Physicians from Colorado Springs Cardiologists (CSC) see patients at the HRRMC Buena Vista Health Center on the first and third Thursday of each month. The group has been coming to the hospital in Salida for 30 years.

“We are fortunate to have built a strong relationship with CSC over the years,” said Greg Messmer, vice president of ancillary services. “The fact that CSC has agreed to see patients at our Buena Vista Health Center in addition to seeing patients at the main facility fits into our mission of providing personalized and exceptional care, now, even closer to home for our northern county patients.”

CSC is associated with Penrose Hospital and Penrose-St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs, both Centura facilities. “HRRMC’s association with Colorado Springs Cardiologists is strengthened through our affiliation with Centura,” said Messmer. HRRMC is an independent affiliate of Centura Health, a network of care that connects Centura hospitals and resources with residents and health care providers across Colorado.

To make an appointment to see a cardiologist at the HRRMC Buena Vista Health Center, please call 719-634-6671. First-time patients need a referral from their primary care physician.

Public tours of newly expanded areas in the hospital, including the Visiting Physicians Clinic, Oncology Clinic, Dietary Department and Surgical Services, will be led by members of the HRRMC Communications Team.

Construction began on the project in September 2011 and added 13, 688 square feet of new space and 4,000 square feet of remodeled space to the hospital. The expansion was substantially completed on May 4 by a joint venture of Diesslin Structures Inc. and Haselden Construction.

Cake and punch will be served at the open house in the newly expanded hospital Café.

Instructors Megan Juba and Wendy Trafford-McKenna, R.N., will explore the joys and challenges of being a new mother. Topics include feeding patterns, sleep for baby and mommy, other relationships, and “personal time, what’s that?”

Women are encouraged to bring a journal and to attend the class without their babies (exceptions for newborns), so they will have time for themselves. The class includes a mini-massage for each new mother.

To receive the $15 Early Bird Special, register online at www.hrrmc.com or call Wendy Trafford-McKenna at 539-4394. The cost is $20 at the door.

“Dr. Moss brings many years of experience in the practice of urology to our medical staff,” said Ken Leisher, HRRMC chief executive officer. “The addition of a urologist in our community will enable patients to receive high quality urology services locally. This is a key piece as HRRMC continues to expand services locally.”

Dr. Moss is board certified by the American Board of Urology. He received his medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1984 and completed his internship with Akron General Medical Center in Akron, Ohio. He completed his residency in urology at Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine.

The open house will be catered by Michelle Gapp. No reservations are necessary.

To make an appointment with Dr. Moss, call 719-530-2000. His office is located in the HRRMC Urology Clinic at The Medical Clinics.

LiveWell Chaffee County, with support from the Town of Buena Vista, City of Salida, and Safe Routes To School, is pleased to update you on walking and biking improvements to Chaffee County. In conjunction with National Bike To School Day on May 9 a map highlighting the safe routes to school has been printed and distributed to encourage students to not only bike on this day, but to create a healthy transportation habit that will last in their adult years. Safe Routes To School is a national organization that promotes evidence-based walking and biking to school programs. Their most common programs are route signage, crosswalk improvements, walking school buses, traffic flow at drop off areas, and bike trains.

En route to work, stop by any or all of the following locations for support:

• Absolute Bikes (330 West Sackett, Salida) will offer free coffee, snacks and prizes and will also provide complimentary safety checks, mechanical expertise, helmet fit advice and other bicycle safety information
• The Hot Springs Aquatic Center (410 West HWY 50, Salida) will offer free coffee, snacks and prizes
• The Buena Vista Roastery (409 East Main, Buena Vista) will host mechanics from The Trailhead who are teaming up to offer free coffee, snacks and prizes and provide complimentary safety checks, mechanical expertise, helmet fit advice and other bicycle safety information

We are so pleased to have educated, concerned and supportive sponsors like these to help you safely and comfortably ride your bike to work!

Remember to follow the rules of the road; for a refresher, visit The League of American Bicyclists Rules of the Road page.

There are eight candidates running for two open board seats. The candidates, in the order in which they will appear on the ballot, are Alan Sulzenfuss, Marilyn Bouldin, Charles Forster, Richard Edgington, Joan Michaud, Eric Gibb, Hugh Young and John Klein. The ballot order was determined by a lot drawing on March 7. A ninth candidate, Dennis Giese, will appear on the ballot, but he announced after the ballots had been printed that he was withdrawing from the race.

