Huntsville, AL – Crestwood Medical Center recently announced that Michele Brock, RN, has been selected to receive its Nursing Excellence Award.

This peer-nominated award, given in recognition of the critical role nurses play in treating our patients, was open to qualifying RNs and LPNs working in a direct patient care position who consistently demonstrate characteristics synonymous with nursing excellence.

Brock was chosen from among nominations across the organization for her outstanding care of patients in our Intensive Care Units. She is viewed as an expert in clinical care and is often the go-to person for leaders, staff, and ancillary personnel. Brock has a very quiet charisma and her nursing intelligence is superb. As a co-worker, her attention to detail and her ability to educate and mentor others is very much appreciated across the organization. Her compassion for patients and their families has been recognized by many including a co-worker’s relative who was in the SICU suffering from stage 4 cancer. Over the course of a week, the patient slowly declined. Michele went above and beyond for the family by answering questions and making sure they had all the information they needed to make very difficult decisions. Brock made sure to introduce them to on-coming shifts and follow-up with the family on her day off. When the family had to make the very hard decision to end life-saving measures, she was instrumental in helping them come to terms with the decision by quietly being present, anticipating needs, and allowing them to grieve and guiding them to the next steps. Brock is a strong, compassionate nurse who takes the time every day to build relationships with patients and family members during the most difficult times of their lives.

Brock is a mentor to all new nurses. Crestwood Chief Quality Officer, Lisa Edwards, comments, “Michelle exhibits everything you envision having whenever you think about a nurse preceptor. She shows compassion and steady-guidance in all of her day-to-day interactions with coworkers and those she has taken under her wing. She is dedicated in shaping and mentoring the next generation of nurses. She genuinely loves what she does and it shows through her enthusiasm to educate others, especially in regards to best practice care and providing no-harm care.”

“Crestwood is fortunate to have many outstanding nurses like Michele Brock among its ranks. Nurses who deliver exemplary care, compassion and service, who understand the importance of teamwork and mentoring others, who can lead in times of crises, and who are true champions of promoting healthcare in our community,” said Matthew Banks, Chief Executive Officer of Crestwood Medical Center. “With an ongoing focus this year on the selfless efforts of healthcare professionals like Michele, we are pleased to acknowledge the important contributions our nursing professionals provide to our community.”

Brock joined Crestwood in 2013 and has served as a staff nurse, charge nurse, and clinical manager of Intensive Care.

In addition to receiving the Nursing Excellence Award itself, Brock received a cash prize and a copy of “Shining the Light on All the Right”, by Mark and Bonnie Barnes, co-founders of the DAISY Foundation, an international movement created to recognize and express gratitude for extraordinary nursing.

Schedule appointments, tests and surgeries to maximize your health plan benefits before year end

HUNTSVILLE, AL (11/8/22) – As the holidays approach, it’s easy to forget to take advantage of your insurance benefits. Now is a good time to review your outstanding health care needs and take full advantage of paid-up deductibles or available funds in Flexible Spending Accounts while you still can.

“In considering their health care needs, people should also consider the best strategy for using their available health insurance plan benefits,” said Sherry Jones, chief financial officer at Crestwood Medical Center. “Take advantage of unused benefits to complete outstanding treatments or recommended tests or procedures before the year ends.”

Most health insurance plans have a deductible requirement—a predetermined amount of healthcare expense that must be covered before the plan begins paying the majority of (if not all) remaining expenses. Jones says it’s crucial to know how close you are to meeting your deductible—or if you’ve already met it “because once you reach that threshold, you have a limited window of opportunity to obtain health care services and have the bulk of that expense covered by your plan. Remember: a new year brings a new deductible,” she says.

The close of 2022 also affects individuals who have Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)—which are pre-tax dollars set aside primarily for health-related expenses. The Internal Revenue Service requires those funds to be spent—or forfeited—by December 31. It’s a “use it or lose it” proposition, says Jones.

If you have been putting off scheduling care, such as an annual check-up, allergy testing, or elective surgery, it would be wise to check your deductible status and your FSA balance to see if there’s money to be saved, encourages Jones.

