Rogue Valley Medical Center Health Newsletter S pring 

INTHISISSUE
Precision Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Room to Grow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Dr. Mom to the Rescue. . . . . . . . . . . 6
Cardiac Rehabilitation Works. . . . . 8
May Is Stroke Awareness Month. . . 9
Going Green for Beer Health . . . 10
Heart-healthy Recipe . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Asante Community
Health Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

NICUTOEXPANDFORMOREAMAZINGFEATS see page 4

 Pinpoint Precision Treating Cancer Like Never Before

I
n days gone by, radiation therapy meant treating two things:
cancer and the side effects of treatment. Not so for Pete
Peterson, a grateful recipient of TomoTherapy, the latest
weapon in fighting cancer cells.
“I had no side effects at all,” says the 74-year-old AT&T
retiree. “This is the future of cancer care.”
Pete had read about the up-and-coming TomoTherapy Hi-Art
treatment system last spring and knew it was the way to go. Newly
diagnosed with prostate cancer, he chose—with the support of his
doctor—to hold off treatment until the technology was installed at
Dubs Cancer Center. As a result, Pete enjoyed the benefits and the
convenience of world-class cancer care close to home.

Zeroing In on Cancer
“TomoTherapy is the most advanced cancer treatment system
available today,” says Jere Sandefur, MD, a board certified radiation
oncologist at Rogue Valley Medical Center (RVMC). “It combines
radiation therapy with a CT [computerized axial tomography]
scanner, enabling us to see highly accurate, real-time pictures of the
tumor as treatment is delivered.”
This means radiation targets the tumor with pinpoint
precision, causing significantly less damage to surrounding tissue.
Unique, tiny “beamlets” of radiation conform to the shape of the

2 | To find out more about TomoTherapy go to www.rvmc.org, keyword: tomotherapy


tumor, fighting only the cancer and not the healthy
tissue around it. That leads to fewer side effects and
a more comfortable recovery.
While TomoTherapy is the latest tool used to
treat cancer at RVMC, Dr. Sandefur explains that
it may not be the best solution for every person or
every type of cancer. “TomoTherapy is a strong
“TomoTherapy is the most
advanced cancer treatment
system available today."
—Jere Sandefur, MD
addition to our arsenal of weapons, and it
significantly enhances our ability to offer life-giving
treatments to people in our community. Yet it’s
just one component in the personalized treatment
plan we develop for each patient. Your cancer
care team will know the best combination of
therapies for you.”
High-tech Compassion
For Pete, even the world’s greatest cancer-fighting
technology ranks second to the importance of
personal attention. “I really think the world of that
bunch up there [at Dubs Cancer Center],” he says.
“From the first time I walked in there, I felt really
comfortable. Dr. Sandefur made sure he answered
every question before I left, and that means a lot.
You feel like a human being.”
Winning the Bale
Following successful treatment, Pete continues
living life to the fullest—hunting, fishing, and
volunteering at the senior center. Although he
concedes that treatments left him “a little tired”
after spending five hours stripping his deck—a feat
that would tucker out the heartiest 70-something in
perfect health—in the end, thanks to TomoTherapy,
the score remains: Pete Peterson: 1, cancer: 0.
To learn if TomoTherapy is right for you, talk
with your doctor or call the RVMC Cancer Services
TomoTherapy line at (877) 789-TOMO [8666].
AreYouDueforaPSA?
O ne in six American men
develops prostate cancer.
Get screened before symptoms
show up. The earlier a tumor is
caught, the easier treatment
can be.
A prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
test is the most effective screening
tool for prostate cancer. This simple
blood test detects elevated levels of
protein produced by the prostate,
a signal for your doctor to look into
the situation further.
By age 50 all men should get a
PSA test annually. African-American
men should begin earlier, at age 40,
as should men with a family history
of prostate cancer. Call your
doctor today.
| 3
 Room to Grow NICU Expansion Answers the Call for Specialized Infant Care

B
abies are small, but, as any parent knows, caring for
them is a big job. When serious health concerns arise,
the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Rogue
Valley Medical Center (RVMC) is designed to provide tender
care in a family-friendly environment. Now we’re making room
for more newborns in need. This summer RVMC will launch
an exciting plan to expand and enhance the NICU.

Why Expand?
Over the next five years, RVMC expects the demand for
neonatal care to increase more than 30 percent, from an
average of 19 infants per day to 25. “Premature babies don’t
know there is a recession, so we have to respond to the needs
of the community,” says Kent Brown, chief executive officer
at RVMC.

