Lexington Clinic, Central Kentucky's oldest and largest multi-specialty medical group, was recently named one of the best places to work for 2010 as part of the Sixth Annual Best Places to Work in Kentucky program.

This statewide survey and awards program, created in 2005, is a project of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Kentucky SHRM Council and Best Companies Group. The program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Kentucky, benefiting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses. The Best Places to Work in Kentucky program is comprised of two categories, small/medium-sized companies (25-249 employees) and large-sized companies (250 employees or more). The 2010 winners list is made up of 32 companies from each category for a total of 64 companies. Lexington Clinic was named one of the 32 best places to work in the large-sized employer category.

To be considered for participation, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:

• Have at least 25 employees working in Kentucky;
• Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity;
• Be a publicly or privately held business;
• Have a facility in the state of Kentucky; and
• Must be in business a minimum of 1 year.

Organizations meeting the eligibility requirements were then evaluated in a two step process, the first part, worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation, consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, and demographics. The second part, worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation, consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking.

Lexington Clinic is pleased to have received this award, demonstrating our commitment to excellence for patients and employees alike.

Lexington Clinic is a private, primary and specialty-care physician group practice with 200 providers in 32 specialties working in locations throughout Central Kentucky. Lexington Clinic was founded in 1920 and operates offices in Lexington, Nicholasville, Richmond, Corbin, Georgetown and Mount Sterling.

For the second consecutive year, Lexington Clinic has been recognized by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) as a Better Performer in the area of Profitability and Cost Management. This recognition is awarded to only a select group of physician practices who outperform specific expense management benchmarks including medical revenue after operating costs and operating costs per medical procedure. Lexington Clinic was one of only four physician practices in Kentucky to receive this recognition. Thank you to the entire staff of Lexington Clinic for helping us once again be among the best at controlling costs.

Lexington Clinic has been communicating with AETNA Healthcare since June of this year in an effort to mutually agree to contractual terms to participate in the AETNA Healthcare insurance plans. It recently became apparent that an agreement could not be reached, therefore Lexington Clinic notified AETNA on September 14, 2009 and again on November 30, 2009 that the existing agreement would not be renewed. Lexington Clinic realized that AETNA had not informed their enrollees of the contract termination notice submitted by Lexington Clinic; therefore Lexington Clinic felt we needed to inform our patients.

Unfortunately, Lexington Clinic will no longer be considered a participating provider with AETNA Healthcare effective February 1, 2010 for Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) services and effective June 1, 2010 for physician services.

Lexington Clinic representatives have worked diligently to reach a point of mutual agreement with AETNA. We regret that we have to make difficult decisions such as this to continue to allow Lexington Clinic to meet its mission of providing the highest quality medical service.

If you wish to continue your care at Lexington Clinic, please contact AETNA to discuss your out-of-network benefits, or other coverage options that may be available to you.

Should you need to change your doctor, the physicians and staff are committed to ensuring a smooth transition of your continuing care to your new provider. Your written consent is required for the release of your medical records; you may obtain the necessary form by calling the Release of Information Department at 859-258-4837.

We at Lexington Clinic appreciate the opportunity we have had to provide your medical care and hope to continue to see you in the future. If you have any questions, experience any difficulties with obtaining continued care, or you need a referral, please speak to our Nurse at 859-258-4DOC (4362).

You can find additional answers to your questions by contacting the Aetna Customer Service Department or visiting our Your Questions Answered page.

On September 14, 2009 and again on November 30, 2009 Lexington Clinic informed AETNA Healthcare that it does not intend to renew its existing agreement with AETNA Healthcare.

As part of our ongoing efforts to communicate to our patients, we are issuing this notification:

Lexington Clinic will no longer be considered a participating provider with AETNA Healthcare Effective February 1, 2010 for Ambulatory Surgery Services and Effective June 1, 2010 for Physician Services.

If you have questions concerning this announcement, please call the Lexington Clinic Marketing Department at (859) 258-6116.

A listing of insurance plans in which Lexington Clinic is a participating provider can be found at http://www.lexingtonclinic.com/insurance.htm

LEXINGTON, KY – As the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the nation, colorectal cancer kills more men and women than breast and prostate cancer. With one of the highest incidence rates of colon cancer nation-wide, Kentucky needs to step up its game when it comes to screenings. If caught early, colorectal cancer is one of the most curable forms of cancer.

Lexington Clinic, Central Kentucky's oldest and largest multi-specialty medical group, is making it easier for patients to receive the colon cancer screenings they need, at a time that best fits their schedule. Lexington Clinic is now offering colonoscopy services one Saturday a month at the Lexington Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center located at 1221 South Broadway in Lexington.