“It’s important to schedule services promptly so there is enough time to have the test or elective procedure done before the end of the year. Getting everything squared-away by early December will help ensure the services you receive are considered part of your 2022 coverage,” she says.

Every health plan is different. It is important to know how your plan works so you can get the most from your benefits.

For access to primary care, call (888) 261 3422 to schedule an appointment.

HUNTSVILLE, AL, 10/29/22 – Obesity is one of the most common diseases in the U.S., affecting more than one-third of adults and causing 300,000 deaths annually. Significant excess weight affects quality of life and overall health, increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, sleep apnea and some cancers.

For chronic obesity, bariatric surgery provides long-term weight loss while reducing the risk of weight-related conditions and in some cases can eliminate them completely.

Each year, more than 250,000 Americans undergo bariatric surgeries such as gastric bypass and vertical sleeve gastrectomy to treat obesity and improve their quality of life. These surgeries can offer lifesaving benefits and reduce the risk of death from any cause by 40%. Additionally, bariatric surgery is associated with a 60% reduction in blood pressure and a 70% reduction in developing cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke. Some patients also have eliminated sleep apnea and experienced long-term remission of type 2 diabetes. The surgery is also associated with an 88% lower risk of fatty liver progressing to cirrhosis, liver cancer, or liver-related deaths, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

“The majority of patients who have bariatric surgery permanently lose more than half of their excess weight while also eliminating or reducing the risk of other chronic conditions,” says Jay Suggs, M.D., bariatric and general surgeon and medical director of Crestwood Bariatric Center. “This is not a shortcut to weight loss; it’s a lifesaving surgery that improves a patient’s quality of life.”

Bariatric surgery can help improve almost every area of a patient’s life. The surgery is linked to higher self-esteem and lower levels of depression and anxiety. Without excess weight, patients reduce or eliminate the need for medication to treat obesity-related conditions and report feeling more confident, energetic, and healthy. Many patients also report relief from back and joint-related pain as they lose weight.

Patients eligible for bariatric surgery are typically more than 100 pounds overweight or have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 35 and one or more severe obesity-related health conditions. Often, patients have tried other weight loss tactics like diet and exercise without long-term success.

To find out if you’re a candidate for bariatric weight loss surgery, take the assessment from Crestwood Medical Center.

Huntsville, AL – Millions of Americans struggle with seasonal depression, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), each year. Commonly brought on during the fall and winter, the condition can occur during any seasonal change and last as long as four or five months. People with SAD may feel lethargic or moody and tend to sleep more. Symptoms also can include social withdrawal, trouble concentrating, weight gain, and feelings of depression.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, women and those living farther away from the equator are more likely to experience SAD. Some experts believe shorter days and less sunlight are often the cause of seasonal depression. Research on the condition found people with SAD may have reduced levels of serotonin, a brain chemical that helps regulate mood, and produce too much melatonin, a hormone critical to sleep-wake cycles. This imbalance disrupts normal daily rhythms and makes it harder to adjust to seasonal changes in day length.

“SAD is a type of depression that can greatly affect your quality of life and ability to function,” says Ashley Mashburn, Nurse Practitioner with Crestwood Medical Group. “Since the seasons are predictable, there are lifestyle habits that can be adopted in advance of a seasonal change to help reduce symptoms or that can be implemented when they occur.”

Ms. Mashburn suggests these simple habits for reducing symptoms of SAD:

• Go outside: Continue enjoying activities outside during the day regardless of the season to increase your exposure to sunlight. Some people also benefit from using a light therapy box which can mimic sunlight inside.
• Get Vitamin D: Incorporate vitamin D into your diet from sources other than sunlight such as a supplement or foods like salmon, egg yolks, and mushrooms.
• Exercise: Regular exercise is proven to help reduce common symptoms of SAD, including anxiety and stress. And, just 2.5 hours of exercise each week can reduce the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure.
• Socialize: People with SAD may not feel like engaging in social activities, but making an effort to spend time with family and friends – and even asking them for support – can help.
• Seek help: If lifestyle changes don’t help and symptoms persist, speak with a healthcare provider. Physicians and mental health professionals can assist in creating the right treatment plan for you.

