Adventist Health Simi Valley

September is World Alzheimer’s Month. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, which means many of us know someone affected by this tragic disease. Read our blog to understand what Alzheimer’s is and how it is different than simple forgetfulness.

Learn more: ahlink.org/3QpBcT4.

A huge THANK YOU to our friends at 99.1 The Ranch for bringing the excitement to our Farmers Market this week! We had an incredible time during the live broadcast of Ashley & Brad In The Morning, featuring interviews with our amazing staff. Special shout out to Lisa Hemenway, our Director of Well-Being, and Craig Beisel, The Ranch’s VP of Community Outreach.

It can seem like teens are glued to their cellphones. They keep us connected with our teens, especially during the schoolyear, when the family is heading different directions everyday. But they can also have a negative impact on their mental health. More screen time and social media use can lead to an increase in depression, negative body image, poor-quality sleep and stress. If you’re wondering how to help your teen set healthy boundaries with screens, visit ahlink.org/3OpWFIT for tips.

We’ll be hosting a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross on September 5 from 7 a.m. to 1:30 pm at our hospital's main lobby entrance.

To participate, please register at https://ahlink.org/4e9I3Zs. Enter our zip code of 93065, scroll down to find Adventist Health Simi Valley Hospital and select the time you’d like to schedule your donation.

Let's come together as a community to save more lives!

If you’re a Medicare member, you have the option to schedule a free Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. It’s a conversation-based appointment where you and your provider have dedicated time to talk about your personal health and wellness goals. You’ll also create a personal prevention plan together. The plan includes:

• A 5 and 10-year health maintenance plan
• Education about healthy choices, including nutrition
• A recommended exercise program
• Blood pressure and blood sugar guidelines
• And more!

Learn more about what to expect at these helpful visits: ahlink.org/4cWS7o8

Enjoy the beauty of nature today.

Adventist Health Simi Valley welcomes Kevin Westbrook, MD, MBA, to Simi Valley. Dr. Westbrook cares for patients from infancy through the senior years, providing preventative care such as wellness checks, physicals and health counseling. He also treats chronic and complex conditions and diseases, including obesity and hypertension.

After the attacks on 9/11, Dr. Westbrook enlisted in the United States Army as a Ranger, specializing as a combat medic. During his nearly 10 years in the Army, his service was recognized with more than a dozen awards and medals. Today, providing healthcare for military personnel and veterans remains a priority for him.

Dr. Westbrook is fluent in English and Spanish and is accepting new patients. Please call 805-955-7070 to schedule your appointment with him.

Today, our hospital conducted an active shooter drill in partnership with the Ventura County Fire Department and Simi Valley Police Department, including their SWAT team. This essential drill is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and preparedness of our staff and patients in the event of an emergency.

We want to assure our community that this was only a drill and no real threat was present. These exercises are crucial for helping our team respond quickly and effectively to any unexpected situation. We appreciate the cooperation of all involved and thank our local law enforcement and fire department for their support. Together, we are stronger and more prepared to protect our community. Stay safe, Simi Valley!

Food and story time - can there be any better combo? Join the Simi Valley Public Library at Adventist Health Simi Valley's Farmers Market this upcoming Tuesday, August 27, between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., for a fun story time, craft and giveaways. See you there!

Many people over 65 have Medicare health coverage which includes a free Annual Wellness Visit. What’s the difference between the Annual Wellness Visit and an annual physical exam?

At an Annual Wellness Visit, your primary care provider works with you to develop a personalized prevention plan. This interview-style appointment has no hands-on physical exam, and you’ll leave with a copy of your personalized prevention plan to stay on top of your health, including vaccines and screenings you may be due for.

During an annual physical, your primary care provider will conduct a hands-on physical exam, talk to you about any conditions and your current medications, as well as making sure you’re up to date on screenings or vaccinations.

What do they have in common? They should both be scheduled once a year and are an important preventive visit with both visits with a trained primary care provider. Find one near you at AdventistHealth.org/Doctors.

According to the CDC, California is in the midst of a "summer surge" of COVID-19 cases. Thorough handwashing may seem like a simple action, it's still one of the best ways to stay healthy. Check out our blog to brush up on the how-to and the why of handwashing.

5 Handwashing Tips Handwashing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick. Here are five handwashing tips to follow in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Join us on Tuesday, August 20, at the Farmers Market for a summer food and beverages demonstration featuring registered dietitian, Lara Hindawi. Learn tips on hydration and cooling recipes to help you stay cool and nourish your health this summer. See you there!

11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Fruit and bean salads demonstration

12 p.m. -1 p.m. Spring roll with rice paper demonstration

Bring the kiddos so they can make their very own blueberry kabobs.

Diabetes, heart disease, cancer, dementia — the risk of many diseases increases with age. But if you’re in your 60s or beyond, you would probably rather think about how to enjoy your retirement than worry about illness.

So how can you be sure you’re on top of your wellness? Amy Lin, MD, a family medicine physician at Adventist Health Simi Valley, recommends a few tips to make these your healthiest years.

