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VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2 DEC/JAN 2008
The BicyclingMayor
Living for Tomorrow
Cancer Survivors’ ProgramProvides Support for Healingand Moving Forward.
A health and lifestyle publication from Evanston Northwestern Healthcare
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inside this issuea message from Dr. Leo Selker
Leo Selker, Ph.D.
President
ENH Research Institute
Welcome to our current issue of Connections, a
bimonthly publication bringing you the latest in
medical technology, research and personal care from
Evanston Northwestern Healthcare (ENH). Each issue
of Connections will feature a story about innovative
research and how it has a direct, positive impact on
patient care at our Hospitals.
For more than a decade the ENH Research Institute
has been instrumental in shaping and supporting
Evanston Northwestern Healthcare’s mission “to
preserve and improve human life.” ENH continues to
build a national and international reputation in the
areas of research with the greatest potential to
directly benefit our patients, their families and
their communities.
Today, as ranked by funding from the National
Institutes of Health (NIH), ENH is the Number 1
independent research hospital in Illinois and the
Number 10 comprehensive independent research
hospital in the nation. For both achievements,
it is clear that we are standing on the shoulders
of our physician-scientists.
This issue of Connections spotlights just one of our
more than 460 physician-scientists—Joe Bass, M.D.,
Ph.D., of the ENH Department of Endocrinology and
Metabolic Diseases—and his ground-breaking work
on how high-fat diets disrupt the body clocks in
mammals. Dr. Bass’s study focused on whether food
alone can change the clock and found out that indeed it
can. Overeating alters the core mechanism of the body
clock in mammals, throwing off the timing of internal
signals like appetite control.This study has implications
for human diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
Research aims to limit suffering and improve ENH
patients’ options. Research also establishes our
physicians as opinion leaders on patient care by
placing them at the podium for local, regional,
national and international gatherings. Research
is how physicians validate clinical care and how
they persuade one another to change care for the
better. In short, research provides our patients
with the latest therapies, procedures, drugs and
devices. It’s no wonder the nation’s top clinicians
have a documented affinity for research-intensive
environments like ENH!
As we say thanks for the many benefits of the year
behind us and express excitement as we ring-in the
new calendar year, let us give voice to our debt of
gratitude to the many physicians whose love of
research has placed them among the very best
clinicians in the nation. You will learn more about
their unrelenting determination to improve patient
care in this and in subsequent issues of Connections.
In the meantime, we at ENH hope that you, your
families and your communities have a warm and
meaningful holiday season and a great new year!
Regards,
Leopold G. Selker, Ph.D.
President
ENH Research Institute
A Message From Dr. Leo SelkerPresident of the ENH Research Institute
2 | HappeningsParkinson’s Disease StudyInnovation in Patient SafetyElectronic Medical RecordsLeapfrog Top Hospital List
6 | The Bicycling MayorSpinal condition nearly puts the brakes on bicycling mayor.
10 | Living for TomorrowENH community cancer survivors’ programprovides support for healing and movingforward in their lives.
12 | Around ENH
Medical GroupQuality care is more convenient with ENH Medical Group.
Research InstituteStudies show high-fat dietdisrupts the body clock.
FoundationA generous legacy recognizes theimportance of family ties.
15 | Ask the DoctorPhysician suggests antidotes to fight the winter blahs.
17 | Community CalendarA list of events at and around ENH.
6The Bicycling Mayor
Spinal condition nearly puts the brakes on bicycling mayor.
Living for TomorrowENH community cancer survivors’ programprovides support for healing and movingforward in their lives.
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insidecover
©2007–08 Evanston Northwestern Healthcare
CONNECTIONS
is a publication of the Office
of Corporate
Communications,
1301 Central St.,
Evanston, Ill. 60201;
(847) 570-3141;
Editor:Sara S. Patterson
Managing Editor:Maura Giles
Photographer:Jonathan Hillenbrand
Connections EditorialAdvisory Board:Tim Callahan,
Administrator,
ENH Research Institute
Lindsey Cox,
Vice President,
Hospital and Clinics,
Highland Park Hospital
Gabrielle Cummings,
Vice President,
Hospital and Clinics,
Glenbrook Hospital
Amy Ferguson,
Senior Director,
Public Relations, ENH
J. P. Gallagher,
Senior Vice President,
Hospital and Clinics,
Evanston Hospital
Brendan Gately,
Associate Creative Director,
Euro RSCG Life LM&P
Barbara Hailey,
Director, Communications,
ENH Foundation
Mary Keegan,
Vice President,
Nursing, ENH
Jennifer Mitchell,
Director,
Public Relations, ENH
Kristen Murphy,
Assistant Vice President,
Surgery and Orthopedics,
ENH Medical Group
Rikki Ragland,
Director,
Public Relations, ENH
Russell G. Robertson,
M.D., Chairman,
Family Medicine,
Glenbrook Hospital
Mark Schroeder,
Director,
Community Relations, ENH
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Helping to Stem the Tide of Parkinson’sDisease
Normally active, Carol Cafmeyer, a 64-year-old Crystal Lake resident, began
having difficulty walking and sometimes lost her balance. She needed to find out
what was wrong.
