Taking Charge of Your Healthcare

Prevention and Treatment of Illness

harnessg — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 18:10:20 +0000

Prevention and Treatment of Illness

Resource Articles, Taking Charge of Your Healthcare

harnessg Thu, 09/02/2021 - 13:10 RSS:

Health & Wellness

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is committed to helping you get the care you need as quickly and conveniently and as affordably as possible. Rather than pay a higher copay for an emergency room visit, employees can take advantage of these cost- and time-saving health care options.

Healthcare at Home:
- VUMC Telehealth: Employees enrolled in the VUMC health plan can schedule on-demand telehealth visits through the My Health at Vanderbilt mobile app or web portal. Telehealth appointments are available seven days a week, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and are staffed by Vanderbilt Health nurse practitioners, who can diagnose and treat a wide range of non-emergent medical conditions, including allergies, sinus infection, rashes and bug bites. Appointments are charged at the tier 1 rate.
- Vanderbilt Health OnCall: Serving Nashville-Davidson County and the cities of Brentwood, Franklin, Hendersonville and Nolensville, Vanderbilt Health OnCall brings a Vanderbilt Health nurse practitioner to your home or office to treat common illnesses, such as strep, flu, colds and urinary tract infections. Vanderbilt Health OnCall providers can also write prescriptions. Appointments are available seven days a week, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and are charged at the tier 1 rate. Download the mobile app or visit www.vanderbilthealth.com/vhoc to request a visit, and a provider will arrive within two hours of your request.
Walk-in Clinic Campus Options:
- Occupational Health Clinic helps protect Vanderbilt faculty and staff through a variety of programs used to treat work-related illness and injury and monitor exposure to workplace hazards. OHC also provides treatment for minor illnesses such as cold and flu. For services not related to COVID-19, employees may visit the Occupational Health Clinic located in Suite 640 of the Medical Arts Building, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Telehealth and in-person services are available to meet your individual needs.
- OHC also provides COVID-19 assessment, testing, monitoring and vaccine services for employees. For COVID-19 assessment and testing, employees may visit the Express Care Clinic located in Suite 112 of the Medical Arts Building, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. For complete information on COVID-19 services offered by Occupational Health including locations for testing and vaccination, visit Occupational Health Employee COVID-19 Information.
- Belcourt Walk-in Clinic: Opened in fall 2020, the newest Vanderbilt Health Walk-In Clinic is conveniently located near the Medical Center campus, in Hillsboro Village on Belcourt Avenue, across from the Belcourt Theatre. The clinic, which offers same-day, full-service care, is a good option if you become sick or have an injury but can't make it to your primary care provider. The clinic treats minor injuries and non-emergent conditions, such as cold, flu and sinus infection, and features on-site lab services, X-ray and EKG machines. Walk in or reserve your spot at www.myhealthwalkin.com.
Walk-In Clinic Community Options:
- Vanderbilt Health Walk-in Clinics offer urgent medical care for non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries that need to be treated immediately. With 11 convenient locations, you can walk in to find quality care for your and your family. For complete information including locations and clinic hours, visit Vanderbilt Health Walk-In Clinics.
- Vanderbilt Health Clinics at Walgreens offer easy access to quality health care in your community. A wide range of services is available for the whole family. To find a location near you and for a complete list of services, visit Vanderbilt Health Clinic at Walgreens.
- Vanderbilt Children's After-Hours Clinics offer urgent care for non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries in children of all ages. For information on locations and clinic hours, visit Vanderbilt Children's After-Hours Clinics

Tags

VUMC, Acute Care, Medical Care, Primary Care

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Assess Your Risk for Sleep Apnea with the STOP-BANG Test

harnessg — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 21:03:11 +0000

Assess Your Risk for Sleep Apnea with the STOP-BANG Test

Resource Articles, Health Plus, Taking Charge of Your Healthcare

harnessg Tue, 02/25/2020 - 15:03 RSS:

Health Plus

Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. It is far more common than generally understood. Sleep apnea occurs in all age groups and both genders. It is more common in men, although it may be under diagnosed in women and young African-Americans. It is estimated that as many as 18 million Americans have sleep apnea. Read more from the Vanderbilt Sleep Center.

Take the STOP BANG Sleep Apnea Risk Assessment.

Answer the 8 questions below with Yes or NO. Total your scores to calculate your risk.