Better With Age: 4 Tips to Stay on Top of Your Health | Adventist Health If you’re in your 60s or beyond, you would probably rather think about how to enjoy your retirement than worry about illness. Stay on top of your wellness with these four tips from family medicine specialist Dr. Amy Lin.

It’s never too early — or too late — to think about aging healthfully. Here are three tips to make sure your golden years are your healthiest, whether you’re in your 30s or your 70s:

Make choices for natural health: Eat a healthy diet and limit your consumption of salt, alcohol and to***co. And aim for moderate-intensity exercise — try going for a walk in the park with a friend or playing with your grandkids.

Train your brain: Engage in mentally and socially stimulating activities to slow the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Try volunteering, doing arts and crafts, playing an instrument or taking a class.

Keep up with health screenings: Looking for signs of cancer, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and other ailments before they progress is the key to your longevity.

Learn more about why these steps make an impact in our blog: ahlink.org/3Lt5Tmp

Are you and your kids bursting with creativity? Join us at our Farmers Market for Art from the Heart to create fun greeting cards to help uplift and heal our patients through the power of creative art and thoughtful words.

Tuesday, August 13
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

We’ll provide all the art supplies you need so just bring your friends, Scouts, playgroups and plenty of imagination – all ages welcome!

We know our night shift colleagues won’t be able to make it to our Farmers Market most Tuesdays so that’s why we recently brought the market to them!

Lisa Hemenway, Director of Well-Being, and Christie Goslin, Executive Assistant, were joined by Mark Mitchelson, RN, Patient Care Executive, Gloria Santamaria, RN, Director of Nursing Administration, and Janette Carver, Manager of Volunteers and Workforce Development, to gather and deliver fruits, vegetables and other goodies from our Farmers Market to our night shift crew. We love you guys!

The Farmers Market is open for business each Tuesday this summer, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 3000 Sycamore Drive. See you there.

Adventist Health Physicians Network welcomes Alexis Kerl, MD, to the Simi Valley community. She cares for patients from infancy through the senior years. In addition to treating chronic and complex conditions such as obesity, hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), she provides preventative care, including well woman exams, adult wellness checks, physicals, and health counseling.

She is an advocate for preventative care and education and finds joy in her role as a family medicine physician and enjoys putting a smile on each patient’s face.

Learn more about Dr. Kerl at AdventistHealth.org/AKerl.

According to the CDC, more than 8 in every 10 Americans take at least one regular medication, and more than 1 in 4 take five or more prescriptions. So, it’s important to talk to your doctor about opioid safety. Visit AdventistHealth.org/Doctors to schedule an appointment.

Please join us for story time, a fun craft and free books to children who attend our Farmers Market on Tuesday, July 30, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. We'd like to share a special thank you with the Simi Valley Public Library and the Friends of the Library teams. Don't miss the fun!

Calling all women in Ventura County! Did you know that breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer here? The statistics are alarming, but there's something we can do about it. Schedule your 3-D mammogram at the Nancy Reagan Breast Center today. Early detection can save lives! Let's take charge of our health and ensure we're getting the screenings we need. Together, we can make a difference.

Want to donate in support of our expansion project? Learn more here - https://ahlink.org/4cpPvz3

In warmer weather, your family is probably ready to make a splash in the pool or slide into the local water park. But these wet environments can be covered with bacteria and chemicals that cause unwanted skin conditions.

That doesn’t mean a day at the pool, beach or lake is out of the question. Here, we share tips on four common conditions, including how to identify them, how to avoid them and how they are treated.

Skin Conditions You Can Get at the Pool | Adventist Health Learn how to identify, avoid and treat common skin conditions (like folliculitis, cellulitis and chlorine rash) acquired at the pool, beach or water park.

The Simi Valley Acorn published a great article on our Nancy Reagan Breast Center. Thank you for helping us celebrate our 30th anniversary! Read more below.

Now in its 30th year, breast center is looking to expand Simi Valley not only is home to the Reagan Presidential Library, it’s home to a facility that helps save women’s lives—thanks to former first lady Nancy R

Early detection saves lives! As a breast cancer survivor, Nancy Reagan believed in the importance of screening, helping to establish the Nancy Reagan Breast Center in 1994. This legacy has had a lasting impact, in fact, we care for more than 10,200 women annually. With your support, we're expanding our facilities to increase capacity and improve breast healthcare in Ventura County. Your donation can have influence in someone's life. Together, let's ensure every woman has access to life-saving screenings. Donate here: https://ahlink.org/4cpPvz3

You’ve been blessed with unique talents and skills. How do you use them to make a difference?

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone.” - Galatians 6:10

Whether you’re going on vacation or doing a staycation, now is a great time to stop by our Gift Shop during our summer sale! Treat yourself with 20% to 50% off various items’ original prices. Stop in before we run out of your favorites like the fabulous dress below worn by Sylvia, a guest wearing a dress she bought a few days ago when visiting a family member at our hospital.

