Regional Report - Gundersen Health System

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New Practices Urgent Care Rasmus Hoeg, MD Residency: Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation, La Crosse, Wis. Practice Location: Gundersen Lutheran – Onalaska Clinic Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Ivan Edwards, DO Residency: Univ. of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio Practice Location: Gundersen Lutheran – La Crosse, Wis. Pediatrics Elizabeth Hansen, MD Residency: Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Ill. Practice Location: Gundersen Lutheran – Onalaska Clinic Cardiology Sampoornima Setty, MD Residency: St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J. Practice Location: Gundersen Lutheran – La Crosse, Wis. Neurology Janelle Cooper, MD Residency: Vanderbilt Univ. Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn. Practice Location: Gundersen Lutheran – La Crosse, Wis. Pediatric Endocrinology Jennifer McVean, MD Residency: Univ. of Colorado Health Science Center, Denver Practice Location: Gundersen Lutheran – Onalaska Clinic Psychology Margaret Fitts, PhD Residency: Boys Town Outpatient Behavioral Clinic, Neb. Practice Location: Gundersen Lutheran – La Crosse, Wis. Neuropsychology Raymond List, PhD Residency: Saint Mary’s Hospital, Rhinelander, Wis. Practice Location: Gundersen Lutheran – La Crosse, Wis. Gundersen Lutheran offers enhanced interpreter services Describing health concerns can be challenging for any patient, but for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP), it can compromise their healthcare. That’s why skilled and professionally trained interpreters are so vital to patient care. Interpreters help both patients and providers overcome potential language and cultural challenges. Access to interpreters is essential. Recently, Gundersen Lutheran Interpreter Services made several changes to improve communications between patients and providers facing language challenges. These changes include simplifying the interpreter request process, and enhancing the professional development of staff interpreters. Before being hired, all interpreters must pass language proficiency testing. Gundersen Lutheran also provides additional competency training and other professional development opportunities. Gundersen Lutheran has staff and on-call Hmong and Spanish interpreters in La Crosse, Onalaska, Whitehall and Postville. In addition, Gundersen Lutheran has a full-time American Sign Language/English interpreter for patients who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), offering service in La Crosse and Onalaska. She also travels to regional clinics as needed. Through additional contracted services, in-person or via telephone, we can accommodate patients speaking virtually any language. Please note that patients have the right to an interpreter at no charge. Also, providers must never allow minor children to act as interpreters, and patients have the right to not rely on relatives or friends as interpreters. If you’d like to learn more about services for LEP and DHH patients, call Interpreter Services via MedLink. If you work within the Gundersen Lutheran system and have access to our Intranet, you’ll find more information on Gladiator under Top Corporate Resources/Interpreter Services. MedLink (800) 336–5465 8 In La Crosse 775–5465
Gastric bypass surgery reduces use of medications for type 2 diabetes Researchers from Gundersen Lutheran drew national attention with study findings that indicate weight-loss surgery is an effective treatment for obese patients with type 2 diabetes. The team presented their findings at the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) earlier this year. The study shows that obese patients with type 2 diabetes who undergo Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery were able to reduce their use of blood glucose lowering medications. “Gastric bypass surgery can improve patient health and lower healthcare costs by reducing costly obesity-related health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. As the patient loses weight, obesity-related health conditions are improved or resolved,” reports Shanu N. Kothari, MD, FACS, Gundersen Lutheran Minimally Invasive Bariatric Surgery Clinic. Gundersen Lutheran patients saved about 39 percent in medication charges alone in just two years. After more than 650 surgeries and a zero fatality rate, Gundersen Lutheran has some of the lowest surgical complication rates in the country. “Despite our successes, gastric bypass surgery isn’t for everyone. But our findings are so significant that we are encouraging physicians to talk with their obese patients. Patients who are struggling to manage their weight and type 2 diabetes, should consider the advantages of laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery,” says Dr. Kothari It is important for patients to understand the health risks associated with obesity and the difference gastric bypass surgery can make in their lives. Here’s what the research shows. Obese patients with type 2 diabetes who had weight-loss surgery often see significant and sustained improvement in their hemoglobin A1c levels. In addition, these 100% patients saw a significant reduction in their use of oral hypoglycemic medications and/or insulin when compared to a control group of obese patients conventionally treated for type 2 80% diabetes. The number of patients who required medications to lower their blood glucose 60% decreased dramatically in the surgery group. Before surgery, 84 percent of these patients were on oral medications and/or insulin 40% compared to only 22 percent one year postsurgery and 26 percent three years postsurgery. In contrast, the conventional 20% treatment group actually saw an increase—67 percent of these patients were on medications initially, 82 percent one year later and 83 0% percent after three years. This shows that patients who are treated with gastric bypass Remission of Diabetes (%of patients) MedLink (800) 336–5465 9 In La Crosse 775–5465 Shanu N. Kothari, MD, FACS Specialty: Bariatric Surgery, Laparoscopic Surgery MD Degree: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria Internship and Residency: Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation, La Crosse, Wis. Fellowship: Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Va. surgery have better control not only of their weight, but also of their type 2 diabetes. “The average gastric patient loses about two-thirds of his or her excess weight in the first year. In addition to better diabetes management, patients see improvement or resolution of other health issues such as hypertension, joint pain, urinary incontinence, acid reflux, sleep apnea and depression, and they may lower the risk of some cancers. In addition, patients report an overall improvement in their quality of life,” Dr. Kothari emphasizes. “Even if your patient’s diabetes is under control, they may see further improvements and avoid long-term complications with gastric bypass surgery,” he adds. For a consultation or referral to the Gundersen Lutheran Gastric Bypass Surgery Center, call us via MedLink. For more information on our research, patient outcomes and more, visit gundluth.org and click on Bariatric Surgery under Services. Percent of Patients Taking Oral Medication or Insulin for Diabetes 39% 6 mo 2% p=0.001 59% 12 mo p=0.001 44% 5% 3% 18 mo p=0.001 Surgical Cohort Conventionally Treated Cohort 39% 24 mo 0% p=0.001 54% 3% 36 mo p=0.001
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Regional Report - Gundersen Health System

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