Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

In honor of National Midwifery Week, St. Elizabeth Healthcare is celebrating our midwives and the tremendous services they bring to our healthcare network. What is a Nurse-Midwife? It’s a common myth that nurse-midwives don’t have a formal education and only perform home births. That couldn’t be further from the truth! All certified nurse-midwives (CNM) are advanced practice registered nurses. At St. Elizabeth, our six certified nurse-midwives have their nursing degrees and a Master of Science degree with a specialization in Nurse-Midwifery. Additionally, our nurse-midwife team delivers babies exclusively at Edgewood and the Birthing Center at St. Elizabeth Dearborn. All St.…

According to the American Cancer Society, one man in nine will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. The good news is, there is a 99% five-year survival rate for men diagnosed with this cancer. Depending on the stage and type of prostate cancer diagnosed, treatment options may vary from surgery to radiation or chemotherapy. If radiation is needed, a new option that is proven to significantly reduce radiation side effects in prostate cancer patients was recently introduced at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Minimizing Side Effects While Targeting Prostate Cancer SpaceOAR Hydrogel can be used to help protect your quality…

The leaves turning colors, a crispness in the air, pumpkins appearing on every corner – it must be fall. Along with pulling out the jackets and autumn décor, it’s important to also take protective steps for your health by getting your annual flu shot. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu vaccines are created to match viruses that have been circulating through the population. Each seasonal flu vaccine is specifically created for that year to offer the most protection. When is the best time to get the flu shot? Flu activity typically peaks between December and February.…

Are you looking to shed a few pounds, or just feel better about yourself? A recent study found that cutting as few as 300 calories a day for an extended period can have significant benefits, including weight loss and improved health. “This study is important because it shows that even small changes can have positive results,” says Rachel Wagner, MS, LD, a Licensed Dietitian at the St. Elizabeth Physicians Weight Management Center. Researchers in the study followed 218 healthy young and middle-aged adults and had them cut 25% of their calories or maintain their usual diet for two years. The…

Jumper’s knee, known as patellar tendonitis, is one of the most common knee injuries. It can affect athletes at every level. Patellar tendonitis and running often go hand in hand. This overuse injury is also common in other high-impact sports like soccer and basketball. It results from knee strain during continuous jumping and running motions. How you land can protect you from this common overuse injury, especially for athletes who frequently jump on hard surfaces. Athletes participating in multiple sports are at high risk of developing this stress injury. Kathy Boehmer, PT, Specialty Program Coordinator for St. Elizabeth Healthcare Sports…

Edgewood, KY— Mayfield Brain & Spine, the region’s largest independent neurosurgical physician group, is expanding its clinical partnership with St. Elizabeth Healthcare to provide more complex interventional stroke and brain tumor services in Northern Kentucky. Gary Blank, Chief Operating Officer, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, said, “We are proud to expand our partnership with one of the most respected neurosurgical physician groups in the country. St. Elizabeth will soon offer the full complement of advanced treatments for stroke patients in the region, including endovascular surgery.” Andrew J. Ringer, MD, a Mayfield neurosurgeon specializing in endovascular surgery, will lead the St. Elizabeth interventional…

No one wants their child to need the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) – but at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, your little one will be in kind, compassionate and capable hands. The St. Elizabeth Level III NICU is located in the Family Birth Place on the St. Elizabeth Healthcare Edgewood campus. A Level III NICU can provide ventilation and other life-saving services to babies born at less than 32 weeks gestation. At St. Elizabeth, our 30-bed NICU is staffed 24-hours a day, seven days a week with a team of specially-trained neonatology experts, including NICU-trained nurses, neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, occupational…

Your little one is due to arrive soon, and you and your partner are anxiously awaiting your baby’s birth. While you are finalizing your birth plan and baby name options, make sure to also spend time on a critical piece of your newborn’s overall health: sleep safety. In the state of Kentucky, an infant passes away from a sleep-related risk factor every four days. A majority of these deaths are related to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and have at least one unsafe sleep factor. The ABCDs of safe sleep It’s so important to understand the basics of newborn safe…

Everyone likes a number to work towards to help track their health and wellness goals—an apple a day, eight glasses of water, 2,000 calories, and eight hours of sleep. And of course, you have your Fitbit or your wearable device to track that magic number of 10,000 steps a day. But do you need that many steps? A recent study by a Harvard University professor tested the 10,000-step rule. The study observed the steps and mortality rates of more than 16,000 elderly American women. The conclusion was that at 2,000 steps a day, the women saw positive health outcomes. The…

Joint pain in your upper body can be debilitating and take a toll on day-to-day living. Combing your hair, shaving, lifting and typing can be a difficult task if you are living with joint pain. When chronic pain in your shoulders, elbows, wrists or hands makes it hard to move, it’s time to learn more about your treatment options. If you have been living with pain for several weeks and it hasn’t resolved with rest and ice, something may be wrong. Most joint pain is caused by injury, overuse or arthritis. Do You Have Arthritis? Often, joint pain is caused…