Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Robotic Hernia Repair—Less Pain, Faster Recovery If you have had a hernia, you know—it is painful. You want to feel better quickly and get back to your normal life. Hernia surgeries have changed drastically over the last several decades and the newest robotic-assisted hernia repair is sure to get you feeling better, sooner. Hernias are a very common injury. They can affect men, women and children. The National Institute of Health estimates nearly 700,000 hernia repairs each year in the United States. What is a hernia? A hernia is caused when your intestine or internal tissue bulges through your abdominal…

Breast Cancer Diagnosis: What Should I Do? At St. Elizabeth Healthcare, we know that a breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and scary. Our entire Breast Center team is here for you during this uncertain time – and rest assured that we’ll walk with you on each step of your breast cancer journey. Terri Bogan, Nurse Manager of the St. Elizabeth Women’s Wellness Centers, offers the following tips to patients and their families when they receive a breast cancer diagnosis. Go to a NAPBC-certified facility. The St. Elizabeth Breast Center is NAPBC-certified (National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers). This accreditation…

A hectic lifestyle often prevents you from eating on a schedule or at a designated time every night. You work late, run your kids to soccer and then head to the gym. That lifestyle can lead to late-night snacking and other bad habits. Rebecca Jilek, MPH, RD, LD, CDE, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator at St. Elizabeth Physicians has some tips on how you can still healthily indulge in a late-night snack. Stop eating three hours before bedtime. No matter what time you head to bed, you should refrain from eating 2-3 hours before you hit the pillow. Rebecca…

St. Elizabeth Breast Center: Latest Treatment Options A Team Approach to Your Breast Cancer Journey At St. Elizabeth Healthcare, we provide personalized, comprehensive breast cancer care in our National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC)-accredited breast center. Our multi-disciplinary team works together to provide the highest level of services for our patients. From imaging to diagnostics, surgery, treatment and beyond, the St. Elizabeth Breast Center proudly upholds the NAPBC standards. “Each patient’s care is developed and coordinated through our multi-disciplinary panel of specialists who are specifically focused on treating breast cancer,” says Terri Bogan, Nurse Manager of the St. Elizabeth Women’s…

Hepatitis A: What You Need to Know Hepatitis A – What is it and how do you get it? It’s easy to get confused about hepatitis. There are numerous types of hepatitis, but the three most common are: Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects the liver. The patient experiences flu-like symptoms, including nausea, fatigue, fever, stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, pale stool and jaundice (yellowish skin and eyes). Hepatitis A is spread by direct contact with an infected person, including fecal-oral (if someone hasn’t washed their hands after using the…

What the Ringing in Your Ears Is Trying to Tell You Do you hear a ringing or a buzzing in your ear? Are you having a hard time concentrating or focusing because you hear a noise no one else can hear? You could have tinnitus, a common condition affecting about one in five people. Dr. Stacey Woods, AuD., CCC-A, a Doctor of Audiology with ENT & Allergy Specialists explains, “Some people complain of a classic ringing in the ears, other people describe it as a background “whoosh” sound, crickets or clicking sounds. You may experience it constantly or it could be…

6 Myths About Certified Nurse-Midwives Midwives are an essential part of the St. Elizabeth Physicians Women’s Health team and The Family Birth Place community. National Midwifery Week is September 30 through October 6, 2018, and at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, we know that our certified nurse-midwives make a difference each and every day. Certified Nurse-Midwives: The Myths Below are a few of the most frequently heard myths about certified nurse-midwives. Take a look and see firsthand how our certified nurse-midwives offer a unique and comprehensive range of services to the women in the Northern Kentucky community. Myth: Midwives only perform home births. The certified nurse-midwives…

Physical Therapy After a Joint Replacement to Get the Most from Your New Joint So you finally did it — you decided you were done living in pain, and you had joint replacement surgery. Make sure you get the most from your new joint by listening to your physical therapist and participating in your rehabilitation. Krista D. Knapke, PT, MPT, a Physical Therapist at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, says, “Physical therapy immediately after surgery helps your long-term mobility, and it ensures you are moving safely on your new joint.” Physical Therapy in the Hospital Getting moving is so important to your new…

Women and Stroke: The Facts Are Alarming According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in five women in the United States will have a stroke in her lifetime. Nearly 50 percent of first-time strokes occur in women and 60 percent of stroke deaths are in women. Stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer and is the third leading cause of death for women. Those statistics are enough to grab anyone’s attention. Dr. Alexander Hou, Vascular Surgeon at St. Elizabeth Physicians says, “The good news is 80 percent of strokes can be prevented by reducing your risks. And if…

Did you know that in the U.S., prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men? It is also 100 percent treatable if it’s detected early. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, the Step Up for Blue campaign highlights the importance of regular prostate screenings. St. Elizabeth Cancer Care participates in Prostate Cancer Awareness Month by encouraging and empowering men to schedule an appointment with their primary care physician for a screening. More than 3 million men in the U.S. are currently living with prostate cancer. New Prostate Cancer Screening on the Horizon Research is ongoing to…