Snoring: Do you snore loudly (loud enough to be heard through closed doors or your bed-partner elbows you for snoring at night)?
Tiredness/fatigue: Do you often feel tired, fatigued, or sleepy during the daytime (such as falling asleep during driving or talking to someone)?
Observed apnea: Has anyone observed you stop breathing or choking/gasping during your sleep?
Pressure: Do you have or are being treated for High Blood Pressure?
Body Mass Index: Do you have a BMI of 35 or higher? Calculate your BMI.
Age: Are you older than 50 years?
Neck size: For males, is your shirt collar 17 inches or larger or for females, is your shirt collar 16 inches or larger?
Gender: Are you male?

Assess Your Risk:

Low Risk: Yes to 0 - 2 questions
Intermediate Risk: Yes to 3 - 4 questions
High Risk: Yes to 5 - 8 questions
High Risk: Yes to 2 or more of STOP questions (1-4) and any of the following:

male gender
BMI > 35kg/m2
neck circumference 17 inches in male or 16 inches in female

Take Action:

If you have an intermediate or high risk score contact your primary care provider.

Learn more about choosing a primary care provider. VU employees, learn how to find a VHAN provider. VUMC employees, learn how to find a VHAN provider.

Resources:

Vanderbilt Sleep Center

Modified from:
stopbang.ca/osa/screening.php
Chung F et al. Anesthesiology 2008; 108: 812-821,
Chung F et al Br J Anaesth 2012; 108: 768-775,
Chung F et al J Clin Sleep Med Sept 2014.

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Prevention, VUMC

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Getting to Know Your Medications

harnessg — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 19:27:04 +0000

Getting to Know Your Medications

Resource Articles, Taking Charge of Your Healthcare, Health Plus

harnessg Tue, 04/09/2019 - 14:27 RSS:

Health Plus

Understanding and managing your medications requires a team approach between you and your health care provider(s). Watch this video to learn steps that you can take to be sure medications are being used safely and effectively.

Create your own medication list.

Tags

Medical Care, VUMC, Primary Care

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Spring Cleaning For Your Medicine Cabinet

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 12:00:45 +0000

Spring Cleaning For Your Medicine Cabinet

Occupational Health Clinic, Resource Articles, Taking Charge of Your Healthcare

admin Fri, 02/17/2017 - 06:00 RSS:

Occupational Health Clinic

What's in your medicine cabinet? Perhaps you have a few leftover pain pills, half a bottle of cough syrup, or even an entire cache of controlled substances from a loved one who has died.

It's a common and potentially dangerous problem according to Andrea Bryant, Pharm.D., MBA, MHA, and Executive Director for Pharmacy Business Operations at VUMC. "We know that 60-70% of prescription drug abuse starts with medications obtained from family and friends — often found in the family medicine cabinet," says Bryant.

Abuse isn't the only risk, however. Medication given to a friend could be harmful to them. Children and pets can swallow medications or chew medicated patches - like nicotine and fentanyl - with dangerous or even fatal results. Even taking your own expired medicine is not safe.

So how should one dispose of unwanted medication safely? Can it be returned to a pharmacy, thrown in the trash, or even flushed down the toilet or sink?

"Flushing is not recommended because of potential environmental effects," says Mark Sullivan, Pharm.D., MBA, and Executive Director of Pharmacy Operations at VUMC. "You could put them in the trash, sealed in a plastic bag mixed with something like kitty litter, to send to a landfill, but even this isn't ideal." Landfill drugs can leach into the ground and may present an environmental hazard.

Sullivan and Bryant agree that the best way to dispose of unwanted medications is to have them professionally destroyed through a pharmacy take-back program since many pharmacies now have safe and eco-friendly medication disposal programs. While pharmacy staff cannot touch the medications you wish to discard, they can help you place them in a drug collection kiosk where they are stored before being securely routed to an incineration plant.

Kiosks accept human and veterinary medications in pill, liquid, or patch form. "The only things we can't accept are sharps and inhalers," says Bryant. Any personal information on the medication is protected throughout the process and destroyed with the medication.

Here's where to find kiosks for disposing of unwanted medications:

All Vanderbilt retail pharmacy locations: The Vanderbilt Clinic, Children's Hospital, Medical Center East, and One Hundred Oaks
Select Walgreens pharmacies: Nashville (3130 Clarksville Pike & 5555 Edmondson Pike), Hendersonville (198 E Main St) and Murfreesboro (106 W Northfield Blvd)
Metro Nashville police headquarters and many police precincts - find them with the interactive Unwanted Pharmaceutical Take Back Map
CVS and many independent pharmacies also have programs to mail back unwanted medications. Ask your pharmacist about these.

