Your Best Life

Palliative Care - Charles Goldman, MD

Palliative Care may be one of the most misunderstood terms in health care.  Many people might believe palliative care is the same as hospice care or end of life care. In this episode, Dr. Charles Goldman, a palliative care physician at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center explains how it is different than hospice and can be very helpful to patients and their families. 
Send us your feedback or just say "hello" by filling out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast or send an email to podcast@mercyhealth.com
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne
 

Down Syndrome - Nicole Stoecken, DO

Down syndrome is a genetic condition where a child is born with an extra copy of the 21st chromosome. Although genetic testing is available to provide detection during birth, for many moms, like Dr. Nicole Stoecken from MercyOne Grimes Pediatric Care, a surprise diagnosis at birth is also possible.
Since Dr. Stoecken gave birth to her fourth child, Josie, who was born with Down syndrome in Dec. 2019, she has become an advocate and guide for children with a diagnosis of Down syndrome. As a pediatric physician, Dr. Stoecken works with new moms daily. In this episode she provides some frequently asked questions she’s received from new parents of children with Down syndrome.
Send us your feedback or just say "hello" by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne
 

ABCS for a Healthy Heart - Curtis Hoogendoorn, ARNP

According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, 1 in every 4 deaths in the United States is caused by heart disease. To help keep you and your family healthy, all you need to do is remember your ABCS:
Aspirin when appropriate
Blood pressure control
Cholesterol management
Smoking cessation
Learn more about the ABCS for a healthy heart on our website.
This episode's featured medical expert is Curtis Hoogendoorn, ARNP from MercyOne Siouxland Heart and Vascular Center.
 
Send us your feedback or just say "hello" by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
 
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne
 
 

Improving Mental Health in 2021 - Paul Wehrman, LMHC

It's easy to think about negative things that happened in 2020, but it is better to focus on the good things that happened. In this episode, we are joined by Paul Wehrman, LMHC. Paul is a licensed mental health counselor at MercyOne Waterloo Behavioral Health Care. 
What are some bad habits we picked up last year that we should drop?
Are there any grudges we should let go?
What do you want to accomplish this year?
We're happy to partner with Iowa's Healthiest State Initiative and the Make It OK campaign to bring you this content! It's OK to have a mental illness - many people do. It's OK to talk about mental illness - talking makes people feel less alone. It's OK to seek help with mental illness - life can get better.
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne
 

The COVID-19 Vaccine - Infectious Disease Expert Dr. Ravi Vemuri

The first shipments of the vaccine to help contain COVID-19 has arrived at hospitals across the country.  In this episode, infectious disease expert Dr. Ravi Vemuri returns to the podcast to answer some common questions many people have about the vaccine.
How does the COVID-19 vaccine work?
If someone has already had the virus, should they get the vaccine?
How long does immunity from the vaccination last?
Can I stop wearing a mask and social distancing once I've been vaccinated?
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne
 

Physical Therapy - Brandi Cox, PT, DPT and Linda Crisman, PTA

Wow, this is episode number 50!  We're joined by Brandi Cox, PT, DPT and Linda Crisman, PTA to talk all about physical therapy.  We'll discuss a few conditions physical therapy can treat and the benefits physical therapy can provide over some other methods of treatment. Motion is lotion!
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Urgent Care or ER? - Ruth Ann Uhl, ARNP

Along with football season, holiday season and flu season… urgent care season is upon us. Not familiar with that? Well, the need for "outside of regular hours," last-minute, early-morning and late-night medical advice seems to increase this time of year as we navigate illnesses that usually see an uptick in the fall and winter.
In this episode, some advice right from one of our Urgent Care providers Ruth Ann Uhl, ARNP about how to get the most of your Urgent Care visit, and when you should skip the clinic and head right to the ER.
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne
 

Behavioral Health Panel

October is Depression Awareness Month and in this episode we have a panel discussion with five experts across the MercyOne system of care:
Debra Georgia, LMFT, LMSW works with the MercyOne North Iowa Behavioral Services Center in Mason City
Natasha Keller tLMHC, PLMHP, NCC works with children at MercyOne Siouxland Child Advocacy Center
Michael Peroski, DO is a psychiatrist at MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center
John Upshaw, LISW is from MercyOne Cedar Falls Behavioral Health Care
Breanna Young LMHC is supervisor at MercyOne Psychiatry Residency Clinic in Des Moines
In this 45 minute discussion, we cover when to know when you're just having "the blues" or if you need professional help, some different methods of treating severe depression and medication-resistant depression, such as TMS Therapy and SPRAVATO, and the successes our experts have seen by using Telehealth.
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne
 