"We know it isn't always possible to take time off from work during the week to have this test done, so we have decided to offer Saturday hours to show our patients how serious we are about getting them in for a colonoscopy. It can literally save your life," said Dr. Matthew Miller, Lexington Clinic Gastroenterologist.

Colon cancer screenings are recommended for patients age 50 and older or for patients with a family or personal history of colorectal cancer.

For more information about colorectal cancer screening or to schedule an appointment, call 859-258-4950, or visit LexingtonClinic.com to request an appointment on-line.

Lexington Clinic is a private, primary and specialty-care physician group practice with 200 providers in 32 specialties working in locations throughout Central Kentucky. Lexington Clinic was founded in 1920 and operates offices in Corbin, Georgetown, Nicholasville and Richmond, as well as Lexington.

Lexington Clinic has been appointed by the state as a partner with Fayette, Madison, and Jessamine County Health Departments, to assist them in distributing the H1N1 vaccine as it arrives. As a vaccine distribution partner, Lexington Clinic must follow the CDC designated guidelines for distribution of the vaccine. At this time the state has only been allocated a small amount of the vaccine to distribute to high-risk population groups. Distribution amounts are based on the county's current population, so the quantity Lexington Clinic receives may vary from week to week and from county to county.

Once vaccine quantities increase and permission to vaccinate the general population is granted, Lexington Clinic will hold vaccination clinics at no cost. We are currently unable to estimate the date that public clinics will begin, however, we will advertise through the paper, television, radio, and our website, LexingtonClinic.com, once these dates have been established.

Unfortunately at this time, if you do not fit the description of a high-risk patient, you will be unable to receive the vaccine. We appreciate your patience with us during this time, and thank you for choosing Lexington Clinic for your healthcare needs.

For more information about the H1N1 vaccine, call 859.258.4444 and leave your name, phone number, and question. A staff member will return your call promptly.

Lexington Clinic is proud to announce that nine physicians have been selected by their peers to be included in the 2009-2010 Best Doctors in America® database. This database is a valued resource that contains the names and professional profiles of approximately 45,000 of the best doctors in the United States.

Lexington Clinic physicians in the 2009-2010 Best Doctors in America® database include:

• Wayne Colin, M.D., Otolaryngology
• John W. Collins, M.D., Ophthalmology
• Robert Davenport, M.D., Family Medicine
• Gerald W. Elliott, M.D., Dermatology
• Andrew Henderson, M.D., Internal Medicine
• Tamara James, M.D., Obstetrics and Gynecology
• W. Ben Kibler, M.D., Orthopedics/Sports Medicine
• John C. Sartini, M.D., Cardiology
• William W. Walton, M.D., General Surgery

For more information about Lexington Clinic physicians and services, call 859.258.4DOC (4362) or visit LexingtonClinic.com.

Lexington Clinic is a private, primary and specialty-care physician group practice with 200 providers in 32 specialties working in locations throughout Central Kentucky. Lexington Clinic was founded in 1920 and operates offices in Corbin, Georgetown, Nicholasville and Richmond, as well as Lexington. For more information, visit LexingtonClinic.com.

Flu season is quickly approaching and with H1N1 (formerly swine flu) added to the seasonal flu mix; it’s more important than ever to be prepared.

Influenza, or the flu, is an extremely contagious respiratory illness caused by Influenza viruses A, B or C. Influenza A is the most common form and the most likely to mutate into new strains like H1N1. Influenza B and C are less common and less likely to mutate.

The flu spreads quickly through the upper and lower respiratory tracts. Symptoms come on abruptly and can include high fever, headaches, body and joint aches, sore throat, extreme fatigue and irritated watery eyes.

The key to protecting yourself and your family is prevention. The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. The types of flu vaccines available include:

• The “flu shot” – which contains an inactive or dead virus that is given with a needle. (Despite popular belief, the flu shot DOES NOT cause the flu).
• The nasal spray flu vaccine – which contains a live but weakened virus and is given with a nasal spray.
• H1N1 vaccine – The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is currently working with groups in the public and private sectors to develop a vaccine specifically for H1N1; the vaccine is expected to be available this fall.

“Anyone wishing to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated, however, certain groups of people who are at an increased risk of developing serious flu-related complications or those who care for high risk patients should receive a vaccination every year,” said Dr. Robert Bratton, Chief Medical Officer of Lexington Clinic and family medicine physician.

In addition to receiving a flu shot, there are several ways to help reduce the spread of the flu. It is important to remember to wash your hands and cover your mouth when you cough. Equally important is to avoid large groups of people and social situations if you are not feeling well. “Individuals who catch the flu are contagious one day before symptoms and up to five days after, so if you’re not feeling well it’s best to stay home and rest.” Said Melissa Todd, Director of Nursing Standards at Lexington Clinic.

