Razorback Blanket with Quilted Border

My nephew is headed to my old alma mater, University of Arkansas, this fall.  He is starting law school.  His birthday is in early September.   These two facts and then finding the fleece fabric in the “remnants bind” at Hobby Lobby inspired me to make this.

The fleece piece was not large enough for a guy my nephew’s size (well over 6 ft tall), but I had some left over Arkansas Razorback cotton I had used for a surgeon’s cap.

The border is reversible.  I machine pieced the 4-patches of red and white to the larger black patches.  The end borders (front and back) were sewn to the fleece first.  The fusible batting (good use for leftovers) was carefully placed in-between.  Then the two longer side borders (front and back) were done in the same fashion.

I then machine quilted the border.

Rather than make a label, I used the letter/number feature on my machine to sew one.

Arkansas Jurors Find Cancer Therapy a Fraud

Updated 3/2017--  all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. 

I hope @oracknows, Respectful Insolence, will write more about this. He is much better than I at sussing out fraudulent medical treatments.

I have lived and practiced in Little Rock, AR for over twenty years and I did not know this was in my backyard until my local paper (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) reported on the outcome of the trial last week. The article title caught my eye as I was skimming the news: Jurors: Cancer therapy a fraud, Award in suit is $2.5 million (subscription only unfortunately).

A federal jury awarded $2.5 million in damages Tuesday to a California woman who paid $6,250 to undergo alternative treatments from a Jacksonville woman who promised a “100 percent success rate” in destroying cancerous breast tumors.

Antonella Carpenter, the former Jacksonville woman who has since moved to Broken Arrow, Okla., and continues to proclaim on her website that she has found a simple, painless way to kill cancerous tumors, wasn’t present for the verdict against her and her company, Lase Med Inc. …….

I don’t recall every hearing of Lase Med Inc: LIESH Therapy.

The plaintiff in the lawsuit is Therese Westphal, 54,

a mother of three sons, said she read about the treatment in a flier she found in a health-food store in California where she went to research nontraditional cancer treatments shortly after being diagnosed in September 2007 with a 2 1/4-inch tumor in the upper right corner of her left breast.

A local oncologist, Bill Tranum, MD, testified Westphal had a 75% to 90% chance of beating the cancer immediately after being diagnosed, the delay dropped her chances to 20%.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette article notes Carpenter refers to herself on the website as a “doctor.”

Bond (Will Bond of the McMath Woods law firm in Little Rock) says she’s not a medical doctor, but claims to have a doctorate in physics, possibly from an online university.

A local television station, KTHV, has a segment (open access) on the trial: Company defends laser treatments, despite loss in court

….."I am a physicist. I never claim to be a medical doctor, that's why the patients come to me because those are the ones who want alternative," Carpenter said.

It's an alternative using lasers to kill cancerous tumors. Carpenter says the heat activated in the process does the job.

"Elevated temperature, the tumor reached 134 degrees Fahrenheit, and that is the temperature sufficient to kill the tumors. I have the science that backs it," Carpenter said. ….

2011 Asklepion and Shuffield Award Winners

Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. 

The 2011 Arkansas Medical Society Annual Meeting was this past weekend.  Each year two awards are given:  the Asklepion Award and the Shuffield Award.

The Asklepion Award is presented to an AMS member physician who promotes the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health; embodies the values of the medical profession through leadership, service, excellence, integrity and ethical behavior; and enriches patients, colleagues and the community through dedicated medical practice.

This year’s recipient of the Asklepion Award is Morriss M. Henry, MD.  He is a retired ophthalmologist in Fayetteville who has been active in both medicine and in our state government since he began his practice in 1961.  He served as president of the AMS in 1982 and has served on multiple boards.  Dr. Henry served in the Arkansas legislature as State Representative (1967-1971) and State Senator (1971-1984).  He has been involved in many community endeavors, including the development of the Jones Eye Institute at UAMS and Hobbs State Park. 

