Mayo Clinic Health System

Nurse practitioner Angie Oldenberg takes a blood pressure reading at the 2011 Healthy Heart Fair. The 2012 event is Feb. 4.

Contact: Susan Barber Lindquist
715-838-3012 
barberlindquist.susan@mayo.edu

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. –– Mayo Clinic Health System will hold its 13th annual Healthy Heart Fair at Oakwood Mall with free screenings for adults, prizes, informational booths staffed by health care experts and activities for kids.

The free fair will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, near the mall play area and Mayo Clinic Health System kiosk.
• Check your cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure.
• Test your circulation, and find out if you are at risk for a heart attack or stroke.
• Peek inside a Gold Cross ambulance.
• See the equipment used in open-heart surgery.
• Enter a drawing for a free Heart Scan, a painless test that can determine heart attack risk ($195 value).
• Test your health knowledge, and have a chance to win one of 10 $25 mall gift certificates.

Health talks:
• 10 a.m. “Know Your Numbers: Understand your blood pressure, cholesterol and BMI numbers to help control your risk of heart disease” by Vishnu Patlolla, M.D., cardiologist
• 11 a.m. “Keep the Beat: Learn about atrial fibrillation, a common but debilitating heart rhythm problem, and new treatments that can help” by Robert Wiechmann, M.D, and Thomas Carmody, M.D., both cardiovascular surgeons, and Amanda Brash, registered nurse clinician

For children:
• Exercise with costumed characters at noon and 2 p.m.
• Learn how the heart works and how to keep yours healthy.
• Find hands-on help to earn Scout badges.

For more information about the annual Healthy Heart Fair, call 715-838-3012.

# # #

Mayo Clinic Health System consists of Mayo-owned clinics, hospitals and other health care facilities that serve the health care needs of people in 70 communities in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The community-based providers, paired with the resources and expertise of Mayo Clinic, enable patients in the region to receive the highest-quality health care close to home.

John Snyder, M.D.

Contact: Susan Barber Lindquist
715-838-3012 
barberlindquist.susan@mayo.edu

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — John Snyder, M.D., an Urgent Care physician and medical director of the electronic medical record at Mayo Health System in Eau Claire, recently was named by Mayo Clinic as a MacMillan Scholar.

The scholarship is aimed at developing physician leaders within Mayo Clinic Health System. The program includes tuition reimbursement and release time for leadership and management education that will benefit the scholarship recipients, their sites and the health system. Dr. Snyder plans to use the scholarship to improve office workflow and provider interaction with the electronic medical record system.

Dr. Snyder is board certified in family practice. He earned his medical degree at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where he completed his residency. He was nominated for the scholarship by Randall Linton, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire.

# # #

Mayo Clinic Health System consists of Mayo-owned clinics, hospitals and other health care facilities that serve the health care needs of people in 70 communities in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The community-based providers, paired with the resources and expertise of Mayo Clinic, enable patients in the region to receive the highest-quality health care close to home.

Contact: Susan Barber Lindquist
715-838-3012
barberlindquist.susan@mayo.edu

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — Mayo Clinic Health System is offering “Innovations in Heart Surgery,” a free dinner and discussion, on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at Lake Wissota Golf Club, 16108 97th Ave. S., Chippewa Falls.

The event will begin with free blood pressure screening from 5 to 5:45 p.m. A heart-healthy dinner will be served at 5:45 p.m. with a presentation at 6:30 p.m. There will be time for questions.

Cardiovascular surgeons Robert Wiechmann, M.D., and Thomas Carmody, M.D., plan to discuss innovations in the heart surgery program at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, including minimally invasive procedures for:
• Bypass
• Atrial fibrillation
• Valve repair or replacement
• Aortic aneurysm stenting

The cardiovascular surgery program at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire is the longest-running program of its kind in northwest Wisconsin. Teamwork with cardiologists, family doctors, rehabilitation centers and all care experts before and after surgery have contributed to the lowest infection rate in the nation for three consecutive years (Source: Society of Thoracic Surgeons).