Applications for mail-in ballot are available at the main reception desk at the hospital. Electors can also request an application by calling Juanita Ward at 530-2231 or sending her a request by mail at Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center, 1000 Rush Drive, Salida, CO, 81201.

The application for the mail-in ballot is also available for download on the hospital‘s homepage at www.hrrmc.com.  Applications for mail-in ballots will be accepted until 4 p.m. on May 1 if the ballot is to be mailed to the elector, or until 4 p.m. on May 4, if the ballot will not be mailed to the elector.

Mail-in ballots may be mailed back to Juanita Ward, the designated election official, at the hospital. They may also be dropped off in the ballot box outside Ward’s office in the Administrative suite of the hospital. No ballots may be received at any location inside the hospital except for the ballot box.

All mail-in ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on May 8. Postmarks do not count as receipt of the ballot.

As a primary caregiver, HRRMC is a major employer with a budget of some $60 million.  The Salida Hospital District includes all of Chaffee County, Northern Saguache County and Western Fremont County.   It’s a big business true, but the Hospital District Board serves at the pleasure of the voters and deserves our close attention.

Despite a big stakes outcome, the District is not required to mail ballots to registered voters/property owners. You have to ASK for a mail in ballot to be sent or take time away to vote in person on May 8th at  HRRMC 1000 Rush Drive in Salida or American Legion Hall 338 North Railroad in Buena Vista.  With these barriers in place turnout may be very low.  Each and every vote is thus truly critical.  To get your mail in ballot go to the HRRMC Home Page, click on the “Application for mail-in ballot” button at the bottom center of the page and mail it today to the address shown.  There’s only a few days left to do this.

As voters and real/personal property owners you have a major stake in how the District and the hospital are operated.   Don’t opt out by not voting or just wait until you are a patient receiving care at HRRMC.  Chose candidates for the Board who will reflect your needs and priorities.  While there is a large pool of candidates this year and each have skills and an agenda to offer, keep in mind a goal of building a balanced  board with broad expertise and a mandate for transparency and community involvement.

Cast your ballot in person by mail, starting now or on May 8th at the polling places.

While this list of super foods may be longer than most, it shows that great things really do come in small packages. From broccoli to black olives, garlic to grapes, these foods are not only healthy, but they’re also affordable, familiar, and readily available at regular grocery stores, resturants and farmers markets. With so many choices, you’ll discover just how easy it is to eat super healthy every day, even when you find yourself on a tight budget.

Thanks to the original author, Becky Hand. Becky is a registered and licensed dietitian with almost 20 years of experience. Through her company, An Ounce of Prevention, she makes nutrition principles practical, easy to apply and fun.

Southwest Conservation Corp today announced the installation of its garden at 701 Highway 50. The garden is part of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company’s GRO1000 initiative, designed to create 1,000 gardens and green spaces throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe by 2018, the Company’s 150th anniversary.

SCC received a GRO1000 Grassroots Grant award to help construct the initial infrastructure. It was one of more than 100 organizations across the U.S. to receive funding for a garden or green space build. Once the project is complete, SCC will continue to use the garden to grow food for its conservation crews.

The Southwest Conservation Corps has several upcoming volunteer opportunities that we thought you might be interested in. We are launching a new gardening and agriculture program and need your help prepping new garden sites in Salida.

According to Tyler Lincoln, AmeriCorps VISTA, “We were excited to receive the
grant support for the Los Valles and Moonstone Gardens. It is our hope that through the
development of this space, we can bring our community even closer together, while
educating our residents about the benefits of gardening.” Community gardens and public green spaces play an important role in towns and cities. The gardens in Salida will provide a place for the community to gather and work together to grow fresh produce. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that Americans throw away more than 11 billion pounds of produce each year. Despite that surplus, 4.1 percent of U.S. households experience hunger, 2.9 million of whom are children. Through this garden, residents will be encouraged to eat healthier through cost-effective means.

To learn more about the Los Valles and Moonstone Gardens, and upcoming volunteer opportunities contact Tyler Lincoln at tyler@sccorps.org.

• Baby boomers (the large demographic group born between 1946 and 1964) reaching the age where more health problems surface.

