Health Literacy

Archive for January, 1970

What does it mean to put down roots in a new community? Laser Spine Institute recently asked this question with the greater Philadelphia area surgical center opening last fall. To accommodate Northeastern U.S. and Canadian patients, LSI knew the Philadelphia-area was the ideal accessible community for Northeastern patients. The new facility means far more than simply opening the doors.  The philosophy is community enrichment, which means engaging with charities and philanthropies to give back to the local communities, partnering with academic institutions for the advancement of medicine, and meeting the exceptional physicians and medical personnel who live and work in our surrounding states. It means reaching out beyond walls into the communities served by LSI.

I am proud of the community outreach LSI has accomplished in our new Northeastern home. Through the Arthritis Foundation, we are sponsoring a Chester County women’s health seminar. To keep our employees healthy and engaged, we have a running/walking team to raise money for the Arthritis Foundation in the annual Jingle Bell Run. For philanthropy and the arts, LSI is partnering with former LSI patient and Chester County resident, Garo Yepremian of Miami Dolphin fame, for the Yepremian Organization which auctions art to raise money for the study of brain cancer research at Jefferson Hospital. Laser Spine Institute is collaborating with medical thought leaders such as Charles Herman, M.D. with the Poconos Health System and a Mt. Sinai School of Medicine professor in a pain study to help find new ways of safely and effectively treating chronic back and neck pain sufferers. To support the local business community, LSI is a sponsor of the Philadelphia Magazine Trailblazer Event recognizing women in business and philanthropy who are significant trailblazers in their field. LSI plans to sponsor the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Event for the business community to interact with government officials for the betterment of our communities and townships. On April 22nd from 6 to 8 pm, LSI will open its doors for physicians and community residents to tour the surgical center and meet the medical team. Please call 484-253-1728 for more information.

Spring is finally arriving in the Northeast (a little skeptical after this winter) and Bill has asked Dr. Vernon Morris, Jr., our lead surgeon, whom in addition to his surgical prowess has a green thumb, to provide a post on this forum. He will discuss horticulture and gardening as well as how to maintain optimum back health while participating in spring gardening.

Source: Admin

After 27 years of suffering from a disease that was never properly diagnosed, I hope this post can help at least one person suffering from debilitating pain who might be looking for an answer.

A few months ago, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease and have been living with it since 1984. How did I determine 1984, you ask? I distinctly remember being bitten by a tick on my abdomen while deer hunting in Tallahassee, FL one winter morning. After removing the tick, I had a distinctive bull’s eye rash – a sign of Lyme disease, except that no one really knew enough about the disease in 1984.

Years of pain and suffering accompanied with all kinds of anti-inflammatory medicines (steroid and non-steroid), injections, surgeries and misery followed that incident without suspicion of Lyme disease. The first signs of fever, fatigue and extreme joint pain were suspected to be a form of arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis runs in my family. It was a painful thought for an athletic young man to potentially need a wheelchair.

I lettered in five sports as a high school prep athlete, which is unheard of even today. In one month, I went from healthy to unhealthy receiving multiple anti-inflammatory steroid injections in my hips, pelvis, ankle and neck and heavy prescriptions for my increasing headaches. I no longer cared about playing sports, but rather survival.

After five long years, I woke up one morning and the overwhelming joint pains were gone. I did not care how or why, because I was just thankful. Yes, I have had a bad headache daily for the last 27 years but it was nothing compared to arthritic pain. At least 25 doctors chased a remedy for my headaches. I underwent three sinus surgeries, neck surgeries, injections, sleep studies, natural remedies, allergy shots – you name it! But nothing worked. In early 2006, the disease moved to my central nervous system with symptoms of tremors and facial paralysis. I went from borderline over-confident to facing self esteem issues; from winning speaking performances to hardly giving a speech; from performing math quicker than a calculator to barely holding a calculator. With each stumble, I lost more confidence, self esteem and courage but never hope.

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, MS, ALS, rheumatoid arthritis but never Lyme disease, yet I displayed all of the classic symptoms. Thanks to Dr. Glen Hamburg, our Director of Anesthesia, and the smartest man I know, we uncovered the correct diagnosis. Dr. Hamburg asked me about my headaches and I told him, “Doc, I have had a headache every day of my life for 27 years, so I guess I am just going to live with them.” He continued probing and said, “Bill, I think you have Lyme disease.  Did you ever get bitten by a deer tick?” I said, “Yes, in 1984.” 

So, why have I shared this with you? Only two months of antibiotics (dycocycline) would have cured this disease if it had been caught early. If I can help one person avoid this disease, then this post is worthwhile. If you suspect that you or a loved one may have Lyme disease, feel free to contact me. I will gladly share my research and support network regarding Lyme disease.

