El Camino Hospital

Health BeatS p r i n g 2 0 1 6

el c a m i n o h o sp i ta l – yo u r h e a lt h r e s o u rc e i n s i l i co n Va l l e y

06

all about agingResources to help you stay active and feel your best

04

boosting heart health: Doctors’ tips

for you 11

finDing the new

normal: life after cancer

Scarlet Night

iS March 19!

At your service,

Dear Community Members,

Half of the patients we serve at El Camino Hospital are

over the age of 60. We strive to be the preferred desti-

nation for seniors during their time of need.

This edition of Health Beat focuses on older adults’

health and offers information to help you feel your best

as you age. We have a full complement of programs that

provide aid, such as eldercare counseling, which offers

help for families during transitions from independent

living to assisted living; resources/referrals for patients

with early-onset dementia; or help for those coping with anxiety and depression.

Over the past year, we have met with representatives of senior programs in five

cities, all to be commended for their local efforts supporting successful aging. These

conversations help us coordinate programs and address service gaps in our region.

We have funded and reinstituted Senior Companions, a program that encour-

ages volunteers to be companions for isolated seniors. Meet-n-Move is a support

group for caregivers of homebound individuals, which we host in partnership with

Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Caregivers meet and often go on hikes, sharing chal-

lenges and solutions they encounter while providing in-home care.

Another important update: In November, we launched myCare, our new elec-

tronic health record system. El Camino Hospital patients are now able to quickly

view test results, order prescription refills, and even review a family member’s health

record if they have been assigned as a proxy. This new record system also enables

physicians to access patient health information across providers, which is a great

benefit to patients who receive care across the community. In our view, myCare is

enhancing access to vital clinical information and improves the patient experience.

Tomi Ryba

President and Chief Executive Officer

El Camino Hospital

Building the FutureWe are enhancing our campuses for your family — to

provide up-to-date healthcare and increase services

and amenities, while also sustaining the environment

El Camino Hospital continues to work on our long-range

vision to meet our community’s healthcare needs for

decades to come. Part of this vision includes building

and renovating our facilities. Perhaps the most visible

evidence of El Camino Hospital’s facilities master plan

is the new Main Hospital in Mountain View, which

celebrated its grand opening at the end of 2009.

Over the next few years, we will continue to develop

our Mountain View campus, including the following

improvements:

• Behavioral Health Building replacement

• New integrated medical office building, with medical

offices, outpatient laboratory, the Breast Health Center

and other services

• Expansion of the North Drive parking structure

• Renovation of the Women’s Hospital

Meanwhile, we have also been making significant

investments on our Los Gatos campus to improve

infrastructure and to upgrade operating rooms, patient

rooms and visitor spaces.

VISIT elcaminohospital.org/campusdev?HB

FIND FREE VALET PARKING near the hospital’s

main entrance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2 H E A L T H B E A T l E l C a m i n o H o s p i t a l

To Our Friends and Neighbors

El Camino Hospital Board of DirectorsLanhee J. Chen , JD, PhD • Dennis W. Chiu, JD • Neal H. Cohen, MD, MPH, MS, chair • Jeffrey M. Davis, MD • Peter C. Fung, MD, MS, FACP, FAAN, FAHA • Julia E. Miller • David Reeder, MS • Tomi Ryba, MHA, President and CEO • John L. Zoglin, MBA

LocationsEl Camino Hospital2500 Grant RoadMountain View, CA 94040650-940-7000

elcaminohospital.org

El Camino Hospital Los Gatos815 Pollard RoadLos Gatos, CA 95032408-378-6131

Visit the Hospital’s Calendar OnlineFor a complete listing of programs, lectures, support groups, health screenings and other events, visit our web page. Use this shortcut: elcamino hospital.org/calendar?HBProduced by the El Camino Hospital Marketing & Communications department and DCP.

The information in this publication is not intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing. If you have concerns about health issues, contact your personal physician. If you would prefer not to receive communications like this from our organization, please call 650-988-7703.

