May 2003, Volume 3, Issue 2
Special Points of Interest (click topic)
WHP Welcomes April DeWhite, MD
New WHP Clinical Trials
Enrolling Clinical Research Studies
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
May 2003 Is Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
WHP Updates
Difficulty Sleeping During Pregnancy?
New In-Office Breast Biopsy Procedure
Health Highlights
Secure Email
__________________________
Suzanne Trupin, MD, FACOG
2125 South Neil Street, Champaign, IL 61820
PHONE (217)356-3736
FAX (217) 356-5849
www.womenshealthpractice.com
WHP Welcomes April DeWhite, MD
April L. DeWhite, M.D., received her B.A. in biology from the University of Virginia and her M.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She did both her internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. She is Board-Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and is a mother of two. Dr. DeWhite, an Illinois native, has been in private practice and an attending obstetrician-gynecologist in the Chicago area.
Dr. DeWhite provides gynecological, obstetrical, and well-woman care to new and established patients of Women’s Health Practice. Her office hours are Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Friday mornings. Join us in welcoming Dr. DeWhite to the WHP staff!
Birth Control
Women’s Health Practice (WHP) is seeking women to join a research study for a new investigational approach to birth control to see if it helps free you from monthly periods. To be considered, you must:
- Be between 18 and 49
- Be generally healthy
- Have regular menstrual cycles
- Be at risk for pregnancy
The study will last up to 13 months. During the study, participants will receive free study-related physical examinations and study medication.
Pelvic Pain and/or Infertility
A research study is being conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a study material used to reduce post-operative adhesions (scar tissue), a common cause of infertility and possibly pain. If you are a female, aged 18 years or older, and are willing to have a second laparoscopy (surgery by small incision) performed in addition to the initial laparoscopic surgery, please call us to see if you qualify. Qualified participants will receive:
- Study-related medical exams
- Laboratory tests
- Study material
- Second surgery at no cost
HEALTH FACT: Tubal ligation is the most common method of birth control among American couples over age 30.
Enrolling Clinical Research Studies
Yeast Infection
Call before you self treat! A study that appeared in Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ferris, et al 2002) found that of 95 women purchasing over-the-counter medication designed to treat vulvovaginal candidiasis, only 33.7% had diagnosed themselves correctly.
- 13.7% were normal
- 18.9% had a yeast infection plus a bacterial vaginitis
- 18.9% had bacterial vaginitis only
- 2.1% had trichomonas vaginitis
- 1.1% had trichomonas combined with yeast infection
Do you have itching, burning, and/or irritation? If you are aged 12 or older and are not pregnant, call WHP to see if you qualify for a research study of an investigational medication for yeast infection. Eligible participants receive physical exam, lab tests (including Pap smear), investigational medicine, and compensation.
Osteoporosis
An investigational drug for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women between the ages 50-80.
Severe Premenstrual Syndrome
An investigational medication in the treatment of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder — a severe form of PMS. You may qualify if you are between 18-40 years of age.
Low Sex Drive
Investigational testosterone patch compared to placebo in post-menopausal women with low libido.
For more information regarding WHP clinical research studies, specific study enrollment criteria, to receive a brochure about being a research participant, and/or to see if you qualify, please contact Louise Adam, Clinical Research Coordinator, or Kathleen Snyder, C.A.N.P., at:
Louise.Adam@womenshealthpratice.com
Kathleen.Snyder@womenshealthpractice.com
or by calling 217-356-3736, ext. 118 or 127.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Privacy rules mandated by the federal government, which became effective April 14, 2003, cover every doctor, clinic, hospital, health insurance company, and pharmacy. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the first federal law that guarantees medical privacy. The rules prohibit disclosure (without patient written permission of protected health information) for reasons unrelated to health care.
What does HIPAA mean to you as a patient?
Privacy rules mandated by the federal government, which became effective April 14, 2003, cover every doctor, clinic, hospital, health insurance company, and pharmacy. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the first federal law that guarantees medical privacy. The rules prohibit disclosure (without patient written permission of protected health information) for reasons unrelated to health care.
What does HIPAA mean to you as a patient?
- Patients will receive a “HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices,” explaining their new rights, including the right to examine their medical records and to request corrections.
- Patients have the right to know if their records have been shared with law enforcement or public health authorities.
- HIPAA rules bar doctors and hospitals from giving out patient information to third parties for marketing purposes or to employers, unless a patient specifically agrees.
