieties of great activities.

Elderly patients are at high risk for depression and cognitive disorders. As the population ages, many older adults will suffer one or more of the three D's: delirium, dementia, and depression. Because signs and symptoms overlap, distinguishing one from the others isn't always easy. Yet an accurate assessment is essential because treatments depend on the diagnosisListen is as Evalyn Michira, MSN, RN, Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist at Aspirus Health System, helps families of elderly patients learn what to look for to recognize the 3 Ds: Delirium, Dementia & Depression, so that the best help for their loved one may be administered.

Is your aging parent at risk of falling or tripping. This can result in broken bones or more serious injuries. Making changes in their home helps lower their risk of falling.Re-organizing their home is the first step to help prevent falls. For example, to help stay safe in the bathroom, put hand rails in the bathtub or shower and next to the toilet. Listen in as Nicky Kollmansberger, RN discusses what you can do for your aging parent to help keep them safe from falls and injuries in their home.

Aspirus providers, dieticians and diabetes educators work with patients of all ages and all types of diabetes. We know having diabetes or prediabetes greatly impacts your life and can be difficult to manage, but we work with you as a team to manage your condition and prevent complications from occurring.If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes we can help you manage and care for your condition in the healthiest way possible!Listen in as Beth Cook, RD, CDE explains that having prediabetes is a wake-up call to take action to improve your health.

The varying types of Arthritis affect more than 53 million people in the U.S.For millions of Americans with arthritis, the pain can affect every part of their everyday lives. The stiffness can keep people home from work, and keep them from enjoying things the rest of us take for granted.Listen in as Mark A. Kelley, MD discusses arthritis and the treatment options available to you through Aspirus Health System.

Doctors are increasingly convinced that restful and regular sleep is just as important to their patients’ health as exercise and a balanced diet.Overcoming a sleep disorder and getting a good night’s rest has many benefits for overall health and quality of life. Sleep is important for learning and forming memories. Getting a good night’s sleep can give you more energy, and can increase your productivity and safety throughout the day. Perhaps most importantly, healthy sleep can greatly reduce the risk of serious health problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and depression.Sleep disorders are problems with sleeping, including trouble falling or staying asleep, falling asleep at the wrong times, too much sleep, or abnormal behaviors during sleep.Shannon Handler, FNP is here to explain the importance of a good nights sleep.

Why would someone see a women’s health or pelvic health physical therapist?The pelvic floor is a group of muscles in your pelvic area. These muscles support the organs in your pelvis like a sling.Pelvic floor dysfunction can cause incontinence, slow urine stream, vaginal or rectal pain, painful sex and constipation.Pam Meyer, a Physical Therapist with Aspirus Outpatient Therapy Services, is here to help you better understand pelvic floor dysfunction and how physical therapy can help to relieve these symptoms.

Dyspareunia (painful intercourse) refers to pain in the pelvic area during or after intercourse, and can occur in both women and men. Besides possible physical causes, pain may occur in association with psychological factors such as previous sexual trauma.A pelvic exam can confirm the diagnosis. A medical history and complete physical exam are needed to look for other causes of pain with sexual intercourse.Dr. Bonita Kolrud, a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology with Riverview Family Clinic in Wisconsin Rapids, is here to explain what can be done to help you with painful intercourse.