Jordan Valley Medical Center

Summer 2011

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A “CAIS” Worth Considering Moms to Be, Get HIPP What if you could be rewarded for working toward a healthy pregnancy? By participating in the Health Incentives Pregnancy Program (HIPP) at Jordan Valley Medical Center, you can. B eing overweight or obese during conception and throughout pregnancy puts a woman at higher risk for infertility, miscarriage, hypertension, gestational diabetes, blood clots, more difficult labor and possible cesarean section delivery. It also puts the baby at risk for birth defects, low blood sugar and jaundice. On the other hand, a woman who begins pregnancy at an ideal weight is more likely to experience fewer complications and to have a healthy baby. REWARDING GOOD HEALTH “An increasing number of women in our pregnant population struggle with overweight and obesity issues,” says Kathleen M. Langer, M.D., OB/GYN on the medical staff at Jordan Valley. “We’re seeing more high-risk pregnancies due to weight-related issues than ever before. We created HIPP in an effort to reverse this trend.” HIPP participants are challenged to work toward a healthy weight prior to pregnancy and to gain only the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy. “HIPP works on a points system, so we encourage women to sign up during the early part of their prenatal course,” Dr. Langer explains. “Points are awarded for attending seminars and exercise classes and keeping a daily diet and fitness journal. Points can be used toward pregnancy massages, reduced physician delivery fees and discounts on newborn photography.” For more information about how to get involved in HIPP, call 1-866-431-WELL (9355). WA Follow us: 2 Jordan Valley Medical Center is helping lead the way in orthopedic research as one of only 26 sites in the country involved in a study to test the effectiveness of a new treatment for knee cartilage defects. (CAIS™) is designed to prevent T small cartilage lesions — holes in the tissue responsible for cushioning the ends of bones at joints — from progressing into arthritis. People with such lesions, which are often only detectable using magnetic resonance imaging, typically experience pain, swelling and locking of the joint. These people may also have found conservative pain relief avenues, such as low-impact exercise and anti-inflammatory medications, unsuccessful. IT’S ALL IN THE CELLS According to S. Charles Marshall, M.D., orthopedic surgeon on the medical staff at Jordan Valley and a principal investigator for the CAIS study, the 10-year project led by an affiliate of Johnson & Johnson is the largest cartilage repair study of its kind ever performed in the United States. “Using a special shaving instrument, the surgeon removes normal cartilage from a location on the upper edge of the knee where it’s not needed,” Dr. Marshall says. “The cartilage is then spread and glued onto a bioabsorbable membrane that looks like a doily. Once the membrane is in place, the cartilage cells on it regrow, replacing the lesions with normal cartilage.” CAIS surgeries will be performed at Jordan Valley in the future as the study continues. “All of the preliminary results for the CAIS are good — we just need to prove it works well on people,” says Dr. Marshall. “If so, I believe the CAIS will be much better than the current standard procedure. It is just one way Jordan Valley remains at the forefront of medicine.” For more information about the CAIS study or to find a physician, call 1-866-431-WELL (9355). WA he Cartilage Autograft Implantation System

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