-Health care companies may not disclose information beyond what is minimally necessary to deliver care
- The law does allow for “incidental” disclosures of information, but those covered by the rule are expected to institute reasonable safeguards to protect patient’s private information.
In order to comply with the HIPAA rules, healthcare facilities and pharmacies may need to institute some changes, if they are not already abiding by HIPAA rules, including:
- In doctor’s reception areas, sign-in sheets may be used but patients should no longer be asked to write down their conditions because other patients see the sign-in sheet.
- The large white boards in emergency rooms, which list patient names and medical conditions, must be moved to areas out of public view.
- Hospitals have new policies about giving information regarding a patient’s condition, which was once routinely provided to family, friends, clergy, reporters, and florists who called.
Under the new rules, hospitals must give patients the option of not being listed in the hospital directory. No information—even that a patient is in the hospital—may be released if a patient objects. Even if a patient should agree to the general listing, hospitals may release only limited information without specific authorization and only if a caller asks about a patient by name.
- Pharmacists may ask other patrons to step back from the counter in order so he/she can privately discuss medications with the patient.
- New computer software allows doctor’s offices or hospitals to identify patients by full name or just by initials, in case others might catch a glance at the screen.
- Patient charts will be turned to face the wall so others walking by cannot read them.
Effective April 14, 2003, all new and established patients with whom Women’s Health Practice has a direct treatment relationship will be provided with our “HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices”. After reading the “HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices”, you will be asked to sign the Women’s Health Practice “Consent for Release and Use of Confidential Information and Receipt of Notice of Privacy Practices Form”. You will also be asked to provide picture identification, which will be photocopied and included in your medical record.
Women’s Health Practice also makes its Notice available to any member of the public to enable prospective patients to evaluate its privacy practices when making a decision regarding whether to seek treatment from Women’s Health Practice. Women’s Health Practice provides its Notice via e-mail to any patient or other individual who requests the Notice. It can also be obtained via our website at http://www.womenshealthpractice.com/form_hipaa.htm.
At WHP, it has been and continues to be our obligation to maintain the strictest confidentiality of patient information to enhance our patients’ trust and satisfaction, and demonstrates our commitment to professional standards and behavior. “Women’s Health Practice has long honored and abided by these principals; it is just that now these governing principals are provided to patients in written form,” states Jan Dedrick, WHP Privacy Officer.
If you have any questions or desire additional explanation of HIPAA or WHP’s “HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices”, please feel free to contact the WHP Privacy Officer, Jan Dedrick, at 217-356-3736, ext. 102.
May 2003 Is Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
Approximately 700,000 vertebral fractures occur annually. Many individuals are unaware they have suffered a fracture and also unaware the underlying cause could be osteoporosis. Are you losing height? Height loss of an inch or more may be due to vertebral fractures resulting from osteoporosis.
Many factors determine who is at risk to develop osteoporosis. Risk factors include:
- Age – Your bones become weaker and less dense as you age.
- Gender – Women have a greater chance of developing osteoporosis.
- Family/Personal History of Fractures as an Adult – Hereditary and/or personal history of fracture may play a role in fracture risk.
- Bone Structure & Body Weight – Thin and small-boned women are at greater risk.
- Menopause/Menstrual History.
- Lifestyle – Diet, exercise, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption affect osteoporosis development.
- Medications/Chronic Diseases-Certain medications used to treat chronic diseases may have side effects which can damage bone.
Osteoporosis prevention is important because there is no currently no cure—only treatments. Preventative steps include:
- Consumption of the recommended levels of calcium and Vitamin D daily.
- Regular, weight-bearing exercise.
- Healthy lifestyle with avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol use.
- Bone mineral density testing and medications when appropriate.
Early diagnosis is important. A bone mineral density (BMD) test can determine your future fracture risk. A BMD, which is painless, noninvasive, and accurate, measures the density of your bones, and can determine whether you need medication to help maintain bone mass, prevent further bone loss, and reduce fracture risk.
At WHP, we encourage our patients to discuss their individual risk factors for developing osteoporosis. Your WHP healthcare provider can determine the appropriate diagnostic tests, treatment plan, and preventative measures appropriate for you.
- Adapted from the National Osteoporosis Foundation
Office Anesthesia Rules
The Illinois Department of Professional Regulation rules governing the administration of in-office anesthesia (deep sedation, regional and/or general anesthesia) state that physicians performing in-office anesthesia must complete 34 hours of continuing medical education (CME) in anesthesia within a 3-year license renewal period. Sixteen of the 34 hours must be completed by July 31, 2003, with the remaining hours completed by July 31, 2005. In compliance with these rules, Dr. Suzanne Trupin has completed the required CME hours.