Know the Signs of SepsisEven a minor cut or scrape can lead to sepsis, the body’s potentially life-threatening response to infection

Each year, sepsis kills more than 258,000 Americans, yet most Americans have never

even heard of this life-threatening condition that occurs when infection-fighting chemi-

cals released into the bloodstream trigger inflammation in other parts of the body.

“Everybody can give you symptoms of heart attack, but very few can give you the

symptoms of sepsis or even tell you what sepsis is,” says Kelly Nguyen, MSN, RN, sepsis

program coordinator at El Camino Hospital. “Sepsis is just as time-sensitive as a heart

attack or a stroke.”

Since 2009, nurses and physicians at El Camino Hospital have made a coordinated

effort to identify patients with sepsis and treat them as early as possible, saving many lives.

Note: If sepsis is not caught early, the body may go into septic shock, which causes

organ failure and has a high death rate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

and the Sepsis Alliance recommend memorizing this acronym — and calling 911 or

going to the hospital if you have these symptoms:

S – Shivering, fever or very cold

E – Extreme pain or general discomfort (“worst ever”)

P – Pale or discolored skin

S – Sleepy, difficult to rouse, confused

I – “I feel like I might die”

S – Short of breath

TIPS FOR PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF INFECTION

• Wash your hands frequently.

• Ensure vaccinations are up to date.

• Take antibiotics as prescribed.

• See a doctor if you’re sick and not improving.

• Keep sores covered.

For more inFo about sepsis, visit elcaminohospital.org/sepsis?HB

S p r i n g 2 0 1 6 3

New and New orthy

High marks for Heart CareThe Norma Melchor Heart & Vascular Institute

(HVI) at El Camino Hospital offers unique

advantages: leading-edge therapies — surgical

and interventional — delivered by world-class

experts in a welcoming community hospital.

We’re pioneering new procedures, training phy-

sicians from around the world on some of the

newest medical techniques, and participating

in several clinical trials. Highlights from 2014:

• 100 percent of patients who come to El

Camino Hospital due to a severe type of heart

attack (STEMI) receive treatment within the

recommended time of 90 minutes or less.

• Our overall performance in the absence of

complications and mortality after aortic

valve replacement is in the top 5 percent in

the nation.

• We received the highest rating awarded

(four stars) by the American College of

Cardiology in hospital performance for

patients who have had a cardiac catheter-

ization or coronary intervention.

• Our survival and complication rates after

coronary artery bypass surgery are better

than the national average.

• We are a national leader in minimizing mor-

tality risk in acute coronary interventions.

Our results are among the top 10 percent in

the United States.

“We’re able to treat the most complex car-

diovascular issues,” says Vincent Gaudiani, MD,

NM, HVI medical director, PAMF physician and

cardiothoracic surgeon. “Our program consis-

tently receives accolades and accreditations.”

For more inFo on HVI’s advanced heart

care, visit elcaminohospital.org/heart?HB.

Visit elcaminohospital.org/hvireport?HB

to read the Norma Melchor Heart & Vascu-

lar Institute 2015 Outcomes Report.

Heart to Heart El Camino Hospital physicians talk about warning signs, prevention, and the role ethnicity plays in heart disease

César Molina, MD Cardiologist and medical director of the South

Asian Heart Center

The South Asian population has an increased

risk of coronary artery disease and diabe-

tes. We believe day-to-day habits that are

associated with insulin resistance, such

as a carbohydrate-intensive diet, lack of fiber and vegetables, and a

sedentary lifestyle, are predisposing individuals to both diabetes and

cardiovascular disease.

Anyone from South Asian ancestry worldwide can call or go online

and make an appointment to be screened, educated, and coached at

El Camino Hospital’s South Asian Heart Center. We provide a one-year

coaching program to help people improve their regular lifestyle activi-

ties to diminish their risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. We

also communicate with patients’ physicians and we orchestrate their

care to help them comply not only with their medications but also with

their recommended lifestyle routine.

For more info, visit southasianheartcenter.org

edward Yu, MD

Family medicine physician at Palo Alto Medical

Foundation and physician adviser to the

Chinese Health Initiative

Hypertension — a chronic condition that puts

you at higher risk for heart disease and stroke

— is common in the Chinese community.

