Good Samaritan Hospital

Who is a Candidate for Robotically Assisted Surgery?

Robotically assisted surgery with da Vinci Surgical Technology is one of the most recent advancements in medicine, and it provides a safer, more reliable solution for a number of common surgical procedures. While robotic surgery is not fit for all surgical procedures and patients, it is a revolutionary surgical technique that can provide you with a better treatment experience at Good Samaritan Hospital.

Candidates for robotically assisted surgery are generally healthy and fit for a prompt recovery. As with any surgical procedure, it is important to consider all the risks and benefits carefully by speaking with your physician about your specific concerns. If robotic surgery is not right for you, there are many alternative treatments to explore with your surgeon.

Good Samaritan Hospital is proud to feature da Vinci Robotically-Assisted Surgery in our facilities with programs in cancer care, general surgery, and gynecology. You can learn more about the technology utilized in our hospital by visiting our website or calling our Consult-A-Nurse healthcare referral line at (888) 724-2362.

Understanding the Early Stages of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a serious health concern for all women, and it can be combated with screening procedures that will detect cancer at its earliest stages. When breast cancer is in stage 0 or 1, it is much easier to treat because it has not spread outside the breast tissue.

You can learn what stage 0 and 1 breast cancer look like by watching this short video from the National Breast Cancer Foundation. As the video explains, these stages of cancer will not be treated with chemotherapy, but instead will require surgery or radiation therapy for treatment.

If you are due for your next mammogram for breast cancer screening, you can find a doctor at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose by calling our Consult-A-Nurse healthcare referral line at (888) 724-2362. You can also explore all of our women’s care services by following this link to our website.

How to Prepare Yourself for Pregnancy and the Birthing Process

If you are pregnant or you are trying to conceive, there are several ways that you can prepare your body for the physical challenges of the last trimester of pregnancy as well as your delivery. Making these changes early on in your pregnancy or before you even get pregnant will help ensure that you and your baby are healthy and comfortable throughout the next nine months. Here are some simple steps to get you started on your preparation for motherhood.

Stay Hydrated
When you are pregnant, you may need more than eight glasses of water a day to stay hydrated—particularly during the warmer months of summer. Hydration will help improve your circulation, reduce swelling in the lower body, ease indigestion, and prevent muscle cramps. If you have trouble drinking plain water, try adding a splash of fresh lemon or cucumber slices to your water to add flavor without additional calories, sugar, or caffeine.

Get Moderate Exercise
Exercise is not only safe during pregnancy, but is also encouraged for most pregnant women. If you are already physically active, you should be able to maintain your exercise routine with few changes. If you did not work out regularly before becoming pregnant, you should consult your doctor about the safest types of exercise for you.

Maintain a Consistent Sleep Schedule
You will want to get plenty of rest while you are pregnant, because the first few weeks with your newborn can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Sleep will also help prevent certain types of discomfort during pregnancy such as swelling and dizziness. To improve your nightly sleep, you may need to adjust your sleeping position, set a consistent bedtime each night, and create a more peaceful sleep environment in your bedroom.

With the care of Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, you can stay healthy and active during your pregnancy and feel confident that your baby is getting the best medical care from the first moments of life. Explore the services of our Maternity Center—including our upcoming Childbirth Preparation Courses—by calling our Consult-A-Nurse healthcare referral line at (888) 724-2362 or visiting our website.

Spotlight on National Healthcare Volunteer Week

Healthcare volunteers are a highly valued part of the medical community, as they help enhance patient care, organize hospital events, and offer their help selflessly each day. During the week of April 21st, the medical community is taking time to honor individuals volunteering in healthcare with National Healthcare Volunteer Week.

You can show your support for healthcare volunteers in the San Jose community by purchasing personalized logos to print on specialty items to honor the spirit of service through the Association for Healthcare Volunteer Resource Professionals. By acknowledging healthcare volunteers through these materials, you can help preserve volunteer programs in the hospitals close to your home.

To learn more about National Healthcare Volunteer Week or explore volunteer opportunities in San Jose, contact Good Samaritan Hospital today. You can reach us through our website or by calling our toll-free Consult-A-Nurse healthcare referral line at (888) 724-2362.

A Look at the Effects of Stroke

Suffering a stroke is a traumatic experience that is often life-threatening, but rapid diagnosis and immediate treatment from a dedicated stroke care team can significantly improve a patient’s chances for surviving stroke. Still, permanent brain damage can occur in just a short period of time when a stroke occurs, so maintaining a high quality of life is a challenge for stroke survivors and their families. Here is a closer look at some of the short-term and long-term effects that stroke can cause.

Unclear Communication
One of the first signs of stroke is slurred speech or the inability to repeat a simple spoken phrase. If these signs are observed, it is time to call 911 for emergency care. Long after a stroke occurs, speech may remain unclear due to aphasia, or damage to the brain’s language centers.

Poor Muscle Control
Body language can be a clear indicator of stroke, because muscle control may be lost on one side of the body. This can be seen through droopiness in the face and loss of strength in the extremities. Stroke recovery can present physical challenges as well, making physical therapy a common aspect of long-term stroke care.

Memory Loss
Stroke survivors have varying cognitive abilities depending on where the stroke occurred in the brain and how much time passed before treatment. Some patients can have severe short- or long-term memory loss, but this is not seen in every case.

Behavioral Changes
Behavioral disorders such as depression are common among stroke survivors—particularly in elderly populations. Therefore, it is helpful to have a dedicated stroke care team that understands the unique challenges that may follow stroke.

Good Samaritan Hospital offers complete stroke care from the emergency room to inpatient rehabilitation, and we can customize a treatment plan that will suit your needs after a traumatic stroke. You can also find healthy living education services at our hospital to prevent stroke or reduce the chances of recurring stroke. To learn more about our patient education and advanced stroke care, visit us online or call our Consult-A-Nurse healthcare referral line at (888) 724-2362.