Mercy Health System is recognized as a top teaching site for 2009 by Safe Sitter®, Inc. Mercy earns recognition for its dedication and time invested to teaching kids and adolescents the necessary responsibilities of nurturing and protecting children. Mercy is among the top 25 of 900 teaching sites across the U.S. and England.

Mercy Health System implemented its first Safe Sitter program in 1995. Since then, Mercy has taught nearly 3,000 students in Wisconsin alone. Mercy Health System’s Safe Sitter programs are taught in Janesville, Beloit, Clinton, Lake Geneva and Walworth.

Safe Sitter is a medically accurate babysitting training program including a two-day instruction that teaches 11-13 year olds the responsibilities of caring for young children. Safety issues, child development, rescue breathing and first aid are discussed.

Mercy’s next Safe Sitter program is April 10 and 11. To register, call (608) 756-6100 or toll-free at (888) 39-MERCY. For more information about the Safe Sitter program, visit safesitter.org.

MercyHealthSystem.org

Mercy's social networking sites: MercyPulse.org

      

 
The Mercy Diabetes Center, located inside the Mercy Health Mall, 1010 N. Washington St., Janesville, is sponsoring its annual fundraiser to benefit the American Diabetes Association, Saturday, March 20, 9 am-1 pm. Cost is $25 per session.

The event includes creating 10 gift cards, lunch and lots of fun. It’s a great way express your creativity and talent as well as raise money for a good cause.

To register or for more information, call (608) 741-2459. Payment is due at registration. Cash or check payment is accepted.

Diabetes.MercyHealthSystem.org

      

More than 20 million Americans have chronic kidney disease (CKD) and another 20 million are at risk, but don’t even know it.The two main causes of chronic kidney disease are high blood pressure and diabetes. The good news is, early detection leads to prevention.

March is Kidney Awareness Month and to recognize CKD, Mercy’s Nephrology wants you to know what the risk factors are, symptoms of CKD and what do if you think you have CKD.




To watch more videos about CKD, please visit http://youtube.com/mercyhealthsystem

      

Do you know if you are at higher cardiovascular risk? To calculate your 10-year risk for heart attack or cardiovascular death, visit heart.mercyhealthsystem.org and click on “Cardiovascular Risk Calculator.” If your results are more than 10 percent, you should consider reducing that risk by:
•    Quitting smoking
•    Keeping your blood pressure well controlled (less than 120/80)
•    Following a heart-healthy diet
•    Getting 30 minutes of moderate activity at least five times per week
•    Getting your lipids controlled

Mercy's lipid clinic

Mercy’s lipid clinic provides a full range of early diagnostic and treatment services for adults with cholesterol and triglyceride disorders, as well as management and prevention of heart disease and stroke. These disorders can lead to atherosclerosis or narrowing of the arteries, that increases a person’s chance of having a heart attack or stroke. High levels of triglycerides can also cause pancreatitis. Sanford Carimi, MD, board certified internist and lipid specialist, accepts referred patients for Mercy’s lipid clinic at Mercy Health Mall in Janesville. In 2005, Dr. Carimi became one of the first two physicians in Wisconsin to be board certified as a clinical lipidologist.

Sanford Carimi, MD,
board certified internist and lipid specialist

Mercy’s lipid clinics work with each patient to achieve normal levels of lipids (LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides) through a combination of diet modification, exercise and carefully prescribed lipid lowering medications. Dr. Carimi supports a team approach to vascular wellness by working together with your primary care physician, nutritional experts, and exercise physiologists to create successful outcomes in reducing cardiovascular risk for heart attack, stroke or vascular diseases.

For low-risk patients, the goal is for your LDL cholesterol to be under 130, but for known heart patients, diabetics or high-risk patients, the LDL cholesterol goal is less than 100. For very high-risk patients (heart or diabetic patients who also smoke) the LDL-cholesterol goal is under 70. For more information or to schedule an appointment by referral, call (608) 741-2459.

      

If you or someone you know has diabetes, your heart could use some attention. That’s because diabetes puts you at greater risk for heart disease. With diabetes, blood sugar levels can be much higher than normal and too much sugar in the blood can damage blood vessels, which can lead to heart disease. In addition to knowing your numbers, exercising and eating healthy, Mercy offers exceptional diabetes services, close to home.

At the Mercy Diabetes Centers, our goal is to offer an advanced yet comfortable atmosphere where high-quality medical services are provided by physicians, nurses and support staff who are committed to one thing—your health and well being.