For more information about the flu or to schedule an appointment for a flu shot, contact your primary care physician or call 859.258.4DOC (4362).

Lexington Clinic is a private, primary and specialty-care physician group practice with 200 providers in 32 specialties working in locations throughout Central Kentucky. Lexington Clinic was founded in 1920 and operates offices in Corbin, Georgetown, Mount Sterling, Nicholasville and Richmond, as well as Lexington. For more information, visit www.lexingtonclinic.com

Andrea Meadows, M.D., Lexington Clinic Pediatrics

It’s hard to believe it’s already time for school to start. For many families this is a busy time of year…trying to fit in that last vacation, getting all the school supplies gathered and trying to squeeze in that dreaded school/sports physical or well child visit. Let’s address some common excuses I hear….

“My child isn’t sick so I don’t need to take them to the doctor.” Well child visits are actually a very important part of your child’s medical well being. When your child comes in for a sick visit, it is very difficult to evaluate growth and development. This is actually better done when your child is well. It’s important to keep track of your child’s growth so that if there are problems, they can be addressed early and proper interventions made.

“My child is very healthy. For his sports physical I’m going to take him to the sports physical clinic at his high school.” While I must admit this is very tempting, especially for busy parents who work during the day, it is still better for your child to be seen by his doctor. These clinics do evaluate everything required by the state for sports participation but they do not address vaccine status or other preventative health measures, which are equally as important. Older children are generally healthy and don’t come to the office that often. These visits give physicians a chance to recommend immunizations and offer advice on common problems during the teenage years.

All children must have a physical prior to school entry. This is a good idea for a couple reasons. First, it allows your child’s physician to evaluate your child’s development to determine if they are ready to start school and any special arrangements that need to be made. Second, the physician is able to review their vaccine status and determine which, if any, vaccines they should receive. Lastly, screening for vision and hearing problems can be completed and appropriate referrals made before trouble arises in the classroom.

It’s important to start the school year out on the right foot. This includes a health check-up as well and making sure you have the correct supplies!

Almost everyone who lives a long life will develop cataracts at some point. As more Americans live into their 70s and beyond, we all need to know a few cataract basics: risks and symptoms, tips that may delay onset, and how to decide when it is time for surgery, so good vision can be restored.

August is Cataract Awareness Month, and the Lexington Clinic Ophthalmology Department encourages Kentuckians to know their risks, especially people who have diabetes, smoke, or have a family history of cataracts.

“Cataract surgery is a very common procedure, with a success rate of more than 95 percent,” says John Collins, M.D., Lexington Clinic Ophthalmologist. “The eye’s natural lens with cataract is removed and replaced by an intraocular lens (IOL), selected to meet each patient’s vision correction needs. Talk with your ophthalmologist about IOL options and related use of eyeglasses, so together you can select the best IOL for you.”

A few simple tips will help you maintain healthy vision and make the right choices if you develop a cataract.

Know your risk factors. In addition to having a family history of cataract, having diabetes, or being a smoker, other factors can increase your risk of developing a cataract. These include extensive exposure to sunlight, serious eye injury or inflammation, and prolonged use of steroids, especially combined use of oral and inhaled steroids.

Reduce your risks. Use UV-rated sunglasses when outdoors and add a wide-brimmed hat when spending long hours in the midday sun. One of the best things anyone can do for their eyes and overall health is to quit smoking or never start. People with diabetes can reduce cataract risk by carefully controlling their blood sugar through diet, exercise and medications if needed.

Be informed about when to consider surgery. This decision is really up to each person based on his or her daily activities and related vision needs. The concept that the cataract is “ripe,” or ready, is no longer considered a valid reason for surgery. After age 65, most people will see their ophthalmologist at least once a year, where they will have their vision tested and learn whether cataracts are growing. But only an individual can determine whether symptoms like glare, halos, blurriness, dimmed colors or other cataract-related problems are making activities like driving and reading difficult or impossible. The American Academy of Ophthalmology’s consumer guide to cataract surgery offers more information.

Talk to your physician. When preparing for surgery you will need to give your doctor your complete medical and eye health history, including especially whether you are or have taken Flomax®, Hytrin®, Uroxatral® or Cadura®. These medications can cause the iris to move out of its normal position, which can lead to complications during cataract surgery. You can still have successful surgery if your surgeon knows you have taken these drugs and adjusts his or her surgical technique. If you have had LASIK or other laser refractive surgery, it’s important to provide your pre-surgery vision correction prescription to your Ophthalmologist, if possible. (The record of this prescription is also called the “K card.”)