The Shuffield Award is the highest honor in the medical community for a non-physician.  It recognizes an Arkansas who has done outstanding community work in the health care field.  The Shuffield Award is named in memory of Doctors Joe and Elvin Shuffield, a father and son physician team from Little Rock, who devoted their lives to improving the quality of health care in this state.

This year’s recipient of the Shuffield Award is Charles ‘Ship’ Mooney, Jr.  He has practiced law in Jonesboro, Arkansas for the past 28 years.  The award was given to him for the work he has done as the founder of “The Out of the Dark Movement” which he started in the fall of 2008.   He was spurred into action after reading in his local paper the report of 5 heroin overdoses in community youths.  His first action was to write a letter to the editor which was published.  This resulted in a public meeting regarding the issue at which 250 people showed up.  One hundred of them signed up to help try to solve local issues caused by chemical addiction in their community.  They now have more than a thousand volunteers.  (photo credit)

Bartering for Medical Care

 Updated 3/2017-- all links removed as many are no longer active and it was easier than checking each one.

Earlier this week there was an article in my local newspaper (subscription only for full access) on a family physician in Bono, Arkansas who takes chickens as payment:  Bartering for Care – House calls’ a trade-off.

In lieu of payment, patients at the Bono Barter Clinic can exchange a variety of things such as produce or labor for medical services on Thursdays. House devotes the other four days of the workweek to his regular family practice - the House Medical Clinic - both practices in a former church along U.S. 63 between Bono and Jonesboro.

Of note is that this is 20% or less of his workweek, as the bartering only takes place on Thursdays.  As we all know, our utilities don’t allow us to pay via bartering.  Neither do the medical supply companies we purchase syringes, needles, drugs (ie lidocaine, vaccines, etc), and bandages from.

Still I do commend Dr. John House.  He is strict about certain rules which is also important to note.  The barter clinic won’t submit a bill to your insurance if you happen to have coverage.  Nor will they prescribe narcotics.

KAIT.com has a full access story:  Medical clinic allows patients to barter for care

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An amednews story from Jan 12, 2009 noted:  Trading for treatment: Bartering makes a comeback.  The article discusses the rules of bartering which will keep the IRS happy and makes suggestions to make bartering work for your practice.

• Have a willing business partner. 
• Find the right trade partner.
• Keep your percentage of barter patients low.
• Have an agreement in writing.
• Make sure values are equal on both sides of the trade.
• Follow Medicare rules.
• Follow IRS rules. 
• Keep good records.

Arkansas Women Bloggers Meetup

Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many are no longer active and it was easier than checking each one.

The first ever Arkansas Women Bloggers Meetup Scheduled! (photo credit) was held today at the Museum of Discovery. 

I attended it with Methodical Madness, @gastromom (we’ll get her to actually blog and not just tweet someday), and @ksboulden.  

I met several of the approximately 40 attendees.  Lunch was provided by Petite Jean Meats.  Elaine provided cupcakes for dessert.  Elaine blogs at Cupcake Crazy Arkansas.

Two of the attendees gave short presentations.  La Tonya (40 Tude) gave one on finding your voice.  Kyran (Planting Dandelions) talked about how to measure your blog’s influence in more ways than just numbers (or stats from your sitemeter).

There were door prizes!  I won (or rather my dog Rusty did) this one, homemade dog bonz from Mac the Labradoodle.  Mac, Rusty definitely approves!

 

Others I met include Nikki (NikkMo PaperCrafts), Christie (Fancy Pants Foodie),Desmond (Arkansas Research), and Kat (Tie Dye Travels).

It was a good meetup!  I made sure Christie (Fancy Pants Foodie) and @gastromom met. 

Medical Museums in Arkansas

Updated 3/2017 -- photos and all links removed as many no longer active. and it was easier than checking each one.

Medgadget and Gruntdoc have challenged us to visit our local medical museums and write about it. I live in Little Rock, Arkansas – the state capital and home of the only medical school in Arkansas. So this past Friday after looking online to see if the medical school has a museum, I headed over to the campus library. Turns out the school has an Historical Research Center (HRC) rather than a true museum.

