Mercy Iowa City | Well Aware | Summer/Fall 2015

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In praise of pumpkins
Round and orange they grin and glow, unmistakable
signs of fall.
But pumpkins don’t shine only as jack-o’-lanterns.
These nutritious golden stars of the harvest season—
packed with fiber, potassium and vitamin A—have a
long history of lighting up many a delish dish.
In times past, pumpkin was a Native American staple
that was roasted over an open fire. And when colonists filled
the plump orange gourds with milk, spices and honey and
baked them in hot ashes, it was the precursor of our classic
Thanksgiving dessert.
The pie’s not the limit Today, pumpkin is in everything
from summertime smoothies to specialty coffees that taste
like autumn.
In fall and winter, try fresh pumpkin in: ● Chili ● Enchi-
ladas ● Pasta dishes ● Soups and stews ● Stir-fries.
Be sure to pick a blemish-free pumpkin (labeled as sweet
or pie ) that’s heavy and free of soft spots and has a 1- to 2-inch
stem still attached. Peel it, cut it into cubes—and it’s ready
to cook. Sound like too much work? Try plain, solid-packed
canned pumpkin. It’s as nutritious as fresh—and available
year-round. The puree can add savory goodness to dips,
breads, muffins, puddings and smoothies.
So whether you classify pumpkin as a fruit (as botanists
do) or a veggie, carving out space for it in your menu can
boost flavor and nutrition all year. And that’s something to
grin about.
Sources: American Institute of Cancer Research; Penn State Extension; Produce for Better Health
Foundation; University of Illinois Extension
Two new
talented
cardiologists
joinMercy
Cardiology
Clinic
Two new physicians have joined Mercy
Cardiology Clinic in recent weeks.
They are interventional cardiologists
Ankur Vyas, MD, and Chatchawan Pi-
yaskulkaew, MD (“Dr.
Chat”). Both are accept-
ing new patients.
John Mehegan, MD,
FACC, leads the clinic
as Medical Director. He
and Drs. Vyas and Chat
have also been joined by
Bridget Peters, PA-C.
Mercy Cardiology
Clinic is located inMercy
Medical Plaza, Suite 400,
540 E. Jefferson St. in
Iowa City.
Wayne Richenbacher,
MD, is a distinguished
heart surgeon who con-
tinues to practice at
Mercy Specialty Clinics–
Cardiac Surgery, also lo-
cated on the fourth level
of Mercy Medical Plaza.
“It has been my plea-
sure to work at Mercy
Hospital for the last
20 years,” says Dr. Me-
hegan. “Now as Medi-
cal Director [of Mercy
Cardiology Clinic], I
remain committed to
continuing excellence
with a new group of tal-
ented cardiologists who
will maintain our high
quality of care.”
To make an appoint-
ment at Mercy Cardiol-
ogy Clinic, call the office
at 319-339-3400.
WELL AWARE is
published as a com­
munity service for the
friends and patrons of
MERCY HOSPITAL,
500 E. Market St.,
Iowa City, IA 52245
website
Information in WELL
AWARE comes from a
wide range of medical
experts. If you have any
concerns or questions
about specific content
that may affect your
health, please contact
your health care
provider.
Models may be used in
photos and illustrations.
2015 © Coffey Communications,
Inc. All rights reserved. HST31472
SUMMER/
FALL 2015
Our Mission
Mercy Iowa City heals
and comforts the sick
and works to improve
the health of the
community in the
spirit of Jesus Christ
and the Catholic
tradition of the
Sisters of Mercy.
Main hospital number:
319-339-0300
Mercy On Call toll-free:
800-358-2767
Visit us online at
.
Ronald R. Reed
President and Chief
Executive Officer
Denice Connell
Director of Marketing
and Community
Relations
Chatchawan
Piyaskulkaew
(“Dr. Chat”),
MD
John Mehegan,
MD, FACC
Wayne
Richenbacher,
MD
Ankur Vyas,
MD
A warm welcome to these new medical staff members
Alex Cohen, MD, Ophthalmology, has
joined Eye Physicians and Surgeons.
John C. Even III, MD, Internal
Medicine, has joined Mercy’s hosp-
italist program.
Malhar Goré, MD, Family Medi-
cine, has joined Mercy Family
Medicine of Solon.
Benjamin Green, DO, General
Surgery, has joined Mercy Specialty
Clinics, General and Bariatric Surgery.
James Milani, DO, Occupational
Medicine, has joined Mercy Occupa-
tional Health Clinic.
Angela O’Connor, MD, Pediatrics,
has joined Mercy Pediatric Clinic.
Chatchawan Piyaskulkaew, MD
(“Dr. Chat”), Cardiology, has joined
Mercy Cardiology Clinic.
Ankur Vyas, MD, Cardiology, has
joined Mercy Cardiology Clinic.
Helping patients
breathe easier—and
avoid the hospital
A new Mercy program designed
for patients with respiratory
diagnoses is helping keep these
individuals from being readmit-
ted to the hospital.
“The results are extremely
promising,” says Curt Kivi, Re-
spiratory Care Manager.
The program begins with screening of all patients
who have a respiratory diagnosis, including shortness of
breath, pneumonia, bronchitis, sepsis, asthma and fibro-
sis. Selected patients then receive a baseline pulmonary
function test and intense education on:
● ● Understanding lung function
● ● Pulmonary disease and its treatment
● ● Preventing infections and exacerbations
● ● Coping with shortness of breath
● ● Breathing skills
By the time patients are discharged from the hospital,
they understand their medications and their correct use,
have learned new breathing skills, and have an action plan
should new symptoms arise.
Follow-up phone calls fromMercy staff may continue
for up to a year.
“We help these folks work within their limitations,”
says Jon Hambright, Registered Respiratory Therapist
and Patient Educator. “If they get to a point where they
can exercise for 40 minutes on three days a week, that’s
very positive.”
This education and follow-up are provided at no charge
to the patient. And depending on the individual’s situa-
tion, some may continue into Mercy’s outpatient pulmo-
nary rehab program.
For more information, contact Mercy On Call
at 319-358-2767.
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N E W S , V I E W S & T I P S W E L L A W A R E