If medication disposal has you stumped, your pharmacist is always happy to help. So roll up your sleeves and clean out that medicine cabinet today!

Tags

Acute Care, Addiction, Eldercare, Medical Care, Personal Safety, VU, VUMC

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LGBTI Resources

admin — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 14:35:45 +0000

LGBTI Resources

Health Plus, Resource Articles, Taking Charge of Your Healthcare

admin Mon, 07/14/2014 - 09:35 RSS:

Health Plus

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) faculty and staff have unique health care needs that often go unaddressed.

The Vanderbilt University Medical Center Program for LGBTQ Health, housed within the Office for Diversity Affairs, works to address disparities often experienced in the LGBTQ community, improve patient health, and offer educational opportunities focused on LGBTQ health.

The program has outlined resources for students and educators, in addition to valuable resources outlined for patients.

Members of LGBTQ community are at an increased risk for a number of health threats when compared to heterosexuals.* National efforts to improve the quality of lives of the LGBTQ communities are also under way. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has summarized what efforts have taken place to improve the lives of LGBTQ people. Details on hospital visitation rights, advance directives, and the Affordable Care Act are all outlined here.

Need information on Vanderbilt policies for LGBTQ faculty and staff? View a brief description of Vanderbilt University policies here and Vanderbilt Univeristy Medical Center policies here.

* Source: http://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/about.htm

Additional Resources:

Vanderbilt Program for LGBTQ Health
The Gay and Lesbian Medial Association
HRSA LGBT Health CDC: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health
PFLAG: Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network
The Trevor Project
The Oasis Center's Just Us Program
Nashville Cares
OutCentral: Greater Nashville's LGBT Center

Tags

Acute Care, Prevention, Primary Care, VUMC

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Immunizations and Religion

admin — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 17:10:53 +0000

Immunizations and Religion

Occupational Health Clinic, Resource Articles, Taking Charge of Your Healthcare

admin Tue, 08/27/2013 - 12:10 RSS:

Occupational Health Clinic

Most religions have no prohibition against vaccinations, however some have considerations, concerns or restrictions regarding vaccination in general, particular reasons for vaccination, or specific vaccine ingredients. Below is a list of the current position of some of the more common religious faiths.

Buddhism - Buddhism has no central authority that determines doctrine. Vaccination is widely accepted in predominantly Buddhist countries.

Christianity - The Christian faith consists of multiple different denominations, which may differ in theological approach to vaccines.

The following Christian denominations have no theological objection to vaccination:

Roman Catholicism

Eastern Orthodox

Oriental Orthodox

Amish

Anglican

Baptist

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon)

Congregational

Episcopalian

Jehovah's Witness - Note: This denomination originally denounced vaccination, but revised this doctrine in 1952. An article in a recent issue of the church's newsletter promotes vaccination to avoid infectious diseases.

Lutheran

Mennonite

Methodist (including African Methodist Episcopal)

Quaker

Pentecostal

Presbyterian

Seventh-Day Adventist

Unitarian-Universalist

Church of Christ, Scientist

The following denominations do have a theological objection to vaccination:

Dutch Reformed Congregations - This denomination has a tradition of declining immunizations. Some members decline vaccination on the basis that it interferes with divine providence. However, others within the faith accept immunization as a gift from God to be used with gratitude.

Faith healing denominations including:

Faith Tabernacle

Church of the First Born

Faith Assembly

End Time Ministries

Hinduism - Hinduism has no prohibition against vaccines. While Hindus venerate cows, trace bovine components of certain vaccines have not been identified as a theological concern.

Islam - Islam has no prohibition to vaccination. There have been several gatherings of Muslim leaders, scholars, and philosophers to address the theological implications of ingredients in food and drugs, including vaccination. The Organization of Islamic Conference and 15th annual conference of the International Fiqh Council both concluded that vaccination is acceptable under Islam. The Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences concluded that porcine gelatin used in vaccines is acceptable. Some muftis (experts in Islamic law) hold that immunization is obligatory (wajib) when the disease risk is high and the vaccine has benefits that far outweigh its risk.

