Rhea Medical Center

From the CEO Dear Friends, We are so pleased to bring you another issue of Better Living, an opportunity to highlight Rhea Medical Center’s vital relationship with the community. As you thumb through the pages of this issue, you might notice we’re talking a lot about all the choices you and your family have when selecting a trusted health care provider. We are always so grateful when you choose RMC for your medical needs. We treasure your trust. You may be surprised to learn about RMC’s access to prominent regional specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of stroke. On page 3, we tell you how quick response and Telestroke technology came to the rescue for one area woman. This issue is packed with insightful information from the RMC team about common medical issues your family could potentially face, including heart disease (page 4), pregnancy care (page 6) and immunization (page 7). When you choose Rhea Medical Center, you have our deep appreciation because we know you do have a choice. Sincerely, Ken Croom, Jr.Chief Executive OfficerRhea Medical Center Find the Leaf! Find the hidden leaf in this issue to be entered into a drawing for a $25 gas card! To enter, send an email with the location of the leaf, as well as your phone number and address, to Debra Lawson at dlawson@rheamedical.org. All entries must be received by Oct. 26, 2012. Employees of Rhea Medical Center and their immediate family members are not eligible to win. Uncovering AUTISM The Centers for disease Control and Prevention estimates autism affects 1 out of every 88 children in the United States. Despite an increase in reported cases of autism, there is no medical method or test available to definitively detect the condition. The disorder affects patients in a number of ways, and no two cases are identical, which makes confirming a diagnosis difficult. Parents must collaborate with health providers to discover whether their children have the disorder. General observation is the primary diagnostic tool used to identify cases of autism. Most often, parents recognize symptoms of the disorder in the course of their child’s daily activities. Symptoms are typically evident by age 2 or 3, and may include: + Developmental delays + Difficulty interacting with others socially + Short attention span Current clinical standards for diagnosing autism involve a series of behavioral evaluations targeted at autism-specific symptoms. Working together, parents and pediatricians, along with behavioral specialists, are capable of uncovering autism and developing a care plan tailored to the child’s needs. Rhea Medical Center 9400 Rhea County Hwy Dayton, TN 37321 Chief Executive Officer - Ken Croom Chief financial Officer - Harv Sanders Administrative Assistant - Debra Lawson Publisher - Ashley Cavin Designer - Stephanie Wheeler Managing Editor - Mike Darnold To Subscribe or unsubscribe, write to: Better Living Magazine, Rhea Medical Center, 735 Broad Street, Suite 708, Chattanooga, TN 37402 or email Debra Lawson at dlawson@rheamedical.org Better Living is published quarterly as a service of Rhea Medical Center. For more information about RMC, visit rheamedical.org. This publication in no way seeks to serve as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.

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