In January 2007, Cafmeyer sought a diagnosis from neurologist Michael Rezak,
M.D., Ph.D., at ENH’s Glenbrook Hospital and discovered that she was in the early
stages of Parkinson’s disease—a disorder that affects nerve cells, or neurons, in
a part of the brain that controls muscle movement. In Parkinson’s, neurons that
make a chemical called dopamine die or do not work properly.
“Once I began taking the
medication for Parkinson’s
disease, I got everything
back that I had lost,”
Cafmeyer said. “I feel
very fortunate to have
Dr. Rezak as my doctor.”
But she wants to find a
treatment that will slow
down the progression of her Parkinson’s disease. In August 2007, Cafmeyer
enrolled in a clinical trial using the muscle builder creatine to determine if the
substance may slow the effects of Parkinson’s disease. “I asked questions, and I
thought there are relatively few risks, and the benefits far outweighed them in my
case,” Cafmeyer said.
Evanston Northwestern HealthcareAwarded for Innovation in Patient Safety
Evanston Northwestern Healthcare (ENH) has received 2007’s
John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award for its
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Reduction Program. This award is sponsored by the National
Quality Forum (NQF) and The Joint Commission, which sets
hospital standards and accreditation requirements. The
award is in recognition of ENH’s national leadership in
attacking this serious threat to healthcare safety.
MRSA kills more people annually than AIDS. The importance of ENH’s MRSA
Reduction Program is particularly relevant due to recent outbreaks of the deadly
bacteria in schools nationwide. According to a study published in the Journal of
the American Medical Association, MRSA, a virulent strain of bacteria resistant to
many antibiotics, seems to be killing more individuals each year than AIDS,
emphysema or homicide. The journal’s study estimated that 19,000 people died
from MRSA during 2005.
ENH—one of the first hospital systems in the country to begin a universal
MRSA surveillance program. The MRSA Reduction Program began in 2005,
well before any recommendations from state lawmakers. It requires a quick
and painless nasal swabbing of all inpatients during the admission process to
detect colonization of MRSA.
A new molecular diagnostic technique called a real-time PCR is used to quickly
assess MRSA infection. This allows hospital staff to promptly identify and isolate
infected patients.
“The goal of the program was always to reduce ENH patients’ risk of MRSA
infection at all three ENH hospitals, and all of our benchmarks were achieved by
the end of the program’s first year,” said Lance Peterson, M.D., FIDSA, FASCP,
epidemiologist and a founder of the MRSA Reduction Program at ENH. “Everyone
Evanston Northwestern Healthcare is one of 52 sites for this new clinical trial,
being held in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health. This trial is a
research study designed to answer specific questions about new therapies of
known treatments. Clinical trials, also known as medical research, are generally
used to determine whether new drugs are both safe and effective.
This clinical trial is investigating the possibility that creatine, a nitrogenous organic
acid found in the muscle tissue of vertebrates mainly in the form of phosphocreatine
and which supplies energy for muscle contraction, may slow the effects of
Parkinson’s disease. It is believed to be “neuroprotective,” thereby protecting the
brain from the loss of the dopamine that helps drive proper brain function.
Globally, it is estimated 6.3 million people have Parkinson’s disease, including 1 to 1.5
million Americans. One in 10 people with Parkinson’s are diagnosed before age 50.
Recruitment is ongoing for this study. If you or someone you know is interested in
this study or others regarding Parkinson’s disease, please call (847) 657-5738.
To see Dr. Rezak or one of our team of neurologists, please call (847) 657-5738.
here has put a great deal of effort into this initiative to benefit our patients, and it
is truly gratifying that ENH as a whole has been recognized by this very prestigious
national award.”
The ENH MRSA Reduction Program is easily reproduced and cost-effective.
The ENH program’s approach was judged by the NQF to be easy to reproduce and
cost-effective for any organization. It was further judged to have the potential to
decrease MRSA mortality rates, lower costs associated with treating it, and
improve the quality and safety of patient care.
Evanston Northwestern Healthcare’s MRSA Reduction Program Team, which
will soon publish its findings in a peer reviewed journal, is offering an outreach
program to local long-term care facilities and schools. It is also consulting
with various hospitals across the country on how to start similar MRSA
surveillance programs.