Chinese cooking ingredients often include high sodium levels, including

sauces such as soy, hoisin, oyster, and fish; soup bases such as bouillon

cubes; and preserved foods such as eggs and instant noodles. When

shopping for these types of ingredients, I suggest checking if there are

lower-salt (sodium) substitutes available. If possible, replace canned or

prepackaged foods with fresh ingredients.

The Chinese Health Initiative at El Camino Hospital has a wealth

of resources including a resource guide for our community’s Chinese

seniors and information sheets in English and in Chinese.

For more info, visit elcaminohospital.org/chi?HB

Neal Scott, MD, PhD

Cardiologist

The most important things people can do to

prevent heart disease are regular exercise and

an appropriate diet.

The American Heart Association, the

National Institutes of Health, and the Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention recommend moderate to vigorous

exercise that is aerobic — meaning you’re huffing and puffing — and at

a minimum 30 minutes a session, five sessions a week.

The diet that has been proven in millions of patients to decrease

mortality from heart disease and cancer is what’s called the

Mediterranean diet, which is based on the diet of peasants who lived

around the Mediterranean Sea in the immediate post–World War II

era. They were essentially farmers and fisherpeople, and they lived on

vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and fish.

Learn more about the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet at

elcaminohospital.org/meddiet?HB


The Doctor Recommends

Cate Collings, MD

Cardiologist and medical director of Cardiac

Rehabilitation and Women’s Cardiovascular

Services

During a heart attack, women are more

likely than men to not have chest pain at all.

While a man’s experience may be “I’ve got an

elephant on my chest,” there’s a set of women who have a whole con-

stellation of symptoms, such as flu-like symptoms, which could include

nausea and even throwing up; abdominal pain; dizziness; jaw, neck,

back, and arm pain; and extreme fatigue. Older individuals — both men

and women — are also in this pocket of patients who less often have

chest pain.

If you think something is not right, go to the emergency room and

take care of it promptly.

For more info, visit elcaminohospital.org/heart?HB

Try a new indoor activity. Local recreation depart-

ments offer lots of indoor fun,

including open-gym volleyball

and Jazzercize in Mountain

View and open-gym Pickle-

ball (cross between tennis,

badminton and table tennis)

and fourth-Friday dances for

seniors (live music) in Los

Gatos. Call your nearest mall

to ask if it has a formal walk-

ing program or opens doors

early for walkers and joggers. Get your vitamin D.If you spend lots of time

indoors, you might not be

getting enough vitamin

D3, an essential vitamin

your body produces when

exposed to sunlight. A safer

way to get your daily dose

of vitamin D, which pro-

motes bone and immune

system health, is by taking

a supplement. Instead of

sunbathing, you can also

eat foods packed or fortified

with vitamin D, including

milk, salmon, cod liver oil,

and some yogurts. There’s

some disagreement among

health organizations about

recommended dosage; the

Institute of Medicine of the

National Academies recom-

mends 600 IU per day for

most Americans up to age

70 and 800 IU per day for

Americans 71 and older.

Consult your doctor.

Fill your home and workplace with plants. The benefits of houseplants

are not just aesthetic.

Studies, including one

from NASA and a 2009

HortScience study, show

certain common house-

plants have the potential to

clean indoor air by removing

harmful pollutants. Having

plants around also offers

psychological benefits:

According to a recent study

published in the Journal of

Experimental Psychology,

office workers reported

improvements in productiv-

ity, concentration, and job

satisfaction when working

within view of plants.

Prevent CO poisoning. Never use appliances such as

ovens, gas ranges, charcoal

grills, or gas-powered gen-

erators indoors to heat your

home. Change the batteries

of your carbon monoxide

detectors every six months,

and have your heating

system; chimney; and other

gas-, oil- or coal-burning

appliances professionally

serviced every year.

Lace up your skates. Show off your ice skating

skills at a public skating ses-

sion at the San Jose Sharks’

official practice facility,

Sharks Ice at San Jose. Visit

sharksiceatsanjose.com/

public-skate for more info.

