My friend and colleague James Crownover recently wrote a wonderful blog post about the relationship between glucose metabolism and tendon injury
http://crownmd.net/your-tendons-on-cake/
Monday, August 31, 2015
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Upcoming Fall Races: 5K, 10K, marathon, fun run, and more
I remember
the first 5K I ever did. It was the
charity walk/run called the Furry 5K in Seward Park that benefited the Seattle
Animal Shelter. As a non-runner, I was
hesitant at first to sign up because I imagined all these seasoned athletes
sprinting past me while I was left in their dust. Boy was I ever wrong! The amazing lessons I learned that day were:
A. I could power walk at MY pace and still cross the finish line and B.
EVERYONE who signs up for these walking/running events is there to support and
cheer one another on.
Whether you
are a competitive runner who is pushing their physical capacity in a timed race
or a beginner testing the walking/jogging waters in a fun run, there is ALWAYS
a race for you! I am going to share some
upcoming races in the Seattle area that I have researched, but remember, do
your own research too! A great website I
utilized is http://www.runguides.com/seattle/runs which lets you filter through the
types of runs you are looking for. So
check out some of these runs below and as always, stay active and be the BEST
version of yourself!
September:
·
“Walk
to Defeat ALS”- September 12, 2015 (our
clinic completed). This is a little
less than 5K run/walk around Seward Park.
This event is to raise money for local ALS Association chapters to
sustain care services and support research.
I will be doing this walk again this year! http://web.alsa.org/site/TR?fr_id=11078&pg=entry#.VdzAwvlVhBc
·
“End
Aids Walk and 5k Run Seattle”- September 26, 2015. This is a 5K run/walk around Volunteer Park. The monies raised will go towards support in HIV
prevention and care services. https://give.lifelong.org/seattle/events/the-seattle-aids-walk/e48168
October:
·
“Magnolia
10K & 5K”- October 4, 2015. This is a 5K and 10K run/walk in the Magnolia neighborhood of
Seattle. At the finish line, there is a
festival in the Magnolia Village that includes exhibitors, food and a beer
garden. http://www.promotionevents.com/magnolia/Info.htm
·
“Biggest
Loser Seattle Half Marathon/5K”- October 25, 2015. This
is a half marathon/5K run/walk at Lake Stevens in Snohomish County. There will be appearances by former
contestants from "The Biggest Loser" as well as the Biggest Loser
finisher's medal and awards for the best times.
http://www.biggestloserrunwalk.com/race/2015/seattle-wa-half-marathon-5k
November:
·
“The
Ugly Sweater Run Seattle”- November 28, 2015 (our clinic completed). This
is a 5K run/walk around Marymoore Park.
You can expect to see tons of ugly sweaters, holiday cheer and and other
goodies at the finish line. Also, this
event raises monies for the non-profit Save the Children. http://theuglysweaterrun.com/locations/seattle-washington/#.VdzipflVhBc
· “Seattle Marathon and Half-Marathon”- November 29, 2015 (our practice manager Laura completed; she and medical assistant James will be at this year’s race). These marathons are primarily for runners though the race does offer a smaller walker category. The routes begin near Seattle Center and head out towards Lake Washington. The best times from the race can be used as a Boston Marathon qualifier; there will also be other medals and awards. http://www.seattlemarathon.org/amica-insurance-seattle-marathon
December:
·
“Run
4 Wine”- December 12, 2015. This is a 5K
run/walk around the
Warehouse Wineries in Woodinville. Pair
your love of running with your love of wine!
After the race, you can enjoy some of our state’s finest wine
tasting. http://www.active.com/woodinville-wa/running/distance-running-races/run-4k-wine-run-walk-plus-wine-tasting-2015-11462108?cmp=39-34<clickid=08_119491134_f37bbe56-b228-4209-8bf8-36b51be4e4de<cmp=254301
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Behind the scenes…What goes into my appointment?
If you’ve
ever been to a doctor’s office, you may have wondered at some point...What
exactly are they doing?? At Lake Washington Sports & Spine, our new
patient consultations range from 45-60 minutes while follow up appointments
range between 15-30 minutes. Follow-ups can
include imaging/lab reviews, checking your response to a previously done procedure
and/or following up after you’ve completed recommendations set forth by the doctor. A lot of patients do not recognize the time
and effort that is put into each appointment from start to finish. We want to share with you a “look behind the
scenes” at what we are doing to ensure YOU have the best experience and care
with us!
Front Office…Our front office staff includes the
patient care coordinator and billing manager.
They work together to make sure the appointments are scheduled
correctly, any necessary insurance authorization or other provider chart notes have been
obtained and direct calls to the appropriate staff. Overall, they make sure that scheduling,
check-in and check-out run smoothly.
The patient
care coordinator is the first face you see when you walk in. They contact patients to make sure they
arrive on time for their check-in time and organize patient paperwork all the
while answering phones with great customer service. They explain referrals/orders to patients
upon check-out and work with the rest of the staff to make sure the patient has
everything they need before they leave.