• Exciting but costly medical breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

• The dramatic increase in preventable chronic diseases related to behaviors such as tobacco use, excessive use of alcohol, lack of physical activity and consumption of high calorie/high sodium foods at the expense of more nutritious choices.

Employers can’t control the march through time of aging baby boomers or the progress of medical science, but an increasing number of companies are successfully addressing preventable health-care costs through worksite wellness programs. Companies that have implemented comprehensive wellness programs have benefited from lower disability costs and absenteeism, as well as improved employee productivity and presenteeism.

The Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) and your local LiveWell Chaffee County Coalition recommends “10 Essential Things Small Businesses Can Do To Promote Better Health”:

1. Show visible support from company administration. If employees see leaders of their organization support wellness in both words and actions, this sets a tone regarding the importance of the initiative.

2. Designate a wellness leader. * Although this is often a duty of human resources, any employee with a passion for health promotion can work with human resources to plan and implement a program.

3. Conduct an initial survey to discover employee needs and interests. * One size does not fit all. Respecting the diversity of employee interests allows them to find their personal path to wellness.

4. Support opportunities for employee health screenings. Screenings with follow-up guidance help employees understand the risks related to biometrics such as blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index (BMI), and how lifestyle change can reduce risks.  Employees found to be at high risk can be alerted to seek immediate medical interventions to mitigate the risk of a major health event.

5. Conduct physical activity challenges and campaigns. * Walking, weight loss and other company-sponsored events can help motivate employees to start on the road to better health.

6. Hold Lunch and Learns. * These educational opportunities provide guidance related to healthy eating, active living and stress management.

7. Create a wellness library. A selection of DVDs, books and magazines with sound advice on healthy living gives employees the background information to make good choices.

8. Disseminate a quarterly newsletter. This is often the only opportunity to reach employees who are not yet ready to change unhealthy behaviors. Keeping the newsletter brief increases the odds that it will be read.

9. Implement policies to encourage healthy behaviors. Changes such as tobacco-free campuses and company vehicles, and healthy snack choices in vending machines and at meetings, send a message promoting a healthy corporate culture.

10. Support community health efforts. * Employers are a part of the local community. Supporting community efforts to promote healthy environments and cultural norms ultimately reinforces the wellness efforts of employers.

LiveWell Chaffee County has supported many local businesses with a worksite wellness plan, including finding grant and funding opportunities to improve the current status of the workplace, helping organize and promote challenges and consulting on healthier food options. Kimberly Burgess-Anderson of High Country Bank knows first hand that LiveWell Chaffee County can and will change the atmosphere of a worksite in terms of wellness, activity and camaraderie.

With help from LiveWell Chaffee County, the Bank employees completed a 12-week Eat Right for Life Challenge, wherein they were challenged to gradually set goals that improved their diets, tracking their progress and were eligible for prizes when nutrition goals were achieved. Guidebooks were distributed to help the employees when they found themselves quizzical about fats, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables, proteins and tips in avoiding sugary beverages. Dr. Ann G. Kulze, MD, a family physician and nutritionist designed the program. Kim says, “Overall the Eat Right for Life nutrition program taught us how to live a healthy lifestyle by eating right at home and the office.” In an effort to support the employees, the Bank removed the sugary drinks from the vending machines and supplied them with juices and flavored waters.

Once the nutrition campaign ended, the focus shifted to fitness. Employees met weekly for an exercise class led by Helen Wasler, an instructor at The Pilates Studio and Exer Flex.  Having the cost of the class covered by the employer buy-in and a LiveWell grant, the employees were motivated and excited about working out with coworkers. Kim says, “Since we have been participating with LiveWell, High Country Bank employees are more in tune to making healthy choices and are motivated to be and stay active. Once a month we talk about wellness at our employee meetings to keep people informed and motivated!”

* LiveWell Chaffee County is here to assist in your worksite wellness efforts. Please contact Lisa Malde, LWCC Director, or Jon Fritz, LWCC Worksite Wellness Coordinator, for more information.

Lisa Malde: lmalde@chaffeecounty.org

Jon Fritz: livewellstrategycoordinator@gmail.com

Included in this article is information from Employee Benefit News, WELCOA and the New York State Department of Health

Thanks, also, to Don Breece: a health educator who assists Chaffee County with their Worksite Wellness program and is also a member of the LiveWell Chaffee County Coalition.