About Cataract: As we age, the eye’s lens slowly becomes less flexible, less transparent and thicker. Then areas of the lens become cloudy; if left in place until the “overripe” stage, the cataract would be completely white and block vision. Cataracts often develop in both eyes at about the same time. By age 75 about 70 percent of people have cataracts.

For more information on cataract and IOLs, visit www.geteyesmart.org.

The Shoulder Center of Kentucky 12th Annual Shoulder Symposium drew a record number of participants this year, having to close the registration early for the conference due to the high volume of interest. This year’s symposium, titled “What You Need to Know about the Scapula,” kicked off on Thursday, July 16 at the Lexington Hotel Downtown with the Third Scapula Summit, hosted by the Shoulder Center of Kentucky and sponsored by Lexington Clinic. Researchers and physicians from various states and countries met to discuss current research concerning the scapula, including detection of injury to rehabilitation, prior to the symposium beginning on Friday morning, July 17.

Almost 200 participants from across the United States, England, Italy, Sweden, and Belgium filled the conference room, eager to listen and discuss the scapula and related issues. W. Ben Kibler, M.D. welcomed the participants, which consisted of physical therapists, physicians, orthopedists, surgeons, researchers, and athletic trainers. Speakers included Jed Kuhn, M.D., Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University and Chief of Shoulder Surgery at Vanderbilt Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery, and from Lexington Clinic, Peter Hester, M.D., David Dome, M.D., W. Ben Kibler, M.D., Aaron Sciascia, MS, ATC, NASM-PES, NS, and Robin Cromwell, P.T. The speakers covered an array of topics from basic issues concerning the scapula in function and dysfunction to the more involved issues of integrated treatment and the presentation of various cases.

Examination and rehabilitation of the scapula workshops were led by Lexington Clinic physical therapists Robin Cromwell, PT, Keith Duerler, MPT, Daun Karolich, PT, MS, Miemie Dorfling, PT, OCS, Mark Kluemper, PT, and Lexington Clinic’s Work Readiness Coordinator, Michael Howell. These workshops gave participants the opportunity to continue to learn more about the scapula and how to treat scapular injuries, to practice new techniques, exercises, and equipment, and to discuss various issues in a small, hands on group environment.

The Shoulder Center of Kentucky and the Lexington Clinic would like to thank all who participated in this year’s Shoulder Symposium.

Lexington Clinic, Kentucky’s largest private physician practice, is a regional leader in using EHR to improve patient care

With a renewed national focus on healthcare reform, the electronic health record (EHR) is once again in the spotlight. The conversion of the healthcare system’s historically challenging paper records to electronic tools is so critical to successful reform that the president’s economic stimulus package assigns funds to incentivize the changeover. National studies have underlined the need to speed up implementation—while the percentage of physicians planning to change is growing quickly, the overall percentage of practicing physicians utilizing the tool remains small (about one in four medical practices, according to a recently published study from the Centers for Disease Control).

While these plans unfold in Washington, Kentucky’s largest private physician medical group has been a leader in implementation of this important healthcare update. Lexington Clinic, a multi-specialty group of more than 150 physicians serving Central and Eastern Kentucky, has already logged five years of experience using EHR to improve the way physicians work with their patients and each other.

“We made this change years ago without a government incentive because we knew it was the right thing for our patients,” said Andrew H. Henderson, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Lexington Clinic. We funded this technology for our practice and are very proud of being leaders in this effort.”

“The flow of information is so critically important in patient care today,” said Robert L. Bratton, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Lexington Clinic. “If you can control and improve that flow, that’s where we can make a major difference in how we take care of patients.”

The term “EHR” is increasingly familiar, but the statistics on utilization suggest many patients (outside of Lexington Clinic in this region) may have never seen the tool itself or experienced how it works. When a patient visits a Lexington Clinic physician, the patient will see the physician work much differently with the EHR than with the paper files of the past.

The experience works like this: When the physician walks into the patient room, he or she is carrying not the traditional clipboard, but a wireless, flat-screen electronic device about the size of a laptop computer keyboard. Touching the screen with the attached stylus, the physician can instantly see fundamental information that used to require endless paging through paper copies, such as the last date the patient was in the office, or the results of tests ordered to help the physician explore the patient’s problem. When the physician prescribes medication, another touch of the stylus sends the script directly to the pharmacy.

Most importantly, when a Lexington Clinic patient moves through the Clinic for treatment—for example, from a primary-care physician, to lab tests and/or imaging, to a specialist and to surgery, their treatment and testing information contained in the EHR is instantly available with the touch of a stylus to every medical professional involved in that patient’s care.

“The shared chart provides physicians with immediate access to all the information they need,” said Jana Fredlock, who oversees the EHR in her role as Senior Director of Operations at Lexington Clinic.

The increased accuracy and efficiency of the EHR translate into major benefits for patients as well as the insurance companies and the employers who share the costs of the patient’s medical coverage.

