Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

The holiday season is so busy. You run around buying presents, attending parties, and visiting family and friends. But the end of the year is not a great time to let your diet slip. The problem with holding on to those holiday pounds is it adds up year after year. Betsy Oriolo, MS, RD, LD, CDE a Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Educator at the St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center says, “Most of us will gain some amount of weight over the holidays. While some people can lose it once the new year starts, some of us have a harder…

At St. Elizabeth Healthcare, we know that a breast cancer diagnosis can be shocking and overwhelming. We offer comprehensive care from the moment of your breast cancer diagnosis through your surgery, treatments, recovery and beyond. Our breast cancer care protocol has recently expanded to include meeting with a genetic counselor shortly after your diagnosis. New guidelines recommend multi-gene panel genetic testing be offered to all newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, regardless of age or family history. “Genetic information can be very impactful,” says Justine Snyder, Licensed Genetic Counselor in the Precision Medicine and Genetics program at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. “Our…

Many of us have experienced the “pee a little when you sneeze” phenomenon. Urinary incontinence isn’t something you have to live with – and it isn’t a normal part of pregnancy and post-partum life. Pregnancy and Leaking Urine: Why does it happen? More than 46 percent of pregnant women have trouble with leaking urine. Following pregnancy, one in three women report having decreased bladder control after childbirth – and almost 80 percent of women are unable to properly contract their pelvic floor muscles one year after having a baby. “Pregnancy and labor/delivery causes increased stress on the pelvic floor,” says…

In honor of National Midwifery Week, St. Elizabeth Healthcare is celebrating our midwives and the tremendous services they bring to our healthcare network. What is a Nurse-Midwife? It’s a common myth that nurse-midwives don’t have a formal education and only perform home births. That couldn’t be further from the truth! All certified nurse-midwives (CNM) are advanced practice registered nurses. At St. Elizabeth, our six certified nurse-midwives have their nursing degrees and a Master of Science degree with a specialization in Nurse-Midwifery. Additionally, our nurse-midwife team delivers babies exclusively at Edgewood and the Birthing Center at St. Elizabeth Dearborn. All St.…

According to the American Cancer Society, one man in nine will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. The good news is, there is a 99% five-year survival rate for men diagnosed with this cancer. Depending on the stage and type of prostate cancer diagnosed, treatment options may vary from surgery to radiation or chemotherapy. If radiation is needed, a new option that is proven to significantly reduce radiation side effects in prostate cancer patients was recently introduced at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Minimizing Side Effects While Targeting Prostate Cancer SpaceOAR Hydrogel can be used to help protect your quality…

The leaves turning colors, a crispness in the air, pumpkins appearing on every corner – it must be fall. Along with pulling out the jackets and autumn decor, it’s important to also take protective steps for your health by getting your annual flu shot. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu vaccines are created to match viruses that have been circulating through the population. Each seasonal flu vaccine is specifically created for that year to offer the most protection. Flu vaccines are widely available without a prescription, and most health plans will cover the vaccine without any…

Are you looking to shed a few pounds, or just feel better about yourself? A recent study found that cutting as few as 300 calories a day for an extended period can have significant benefits, including weight loss and improved health. “This study is important because it shows that even small changes can have positive results,” says Rachel Wagner, MS, LD, a Licensed Dietitian at the St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center. Researchers in the study followed 218 healthy young and middle-aged adults and had them cut 25% of their calories or maintain their usual diet for two years. The…

Jumper’s knee, known as patellar tendonitis, is one of the most common knee injuries. It can affect athletes at every level. Patellar tendonitis and running often go hand in hand. This overuse injury is also common in other high-impact sports like soccer and basketball. It results from knee strain during continuous jumping and running motions. How you land can protect you from this common overuse injury, especially for athletes who frequently jump on hard surfaces. Athletes participating in multiple sports are at high risk of developing this stress injury. Kathy Boehmer, PT, Specialty Program Coordinator for St. Elizabeth Healthcare Sports…

Edgewood, KY— Mayfield Brain & Spine, the region’s largest independent neurosurgical physician group, is expanding its clinical partnership with St. Elizabeth Healthcare to provide more complex interventional stroke and brain tumor services in Northern Kentucky. Gary Blank, Chief Operating Officer, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, said, “We are proud to expand our partnership with one of the most respected neurosurgical physician groups in the country. St. Elizabeth will soon offer the full complement of advanced treatments for stroke patients in the region, including endovascular surgery.” Andrew J. Ringer, MD, a Mayfield neurosurgeon specializing in endovascular surgery, will lead the St. Elizabeth interventional…

No one wants their child to need the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) – but at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, your little one will be in kind, compassionate and capable hands. The St. Elizabeth Level III NICU is located in the Family Birth Place on the St. Elizabeth Healthcare Edgewood campus. A Level III NICU can provide ventilation and other life-saving services to babies born at less than 32 weeks gestation. At St. Elizabeth, our 30-bed NICU is staffed 24-hours a day, seven days a week with a team of specially-trained neonatology experts, including NICU-trained nurses, neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, occupational…