The HRC has an impressive website where all the “proceeded” items are listed and searchable. The holdings of the HRC include “books, papers, artifacts, photographs, and audio and video recordings dealing with the history of medicine primarily in Arkansas.”

The goal of the Historical Research Center is to preserve UAMS history and the history of the health sciences in Arkansas. See our animated timeline. This is accomplished by the collection and preservation of classics in the health sciences, i.e., the History of Medicine and associated collections; and by collecting and preserving the archives of UAMS and Arkansas health scientists.

Due to lack of space and storage, the HRC doesn’t actively add old medical equipment or gadgets. The HRC has a few small areas throughout the main UAMS library where displays can be done. If you need to do research a topic of medical history, the staff will willingly help you.

The digital collections of the UAMS Library Historical Research Center provide access to selected archival materials related to the history of UAMS and of health sciences in Arkansas. Visit the digital collection. Also see our list of resources for historical research.

In fact, Amanda Saar who gave me the tour of the HRC mentioned a few other “true” museums in the state and I did more “google” searching myself. Here are the ones I found. I have not visited them in person due to time and distance, but perhaps in the future I will.

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Old Country Doctor Museum is located in Lincoln, Arkansas and was founded in 1994 by Dr. Harold Boyer, the son of Dr. Herbert Boyer, to honor his father and other Arkansas country doctors for their heroism, selfless service and unique contributions to the people and history of Arkansas. The museum is the second country doctor museum in the United States.  They can also be found on Facebook.

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The Randolph County Heritage Museum is not solely a medical museum, but they do have quite a collection of old medical “stuff” as can be seen in this youtube tour of the museum. It is located in Pocahontas, Arkansas.……………………….

Museum of Chico County Arkansas (MOCCA) is located in Lake Village, Arkansas. You can see photos, including the one below, on their online tour.

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Siloam Springs Museum is located in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

At the Siloam Springs Museum, you can explore the past through permanent and rotating exhibits highlighting Indian culture, pioneer life, medicine and many other facets of our history.

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Gann Museum is located in Benton, Arkansas. The museum is housed in a 1893 building which served as the office of Dr. Dewell Gann. The building was built by patients who could not afford to pay him for their care. When Dr. Gann retired, he donated the building to the city and asked that it be maintained as a library. In 1980 the building was turned from the library to the museum.

In order to pay they dug bauxite from a nearby farm, hand-sawed it into blocks, allowed it to harden and then built the Doctor a medical office. It is the only building in the world to have ever been constructed out of pink alumina block. This area was once one of the world’s largest aluminum mining operations. The ore of aluminum is called bauxite and it is pink with little round metallic beads and streaks of white running through it.

The patients worked out their debt at a rate of ten cents an hour. The Doctor also took such things as cows, chickens and wild honey as payment as did many of the other doctors of the day.

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The Old Jail Museum in Greenwood is an unusual place to find a glimpse into how Arkansas medicine has changed in the past 100-plus years.

The exhibit contains memorabilia of 13 highly regarded physicians who worked in south Sebastian County dating back to the 1800s. Metal braces for broken bones, old photographs, doctors' bags, medicine bottles, baby scales, patient logs and bills, as well as medical instruments are some of the items on display through October at the museum located southeast of the Town Square on Arkansas Highway 10…..

Other items of interest include a straight edge razor used to cut umbilical cords, tiny bottles of medicines, stainless steel syringes, and one of the first electric nebulizer sterilizers. There are also some late 19^th century medical textbooks with pictures and medical advertisements such as those advertising house calls for $2.50 and delivery of a baby for $1.25….

The museum also has the complete baby ledger of Charles Bailey, MD, from when he started practicing in 1953 to the last baby he delivered in the 1980s.

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St. Francis County Museum is located in Forrest City, Arkansas.