Source: Admin

I have the great privilege this morning of announcing that LSI Tampa has been named to the St. Petersburg Times Top Workplaces list! Yes, you heard it right…we have been selected as one of the best companies to work for in Tampa Bay. This is a recognition that means a great deal to me because it’s a recognition that has been determined by all of our employees. This is the first year that St. Pete Times has held this program so we are not only among the best, we are also among the first to be named to this list and it came on our 5^th anniversary.

I can’t say enough how proud I am of all of our employees and how humbled I am to lead an organization as caring, compassionate and driven as LSI. We are a great company because of each of our employees. As the CEO, this is an honor I carry proudly and it makes me want to work even harder to ensure that we continue to improve. This program is being launched throughout the country and will soon be joined by newspapers in Pennsylvania, Arizona and California. I can’t wait until we can announce that LSI is named to the Top Workplace list in every city we are located!

We do our best to recognize those employees who go “above and beyond” on a daily basis to ensure we provide the best patient care. Annually, we present the CEO Outstanding Service Awards to recognize employee excellence and I wanted to take a moment to congratulate the following employees for their outstanding service.

Gretchen Dezelick

Lora Lamb

Debbie Cundiff

Josh Williams

De Vazquez

Jason Jones

Chris Yinger

Alicia Roth

Nicole Gritton

Jennifer Thompson

Brad Smith

Thanks to our dedicated team we continue to excel as a five-star healthcare organization.

Source: Admin

For the last five years, I have been busy helping guide Laser Spine Institute through incredible growth.  Since June 2008, LSI has grown in many ways including; nine employees to over 300, three physicians to 18, one to three outpatient surgery centers, and opened four medical consultation offices. Since 2005, nearly 15,000 people have gotten their lives back after our minimally invasive surgery.

At the same time, I supported my wife as she battled an aggressive form of breast cancer and had four surgeries due to a staph infection after three breast cancer surgeries.  Through it all, I never realized if I was going to be able to help the people I love that I really needed to take care of me.  I am thankful for Laser Spine Institute so I could be a part of helping others who suffer from chronic pain. With LSI’s five-year anniversary (posted earlier this week), it was time to set aside a week with my family.

 This month, I was able to take a vacation with my family, including my 10-month old grandson, Adam.  We went to Telluride, CO.  If you have never been, please put it on your must-do list.  It was absolutely stunning and for the first time in five years, I was able to ski Black Diamond runs with my son, daughter and son-in-law.  I must admit I was no longer leading the pack, but that may be due to years of rust and 55-years of age.  But I can make one promise:  I will make them work hard to stay ahead of me on the slopes in the future!  Like one of our former patients said, “You can’t let the old make creep in” – He was 97 years old!

I headed home from Telluride relaxed, refreshed and ready to help thousands more people.  I am grateful for my incredible management team, because without them, I would have never been able to spend a week away and truly not worry.  I return ready to take care of others and know that I need to take care of me.  It is amazing what a little grandbaby can do for you.  Taking care of me will allow more vacations with my family in the future.

What are your vacation plans in 2010?

Source: Admin

On March 14, 2005, Laser Spine Institute opened for business with just three physicians and nine employees. Working in a 2,500-square-foot space, the small team averaged about 15 procedures per month. Five years later, Laser Spine Institute has grown into the leader in minimally invasive spine procedures. In fact, no surgical provider in the world can match the 400 spine procedures that LSI performs on average each month.

Why has the company experienced such phenomenal growth? Certainly there has proven to be a tremendous demand for a gentle alternative to traditional open back and neck surgery … one that allows patients to be back on their feet in about an hour, and back to normal activities in just a couple of days.

Today, Laser Spine Institute boasts 18 physicians and nearly 300 employees who are committed to “Above and Beyond” patient care. Stacy Danahy, LSI’s director of medical operations, explains, “As I look back on the past five years, I truly love the difference we make in people’s lives, whether it is surgical, educational, medical or personal. I believe in our leaders and surgeons, assisting people who have often tried so many alternatives find real relief and get their lives back.”

The company now performs endoscopic procedures in surgical centers in Tampa, FL; Scottsdale, AZ; and Philadelphia, PA. In addition, patient consultations are also provided in convenient medical facilities in Beverly Hills, CA; San Diego, CA; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; and The Villages, FL.

To keep up with the unprecedented interest in its outpatient procedures, Laser Spine Institute hosts free educational seminars in cities throughout the United States and Canada. In 2009, more than 16,000 people took advantage of the comprehensive presentations, which are highlighted by the opportunity for attendees to have their MRI films or CT scans reviewed by board-certified physicians.

Laser Spine Institute is proud to celebrate its 5th anniversary of helping people find relief from debilitating pain.

Published in Laser Spine Institute’s monthly newsletter, The Spinal Column, March 2010, Volume 2, Issue 3.

Source: Admin