Skip the tanning beds. To get a sun-kissed look

without the skin damage

or cancer risk, try a sunless

self-tanner. Topical products

containing dihydroxyacetone

(DHA), a tanning agent

approved by the FDA for

external use, are generally

considered by dermatolo-

gists to be safe alternatives to

tanning beds and sunbath-

ing. Tanning pills are not

FDA-approved and are

considered unsafe.

Wellness Guide for InsidersBefore the sunny days of summer arrive, avoid cabin

fever and indoor health pitfalls with these tips

S p r i n g 2 0 1 6 5

Body, Mind and Spirit

What are symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease?

Symptoms include short-term memory loss,

which eventually progresses to long-term

memory loss; behavioral issues; difficulties with

planning and making financial decisions; and

difficulties with logic and functional problems,

such as ability to drive. In advanced stages,

patients have difficulty caring for themselves.

What should readers do if they identify these

symptoms in themselves or others?

It’s important to see your primary care physi-

cian for evaluation when symptoms first

appear and to bring a family member or friend

to the appointment. Alzheimer’s disease is

a diagnosis of exclusion, involving a neuro-

logical exam and taking a thorough history,

especially from family members or friends,

since a lot of patients are in denial about

changes that are occurring.

What are the benefits of early detection?

One benefit is that you’re able to plan accord-

ingly and make financial decisions for yourself

and loved ones, while you’re still independent.

Another advantage: To be eligible for most

clinical research studies, patients need to be

in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and not

have been treated in the past.

Treatments we have right now help with

functionality, cognition, and behaviors and

also reduce some of the psychological issues

we see, such as anxiety and depression.

Medications that slow down the disease

process are available, and some of them are

generic and inexpensive.

These medications are available to our

patients if prescribed by a clinician and should

be initiated as early as possible. We also have

Alzheimer’s Association meetings for family

members and community support services

such as grants and access to caregivers. In

addition, we also have the comprehensive

OATS program for older adults with symptoms

of depression. For more info, see next page.

What can people do to reduce their risk of

developing Alzheimer’s disease?

Having type 2 diabetes, as well as cardiovas-

cular risk factors such as high blood pressure,

arrhythmias, and high cholesterol, greatly

increases your chance of Alzheimer’s disease.

Leading a healthy lifestyle can either

prevent or delay onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Staying cognitively active before the disease

and even in early stages of the disease is

essential. Speaking several languages, learn-

ing how to play musical instruments, playing

chess — anything that can promote more

connections in the brain cells — will help you

combat this disease or at least slow it down.

Healthful AgingAs we Age, pHysicAl cHAnges Are normAl And expected; A poor quAlity of life is not. in tHis guide, leArn About common HeAltH issues fAcing older Adults And resources At el cAmino HospitAl tHAt cAn Help you stAy Active And feel your best for yeArs to come.

All About Alzheimer’s DiseaseInna Yaskin, DO, a geriatrician affiliated with El Camino Hospital, discusses symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of the progressive brain disorder that’s the most common form of dementia and impacts memory and thinking processes


Healthful Aging

Sex After a Heart AttackHave concerns about sex following a

cardiac event or stroke? Talk to your

physician, who can offer advice about

recommended positions, intimacy

without intercourse, and when it’s safe

to return to sexual activity. Your doctor

might recommend an exercise stress

test or taking up a brisk walking pro-

gram before resuming sexual activity.

Visit heart.org for more info.

Visit Silicon Valley Primary CareWe’ve earned special recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance as a Patient-Centered Medical Home. Our patient-centered medical home designation means our primary care is organized to pro-

vide better communication and coordination among caregivers. We’re focused on provid-ing the services and resources you need to stay healthy. For more info, call 650-962-4370 or visit elcaminohospital.org/svPC?HB

S p r i n g 2 0 1 6 7

Healthy Aging

Comprehensive Care for Older AdultsLearn more about El Camino

Hospital’s useful resources

RoadRunnersNeed a ride to a medical or dental appoint-

ment? RoadRunners volunteers provide

door-to-door transportation between your

home and health-related appointments, as

well as senior centers, local banks, beauty

shops, and markets within a certain radius

of El Camino Hospital. No wheelchair trans-

portation available. No affiliation with El

Camino Hospital required. For more info or

to make a reservation, call 650-940-7016.