 The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required by Friday, Jan. 13. Call 715-464-2300.

# # #

Mayo Clinic Health System consists of Mayo-owned clinics, hospitals and other health care facilities that serve the health care needs of people in 70 communities in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The community-based providers, paired with the resources and expertise of Mayo Clinic, enable patients in the region to receive the highest-quality health care close to home.

Contact: Susan Barber Lindquist
715-838-3012 
barberlindquist.susan@mayo.edu

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. –– Mayo Clinic Health System is excited to announce that more than 1,000 babies have been born at the new Family Birthing Center in Eau Claire, which opened Dec. 20, 2010.

In the calendar year 2011, as of noon Dec. 30, 1,024 babies were born — 520 girls and 504 boys. Among them, 11 sets of twins and one set of triplets were delivered.

The following are the top boys and girls names for 2011. Note: Specific spellings may vary.

Top boy names
1. Brayden, Jackson, Noah, Owen, 9                                    
2. Jacob and Kayden, 8                                 
3. Landon and Mason, 7
4. Alexander, Carter, Dylan and William, 6
5. Jack, Liam, Luke and Nolan, 5  

Top girl names
1. Olivia, 10                                    
2. Adalyn, Emma, 8                                  
3. Isabella, 7 
4. Addison, Avery and Sophia, 6
5. Aubrey, Ava, Kaitlyn, Kylee, 5
            
In the Family Birthing Center, new moms enjoy whirlpool tubs and walk-in showers as well as increased newborn security. Large rooms offer views of Half Moon Lake. Patients control their own environment, including the room’s temperature, lights and window shades. Sleeping accommodations, including sofa sleepers and some full-sized beds, make it possible for families to be comfortable and close to the caregiving experience.

Two operating rooms are dedicated to patients needing C-sections or emergency procedures. A hallway also connects the Women’s Health Center in the clinic directly to the Family Birthing Center. In the event of an emergency, women can be transported immediately to the hospital, saving valuable time.
A large, state-of-the-art Level II Special Care Nursery affords greater privacy while continuing high-quality care of infants with medical needs.

For more information about the Family Birthing Center, visit www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org. Search for “With Open Arms.” Or call the Women’s Health Center at 715-838-6100.

# # #

Mayo Clinic Health System consists of Mayo-owned clinics, hospitals and other health care facilities that serve the health care needs of people in 70 communities in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The community-based providers, paired with the resources and expertise of Mayo Clinic, enable patients in the region to receive the highest-quality health care close to home.

Contact: Susan Barber Lindquist
715-838-3012 
barberlindquist.susan@mayo.edu

Jamie Owens, nurse practitioner

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — Nurse practitioner Jaime Owens has joined the Spine & Neurological Surgery Department at Mayo Clinic Health System. She will see patients at the Luther Campus, 1221 Whipple St., Eau Claire.

Owens earned bachelor’s degrees in nursing and psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she also received a certificate in forensic science-death investigation. She earned her master’s degree in nursing, graduating with honors, from Marquette University in Milwaukee. She earned a U.S. Army diploma of medical specialist at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, and served in the Army at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Owens has special interests in brain and spine trauma. She is board certified as an acute care nurse practitioner. She has worked as a staff and charge nurse in the Emergency Department at Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee.

“I love people, so for me the best part about being a nurse practitioner in spine and neurosurgery is the opportunity to see patients through all areas of their care — as outpatients in the clinic, during surgery and their hospital stay and at follow-up appointments,” Owens said.

In her spare time, Owens plays volleyball and softball and loves traveling, fishing, biking and spending time with family and friends.

For information or an appointment in Spine & Neurological Surgery at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, call 715-838-1950.

# # #

Mayo Clinic Health System consists of Mayo-owned clinics, hospitals and other health care facilities that serve the health care needs of people in 70 communities in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The community-based providers, paired with the resources and expertise of Mayo Clinic, enable patients in the region to receive the highest-quality health care close to home.