Holiday Hours – Thanksgiving Weekend
Lacamas Medical Group will be closed Thursday, November 25th in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will be open on Friday, November 26th from 8am – 7pm for urgent care and Saturday, November 27th from 9am – 2pm for urgent care.
Have a safe and happy holiday!
« Previous Page Next Page »So, you need to have some blood tests
For many of us, giving blood or having a sample taken for diagnostic lab tests is fairly easy. But if you get queasy just thinking about it or were not blessed with bulging veins, having your blood drawn can be stressful. There are some things you can do to optimize your blood drawing experience:
- Drink water.
Most laboratory tests are ordered as fasting blood work. That means that you do not eat for 12-14 hours prior to the test, usually overnight (fasting longer than 14 hours is not a good idea). Not only can you drink water during that time, you should. Adequate hydration makes your veins easier to find and ensures that your test values are accurate. Besides, you will feel better! Having that morning cup of java or tea won’t adversely affect most tests, but it must be black: no additives, such as cream or soy milk, syrups, sugar, honey, lemon, or artificial sweeteners. - If possible, schedule your blood work when you are not on a tight schedule.
The staff cannot predict how busy they will be, so you may have to wait awhile. Allow for that. Being stressed out will not improve your health and may negatively influence your lab tests. - Alert the phlebotomist if you have ever passed out when you had your blood drawn.
Do not be embarrassed; you cannot will yourself NOT to faint. There is no reason to risk a fall or injury. Prevention is as easy as providing you with a place to lie down while your blood is drawn. Fainting is your body’s way of getting your head level with the rest of your body so blood flow returns to your brain. You cannot faint when you are lying down. Your health care providers will be happy to accommodate you. - If you are a difficult draw, tell the phlebotomist where you have successfully had blood drawn before.
You know your body and your experiences better than anyone else. A good phlebotomist will appreciate knowing which site is best. Even if you have the same person draw your blood every time, you may need to remind them. - If the person drawing your blood can’t get a sample after two tries, someone else should be called. If not, it is OK for you to ask for another phlebotomist.
Standard laboratory practice is for the phlebotomist to ask for assistance after two unsuccessful attempts to get a blood sample from a patient. Anyone can have an off day. Fresh eyes always bring a new perspective, and there may be someone else on duty with more experience or better skills.
~Kristi B. Weber, MT (ASCP)
Laboratory Director, LMG
Adult Flu Shots Available Now!
We now have adult flu vaccinations available! Cost is only $30 – we are happy to bill most major insurance companies. Walk-ins are welcome!
« Previous Page Next Page »Back to School – Immunizations and Sports Physicals
It’s that time of year again! Lacamas Medical Group will hold a FREE back to school immunization clinic on August 18 from 4 – 7pm. Free immunizations are for uninsured or underinsured school age children only. You must bring your child’s immunization record and a parent or guardian must be present.
Walk-in sports physical clinics will be held Wednesday, August 4th 4 – 7pm, Tuesday, August 17th from 4 – 7pm and Wednesday September 1 from 4 – 7pm. Bring your athletic participation packet with your section filled out. The cost is $40 and is not billable to insurance. Washougal High School and Camas High School require participants to have a current physical exam report on file in the school office prior to the first turn-out. Physical exams are good for two years from the date of exam. Washougal forms may be downloaded here. Camas forms may be downloaded here.
« Previous Page Next Page »Protect Your Skin
Choosing the Right SPF in Sunscreen
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The higher the SPF number, the better protection against the sun’s harmful UVB rays. The SPF number lets you know how much longer you can stay out of the sun without burning. A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 filters 92% of the UVB. Put another way, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will delay the onset of a sunburn in a person who would otherwise burn in 10 minutes to burn in 150 minutes. The SPF 15 sunscreen allows a person to stay out in the sun 15 times longer.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing an SPF of 15 or higher for maximum protection. SPF is available in levels from 2 to 60. Does highest mean the best protection? Not necessarily. An SPF of 50 only provides 1% to 2% more protection than an SPF 30.
UVA and UVB Protection
The label of the sunscreen will indicate the UVA or UVB protection. UVA rays are responsible for the aging effect of the sun; however, overexposure to UVA rays can cause skin cancer. UVB rays are responsible for sunburns and skin cancer.
There is currently no uniform measure of UVA absorption. There are broad-spectrum sunscreens that protect against UVA and UVB radiation although it is important to remember that the SPF does not predict UVA protection. The UV index is a public health education tool reported by meteorologists in 58 U.S. cities. It offers a daily report of UV light levels on a scale from 1-10+.
Waterproof vs. Water Resistant
If you are looking for a sunscreen to use while in the water, choose a sunscreen that is “waterproof” or “water resistant.” “Waterproof” sunscreen should provide protection in the water for 80 minutes, while “water resistant” provides only 40 minutes of protection.
Memorial Weekend Hours
We will be open normal business hours Friday, May 28 (8:oo am – 7:00pm) and Saturday, May 29 (9:00am – 2:00pm). We will be closed Monday, May 31 in observance of Memorial Day.
Have a safe and happy Memorial Weekend!