Lee Harker, MD, with NICU preemie
Family Bonding
The NICU renovation focuses on family, offering private
rooms for moms and babies to stay together overnight. This
gives families a chance to bond just as if they were at home.
“We’re excited to allow families to spend unrestricted time
in the NICU with their baby in a room of their own. It will
enable parents to become the primary caregivers while still

4 | Visit our Facebook fan page, "RVMC NICU"


having access to expert nurses nearby,” says Michele
Strickland, clinical manager of Children’s Services
at RVMC.
The RVMC NICU cares for more
than 300 babies every year—and
that number is growing. Infants
arrive as early as 24 weeks and may
be as tiny as 1 pound, 2 ounces.
Bigger and Beer
The expansion plan involves boosting square footage
from 6,000 to 15,000, expanding into the second
floor of the hospital and increasing capacity from 20
to 32. Every aspect of the architecture was developed
with the patients’ interests at heart. “We have an
amazing team of staff, clinical leaders, physicians,
therapists, and family members participating in the
design phase, and it’s going to have a very positive
WhatCanIDo?
impact on the end product,” says Stephanie
Roderick, director of Women’s and Children’s
Services at RVMC.
B e a part of an Amazing
Feat—the NICU expansion at
RVMC—by donating $10 via text
message. Text “NICU” to 85944.
More Room at the Inn Reply, “Yes,” to the confirmation,
The expansion will allow RVMC to keep more and a $10 donation will appear on
babies in Medford, close to their families and support your mobile phone bill.
networks, rather than having to transfer them to
other hospitals outside of the region due to a lack Messaging and data rates may
of bed space. “We have the only NICU in southern apply. Go to hmgf.org/t for terms
Oregon and northern California. The ability for us and help.
to expand ensures that we will never have to transfer
or refer a high-risk mother or her baby elsewhere,”
says Brown.
The same outstanding team of nurses, physicians,
and specialized staff members will enjoy a more To learn more about how you can
efficient work environment, making it easier for them be a part of our Amazing Feats,
to focus on what matters most: the babies. “It takes contact the Asante Foundation at
a lot of resources—both highly trained staff and the (541) 789-5025.
latest equipment—to deliver high-quality NICU
services,” Brown adds. “The NICU expansion adds
to that level of resources to ensure that we will be
here when families need us.”
| 5
 Dr. Mom to the Rescue
6 a.m. Alarm clock rings; the chaos begins.
Shower, coffee, pack sandwiches
and a diaper bag for the kids. Is
that Parent Teacher Organization
volunteer breakfast today? At work,
136 new e-mails. Juggle deadlines,
phone calls, texts from hubby.

5 p.m. Chicken nuggets in the car on the

way to soccer practice, karate, piano
lessons. Why is there peanut butter
in the baby’s hair? Where’s his
other shoe?

7 p.m. Homework, American Idol, baths,

lights out. Hubby returns from the
gym. What’s his name again? Hope
he likes leftovers.

10 p.m. Just remembered the cupcakes

for Girl Scouts. Quick run to the
supermarket saves the day.
Balancing their family life, Asante employees Angelica and Philip Stanley
at the ballpark with daughter Claire and son Gabriel

6 |
Healing Harried Lives
D
oes this sound familiar? “Busy, busy, busy
has become an all-too-common American
mantra,” says Marianne Neifert, MD,
MTS, well-known pediatrician, author, speaker,
and mother of five, known as Dr. Mom. Propelled
by her own experience of having it all—and
choking on the unrealistic expectations—Dr.
Neifert blends humor and poignant truth, inspiring
audiences throughout the country to balance life’s
competing priorities.
Been There, Done That
As a young medical student and pediatric resident
in the late sixties and early seventies, Dr. Neifert
was riding the cusp of an exciting time, when
women were offered opportunities previously
reserved for men. Convinced she could successfully
combine marriage, medicine, and motherhood,
Dr. Neifert started medical school with a five-
month-old baby and gave birth to four more
children while completing her medical training—
once taking only a weekend’s maternity leave.
“My life was hopelessly out of control,” she now
MeetDr﹒Mom
D r. Neifert is the featured
admits, “and there is a high personal cost of trying
to ‘do it all.’” speaker on Thursday
evening, May 13, for Rogue
A Hey Price Valley Medical Center’s
Many women and men today are suffering from Community Health Education
what Dr. Neifert calls “toxic role overload.” We take series. Busy women and men
on too many responsibilities, until our calendars from all seasons of life are
are filled with other people’s agendas rather than encouraged to hear Dr. Mom’s
our own. This gets us out of sync with our value prescription for
system. Family, friendships, and health may suffer. healing harried
Dr. Neifert recalls one couple who, after hearing lives. “If you think
her message, hired a lawn care service because they you’re too busy to
realized that yard work was competing for quality come,” Dr. Neifert
family time. says, “you can’t
To combat this trap, Dr. Neifert recommends afford to miss it!”
deliberately saying no to some good things so that
you can says yes to what matters most. Distinguish No fee. 5:30 to 7 p.m.
the urgent from the important, and schedule Smullin Health Education Center
something important every day. Maybe it’s reading RVMC campus
to your kids, calling a friend, or taking a yoga class.
Please register by phone at
(888) 688-4920 or online at
www.rvmc.org/classes-events.
| 7
 Rehabilitation Works Medford Couple