The Patient Safety Awards Program, launched in 2002 by NQF and The Joint
Commission, is named for John M. Eisenberg, M.D., MBA, former administrator of
the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Dr. Eisenberg was one of
the founding leaders of the NQF and sat on its board of directors.
A patient with Parkinson’s disease, Carol Cafmeyer, consults with Dr. Rezak.
Dr. Peterson performs a nasal swab on Donna Hacek to test for MRSA.
Dr. Rezak is a movement disorders
specialist and the Medical Director
of the APDA Young-Onset
Information Center and Director of
the Movement Disorders Functional
Neurosurgery Program at Evanston
Northwestern Healthcare’s (ENH)
Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview.
Michael Rezak,M.D.,Ph.D.
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The most complete and current assessment of hospital quality and safety
available. The Leapfrog survey includes data on hospitals’ progress toward
implementing practices in four categories:
1. Computerized Physician Order Entry
2. ICU Physician Staffing
3. Evidence-Based Hospital Referral (EBHR)
4. Leapfrog Safe Practices Score
Fewer hospitals made this year’s list because Leapfrog added new stricter
measures to the 2007 survey, namely:
¡ Providing information about bariatric and aortic valve surgery;
¡ Gauging surgeons’ experience in rating these and the other high-risk
surgeries that are part of Evidence-Based Hospital Referral; and
¡ Reporting on hospitals’ level of transparency as measured by participation
in other public quality reporting efforts.
The complete 2007 list and a detailed explanation of the Top Hospitals
methodology, as well as the differences between the 2006 and 2007 lists can
be found online at www.leapfroggroup.org.
Evanston Hospital Honored as aNational Leader in Patient Safety
For the second year in a row, Evanston
Northwestern Healthcare’s (ENH)
Evanston Hospital has been
named a 2007 top national
hospital by the “Leapfrog Top
Hospitals List.” Evanston
Hospital is the only hospital in
Illinois recognized by Leapfrog as a
national leader in patient safety.
Evanston Hospital is one of only 41 U.S. hospitals that have received this honor
in 2007, which is based on results from the Leapfrog Hospital Quality and
Safety Survey. This survey uses a rating system that provides up-to-the-
minute assessments of the quality and safety of hospitals across America.
A particular emphasis is placed on hospitals’ awareness, accountability, ability
and action plan to meet the service excellence standards of quality healthcare
for each of its patients.
“We are very honored to once again have received this national recognition,” said
ENH President and CEO Mark R. Neaman. “We have been leading and even
exceeding Leapfrog safety standards since the inception of the survey.”
ENH Earns Award for Electronic MedicalRecords; Patients Gain Safety, ImprovedHealthcare
In a study of more than 4,000 U.S. hospitals, the Healthcare Information and
Management Systems Society (HIMSS) has named Evanston Northwestern
Healthcare (ENH) as one of the top six healthcare provider organizations in the
country for successful implementation of a fully automated electronic
medical records (EMR) system.
“All our physicians and staff involved are pleased to be recognized for the effort
given over the years to our clinical system development,” said Tom Smith, ENH
Chief Information Officer. “Those involved have all supported this task as essential
to our ability to deliver high-quality care for our patients.”
ENH’s integrated patient record system provides a single, unified source of clinical
information that shifts the focus from an institution to its patients. Patients’ records
follow them from the doctor’s office to the lab to the pharmacy to the hospital,
including the emergency room.
For example, turnaround time for obtaining test results has improved significantly.
Getting results back from mammograms now takes a day compared to more
than a week.
On the pharmacy side, errors from illegible handwriting are eliminated, nurses
receive alerts reminding them to administer medications, and patients can obtain
medications, such as first doses of antibiotics, 50 percent faster.
“Overall, electronic medical records have improved ENH patients’ quality of care
and made medication use safer,” said Stan Kent, Evanston Hospital Assistant Vice
President, Hospitals and Clinics.
The 35,000 ENH patients participating in ENHconnect, which is a patient portal
connected to the patient database, have found more convenient and efficient ways
to stay in touch with their physicians and manage their medical care. Through
online access, ENHconnect members have the ability to receive test results, review
health records, ask medical questions, schedule appointments, pay hospital and
physician bills and renew prescriptions.
“ENHconnect allows me to go online and
schedule appointments and ask simple
questions about my medications with my
primary care physician Dr. David Lerner. I
can easily access my medical history and list
of medications. In fact, before I travel, I print
out these records and put the copy in my
briefcase. Recently on a trip to Florida, I had
to go to the hospital, and it made it so much
easier. I am a diabetic, so it’s especially
important to have this information available.”
—Gus Palumbo, 68-year-old patient
at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare
and President of Falson Supply
Company, Franklin Park, Ill.
We are very honored to once again have
received this national recognition,” said
ENH President and CEO Mark R. Neaman.
