We received such a great response from our introductionsto newphysicians last month, that we figured we’d make it a regular occurrence here on Inside Alegent! This month we also have three new physicians joining Alegent Health Clinic and we’ll start by introducing you to one of our newest women’s health specialists – Margaret Beran, M.D.
Dr. Beran joins the women’s health team at Alegent Health Clinic at Immanuel this week – but she’s no stranger to the metro. She received her bachelor’s at Creighton and her medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Then she headed north for a few years (five to be specific) to complete a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, MI , where she also spent a year as part of the medical center’s core OB/GYN faculty.
Dr. Beran, in her own words:
But beyond the training and the expertise in obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Beran is a real, genuine and caring person. Just listen to her describe herself and her practice: she loves that every day brings something different and she strives to provide a faith-based, holistic approach to health care for each of her patients.
Last month we introduced you to three physicians who joined Alegent Health Clinic on August 1. Today we welcome three new physicians to our clinic team: one family physician and two women's health specialists.
Dr. Mel Roca Mel Roca, M.D., a Creighton Medical School grad, returns to the metro following a residency in family medicine at Methodist Hospital of Sacramento, an affiliate of USC Family Medicine. He starts seeing patients at Alegent Health Clinic on West Broadway today. Dr. Roca joins Dr. Kavish Rohatgi, another new physician we introduced you to last month, to help care for patients at the growing clinic.
Dr. Margaret Beran Margaret Beran, M.D. is one of two women’s health specialists helping to beef up Alegent Health Clinic’s women’s services across the community. She received her medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2005, followed by a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan. She’s since spent the past year practicing and as a member of the core faculty at Hurley Medical Center. She starts seeing patients today at Alegent Health Clinic at Immanuel.
Dr. Kristi NewMyer Kristy NewMyer, M.D., FACOG is also joining Alegent Health Clinic Women’s Health Specialists today – only she will be practicing at the clinic on 81st and Center. Dr. NewMyer is a Creighton grad through-and-through, first attending for her undergrad, then moving on to the School of Medicine for her medical degree and finally completing her residency in the Creighton University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2005. Since graduating, Dr. NewMyer has been practicing with Creighton Women’s Health Center–West, just off 120th & Center … which means her patients won’t have to travel far to continue seeing her!
Over the next few days, we’ll introduce you further to each of these outstanding new doctors and we’ll even give you a chance to hear directly from them. We hope you’ll check back!
You may have heard a report or two in the past few weeks about how one in five teenagers now suffers from hearing loss. It was part of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association this month that suggests an increase in the use of mp3 players – and the volume at which teens play their music – is to blame.
Take 14-year-old Ben McCure, for example. He's always had some hearing loss – but started to take a dive in school when it got worse. Turns out the culprit was loud music pumped directly into his ears with ear bud headphones. He now has hearing aids with him wherever he goes - a warning to his friends and classmates that while they may not want to turn down the volume, it's a much better option than losing their hearing altogether.
From friendly faces to clean and inviting spaces, our team at Alegent knows that creating a positive experience for our patients requires a whole lot more than just a good outcome. One smile from a passing nurse, one door held by a volunteer, one warm meal placed in the room – it all adds up. And at Lakeside Hospital, every team member is making it their responsibility to improve every patient’s stay.
What do YOU look for in a visit to the hospital – or any business, for that matter – to help create a positive experience?
Although most of us aren’t planning to choke back a raw egg, Rocky-style, anytime soon, families can’t help but be concerned about the massive egg recall happening across the country. So far, a couple of farms run by a company in Iowa have recalled approximately 550 million eggs sold to wholesalers and retailers in 18 states, including Nebraska and Iowa (the FDA warns there could be more). The eggs have been linked to eight cases of salmonella in Nebraska and more than 1,000 cases in at least five other states.
So what’s a parent to do?
Have a picky eater that will ONLY eat his eggs sunny-side-up? Getting ready to make a birthday cake, but don’t want to be anywhere near raw eggs right now? There are a lot of chance encounters with uncooked eggs that we should be wary of, but it’s no reason to avoid eggs and the foods we love altogether. There are lots of things you can do to keep your family safe year-round. Here are ten tips to get you started:
Check to see if your eggs are affected by the egg recall. The recall only affects about one percent of the 80 billion eggs produced each year in the U.S. Chances are, the eggs in your fridge are perfectly safe. Just in case, however, the Egg Safety Center has a list of every affected egg as well as an explanation to help you determine if your eggs are safe or not.
Avoid eating any raw eggs. Your best bet is to avoid eating any raw, unpasteurized eggs year-round and not just during this recall. However, from Caesar dressing to Hollandaise sauce and aoli, raw eggs pop up in our recipes in more places than you’d probably guess. Restaurants should opt for pasteurized eggs in these recipes. But if you’re not sure if your favorite menu items are safe, just ask.
Avoid eating undercooked eggs. Eggs should be cooked until both the white and yolk are firm. That means you’ll probably have to pass on the good ol’ sunny-side-up egg during the recall.
Keep unused eggs refrigerated. This may sound like a no-brainer, but anyone who has ever tried to cook while multi-tasking (corralling kids, picking up the house, etc.) knows just how quickly time can get away from you – all the while bacteria is growing inside those unrefrigerated eggs. Remember, if you leave eggs out longer than two hours, it’s time to toss ‘em.
Refrigerate any unused or leftover eggs (or egg-containing foods) promptly. You might prefer to sit back and relax after that delicious quiche dinner - but bacteria can grow quickly. It’s safest to refrigerate these kinds of foods while they’re still warm.
Discard unused eggs in a timely fashion.Raw eggs maintain their freshness for about four to five weeks after you buy them, if you keep them refrigerated properly. A hard-boiled egg, on the other hand, will only be safe for about a week in the fridge.
Discard any cracked or dirty eggs. Put simply, one of the ways salmonella can invade an egg is when the shell touches fecal matter from an infected human or animal – including the chickens themselves. So don’t just wash that smudge off the side of the egg – your best bet is to throw the whole egg away.
Wash anything that comes in contact with raw eggs promptly. If there is any trace of bacteria inside an egg, it can easily transfer on to cooking utensils, food preparation surfaces – even your hands or other food. For an extra level of security, keep all kitchen surfaces as clear as possible while working with raw eggs. This should help limit any accidental contamination.
Keep raw egg separate from other foods. Bacteria are typically spread through the kitchen via cross-contamination. Just like with raw meat or seafood, keep eggs separate from ready-to-eat foods all the way from the grocery cart, to the grocery bags and in to your refrigerator.
Know the signs and symptoms of salmonella. If you’ve been infected by salmonella, you may experience a range of symptoms. These include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, chills, headache, muscle pains and blood in the stool.
**Remember, in and of itself, salmonella is not typically life-threatening. But dangerous complications can – and do – develop in children, older adults or anyone with a weakened immune system. So if you or a loved one falls into one of these categories – make sure you are extra cautious and contact a doctor if you notice symptoms that last for more than a few days or if they include bloody stools or a high fever.
We received such a great response from our introductions to new physicians last month, that we figured we’d make it a regular occurrence here on Inside Alegent! This month we also have three new physicians joining Alegent Health Clinic and we’ll start by introducing you to one of our newest women’s health specialists – Margaret Beran, M.D.
Although most of us aren’t planning to choke back a raw egg, Rocky-style, anytime soon, families can’t help but be concerned about the massive egg recall happening across the country. So far, a 
