By Dr. Curtis Thill • 

You’ve likely already experienced it – when you visit a physician or medical provider for the first time, the medical staff hands you a few sheets to complete before beginning your visit. Typically you’ll complete a family and personal history of past (or current) medical issues. Why is that?

You might be surprised how important this information is. Especially for a new patient it helps a provider look for important signs or symptoms. Knowing your family (especially your parents and grandparents) medical history can help you stay healthy and anticipate potential issues later in life. 

You may not know this (or fully appreciate it), but your family history can help gauge the potential risk of you later developing diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), heart disease, cancer, stroke or other medical issues.

Family history is important to good health because family members do more than share genes. They also share and influence lifestyles and habits. Parental influence can affect other conditions and behaviors like smoking, alcohol consumption, or being overweight.

The genes that are passed on through your parents and grandparents obviously can’t be changed. But knowing your history can help you reinforce healthy lifestyle behaviors or be on the lookout for the potential onset of more serious conditions.

So its important to know your history and relate it to your medical providers (and by the way, your medical provider must adhere to HIPAA privacy standards, so your information is submitted in a secure environment).

Oftentimes when we’re completing the provider request it’s easy to pass over important information or not fully document family medical history. Sometimes we may simply not know.

If you don’t know much about your family medical history, it’s good to simply ask, especially your parents. You can also appropriately and tactfully raise the issue at family  gatherings. Summer is a time many extended families gather for reunions, which is a great time to learn more about family medical histories. If your parents are deceased, it would be important to know the cause of death (usually documented on a death certificate).

While that may sound a little morbid, knowing the information could be a lifesaver. We often like knowing what physical or family traits are passed down from family members, including hair or eye color, height, athletic ability, and more.

But it’s also important to realize that risk of heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and other conditions often run in families. For example, iIf you find that a number of your family members have had heart disease, then that potentially means that you may have a higher risk of developing heart or cardiovascular disease. The good news? If you’re aware of that potential some 10 to 20 years before the age it appeared in your parents or family members, you can take steps now to eat healthy and maintain an active lifestyle to minimize risk.

Understanding this helps you know what a physician or provider might do with your family history. Your provider may suggest that you consider screening tests to further document any potential risk (or hidden conditions). This includes the potential of developing breast or prostate cancer, as well as other types of cancer that can arise from smoking (even after you’ve quit smoking). Testing cholesterol levels or watching for symptoms of high blood pressure can help reduce risks of later cardiovascular or other diseases.

So when you’re asked to provide a family history, it’s definitely not done to annoy you or invade your privacy. Check out your family history and take steps to keep yourself healthy!

Where to start
You can use the Surgeon General’s web-based tool called “My Family Health Portrait” to keep track of the information you collect.

Practicing medicine in the Crawford County region for more than 30 years, Dr. Curtis Thill is a board-certified family physician.

The post Why Your Family History Is Important to Your Health appeared first on Southern Indiana Community Health Care.

Ready to have a great summer with your kids? When it comes to enjoying life, many can remember their fathers or mothers saying, “Health is your greatest wealth.” As a long-time practicing physician in the area, I know that if you are blessed with good health, your options are many, including having summer fun.

Since I see them in my practice, I think a lot about the kids in our area. Many different choices lie before them, especially the choices that promote good health. Here are some basic principles that can promote a great summer.

Summer is time for spontaneity, for surprise, for discovery and immersion into something special, a time for play and to have fun. Our young children and teenagers learn important lessons in this time: how to get along with others, to be a team, to share,  to create and experience special days, including day camps or summer camps, and in the family vacation. 

Sound health is key to enjoying all of them. 

How can your child  have a fun, safe, and healthy summer?

Sound sleep is fundamental

Here’s a surprise: number one on our list is good sleep. Set your child up for good and active days by helping them get a good night’s sleep, night after night. 

It takes planning, especially with daily work schedules, but keeping up a routine that features meals with healthy food and good snacks can give a child’s body the necessary nutrition to grow while they are pushing the limits of flat-out daylight to dusk high-energy activities. 