We have been leading and even exceeding
Leapfrog safety standards since the
inception of the survey.”
“
“
“ENHconnect is an incredible tool and logical
platform for communicating better with my
patients,” said Thomas Ficho, M.D., Ph.D.,
Senior Attending Physician in General Medicine,
in Glenview. “I use it to keep 95 percent of my
patients on top of their medical results. For
example, patients can see improvement in their
lipid charts over time, as well as read my notes.”
THEBICYCLINGMAYOR
THEBICYCLINGMAYOR
An avid cyclist, Gerald“Jerry” Turry, Mayor ofthe Village of Lincolnwood,Ill., has ridden hisbike to work every day,rain or shine, for thelast 20 years.
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“I had some symptoms I was getting concerned
about,” said Turry. “Spinal stenosis runs in my family,
and when I started to feel numbness in my hands, I
knew I had better seek an evaluation.”
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the lumbar (lower
back) or cervical (neck) spinal canal, which causes
compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots and
may lead to pain, decreased sensation, coordination
problems, or even paralysis. Most often seen in
people over age 50, spinal stenosis affects men and
women equally, and is most often caused by arthritis
of the spine. The most common symptoms are pain,
numbness, tingling and weakness, according to
Gene Khavkin, M.D., the Director of Evanston
Northwestern Healthcare’s (ENH) Neurosurgical
Spine Program.
“I told my primary care physician, Dr. Cara Culmer,
about my symptoms,”Turry said.“She knows I’m normally
not a complainer, so she sent me to get an MRI.”
Ivan Ciric, M.D., ENH’s Senior Neurosurgery
Attending, advised Turry that his symptoms might be
indicative of something serious. Through a team
approach, Dr. Ciric consulted with Dr. Khavkin, who
joined ENH after completing his spine fellowship at
Johns Hopkins University Hospital.
“When people hear ‘neurosurgeon,’ they probably
first think ‘brain surgeon,’” said Dr. Khavkin. “But,
actually, neurosurgeons spend at least 60 to 70
percent of their extensive training dealing with spine
care. The focus of my own practice is the diagnosis
and treatment of spine problems.
“I first look into the most conservative treatment
options, but there are times when surgical action is
necessary,” he added. “If surgery is required, I
employ minimally invasive techniques when
possible. This approach means less risk to the
patient, better post-surgical pain control, and a
shorter recovery.
“At ENH, we help the primary care physicians find the
right solutions for their patients, and we are very
selective in choosing the most appropriate procedure
for each patient. We never forget that our patients
trust us with their lives.”
“I felt comfortable with Dr. Khavkin right away,” said
Turry. “He looked at my X-ray, and said, ‘We’ll fix it.
We will go in through the back of your neck, and
you’ll be up in no time.’ He was confident he could
relieve the pressure and strengthen my spine
surgically. My wife, Nancy, who’s been my advocate
for 40 years, said, ‘Let’s do it!’ And I agreed.”
Turry underwent a posterior cervical decompression
and fusion. Going through the back of his neck, Dr.
Khavkin repaired Turry’s spinal stenosis. The
procedure, designed to relieve pressure on the spinal
cord and nerves, provides pain relief and minimizes
the danger of catastrophic injury happening as a
result of an impact.
“If I had fallen off my bicycle prior to the surgery, I
could have become quadriplegic and never ridden
again,” Turry said.
“After the surgery, I got out of the hospital in two days
and stayed home for the rest of week,” reported
Turry. “I didn’t have to wear a collar, and I was only a
little stiff. I went back to work, and after two weeks,
I started weight lifting.”
About two months later,Turry was back on his bicycle
and ready to ride in his 16th consecutive RAGBRAI®,
The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across
Iowa.
“In addition to Dr. Khavkin, I would like to thank my
primary care physician, Dr. Cara Culmer; my
endocrinologist, Dr. Lisa Purdy; and my nephrologist,
Dr. Louisa Ho. They attended to every detail at ENH.
In fact, they took such great care of me that I recently
rode my bike across the entire state of Iowa! Now
that’s what good healthcare’s all about.”
ÚHe has logged thousands of miles on hisbicycle, riding in events across the country. But when he was diagnosed with a conditioncalled spinal stenosis, he feared that his days of cycling might soon be over.
Dr. Khavkin and Lincolnwood Mayor Gerald “Jerry” Turry look at X-rays before Turry’s surgery and discuss
where the narrowing occurred, indicating stenosis.
“In fact, [ENH] tooksuch great care ofme that I recentlyrode my bike acrossthe state of Iowa!Now that’s whatgood healthcare is all about.”
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A dynamic creative director at an advertising agency,
Arlene Wanetick was 51 years old when she was
diagnosed with breast cancer. “Initially I didn’t really
know what I would need,” she said. “It’s not part of
your consumer set to know. I just had to go on
instinct, gut and faith.”