Patients or anyone interested in learning more about diabetes and heart health can visit our two Rock County locations:

Mercy Clinic East, Janesville, WI
Mercy Health Mall, Janesville, WI

Our team


Timothy Reid, MD
Board certified family medicine physician
Recognized by the American Diabetes Association

Diabetes educators
Lynnette Hartwig, RN, BSN, CDE
Angela Mack, RD, LD, CD, CDE
Lorna Lovett, RD, CD, CDE
Sherry Kirkpatrick, RN, BSN, CDE

What our diabetes center offers:
•    Comprehensive Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes management and care
•    Continuous glucose monitoring systems
•    Diabetes education program recognized by the American Diabetes Association
•    Diabetes self-management training
•    Exercise programs held on-site
•    Family medicine
•    Insulin pump management
•    “Managing for Life” program
•    Laboratory services
•    Lipid/cholesterol clinic
•    Medical supplies
•    Optometry
•    Pharmacy
•    Podiatry

For more information and referral, please call toll-free at (866) 520-6332.

      

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in both adult males and females. Here are six steps you can follow to maintain a healthier heart.

1.  Don’t smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products
Avoiding tobacco smoke is the best thing you can do to maintain your health. As soon as you stop smoking, your risk of heart disease and stroke is lowered. In time, your risk will be about the same as if you’d never smoked.

2.  Have high blood pressure checked regularly
High blood pressure makes your heart work harder and puts more strain on the heart and arteries. If your blood pressure is normal (below 120/80 mm Hg), have it checked at least every two years. If your blood pressure is higher (140/90 mm Hg or higher), follow your doctor’s instruction to lower it.

3.  Read nutrition facts – eat low in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol
Limit your saturated fat intake to 8-10 percent of total calories or less. Get your cholesterol level checked every five years, beginning at age 20. Normal total blood cholesterol should be lower than 200. If your level is between 200-239, you are at borderline high risk and should have your levels checked more often.

4.  Stay active
At least 30 minutes to an hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most days of the week is all it takes to help your heart. Those activities include brisk walking, jogging, running, rowing, swimming and other sports activity. Check with your doctor before starting an exercise program if you are middle-aged or older—especially if it is a relatively vigorous activity.

5.  Achieve and maintain proper weight
If you are overweight, especially in the waist, you have a higher risk for health problems. Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 or greater. To find your BMI, multiply your weight in pounds by 703, divide by your height in inches, and then divide again by your height in inches.

6.  Schedule regular checkups with your doctor
If you have diabetes or other medical problems, follow your doctor’s advice to reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke.

For more heart healthy tips and advice, visit heart.mercyhealthsystem.org

      

Mercy Cardiac Fitness in Janesville supports heart health and fitness                                                         

  

Mercy Beloit Medical Center staff wear red to recognize heart disease and stroke

                                  

Mercy Business Center and MercyCare Insurance Plans staff in Janesville                                
raise awareness for heart disease and stroke



Mercy Marketing and Public Relations staff fight heart disease and stroke by wearing red



To find out what you can do to support heart health awareness, visit AmericanHeart.org
                                 
                       

                                                 

      

Richard DaVoe's story is one of denial followed by triumph. Ignoring his doctor's warnings for a year, Richard found himself on his doorstep waiting for the ambulance. With the care he received from Mercy Health System, Richard was able to turn his life around for not only his sake, but also for his family.

      

To recognize American Heart Month and National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week, Mercy Health System is hosting a free Women’s Heart Day event on Saturday, February 20, from 8 am-2 pm, at the Pontiac Convention Center, 2809 N. Pontiac Dr., Janesville. This one-day conference is designed to teach women how to develop and maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle. A free lunch will be provided.

Presentations on women’s heart health include: Exercise is Medicine, presented by Stephanie Kittleson, MS, certified clinical exercise specialist and physiologist; Women and Heart Disease, presented by Paul Volkert, MD, board certified interventional cardiologist; Today’s Heart Surgery, presented by Ken Wolnak, DO, board certified cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon; and Virtual Supermarket Tour, presented by Rebecca Senn, RDCD, registered dietitian.

Attendees are encouraged to visit the interactive exhibit area and talk with professionals on how to improve their heart health. Exhibitors include: Mercy Cardiac Fitness Center, Mercy Diabetes Center, Mercy Regional Heart and Vascular Center, Mercy Complementary Medicine Center, American Heart Association of Rock County, Basics Cooperative of Janesville, YMCA and YWCA.  

A $5 donation to the American Heart Association of Rock County is strongly encouraged at time of registration. Seating is limited. RSVP no later than Thursday, February 18, by calling Mercy HealthLine at (608) 756-6100 or visiting Mercyevents.org.

      

Mercy Health System helped keep Joan from heart failure. Stay tuned to our YouTube channel and www.mercypulse.org/iam/ for other heart survivor stories.