For many families, ensuring good nutrition can be challenging from both time and financial perspectives, especially in an era of rising food costs. Perfection is not the goal, but where possible, making a good, sustained effort is.

Eat healthy where possible

I know from experience that a child’s idea of a meal is often a double cheeseburger with a side of hot dog, washed down with a chocolate shake or mega-sized sugary drink. With a little planning, we as parents can substitute more healthy options, like yogurt with fruit for breakfast; a lunch with lean meat on good whole-grain bread (hold the chips), and some raw carrots or celery; and a dinner with plenty of vegetables and protein like fish, chicken (without the skin) or other lean options (including a bean dish). Think about having healthy snacks like unsalted nuts or seeds available in between meals to satisfy cravings (depending on their age, children can need anywhere from 1,200 to 3,200 calories a day).

Drink plenty of water

Related to good nutrition is a key point from the sports gurus: hydration. An important foundation of good health is drinking plenty of water (not sugar-dense sodas or over-sweetened fruit drinks). Encourage their children to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning and remind them to keep hydrated throughout the day. 

Stay active and have fun!

Summer is the time to be active! Turn off the TV and the cell phone and go outside. Go swimming, grab a ball and mitt, shoot some hoops, jump on a bike or skateboard, or take some old sheets and cardboard boxes and build a castle! 

The point? Summer is a time to get plenty of sunshine and fresh air where possible.

Sometimes during summer activities children can sprain an ankle or suffer an injury. Other times children can catch a summer cold. If that happens, always take advantage of the quality healthcare that’s available in our area.

Have a great, safe, and healthy summer!

A board-certified family physician, Dr. Curtis Thill has been practicing in the Crawford County region for more than 30 years. 

The post How Your Child Can Have a Fun, Safe, and Healthy Summer appeared first on Southern Indiana Community Health Care.

Four decades ago, today’s Boomer generation in their 60s and 70s once thought they would never age. The biggest and most influential generation in American history, the once-known Woodstock generation now represents a “gray tsunami.” 

With the oldest a mere 23 years old when the infamous Woodstock “Three Days of Peace and Music” festival took place, all Boomers – more than 50 million people – will reach age 65 before 2030, bringing with them a whole new set of senior healthcare issues.

Healthcare coverage for boomers

The vast majority of these aging Boomers will be served through Medicare and Medicaid insurance. Because of advances in healthcare and nutrition, Boomers can generally expect to live longer, generally up to age 74 and beyond (up eight years from data in the 2010 census).

Many aging Boomers prefer to live independently, which means they need to take care of themselves. Medicare itself has undergone notable change, with low-cost Medicare Advantage plans currently a popular option. Before you turn age 65, it is important that you gather information about the various Medicare plans so you can make an informed decision. The website at https://www.medicare.gov is a good place to start. Many hospitals and providers, like ourselves have free insurance navigation professionals to help.

Taking responsibility for your health

Here’s a key point: taking responsibility for maintaining your good health is essential at any age, but it is vital in your 60s and beyond. And let’s face facts – in the Crawford County region, maintaining good health is not always a top priority for some. I see many patients who would probably enjoy a higher quality of life if they would take some simple steps.

So what can Boomers do?

First and foremost, stay physically active. As our bodies age, we will lose muscle – especially if we’re just sitting around all of the time. Energy levels can ebb prematurely. 

One solution? We live in some of the most beautiful areas of Indiana, so try getting outside and taking a regular walk. 

Taking regular walks of 30 minutes or more can provide a whole host of benefits like boosting your immune system, toning up muscles, improving circulation, and helping you get better sleep. If you can, swimming produces excellent benefits, as does an occasional light workout. Yoga classes are available in the region, which also help.

Keep your mind sharp and active. Instead of watching television, why not keep your mind better engaged by ramping up old hobbies or developing new ones? Perhaps taking a class about something you’re interested in – either in-person or online. Reading a delightful book can enrich your life and keep those cognitive muscles toned up. Why not consider passing on your life experiences and serving as a much-needed mentor in our communities?