Wanetick counts several doctors and nurses
at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare (ENH) among
her blessings in her personal breast cancer journey.
She acknowledges their compassion, consideration
and connections. From the start, Wanetick
considered herself lucky since her cancer was
detected early, and she had great confidence in the
care she was receiving.
As the team at ENH helped her navigate through
surgery and radiation, Wanetick wanted as much
information as she could get, taking notes at every
physician visit and reading everything on the topic that
came her way, including articles about survivorship.
“When I first read something about a survivorship
program, my reaction was ‘this is so smart, so
progressive,’” Wanetick said. When she learned the
Living in the Future (LIFE) program was under way at
ENH, she was thrilled.
“I remember thinking I am so glad I am with this
Wanetick said of Martz. “The program is a great
resource, providing confidence and peace of mind.”
“Working with Carole Martz, and going through
the data gave me insight into the things that I should
be paying attention to,” said Linda Sizemore, Ph.D.,
a breast cancer survivor and LIFE supporter. “Talking
with her and developing that vocabulary helped me
with tools I need to develop relationships with my
physicians.”
Following their initial visits, LIFE patients are
encouraged to attend the program’s Thrivership
institution,” Wanetick said. “Knowing this program
existed made me feel like I was going to get better
care. It gave me such confidence in this forward-
thinking institution. I just thought ‘they’re on top of it.’”
The ENH LIFE program begins with a personal
risk-assessment visit with clinical coordinator Carole
Martz, RN, M.S., who reviews the survivor’s cancer
history and treatment, and covers medical surveillance
guidelines and healthy lifestyle recommendations.
Patients are encouraged to ask any and all questions
throughout their participation in LIFE.
“She is so passionate, knowledgeable and caring,
and she gave me lots of useful, tangible information,”
seminars (free and open to the public), including “Eat
to Beat Malignancy and Walk Away from Cancer” and
“Self Esteem and Sexual Intimacy After Cancer”
facilitated by the LIFE expert medical team.
Dr. Sizemore, who is a clinical psychologist and one of
the presenters of the Sexual Intimacy Thrivership
seminar, knows firsthand the importance of these
educational seminars and the value of the group setting.
She was surprised at her own initial feelings
following a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.
“I had a talk with myself, and I said for women
everywhere I have to work this out…the more you
share it, the easier it becomes.”
The Thrivership seminars, like the comprehensive,
individual prescriptions for survivorship, are part of
empowering patients to move forward and continue
healing.
“We are providing survivors with education as a form
of support,” said Carol A. Rosenberg, M.D., who
directs the cancer survivorship program at ENH.
“There is a window of opportunity, the right ‘teaching
moment’ following treatment when patients are
amenable to hearing about the kind of strategies they
can use to modify their risks.”
ENH community cancer survivors’ program provides support for healing and moving forward.
Living for TOMORROW
From left, Linda Sizemore, Ph.D.; Carol A. Rosenberg, M.D.; and Arlene Wanetick
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around ENH
Our body’s 24-hour internal clock, or “circadian”
clock (Latin for “about a day”), regulates the time we
go to sleep, wake up and become hungry. The clock
properly aligns our biological functions with our
environment. It works in the brain as well as lung,
liver, heart and skeletal muscles, governing functions
like rest and activity, fluid balance, body temperature
and oxygen consumption.
Now, scientific findings close an important loop in
the relationship between the body clock and
metabolism.
Two years ago Joe Bass, M.D., Ph.D., Evanston
Northwestern Healthcare Senior Attending Physician
of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases and
Assistant Professor at Northwestern University’s
Feinberg School of Medicine, reported that a faulty or
misaligned body clock can wreak havoc on the body
and its metabolism, increasing the propensity for
obesity and diabetes. Since then, Bass’ research
focused on what common influences could upset the
operation of this internal timing device?
“Our study was simple—to determine if food itself
can alter the clock,” said Bass. “The answer is yes,
alterations in feeding affect timing.” The study has
shown that overeating alters the core mechanism of
the body clock in animals, throwing off the timing of
internal signals like appetite control.
“It is important to understand what happens when
diet changes,” said Bass. “Our findings have
implications for human disease. These basic
advances in science can be applied to the studies of
common disorders like obesity and diabetes.”
Bass and his team studied mice with the same
genetic backgrounds. After feeding them a regular
diet for two weeks, they were split into two groups—
one kept on a regular diet and the other a high-fat
diet. After two weeks, those on the high-fat diet
showed a spontaneous shift in their normal pattern
of activity/eating and resting/sleeping. Animals on a
high-fat diet gained weight and suddenly exhibited a
disruption in their circadian clocks. The animals on a
regular diet did not demonstrate this behavior.