Jainism - Jains follow a path of non-violence toward all living beings including microscopic organisms. Jains do allow cooking, the use of soap and antibiotics, and vaccination, because this destruction of microorganisms, even though regretted, is necessary to protect other lives.

Judaism - Judaism supports vaccination as an action to maintain health, and also as a parental responsibility to protect children against future infection. In Judaism the concept of Pikuakh nefesh, acting to save one's own or another's life, is a primary value. While some vaccines containing porcine derived gelatin, Jewish scholars, agree that porcine gelatin in injectable form is acceptable.

Scientology: in an interview for BeliefNet, Rev. John Carmichael of the Church of Scientology stated that there are no precepts or strictures about vaccinations within Scientology.

For more information about religious beliefs regarding immunizations, please refer to the following:

Religion and Vaccines (John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)

Grabenstein JD. What the world's religions teach, applied to vaccines and immune globulins. Vaccine. 2013 Apr 12;31(16):2011-23. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.02.026. Epub 2013 Feb 26. PubMed PMID: 23499565.

Tags

Vaccines, VU, VUMC

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Self Care

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:44:29 +0000

Self Care

Health Plus, Resource Articles, Taking Charge of Your Healthcare

admin Wed, 02/15/2012 - 14:44 RSS:

Health & Wellness

Self care is about:

Getting preventive exams and immunizations
Learning how to care for common illnesses or injuries
Knowing when to see a health care provider
Knowing when to get emergency care
Making healthy lifestyle choices
Taking responsibility for your health

The first step in taking charge of your health is to have a health care provider. A health care provider is your partner for a variety of needs including prevention, routine care, and acute care. To find a Vanderbilt provider, call 615-936-3300. Or you may visit the Aetna DocFind website to find a provider close to you within the Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network who is on the health plan and covered at the highest benefit level. Finally, the Occupational Health Clinic or Health Plus can assist you in finding a health care provider to meet your needs.

Getting preventive care exams is an important step in staying healthy. Visit the Health & Wellness Information Portal to view your personal Health Advisor. The Health Advisor will show you what preventive exams are recommended based on your age, gender, and race. You can also learn about resources available at Vanderbilt to help you get these preventive services.

You can learn to prevent, recognize, and manage many common illnesses and injuries. Valuable self-care skills include knowing how to communicate your health needs and becoming a partner with your health care provider to maintain good health.

Reliable resources for self-care on numerous health topics include:

Additional Resources:

Detect and Protect

Tags

Acute Care, Prevention, VUMC

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Finding A Mental Health Provider

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:18:56 +0000

Finding A Mental Health Provider

Resource Articles, Taking Charge of Your Healthcare, Work/Life Connections

admin Tue, 09/27/2011 - 22:18 RSS:

Work/Life Connections

Finding the right provider is important when beginning the therapeutic process. Work/Life Connections-EAP at 615-936-1327, is available for a confidential meeting with a faculty/staff member of Vanderbilt to assess the presenting problem, identify related issues and consider important demographic considerations (location, insurance, etc.) to assist in matching you with a potential provider. A counselor will suggest three or more potential providers who may meet your needs. The counselor may also talk with you about the process of selecting a provider with whom your are comfortable.

If you wish to initiate a search on your own, you can call the Vanderbilt insurance provider to obtain a list of providers at 1-800-743-0910.

You can also visit the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Human Resources website if you are a Medical Center employee, visit the Vanderbilt University Human Resources website if you are an employee of the university, or visit the insurance company's website to locate providers:

Find Aetna Providers:

Sign in as a "Member" or as a "Guest." If you choose to use the "Guest" option, you will need to enter your location before starting your search.
Select a Plan. "Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network" includes all Tier 1 providers, which means your co-pays and co-insurance are less. "Aetna National Network" is considered Tier 2 in terms of coverage and co-pays and co-insurance may be higher.
Either search for a type of provider or a name of a provider in the "Search" box, or you can select the "Behavioral Health" category below "Search."
Select the category within "Behavioral Health." You will likely want to select "Behavioral Health Professionals."

Employees can also use the Teladoc options through Aetna. Visit the site to learn more.

