Columbia Memorial | Health Compass | Fall 2018

>> community focus Check it out Some must-do screenings and self-exams There’s no denying how popular DIY projects are today. We love to roll up our sleeves and get it done. But what about health screenings that can alert us to possible health problems? Can we tackle some of those ourselves too? You’ll need a doctor for most screening tests and exams, of course. But you can do some checks yourself, often with a doctor’s input or recommendation. Examples of both are below. Keep in mind, these are generalized guidelines. You may need screenings earlier, more often or not at all. Ask your doctor what’s right for you. CMH Primary Care Care for you and your family Nicole Williams Chief Operating Officer You may have heard recent news reports about a doctor shortage in the United States. With a growing and aging population, the demand for primary care will continue to increase and the U.S. may need almost 50,000 more primary care doctors by 2030.* We’re also seeing this trend locally, which is why Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) has focused on bringing more primary care providers to the Columbia-Pacific region. Since the CMH Primary Care Clinic opened in Warrenton five years ago, it’s grown from one provider serving about 2,000 patients, to six providers serving about 11,500 patients. Now, CMH Primary Care has outgrown the clinic. New primary care clinic opening this fall In response to this demand, we are opening a second primary care clinic in Astoria this October. We’re adding three new primary care providers, and are recruiting for a fourth, to better serve the needs of our community. Other rural areas struggle to find doctors, but fortunately, the Columbia- Pacific region is so inviting that we’ve had good success with recruitment. For many, it’s a lifestyle decision to come to the coast. In addition to the location, many of our new providers are attracted to working for an independent, not-for- profit, community- and patient-focused health system. So if you’re looking for a new primary care provider, now is a great time to give CMH Primary Care a call. *Association of American Medical Colleges Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; American Cancer Society; American Heart Association; U.S. National Library of Medicine AT HOME Step on a scale. Type the result (plus your height) into a body mass index (BMI) calculator, like this one, to see if you’re overweight or obese: morehealth.org/bmi . Measure your waist. Place a tape just above your hipbones, exhale and measure. A waist greater than 40 inches for men or 35 for women boosts type 2 diabetes and heart disease risks. Check your feet if you have diabetes. Your doctor may have you look for and report any sores or other problems before they become major infections. Check your skin for cancer. Frequent (such as monthly) self- skin checks may help you find cancer early. Changing moles, blemishes or other worrisome- looking areas on your skin should be shown to your doctor. Monitor your blood pressure. Your doctor may have you use a portable monitor at home if, for instance, you have borderline high blood pressure or your readings might be high only at the doctor’s office. AT A PROVIDER’S OFFICE Mammograms. From ages 45 to 54, women should have yearly breast cancer screenings, switching to every two years after that. Colonoscopy. Starting at age 45, colonoscopies or other screening tests are recommended for both men and women to help prevent colorectal cancer or find it early. Pap tests. Starting at 21, regular Pap smears help guard against cervical cancer in women. Blood pressure checks. Have your doctor check your blood pressure at least every two years—and more often if you have certain conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes. Cholesterol blood tests. Starting at age 20, have your cholesterol checked every four to six years. 2 HEALTH COMPASS FALL 2018