They work to send your medical records to the appropriate clinics and
facilities. The coordinator also schedules your follow-up appointment as you
check out, and works with you to find the best day and time available.
The billing
manager checks insurance eligibility for patients and contacts them prior to their
appointment with any concerns. They
answer insurance-related questions in real-time that either the patients or
doctors may have, as well as discuss balances due with the patients. They work with the medical assistants and
doctors during appointments especially before procedures are done and/or scheduled
in order to ensure all aspects of the procedure billing goes well. They code and bill claims that require
immediate payment as you check-out so you leave with a zero balance.
Clinical Staff… Our clinical staff includes the
medical assistants to both our fabulous doctors! They arrive early to prepare the day for the
doctors so when patients are ready to be roomed they have the full appointment
time booked with the doctor. That is why
it is so important for our patients to arrive at their check-in time versus their appointment start time.
The medical
assistants typically review the chart notes for upcoming patients a day or two ahead
of time. If a patient is scheduled for
an imaging and/or lab review appointment, they double check with the other
facilities to make sure the images and reports are completed. If the patient has not completed the needed
orders, they work with the patient care coordinator to contact the patient in
order to reschedule their appointment and/or find out when the orders will be
done. For patients following up for an
in-office procedure, the medical assistants set up the equipment needed ahead
of time for the doctor and also make sure necessary injectables are ready to be
used (like PRP kits, Euflexxa, steroids, ect).
Throughout
the day, the medical assistants are constantly prepping for the next appointment,
while also answering and returning patient calls. They clean and prepare exams rooms before
each appointment and work with each other to ensure that each doctor has access
to the room/equipment he needs. The
medical assistants also input data from new patient and follow-up paperwork and
generate referrals your doctor may recommend.
This is just
a small glimpse into the amount of work being done to make sure you have a 5
star experience at Lake Washington Sports & Spine. Our team is dedicated to keeping you active
and we will ALWAYS go above and beyond to ensure that you receive the best
musculoskeletal care around!
Friday, August 21, 2015
Happiness Based Musculoskeletal Medicine: The Power of Woo
Drs. Hyman & Chimes are the pioneers of Happiness-based Musculoskeletal Medicine. Our practice focuses on more than just injury treatment and prevention- we help you optimize your health!
Here's a fun clip to help improve your posture & boost your mood: THE POWER OF WOO!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hgzTI-N--8
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Tips for Beating the Heat!
As a relatively recent transplant to the Pacific Northwest,
I have quickly realized that summer in Seattle is a magical time. All of a sudden the clouds float away and we
are left with an array of outdoor activities at our finger tips. As our excitement grows, however, it is also important
to recognize the dangers of being out in the heat for too long and without the
right precautions. Below are a few tips
that will allow you and your family to have the happiest and healthiest of PNW
summers!
1. Get a
Big Gulp….of WATER!
This
one may seem obvious but it is absolutely critical that we all remain hydrated
during these flaming hot days. It is
important to remember that the time to start drinking is NOT once you feel
thirsty; by this point, you are already behind.
Make sure to drink plenty of water before starting your activity and
then continue to sip water while exercising.
If you plan to do vigorous exercise, it may be wise to bring along a
diluted sports drink to replace electrolytes that our lost when you
perspire. Always remember to drink
plenty once you’ve completed the activity too!
2. Temperature
isn’t the only thing that matters!
Most of
us are in the habit of checking just the temperature before we head
outside. Although the temperature is
indeed telling of how bearable exercising outside might be, humidity is also a
critical factor. One of the body’s main
cooling systems is perspiration (sweating) and the sweat evaporating off of our
skin is what cools us down. Humidity,
however, makes it much more difficult for sweat to evaporate and in turn, makes
is much more difficult for us to regulate our internal temperature.
3. Fashion police!
I’ll be
the first to admit that I don’t spend a lot of time choosing the perfect
exercise gear. However, on hot and humid
days, the clothing you wear can really play a large role in how well you handle
the heat. Fabrics like cotton, although
typically comfortable, are not very breathable and can make a hot, outside
workout feel unbearable. The better
choice is to wear breathable, synthetic fabrics (polyester, nylon, etc) that
will wick away your sweat. It is also
important to wear a hat or visor and, of course, apply plenty of sunscreen
before heading outside.
4. Know your limits
If this is your first
outdoor workout this summer, try to go in the morning or the evening when
temperatures are cooler. Also, change
your workout for different heat levels.
If it’s a scorching hot day, taking a bike ride may be healthier and
safer than a long run in the sun. Most
importantly, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. If you
start feeling dizzy, nauseous, or otherwise not 100%, STOP. You are not doing yourself or your body any
favors by pushing through a workout when you’re feeling sick.
The main thing to remember during these last days of a
beautiful Seattle summer is that there are myriad opportunities to play
outside but just be sure to take care of your body so your workouts are both fun
AND safe!
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