Join host Japhet De Oliveira for an inspiring conversation with Erasmo Cortez, our Administrative Director for Grants, as they discuss growing up in a large family, facing financial struggles, and the importance of faith, forgiveness, and building others up. Listen here: ahlink.org/4dPUl9Z

Vitamins and minerals are essential to help our body function, but the pharmacy’s supplement section can reveal a confusing alphabet of options. Read the blog to learn what to take, why it helps and how to get these essential nutrients through your diet.

Decoding vitamins to help your body function better Supplements can reveal a confusing alphabet of options. Learn what to take and why it helps.

Actress Shannen Doherty, known for her roles on “Beverly Hills 90210" and “Charmed," died from breast cancer last weekend. Hear Adventist Health Simi Valley’s Chelsey Kahanowitch, DO, tell FOX11 Los Angeles that Shannen's podcasting and general openness is likely to remind women about the need to get mammograms at centers like our Nancy Reagan Breast Center. It's a blessing she would share her story, said Dr. Kahanowitch.

To schedule your appointment, call 805-955-6122.

https://ahlink.org/3Ws9uqf

Shannen Doherty documented her breast cancer battle on 'Let's Be Clear' podcast Months before her death from breast cancer, Shannen Doherty hosted a podcast called “Let’s Be Clear" to discuss her battle with breast cancer.

Did you know? The Nancy Reagan Breast Center was established in 1994 by the inspiring First Lady herself, Nancy Reagan, a breast cancer survivor. Her courage and advocacy continue to inspire us as we expand and modernize our facilities to better serve our community. Join us in honoring her legacy of empowerment and early detection.

You can also donate in support of the expansion project - https://ahlink.org/4cpPvz3

Join host Japhet De Oliviera for an insightful conversation with Camie Overton, Operations Executive at Adventist Health Columbia Gorge, as they discuss the beauty of the Columbia Gorge, developing future leaders, the impact Adventist Health has in the community and the power of hope. Listen here: ahlink.org/4bT1rJ5

Chlorine keeps germs and bacteria out of pools, hot tubs and water parks to protect you from illness and infection. But it is also a chemical irritant, so overexposure can result in a mild chemical burn known as chlorine rash.

If you have chlorine rash, you might experience dry, chapped skin with red, swollen patches and painful itching or burning sensations.

It’s especially prevalent in people with sensitive skin or those who have repeated exposure, such as swimming in a chlorinated pool many days in a row. Simple steps such as bathing right after you swim can prevent the condition.

Visit ahlink.org/3oXGaec to learn more about preventing and treating chlorine rash and other skin conditions that come from pools.

CA Bridge, a statewide program designed to improve the model of substance use treatment, is deployed at 19 of Adventist Health’s California hospitals. See how the Ukiah Valley program implementation has been a shining success.

Establishing new models to navigate substance use treatment | Adventist Health CA Bridge, a statewide program designed to improve the model of substance use treatment, is deployed at 19 of Adventist Health’s California hospitals. In Ukiah Valley, program implementation has been a shining success.

Chlorine keeps germs and bacteria out of pools, hot tubs and water parks to protect you from illness and infection. But it is also a chemical irritant, so overexposure can result in a mild chemical burn known as chlorine rash.

If you have chlorine rash, you might experience dry, chapped skin with red, swollen patches and painful itching or burning sensations.

It’s especially prevalent in people with sensitive skin or those who have repeated exposure, such as swimming in a chlorinated pool many days in a row. Simple steps such as bathing right after you swim can prevent the condition.

Visit ahlink.org/3oXGaec to learn more about preventing and treating chlorine rash and other skin conditions that come from pools.

If you’ve dealt with chronic pain, you know how disruptive and disheartening it can be on both your physical and mental health. Studies have shown that chronic pain puts you at a higher risk for mental health disorders, including severe anxiety, depression or substance use problems. Read more about the connection between pain and mental health and how to manage symptoms.

Chronic Pain and Mental Health: What’s the Connection? | Adventist Health Studies have shown that chronic pain increases your risk of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, and vice versa. Fortunately, many treatments can effectively reduce pain and mental health symptoms at the same time.

We can all use more smiles. It’s a universal language that speaks kindness without saying a word.

“A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.” - Proverbs 15:13

Join host Japhet De Oliveira as he sits down with Jayant Eldurkar, the chief medical officer at Adventist Health Columbia Gorge for an engaging discussion around his love for fountain pens, the importance of listening, engaging with others and embracing the unexpected in life. Listen here: ahlink.org/3yxb5Th

No matter where you're trying to stay cool despite this record-breaking heat wave, it's important to look out for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Dr. Vijay Krishna is an Adventist Health family medicine physician in the Central Valley, where triple-digit temperatures are common. Check out his tips for keeping everyone safe in his community and yours — starting with staying hydrated!

A Guide To Preventing Heat Exhaustion & Heatstroke | Adventist Health High temperatures and extended sun exposure lead to severe dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Keep an eye out for these warning signs and what to do.