December 2009
Sarasota Memorial Hospital received top marks for its innovative use of Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other social media tools to reach out to patients, employees, medical staff and the community. In an online report, healthcare consultant John Domansky singled out Sarasota Memorial as a “Best Practice” Social Hospital and a perfect example of how a hospital can interact with and engage people in an increasingly digital marketplace. During the past year, the hospital’s daily tweets have attracted more than 1,800 Twitter followers, while friendly updates on its Facebook page drive as many as 4,000 people every month to its website. The hospital has created a similar online presence on YouTube, MySpace and other social media sites. Users say it’s the hospital’s focus on health education and topical news that capture their interest and keep them coming back for more. So what’s new this month? With peak flu season fast approaching, the featured video on its YouTube channel is Influenza Blues, a music video written, directed and performed by the hospital's Infection Prevention & Control team to encourage healthcare workers and others to protect themselves by getting their H1N1 flu shot. You can access all of the social media sites from the hospital's homepage or visit just a few at the links below:
Need Relief from Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?
Now you have options. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS) can be a
painful and debilitating condition. If you feel you’ve lost some of your
quality of life, join Sarasota Memorial’s neurosurgeons for two free and informative
presentations to learn more about the latest treatments and technologies
available to alleviate the condition. Both sessions will be held in Sarasota
Memorial Hospital’s first floor auditorium, 1700 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota:
• Wednesday, Dec. 9, 5 p.m. – RSVP: (941) 870-0885
• Wednesday, Dec. 16, 5 p.m. – RSVP: (941) 870-0881
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Heritage Harbour Pain Care Center Opens Dec. 11
Sarasota Memorial recently welcomed a new pain medicine
specialist to its medical staff – Paul Satia, MD – and this month will open a
new Pain Care Center for people who live in the northern/eastern areas of
Sarasota and Manatee counties. Satia, a physician with specialized training in
Pain Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, joins pain medicine
specialists Donald Erb, DO, and Rafael Miguel, MD, in the hospital’s Pain Care Centers. The newest center opens Dec. 11 in the Sarasota Memorial
Healthcare Center at Heritage Harbour, located about ½ mile east of I-75 off
State Road 64 in east Manatee County. From traditional treatments and
medications to breakthrough interventional procedures – all tailored to meet an
individual’s specific needs – Sarasota Memorial's Pain Care Centers offer
the widest range of coordinated pain care services available in Southwest
Florida. Two other centers are located at Sarasota Memorial’s Institute for
Advanced Medicine, off Clark Road, and the Sarasota Memorial Care Center at
Blackburn Point, Osprey. For information or appointments, call (941) 917-4500.
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Robotic Surgery: Fewer Stitches, Faster Recovery
Few hospitals anywhere have the technology or surgeons to
offer robotic surgery. Sarasota Memorial has both! Three of our robotic
surgeons will present the latest in this advanced specialty at the Venice
Community Center, Tuesday, Dec. 15, noon-4 p.m. The event is free and open to
the public. Call (941) 917-7777 to learn more or visit www.smh.com/robotics.
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Coping with the Holiday Blues
In December, when just about everyone in the world is
celebrating in some way, it’s not unusual for many people to feel sad or lonely
during the holidays – a condition known as the holiday blues or holiday
depression. While the feelings of sadness may be intense, they are a normal
response to a stress-filled time of the year and usually subside after the
holidays when daily routines resume. Talking to a friend, family member, clergy
member, physician or professional counselor can help you through this difficult
time. If you are unsure where to turn for help, or if feelings of depression or
anxiety persist, call Sarasota Memorial's Bayside Center at (941)
917-7760. Our licensed mental health professionals are on call 24 hours a day
to provide free assessments, referrals and advice.
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Fit 411 – Youth Fitness & Nutrition
Sarasota
Memorial's dietitians & fitness professionals have created a special
month-long program for youth – a series of eight 1-hour classes that not only
encourages them to get off the couch and exercise, but also teaches them the
safe and proper way to use fitness equipment, how to monitor and
measure their activity level and how healthy foods can help boost their ability
in school and sports. The program – designed for 10- to 15-year-olds, will be
held monthly at the Healthplex Fitness Center, located at Sarasota Memorial’s
Institute for Advanced Medicine, 5880 Rand Blvd., ½-mile west of I-75 off Clark
Road. The next session begins Jan. 4. Cost is $99. Healthplex membership is not required. For information, call
(941) 917-7981.
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Hate exercise? Try a Zumba class!
Tired of working out on the treadmill day after day? Join us
for a Zumba class – an enlivening mix of Merengue, Cumbia and Salsa sounds and
steps. The class will be held Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-noon at the Healthplex
Fitness Center, located at Sarasota Memorial's Institute for Advanced Medicine,
5880 Rand Blvd., ½-mile west of I-75 off Clark Road, Sarasota. Class fee: $5
(free for Healthplex members). Call (941) 917-7000 for information.
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Donors ROCK!
Sarasota Memorial and the Suncoast Communities Blood Bank
will host a special Donors Rock! blood drive Dec. 1-4 in the hospital’s first
floor auditorium. Donors will receive a free Donors ROCK t-shirt and
refreshments.
Blood Drive hours are:
Tuesday, Dec. 1 – 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 2 – 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 3 – 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 4 – 7 a.m.-noon
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Have you had an experience with Sarasota Memorial that you’d like to share with others?
Share Your Story
Exercise may not be able to stop a cold in its tracks, but it
can greatly reduce your chances of getting a cold if you make exercise part of
your daily life, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. Studies
have shown a 25-50 percent decrease in sick time for active people completing
at least 45 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (such as walking) most days
of the week. Here are some Do’s & Don’ts: • DO exercise if your cold is confined to your head, such as
illnesses with runny noses and sore throats. • DON’T overdo it. If you have a cold, keep exercise to a
moderate-intensity level (i.e., walking). Studies have not shown any negative
effects of moderate exercise for those suffering from common colds. • DO stay in bed if your illness is “systemic” – that is,
beyond just the sniffles of a regular cold. Respiratory infections, fever,
swollen glands and extreme aches and pains are all good reasons to rest up
instead of work out. • DON’T jump back in too soon. If you’re recovering from a
more serious bout of cold or flu, gradually ease back into training after at
least two weeks of rest. The exercise professionals at Healthplex are here to answer
your health and fitness questions. We offer many options to help meet your
goals, including services such as nutritional counseling, personal training and
group exercise classes. To learn more, stop by for a tour, visit
www.SarasotaHealthplex.com or call (941) 917-7000.
Follow Us on Our Social Media Sites
Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation Inc.’s Physician Golf Tournament will be May 7 at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club, with a 1 pm Shotgun Start and Step Aside Scramble. Proceeds support education for hospital staff. Information: (941) 917-1286 or smhf.org.
