Elevating Health
Elevating Health is a series of 1-minute informational segments about health topics that matter to you and your family. Tune in to şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř Radio weekday afternoons to learn about important medical advances, new procedures, and ground-breaking treatments to help you get well and stay well. Elevating Health is funded by .
Hartford HealthCare offers a wide array of FREE, virtual classes, webinars and support groups that you can join from the convenience and privacy of your home. For more information:
The Future of Primary Care with Dr. Padmanabhan Premkumar
Hartford Healthcare will launch “HHC 24/7” in April 2025. This first-of-its-kind virtual care platform will provide patients with on-demand primary care. Through a secure app, patients can access care with a provider in real-time, around the clock.
HHC 24/7 will provide:
- Access to dedicated HHC experts
- Referrals to specialists
- A concierge team to support you every step of the way
- All medical records online and in one place via MyChart
- Follow up appointments, online or in-person
- Care for cold and flu, chronic conditions, annual wellness exams, mental health and more.
All major insurances accepted.
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Treating Angina and ANOCA with Dr. Stephanie Saucier
, is a cardiologist an director of Hartford HealthCare’s .
The cause of microvascular angina is not fully understood, but it is thought that the very tiny blood vessels supplying the heart (microcirculation) have decreased ability to regulate blood flow resulting in symptoms of angina.
Most patients with microvascular angina have recurrent chest pain that typically lasts longer than typical angina (often more than 20 minutes) and is often triggered by physical or emotional stress.
Microvascular angina can also produce:
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Sleep problems
- Pain or discomfort in jaw, neck, back, abdomen or arm
New Approach to Treating Psychosis with Dr. Craig Allen
, is chief medical Officer at , a leader in providing addiction and mental health services.
First-episode psychosis is very traumatic to a person’s brain and should be treated like other traumas to the body such as heart attack. According to Dr. Allen, a second episode can start a downward trend. This new approach with long-acting injectables can significantly increase adherence compared to oral medication and reduce subsequent episodes and greatly improve quality of life.
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Beyond your BMI with Dr. Pavlos Papasavas
, is a bariatric surgeon and director of research with .
A recent publication by a team of international scientists proposes we divide clinical obesity into two categories – clinical obesity and pre-clinical obesity. “Clinical obesity is a chronic disease of excess fat that causes disfunction of organs,” explains Papasavas. “This presents a risk of developing severe complications such as heart attack or stroke.”
While Body Mass Index, or BMI, has been used as an indicator for obesity for decades, Dr. Papasavas says we now how more tools and treatments available to more accurately diagnose and treat both pre-clinical and clinical obesity.
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Hartford HealthCare Partners with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
In a groundbreaking development that stands to transform the delivery of cancer care in şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř, the has been designated as the first Care Partner of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in the United States. This achievement reflects the completion of an extensive review process by MSK to ensure that all oncology care at the Hartford HealthCare Institute at St. Vincent’s Medical Center meets MSK Standards of Care™.
This enhanced partnership is built upon the 10-year collaboration in which the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute became the first member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance.
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Pelvic Organ Prolapse with Dr. Elizabeth Sappenfield
Pelvic organ prolapse affects millions of women and can often go undiagnosed. a urogynecologist with Hartford Hospital, says knowing the symptoms of this condition can be severe.
“The organs in the pelvis shift from their normal position and can feel like a bulge or something falling out,” she explains. Symptoms can include:
- Feeling of a bulge or something coming down the vagina
- Discomfort during sex.
- Problems urinating or not emptying your bladder fully.
“It is important for women to talk to a urogynecologist if they are bothered by any of these symptoms,” explains Dr. Sappenfield. “There is no reason, women should have to feel anxious or self-conscious about this very common problem, especially because there are many solutions to help address these issues.”
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Mitral Valve Repair with Dr. Sabet Hashim
The Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute, a national leader in cardiovascular disease prevention, treatment, surgery and research, cares for more patients and performs more advanced cardiac procedures than any other cardiac program in şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř with doctors using the most innovative technology available to provide the very best, personalized care for patients.
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New Parkinson’s Drug with Dr. Toni DiMarcaida
At the Chase Family Movement Disorders Center, we are experts in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. The program is one of the first Comprehensive Care Centers designated by the Parkinson’s Foundation’s prestigious Global Care Network. As part of this network, our clinicians can work with colleagues from other highly regarded institutions to advance patient care and improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s disease.
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New Lung Screening Guidelines with Dr. Justin Van Backer
Lung screening is important for several reasons, primarily related to early detection and prevention of lung-related diseases, especially .
Detection of Other Lung Conditions: Lung screening may also detect other lung-related conditions besides lung cancer, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary nodules. Early detection of these conditions can lead to timely management and better health outcomes.
with the at , answers four common questions about .
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Osteoporosis – Chris Barrett
, MS, RD, CSCS, is a registered dietitian and nutritionist with Hartford HealthCare’s .
In addition to remaining on the Vitamin D dosage prescribed by their provider, Barrett says people with osteoporosis can improve their bond strength in several ways, including following a well-balanced exercise program that includes resistance training or lifting weights.
“Here at the Bone and Joint Institute, we have a class for people over 60 to help them combat osteoporosis and sarcopenia, or muscle loss, as they age,” he said.
Add natural sources of protein and micronutrients like magnesium and Vitamin K to your diet.
“This is where working with a registered dietitian can support individuals with osteoporosis and maximize their overall dietary intake,” Barrett said.
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Young Athletes and Brain Health – Dr. Stephanie Alessi-LaRosa
, is a sports neurologist and the director of . On the Hartford HealthCare team, she is responsible for providing advanced care for athletes with sports-related neurologic injuries and conditions. Her areas of clinical interest include concussion, post-concussion syndrome and migraines/headaches.
Student athletes and weekend warriors alike all enjoy what they do, whether it's in the pool, on the court, or in the saddle. If they’re hurt while playing – or have a neurologic condition that might make it challenging to compete – they can find help at the Ayer Neuroscience Institute Sports Neurology Program.
The program, one of the few in the country, is led by şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř’s only neurologist with advanced training in sports neurology, Dr. Stephanie Alessi-LaRosa. Her patient-focused work, which includes collaboration with other specialists, has one goal: Restoring the athletes to health and helping them return to their sport as quickly and safely as possible.
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Preventing golf injuries with Dr. Nicholas Bontempo
, an orthopaedic surgeon at , is also an avid golfer. He’s got some great tips on how to better your game and prevent injury.
“The entire body can be affected when playing golf,” says Dr. Bontempo. “Stretching beforehand, warming up and taking lessons are key to preventing injuries. You want your core strength to improve your swing, your drives and taking stress away from the other parts of your body.”
Knee replacement - Dr. Scott Stanat
, Chief of Orthopedics at , gives us some common indicators that can suggest you are a candidate for total knee replacement.
“Bone on bone arthritis can be a big factor,” he explains. “When the smooth portion of cartilage wears away on your knee, it can take a toll on your daily activities. For patients who have exhausted non-surgical options, and if the pain is affecting their daily living – replacement may be the best option for them.”
Backus Hospital is the only hospital in Southeastern şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř to offer the latest a new robotic surgery for hip and knee procedures. “This technology gives me an extra tool to ensure accuracy,” says Stanat. “In a partial knee procedure for example, I’m able to manually stretch and balance the knee during surgery and use the computer navigation to my advantage - assuring proper alignment and balance.”