C
ar a little sluggish? Get a tune-up and keep
on driving. That was the approach Joel
Works took toward his heart health. A
veteran of cardiac disease, he’d endured multiple
heart attacks and stent procedures over the past
20 years. Persistent high cholesterol and angina
left him stuck in a cycle of poor health—until he
discovered the Cardiac Rehabilitation program at
Rogue Valley Medical Center (RVMC).

Two for One

“Cardiac rehab opened our eyes,” recalls the
Medford resident, whose wife, Priscilla, accom-
panied him to rehabilitation sessions twice a week.
They learned the right way to eat and exercise, the
dangers of visceral (belly) fat, how medication can
help, and signs and symptoms of heart trouble.
“I got involved so that I could understand
Joel’s needs,” Priscilla says. “But I was overweight and
Joel and Priscilla Works with Beth Coker,
took to heart what they were telling him.” When Joel
cardiac rehabilitation supervisor. Inset photo
graduated from the program, the couple was invited
taken a year before cardiac rehabilitation.
to continue exercising at the cardiac rehab gym. A
year later Joel’s heart health is under control, and

8 | To find out more about recovering from a heart aack, go to www.rvmc.org, keywords: cardiac rehab
Finds Health and Happiness in Cardiac Rehab
Priscilla is 120 pounds lighter.
“Before cardiac rehab, I’d
never been on a treadmill in my
life,” Priscilla says. “Food was
my comfort, but now exercise is.
And we’re doing it together.”
On Our Watch
Why is cardiac rehabilitation
different from the average
gym? “For heart patients the
parameters of how you exercise are
different,” says Beth Coker, cardiac
rehabilitation supervisor at RVMC.
“You have to watch your target
heart rate, blood sugars, and blood
pressure. Here we monitor those
numbers. We teach patients that
recovery is a slow climb.”
When Joel first began cardiac
rehabilitation, chest pain limited
his stamina. Rehabilitation experts
taught him to pace himself. “Now
I am able to judge when the pain
comes and tailor my exercise just
under that so I can go for long
periods of time. The sustained
exercise is really what helps my
cardiovascular health,” he says.
A Faithful Outlook
Joel is admiring the transformation
of his “incredible shrinking wife”
and feels grateful to the experts at
RVMC for making it all possible.
“The heart doctors here are some of
the best in the nation,” he says.
Priscilla is thrilled to be along
for the ride. “God turned Joel’s
heart attack around for good. I no
longer use a scooter at Wal-Mart. I
can paint my toenails. It’s amazing
how much energy I have,” she says.
“The Lord used cardiac rehab to
rejuvenate our marriage. It’s a whole
new life.”
May is Stroke Awareness Month
T
he stroke center staff at Rogue Valley Medical Center
(RVMC) wants you to know the signs of a stroke:
In the United States, one stroke occurs every 40 seconds.
Knowing the signs can make all the difference. If you notice
any of the following symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.
• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, an arm, or a leg—
especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, or trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden dizziness, trouble walking, or loss of balance or
coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause
RVMC Primary Stroke Center is certified by the Joint Commission.
ASANTE COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION EVENT
Be Stroke Smart
Presented by the RVMC Primary Stroke Center
and Oregon Surgical Specialists, PC
No Fee. Thursday, May 20, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Smullin Health Education Center, RVMC campus
Please register by phone at (888) 688-4920 or online at
www.rvmc.org/classes-events.
| 9
BecomeaPart
ofYourCommunity
A B
sante is a locally owned and
operated, community-supported
organization. To support the work of
Rogue Valley Medical Center or
Three Rivers Community Hospital, to
honor someone, or to learn about
planned gis, contact the Foundation
in Medford at (541) 789-5025, in
Grants Pass at (541) 472-7300, or online
at www.buildingonourpromise.org—
click on ways to give.
10 | For more information on LEED certification, visit www.usgbc.org
Going Green for Beer Health
abies won’t be the only people breathing