“Just adding one of two of these simple habits into your life can make a difference in how you feel mentally,” adds Ms. Mashburn.

To find a physician or mental health professional, visit CrestwoodMedGroup.com or call 888-261-3422.

Crestwood Medical Center offers a free e-newsletter with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration sent directly to your inbox from a trusted medical source. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/mrjdkn87.

HUNTSVILLE, AL, 10/24/22 – If you feel a sharp pain in your back, side, lower abdomen or groin, or have blood in your urine, you may have a kidney stone – a condition that is common and on the rise. Left untreated, kidney stones can cause serious complications in addition to severe pain. Tyler Wood, M.D., a urologist with Urology Specialists, is making sure patients know timely treatment can prevent permanent damage.

Kidney stones are hard, pebble-like pieces of material that form in one or both of your kidneys when high levels of certain minerals are in your urine. Kidney stones vary in size and shape – as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pea and rarely, as big as golf balls.

A small kidney stone may pass through your urinary tract on its own, causing little or no pain or other symptoms. A larger kidney stone may get stuck along the way and block the flow of urine. If kidney stones are not treated, they can cause blood in the urine; severe pain; urinary tract infections (UTIs), including kidney infections; and loss of kidney function.

“Kidney stones can be extremely painful, but we have methods to manage the pain and eliminate the stones,” said Dr. Wood. “Don’t delay care. We can help.”

The National Kidney Foundation reports that more than half a million people go to emergency rooms for kidney stone problems every year. And it is estimated that one in ten people will have a kidney stone at some time in their lives.

If you have a family history of kidney stones, you are more likely to develop them. You are also more likely to develop kidney stones again if you’ve had them once, have high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity or if you don’t drink enough liquids.

“To diagnose kidney stones, we use the patient’s medical history, a physical exam and tests which also may show problems that caused a kidney stone to form,” said Dr. Wood. “Treatment usually depends on the size, location and composition of the kidney stones. Patients may be able to prevent kidney stones by drinking enough water, changing the way they eat, or taking medicines.”

Four dietary tips from the National Kidney Foundation can help you prevent painful kidney stones.

• Drink plenty of fluids when exercising and sweating. Sweat water loss leads to less urine production, allowing stone-causing minerals to settle and bond in the kidneys and urinary tract.
• Eat and drink calcium and oxalate-rich foods together during a meal to make it more likely they will bind to one another in the stomach and intestines before the kidneys begin processing. High levels of oxalate are found in peanuts, rhubarb, spinach, beets, chocolate and sweet potatoes.
• Maintain your calcium intake, but cut back on sodium. A diet low in calcium increases your risk of developing kidney stones.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables and less animal-based protein to help decrease urine acidity which can reduce the chance for stone formation.

If you suspect you may have a kidney stone, contact a urologist or your primary care physician. If you need help finding a physician, visit CrestwoodMedCenter.com. If you need immediate diagnosis and pain relief, visit Crestwood Medical Center’s emergency department.

HUNTSVILLE, AL (7/12/22) – Maintaining a healthy digestive system, or gut, could be the key to better health. When healthy, the gut absorbs nutrients from food, eliminates waste, communicates with the brain and supports a healthy immune system and nervous system function. If the gut is unhealthy, it can cause digestive diseases which affect 60 – 70 million Americans according to the National Institute of Health.

Signs of an unhealthy gut include an upset stomach, sudden weight gain or loss without changes in lifestyle, disrupted sleep and constant fatigue. If left untreated, an unhealthy gut can lead to chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Optimal gut health is achieved when the bacteria inside of the gastrointestinal tract, made up of the esophagus, stomach and intestines, work together without causing discomfort.

“Gut health is a popular and complex topic that can seem overwhelming,” says Kelley String, CRNP. “Luckily, maintaining a healthy gut can be easily achieved through simple lifestyle habits.”