“It’s not just that the animals are eating more at
regular meals,” said Bass. “What’s happened
is that they actually shift their eating habits,
so that all excess food intake occurs during
their normal rest period. All of the excess
calories are consumed when the
animal should be resting. For a
human, that would be like raiding
the refrigerator in the middle of the night
and binging on junk food.”
The entire study was conducted in darkness so that
the behavior of the animals simply reflected their
internal clock; a normal animal has a very fixed daily
period of just less than 24 hours. For animals on a
high-fat diet, after only two weeks, the animals’
behavior changed. Also, their daily period of
sleep/wake was lengthened significantly. This
suggests, explained Bass, that the central
mechanism in the brain that controls the timing
of the cycle of activity and rest is affected by a high-
fat diet.
The study is published in the Nov. 7 issue of the
scientific journal, Cell Metabolism.
High-Fat Diet Disrupts Body ClockStudies show increased propensity for obesity and diabetes.
around ENH
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At times, it seems as though our lives are becoming
more demanding and our schedules more hectic every
day. That’s why ENH Medical Group physicians have
extended their services to offer evening and weekend
hours, plus same-day appointments and early morning
walk-ins. Now, you can see a physician when it’s
convenient for you.
“We provide patients with access to high-quality care
when they need it most,” said John Revis, M.D., Senior
Attending Physician of Internal Medicine. “We know
that life doesn’t always follow a schedule. Our patients
can now see a physician when their needs arise.”
Morning, evening and weekend hours. With some
70 office locations and over 500 primary and
specialty care physicians, many of the primary care
offices open as early as 7:30 a.m., while others
continue to see patients as late as 8 p.m. And several
primary care locations within ENH Medical Group
offer weekend hours, so patients can count on having
their medical needs attended to on Saturdays.
Select offices even offer the convenience of Sunday
hours for primary care patients, including pediatrics.
Even if your regular physician isn’t available, you’ll
still be able to see a trusted ENH Medical Group
physician who has access to your electronic medical
records (see story on page 4) and who is ready to
care for you.
You’ve got connections. When
you visit an ENH Medical Group
office, you’re connected to
hundreds of physicians in
virtually every clinical specialty,
and they are connected to you.
ENH Medical Group primary care
and specialty physicians have
access to your electronic
medical records, which enables
them to work as a team. As a
result, their efforts are centered
on your care. And your team of specialists are all
medical leaders on faculty at Northwestern
University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Many of
them also participate in clinical research and all are
committed to excellence in patient care and
advancements in preventing and curing disease.
As an ENH Medical Group patient, you can take an
active role in your care by connecting to us through
your home computer. Through ENHconnect.org,
you can schedule appointments, send secure
messages to your doctor, renew prescriptions,
receive test results, pay medical bills and view
your medical records.
For more information about ENH Medical Group, call
(847) 733-5707 or visit www.enh.org/enhmg.
Quality Care More Convenient With Improved Access to ENHMedical Group Physicians
New Office Openings• Gurnee
15 Tower Court
Gurnee, IL 60031
(847) 599-8899
Coming soon:
• Highland Park
777 Park Avenue West
Highland Park, IL 60035
(847) 926-6500
• Mundelein
1162 Maple Avenue
Mundelein, IL 60060
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ask the doctoraround ENH
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During this season of brief daylight and freezing
snow, we can feel our energy drain away along with
our desire to remain physically active. Throw in the
prospect of holiday weight gain and the strain that
can come from family get-togethers, and we have
a recipe for the winter blahs. While spring will
inevitably arrive, here are some practical strategies
that can make winter tolerable—and even fun!
Mood problems
Winter can be difficult for those struggling with
depression. If you feel depressed or feel an emotional
heaviness coming on in spite of taking anti-
depressant medication, you may want to talk to your
doctor about possibly increasing your dose. The
same holds true for those suffering from seasonal
affective disorder (SAD), a mood disorder that can
come on when the days get shorter.
Chasing the blahs away
Let’s face it, physical exercise is one of your best bets
to fight the winter blahs. It is known to elevate mood
and can increase energy levels. In fact, 30 minutes
of early morning activity can increase one’s energy
levels and brighten the outlook for the whole day
ahead. Evening workouts
are also fine—but not too
close to bedtime, when
you may want to feel a
little less energy to help
you fall asleep.
Don’t overdo it. Work
within the limits of your
present level of fitness. If
you’re not certain how
much is too much, start by walking briskly for a short
time, and gradually advance the time and intensity of
your workout. But walking isn’t the only way to
decrease the winter blahs. Consider adding weight
training, swimming or team sports at levels of
exertion that are within your capacity. If you want
more guidance, visit your doctor for advice.