« Previous Page Next Page »Recipe: Easter Egg Salad
I like hard boiled eggs. They are a quick and easy breakfast. But a dozen hard boiled eggs? Well, that’s when we make egg salad. In the past, when I’ve made egg salad, I used the yolks and the whites, and a bunch of mayonnaise. No, I don’t know how much mayonnaise. A lot. I do know that it was high in fat and cholesterol. Inspired by one of my favorite cookbooks, Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld, I came up with my own lighter version. This cookbook is great, especially if you have little ones that won’t eat their veggies, or if you aren’t really a vegetable fan yourself. It uses small portions of pureed vegetables and lighter ingredients to make healthy, crowd pleasing meals.
Easter Egg Salad on Toast serves 6
8 hard boiled egg whites
4 hard boiled eggs with yolks
2 tbsp reduced-fat mayonnaise
2 tbsp Dijon peppercorn mustard
1/4 cup pureed cauliflower
1/4 cup pureed carrot
fresh ground salt and pepper
1 slice Dave’s 21 Grain bread
2 tsp Land O Lakes light butter with canola oil
Smash up eggs with a fork. Add mayonnaise, mustard, purees, plus salt and pepper to taste. Toast bread and spread with butter. Spread egg salad onto bread slice.
249.7 cal, 15.7 g pro, 25.0 g carb, 10.7 g fat
« Previous Page Next Page »How Sweet It Is
Our love affair with anything sweet is undeniable. We indulge in soft drinks, fruit drinks, energy drinks, and a host of snacks that are loaded with sweeteners. Our justification is the label across the face of the product package that says, “FAT FREE.” As it turns out, that may not be true after all. New research released by Dr. Robert Lustig, Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of California in San Francisco, reveals that fully one third of the calories consumed as the sugar fructose are converted to cholesterol. And not just any cholesterol, but the worst kind: VLDL, the lipid that easily attaches to blood vessel walls to begin plaque formation.
Truth be told, that may not be the worst part of eating fructose. Your body processes fructose in much the same way as alcohol, but only the liver metabolizes fructose. In addition to VLDL, the liver makes uric acid and substances that cause liver inflammation (hepatitis). Risk increases for gout, hypertension, insulin resistance, and interference with the feedback mechanism that controls appetite (leptin resistance). If this looks like metabolic syndrome, that is because it is.
Even if you do not consume sweetened drinks, you probably eat fructose. All you have to do is buy processed or fast food. As food companies have reduced the fat content in foods, they have added sugar to improve the taste, usually in the form of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). It is in almost every processed food on the grocery shelf, from bread to catsup.
The next time you go grocery shopping, check the labels that go into your shopping cart. Eliminating or even reducing your consumption of fructose can go a long way to improving your health.
Kristi B. Weber is the LMG Laboratory Director and a Free-Lance Medical Writer
« Previous Page Next Page »What’s Cooking? Shrimp and Mixed Vegetables en Papillote
One of my favorite ways to cook is en papillote, or in parchment paper. It’s a great way to cook one or two servings, and you can just toss out parchment – no dishes! Anything you cook in parchment comes out so full of flavor, it’s steaming and simmering in it’s own juices. People always seem intrigued and impressed by the little folded paper package they’re presented with. Once you’ve tried it a few times, you’ll see why I cook like this several nights a week. Of course, There are several different ways for folding a variety of foods into parchment packages.
Tonight’s dinner was shrimp and mixed veggies en papillote, and it’s so simple.
3 oz medium – large shrimp fresh or frozen, but tailed and de-veined
1/2 cup asparagus spears
1/2 cup broccoli
1/2 cup green beans
1/2 cup sliced red bell peppers
3/4 tbs olive oil
salt and pepper
one minced garlic clove or other seasonings (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350°
Tear out a 16″ – 20″ piece of parchment paper and place horizontally it on the counter. In the center, set the shrimp. Place veggies around the sides and on top of the shrimp. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper, minced garlic and seasonings. Fold the parchment – top third folded down, bottom third folded up, then twist the ends like you would twist a candy wrapper.
Bake in the oven about 20 minutes. Unwrap and serve with noodles, rice, or grains. total cal 263.0, total protein 23.5 g, total carbohydrates 18.7 g, total fat 11.6g
« Previous Page Next Page »Dr. Dino Ramzi Joins Lacamas Medical Group
Dr. Ramzi was raised in Montreal and received his medical education at McGill University. He interned at St. Mary’s Hospital Centre and completed a Family Medicine residency at Montreal General.
Dr. Ramzi came to the US in 1996 to take a teaching position at Emory University and subsequently obtained a Master’s in Public Health. He became the medical director at Community Clinic, Inc. in Rockville, MD, in 2005. Dr. Ramzi joined Lacamas Medical Group in 2010.
Dr. Ramzi’s approach to patient care is patient centered— that is, to ethically combine the best scientific evidence available with the patient’s particular circumstances to come up with a recommendation to improve overall wellbeing.
Dr. Ramzi and his wife moved to the Northwest in 2008. They live in Camas where they enjoy exploring the community, music, literature, and travelling. They love living in the most beautiful place they have ever visited and can frequently be found eating out around town. They both volunteer at the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington.
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