2
HealthWays
W
hile ValleyCare is
launching the new
STAR
®
Program for
cancer rehabilitation,
lymphedema services
have been available at
ValleyCare for the past ve years.
WHAT IS LYMPHEDEMA?
Lymphedema occurs when there
is an abnormal accumulation of
protein-enriched uids (lymphatic
uid) within the interstitial spaces
(tissue spaces).
Lymphedema occurs when the
uid cannot move freely and a
buildup occurs, resulting in swelling of
the affected body parts.
CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS
The most common causes of lymphedema are
surgery, lymph node dissection, trauma, tumors,
chronic venous insuf ciency, liposuction, burns and
radiation therapy.
Symptoms include:
Tightness, swelling or thickening anywhere in
your extremities
A burning or tingling sensation radiating down
your arm or leg
Complaints of heaviness or aching of your
extremities
Inability to wear rings, bracelets, clothing or shoes
because of swelling
TREATMENT
Early treatment of lymphedema improves outcomes,
so treatment should begin as soon as possible. There
is no medication that will cure lymphedema, but
therapy can signi cantly improve the condition.
An effective and the least invasive approach
to managing chronic lymphedema is complex
decongestive physiotherapy (CDP), which you can
learn from a specially trained therapist. It involves:
Skin hygiene
Manual lymph drainage
Bandaging and compression
Therapeutic exercise
Low-level laser therapy
The specially trained clinicians at ValleyCare can
teach you important self-management techniques
that will help you lead a full and active life.
Lymphedema therapy is o ered through
ValleyCare Physical Medicine Services in
Livermore and Dublin. For more information, visit
or call
925 416 3667
in Dublin
or
925 373 4019
in Livermore.
T
herapy
Lymphedema
LYMPHEDEMA
Therapy
HELPS!
A Patient’s Experience
P
atsy Harris, age 78, of Livermore,
knows firsthand howmuch
lymphedema therapy helps.
After her colon cancer returned in
2011 she had surgery and chemo at
ValleyCare.
“Everyone at ValleyCare, especially
the Cancer Center, is really wonderful.
You’re not just a number. They treat
you like family, and that makes such a
difference,”says Harris.
As a result of the surgery and chemo, Harris experienced
issues with lymphedema in her left leg and was referred to
ValleyCare’s Lymphedema Therapy Program. After meeting with
Lisa English, PT, certified lymphedema therapist, Harris says her
leg was so much better after the first visit.
“Lisa used massage and compression bandages that first
visit, which helped tremendously,”Harris says.“She also gave me
exercises and ordered a special machine for me to use at home.
All of it helps keep the lymphedema in check.”
Harris is eager to get started with the new STAR
®
(Survivorship
Training and Rehabilitation) Program. Another result of the
chemo is neuropathy, which has left her with little or no feeling
in her feet. An avid walker, Harris says she would really like to
get back to walking and is hopeful that some physical therapy
might help.
An upbeat person with a very positive attitude, Harris
recently learned she is cancer-free.“It’s amazing how staying
positive and getting support from family, friends, church and
the medical community such as ValleyCare helps tremendously
in this whole process,”she says.“Getting that good news has
made it easier, but with so many people affected by cancer, it’s
really important to have the support and help needed to live
with cancer and its treatment feeling as good as possible.”
Please join us for ValleyCare’s Annual
Meeting where you will hear what
operational decisions have been made
and what steps need to be taken to
ensure ValleyCare’s financial future and
continued success. You can also learn
about health care trends and how they
impact your community hospital.
WHEN:
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
TIME:
7 pm
LOCATION:
ValleyCare Medical Center Cafeteria
5575W. Las Positas Blvd.
Pleasanton
RSVP:
925 373 4560
Annual
Meeting
I
n their March board meeting, the
ValleyCare Health System board of
directors named Scott Gregerson as
the new CEO for ValleyCare. Gregerson
had been serving as interim CEO since
early February.
With health care going through
tremendous changes, Chairman of the
Board John Sensiba says, “We need a
leader capable of dealing with these
changing forces. Based on his rst 45 days
in the role of interim CEO, the board
developed con dence that Scott was the
right candidate to continue to lead the
organization forward.”
Gregerson, who lives in Dublin, has
served as ValleyCare’s vice president of
strategic partnerships since April 2012. He
brings a wealth of experience to the role,
including progressively responsible roles in
health care systems, physician groups and
health care consulting.
“This is an exceptional hospital
and represents the best in community
medicine,” says Gregerson. “ValleyCare
is known for compassionate care and the
highest clinical standards, as our patient
satisfaction scores represent. One of the
biggest challenges we are facing is scal
stability. We have been taking steps that
provide short-term nancial relief. We are
also looking to our long-term nancial
health and I am pleased to report that as
of May 29, we signed a letter of intent
to af liate with Stanford Hospital and
Clinics. With all the changes going on in
health care today, community hospitals
will have to af liate with others in order
to create stronger organizations, and
ValleyCare is no exception. We are
thrilled about the prospect of joining
with Stanford as this af liation has
extraordinary potential for our patients,
staff and our community.
“I am honored and humbled to have
been chosen to lead ValleyCare forward in
the ful llment of its mission.”
VALLEYCARE
Names
New CEO
Scott Gregerson, CEO
Patsy Harris
A
ccording to Niall Roche, MD, Director of Rheumatology at ValleyCare,
if you live long enough, just about everyone will get arthritis. That
is why the Annual Tri-Valley ArthritisWalk is so near and dear to
his heart.
“This year was our best ever,”Dr. Roche says.“We raised over $100,000 with
more than 550 walkers.”
The funds raised are used locally for arthritis programs, to increase awareness,
and to fund research to fight arthritis, the nation’s leading cause of disability.
Arthritis
Walk Raises
$100,000