Provider Types

Psychiatrist: A physician who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, addictive, and emotional disorders. A psychiatrist can prescribe medication to help reduce or control the symptoms of a mental health disorder.
Advanced Nurse Mental Health Practitioner: A nurse with additional training who specializes in the treatment of mental, addictive, and emotional disorders. An ANP can prescribe medication under the supervision of a physician.
Clinical Psychologist: A PhD, PsyD or EdD level practitioner trained and educated to perform psychological research, testing, and therapy.
Licensed Master's Level Counselors: Clinicians trained to assess and provide therapy and licensed by the Tennessee Board of Healing Arts.
- LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor
- LMFT - Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor
- LSPE - Licensed Senior Psychological Examiner

Keywords: Counselor, Therapist, Psychiatrist, Mental Health Providers, Social Worker, Psychologist, Marital Counseling

Tags

Counseling, Mental Health, VUMC

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Preventive Care

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:17:37 +0000

Preventive Care

Health Plus, Resource Articles, Taking Charge of Your Healthcare

admin Tue, 09/27/2011 - 22:17 RSS:

Health Plus

Day-to-day health decisions have a great influence on our long-term health. This means practicing positive health behaviors and making informed health decisions. Getting preventive care exams is an important step in staying healthy.

A routine physical exam from a doctor or a health care provider helps you know the state of your health. You can help lower your risk of illness or injury by getting regular exams and tests to find problems at an early treatable stage and by receiving immunizations that prevent disease.

Basic parts of a routine checkup include:

A complete medical history including family history, previous illness, emotional well being, etc.
A check on how body organs are functioning
Vital signs like blood pressure and pulse
Body examination
Diagnostic tests like blood tests and x-rays, if indicated
Immunizations, if indicated
A check of specific health concerns

Common tests (where indicated) include:

Weight/height
Blood pressure
Cholesterol blood test
Depression screening
Diabetes screening
Colorectal cancer tests
Mammogram (women)
Osteoporosis screening
Bone density test
Pap test (women)
Prostate cancer screening (men)
Sexually transmitted disease testing

How can I find the age-appropriate guidelines for preventive exams and immunizations that I need?

The Health and Wellness Information Portal has information about your preventive exams and immunizations.
Find information and tools to help you and those you care about stay healthy with the Quick Guide to Healthy Living.
Ask your health care provider, "At my age what screening tests/immunizations should I have? I have a family or personal history of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or stroke. Is there a different schedule of screening tests I should follow?"
Use a self-care book.

To learn more about immunizations, visit the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention's Vaccines & Immunizations site.

How we can help:

Log in to the Health & Wellness Information Portal to check your compliance with Occupational Health, print your immunization records, and learn what preventive exams are recommended.

Additional Information:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Keywords: Prevention, Preventive, Preventive Care, Immunizations, Physical, Physical Exam, Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Doctor, Health Care Provider, Preventing Illness

Tags

Prevention, Primary Care, VUMC

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Detect and Protect!

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:17:32 +0000

Detect and Protect!

Health Plus, Resource Articles, Taking Charge of Your Healthcare

admin Tue, 09/27/2011 - 22:17 RSS:

Health Plus

Detect and Protect

Watch this video to learn important health prevention techniques for you and your family.

Detect and Protect Resources

Many of the resources focus on content discussed in the 2011 Game Plan for Your Health video, titled Detect and Protect!

Finding a Primary Care Provider:

Visit vanderbilthealth.com to make an appointment, get tips on preparing for your office visit, learn information on a healthcare provider, and much more.
Read Choosing a Primary Care Provider in the Health and Wellness Resource Library.

Well Visits:

Learn more about family health history.
Use the My Family Health Portrait tool for collecting family history.
Ask the right questions of your health care provider.

Preventive Health Screenings:

Visit the Health and Wellness Information Portal to view your personal Health Advisor. The Health Advisor will show you what preventive exams are recommended for you based on your age, gender, and race. You can also learn about resources available at Vanderbilt to help you get these preventive services.
Read the Preventive Care article in the Health and Wellness Resource Library.
Visit the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) for recommendations considered the "gold standard" for clinical preventive services.
Find out what screening tests are covered by Medicare.

Immunization

Visit the Health and Wellness Information Portal to print immunization records from the Occupational Health Clinic.
Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vaccination Schedule for Adults.
Take the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Adolescent and Adult Vaccine Quiz to see which vaccines you need.

Additional Resources:

My Health at Vanderbilt – Sign up for My Health at Vanderbilt. This secure web service lets you communicate with your providers online. You can also see the results of your tests online, pay bills, request new appointments plus much more.

Medical Center Health Plans

University Health Care Plans

Tags

Prevention, VUMC

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