“It helps us to reduce duplicative testing, when the physicians can easily touch real-time information gathered from the patient at all points of contact,” said Eric Riley, Chief Administrative Officer for Lexington Clinic.

With reliable data much easier to reach, organizations like Lexington Clinic can move toward more accurate monitoring of recognized standards of care for certain types of patients. Examples include tracking foot and eye care for diabetics. “The evolution of this tool and its use will allow us to position ourselves for disease management pathways,” Riley said.

Additional applications that will make it easier for the patient to interact with physicians are not far away. Building on the EHR platform, Lexington Clinic will move toward installation of an on-line patient portal through which patients can e-mail physicians, request prescription refills, view lab results, and pay bills—all within a secure connection.

The EHR and related tools are vital as Lexington Clinic continues to recruit new, young physicians from the nation’s top medical education institutions,” said Dr. Bratton.

“New physicians are trained on the EHR and are accustomed to having that information at their fingertips,” he said. “That communication with their colleagues and the relationships that grow from that communication are very important to them.”

Lexington Clinic’s EHR is a critical building block in a model of care based on quality, safety, service, and teamwork,” Bratton said. “Our model is a multi-specialty, team approach to patient care. Our EHR is one of the things that make that possible.”

Haider Abbas, M.D., will discuss arthritis and related topics in an arthritis support group session to be held on Thursday, July 16 from 4:00-5:00 p.m. The support group is sponsored by Lexington Clinic Rheumatology.

The session is open to the public and will be held at the Lexington Clinic Training Center located at 350 Elaine Drive, first floor. Seating is limited and reservations are recommended. For more information or to reserve your seat, call Lexington Clinic Rheumatology at 859-258-4450 or Lexington Clinic at 859-258-4DOC.

Four Lexington Clinic physicians were recently included on a national Most Influential Doctors list published by USA Today. Ahmad Al-Mubaslat, M.D., endocrinology, M. Cary Blaydes, M.D., cardiology, Thomas J. Goodenow, M.D., endocrinology, and Steve Kochu, M.D., endocrinology, all made the list, expected to become a regular feature in USA Today.

Most Influential Doctors, an analysis by the medical information firm Qforma, lists thousands of physicians in four clinical areas: hypertension, high cholesterol, asthma and diabetes. According to the USA Today report, the physicians listed are considered to be “thought-leaders”. The list represents more than 300 U.S. metro areas.

Unlike standard best-doctor lists which are complied using opinion-based surveys, Qforma reports that its analysis represents a national effort to track differences in physician practice patterns that reveal which physicians most influence their peers on a local level. In order to measure this influence, Qforma analyzed doctors’ geographic proximity to other doctors, their publication history, medical partnerships, hospital and academic affiliations, and prescribing history, among other data. Doctors’ names, addresses and practicing status were reviewed by health-care data providers Wolters Kluwer Health and SK&A Information Services.

For more information about Lexington Clinic physicians or services, call 859-258-4DOC.

Lexington Clinic is a private, primary and specialty-care physician group practice with 200 providers in 32 specialties working in locations throughout Central Kentucky. Lexington Clinic was founded in 1920 and operates offices in Corbin, Georgetown, Mount Sterling, Nicholasville and Richmond, as well as Lexington.

For more information, visit www.lexingtonclinic.com.

Dr. Mamata G. Majmundar received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award for extraordinary involvement at Transylvania University at the recent alumni weekend awards luncheon. Dr. Majmundar, a 1995 Transylvania graduate and a board-certified physician in family medicine at Lexington Clinic Andover, served as a consultant to the university on its selection of a physician to provide health services to students. She continues to play an active role at her alma mater by volunteering for the annual Transylvania health fair and alumni events.

Kentucky’s growing obesity rate and the resulting impact on the state’s rate of cancer and diabetes have gained increased attention from health officials and the medical community, but a local study now shows obesity to have a major impact on other health factors as well, including joint health.

“Obese patients are requiring knee replacements at a significantly younger age—10 to 13 years earlier than their non-obese counterparts,” said Christian Christensen, M.D., Lexington Clinic orthopedic surgeon and researcher in the recently published study comparing operative times and hospital stays in obese patients and non-obese patients.

Despite their younger age, obese patients who needed total knee replacements were found to require longer operative times and lengthier hospital stays following their procedures. The increased length of time for the procedure and the hospital stay place higher demands on the healthcare system and generate higher medical costs. Coupled with aging baby boomers and the increasing rate of obesity, the demand placed on the healthcare system caused by this combination of factors and the corresponding costs in the future is predicted to be substantial.