Recent Publications
Hochwald L, and Walch A (Trupin SR et al [panelists]). “The Guide—Women’s Health”, Health. April 2003, pages 173-182.
Tune in to Focus 580
Dr. Suzanne Trupin is a monthly guest on WILL Focus 580 (call-in radio talk show), which addresses women’s health topics. She can generally be heard the fourth Monday of each month at 10 AM on WILL Radio (580 AM) or tune in on Internet radio at www.will.uiuc.edu. Call in to ask Dr. Trupin questions at 217-244-9455, 217-244-WILL, or 1-800-244-WILL. Mark your calendar for these upcoming dates: May 19, June 23, July 21 (11 AM), August 25, September 22, October 27, November 24, and December 22.
Difficulty Sleeping During Pregnancy?
During the first trimester of pregnancy, you may actually sleep more as your body nutures your developing baby.
The increasing size of the fetus can make it hard for you to find a comfortable sleeping position, and as your pregnancy size increases, shifting around in bed becomes more difficult. Symptoms that interfere with sleep:
- Frequent urge to urinate – Pressure increases on your bladder, which means more nighttime trips to the bathroom, especially if your baby is active.
- Leg cramps and backache – The extra weight you are carrying causes leg and back pain.
- Increased heart rate – As more of your blood supply goes to the uterus, your heart works harder to send sufficient blood to the rest of your body.
- Shortness of breath – Your enlarging uterus takes up more space, which results in pressure against your diaphragm.
- Heartburn and constipation – During pregnancy, the entire digestive system slows down and food tends to remain in the stomach and intestines longer resulting in heartburn or constipation.
- Vivid dreams – Many pregnant women also report more vivid dreams aor nightmares.
- Stress – The different feelings associated with your pregnancy, upcoming delivery, and lifestyle changes may cause stress and subsequently affects your sleep.
As your pregnancy progresses, lying on your side with your knees bent is likely to be the most comfortable position. Sleeping on your left side (because your liver is on the right side of your abdomen, and lying on the left side helps keep the uterus off that organ) may be more comfortable. Lying on either side, in most cases, should help take some pressure off your back.
Ask you WHP healthcare provider for additional tips
- Adapted from kidshealth.org
Coming Soon—A Pap Smear for Your Breast: DUCTAL LAVAGE!
New In-Office Breast Biopsy Procedure
Women’s Health Practice now offers a new in-office breast biopsy procedure called the Centrica™ Tissue Sampling System. This advanced tissue sampling procedure done under local anesthesia is less invasive, fast, and virtually pain free.
Under ultrasound guidance, the doctor carefully inserts a small instrument into the section of breast tissue to be biopsied.
The lump/mass is immobilized by a quick “stick-freeze”, which secures the targeted tissue to the needle.
The targeted tissue is automaticaly extracted, and the tissue sample is sent to the lab for diagnosis.
The small incision normally requires only a small adhesive bandage—no stitches—which greatly reduces the occurrence of scarring and disfigurement. The procedure itself is typically performed in less than 30 minutes, and the patient can drive herself home post-procedure.
WHP is happy to be able to offer this new procedure, which provides more comfort and less anxiety for our patients during what can be a stressful time.
Life-Saving Benefit of Mammograms Confirmed
The largest study to date regarding the benefits of mammograms shows that the screening technique reduces breast cancer in women between ages 40-69. Some doubt had been cast on mammography benefits in recent years. This latest research was designed partly to address those concerns. Many experts recommend women in their 40s and older get a mammogram every one to two years; those at higher-than-average risk should talk to their doctors about whether screening should start earlier.
- Lancet 2003;361:1405-1410.
Drinking Tea May Boost Your Immune System
Research suggests drinking tea may enable you to better fight off bacterial infections. The infection-fighting ability is attributed to a substance called L-theanine. Not all teas contain this substance—green, black, oolong, or pekoe teas do. Previous research found that tea helps ward off heart disease and cancer, probably due to its abundance of antioxidants.
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 21-25, 2003.
To send an email to Dr. Suzanne Trupin or any other staff at Women’s Health Practice, simply go to www.womenshealthpractice.medem.com. You must register with the site as a new user or log-in if you have been there before. The site allows patients and providers to send emails with certainty that the correspondence is secure. It’s a quick, easy, and convenient way to communicate with your WHP healthcare provider.