Don’t feed the blahs
It can be difficult to manage one’s eating in the
winter, when people naturally gravitate toward
comfort food. And food just seems to taste better in
the winter, not to mention the fact that people often
feel they deserve to sit down to a huge meal after
fighting the bleak weather. And then, there are the
holiday feasts we all look forward to in the fall and
winter seasons.
Try grazing, not gorging. Make a conscious
before-eating decision to reduce portion size. Set
your fork down between bites. Take sips of water to
increase your sense of fullness. But if you do allow
yourself to occasionally overdo it with seasonal
delicacies or comfort food, don’t beat yourself up
about it. Instead, lighten your food intake for the next
few days to compensate.
Fighting the Winter BlahsBy Russell G. Robertson, M.D., Evanston Northwestern Healthcare
When Dee Murdough’s lifelong friend, Susan
Heiberger, died from breast cancer in October 1998,
Murdough harnessed the power of philanthropy to help
women proactively address their families’ genetic risks
for cancer. Upon her own death, Murdough continued
this legacy by making a bequest of $500,000 for
genetics research at the Evanston Northwestern
Healthcare (ENH) Center for Medical Genetics.
Working with the ENH Foundation before her death,
Murdough along with Heiberger’s husband Bob
established the Susan Heiberger Memorial Fund with
the goal of supporting a program for women with
breast cancer. The result was the creation of
MyGenerations, an individualized family health
history computer program developed by the Center
for Medical Genetics.
MyGenerations allows users to
document their family history of
cancer, print a family tree and
receive an individualized cancer
risk assessment.The risk assess-
ment can be accessed online at
www.enh.org/mygenerations; at
kiosks at Evanston, Glenbrook
and Highland Park
Hospitals; and at the
mammography suite at
1000 Central Street in
Evanston.
More than 2,000 people have used MyGenerations
since it was launched in 2004. MyGenerations
encourages users to reach out to their family
members, as well as their physicians, to discuss their
family health history. That connection particularly
appealed to Murdough.
“Human connections were very important to Dee,”
said Wendy Rubinstein, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the
Center for Medical Genetics. “She understood that
talking about family history is important not only
because it brings relatives closer together, but it
increases the understanding of each family member’s
health risks and enables them to do something
positive about it.”
A Generous Legacy Recognizes the Importance of Family Ties
Dee Murdough’s philanthropic generosity was the catalyst
that helped Evanston Northwestern Healthcare establish
MyGenerations, an interactive computer program that has helped
thousands of people document their family health history.
continued on page 16
continued on page 16
To create your own
family health history
assessment, visit
www.enh.org/mygenerations.
Dee Murdough
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community calendar
JanuaryWhat Every Parent Should Know AboutTeenage Alcohol and Drug Use
Monday, Jan. 7, 2008, 7–8 p.m.
Highland Park Hospital
This is a free discussion on the trends, behaviors and
indicators of abuse and dependency issues in
adolescents. For more information please call Tracy
Sommerfeldt at (847) 570-2198.
Parkinson’s Disease Support Group
Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008, 2–3:30 p.m.
Glenbrook Hospital
This support group provides education and support
for patients with Parkinson’s disease and their
significant others. For more information call Sue
Silvio at (847) 657-5689.
Overeaters Anonymous Support Group
Every Sunday, 10–11 a.m.
Highland Park Hospital, Meeting Room 1B
The Overeaters Anonymous Support Group provides
support for individuals concerned with such eating
disorders as bulimia and binge eating. The group is
based on a 12-step model. Please call (847) 480-3718
for more information and meeting room confirmation.
ALANON Meeting
Every Wednesday, 8–9 p.m.
Highland Park Hospital, Meeting Room 2
This group provides support for family and friends of
alcoholics and addicts and is based on the 12-step
model for Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The last
Wednesday of the month is a combined open meeting
with AA. Call (847) 480-3718 for information and
meeting room confirmation.
Looking for a UniqueHoliday Gift?
A charitable contribution to Evanston Northwestern
Healthcare is a distinctive way to honor a special
person or celebrate the holidays. All gifts are tax
deductible as allowed by law, and the recipient
receives notification that a gift was made in his or her
honor. For more information, contact Sarah Sullivan,
Director of Development, Annual Fund, ENH
Foundation at (224) 364-7230, or make a gift
securely online at www.enh.org/foundation.
FebruaryPrenatal Decisions Support Group
Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008, 7:30–9:30 p.m.
Evanston Hospital, Rooms G952 and G956
The Prenatal Decisions Support Group is designed
for parents who have made the very difficult
decision to end a pregnancy because of genetic or
chromosomal abnormalities. For more information
call (847) 570-2882. RSVP required.
Save the Date!
