Back-To-School Already?

WHAT?! A back to school article just after the kids have finished putting their backpacks away? Believe it or not, now is the time to start planning for the next school year. Summer is the best time to visit your provider at SFM for sports physicals (most athletes need a completed form every 1-2 years).

Immunization recommendations have changed in the last one to two years with as many as four new shots recommended for teenage girls (HPV, Hepatitis A, Meningitis, Tetanus with Whooping Cough), and three new shots recommended for teen boys (Hepatitis A, Meningitis, Tetanus with Whooping Cough). Any child of any school age that has not yet had the Chickenpox vaccine or natural disease is also strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.

SFM Seeks to Build a Medical Home for Patients

What if, instead of waiting to see your doctor until you were very sick, your doctor knew you well enough to anticipate potential health problems and head them off?

In fact, what if your health care needs, from childhood to old age, were anticipated and provided seamlessly by a team of health care providers who knew you and your family?

What if you saw your health care provider more often, but health care cost less?

These are the possibilities envisioned by those who are familiar with a concept known as "Medical Home," and they are more than just the imaginings of a few dreamers. Leading health care organizations, many in the business community and political leaders, support the concept. Earlier this year, the Washington State Legislature passed a measure calling for the development of a Medical Home Collaborative and the State Department of Health is taking applications from health care providers around the state who wish to participate.

Sound Family Medicine is working to become a partner in this collaborative, a role that will put our practice and our patients on the forefront of health care reform. But that's not the reason we want to be part of the collaborative - rather we strive to provide an even higher level of patient care while streamlining administrative functions and reducing the cost of care. We think that Medical Home is among the most promising concepts for providing holistic, high quality care in a cost effective manner.

Medical Home differs from the traditional American health care model because, instead of focusing only on episodes of illness, it works to provide patients with care for overall health. Visits may be planned on a recurring schedule in order to keep a chronic illness under excellent control, or to make sure prevention or early detection screening and tests are completed.

Sound Family Medicine is well-suited for implementing a Medical Home model. We're among the most high-tech family practices in the Northwest, yet we've always maintained a personal, patient-centered approach to care. Twelve years ago, we implemented an electronic medical records system, which includes electronic prescriptions. This system has improved communication and coordination between our staff, our patients and their pharmacies and other specialists.

We also offer "mySFM", which allows patients to send electronic secure messages to the clinic and individual providers with confidence that their privacy and security are assured. Patients can also use this portal to schedule and view appointments, request referrals and prescription refills, and pay bills.

Our website contains educational information to encourage patients to play an active role in improving their health. All of these tools have been created with our patients in mind, with the goal of improving the efficiency of our care, and improving our patients' overall long-term health without the additional costs to the healthcare system.

Whether or not Sound Family Medicine is selected for the state's Medical Home Collaborative, Sound Family Medicine will continue to explore the development of a "Medical Home" model because of its value for our patients and the efficiency of our system.

For more information about the "Medical Home," please visit http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/wsc/Med-Home/med-home.htm.

Other useful sites about efforts to reduce healthcare costs:
Washington Healthcare Forum: http://www.wahealthcareforum.org/uploads/Forum_IssueBrief_ReformingDeliverySystem.pdf

Best Practice Recommendations from Legislation: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Htm/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5346-S2.PL.htm

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You Can Pump It Up With Strength Training

Strength training is not just for power lifters and body builders! Studies show people of all ages benefit from strength training. The many benefits include decreased rates of injuries, an increase in the strength of the bones, muscles and connective tissues, and an increase in muscle mass, which speeds up the body's metabolism. A healthy metabolism means controlled body weight. Once you begin a weight training routine, you will find that everyday activities become naturally less strenuous - walking up stairs, lifting heavy objects and carrying the groceries, to name a few. Some of the outward benefits include more muscle definition and improved posture and physique - who wouldn't want that!

How do I establish a strength-training program?

A Balanced Strength Plan: When developing a strength-training plan, remember to keep a balanced focus. Include under worked muscle groups in your plan, and work complementary and opposing muscle groups in succession. For example, if the triceps are worked in one exercise, work the biceps in the next exercise. If the quadriceps are worked, also work the hamstrings. Don't work the same muscle group every day. The program needs to be balanced between muscle groups and the muscles need to have resting time.

Repetitions and Sets: Generally, two sets of 8-12 repetitions are effective for developing both muscular strength and endurance. A repetition is a single movement and a set is a series of movements, or a series of repetitions. It is important to focus on controlling the movement, avoiding the tendency to use momentum to assist in the execution of the exercise. Lifting at a rate of one to two seconds for every contraction and extension, and utilizing the full range of motion is important as well. When lifting 12 repetitions at a specific weight becomes easier, it is time to increase the amount of weight that is being lifted.

