Eaton Rapids Medical Center

Dr. Jessica Green provides women's health services at Eaton Rapids Medical Center

Jessica Green, DO recently joined the team at Eaton Rapids Women’s Health in the McLaren Suite at Eaton Rapids Medical Center (ERMC). Dr. Green, who has been practicing at Eaton Rapids Women’s Health since August of 2018, says her interest in the field was sparked while studying at Michigan State University.

“I was drawn to Women's Health early on in my undergrad at MSU,” Dr. Green explained. “I started shadowing a Women's Health physician and I loved it! I think it is a very unique field and you can be there for your patients throughout life, and in some of the most exciting or stressful times in their lives. I want to be their advocate for health and wellness.”

Dr. Green also grew up in a small town, so she says it’s rewarding to provide care for the patients in Eaton Rapids.

“I like being able to offer care at a close location for patients here in Eaton Rapids, and everyone I have met at (Eaton Rapids Medical Center) has been so helpful and kind.”

Like Dr. Green, many specialists from the Lansing and Jackson areas travel to Eaton Rapids Medical Center and practice in space rented from the hospital in order to provide more convenient care for their patients in the area.

Dr. Green will be in the McLaren Suite at Eaton Rapids Medical Center (located at Entrance E off Spicerville Highway) Mondays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to noon providing Obstetric and Gynecological care. Services provided by Dr. Green include annual exams (pap, pelvic, and breast), pregnancy and prenatal care, menopause management, birth control and family planning, treatment of endometriosis, and many more.

To find out more about Dr. Green or to make an appointment, please call 517.233.0170. To learn more about the many specialists who practice at Eaton Rapids Medical Center visit eatonrapidsmedicalcenter.org.

Article posted on November 7, 2018. - Article Permalink

Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment begins Nov. 1st

There are five ways to apply:

1. Online at https://www.healthcare.gov. If you are new to HealthCare.gov you will need to create an account. If you already have an account, just log in.
2. By phone. Call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596. You can ask a question, start or finish an application, have a customer service representative help you with an application, review your choices, and enroll in coverage.
3. In person with help from a Certified Application Counselor or Navigator. Assisters in your community with special Marketplace training can help you fill out an application and enroll. Visit https://www.healthcare.gov and search by your city or ZIP code to see a list of local people and organizations who can help you apply, pick a plan, and enroll.
4. Through an agent or a broker. Agents and brokers help you apply and enroll. (You pay no more with an agent or broker; however, some may sell only certain companies' plans.
5. By mail. Fill out and mail in a paper application. You'll get eligibility results in the mail within 2 weeks. Create an online account or use the Marketplace Call Center to enroll. Download a paper application and instructions at https://www.healthcare.gov.

The Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD) has Certified Application Counselors available who can help you fill out an application and enroll. If you would like in-person assistance, call (269) 945-9516 (Barry) or (517) 543-2430 (Eaton) to make an appointment.

BEDHD would also like to remind residents about the following:

• Anyone who already has coverage through the Healthy Michigan Plan, Medicaid, or MIChild must renew at least every year; they can look for information in the mail from the Michigan Department of Human Services about renewal.
• Anyone with coverage through the Marketplace can keep their plan or shop for a new one.
• Renewal must take place between November 1, 2018 and December 15, 2018, so it’s important to not delay.
• Anyone lacking health insurance must get covered.
• Those who are uninsured should review options, check to see how much financial help is available, and choose the coverage that meets their needs and fits their budget.

-From the Barry-Eaton District Health Department

Article posted on November 1st, 2018. - Article Permalink

ERMC's New Exercise Physiologist on Heart Health

The heart is one of the most important organs in the body, supplying blood to all other vital organs to keep us moving and ready to take on each day. It is like the engine in a car, and without a good engine, the car will not function properly. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. CAD is caused by plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart (called coronary arteries) and other parts of the body. Fortunately, with today's rapid advances in technology, there are more and more tests we can use to help those who may have CAD, whether they know it or not. One of these is a stress test.

Stress tests are used as a tool to determine if there are any arrhythmias or abnormalities with the heart beating as it gets put under more and more stress. These are usually done on treadmills, increasing in speed and grade. There are also chemical stress tests for those who can't use the treadmill. The goal of the treadmill test is to try and get the patient's heart rate up to 85% of their maximum heart rate. This number is determined by their age and is used to indicate that the heart is working close enough to its full potential where the doctor can do a full interpretation. Chemical stress tests can dilate blood vessels and speed the heart up as an alternative means to accomplish the same goal. Nuclear imaging can also be done before and after the test to compare resting and stressed images of the heart.

To become an exercise physiologist and perform stress tests, a bachelor's degree is required- including a 600 hour clinical internship in stress testing and cardiac rehab. I completed my bachelor's degree in Clinical Exercise Science at Central Michigan University. To cap it off, I did my internship at Sparrow-TCI this past summer and officially graduated in August. I have always been an active person, playing soccer for 12 years and lifting weights and running in my free time. Throughout my four years at CMU, the importance of heart health grew increasingly apparent, furthering my motivation to help teach others the importance of regular exercise and helping those who already have CAD.

Eaton Rapids Medical Center (ERMC) caught my eye because of its small town and family-like environment, as I grew up in Ithaca, MI with the same kind of atmosphere. I could tell they really cared about putting patients first and continuing to move forward. I hope to continue this trend with the honor of being ERMC's first Exercise Physiologist and helping to expand the new Heart Center.

Submitted by John Derry, Exercise Physiologist at Eaton Rapids Medical Center

Article posted on October 30, 2018. - Article Permalink