Located in the restored, historic Rush-Gates home; exhibits include the J.O. Rush relic collection, reconstructed doctor's office, geology and fossils from Crowley's Ridge, county, veterans, and African-American history. Temporary and seasonal exhibits year-round; also serves as the central visitors center for the Crowley's Ridge National Scenic byway

When Healers Need Healing

Updated 3/2017 -- all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. and it was easier than checking each one.

In my office mail this morning I found my medical school classmate, Janet Cathey, looking back at me from the front of the last issue of the Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society. Her photo was linked to an article entitled “When Healers Need Healing: Physicians’ Experiences on the Receiving End of Medicine.”

I knew that Janet had been injured in a car accident last summer. I have tried reaching out to her with notes, etc. She had “closed” herself off from me and many others trying to reach out, so it was nice to see the report on her.  Janet had a busy Gynecology practice prior the accident. I have hear that she had since retired due to the back injury sustained in the accident.

“Things were happening at lightning speed,” she recalled of the scene at Baptist. “I had a burst fracture of L-1 and needed spine surgery….They were moving me, cutting off my clothes. I was scared and still screaming in pain and frustration,” she said. “At that moment, ER doctor Wendel Phals, MD, was at the head of my bed. He held my face and calmly and quietly said, ‘Janet, you’re going to be alright. We’re going to take care of you.’ For the first time since I’d hit the culvert, I felt calm, secure.”

The article also includes comments from Columbia University psychiatrist Robert Klitzman, MD who has written a book “When Doctors Become Patients”

After his own recovery, Klitzman wanted to understand the rare, dual perspective of physicians who have confronted serious disease. His interviews revealed first and foremost that many physicians resist, at least initially, the idea of beiing “sick” or being “the patient.” Furthermore, many physicians most resist “not” being the doctor…..

The article includes another Arkansas physician, orthopedic surgeon Frank Griffin, MD who found himself a patient when he was diagnosed with a chondrosarcoma.

Griffin found both emotional and practical aspects of being a patient surprised him. “I was surprised at the size of my bills,” said Griffin, adding that he understands now the number of medical bankruptcies. ….

Also surprising to him was his embarrassment to ask for pain medicine. “I was afraid someone would think I was becoming addicted,” he said. “……..I imagine there are many more patients suffering from pain than are abusing pain meds.”

Janet is quoted making these observations

“As a physician, you never know what little thing a patient is going to latch onto…be impacted from,” she said, remembering that night eight months ago, in the Baptist ER. “As a patient, I felt my recovery began when amidst the chaos of the night, Dr. Pahls took a few moments to look at me and reassure me.”

All of that medical knowledge can be a blessing and a curse, especially when physicians suffer from something serious or debilitating, Cathey implied. “For me to have a devastating injury, it really hit hard. Being a physician takes away some of the hope that you’d have if you didn’t know your limitations,” she said.

All of us will be patients at some time during our lives. It is important for us to keep this in mind as we care for others. I wish I could link you to the entire above article, but it is not up online yet.

There is a post on the same topic over at Mothers in Medicine: Lessons learned on the wrong side of the stethoscope

I was walking down the hall at work on a very ordinary day in December. I had sudden onset of excruciating right shoulder, neck, and upper arm pain. For the first time in my life, the "...if 10 is the worst pain you can imagine" finally had meaning. ……. The next 48 hrs were a whirlwind: emails, calls, and pages to my internist (I am usually a once a year-ish whether I need it or not patient), a possible diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, MRIs of my brain, spinal cord, shoulder, appts with ortho, neuro, and ultimately neuromuscular, including the test that provided a diagnosis: an EMG/NCS. The diagnosis was something rare called Parsonage-Turner Syndrome. I had never heard of it before (which is a very bad feeling as a doctor).

So, what have I learned from this experience of being on the wrong side of the stethoscope? A lot that I am still struggling to put into words and a lot worth sharing.

Shout Outs

Updated 3/2017 -- photos and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. and it was easier than checking each one.

Evan Falchuk, See First Blog, is this week's host of Grand Rounds.   You can read this week’s edition here.

Welcome to Grand Rounds – the health care blogosphere’s ultimate blog carnival.