Strain recommends these lifestyle habits to maintain a healthy gut:

• Consume probiotics: Eat probiotics from naturally fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut to help create a healthy balance of gut bacteria.
• Eat well: Avoid highly processed foods and eat more fruits, vegetables, lean protein and fiber like apples, broccoli, salmon and quinoa.
• Exercise regularly: Regular exercise can help improve gut health by increasing beneficial microbial species and helping to reduce stress.
• Hydrate: Drinking enough water is a simple way to improve gut health and prevent constipation.
• Reduce stress: Try walking, meditating and spending time with loved ones to help reduce stress and decrease inflammation in the gut.

For more information on how to maintain a healthy gut or to find a primary care physician, visit www.CrestwoodMedGroup.com or call 1-888-261-3422.

The American Heart Association presents the Get With The Guidelines awards for proven dedication to best practices and life-saving care.

HUNTSVILLE, AL (7/6/22) – Crestwood Medical Center has received two American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times, and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke or heart attack. Heart disease and stroke are the number 1 and number 5 causes of death in the U.S., respectively. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines.

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. As a participant in Get With The Guidelines programs, Crestwood Medical Center qualified for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving quality care.

“Crestwood Medical Center is committed to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for heart attacks and strokes,” says Kris Goodwin, MSN, FNP-BC, BSN, Chief Nursing Officer. The Get With The Guidelines programs make it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which helps us ensure more people in North Alabama experience longer, healthier lives.”

This year, Crestwood Medical Center received these achievement awards:

• 2022 Get With The Guidelines – Afib Gold
• 2022 Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure Gold

“We are pleased to recognize Crestwood Medical Center for its commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said John Warner, M.D., FAHA, past president of the American Heart Association and executive vice president for health system affairs at UT Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas. “Hospitals that follow the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols often see improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”

HUNTSVILLE, AL (6/27/22) – The childbirth team at Crestwood Medical Center is now using an artificial intelligence-based maternal-fetal early warning system called PeriWatch Vigilance to enhance patient safety during labor and delivery. The system continuously monitors maternal vital signs, fetal heart rate, contractions, and labor progression to help clinicians quickly identify any concerning developments for faster intervention.

Crestwood Medical Center delivered more than 1,300 babies in 2021. Sharon Callison, M.D., an obstetrician and chief of OB/GYN Crestwood, indicates this new technology is an important resource to support maternal/fetal health and safe deliveries.

“Every delivery is unique so the health and well-being of every mom and baby is our priority during childbirth,” says Dr. Callison. “While most births happen without complication, there are some inherent risks in the delivery of a newborn. This new technology adds another layer of protection throughout the labor process to help our maternity team recognize, prevent and respond to avoidable complications.”

Through pattern recognition, the technology can also pinpoint opportunities for overall improvement based on consolidated data from multiple births. As the maternity team reviews trends and identifies areas where improvement is possible, the hospital can use that information to develop protocols that further increase safety and may lead to better outcomes for mothers and babies.

“By investing in this technology, Crestwood Medical Center is making labor and delivery safer for mothers and babies,” said Kris Goodwin, MSN, FNP-BC, BSN, chief nursing officer. “Our physicians and nurses are highly skilled medical professionals and excellent caregivers and they appreciate the use of technology to support their work, especially when it helps keep our patients safe.”

In 2020, Crestwood completed an expansion of its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to 10, all-private rooms. These private rooms allow parents to stay overnight with their newborn and give our experienced neonatal staff more access and interaction with the family to answer questions and ensure they are comfortable and confident in caring for their new babies. The newly expanded NICU also features a special room to accommodate twins and a family bathroom with a shower.

To learn more about Crestwood’s maternity center or to find a physician, visit our maternity care services page or call (256) 429-5250. The team is available for personal tours by appointment.

HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, – Crestwood Medical Center’s Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of Matthew Banks as chief executive officer effective July 18, 2022.