Eat as healthy as you can. In our region, it’s extremely easy to rip open a bag of chips and drink a cola or a nutrition beverage and call it a meal. Over time that’s hard on your digestive system, which can lead to other healthcare issues. Learn how to eat “heart healthy,” which can be surprisingly good.

It’s important to have a good relationship with a physician or medical professional at any age, but it becomes even more critical for seniors. Find a physician or provider who can walk with you together for good health – and don’t forget that annual wellness visit. It could prolong or even save your life!

Board-qualified in family medicine, Curtis Thill, M.D. is an active member of the Woodstock generation. 

The post Important Health Care Issues for the “Woodstock Generation” appeared first on Southern Indiana Community Health Care.

As a long-time physician serving people in Crawford County and the region, I know that thinking about health can be an unsettling. Why? For one thing, it can represent the “great unknown,” especially in this time of COVID-19. When we start having an odd pain, feel unusually tired, or see a bump that wasn’t there before, we naturally wonder what’s up – and sometimes arrive at an early conclusion we don’t like. 

If you’re male, it’s probably worse. Statistical research shows that men are less likely to visit a medical professional when something seems wrong. The truth is that – whether male or female – delaying a checkup won’t help anything. 

Why do people delay getting help? Sometimes we might compare our situation to a car’s check-engine light. We hear a funny noise, and the dashboard light comes on. The challenge? There’s no clear-cut signal telling us what the problem actually is or how much it will cost to fix it. Do we keep driving until something breaks down? Or see a mechanic now?

Sometimes the same is true of our personal health. We have an unexplained ache or pain or general feeling of not being up to par. Do we ignore it and hope it goes away? 

The fact is that delaying seeing a doctor or provider can result in much higher costs of care and complicated outcomes.

But despite that fact, large numbers of people bypass seeing a medical professional, even if they’re sick or injured. Those situations typically don’t have good outcomes.

In some areas of southern Indiana, where economic and family conditions may complicate things, it’s easy to put off doing the right thing. If one is facing a tight budget, one can try to justify putting off medical care because they’re worried about cost or value.

As a practicing doctor, let me assure you: there is good news. 

Let’s go back to our “check engine light” analogy. Many people know that preventive maintenance – regularly checking the oil, keeping filters up to date, and fixing minor issues as they come up – makes a car last longer. A mechanic can alert you to potential issues before they become major ones.

Your body – and your life — benefits from similar attention. And it’s also true that when preventative upkeep is ignored, problems can advance. 

Here’s a big one that people famously ignore: high blood pressure (hypertension). 

High blood pressure doesn’t typically show any open obvious symptoms in its early stages. But its “silent” nature masks the damage the condition may be inflicting. Untreated high blood pressure can lead to kidney damage and disease and increases risks for later heart problems (including heart failure) and stroke. Nobody wants those kinds of conditions. 

Pre-diabetes and related stages of diabetes also rank high in the “ignore” category. Effective treatments (including simple changes in diet) exist. If we don’t get checked out, untreated diabetes can also produce bad outcomes like heart disease, kidney and other issues, and even loss of vision. 

Regular “preventive maintenance” —scheduling (and showing up) for routine annual physicals, age-appropriate screenings or other preventive health care actions –can help you avoid advanced conditions that can be costly. 

The bottom line? Taking charge of your health and completing just a few preventive steps can establish a pattern of wellness. That new pattern can result in higher energy, better sleep and overall feelings of good health for you.

Having good health is especially important during this time of COVID-19. People who are healthy and have been vaccinated are likely to experience fewer or less severe symptoms. 

Here’s more good news – you don’t have to go it alone! Medical professionals and providers – like those at SICHC – are available in our region to help make your life better, including helping you find answers to questions about COVID-19 or other medical issues of all kinds. Find a provider who will meet you where you are in life and work together to elevate your health. Good health – at an affordable cost – can be just a phone call or online click away. Take your health off “ignore” and reap the benefits!

Board-certified in family medicine, Dr. Curtis Thill has served residents of Crawford County and the region for more than two decades.

The post Take Charge of Your Health appeared first on Southern Indiana Community Health Care.