Weight Loss Surgery - Moiz Dawood, MD and Jenna Niccolls, PA-C

In this episode we're joined by Dr. Moiz Dawood and Jenna Niccolls, PA-C to learn all about weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery. Weight loss surgery provides a unique opportunity to help treat and manage chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and in some cases can even cure those diseases altogether.
We also set the record straight on one big misconception many people have about why this procedure works.
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Endocrinology - Losty Torres Potter, MD

Endocrinology is the study of hormones and diseases related to the glands in your body. This episode, we're joined by Losty Torres Potter, MD, who recently joined MercyOne following her stay as Chief Fellow of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Dr. Torres Potter has done extensive research on Graves disease, Recurrent Adrenal Crisis, Hashimoto Encephalopathy and several other endocrine case reports.
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Keeping Patients Connected - Jacob Trierweiler, RN

This week's episode is about keeping connected.  Most of us have had to stay away from friends, family and loved ones these past few months to keep our commuities as healthy and safe as possible.  
Staying away can be especially difficult when family members need care in the hospital. We'll hear a few innovative ways to keep loved ones as close as possible... and it's not just through technology!
Have have you stayed connected?  Send us your story by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Flu Shots Are More Important Than Ever! - Infection Preventionist Gail Gates

In this episode we are joined by infection preventionist Gail Gates. This year's flu season will be like nothing we have ever seen.  It is more important than ever to get your flu shot!  Please do your part so health care systems across the country aren't fighting a battle on two fronts - influenza AND COVID-19.
What's the difference between influenza and "the flu"?  Can you have influenza and COVID at the same time? Can you get your flu shot if you are COVID positive?  Which arm is best to receive an influenza vaccination?  
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

One Year of the Podcast

We've officially been doing the Your Best Life podcast for one year!  Today we round up the crew from our first episode to talk about some of our favorite episodes, and we look to the future.  We'll also hear from a few of our contributors. Join us for a fun conversation!
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Support for Students - Anthony Michael, LMHC, RPT

There's no doubt about it, things are much different this school year.  Changes can be scary, frustrating and difficult for both students and their parents.  In this episode, we're joined by Anthony Michael, LMHC, RPT for some different suggestions on how to cope throughout the year.  Mr. Michael is a behavioral health counselor who primarily works with children.
We'll cover how to effectively communicate while wearing masks, managing screen time while not limiting social interaction among children, and appreciating some of the things we've learned to take for granted.
Read more tips from Anthony in this supporting article.
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Safely Returning to School - Jeff Frost

Returning to school while maintaining safety is at the top of mind for many families across the country as classes resume. This week we're joined by Jeff Frost from the Waterloo Community School District to discuss the collaborative efforts among educators to make sure education can continue.
Hear about the many plans in place to protect children, faculty and staff, and families from coronavirus.
Send us your feedback by emailing podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Menopause 2: Non-Hormonal Treatment - Dr. Valerie Stratton

In this episode we continue with the second part of our discussion with Dr. Valerie Stratton.  
When can women expect when going through menopause? One of the biggest complaints is hot flashes and night sweats.  If you are not a candidate for hormone therapy, what else can be done to help? Are there any major health concerns during menopause?
Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Menopause 1: Hormonal Treatment - Dr. Valerie Stratton

Menopause will affect every female in their lifetime!  This week we begin our two-part discussion with Dr. Valerie Stratton.  We'll discuss the typical symptoms women can expect, and the benefits and drawbacks of hormone therapy. We'll discuss non-hormonal treatment in our next episode!
Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Mediterranean Diet - Registered Dietitian Mary Hampton

Fad diets quickly come and go, but there's good reason why the Mediterranean Diet has continued to be a popular and effective way of eating for decades. In fact, the Mediterranean Diet consistently comes out on top in the U.S. News and World Report's annual ranking of best diets.
Many studies have repeatedly confirmed the foundation of a Mediterranean-style diet lowers risk of cardiovascular diseases and other conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
So, just what is the foundation of this diet which is so strongly linked to healthy benefits? Mary Hampton, RD, LD, a dietitian at MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center joins us to explain!
Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne
 

Pandemic Progress - Infectious Disease Expert Dr. Ravi Vemuri

Dr. Ravi Vemuri returns to the podcast to give us an update on our fight against COVID-19.  Dr. Vemuri is an Infectious Disease expert and is the medical director of Infection Prevention and Health Care Epidemiology at MercyOne Des Moines. He first appeared on our podcast just as things were heating up in March.  What do we know now that we didn't know then?
Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne

Pediatric Neurology - Dr. Surabhi Kaul

A child who has seizures, developmental concerns, muscle weakness, unusual headaches or abnormal movements should see a pediatric neurologist. This week, we're joined by Dr. Surabhi Kaul from MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center to learn about pediatric neurology and the things parents should watch for!
 
Send us your questions or feedback to podcast@mercyhealth.com, or fill out the submission form at MercyOne.org/podcast
 
Your Best Life – powered by MercyOne