Silver Cross Hospital is one of only five to be named to Thomson Reuters’ Top 100 Hospitals for six straight years. Those numbers, while impressive, are just that: numbers. What does Top 100 care mean to you? Well, it can mean:

• Better care
• Fewer complications
• Higher survival rates
• A better overall experience

There really are too many reasons to list, which is why we’ve included our Top 100 video below. Check it out, and let us know if you had a Top 100 experience with Silver Cross!

There is currently a special heart screening promotion going on right now. Those who attended the I Matter Celebration of Health on Friday, June 18 can get their hearts screened for $30, which is 25% off the original price!

No one ever expects to have heart disease. Often we are so busy going about our daily lives to even give our hearts a second thought. The day goes on, and your heart beats, without you having to think about it. But just for one minute, consider this: your heart keeps you alive. Every pump allows you to live another few seconds. Your heart matters.

And considering that heart disease is the number one killer of women in the US, it is worth the peace of mind to have your heart health evaluated. For $40 and an hour or so of your time, you can have your heart screened at the Silver Cross Center for Women’s Health in New Lenox. Your heart works all day, every day for you—don’t you at least owe it this much?

The Silver Cross Baseline Risk Screening is a simple, non-invasive evaluation that will let you know how your heart is doing. Here is what you can expect at your screening:

12-lead EKG. This simple test will measure the electric activity of your heart using skin electrodes. The test measures your heart’s rhythms, searching for abnormal rhythms that may be caused by heart disease. The 12 lead means that 12 electrical signals are recorded at once and then printed for evaluation.

History and lifestyle evaluation. During this portion of the screening, a nurse will conduct a written and oral interview of your family history, personal health history, and lifestyle to better assess your overall health and risk of heart disease.

Measurements of

• Total cholesterol including HDL and LDL levels and triglyceride level. For this test, we’ll draw blood to evaluate cholesterol levels, as high cholesterol puts you at risk for heart disease. A 12 hour fast is required.
• Blood glucose level. For this test, we’ll take a small amount of blood via finger prick. We are checking for high blood sugar levels that may be caused by diabetes, a known risk factor for heart disease.
• Blood pressure. We’ll measure your blood pressure using blood pressure cuffs.
• Body fat. We’ll measure your weight and height to find out your Body Mass Index. This will show whether you are at a healthy weight in relation to your height.

Consultation and review. After your screenings have been complete, your work is done. Once the tests have been analyzed, a registered cardiac nurse will provide a personal phone consultation to review results, make recommendations, and answer questions.

Now’s the time to take care of yourself, get peace of mind, and perhaps even save your life. Call (815) 740-7046 for an appointment.

The big day is almost here! As the last word before June 18, we thought it’d be a good idea to gather all of our Celebration of Health material in one place. Here are all the details on the Celebration:

1. How to Register for the Celebration of Health: Register online or over the phone!
2. Silver Cross Teams Up with the Joliet Jackhammers to Fight Illiteracy: Details on a wonderful cause.
3. Crack the Vault and Meet Sox Legend Ron Kittle
4. The Celebration of Health is One Week Away!: Details on the Raffle Prizes
5. Celebration of Health Information Page: Prizes, Sponsors and Exhibitors

Women who join our free I Matter™ program receive benefits for getting their annual mammogram and cardiac screening. After registering, members receive a welcome kit in the mail, which includes information on how to schedule a mammogram and cardiac screening as well as details on how to take advantage of the discounts. Upon completing the first breast or heart screening, members receive a card for 5% off unlimited purchases at I Matter™ business partners.

However, this June, women who schedule and receive either a mammogram or a baseline cardiac screening will receive a discount card for 10%. That is double the savings at your favorite businesses in the area, including salons! Take advantage of this special offer anytime in June. Here are the steps needed to get your 10% Off discount card.

1. Sign up for I Matter: Membership is Free!
2. Request an appointment for a screening mammogram or a baseline heart screening.
3. Check out the list of our business partners to see where you can save!

The Breast Cancer Support Group at the Center for Women’s Health is an educational program designed to help women who are facing breast cancer. The monthly meetings cover topics relevant to the breast cancer experience, along with offering advice and help in coping with emotional issues that may arise after a cancer diagnosis.

Lynn Fields has been a part of the Breast Cancer Support group since it first began in October 2009, and has personally fought breast cancer. She was diagnosed with cancer in October 2006, and just a month later had a lumpectomy and four nodes were removed. Shortly after, Lynn had surgery in December to remove the rest of the nodes, and by the second surgery none tested positive. In January 2007, she underwent chemotherapy and radiation for eight months.

“I consider myself lucky, not only because I’m a cancer survivor, but because I had a supportive husband and minimal side effects. I only cried twice throughout the whole process, when I received my diagnosis and when my hair started falling out. To help face obstacles and challenges, I laughed my way through breast cancer and kept the mind set that I had to continue living life the way I always had.

Bottom line, the survivors in the group have been to hell and back. It’s an exclusive club, not one we chose, but for some reason had chosen for us. I like to think we’re all better women today because of it.” – Lynn Fields

Everyone’s story is different and moving in its own way. Whether it was an easier or harder road than hers, Lynn finds it inspiring to listen to other survivor’s stories, which is why she’s been a part of the group since its inception.

For more information about the Breast Cancer Support Group or to register for the next session, click here.