Older Adult Transitions services (OATs)OATS is an intensive outpatient program

for older adults facing mental health chal-

lenges related to a long-term psychiatric

illness or life transitions such as changing

health status or grief over a loved one. A

compassionate care team led by a geriatric

psychiatrist delivers individualized treat-

ment, as well as education and support for

families. (Covered by Medicare.) For more

info, visit elcaminohospital.org/OATS?HB

or call 866-789-6089. Please visit

elcaminohospital.org/seniors?HB to

learn about additional services for older

adults at El Camino Hospital.

Could You Have Heart Failure? Some risk factors: a his-tory of heart attack; having diabetes or hypertension; being over age 75, over-weight, and sedentary

Did you know heart failure is a

leading cause of hospitalization

among patients ages 65 and older?

“Diastolic heart failure is a

disease of the elderly,” says Jane

Lombard, MD, medical director of

El Camino Hospital’s Heart Failure

Program. “As we age, we get stiffer,

and that includes the heart mus-

cle. If you think of the heart like

a balloon, it won’t stretch out to

fill. If it doesn’t fill up with blood,

it won’t pump it and it can back

up into the lungs.” (Systolic heart

failure occurs when the heart’s

left ventricle no longer contracts

normally, impacting pumping.)

The most common symptom is

shortness of breath with exertion

or when lying down. Swollen ankles

mean the condition is more severe.

The earlier you identify symp-

toms, the better, says Dr. Lombard,

a Palo Alto Medical Foundation

doctor. Prevention is even better,

including controlling blood pres-

sure, getting regular exercise, and

maintaining a healthy weight.

For info about outpatient edu-

cation, call the Norma Melchor

Heart & Vascular Institute at

650-962-4580 and ask for the

heart failure nurse specialist.

Put the Brakes on Bone LossBone mass stops increasing around age 30, but it’s never too late to protect your bones

First, the bad news: Osteoporosis, a disease

characterized by weakened bones susceptible

to fractures, has a number of risk factors you

can’t change. These include the following:

• Being over age 50

• Being female

• Having a family history of the disease

• Being white or of Asian descent

• Having a small body frame

• Having a history of fracture after age 50

The good news? You can slow bone loss by tak-

ing the following actions:

• Eat a balanced diet and get plenty of calcium

and vitamin D.

• Do weight-bearing exercises such as walking,

tennis, or dancing three to four days a week.

• Don’t smoke; limit alcohol.

Visit nihseniorhealth.gov/osteoporosis or nof.org for more info. Learn about El Camino Hospital’s

Bone Density Center at elcaminohospital.org/bonedensity?HB


Healthy Aging

Introducing myCareEl Camino Hospital’s new online health record helps you better manage your healthcare. Here’s what you should know.

What is myCare?It’s an online, user-friendly portal

that offers patients secure access

to portions of their medical

records and can be personalized

to receive and manage medical

information. The service is free.

With myCare, you can:

• Review your health summary

from your El Camino Hospital

electronic health record

• View test results from your

hospital stay

• Access trusted health informa-

tion resources

• View your account summary

and pay your bill

• Request medical appointments*

• Request prescription renewals*

• Communicate electronically

with your medical care team*

To maintain confidentiality,

myCare is fully compliant with

federal and state laws pertain-

ing to privacy. Your name and

email address will never be sold or

leased by myCare.

Who Can use myCare?All El Camino Hospital patients are

encouraged to take advantage of

this system, and those who opt in

will be issued a myCare activation

code during their hospital or clinic

visit. This code will enable you to

log in and create your own user-

name and password. If you wish

to sign up today, you can email or

call El Camino Hospital’s Medical

Records department during hours

of operation (Monday to Friday

from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

Due to the sensitive nature of

medical information, all individu-

als must also sign and submit a

Release of Information request and

set up their own myCare account.

