Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Your sweet, snuggly baby has just arrived and you are basking in all their newborn wonder. They look perfect and they are acting like a brand-new baby should – so why undergo the newborn screening when everything seems normal? “Every child – even those who look perfectly healthy at birth – needs to have the newborn screening,” says Teri Wilde, Nurse Manager for Mother Baby Postpartum at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. “The screening can detect conditions that are not visible at birth. Many of the illnesses that are included in the screening are rare, but early intervention and sometimes life-saving treatment…

It’s every parent’s nightmare: being in a car accident with your children in the car. According to Safe Seats for Kids, car crashes are the number one cause of death and injury for all children. Car seats help to absorb and spread the impact of the crash over a wider area than a seat belt alone. This helps protect the child’s body and their critically important brain and spinal cord. When a child is involved in a car accident*, their car seat can: Reduce the risk of death by 28%. Reduce the risk of injury by 71% to 82%. Booster…

Cheat meals are a controversial topic when talking about weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. Some dietitians may recommend them, and some may discourage them. Brittany Diehl, MS, RDN, LD, registered dietitian at the St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center says, “There is no true definition to a cheat meal. It can mean something different to everyone but some strategies can keep your healthy lifestyle on track if you choose a cheat meal.” There is no one-size-fits-all formula – for some people, a small piece of chocolate can address cravings, and someone else may need a cheeseburger. How much and…

When you think of the fall season, you may think of the beautiful changing leaves or the cool, crisp air. But if you are like thousands of other people, you are thinking “The Good Doctor,” “This is Us” and “Dancing with the Stars.” As you begin to plan your time sitting in front of the tube watching your favorite TV series and the fall premiere, don’t let your diet suffer. Rachel Wagner, MS, LD, a licensed dietitian at the St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center, advises when the weather starts to cool and you want to hibernate in front of…

“I have a lot to live for” Overcoming adversity has been a constant in Robert Gross’ young life. Now 23, he watched his mom struggle with cancer from the time he was born. She passed away in 2015. Robert’s parents divorced when he was 5 years old. His older sister has cerebral palsy and has had multiple surgeries over the years. Robert has Asperger’s syndrome and turned to food during his childhood as a way of seeking comfort and enjoyment. With constant snacking and poor eating habits, he grew to weigh 403 lbs. by his high school graduation. He managed…

St. Elizabeth Healthcare is committed to being the healthiest community in Kentucky. One important way to achieve that goal is vaccinations. Being immunized helps to keep both children and adults healthy, avoiding missed school and work days while providing protection from communicable illnesses for the entire community. Proper Vaccination Prevents Diseases Dr. Robert Tracy, a Family Medicine Physician at St. Elizabeth for more than 30 years, believes that one of the greatest advances in modern healthcare is the development of immunizations. “It is so important for children and adults to be immunized to protect against life-threatening and debilitating diseases,” says…

A cancer diagnosis can be both confusing and overwhelming. At St. Elizabeth Healthcare, we understand what a challenging time this is for you and your loved ones. We are here to not only offer compassionate and skilled medical care but also support and education to our oncology patients and their families. What is Radiation Therapy? According to the National Cancer Institute, radiation is a type of cancer treatment that shrinks tumors and kills or slows the growth of cancer cells with very high doses of radiation. Radiation Therapy: The Steps Many times, it helps to know the path ahead. While each…

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, over the next 20 years, knee replacement surgeries are expected to grow by 673 percent. What if you could put off knee replacement surgery? With an innovative, minimally invasive procedure called Subchrondroplasty, or SCP, you may be able to preserve your knee joint a little longer. Dr. Forest T. Heis, an affiliated surgeon with OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine who practices at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, explains, “Knee replacement surgery is a treatment to relieve pain caused by osteoarthritis. Some people have subchondral bone marrow lesions, or micro-fractures, that develop in the knee…

A Keto diet, or Ketogenic diet, is a popular diet that is very low in carbohydrates. The Keto diet makes your body think it is fasting, and it begins to burn stored fat rather than glucose. Your fat becomes fuel for your body. “Keto diets focus on non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins and fats,” says Rachel Wagner, MS, LD, a licensed dietitian at the St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center. She adds, “Often people think of it as a high-fat diet where you can eat bacon and burgers all day. But in reality, it allows for healthier, plant-based fats and the…

Regenerative medicine has been getting a lot of buzz in the news lately – but the question remains: what is it? The answer can be found right in our Northern Kentucky community at the St. Elizabeth Physiatry office. “Regenerative medicine is a unique, non-invasive approach to helping joint, ligament and tendon pain,” says Dr. Michael Bertram, a board-certified Physician of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (also known as Physiatry) at St. Elizabeth Physicians. “We use your body’s own healing response to help repair the damaged area.” Dr. Bertram and the St. Elizabeth Physiatry office offer multiple types of regenerative therapies including…