We’re 7 days away! On Friday, June 18, the Silver Cross Center for Women’s Health is hosting the Celebration of Health from 4 pm – 8 pm. The Celebration is absolutely free to attend, and the evening is filled with fun activities for all ages. One of those activities is a raffle drawing every half hour! The prizes include:

• 50 Chicago White Sox tickets
• Gift Baskets
• Baseline Heart Screening
• Gift Cerificate to Cottage Creations (Cottage Creations)
• $125 microdermabrasion gift certificate (Dermatology & Plastic Surgery)
• Francesca’s gift certificate
• Herbal Body Wrap (Good Health is Everything)
• 2 free hours of Caregiving
• $50 Target Gift Card
• 1 hour Swedish Massage
• $20 Nick’s BBQ gift certificate
• Free Financial Analysis
• Mario Tricoci Spa Day
• Free Home Appraisal

Dr. Sandra Culbertson is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of urogynecologic conditions, including: urinary incontinence; prolapse of the vagina, bladder and/or uterus; and other disorders of the pelvic floor. She specializes in vaginal and minimally invasive surgical treatment of urinary incontinence and prolapse. If you would like to learn more about Dr. Culbertson, click here.

Urinary incontinence, or loss of bladder control, is a frustrating problem for more than 13 million Americans. Never knowing when and where you might have an accident can impact everything from work to exercise to your social calendar.

While Urinary Incontinence can affect everyone, this condition is twice as common in women. We caught up with Dr. Sandra Culbertson to discuss how you can find a solution to this pesky problem. Below you’ll find our video interview with her, which is also transcribed below.

Read further

Information for this piece was obtained from an article in Science Daily. To read the full article, click here.

According to research done by Henry Ford Hospital, breast and prostate cancer patients who regularly exercise during and after cancer treatment may have a better quality of life and be less fatigued. Exercise is a variation of cancer care that can benefit patients both physically and psychologically. It can also help to alleviate the side effects of treatment.

Exercise is a good alternative for patients suffering from fatigue and nausea as opposed to taking supplements that may interfere with other medications and chemotherapy they are taking.

There is a newly developed program called Exercise and Cancer Integrative Therapies and Education (ExCITE) to study how exercise effects cancer patients. This program recommends an individualized diet and exercise plan for patients receiving cancer treatment. The programs are customized based on factors such as:

• exercise tolerance
• weight
• overall health
• the type of cancer treatment Read further

Dr. Martin Gryfinski to host a seminar June 8 on neck pain treatment

Mary Kambic of Joliet was enjoying the holiday season this past November until suddenly she experienced bouts of sharp pain from her neck all the way down her left arm. Startled, and unable to bear the pain, she visited the Silver Cross Hospital Emergency Department believing she may have a heart attack. A series of tests and x-rays showed Mary had herniated a disc in her cervical spine.

Most neck pain is caused by activities that strain the neck such as slouching, painting a ceiling, or sleeping with your neck twisted. Everyday activities and movements can lead to neck strain, a spasm of the neck muscles, or swelling of the neck joints. Neck injuries are also common, and shouldn’t be left untreated.

“Many patients, including Kambic, often feel that the pain will disappear if ignored, but sometimes there is more behind the pain” says Dr. Martin Gryfinski.

Mary visited Dr. Martin Gryfinski and underwent surgery of her cervical spine on December 2. Within a few hours her pain disappeared and she has been enjoying life pain-free ever since. “Dr. Gryfinski is the total package. He is a brilliant surgeon and his bed-side manner is outstanding. He took the time to explain everything and put me and my family at ease.”

Dr. Martin Gryfinski will be hosting a free seminar, “Pain in My Neck” on Tuesday, June 8, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Silver Cross Center for Women’s Health, 1870 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox. Register to attend by visiting the Silver Cross Hospital events page or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).

Mark your calendars, the I Matter Celebration of Health is approaching quickly! The event is on June 18 from 4-8 p.m. and will include many fun family activities.

“With construction almost half-way completed, we wanted to give the community an opportunity to get an up-close view and learn more about the services that will be available on the new campus.” -Paul Pawlak, President and CEO of Silver Cross Hospital

One of the activities at the event will give women the opportunity to crack the code to a vault which includes an all-expense-paid trip to the Mid-Summer Baseball Classic in Anaheim, CA and a $25,000 shopping spree!

White Sox legend Ron Kittle will also be attending this event! He will be available to sign autographs and take photos with guests. Kittle, the now-retired  professional baseball player, was named the 1983 American League Rookie of the Year with 35 home runs and 100 runs batted in.

Kittle is also known for his home runs onto the rooftop of Comiskey Park. He hit a record seven rooftop blasts while playing for the Chicago White Sox. In addition, he is one of the top five career home run leaders for the Sox. Throughout his career, he had the opportunity to play for teams including the:

• Chicago White Sox (1982–86, 1989, 1991)
• New York Yankees (1986–87)
• Cleveland Indians (1988)
• Baltimore Orioles (1990)

During Kittle’s ten seasons, he held a .239 batting average with 176 home runs and 460 RBI in 843 games. He ultimately retired after the 1991 season due to a back injury.

Kittle now passionately helps raise funds for cancer research, is the Founder and Chairman of Indiana Sport Charities and an Executive Board Member for the Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities.

The I Matter Celebration of Health is a free event being held on Friday, June 18 from 4-8 p.m. It will be located in a tent on the Silver Cross replacement hospital campus on 1900 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox (off Route 6 and I-355).

If you would like to attend the Celebration, register here or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325)