Southwest Florida Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations

(Fort Myers, Fla. – Nov. 30, 2009) – Lee Memorial Hospital has been named Fort Myers’ top hospital in the National Research Corporation’s (NRC) 2009/2010 Consumer Choice Awards. Now in its 14^th year, this award program recognizes hospitals that healthcare consumers in more than 300 markets throughout the U.S voted as having the highest quality and image.

Winners are determined by hundreds of thousands of households that participate in NRC’s Healthcare Market Guide Ticker^SM study – more than any other hospital performance and preference study conducted. Markets are determined according to U.S. Census bureau tracts.

“Receiving the Consumer Choice Award for the tenth consecutive year speaks volumes about how our staff never forgets that they treat people, not illnesses.” said Jim Nathan, President, Lee Memorial Health System. “It reinforces the importance of caring and compassion which is prevalent among our staff and it’s an honor to once again be a recipient of this award.”

The complete list of Top Hospital winners was announced in Modern Healthcare magazine in October. Lee Memorial Health System facilities have won this award consecutively since 2000.

About Lee Memorial Health System
Lee Memorial Health System (LMHS) is a community-owned health system in Lee County, Florida. It employs more than 8,500 people and is the fifth largest public health system in the United States. LMHS operates four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care and specialist physician offices. Additionally, LMHS is the operator of the area’s only Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital, serving community residents from Tampa to Miami. Visit www.leememorial.org for more information.

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LMHS Well-Informed Lecture Reviews Advances in Joint Replacement

Edward Humbert, D.O. will present advances in hip and knee replacement techniques at Lee Memorial Health System’s December 9 Well-Informed lecture.

(Fort Myers, Fla. – November 25, 2009) — Hip and knee replacements are among the nation’s most common surgical procedures with over 1 million joint replacements annually. Thousands of these are no doubt performed right here in Southwest Florida. And while these procedures may have become somewhat routine, there are advances being made to better the patient experience.

People interested in learning more about these advances should plan to stop by the next Well-Informed series lecture on Wednesday, December 9, brought to you by Lee Memorial Health System.

 “Patients undergoing these surgeries know these procedures can come with some pain and weeks of physical therapy before they regain full use of their hips and knees and head back out to the golf course or tennis courts,” says Edward Humbert, D.O. with Joint Implant Surgeons of Florida. “But thanks to advances in hip and knee replacement techniques, this doesn’t have to be the case. There have been a lot of advances in joint replacement that minimize pain and recovery time.”

Dr. Humbert will discuss four of the innovative techniques he’s using to get patients up on their feet, pain-free faster than ever:

• Hip resurfacing: An alternative to traditional hip replacement, hip resurfacing involves reshaping a damaged hip ball and placing a metal “cap” over it. Patients who opt for hip resurfacing instead of traditional hip replacement may have less risk of dislocated joints. Younger patients who may live longer than prosthetics typically last may prefer resurfacing as well, because it can be easier to perform a traditional replacement later if needed.
• Custom joint replacement: A new knee replacement option for patients who prefer custom-fit prosthetics instead of artificial knees that are mass-manufactured, which could offer an even closer “match” to patients’ pre-problem joints.
• Partial knee replacement: Another alternative to total knee replacement for patients experiencing less of a joint problem that repairs only one side of the knee, resulting in the removal of 75 percent less bone and cartilage. Patients often recover faster and have less pain compared to total knee replacements.
• Anterior hip replacement: A minimally-invasive replacement procedure that leaves vital hip muscles and tendons intact and undamaged, lessening recovery time and pain.

Lee Memorial Health System’s Well-Informed lecture series is free of charge and open to all. Seating is limited and reservations are requested.

Date:               Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Time:               5 – 6:30 p.m.

Place:             Hyatt Place Coconut Point (located at Coconut Point Mall),

23120 Via Villagio, Estero, FL 33928

Reservations:  239-433-8505 or www.healthybonitaestero.org

About Edward Humbert, D.O.