While telemedicine (delivering medical care at a distance) and telehealth (the electronic and telecommunications technologies and services used to provide telemedicine) have been around for decades, COVID-19 has made remote care a more popular option to help reduce exposure for patients and healthcare staff. 

Having a Telehealth Virtual Visit at SICHC

Your Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) telehealth appointment can take place on your landline phone or with your computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet.

SICHC offers video and smartphone visits through FollowMyHealth, a secure message and video platform available through the FollowMyHealth App on your smartphone (Apple or Android), or through your computer’s web browser. 

Although having a FollowMyHealth account isn’t required. Just call any of our four offices and a staff member will help schedule you for the type of appointment that best fits your needs. (If you have a FollowMyHealth account, you can schedule your appointment through that portal.) 

Once your appointment is scheduled, a staff member will call you before your appointment begins to ask some routine questions, and, if needed, give you additional instructions. Your care provider will then start the visit (phone call or video).

TIP: If you’re using the FollowMyHealth App, you can supply much of this information prior to the virtual appointment. For example, you can upload a close up photo of a skin rash. Here is a link to the FollowMyHealth YouTube channel to get familiar with the platform.

What to Do Before Your Visit

• Find a quiet space. You want to be able to focus on your appointment without interruptions from children, pets or roommates. A separate room, going to a friend’s house or even sitting in your car (while it’s parked!) can give you the privacy you need. 

• Prepare your device (for video). Close other applications to prevent distractions and keep your internet speed from slowing down. Then position your device so you are visible on the screen and the lighting in the room doesn’t shadow your face. 

• Review any instructions or emails from your provider. These can include how to log on to the FollowMyHealth app or gather specific health information such as your temperature, blood pressure, blood sugar, or weight. 

TIP: If you need to download an app, do it well before your visit so you can road-test it and address any problems. 

• Compile your concerns. Make a list of any symptoms, questions or worries you want to discuss during the appointment. Has anything changed since your last appointment? Are your vaccines up to date? 

• Collect your meds. Make a list of prescription medications as well as any OTC (over-the-counter) medications or supplements you take on a regular basis. Do you need refills for any prescriptions? Have the bottle available and double-check the dosage instructions.

• Have a notepad handy. During the visit, you’ll want to take notes so have pen and paper at hand. If you prefer to use a device, don’t try to take notes on the same one you’re using for the telehealth appointment, but have a second one ready.

• Gather your health data. This includes your health history, recent vaccines, other healthcare providers and the phone number and location of your local pharmacy. 

What to Do During Your Visit

• Stay focused. Don’t eat or drink, take calls or check your email during your visit. Your full attention should be on the visit, just as though you were in the examination room.

• Ask questions. If you aren’t sure what the doctor said (sometimes there can be a problem with the audio) or you need additional details, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. If the doctor orders bloodwork or other tests, confirm where they are to take place and when you can expect results.

• Review your treatment plan. Before you end the call, review the treatment plan your doctor recommended and ask what you should do if your problem persists.

What to Do After Your Visit

• Follow instructions. If you need to make another appointment (either virtual or in-person), change your current medication schedule or begin taking a new one, be sure to do so.

• Bring your notes. If your doctor advises you to see another physician or go to the ER, bring your notes from your telehealth call. 

• Track any changes. The doctor will want to know if your symptoms improve or if you notice any new changes.

Concerned About Insurance Coverage? 

Call your insurance provider beforehand to confirm coverage. Phone and video visits are billed to your insurance just like a regular office visit. If you do not have insurance, please call our Self Pay Department for more information at 812-723-7121 or visit our payment options webpage.

If you’re on Medicare or Medicaid, know that Medicare has temporarily expanded its coverage of telehealth services, but you should check with your state regarding Medicaid coverage for telehealth services. 

Other helpful information to know before your virtual doctor visit. 

This checklist with tips from Telehealth.HHS.gov and American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology will help you prepare so you can get the most from your appointment. You can also watch this video from the Hawaii State Department of Health Genomics Section to learn more about what to expect from a telehealth visit.

The post Telehealth Checklist: Preparing for Your Virtual Doctor Visit appeared first on Southern Indiana Community Health Care.