Upcoming Events
- Understanding Respiratory Issues: Spirometry Lecture and Screening
TH, Jan 19, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Nadia Jensen, RCP, RRT, and Jamie Balius, RCP
To register online, visit EisenhowerHealth.org/Calendar, or call 760-423-4855
Debunking the Myths About Spinal Surgery
TH, Jan 19, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
A. David Tahernia, MD, Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery
To register online, visit EisenhowerHealth.org/Calendar, or call 760-423-4855
Bariatric Surgery Information
W, Jan 25, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Bobby Bhasker-Rao, MD, Board Certified in General Surgery
To register online, visit EisenhowerHealth.org/Calendar, or call 760-834-3796
Blood Drive
W, Jan 25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Held at the Annenberg Health Sciences Building
To register online, visit LStream.org, or call 800-879-4484Emergency vs. Urgency: Understanding Your Care Options
W, Feb 8, 4 to 5 p.m.
Susan Veldey, MSN, RN
To register online, visit EisenhowerHealth.org/Calendar, or call 760-423-4855Early Heart Attack Care and Hands Only CPR
Presented in partnership with Mended Hearts of Coachella Valley
TH, Feb 9, 6 to 7 p.m.
Lydia Vincent, RN, Chest Pain Coordinator
To register online, visit EisenhowerHealth.org/Calendar, or call 760-423-4855
A Remarkable Resilience
Revisiting Complex Surgery on Brain and Spine of a 28-Year-Old Woman,14 Years Ago at EisenhowerIf an award existed for young working mothers with remarkable resilience, Kristina Palafox would win it hands down. At 23, Palafox began experiencing severe headaches, chalking them up to a family history of migraines. When the headaches persisted and she suddenly gained weight, and continued to lactate well after weaning her son, her gynecologist referred her for testing. The diagnosis: a prolactinoma, a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland that produces an excess of the hormone prolactin.
“The tumor was extremely small and I was put on medication for a few years,” Palafox recalls. “Then when I was 27 or 28, the headaches became excruciating.”
She was also experiencing blurred vision. Her primary care doctor ordered an MRI, which revealed that the tumor had doubled in size. Palafox was referred to Endocrinologist Mohamad Alnabelsi, MD, who switched her medication to reduce her prolactin level and shrink the tumor. Despite the new medication, symptoms did not improve, so Palafox was scheduled for surgery to remove the tumor.
“Knowing that you’re going to have what is essentially brain surgery is scary. I found out in early December [2008] that they wanted me to have it right away, but I wanted to spend the holidays with my family,” Palafox remembers.
Regaining the Ability to Communicate
The remarkable benefits of speech and language therapy When you ask J. Eric Baker-Aidukas, SLP, what the Eisenhower Health speech therapy program that he manages is all about, he...Heart Healthy
Eating Well Equals BalanceOne of the best tools for adding healthier choices to one’s meals is the desire to do it. Changing habits can be challenging, but according to Eisenhower Registered Clinical Dietitian Barbra Sassower, MPH, RDN, CDCES, FAND, desire or motivation is key.
“I start by finding out what a patient’s vision/goals are and what they’re currently doing,” says Sassower. “I use motivational interviewing to help the person see what they need, or want, to change, and they’re able to come up with their own goals and what they want to work on.”
“People may have an idea of what they need to do — for example, less salt, less saturated fats — but they aren’t sure how to apply these principles to their lifestyle. Learning to adopt these guidelines to their preferences is often the missing piece that kept them from being successful in the past.”
New Breast Center in Palm Springs Opens
Just this week, Eisenhower Lucy Curci Cancer Center opened the Anne and Kirk Douglas Breast Center in Palm Springs. Outpatient screening mammography and bone density screenings will be provided by appointment.
More about our services: Our new Palm Springs Breast Center will use the same state-of-the-art digital tomosynthesis mammography equipment found at our Rancho Mirage and La Quinta locations.
• Screening Mammography- Advanced equipment that performs exams faster and uses 60 percent less radiation.
- Computer-aided detection (CAD) software improves the accuracy of every mammogram.
- Specialized mammography radiologists - physicians dedicated to breast health - are the foundation of the Center and truly understand the concerns and needs of women.
• Bone Density Screening
• Streamlined scheduling and registration reduces wait time.
