GoodHealth

though February 15, 2015. Don’t miss the deadline, because you might not be able to buy or enroll in a health plan until the Open Enrollment period for 2016 and you could have to pay a fee.

If Your Health Plan Won’t Be Offered:If your health plan is no longer offered in 2015, you will be automatically enrolled in a similar plan unless you choose a different one yourself.

Staying Covered Through the Affordable Care ActIT’S AbOuT OnE yEAr SInCE MEDICAID ElIgIbIlITy wAS ExpAnDED In nEw MExICO and the new Mexico Health Insurance Exchange (nMHIx) enrollment began. now it’s time to think about coverage for 2015, and gila regional Medical Center (grMC) is here to help.

WHY StaY InSured?Staying insured is important for you, your family, and your community. That’s because you get access to free preventive care to keep you healthy, such as vaccines, screenings, and checkups. And, a health plan protects you from high, unex-pected medical costs.

cOverage In 2015whether you want to keep your health plan, find a new one, or see if you qualify for Medicaid, staying covered for 2015 is simple. Here’s what you need to know:

If You Want to Keep Your Health Plan:If you are currently enrolled, your health plan will send you information about next year’s premiums and benefits this fall. If you want to keep your plan, you don’t have to do anything. you will be automatically enrolled in the same plan for 2015.

but, let the nMHIx know if your income or household size has changed. It could affect the amount of your tax credit or you could qualify for Medicaid. To report these changes, call 855-99-NMHIX or visit www.bewellnm.com/were-here-to-help.

If You Want to change or enroll in a Health Plan:During Open Enrollment, you can choose a new health plan on the nMHIx or enroll in a qualifying plan. The new plan could be from your current insurance company or from a different one. you can also buy a plan outside of the insurance exchange, but you won’t get any premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions.

To sign up for a plan or to change a plan, Open Enrollment for 2015 runs from november 15, 2014,

www.grmc.org fall 2014Putting the community in the center of good health

è We Are Here for You. “For more than 100 years, we have been working to keep the people of southwest New Mexico healthy by providing care and community outreach,” says Omaira Heakin, Chief Financial Of-ficer at GRMC. GRMC offers a fact sheet on upcoming enrollment events and a list of local organizations that can answer your questions. To receive a fact sheet, call 575-538-4657 or email marketing@grmc.org and leave your contact information.

A Team EffortThe health care environment contin-ues to become more and more chal-lenging for everyone, including both patients and the providers of health care services. The level of complexity for both groups is staggering.

Over the past year, GRMC has committed a tremendous amount of effort toward adapting to this increasing complexity by first under-standing the challenges and then creating systems and processes to efficiently and effectively serve our patients and customers.

The results of these efforts con-tinue to contribute to GRMC’s extraordinary turnaround. Our focus on delivering high-quality, patient-centered care first and foremost has produced not only improvements in the overall care that we provide but has also contributed to our signifi-cant financial turnaround.

These accomplishments would not have been possible without a high level of support and engagement from GRMC’s Board of Trustees, our incredible caregivers and medical practitioners, our local government officials, and everyone else in the communities we serve.

Our commitment to serving the health care needs of our communi-ties continues to be a true team effort and it is with much gratitude that I thank you all.

Brian Cunningham, CEO

è Go to www.grmc.org and click on “About GRMC.” There you’ll find a YouTube link to the latest GRMC Town Hall video.

GoodHealth fall 20142 www.grmc.org

WOmen Face SPecIal dangerSThough heart attacks get more press, strokes rank as the third-leading cause of death among women. As in men, smoking, extra weight, and high blood pressure increase your risk. but new guidelines from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association address factors unique to women, including:• Preeclampsia. This blood-pressure disorder during pregnancy doubles new moms’ stroke risk. women with high blood pressure before pregnancy might need aspirin or other drugs to reduce it. And women who develop preeclampsia should be watched closely for strokes later in life.• Migraine headaches with aura. If you have these hard-hitting headaches, quit smoking. The combination boosts your stroke risk tenfold.• Atrial fibrillation. This irregular heartbeat leads to four to five times the stroke risk among older women. Those age 75 and older should be examined for it, and treated if necessary.

Act FASt WHeN SyMPtoMS StrIkeEventually, doctors hope to develop a risk score to help women understand their chances of having a stroke. In the meantime, you can take action by learning the warning signs. remember the acronym F.A.S.T.:• Face drooping. look for an uneven smile.• Arm weakness. One arm may feel numb or feeble.• Speech difficulty. listen for slurring, garbling, or trouble talking at all.• time to call 911. Dial if any of these symptoms appear in

you or a loved one. If it is a stroke, swift treatment can make a big difference.“Stroke is a major public health concern,” says norman ratliff, M.D.,

F.A.C.C., board certified Cardiologist at gila Cardiology in Silver City. “Fortunately, we now have some very effective treatment options if patients are seen quickly after their symptoms begin. It is critical to recognize symptoms early and seek treatment as soon as possible.”

Doctors Take Aim at women’s Stroke risk

è For a free “Stroke Warning Signs” magnet and a Stroke and Heart Attack Pocket Slider educational brochure, please send your name and mail-ing address to marketing@grmc.org or write to editor Laura Howell at GRMC, 1313 East 32nd St., Silver City, NM 88061.

