Blogs

Heart disease and stroke deaths don’t have to happen. That is the finding of a report from the CDC stating that more than 200,000 deaths in 2010 were preventable. While progress has been made since 2001, with the number of preventable heart disease and stroke deaths decreasing by 30 percent, health care providers know there still is work that needs to be done. More than half of the 200,000 lives were under the age of 65.

Once a year, Lovelace Women’s Hospital welcomes families and former patients for a reunion unlike any other. As they unload out of cars with strollers, diaper bags, blankets, and bottles, those who were once our smallest of patients come back for an opportunity to see the doctors, nurses and staff of the NICU – their first home. It is an event Robynn Salazar didn’t think would be on her calendar year after year following the arrival of her first daughter, Zoey, a healthy full-term baby girl, but she makes the 230 mile trip every year with her family.

Known across the country for its chile peppers, Hatch Valley, N.M., is a spot on the map known well to foodies searching for the “it” ingredient of signature chile rellenos, chile verde and enchilada dishes. Even if you don’t consider yourself a foodie, you are if you live in New Mexico, where the state question is “Red or Green?” The state fruit takes a variety of forms in New Mexican cuisine, red or green, served roasted, as a sauce or dried and crushed into a powder.

Bumps and bruises happen when you are a kid, but did you know an estimated 23 million children under the age of 15 head into the ER for medical treatment? Of those admitted, 7 million children are seen for accidental injuries and Safe Kids Worldwide announced this week 1.35 million children end up in the ER with sports-related injuries. Sometimes it isn’t easy being a kid.

There’s nothing quite like arriving at a bustling hotel, bags in hand, your energy worn by travel and immediately hearing the words, “Hello, we’ve been expecting you.” All of a sudden, this new place feels more familiar – the people more welcoming. A deep breath later and a sense of comfort and calm replace any stress or anxiety you may have felt moments before. Could the same be true if you were to step into a hospital instead of hotel? Derrick Jones believes so and he’s investing his own time to find out.

Do you have a flat screen TV? Is mounted on the wall or sitting on top of a dresser? Your child’s safety could depend on it. New research finds that every three weeks, another child dies from a TV tipping over onto them. The rate of injury is on the rise. Over the last 22 years, the rate of children getting injured from a falling TV is up 95 percent.

Researchers from all over the world came together this week to share their latest findings at what is known as the world’s leading forum on dementia research at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC). Two big stories came from that conference. One, delaying retirement could cut the risk for developing dementia.

Statins are a class of drugs often prescribed to patients to lower LDL levels, also known as the bad cholesterol. They work by inhibiting an enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase, which controls the production of cholesterol in the liver. The medication works by slowing down the production of cholesterol and therefore increasing the number of LDL receptors. These receptors bind to LDL in the liver, thus reducing LDL levels in the blood stream.

Dawn Tschabrun was recently named the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Lovelace Regional Hospital-Roswell. Previously the Chief Nursing Officer/Chief Operations Officer at Lovelace Regional Hospital-Roswell since 2012 and the Chief Nursing Officer at the facility since 2009, Dawn brings 25 years of nursing experience with 12 years of progressive managerial experience to this position. We asked Dawn five questions as she begins her new role.

Charlie Miller has worked at Lovelace Medical Center for more than 40 years. In Patient Transport, he helps take patients where they need to go in the hospital. Charlie has special way of making patients feel calm and right at home at Lovelace, which has earned him the nickname "Elvis." Take a look.