easier in the new Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit (NICU). Families, visitors,
and staff will soon reap the benefits of a healthier
environment, thanks to the use of earth-friendly
materials, sustainable construction methods, and
green energy sources. The newly expanded NICU
will be Oregon’s first LEED-certified (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design) neonatal care
facility, a distinction awarded to environmentally
responsible building projects by the U.S. Green
Building Council.
Lee Harker, MD, and Keri Wu, RN
“Asante adopted sustainable planning practices
in August 2007, and we’re excited to apply those shrink the facility’s carbon footprint while
principles to the NICU expansion project,” says improving the atmosphere for patients and staff.
Justin Hurley, director of real estate and sustainable Another LEED hallmark is tranquility. Citing
development. “A green facility supports our broader plans for natural lighting, better flow through the
mission of a healthier community.” corridors, and other people-friendly design aspects,
Guided by LEED requirements, the NICU Justin says, “Through the power of collaboration,
will use less energy, create less waste, and have a the NICU will offer an overall calming experience
decreased impact on local resources. Recycled- for families and environmental sustainability for
rubber flooring, paints without chemicals, and generations to come. The NICU will offer an overall
advanced air-quality and water technology will more calming experience for families.”
Heart-healthy Fruit Cobbler
Diet advice and recipe from Nicole Hanks, MS, RD, LD, CDE, Diabetes Education, Rogue Valley Medical Center
B
erry season is just around the
corner, and a great way to
celebrate is with a delicious
berry cobbler made with a healthy recipe
that is low in fat and calories. It's the
perfect complement to a nice afternoon
outdoors in southern Oregon.
The pigments that give berries their
colors can also improve your health.
They contain antioxidants that many
health experts believe help preserve your
health and prevent some cancers. Berries
are also rich in vitamin C and potassium,
and they are low in calories. Plus, they
are delicious. So go berry picking or shop
for them at your local growers’ market or
supermarket.
Quick & Delicious Berry Cobbler
INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons light olive oil
¾ cup whole-wheat pastry flour
⅔ cup sugar or Splenda blend
1 teaspoon baking powder
⅔ cup milk (any kind—try low-fat, almond,
soy, or rice milk)
2 cups berries (any kind—try blackberries,
blueberries, or strawberries)
½ cup walnut pieces
For more healthy recipes, go to www.rvmc.org, keyword: recipes
INSTRUCTIONS
• Pour oil in a 8-by-8-inch baking pan and swirl
around to coat bottom and sides of pan.
• Into a mixing bowl, sift flour, sugar, and bak-
ing powder. Add milk and stir until smooth.
• Pour batter into the baking pan. Do not stir
batter once it is in the pan.
• Arrange berries evenly on top of the batter,
setting aside any extra berry juice.
• Sprinkle walnuts on top and bake at 375⁰ for
40 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Serves nine. Each serving has 197 calories,
8.7 grams of fat, and 26 carbohydrates.
Preparation: 15 minutes
✃
| 11
Asante Community
NONPROFITORG
Health Education Series USPOSTAGE

PAID
PERMITNO
 EBARNETTRD MEDFORD
OR
MEDFORDOR - 
Come. Learn. Enjoy.
Discover healthy living at our ongoing
Community Health Education series. For a
monthly calendar, visit our Web site:

Photo courtesy of Bruce Trowbridge

www.rvmc.org/classes-events

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(541) 789-4241. Articles in the RVMC Your Health newsleer are
intended for general information only and should not be construed
as medical advice or instruction. For diagnosis and treatment of
specific conditions, consult your physician. View this newsleer
online at www.rvmc.org, keyword: newsleer.

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publication may be reproduced in
any form except by prior wrien
 RVMC

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Rogue Valley Medical Center is a member of Asante Health System, a Medford-based, locally owned and governed healthcare system serving a nine-county region.