FYI: If you’re a parent, guardian,

or caretaker and wish to set it up so

you have access to a family mem-

ber’s health record, you must first

return a completed Proxy Consent

Form to one of El Camino Hospital’s

medical facilities. Then, you can log

in to your personal myCare account

and connect to information regard-

ing your family member.

When Can you use myCare?Any time you want. You can log on

to your myCare account 24/7 with

your username and password. Your

health information is reviewed

and revised after each office visit,

so your account stays up to date.

With the messaging tool, you can

communicate virtually with your

clinic team, and you will gener-

ally receive a response within

one to three business days.* Test

results are posted within one to

seven days, after your physician

has reviewed them. Also, you can

use the bill pay feature any time

for quick, simple, and paperless

transactions.

Note: myCare should not be

used for urgent situations. Please

contact your medical center if

the situation requires immedi-

ate attention or dial 911 if it is an

emergency.

hoW Can you aCCess myCare?As long as you have an Internet

connection, you can access

your myCare account easily and

quickly on your computer. On

your smartphone or tablet, use

the MyChart app.

For added details, please email [email protected], call 650-940-7066, or visit elcaminohospital.org/mycare?hB

First steps: Get a myCare activation code during a clinic visit or from our Medical Records depart-ment. Then, log in and create your username and password.

*Only available at the Cancer Center and Silicon Valley Primary Care

S p r i n g 2 0 1 6 9

Navigating Your Health

From Dreams to RealityHope to Health has breathed life into a range of El Camino Hospital programs for 10 years

“The unique

aspect of H2H is

that the members

get to vote each year on where our funds

will go.” —Betsy Dawes,

an H2H founding member

Hope to Health (H2H), El Camino

Hospital Foundation’s women’s giving

circle, is celebrating its 10th anni-

versary. Over the past decade, the

committee has contributed more than

$500,000 through its members’ pooled

donations to healthcare programs and

services at El Camino Hospital that

benefit women and families.

“A small group of women started

with the idea of creating a way to

help women in our area by finding

and funding programs that directly

improve health services,” recalls

founding member Betsy Dawes. Since

its inception, the organization has

supported, among other projects, the

gynecological care program for under-

served women at the RotaCare Clinic;

women’s screenings for heart disease

and diabetes through the South Asian

Heart Center; El Camino Hospital’s

menopause and pelvic health pro-

grams; and outpatient mental health

care for adolescents, older adults, and

women with postpartum depression.

Membership dues of $1,000 per

year underwrite the giving program.

Every winter, H2H solicits grant

proposals from patient-centered

departments at El Camino Hospital.

“Each member votes on which

programs she believes in,” Dawes

explains. ”The results are that the

hospital community benefits from the

financial boost and from the care that

went into our choices.”

H2H President Margaret Capriles

says, “We take pride in identifying

some of the great ideas from the hos-

pital staff that will improve women’s

health and as a result bring those

services to our community. Some of

these programs have gained national

recognition for being at the forefront of

their professional specialty.”

H2H members also receive invita-

tions to social and informative events

and activities held throughout the year

that focus on women’s well-being. They

hear directly from their new grantees

at a member-appreciation event in the

spring and receive feedback through-

out the year on the impact their grants

are having. “Membership is a fabu-

lous investment in women’s health,

with additional educational benefits

for yourself,” Capriles says, “and the

women are phenomenal.”

New members are always

welcome. For more info or to

join H2H, please contact Kirsten

Krimsley, El Camino Hospital

Foundation’s manager of special

events, at 650-988-4189, or

visit elcaminohospital.org/

h2h?HB

Top: Foundation President Jodi Barnard (far left), H2H

President Margaret Capriles (far right), and 2015 H2H

grantees. Right: H2H mem-bers Betsy Dawes, Margaret Capriles, Linda Rodgers, and

Donna Whitney prepare to take breast cancer awareness

carts around the hospital.

