Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

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…

It’s that time of year again: the back-to-school hustle is in full swing. Toward the top of all of our to-do lists – hovering somewhere between purchasing school supplies and seeing what clothes still fit your child – should be scheduling a well visit exam with your child’s physician. “Annual pediatric checkups are a critical part of your child’s health, wellness and development,” says Dr. James Hahn, Pediatric and Sports Medicine Physician at St. Elizabeth Physicians. “We’re here to make sure your child is on track and ready for the school year ahead.” These annual well visits are an important…

Innovation in medicine happens around the globe, but a pioneering shoulder replacement surgery, available only at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, gets you out of the shoulder sling within days of surgery. The new, rotator cuff sparing shoulder replacement surgery was developed by Dr. R. Michael Greiwe, an affiliated surgeon with OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine who practices at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Dr. Greiwe explains his motivation for developing the new procedure, “Orthopaedic surgeons needed something that was better for patients from a shoulder replacement. Other joint replacements have muscle-sparing techniques, but we were still cutting the rotator cuff to get to…

The fall season is quickly approaching and young athletes are starting to train and prepare to take the football and soccer field, volleyball court, or the cross country and golf course. A key to preparing for competition is a proper warm-up and stretching routine. Scott Helton, Certified Athletic Trainer and Director of Sports Medicine and Athletic Training Services at St. Elizabeth Healthcare describes how adding dynamic stretching to your routine can help boost your performance during competition. “Dynamic stretching is sport-specific, it prepares your body to do the activity you are about to start,” says Scott. “By warming up and…

It is hard to look around today and find someone who isn’t wearing a Fitbit, smartwatch or some wearable technology. If they aren’t wearing something, I am sure a smartphone is just out of sight. With all of this technology at our disposal, many people are tracking their diet, exercise and heart rate in an effort to live healthier. Specialized devices and apps are now geared toward monitoring your heart rate. Research has shown your resting heart rate is a major indicator of your overall health and fitness, and it can reveal underlying cardiovascular disease. The Importance of Your Heart…

Chicken Salad Lettuce Wrap If you like chicken salad, you’ll love this fresh take on an old favorite! Lose the bread for a low-carb lunch with this chicken salad lettuce wrap. Ingredients 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted 1 small tomato, chopped 2 tablespoons plain yogurt 1 tablespoon Dijon or yellow mustard 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro or parsley 2 tablespoons minced red onion 1/4 cup red or green pepper, chopped 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 2 cups cooked chicken, cubed Salt and pepper to taste 8–10 butter lettuce leaves, 4 romaine leaves, 2 cups mixed…