In the News

Better Than Ever Did you know in 2010 one out of four Alexandrians reached age 55 or more? An aging population meant that Inova Alexandria Hospital needed to expand its services. Our priority is to meet the growing needsof the Alexandria community, and with the conclusion of our "Envisioning the Future: Project 2010" expansion, we have done just that. This major project has been the most ambitious building expansion in the hospital's 139-year history. The expansion included the construction of 68,000 square feet of new floor space and the renovation of more than 50,000 square feet of existing hospital space. Highlights of the final phase of the project include: Expanded Emergency Department, serving 64,000 patients annually New operating and procedure rooms for stroke and cardiac patients New 24-patient bed post-surgical center Our goal for 2012 is to continue to meet the needs of our community and to make Inova Alexandria Hospital the best place to give and receive care. On behalf of myself and the entire hospital staff, we wish you health and wellness in the new year. Warm regards,     Christine M. Candio, RN, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer, Inova Alexandria Hospital

The Back Story
Conservative Approaches Treat Most Cases of Back Pain

More than 80 percent of American adults will experience some form of back pain in their lives — and conservative methods are the treatment of choice nearly all of the time.

"When it's localized muscular pain without evidence of nerve pain, weakness or decreased sensation, conservative treatments work over 99 percent of the time," says Corey Wallach, MD, Medical Director of the Inova Spine Institute at Inova Alexandria and Mount Vernon hospitals. Sometimes an acute flare-up may require a narcotic, muscle relaxant or oral steroids, he notes. "But to maintain a healthy back and to minimize the frequency and intensity of back pain, you have to do physical therapy (PT) and physical exercises on your own."

Conservative management includes core-strengthening exercises and Pilates, flexibility exercises, ultrasound, traction, electrical stimulation, myofascial release therapy (to reduce pain and improve soft tissue-flexibility) and trigger point massage.

	Corey Wallach, MD Join Corey Wallach, MD, for a community class, "New Treatment Options for Neck Pain." It will take place at Inova Alexandria Hospital on Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. The class is free, but to better serve you, we ask that you register by calling 1-855-My-Inova (694-6682) or visiting here.

Patient-Centered Care
The only time surgery should be
considered for back pain is if there
is evidence of nerve pain or spinal
instability, Dr. Wallach says.

Examples are sciatica (radiating
pain in the buttocks and legs due
to nerve compression) and spinal
stenosis (narrowing of the spine
that can cause pain, numbness,
weakness and problems of
coordination). "Then you want to
see a surgeon," Dr. Wallach
comments. "That's what we are
great at fixing."

But surgery, he reiterates, is not the treatment path for "the vague low back pain that 90 percent of Americans are going to get."

"The treatment of back pain is not surgical," he emphasizes. "It's conservative, conservative, conservative."

Learn more about Inova Spine Institute here.


VIPs Tour New Inova
Breast Care Center at Mark Center

Secretary Sebelius, actress Aniston among guests
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Inova Alexandria Hospital's new Inova Breast Care Center at Mark Center recently hosted some well-known faces.

Actress Jennifer Aniston; Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden; Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius; and movie producer Kristin Hahn visited the Center on Oct. 3. Inova surgeons Costanza Cocilovo, MD, and Sara Bloom Bruce, MD, guided them on a tour. A panel discussion featuring a multidisciplinary team of physicians and breast cancer patients followed.

(L-R): Drs. Cocilovo and Bruce, Dr. Jill Biden, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Kristin Hahn and Jennifer Aniston Associated Press

Aniston was in town for
a screening of her
Lifetime movie Five, an
anthology of short films
about breast cancer.
Biden has championed
breast cancer awareness, while Sebelius lost a
close family member to breast cancer.

"The new Inova Alexandria breast
center, located with women's imaging, strives to provide women with complete diagnostic care," Dr. Cocilovo says. "For women diagnosed with cancer, our goal is to support and guide them and their families through the complex path of cancer care — from the assignment of a personal breast health navigator to serve as each patient's personal resource expert, to genetic analysis of the tumor, to survivorship support, such as nutritional counseling."

Keep the Beat
Practice Heart-Healthy Behaviors
Our hearts are our most precious possessions, which is why we need to take extra special care of them. Healthy behaviors such as eating well, exercising and keeping stress to a minimum go a long way toward keeping our hearts beating strongly.

A study recently published in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure found that people who adhered to four healthy habits reduced their risk of heart failure (by 81 percent in women, by 69 percent in men). These habits were maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, eating vegetables and not smoking. The study followed about 38,000 men and women in Finland over 14 years.

Heart failure is a progressive disease that occurs when the heart muscle becomes weakened and unable to pump blood efficiently enough to meet the body's needs. At age 40, a person's risk of developing heart failure in their lifetime is about one in five.

Eating well is an important habit to learn. Diet tips include: limiting unhealthy fats and cholesterol, choosing low-fat protein sources, eating more vegetables and fruits, and selecting whole grains.

Another way to keep our hearts strong is reducing our stress levels, which can add years and quality to your life. The body's natural responses to stress include a faster heart rate, a rise in blood pressure and the release of stress hormones.

Study: Inova Alexandria Hospital Is Good for the Community

Inova Alexandria Hospital has been designated a Community Value Five-Star hospital — one of the top hospitals in the nation in terms of the value it provides to its community.
That is according to the firm Cleverley + Associates, which has released findings of its seventh annual Community Value Index study. The CVI is composed of 10 measures that assess a hospital's performance in four key areas: financial viability and plant reinvestment, hospital cost structure, hospital charge structure and hospital quality performance. Hospitals with scores in the top 20 percent are named Community Value Five-Star facilities.

The Doctors Are In

Having problems getting in to see a doctor? Need to find one closer to you? Inova Internal Medicine – Mark Center, Inova Internal Medicine – Springfield and Inova Internal Medicine – Old Town are open and accepting new patients.

Inova Internal Medicine – Mark Center
1800 N. Beauregard St., Suite 100, Alexandria
703-933-8111

Inova Family Medicine – Springfield
6355 Walker Lane, Suite 500, Alexandria
703-797-6970

Inova Internal Medicine – Old Town
325 S. Washington St., Alexandria
703-683-7220

We Want You!
New Inova Careers Website Lists Openings

Do you know a talented professional who can help Inova lead the transformation of the healthcare industry? Are you interested in a career in healthcare yourself? With Inova's new careers website, it's easier than ever to find an opening that's right for you. Learn more here about who we are and where we're headed.