ENH Presents Annual Women’s Heart Event,
Harvest a Healthy Heart: Nutrition for the Heart
and Garden”
Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008
9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Chicago Botanic Garden
The keynote speaker will be weight loss and nutrition
expert, Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., CNS, author of The
150 Healthiest Foods on
Earth: The Surprising
Truth About What to Eat.
Evanston Northwestern
Healthcare’s very own
physician-chef, Michael
Rakotz, M.D., will conduct a
cooking demonstration. Breakout sessions will
include: Ask the Pharmacist, Ask the Cardiologist,
Ask the PCP, and tai chi and yoga instruction.
Register by calling (847) 570-5020.
Evanston Northwestern Healthcare is pleased to offer you classes and events. The following is a list of some of those offerings. To register for classes and
events, or to view more, log on to www.enh.org/calendar. You can also call (847) 570-5020.
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Family gatherings: wonderful or woeful?
Those annual get-togethers that occur in the fall and
winter can be great fun. But they can also take their
toll. Planning ahead and strategizing based on past
behaviors can help alleviate some of the toxic fallout.
Following is a checklist that, if adhered to, can make
your holiday gatherings enjoyable rather than painful.
¡ Topics of conversation that are known to be
radioactive should be avoided at all costs, even
when someone is baiting you.
¡ Don’t use this time of year to dredge up others’
past indiscretions; politely rebuff those who may
try the same with you.
¡ Make an effort to respond kindly to all, even those
who may not deserve it.
¡ Set a clear arrival and departure time, and stick
to your schedule with an established exit strategy.
¡ Remember, holiday gatherings afford you a
great opportunity to model behaviors for
your children and to set a tone for them that will
make gatherings pleasantly memorable for you
and them.
The alcohol factor. While a drink or two can be a
wonderful accompaniment to time with loved ones,
emphasis should be on the “one or two.” Moderation
and safety is paramount at gatherings of family and
friends. Always serve alcohol with food that has an
absorptive capacity to slow down the rate of transfer
into the blood stream. Bread, crackers and pretzels,
for example, work just fine.
Remember, in general, women have lower thresholds
for intoxication than men, so servings should be
adjusted accordingly.Alcoholic beverages consumed
in amounts that exceed one’s tolerance can have two
negative effects—the risk of driving in an impaired
state and the worsening of depression. Remember
also that even seemingly innocuous alcoholic
beverages are unhealthy to children and can be the
beginning of a lifelong drinking problem.
Above all, embrace the season, and enjoy the warmth
of the fire and the quiet evenings together that can
make this time of year one to treasure rather than
merely tolerate.
Dr. Russell G. Robertson is Chairman of ENH Family
Medicine and has a practice in Glenview. He has
written regularly on topical issues related to health
and families for many years, and currently writes a
column, “The Doctor Is In,” for Pioneer Press
Newspapers.
MyGenerations can help individuals determine if they
have a hereditary tendency toward a particular
disease. The program was first designed to address
family risk for breast and ovarian cancer but has
been expanded to include a wide variety of cancers,
including colon, thyroid, pancreatic and prostate.
MyGenerations can tell users if they might benefit
from a genetic consultation. Then, through one-on-
one guidance, Dr. Rubinstein and the Center’s
genetic counselors can offer genetic testing and
develop a personalized prevention plan for
individuals and their relatives to combat these risks.
“Sometimes you don’t realize you’re at risk until you
see the pattern in front of you,” said Suzanne O’Neill,
M.S., Ph.D., the clinical researcher and genetic
counselor who created MyGenerations. “Through
Dee’s vision and generosity, we help people see
those patterns and take action. Knowing your own
risk is important to you and can also help you lead
your whole family toward preventive measures.”
As major biomedical advances have enabled us to
identify the genes that transmit susceptibility to such
hereditary illnesses as cancer, heart disease and
mental illness, the Center for Medical Genetics has
become a leader in discovering disease-related gene
mutations and conducting life-sustaining research.
Growth and expansion of quality research initiatives
is made possible through the generosity of individual
donors such as Dee Murdough.
For more information on how your charitable gift can
make a difference for patients at Evanston Northwestern
Healthcare, visit www.enh.org/foundation or call the
ENH Foundation at (224) 364-7200.
MyGenerations, continued
Winter Blahs, continued
“
e give our hearts to our family and friends. Well,
at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, sometimes
our doctors hold someone’s heart in their hands—
literally. And we believe that those people should have the
same passion for, and commitment to, caring for patients
as your family does for you. That’s why we connect our
patients to the clinical research done at the ENH
Research Institute, ranked 10th nationally in NIH funding
among multi-specialty independent research hospitals.
You see, we’ve learned over the 100 years we’ve been
doing this that better connections mean better care.
And that’s why we’re here.
a
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1301 Central Avenue, Evanston, Illinois 60201