This week’s version is something special.  I asked for posts only about health care reform, and I am overwhelmed by the response.  Below are the leading voices of the health care blogosphere.

It is the Mother of All Health Care Reform Blog Round-Ups.

So, evacuate the dance floor- you’re about to be infected by the sound of health care reform blogging.

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Nursing Student Chronicles  is the host of the latest edition of Change of Shift (Vol 4, No 19) ! You can find the schedule and the COS archives at Emergiblog. (photo credit)

Howdy everyone! Welcome to Change of Shift, here for the very first time! And we’ve got a mini-party here today, just as promised.

So, domo arigato! How would you feel with a New Robotic “Coworker“? He speaks to you, moves around you, and even prefers to ride the elevator alone! He’s sitting at the Man-Nurse Diaries and he’s waiting to help you lift a saline bag or fifty.

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The Patient Protection and Affordability Act was signed into law last week.  Here are the parts that go into effect immediately (or more accurately within the first year).

Small Business Tax Credits
 Offers tax credits to small businesses beginning in 2010 to make employee coverage more affordable. Tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums will be immediately available to firms that choose to offer coverage. ….

No Pre-existing Coverage Exclusions for Children
 Prohibits health insurers from excluding coverage of pre-existing conditions for children. Effective six months after enactment, applies to all employer plans and new plans in the individual market. (This provision will apply to all people in 2014)……….

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NPR had a very interesting story (audio available) last week:  Former Bullies Share What Motivated Behavior.  Host Neal Cohen was joined by guests Aileen Dodd, education and family reporter for the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Rosalind Wiseman, author, Queen Bees and Wannabees. 

In Georgia, a young man killed himself because he could no longer endure his bullies. And in Mass., bullies left a 13-year-old paralyzed.

These cases and others like them have focused attention on bully behavior: Why do they do it, and do they change?

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 Dr. Gwenn covered the topic of bullies too:  Victims of Bullying Must Be Heard!!

You likely heard that Massachusetts is finally considering an anti-bullying law. It’s about time!

My kids have both been bullied over the years…have yours? It is one of the most challenging situations to handle in all of parenting and the dramatic increase in technology among today’s kids and teens and made bullying via technology a contributing factor. 25% of kids being bullied is too many already. 42% of kids being cyber-bullied is unthinkable…but is the estimated number being victimized via technology…….

In addition, Dr Gwenn has a series of BTR shows on the bulling topic.  Please, note part 2 & 3 are both upcoming.

Show 17: Bullys In Your Back Yard 1, Take 2! Stopping It Today!! (March 26, 2010)

Show 18: Bullying In Your Back Yard 2: Bully-Proofing Your LIfe  (April 1, 2010; 12 PM)
Show 19: Bullies In Your Back Yard 3: An Ounce of Prevention by Becoming Great Digital Citizens (April 9, 2010; 11 AM)

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I wish all of you could see the documentary aired by AETN last week on architect Fay Jones:  Sacred Spaces: The Architecture of Fay Jones.  (photo credit)

an Arkansas native who was in the first class of architecture students at the university, taught at the architecture school for 35 years and served as its first dean. In 2000, the American Institute of Architects named Jones one of the 10 most influential architects of the 20th century and recognized his Thorncrown Chapel as the fourth most significant structure of the 20th century.

You can take a virtual tour of his Thorncrown Chapel.  It is a breathtaking place.

Nestled in a woodland setting, Thorncrown Chapel rises forty-eight feet into the Ozark sky. This magnificent wooden structure contains 425 windows and over 6,000 square feet of glass. It sits atop over 100 tons of native stone and colored flagstone. The chapel's simple design and majestic beauty combine to make it what critics have called "one of the finest religious spaces of modern times."

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Another Little Quilt Swap (ALQS) 4  is now open to those who would like to participate.  For the complete rules and deadline (July 1, 2010) go here:

Unlike the ALQS3, Round 4 will allow all quilt types - traditional, modern, contemporary, art and any other designation you can think of.