Edward Humbert, D.O. is one of the country’s leading and most experienced joint-replacement surgeons. With training in hip and knee surgery, he specializes in minimally invasive techniques as well as complex revision surgery. He has also been extensively trained in partial knee replacement that may offer reduced post-op recovery and similar results to total replacement. Dr. Humbert earned a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Akron and earned his medical degree, completed his residency along with a hip and knee surgery fellowship at Ohio University. He implants more than 800 replacement joints each year, totaling more than 5,000 over the course of his career.

About Lee Memorial Health System
Lee Memorial Health System (LMHS) is a community-owned health system in Lee County, Florida. It employs more than 8,500 people and is the fifth largest public health system in the United States. LMHS operates four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care and specialist physician offices. . Additionally, LMHS is the operator of the area’s only Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital, serving community residents from Tampa to Miami. Visit www.leememorial.org for more information.

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(Fort Myers, Fla. – November 4, 2009) — Spas typically cater to fitness, weight loss, and beauty but starting this month Lee Memorial Health System (LMHS) will offer a new twist on wellness called the Memory Spa. It’s part of their Healthy Brain Initiative program to keep the brain active and healthy in older adults. 

The Healthy Brain Initiative has helped over 1,000 Southwest Florida residents forget about having too many “senior moments.” 

Sue Maxwell, MSW, Director of Older Adult Services for LMHS, said the Memory Spa is based on a successful pilot program offered last year. “There has been big demand for memory classes,” said Maxwell. “The classes build on the basics of communication — how to effectively listen and pay attention. It’s a good way to keep pace with society’s information overload.”

Spa-goer Patricia Powers says taking the classes enhanced her memory.

Program participant Patricia Powers, 72, a retired schoolteacher from North Fort Myers took the classes even though she was not forgetful. Powers believes the certainty of memory loss in older adults is a myth. “My family members had sharp minds in their 80s and 90s,” Powers said. “The classes enhanced my memory — you become more aware of what you are observing. The techniques are simple and effective and I have recommended friends to attend.”

The Healthy Brain Initiative is based on a program by the UCLA Center for Aging. Participants follow activities in “The Memory Bible: An Innovative Strategy for Keeping Your Brain Young,” a book by Gary Small, PhD, Director of the UCLA Center. Peppered with useful information, the program is for adults who want to improve their memory and not for those with memory loss or cognitive difficulties. Small said people have more control over their minds than is commonly believed. “Only one-third of your memory loss is genetic. The rest is non-genetic factors, such as diet, exercise and stress levels.”

Programs in seven states use “The Memory Bible” including California, Texas, Illinois and Florida. Memory Spa is the only one of its kind in Southwest Florida. It debuts at the LMHS Wellness Center in Cape Coral on November 11. Maxwell said LMHS’ Fort Myers Wellness Center plans to add a course in December. Participants follow individualized computer programs called Cognifit® Personal Coach and Dakim® Brain Fitness Program, and compete against themselves using math, foreign languages and other subjects. The cost to complete those programs privately exceeds $2,500, but the three-month Memory Spa course is only $90 for Wellness Center members and $150 for non-members. Class sizes range from 10 to 20. Most participants are in their 70s.

Scott Anstadt, PhD, a professor of gerontology and social work at Florida Gulf Coast University, has been tracking data from Healthy Brain Initiative’s self-surveys. “Participants say they have noticed marked improvement in 12 out of the 18 skills they practice during the course,” he said.

For more information about the Healthy Brain Initiative call (239) 772-6765.

About Lee Memorial Health System
Lee Memorial Health System (LMHS) is a community-owned health system in Southwest Florida (Fort Myers /Cape Coral/ Naples area) and is the fifth largest public health system in the United States. LMHS operates four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care physician offices. The health system employs 8,500 people. Additionally, LMHS is the operator of the area’s only Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital, serving community residents from Tampa to Miami. Visit www.leememorial.org for more information.

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