Dr. Christensen, who presented his findings at the 2009 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, also reported on the higher rate of complications faced by obese patients who had total knee replacement. Obese patients don’t heal as well or as quickly as non-obese patients, leading to a greater risk of infection that can result in the necessary removal and replacement of joint implants. Obesity also makes ideal placement of implants difficult to achieve, resulting in an increased risk of the replaced joint popping out of place and the need to remove and re-implant the joint.

Following procedures and hospital stays, obese patients are far more likely to require discharge to a rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility for follow-up care rather than returning home. As healthcare cost control emerges as a top agenda item for the new administration, the need for skilled follow-up care as well as the increased necessity of multiple procedures further taxes the stressed American healthcare system.

Christensen also reported on a projected shortage of joint replacement surgeons by 2016, a time when demand for the specialty is expected to increase exponentially as the population ages and the obesity rate continues to climb. “Surgeons are retiring faster then they can be replaced. As demand for procedures increases from 400,000 in 2008 to one million in 2016, a surgeon shortage will be very problematic.” said Christensen.

Dr. Christensen received his medical degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He completed a general thoracic surgery internship and an orthopedic surgery residency at Duke University Medical Center. He also completed a fellowship in hip and knee reconstruction at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. Christensen is board-certified in orthopedic surgery and his professional interests include complex revision and primary hip and knee replacement, alternatives to joint replacement, and accelerated rehabilitation following joint replacement.

For more information on the study or Dr. Christensen, call 859-258-8561.

Lexington Clinic is a private, primary and specialty-care physician group practice with 200 providers in 32 specialties working in locations throughout Central Kentucky. Lexington Clinic was founded in 1920 and operates offices in Corbin, Georgetown, Mount Sterling, Nicholasville and Richmond, as well as Lexington. For more information, visit www.lexingtonclinic.com

Jessamine Medical and Diagnostics Center is making it easier for busy Jessamine County families to receive the medical care they need, on a schedule that works for them by offering extended Family Medicine hours with no appointment necessary. Board-certified physicians will be on duty 7 days a week, with walk-in care provided until 7:30 p.m. on weeknights and 4:30 p.m. on weekends.

The new schedule is the second major expansion of services for the growing center in the last 12 months. Jessamine Medical and Diagnostics Center recently added a diagnostic center offering new services including CT, MRI, and Ultrasound.

Jessamine Medical and Diagnostics Center, located at 110 Village Parkway next to Sonic, has been serving the needs of patients in Nicholasville for over 25 years, and in addition to family medicine offers care in nine specialties.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 859-887-8400, or visit LexingtonClinic.com to request an appointment online.

Jessamine Medical and Diagnostics Center, part of the Lexington Clinic Family of Physicians and Health since 1984.

Lexington Clinic is a private, primary and specialty-care physician group practice with 200 providers in 32 specialties working in locations throughout Central Kentucky. Lexington Clinic was founded in 1920 and operates offices in Corbin, Georgetown, Nicholasville and Richmond, as well as Lexington. For more information, visit www.lexingtonclinic.com.

Feb. 2, 2009 — Lexington Clinic now offers expanded hours at two major primary care locations. Lexington Clinic Andover, 3099 Helmsdale Place, now offers walk-in appointments until 7 pm on weekdays and from 8:30 – 4:30 on Saturdays and 9:00 – 4:30 on Sundays. Full laboratory and x-ray services are offered whenever the office is open.

In addition, Lexington Clinic’s Jessamine Medical and Diagnostics Center, 110 Village Parkway in Nicholasville, is now open for walk-in services until 7:30 pm on weeknights. Jessamine Medical and Diagnostics Center also continues to offer weekend walk-in care from 8:30-4:30 on Saturday and 9:00-4:30 on Sunday. As with Lexington Clinic Andover, full laboratory and x-ray services are available and walk-ins for physician services at Jessamine are welcome during regular business hours.

“With these changes, expanded walk-in services and same-day appointments remain a top priority in order for Clinic physicians to accommodate needs and preferences for current and new patients. To be able to offer these services to our patients at their regular office site, with all records available, is a distinct advantage that we have over our competition from local emergency rooms and walk-in clinics,” said Andrew H. Henderson, M.D., chief executive officer of Lexington Clinic.

For more information, please call Lexington Clinic Andover at 859-258-6401 or Jessamine Medical and Diagnostics Center at 859-887-8400.

Lexington Clinic is a private, primary and specialty–care physician group practice with 200 providers in 32 specialties working in locations throughout Central Kentucky. Lexington Clinic was founded in 1920 and operates offices in Corbin, Georgetown, Mount Sterling, Nicholasville and Richmond, as well as Lexington. For more information, visit www.lexingtonclinic.com.