All quilts should be roughly between 16"x16" and 24"x24". They do not have to be square, but the total area should be approximately the same.

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Dr Anonymous’ guests this week will be Psychiatric Social Worker Brandice Schnabel.  Come join us.

Upcoming Dr. A Shows (9pm ET)

4/22: DG & Tiffany Hollums and their adoption journey

Arkansas Children's Hospital in the News

Let me first remind you that I live in Little Rock so am very proud of this local gem.

Arkansas Children’s Hospital has gotten some good press recently.  One story is from Palestine Children’s Relief Fund:  Iraqi girl has surgery in Arkansas

On January 24, 5-year-old Christine Makboob from Nineveh, Iraq had neurosurgery at Arkansas Children’s Hospital by Dr. Samer Elbabaa. This child was born with a spine deformity called tethered cord, which was causing her significant neurological disorders including incontinence and she could not be adequately treated in her war-torn country.

The above story was given more print in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, but unfortunately you need a paid subscription to read it online.

The following videos are from the Dateline story aired last night which featured several pediatric residents at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.  I am very impressed and agree with Dr. Nancy Synderman about the future of medicine if these residents are any indication.  We are in good hands.

“Free” Medical Clinics

Updated 3/2017-- all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. and it was easier than checking each one. 

I’ve been catching up on news that happened while I was in Las Vegas at BlogWorld Expo. The news (via Arkansas Blog) on the “free medical clinics” caught my eye. First, because “free medical clinics” aren’t free. There are many costs associated with them, including the building, utilities (electricity, water, heat, etc), medical supplies, paper supplies, etc. It’s only “free” to the person who receives it. I wish the “free” clinics would be called “charity” medical clinics, but I don’t think that will ever happen. It’s too honest. Not that the persons on the receiving end don’t need or deserve it, but who wants to think about the actual cost involved.

That said, I think it is a wonderful thing for my community to do. I will have to look into it and see how I can “donate” my time. Maybe I can do wound care for them.

Halter announces free clinic details

We brought you this news yesterday, but Lt. Gov. Bill Halter has issued a news release today with more details on the Nov. 21 free medical clinic to be held at Little Rock's Statehouse Convention Center……

HALTER NEWS RELEASE

LITTLE ROCK (October 16, 2009) -- The Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock will be the site of a free medical clinic for people seeking care from a health professional on Saturday, November 21, Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter said today. The National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC), a national nonprofit organization, will operate the clinic.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Arkansans who need health care to get the medical attention they sorely need, at least for a day. We are profoundly grateful to the National Association of Free Clinics and to Keith Olbermann, without whom this would not be happening,” Halter said.

The NAFC will set up a registration process for patients and volunteers leading up to the November 21 clinic. The Alexandria, Va.-based non-profit organization operates as an advocate for more than 1,200 free medical clinics and the people they serve nationwide. The non-profit organization engages a volunteer workforce of doctors, dentists, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, technicians and other health care professionals to help meet the medical needs of patients served by free clinics.

The NAFC has received donations from people responding to a call from Olbermann, an MSNBC news anchor, for free medical clinics in six states, including Arkansas. Olbermann issued the call last week during his hour-long “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” program, which airs at 7 p.m. CST Monday through Friday on MSNBC. He announced the date and location of the Little Rock clinic on Thursday night’s program and also reported that 13,600 people had donated more than $1 million to the NAFC………….

U.S. Census Bureau statistics show that, on average, 492,000 Arkansans (17.6 percent of the state’s population) were without health insurance coverage during the three-year period of 2006 through 2008.

I’d like to applaud a current and permanent Charity Clinic in Little Rock: Harmony Clinic

Harmony Health Clinic is a free medical and dental clinic located in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Clinic, which is an affiliate of Volunteers in Medicine, provides routine health care to local residents whose income does not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and are currently medically uninsured and over the age of 13. The Clinic has commenced providing limited services, but will gradually expand its services as soon as the physical facilities and operating funds to accomplish this goal are available.