Banks joins Crestwood from Merit Health Wesley, a 211-bed acute care facility in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where he has served as CEO for the past 4 years. Previously, he was CEO at Davis Regional Medical Center in Statesville, North Carolina; chief operating officer at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in Mooresville, North Carolina; and chief operating/nursing officer and Interim CEO at Stringfellow Memorial Hospital in Anniston, Alabama.

Banks’s continuous focus on service line growth and patient access to support the community’s medical needs has led to many successful initiatives in his previous positions including physician recruitment, service line expansion and operational improvement, and transfer center program design and implementation. His commitment to quality of care is demonstrated through numerous accreditations including cardiology, maternity, stroke, diabetes, and bariatrics as well as consistent Top Quartile Performance on Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS), strong employee and physician satisfaction engagement, and overall improvement in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) star ratings.

“We are confident in Matthew’s exceptional leadership and hospital operational expertise to not only continue our mission of providing quality care with service excellence and more access for our growing region but also to develop effective, collaborative relationships with our physicians, employees, and community as a whole,” states Mike Gillespie, chair of the board of trustees. “His commitment to the community’s well-being, advancements in medical care, and working closely with local government, businesses, and community organizations will support continued delivery of quality healthcare in our area.”

Banks holds his Bachelor of Science in nursing, Bachelor of Science in psychology, and Master of Science in nursing with a concentration in health services administration from the University of Alabama in Birmingham and an associate degree in nursing from Troy University.

“It is a humbling opportunity to join the Crestwood team whose members have consistently lived out the mission of improving patients’ quality of life and enhancing the well-being of the community,” says Banks. “I’m excited to support the work of the skilled, compassionate physicians and employees delivering quality care and services.”

Banks replaces outgoing CEO, Dr. Pam Hudson. Hudson will transition to an executive position at Crestwood with a focus on physician initiatives. Crestwood has seen tremendous growth over the last decade and a half that includes a 60-bed patient tower addition; a 17-bed expansion of the emergency department; the recruitment of 80 primary and key specialty care physicians; the addition of 10 primary care clinics across the community for ease of patient care access; the addition of an all-private room, 10-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU); and outpatient services in Madison and northern Madison County. Crestwood continues to be a strong corporate citizen in our community and consistently ranks among the top 20 employers in Madison County with approximately 1,200 employees and a total annual payroll of over $83.6 million. In 2021, Crestwood contributed $14.2 million in property and sales taxes; spent $12.2 million in capital projects for new patient-care equipment and to improve the physical plant; and provided approximately $137.6 million in charity and uncompensated care for the uninsured and underinsured people of our community.

The Crestwood Board of Trustees extends sincere appreciation to Dr. Hudson for her dedication, commitment, service, and successful initiatives at Crestwood during her 15-year tenure as chief executive officer.

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Employees of Crestwood Medical Center are now eligible for new and enhanced benefits designed as pathways to help them eliminate existing student debt faster, pursue additional professional education and advance their careers. The goal in offering Crestwood Pathways benefits is to support and retain employees and attract a strong workforce, especially frontline nurses, technicians, therapists and other clinicians and caregivers, along with support personnel.

Benefits include a new student loan repayment program that enables employees with outstanding student debt to consolidate their loans, reduce interest rates, and benefit from employer sponsored payments. For most clinical employees, Crestwood Medical Center will directly pay a portion of loan premiums as long as the employee remains current with payments, offsetting student loan balances up to $20,000 per employee.

A new employee reimbursement program has been established for licensure or certification renewals required for all job classifications and can be used for any license or certification testing or renewal not already offered for free by the hospital.

In addition, a long-standing tuition reimbursement program that provides employees up to $5,000 in tax-free reimbursement annually is being expanded and can now be used for continuing education related to any role within the hospital. Previously, employees could only use the tuition reimbursement program toward studies in their current field of work.

“Our team members are Crestwood’s most important resource and make incredible contributions to health in our community,” says Dr. Pam Hudson, chief executive officer for Crestwood Medical Center. “We hope Crestwood Pathways benefits will ease the burden of student debt and allow employees to focus on achieving their goals and career success.”

To learn more about career opportunities at Crestwood Medical Center, visit CrestwoodMedCenter.com.