In the News

Save the Dates Welcome to the fall edition of InHealth. I really enjoy this season, though it seems like the busiest time of year with events, outings and holidays! We are looking forward to our annual Health Expo that will be held on Oct. 4 at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. We are thrilled to partner with them again this year to utilize their beautiful facility to highlight our services and provide health screenings. We are also looking forward to the Annual Walk to Fight Breast Cancer that will be held on Oct. 20. I am always excited to walk with our hospital team while raising money for such a great cause — free mammograms for women in our community. Speaking of free mammograms, Inova is hosting our annual Free Mammogram Day on Oct. 27 at 10 locations across Northern Virginia. This annual event provides more than 200 mammograms to women in our area. So be sure to mark these events on your calendar now before the business of the season kicks in! Warm Regards,     Christine M. Candio, RN, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer, Inova Alexandria Hospital

The Prevent Defense
Flu Shot Protects Against Seasonal Flu

Fall and winter are a time for holidays, family gatherings and good times. Unfortunately, they also are the seasons for the dreaded flu virus.

More than simply a painful cold, the flu is a serious illness that each year sends more than 200,000 people to the hospital and kills between 3,000 and 49,000 people in the United States alone. It is characterized by symptoms that include fever, sore throat, stuffy nose and muscle aches.

The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot each season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC recommends vaccinations for everyone 6 months and older. The vaccine releases antibodies into your immune system that provide protection against infection from the flu virus.

Inova’s highly trained nurses can help protect you and your children with the flu shot. When you come to one of our clinics, you know you can trust the person providing your care. Only nurses fully employed (not contracted) by Inova provide our flu shots. That means our nurses are highly qualified, selected, screened and trained. And unlike some other providers, we can vaccinate children as young as 6 months. We also offer a nasal flu vaccine known as FluMist^® if you or your child struggles with shots.

Fight the Flu
Inova Alexandria Hospital is holding weekly on-site family flu shot clinics from September through December. On-site flu shot clinics for worksites and community groups are also available.
For a complete schedule or more information, click here.


Staying Fit This Fall
Healthy Ways to Enjoy the Season

While some people may consider the fall to be the end of that great, summer exercising weather, that may not be the case. Some experts say fall can be the perfect time to start a fitness program because you can create good habits for the upcoming winter weather and holiday season. Here are a few fall fitness ideas:

Exercise outdoors. The temperature is perfect because it’s not too hot or too cold, so you won’t have to worry about over-heating or getting sick. To enjoy the many colors surrounding you as the leaves change colors, find a woodsy park trail.

Exercise with the family. All together, you can enjoy apple picking, pumpkin carving and raking leaves.

Start a new physical activity. Many classes at gyms start at this time of year. Fall is also the perfect time to gain new physical skills. If you start an activity in the fall, you might master it by summer.

Fall can be a time to change or further your fitness plans, not end them.

Come to Expo!
Health Expo to Offer Lectures, Screenings and More

This year’s Health Expo will feature the following:

• Lectures
  
• Free health screenings
  
• Cooking demonstrations
  
• Fitness information
  
• Information booths from hospital services
  

Where: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 600 Dulany St., Alexandria (Carlyle Square in Old Town)
When: Wednesday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Info: Free parking is available. Call to register at 1-855-My-Inova or go online here.

Shower Yourself
T.H.E. Baby Shower Celebrates New Moms and Moms-to-Be

Join us for an exciting evening exclusively for new and expectant mothers. Spend the evening in Old Town experiencing and discovering a mix of baby-related products and services especially for you and your new little one, including Inova’s childbirth and lactation services.

Details:
Where: Torpedo Factory Art Center – Old Town, Alexandria, VA
When: Tuesday, Oct. 23, 6 to 9 p.m.
Info: Bring your mom, your best girlfriends, or come alone and meet new mommies in the area. There will be giveaways, prizes, treats, and every guest will leave with a Mommy Bag (or two!) filled with surprises just for you. For more, go here.

The Doctors Are In
Primary Care Offices Now Open

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

Appointments Welcome

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

New inova.org — More Than Just a Facelift
The new inova.org website launched on Aug. 1, but it wasn’t just a simple change in appearance. Here’s why:

• We improved the site to help our Web visitors get the health and wellness information they need faster and easier.
  
• Looking to get or stay healthy? With the new website, Inova launched the “Wellness OnDemand” page — one-stop access to health and fitness tips, classes, videos, newsletters and other wellness information.
  
• Need to talk to someone? Now you can find our contact information easier. Call us, email us or chat with us online.
  
• Checking our site from your smartphone? Whether you have a large or a small screen, you can now more easily see and interact with our website.

Take us for a test drive. The future of health is now online.