Pennock Hospital offers Healthy Generations, our community newsletter designed to give you information you need to life and healthy and active life. Pennock Health Services, Where Your Health Matters.
Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/188646
Dear Friends, 2 H EALTH Y G EN ER ATI ON S Change has become a constant in health care, and Healthy Generations is no exception. We have expanded this issue to bring you more information about staying or getting healthy. The greatest healthcare changes come in 2014 with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. In October, new affordable health insurance options became available through online insurance marketplaces. On pages 6 and 7, you can learn about these options and some of what is ahead. Continuing the theme of change, page 8 looks at physician's assistants and nurse practitioners, two types of care providers that are increasingly important as preventive medicine becomes more prominent in health care. FIND THE HIDDEN STETHOSCOPE Find the hidden stethoscope in this issue of Healthy Generations—see details below—to win a Pennock coffee mug and pound of State Grounds Coffee. Page 9 examines digestive health challenges unique to women and offers tips on how they can maintain good gastrointestinal health. 1) Send an email or postcard with your name, address, and phone number, along with the page number and location of the stethoscope, and tell us what you think of our new, expanded magazine and any topics you would like to know more about. Meet our new obstetrician and gynecologist below: Dr. Robert Valice, who brings expertise in robotic-assisted surgery to Pennock Health Services. Dr. Valice's practice includes using our new da Vinci® Surgical System to perform minimally invasive gynecologic surgery that allows women to experience less pain and return to normal activities sooner. 2) Send email to jdalman@pennock health.com, subject line: Health, or mail to: Pennock Marketing, 1009 W. Green St., Hastings, MI 49058. Hospice care, which is discussed on page 11, can provide pain relief, physical comfort, and spiritual support in the final months of life to patients with a terminal diagnosis. Unfortunately many families do not know when the move to hospice care can be made, and they wait until their loved one is not far from death. Other articles in this issue look at ways you can stay healthy, including better eating and healthy activities during your lunch hour (page 3) and keeping your brain in shape with mentally challenging activities, good nutrition, and physical activity (page 10). At Pennock, one thing that will not change is our commitment to provide people in West Michigan with caring and convenient medical services. Thank you for making us your healthcare partner. I hope you enjoy this issue of Healthy Generations. Sincerely, Sheryl Lewis Blake, FACHE Chief Executive Officer Meet Dr. Valice Robert A. Valice, MD, FACOG, OB-GYN at Pennock Health Services Why did I go into medicine? I come from a family with many members in the medical field, so I grew up seeing the value medicine can add to people's lives. I first received my undergraduate degree in accounting. While considering positions in that field, I chose to follow my lifelong passion for medicine. Why did I choose my specialty? I was drawn to obstetrics and gynecology because of the joy you can bring to a family and the impact you can make to better patients' lives. Why do I practice robotic surgery? My gynecological practice has always focused on minimally invasive procedures. When the da Vinci® Surgical System became available, I immediately had an interest. My patients seem to experience far less pain and return to normal activities sooner when they choose robotic surgery. Where am I when I'm not working? Every chance I get, I spend time with my daughter and three sons. I also love outdoor activities. Running, biking, swimming, kayaking, golfing, hiking—if it's outdoors, I'll do it. 3) A winning entry will be drawn from all responses received by November 15, 2013. You must be 18 or older to enter. Employees and immediate family members of Pennock Health Services are not eligible. The mission of Pennock Health Services is to provide quality health services delivered in a personal, professional, and progressive manner in partnership with the community. Our vision is to be the best community healthcare organization delivering exceptional quality and personalized care. Chief Executive Officer Sheryl Lewis Blake, FACHE Editor-in-Chief Janine Dalman Publisher Liz Presnell Managing Editor Rich Bailey Contributing Writers Thomas Crocker, Melissa Moore, Colin Stayton, Rachel Stewart, Jonelle Todd, and Laura Ward Designer Skye Childers Developed By True North Custom, (800) 624-7496 This publication in no way seeks to diagnose or treat illness or to serve as a substitute for professional medical care. Please see your physician if you have a health problem.