Blog

Treating Traumatic Brain Injuries in Northeast Oklahoma

The Kaiser Rehabilitation Center at Hillcrest Medical Center has served northeast Oklahoma for more than 40 years. The highly specialized occupational, physical and speech therapy staff at the Kaiser Rehabilitation Center understand the needs of patients with neurological conditions and provide individualized treatment plans and one-on-one therapy to help patients regain mobility and independence.

Dr. Perri Craven, medical director of Kaiser Rehabilitation Center, shares some insight into the neurological rehabilitation program at Kaiser, rehabilitation for patients with traumatic... Read More »

Eat Your Way to Heart Health

It’s no secret that diet is a big part of maintaining a healthy heart. Today, we are surrounded by many food choices, including fast foods and processed foods. If you want to improve your heart health, re-examine your diet and think about how the foods you eat contribute to preventing heart disease. Healthy eating starts with 5-10 minutes of planning each week and we’ve put together a few diet tips to help you on your journey.

1. Set a Goal and Make it Attainable

The first step to improving your heart health through your diet is setting goals... Read More »

The Benefits of Cardiac Rehab

Cardiac rehab is a major component in the lives of individuals who have experienced a cardiac event such as a heart attack, bypass surgery or heart transplant. Through personalized sessions, individuals are taught how to maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle and are given tools to keep it going for the long-term.

The cardiac rehab team at Hillcrest Medical Center, which consists of nurses, an exercise physiologist, a dietitian and a health behavior specialist, uses a team approach, working together to help the patient as a whole. Mary Ritchie and Karen Grunklee-bakke, cardiac rehab... Read More »

Using Burn Awareness Week to Highlight Burn Prevention Measures

Nationally recognized during the first full week in February, Burn Awareness Week is an opportunity to educate adults and children on common causes of burns and share prevention tips to avoid serious injury. The Alexander Burn Center at Hillcrest Medical Center has been providing premier burn care in northeast Oklahoma for 50 years. Dr. Tara Wilson, medical director of the Alexander Burn Center spoke with us about the most common burns they encounter, common prevention techniques and how important burn awareness week is for educating and reminding everyone how dangerous burns can be.

50 Years of Providing Advanced Burn Care in Oklahoma

In 1986, Hillcrest opened the Tulsa Burn Center (now known as the Alexander Burn Center), the first of its kind in Oklahoma and Arkansas and only one of five in the United States. For 50 years, our physicians and staff have been providing the most advanced care for adults and children who have experienced severe chemical, electrical, scald and flame injuries.

While undergoing difficult and painful treatment, our patients develop long-lasting bonds with clinical and rehabilitation staff and often feel as though they are part of the Alexander Burn Center family. Our burn center is a... Read More »

Five Ways to Prevent Fires and Burns This Holiday

As the air gets cooler and the holidays come closer, it is important to prevent house fires and potential burns. With many cooks in the kitchen, kids running around the house and holiday decorations filling the home - accidents can happen. According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking equipment is the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries. This year, Dr. Tara Wilson, M.D., FACS advises patients and their families to take precaution when using heat to avoid an unexpected trip to the emergency room.

1. ... Read More »

Increasing Awareness About Strokes

Around the world, October 29 is recognized as World Stroke Day. We spoke to Dr. Fredieu, the Medical Director of the Oklahoma Stroke & Neurological Institute at Hillcrest about the importance of knowing the signs and symptoms of strokes, preventative measures and risk factors, and how important increasing awareness around stroke is worldwide.

What is a stroke?

Dr. Fredieu shares some preventative measures that can be taken day-to-day to help prevent stroke. “First, you have to recognize what a stroke is. A stroke is different from a heart attack in that the majority of the time... Read More »

We’re All in this Together

Marisela and Ruby share the same challenging experience of having breast cancer, but they also share the same family and support that got them through very difficult times. Their story spans three generations and begins with Marisela’s aunt who passed away from breast cancer many years ago; her cancer had spread too much before it was detected. It was a tragedy that created many new relationships and life-long bonds that would prove to be invaluable in the years to come.

Marisela and her daughter Jessica have always been diligent about getting regular mammograms. But it wasn’t until... Read More »