Spending the holidays at home with our families is something many of us take for granted. Thousands of American troops fighting overseas missed not only the company of loved ones this holiday season, but many basic supplies for daily living as well.

Debbie Perkins, L.P.N., practice manager for Lexington Clinic East Internal Medicine, knows how tough it is during the holidays to have a loved one overseas. Debbie’s son Steve is a Marine serving in Iraq. Steve’s company was deployed to a remote area in Iraq, where they set up camp. The soldiers have no kitchen, no bathroom, no laundry facilities, and by the second week, most of the troops were without supplies.

Debbie, like many Marine parents, sends her son care packages with basic supplies and goodies whenever possible. Many Marines never receive a care package, either because they have no family or their family is unable to send one.

After receiving a call from her son asking her to send extra supplies for the soldiers he knew were going without, Debbie decided to find a way to help. “I went to MarineParents.com, a resource web site for parents of Marines and looked for ways to help,” said Debbie, “The Care Package drive just blossomed from that and 25 boxes later I am still getting donations!”

Using information and assistance from the web site, Debbie started a holiday care package drive. With the help of Lexington Clinic physicians, employees, and members of the community, Debbie was able to send 25 large boxes full of supplies to the offices of Marineparents.com to be packaged and shipped to American soldiers. Supplies collected included playing cards, anti-bacterial gel, pens, pads of paper, and single-serving snacks and non-perishable food items.

“Marineparents.com was able to make individual care packages for over 1,000 Marines during the holidays from the items the Lexington Clinic physicians and staff donated,” said Debbie, “It really is a huge help to the families to know our troops are remembered back home!”

The holiday season is past, but American troops need support all year long. Supplies will always need to be replenished, and Debbie encourages all members of the community to donate.

For more information or to make donations, call MarineParents.com, Inc. at
573-449-2003 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. American troops are in need of many different kinds of items; for a complete list of supply needs, click here.

W. Ben Kibler, M.D., the founder and medical director for Lexington Clinic Sports Medicine Center and Shoulder Center of Kentucky, recently served as the editor for Orthopaedic Knowledge Update: Sports Medicine 4, a book that reviews the latest knowledge in sports medicine which was developed by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in conjunction with the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and published by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Kibler, team physician for numerous professional teams and athletes at both the collegiate and high school level, also is a fellow and former vice president for the American College of Sports Medicine.

Dr. Kibler also teamed up with Aaron Sciascia, MS, ATC, NASM-PES, NS, program coordinator of Lexington Clinic’s Sports Medicine Center and Shoulder Center of Kentucky, to write two chapters in the publication. The first chapter, “Youth Throwing Injuries”, reviews the types of injuries young baseball and tennis athletes can sustain, the pathomechanics related to each sport, the evaluation techniques used to detect physical deficits throughout the body, and the rehabilitation guidelines for treating these athletes. The second chapter, “Nonacute Shoulder Injuries”, was a collaborative effort between Dr Kibler and Aaron Sciascia of the Lexington Clinic, as well as 3 additional physicians who primarily treat shoulder injuries. Dr Kibler and Aaron’s contribution was a description of the roles of the scapula in shoulder function, the specific contributions of the scapula in various shoulder injuries, and a comprehensive description of the evaluation procedures used in assessing scapular dysfunction.

The journal publishes a range of surgical and nonsurgical topics and records recent advancements, research, and expertise in the sports medicine field. Also included in Orthopaedic Knowledge Update: Sports Medicine 4 is Lexington Clinic radiologist, Timothy Mahloch, M.D., who served as the editor for a section called “Imaging Update” which provided detailed information regarding the latest musculoskeletal imaging techniques and procedures as they relate to sports medicine injury evaluation. Congratulations Dr. Kibler, Aaron, and Dr. Mahloch!

The Rheumatology Department at Lexington Clinic is now accepting appointments for a specialty clinic now offered at the Lexington Clinic Richmond Office, 858 Eastern Bypass.

Rheumatology deals in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases, musculoskeletal conditions and most notably, arthritis. Rheumatologists care for patients suffering from a variety of conditions including; rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus, scleroderma, osteoporosis and other inflammatory, musculoskeletal and autoimmune disorders.

Rheumatologist Dr. Haider Abbas will fill a much needed void as no other Rheumatologists are currently serving patients in Richmond. He will see patients on the first Friday of each month from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. To schedule an appointment, please call Lexington Clinic at 859.258.4DOC.

Lexington Clinic is a private, primary and specialty–care physician group practice with 200 providers in 32 specialties working in locations throughout Central Kentucky. Lexington Clinic was founded in 1920 and operates offices in Corbin, Georgetown, Nicholasville and Richmond, as well as Lexington.

For more information, visit www.lexingtonclinic.com.