Breathe: As in all types of exercise, remember to breathe while lifting. Exhale on the exertion or work phase of the lift, and inhale on the recovery phase.

A certified personal trainer can prepare a balanced strength-training workout for you or there are many books and DVDs on the topic. It is important to get the permission of your doctor before you begin a new exercise regimen. Strength training can provide benefits throughout your lifetime and help you maintain an active lifestyle.

Katie Graves
Group Exercise Director, Mel Korum YMCA

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SFM Announces Our Scholarship Winners for 2009

For the fifth year now, Sound Family Medicine has awarded scholarships to local high school students. Students who have a connection to Sound Family Medicine, either as patients, employees, or as children of employees, were invited to apply. Applicants planning to pursue a career in a healthcare related field were given special consideration.

This year we have found five worthy high school seniors. Emma Sherman from Puyallup High School, Jessica Laky from Emerald Ridge High School, Camille Wylie from Rogers High School, Cara Blume from Graham-Kapowsin High School, and Nicole Larsen from Bonney Lake High School received scholarships at their high schools' awards ceremonies. We attended these ceremonies in order to see the many special young adults, ready to go forth on their own as college freshmen this fall. Each scholarship recipient is an excellent student who is extremely involved in our community.

In addition to the local high school seniors that were elected, we also awarded two SFM employees with scholarships for their continuing education. These employees, Andrea Quezada and Sarah Flansburg, were selected for their outstanding dedication to their work at SFM and to the patients that they serve.

Emma Sherman will be attending the University of Washington's Tacoma Campus, majoring in self and society as she begins down her path towards becoming a Physician Assistant. She has a strong desire to serve the people in her community and feels this career is the best method for her to do that. While attending Puyallup High School, Emma also completed her Associates Degree requirements at Pierce College and graduated from both institutions in June. During her studies, Emma maintained her positions on the Dean's List and in Phi Theta Kappa. Emma has served her community by volunteering in youth organizations and activities to provide for the homeless. For her senior project, she worked with a food show that donated items to local charities.

	Jessica Laky will be attending Pacific Lutheran University and intends to major in nursing so that she can help change lives for the better. Her dream is to work in labor and delivery, and she also wants to provide medical care for third-world countries. At Emerald Ridge High School, she was involved in honor society, Jag Crew, soccer, basketball, and track. She also volunteered for the Relay for Life charity and the Soldiers Home. For her senior project, she attended the MultiCare nurse camp where Jessica and her team created an award-winning plan to fix the nursing shortage.
	Camille Wylie will be attending Seattle Pacific University and intends to major in nursing because she has a passion for helping others. Her goal is to work in labor and delivery and to also participate in healthcare missions across poor areas of the world. At Rogers High School, she held offices in several student organizations, was on the swim/dive and water polo teams, was in concert band, and received numerous academic awards and recognitions. Camille also volunteered in church hospital activities in order to serve her community. For her senior project, she volunteered as a camp counselor for the Pleasant Valley Christian Camp.
	Cara Blume will be attending Eastern Washington University where she will begin her studies to become a physical therapist. At Graham-Kapowsin High School, she played soccer and lacrosse, and participated in her school's academic recognition program. In her community, Cara has volunteered her time for the Adopt-A-Highway program, the Silver Creek Retirement Center, the Big Brother/Big Sister program and contributed to raising awareness of breast cancer.
	Nicole Larsen will be attending Brigham Young University, following in her parents' footsteps, and intends to major in education. At Bonney Lake High School, she held offices for student organizations such as ASB, DECA, National Honor Society and Student Ambassadors. Nicole has volunteered in her community by participating in youth groups, the Adopt-A-Road program and the Beautify Bonney Lake project. For her senior project, she taught art lessons to elementary age children.
	Andrea Quezada is a medical assistant at Sound Family Medicine and will be attending Pierce College in order to work towards her goal of becoming a registered nurse. She feels that being able to work with patients makes her job the most rewarding career. She has two young girls and believes it is important to show them they can achieve anything they put their minds to.
	Sarah Flansburg is a medical assistant at Sound Family Medicine and will be attending Pierce College and Tacoma Community College in order to complete the requirements for working as an ultrasound technician. She strives to deliver quality care to every patient she sees and is thrilled to be continuing her education in order to help patients in a new way.

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