Pictures from Angie's Site Visits - Maine and NY
July 14, 2009
Angie's AIM-HI Site Visit - SUNY
On 6/11/09, Angie visited Family Medicine Practice-SUNY-Syracuse in Syracuse, NY. Unfortunately, I didn't get to explore the city as much as I would have liked due to a big storm. Dr. Epling and Christine have really worked hard to make AIM-HI successful in their practice. The staff here have really embraced the ideas behind AIM-HI and started a weekly healthy potluck, called Healthy Hump Day. It was clear that everyone was really excited about it and I was able to enjoy some delicious foods with them! Thanks for lunch! Many of the staff are also working on making other personal changes like eating more fruits and veggies or forming walking groups during lunch or after work. Way to go-keep up the good work!
Brian's AIM-HI Site Visit - Riverview Clinic - Irvine, KY
On Monday June 29 I spent the day at Riverview Clinic in Irvine, KY. Dr. Patterson, Sharla, and Connie were friendly hosts and the weather was gorgeous! A couple of interesting tidbits: 1) Dr. Patterson is preparing to teach a yoga class and 2) this practice is located in a building that is almost 100 years old! Thank you for your hospitality and participation in AIM-HI!
June 26, 2009
June 23, 2009
Brian's Site Visit to OSU
Brian Manning recently visited The Ohio State University (OSU) Family Practice at Worthington on June 17. Drs. Mostov, Nanda, and Neumann along with Steve Auciello were wonderful hosts. Congratulations to Steve who recently graduated this month from OSU and will enroll in the MPH program this Fall! This site showed great commitment to the AIM-HI project in the midst of transitioning to an EMR and a stringent IRB. The study team appreciates your contribution!
Angie's Site Visit to Scarborough Family Clinic in Maine
Angie Lanigan visited Scarborough Family Medicine in Scarborough, ME (near Portland, ME) on 6/10/09. I would like to thank the staff and clinicians there for being wonderful hosts! They’ve worked hard to make AIM-HI a very successful project. They are also integrating a program called 5210 for all their pediatric patients. This program encourages kids to eat 5 fruits and veggies, 2 hours or less of recreation screen time (tv), 1 hour of physical activity, and 0 sweetened drinks per day. They use the 5210 tools to discuss fitness and healthy lifestyles with parents and kids during office visits. Here is a website I found if you’d like more information about the program: http://www.mmc.org/mmc_body.cfm?id=3614.
Unfortunately, it was rainy and chilly when I got to Portland, so I didn’t explore the Old Port area as much as I would have liked! I did get out and walk around though, but I don’t know if I made it to 10,000 steps. I also got the chance to see the Portland Head Lamp, a beautiful lighthouse that I was told is one of the most photographed in the United States.
While in Maine, I did something that I haven’t done in a long time, I tried a new food! I ate a lobster roll (see my picture-ignore the French fries, they were my backup plan)! My previous experience with lobster has always been limited to a nibble and then the thought of, “Eww, I don’t like it.” Since I was in Maine, I couldn’t have forgiven myself if I didn’t try lobster. I decided to just go for it,-and I LIKED IT! In the quest to eat healthy, I’ve found it’s important to try new foods. There are many foods I hated as a kid that are now some of my favorites. If I wouldn’t have given asparagus or green beans another chance, I would have never discovered how delicious they are!
One important thing that I’ve learned about trying new foods is that one bite won’t do it justice. Make a commitment to taking at least several bites (this is very hard sometimes). I’ll admit that I’m not an adventurous eater, but I’m trying. Eating the lobster roll inspired me to try raw kale yesterday at the farmer’s market. It’s not something that I would normally have purchased at the grocery store, but I started talking to the farmer and he told me how to prepare it. Then, he asked, “Would you like to try it?” I thought, “Why not?” and took a bite and it wasn’t bad. So, I’m going to try it again and I think that is the key to liking new foods, you’ve got to eat it more than once. Summer is a great time to try new fruits and vegetables, so go out and buy something new the next time you’re at the grocery store or market!
May 30, 2009
AIM-HI Patient Success Story - Swinomish Health Clinic
From a patient at Swinomish Health Clinic:
05-27-09
My testimonial for AIM-HI: I fell very grateful for this program. I set out at first to help me with my weight and anything else I could do to be in a good health. How this program has help me is I had some heart palpitation and did not tell any provider of this situation, I felt maybe they wouldn’t believe me.
It so happened one day KO our nurse had me do an steps one day and my heart had the palpitation that day, I did not mention it to her but she picked up on it when she checked my pulse from there she reported to the doctor and she had scheduled me to do a extreme step the following week and put me on a EKG machine to get a reading.
I really appreciate this program for my life, who knows, I may have just gone to sleep and never woke up? So I am grateful for having to been able to participate in the program, it saved my life. I really believe this in my heart. I had no idea that I had this
Site Visit to Swinomish Health Clinic - LaConner, WA
On May 7th, Jim Galliher and Angie Lanigan visited the Swinomish Indian Health Clinic in La Conner, WA. This clinic is a state of the art facility and overlooks the water (see photo). Although the clinic wasn’t too busy when we first arrived, they’ve recently switched to having walk-in hours in the morning and many staff mentioned that it was the start of fishing season so the community was getting out on the water.