The Rheumatology Department at Lexington Clinic is now accepting appointments for a specialty clinic to be offered at the Jessamine Medical and Diagnostics Center, 110 Village Parkway, beginning Friday, January 16, 2009.

Rheumatology deals in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases, musculoskeletal conditions and most notably, arthritis. Rheumatologists care for patients suffering from a variety of conditions including; rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus, scleroderma, osteoporosis and other inflammatory, musculoskeletal and autoimmune disorders.

Rheumatologist Dr. Haider Abbas will fill a much needed void as no other Rheumatologists are currently serving patients in Nicholasville. He will see patients on the third Friday of each month from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. To schedule an appointment, please call Lexington Clinic at 859-258-4DOC.

Lexington Clinic is a private, primary and specialty-care physician group practice with 200 providers in 32 specialties working in locations throughout Central Kentucky. Lexington Clinic was founded in 1920 and operates offices in Corbin, Georgetown, Nicholasville and Richmond, as well as Lexington.

For more information, visit www.lexingtonclinic.com.

In conjunction with the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, Lexington Clinic will become tobacco–free on November 20, 2008. This policy will be applied to all Lexington Clinic campuses and all employees, patients, and visitors. The new policy upholds Lexington Clinic’s commitment to provide a safe and healthy environment to everyone who visits its facilities.

The tobacco-free policy prohibits the use of tobacco products by all employees, physicians, visitors, patients, volunteers, vendors and medical staff anywhere on the campus or on any sites operated by Lexington Clinic. This prohibition applies to smoking in personal vehicles on the property, as well as on any sidewalks or streets within the boundaries of the campus.

“This policy is part of our commitment to improving the health of the communities we serve,” stated Andrew H. Henderson, M.D., chief executive officer. “Lexington Clinic was one of the first institutions in Lexington to implement an indoor smoke–free policy, and with this change we expand our commitment. As a leading healthcare provider in Central Kentucky, Lexington Clinic wants to continue promoting healthy living to all members of the community.”

To assist with the transition, Lexington Clinic is providing its employees with free smoking cessation classes and helpful information for those who wish to stop using tobacco products. Dr. Henderson adds, “We continue to provide the tools and support to help make this transition to the tobacco–free campus policy.”

Since smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, Lexington Clinic is extending its longstanding no–smoking policy to include all indoor and outdoor spaces. According to the Kentucky Department for Public Health, the use of tobacco products accounts for almost 7,700 deaths a year in Kentucky and 400,000 deaths nationwide. The Surgeon General reports that second–hand smoke causes 35,000 – 45,000 deaths each year nationally from heart disease and another 3,000 deaths from lung cancer in nonsmokers. Additionally, the Surgeon General claims that the risk of developing heart disease increases by 25–30 percent and lung cancer by 20–30 percent when nonsmokers are exposed to second–hand smoke at home or at work. Lexington Clinic’s tobacco–free policy will provide a clean, fresh, and healthy environment for all patients and employees.

Lexington Clinic is a private, primary and specialty–care physician group practice with 200 providers in 32 specialties working in locations throughout Central Kentucky. Lexington Clinic was founded in 1920 and operates offices in Corbin, Georgetown, Nicholasville and Richmond, as well as Lexington. For more information, visit www.lexingtonclinic.com.

Lexington Clinic’s Jessamine Medical and Diagnostics Center was recently awarded the Jessamine Journal’s readers choice award for “Best Hospital or Medical Facility” in Jessamine County.

The Jessamine Journal’s “Best in the Business” contest provides readers the opportunity to select Jessamine County businesses from a variety of categories as best in their field.

Jessamine Medical and Diagnostics Center, which recently completed renovations to expand imaging and specialty services, was selected by voters over two other Jessamine County facilities in the “Best Hospital or Medical Facility” category. Jessamine Medical and Diagnostics Center has been serving the needs of patients in Nicholasville and surrounding communities for more than 20 years, earning a reputation for professional, compassionate care and a commitment to excellence.

For more information about Jessamine Medical and Diagnostics Center, call 859.887.2484 or visit LexingtonClinic.com/jessamine.

Tokyo, Japan, October 3–4 | W. Ben Kibler, M.D., F.A.C.S.M. is the opening speaker at 10th World Congress of Society for Tennis Medicine and Science. Dr. Kibler will be opening the congress with an instructional lecture for physicians on “What Makes the Ball Go in the Tennis Serve.” He will follow up with two other lectures covering the biomechanics of the modern tennis serve as well as the biomechanics of the shoulder blade in the tennis serve. Other topics of current interest covered by the congress are the latest concepts relating to bone and joint injuries associated with tennis, injury prevention, general training and physical therapy. The World Congress addresses issues and medical topics of interest to physicians and allied health professionals in the sports medicine field.

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