National Cheer and Dance Championship

This weekend the Mohegan Sun Casino hosted the Spirit National Cheer and Dance Championships. I served as the physician for this event. Cheerleading has been referred to as "the most dangerous sport in America" based on the frequency of injury. Although there were injuries at the event, none were serious and all were evaluated by certified athletic trainers and physicians.

Many people have offered solutions on how to make cheer and dance safer. Some have advocated for greater regulation and others for banning it entirely. After working with these athletes who are passionate about their sport, I believe there is only one way to improve safety.

Parents who are collectively spending millions of dollars on lessons, entry fees, uniforms and make up should demand that the sport be made safer by insisting that they will only spend their hard-earned dollars in gyms where instructors are certified in teaching as well as first aid. Parents must also insist that they will only allow their children to compete in venues where licensed medical professionals are available in case of a catastrophe.

The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators can help guide parents to the safest gyms and competitions.

Sadly, it is only through the power of the almighty dollar that this sport will become safer.

Do you have a cheer and dance story to share?
If you are a "cheer parent" would you make the hard choice of keeping your child out of an unsafe competition?

Bariatric Surgery

If you are considering weight loss surgery be sure to do your homework. This week's guest on Healthy Rounds was Dr. Carlos Barba. Dr. Barba is director of the Bariatric Surgery Program at the Hospital of Central Connecticut. He is among the busiest bariatric surgeons in the country with over 14 years experience.

Dr. Barba stresses the need for a team approach such as the one taken at the Hospital of Central Connecticut where registered dieticians, psychologists and exercise physiologists work with patients before and after surgery.

The two most commonly performed operations are the gastric bypass and the lap band procedures. Gastric bypass is a much more radical approach and less popular than laporoscopic banding.

The key to success with either of these procedures is commitment to a program of regular exercise and eating right. The procedure is just a way of getting started on a life-long journey to good health.

Listen to the podcast of Dr. Barba's interview http://www.wtic.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=4226868

If you are interested in bariatric surgery contact the Hospital of Central Connecticut at 1-866-668-5070 or http://thocc.org/services/weigh/surgery.aspx?fontsize=Large

Feel free to post any questions or information you may have about bariatric surgery.

Haitian Health Foundation

I just returned from my third trip to Jeremie, Haiti. Jeremie is a remote area in the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. Malnutrition, poor sanitiation and inadequate drinking water are among the biggest challenges. As a physician, it affords me the opportunity to diagnose and treat diseases I'd only read about like malaria, tuberculosis and various parasitic infections.

Despite these adverse conditions patients were grateful for whatever treatment is provided. Sometimes that treatment was only a kind word and a smile since there is an extreme shortage of medication and virtually no diagnostic equipment.

The Haitian Health Foundation (HHF) of Norwich, CT is the organization that sponsors the clinic where I worked along with many other outreach efforts in Haiti. Its' founder, Dr. Jeremiah Lowney has been making these trips four times a year for the past 27 years. I had the plaesure of interviewing Dr. Lowney on the "Healthy Rounds" radio program just before leaving for Haiti. http://www.wtic.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=4216171

This trip differed from my other visits because I left with a feeling of hope and pride. My hope was based on having the opportunity to work with a group of young, American volunteers who have left the comforts that we have become accustomed to so that they can help those in need for an extended period of time. My pride was based on the fact that my youngest daughter Stephanie was one of those volunteers.

If you wish to donate time or money to help this outstanding effort please contact HHF at www.haitianhealthfoundation.org

Gluten Free Diets

This week's guest on Healthy Rounds (WTIC 1080 and WTIC.com Saturdays 11-noon) was Carrie Taylor. Ms. Taylor is a registered dietician for Big Y foods and Head of the Living Well Eating Smart Program.



One topic discussed was the gluten-free diet. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. People with celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis and gluten intolerance are unable to properly digest gluten-containing foods.



One in 133 people suffer from celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that alters the small intestine. The demand for gluten-free recipes is increasing, according to Ms. Taylor.



A gluten-free diet is not a method for weight loss or to increase a person's energy level despite being touted as such in the popular literature.



I highly recommend the http://www.bigy.com/ website for more information.



Are you on a gluten-free diet?

Do you have some recipes to share?

Physicans Attending Funerals

Several weeks ago while preparing to do a weekly studio interview, the host and his previous guest noticed that I was wearing a dark suit. Both were surprised when I told them that after the show, I was attending the funeral of a long-time patient of mine.

I don't know if attending patients' funerals is the norm for physicans but in this case, and in several others during my career, it just seemed like the right thing to do. When treating patients over a period of years it is not uncommon to develop personal relationships and their passing creates a sense of loss for a physician as well as the office staff.

In this case, I had known the patient for almost 20 years. She had suffered several strokes and over the years I had come to know and treat many family members. I recall making house calls on occassion when she couldn't come to the office.

Fortunately, she lived a full life and passed on peacefully. I was pleased to see so many people attend the service and that I had a chance to express my condolences in person.

Do you think it is comforting for a patient's family when a physician attends a funeral or wake?
Is it odd?

Concierge Medicine: An Old Concept with a New Twist

The terms "concierge medicine" and "boutique medical practice" have recently appeared in the news after the death of Michael Jackson. Apparently, Mr. Jackson employed a personal physician for his various medical needs.

Some family physicans have become frustrated by the need to see increasing numbers of patients to maintain their practice in the face of declining reimbursement. They are opting for a different model of health delivery where they can see fewer patients and deliver more personalized care 24/7 for direct payment from the patients. This model has become popularized in a recent TV program called "Royal Pains." The concept has also been harshly criticized as "elitist."

Actually, this model for health care delivery originated in the early 19th century under the term of "contract practice." A contract practice was one where a physician was expected to deliver care to a family, plantation or indigent members of a commuunity for a fixed annual fee.

I believe the concept of contract medicine will be gaining in popularity both from the standpoint of medical care delivered to a community as well as to wealthy families. History has taught us that those who have the financial means will always demand a better product. Now that we are looking at the potential for a more uniform health care system in America the demand for a private and exclusive system will also increase.

Let us know what you think.

Telemedicine in Neurology

I have been attending the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Seattle. While there have been many outstanding presentations at this meeting one particularly caught my attention.

Drs. Steven Levine and Steven Rudolph gave a course on telemedicine and its' implications on successful stroke therapy. Telemedicine encompasses the use of technology to perform remote medicial evaluations. They can be done simply by using a telephone or one of several audio/video technologies allowing real-time interaction with a patient and medical professional.

Telemedicine extends highly specialized medical evaluations to remote areas of the world. Acute stroke therapy now requires rapid consultation and treatment. Based on their presentation I am sure this breakthrough will soon become common in emergency departments nationwide for a variety of emergent treatments.

What do you think about this innovative means of care?