Dr. Clure and Kathleen (KO) are really a testament to the AIM-HI program. Both Jim and Angie were impressed with how patient-centered their approach is and how it has made a big difference in the health of their patients. They have several amazing success stories of patients who participated in the study, some have lost between 35 and 100 lbs! They were even able to discover a serious health condition that was later successfully treated in a patient, just because of the patient’s participation in the research study.
It was very clear that all the staff members at the clinic care very much about the health and well-being of their patients. They really go the extra mile at Swinomish!
On another note, both Jim and Angie enjoyed visiting the area! The Pacific Northwest is stunningly beautiful (even with the rain)! La Conner is located in the Skagit Valley, a farming community to striking to put into words. Unfortunately, we missed the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival by one week! Most of what was left in the fields was just foilage. Dr. Clure said that they chop off the tulip heads - too bad we didn't ask why!
After we left La Conner, Angie headed to Seattle for some sightseeing at the Pike Place Market. There is so much to take in at the market, it is a one-of-a-kind experience. Luckily, she went to the market before eating lunch, because it's a great place to get delicious food! Angie had the best macaroni and cheese she’d ever had (see picture)! It’s important to remember that all foods fit into a healthy diet, the key is to have them in moderation. See the beautiful, fresh produce available at the market!
May 12, 2009
May 06, 2009
Pictures - Alabama and South Carolina Site Visits
Dr. Ackermann and Lori from Berkeley Family Practice
Karen, Wanda and Sabrina from North Shelby Family Health
North Shleby Family Health Sign
North Shleby Waiting Area
Angie at a historic home on East Battery in Charleston, SC
Angie and Debbie's alligator friend in SC.
Berkeley Family Practice
Historic Home in Charleston
Fort Sumter
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AIM-HI Success Stories
- - Dr. Chester Fox, MD of the AIM-HI investigative team"Although I am part of the investigative team and not part of the study, AIM-HI has revolutionized the way I practice. One of my patients is a middle-aged male multiple medical problems including hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, hyperlipidemia, status post CVA, and chronic back pain. As I was reviewing his lab work with him, none of which was very good, he became down and almost started to cry. At that point, I stopped the interview, and told him we can try something new. I tested out motivational interviewing. I said to him " I have been learning something different, instead of talking about how you are doing, let us talk about how we can make one or two positive changes to improve your health." He clearly brightened and the tone in the room became much lighter. It was a lot more fun for both of us. He thought about it minute and said, "I eat too much fast food, how about I do not eat anymore fast food over the next month." He had been going to McDonald's about four times a week. I encouraged him to give himself some wiggle room in his goal, but he was adamant about not eating any fast food at all. We both felt better about the interaction. One month later, he came back and did not eat any fast food at all. He did go to McDonald's about once a week, but he ordered the salad. I congratulated him, gave him a gold star which I give my patients for motivation. He has now bought himself a pedometer and start counting his steps. It has been three months from that first encounter, and he has still not eaten any fast food. Motivational interviewing not only helped improve his care, it also helped our doctor-patient relationship."
- - From Christine Palmer of Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY"We have a patient that came in today for his first baseline visit. We consented him last week. After he consented he started a weight loss system (which will not be named) he was 378 last week and when he came in today he was 365. He was very excited and said that it was the number that he needed along with our support to keep him going."
- - From Dr. Vance Blackburn of North Shelby Family Health in Birmingham, Alabama"I saw another patient last week who had lost 18 pounds by no longer eating ice cream each night. Everyone knows that if you eat ice cream every night it isn't good for you, but the AIM-HI tools gave me a quick framework to address the issue and allow the patient to identify one of his behaviors which needed improvement."
- - From Dr. Vance Blackburn of North Shelby Family Health in Birmingham, Alabama"I had an office visit for a patient that I forgot was in the study. He had lost 10+ pounds. I asked how he had accomplished this and he replied, "Your AIM-HI stuff!" Simple changes work."
- - From Kaya Tith of The Children's Clinic in Long Beach, CA"Yesterday, I had a 2-month follow-up appointment with a patient. She's lost 7 pounds since her baseline visit and said one of the biggest change was cutting down on tortillas. She used to eat an average of 14 tortillas a day. Now, she eats 4 for the week!"
- - From Stephanie Hardy of Baton Rouge Family Medicine in Baton Rouge, LA"I enrolled a new patient in AIM-HI, we were discussing activities we can do. She is retired and had already joined Curves. She goes 4 days a week, but she gets dropped off and after her workout, she walks home for additional exercise."
- - From Carol O'Connor of Alcona Health Center in Lincoln, MI"We have an AIM-HI participant who is a truck driver. He has lost 14 pounds and is working on lifestyle changes. He has a CD from his company, Swift Transportation, "Healthy Living on the Highway" specifically made for truckers. He walks at the truck stops and takes health food with him when he travels. His company is also offering an incentive for weight loss by groups. I have other truckers as patients who tell me it is impossible to eat healthy or lose weight with their job. Guess they have been proven wrong!"