1 0 H E A L T H B E A T l E l C a m i n o H o s p i t a l

Foundation News

Mark Your Calendar for Scarlet NightMarch 19: All-star event for a stellar cause

Scarlet Night, an Affair of the Heart, will be held at the Santa

Clara Convention Center on March 19, 6 p.m. It will be an

extra-special occasion this year as we celebrate the South

Asian Heart Center’s 10th anniversary.

The center was founded in 2006 to address the epi-

demic of heart disease among people who trace their origins

to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. The

elevated risk, between two and four times greater than

that of other ethnic populations, is due to a combination of

genetics, behavior, and environmental factors.

The center’s initiatives include AIM to Prevent, a program

to address the twin epidemics of heart disease and diabetes,

in people who trace their ancestry to the countries in the

Indian subcontinent. South Asians have a higher incidence,

more severe presentation, and earlier onset of disease

compared to the general population, despite being mostly

vegetarian, nonsmoking, and nonobese.

For More iNFo about the center’s services, visit

southasianheartcenter.org or call 650-940-7242.

To register for Scarlet Night, visit elcaminohospital.org/

scarletnight?HB

Surviving Cancer, Embracing LifeEl Camino Hospital offers comprehensive, compassionate, and

personalized services

If you’re among the growing ranks of cancer survivors in the United States,

you may face challenges adjusting to life after cancer once you’ve com-

pleted your treatment. The good news: El Camino Hospital has a wide array

of programs and services specifically designed with you in mind.

“Our goal is to provide coordinated care and help cancer survivors feel

supported,” says Larisa Peralta, NP, APRN, FNP, OCN, coordinator of El

Camino Hospital’s survivorship program. The clinic is located in the hospi-

tal’s Cancer Center and serves all patients being treated there as well as in

Radiation Oncology. “Patients have a lot of concerns to manage — physi-

cal, emotional, spiritual, financial, and more. They may be dealing with

side effects of their treatment, fear of recurrence, or adjusting to physical

limitations or issues with intimacy. Our clinic is the place where people can

consult experts and get help finding answers that meet their needs.”

In addition to Peralta, survivorship staff includes oncologists, a

dedicated social worker, and a nurse practitioner. Patients can also access

other resources at El Camino Hospital, including the Cancer Center’s

oncology-certified nutritionist, and receive referrals to community orga-

nizations, including the American Cancer Society and Cancer CAREpoint.

Support groups — open to the community — are available too, including

separate groups for cancer survivors, caregivers, and families with young

children (facilitated by a therapist).

“Life gives us second chances, and our program is one to take advan-

tage of,” says Peralta. “We’re helping patients learn from their experiences

and make it a new beginning.”

CELEBRATE CANCER SURVIVORS DAY, MAY 14: Dave Dravecky, former pitcher for the San Francisco Giants and cancer survivor, will be the keynote speaker at the event held noon–4 p.m. at El Camino Hospital, Mountain View. Space is limited. RSVP to [email protected] or 650-988-7519; or register online at elcaminohospital.org/survivorsday?HB

Take Steps to a Healthier HeartAn unexpected benefit: You may win a $250 gift card!

It’s easy to give your heart a little love. Visit elcamino hospital.org/loveyourheart and choose one or all four simple heart-healthy steps. You’ll be on your way to better health, plus be entered to win a $250 gift card to either REI or Munchery!

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Connect With Us

2500 Grant Road

Mountain View, CA 94040

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGEPAID

SAN FRANCISCO, CAPERMIT NO. 0495

Mountain View Campus2500 Grant Road

Mountain View, CA 94040

Los Gatos Campus815 Pollard Road

Los Gatos, CA 95032

2500 Grant Road, Mountain View, CA 94040815 Pollard Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032

At El Camino Hospital in Mountain View and Los Gatos, we’re redefining what it means to be a community hospital with the most advanced care available, delivered in the most personal way possible. It’s an incredibly responsive approach to medicine, always ready to meet the changing needs of the valley we call home. Learn more about Dynamic Healthcare at elcaminohospital.org

YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE FACE OF SOMETHING REMARKABLE.IT’S CALLED DYNAMIC HEALTHCARE.

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