Norman Ratliff, M.D., F.A.C.C.

Brian Cunningham, CEO

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A nEw EFFOrT by HEAlTH ExpErTS AIMS TO SlASH STrOkE rATES AMOng wOMEn. The strategy: reduce risk factors only females face, including hormonal shifts and condi-tions linked to pregnancy and child-birth. knowing these risks—and stroke warning signs—could help reduce your chances of becoming the next victim.

www.grmc.org 3Gila Regional Medical Center

pEOplE lIvIng wITH CAnCEr ArE OFTEn FACED wITH lIFE-AnD-DEATH DECISIOnS when it comes to being able to afford their medications, treatments, and other day-to-day expenses. gila regional’s Medical Surgical Director, Denice baird, r.n., and her hus-band, Sherman, decided to do something about it.

Denice and Sherman, who own the baird Arena in Cliff, n.M., created a nonprofit event, rope 4 Hope. Funds raised at the event are used to ease the burden of gila regional Cancer Center patients experiencing financial hardship due to their can-cer treatment, and to help provide mammograms to uninsured women in Catron, grant, Hidalgo, and luna counties.

“Our intent is that no patient should have to make a choice between necessary treatment and meeting their financial obligations, namely food, fuel, or utilities,” says Denice.

rope 4 Hope relies on the community, many sponsors, and volunteers. Money is raised through T-shirt sales, a raf-fle, dinner, and silent auction. Admission to the competi-tions is free to the public, and competitors’ entry fees are paid through to the winning riders. It has grown to attract top barrel racers and roping teams from surrounding states.

put on your pink and join us at the sixth annual rope 4 Hope on Saturday, October 25, and Sunday, October 26. Find more information online at www.rope4hope.org.

rope 4 Hope Swings into Action

è Do you know how to do the breast cancer exam shower test? We’ll send you a free “shower card” that explains the basics. Call 575-538-4067 or email your name and mailing address to lhowell@grmc.org.

Kathi Greeman, who lost both of her breasts to cancer in 2008, makes a turn around the second barrel at Rope 4 Hope 2013.

Sandy Littleton, along with her horse Puddin’, participated in the barrel racing event at Rope 4 Hope 2013.

GRMC Sleep Lab Receives AASM Accreditation The Sleep Lab at GRMC was recently granted a five-year accreditation by the American

Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). To receive accreditation, a sleep lab must meet or exceed all standards for professional health

care as designated by the AASM. These standards address areas such as personnel, facility and equipment, policies and procedures, data acquisition, patient care, and quality assurance. Additionally, the sleep center’s goals must be clearly stated and include plans for positively affecting the quality of medical care in the community it serves.

“We are very proud of our Sleep Lab staff for achieving this voluntary accreditation,” says GRMC Sleep Lab Medical Director Donald Stinar, M.D., Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine specialist. “Accreditation shows GRMC’s strong commitment to providing patients with sleep disorders the highest level of care available.”

The GRMC Sleep Lab provides a full range of diagnostic services and treatments for a variety of sleep disorders. The most commonly treated sleep disorders are snoring, sleep apnea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, and shift work disorder. Left untreated, sleep disorders can lead to serious health conditions such as weight gain, high blood pres-sure, stroke, cardiac problems, diabetes, and increased risk of motor vehicle accidents.

For more information, visit www.grmc.org/our-services/sleep-labs or call the Sleep Lab at 575-538-4126.

Donald Stinar, M.D.

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Good Health is published by gila regional Medical Center. The information is intended to educate readers about subjects pertinent to their health, not as a substitute for consultation with a personal physician. © 2014 printed in u.S.A.

If you no longer wish to receive this mailing, please call Laura Howell at Gila regional Medical center, 575-538-4657, or write to Laura Howell, GrMc, 1313 east 32nd St., Silver city, NM 88061.

830M

CAlendAr of events @ www.grmc.org

GoodHealth

Aqua workout class at BCWC

Ninth Annual Santa ChallengeMove your body and get fit before the holidays with Group Fitness Classes at the Billy Casper Wellness Center (BCWC). Beginning December 1, attend as many Group Fitness Classes as you can through December 20 and you could win a T-shirt or a top-place prize. The challenge is open to both land and water classes.

For more information about the 2014 Santa Challenge, contact the BCWC front desk at 575-538-4844 or check the event calendar at www.grmc.org.

Joint Replacement Education ClassWant to know what to expect when you are planning to replace a hip, shoulder, or knee joint at Gila Regional? This is the class for you. Class meets first and third Wednesday of each month. For details, please contact David Carter, R.N., O.N.C., at 575-538-4043 or Southwest Bone and Joint Institute at 1-877-338-7887.

your good Health —It’s in the bag!wHIlE yOu prObAbly HAvEn’T uSED A brOwn bAg SInCE grADE SCHOOl, it’s time to pack one again. but leave the bologna sandwich at home this time, and instead fill your bag with any medi-cines you take, including vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter remedies. Then join us for a FrEE Health Talk slot for your one-on-one “brown bag Checkup” with a grMC pharmacist.

Thursday, November 6, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. GRMC Conference Room

Slots are limited, so contact us today to reserve your time. Please contact Joe Kellerman at 575-538-4870

or jkellerman@grmc.org.

Brown Bag Checkup event