Check out our August newsletter!
TexanENT.com
512.550.0321
AUGUST 2018
‘EAR, NEWS, AND THROAT’
When HardWork Beats Experience BUILDING THE TEAM
see it, if a person is willing to work hard, even if they don’t have a lot of experience, you can trust they’ll be willing to put in the time to learn how to do their new job right. Pretty much
Recently, you may have noticed some changes around the office. Our former receptionist, Mari, has taken her leave after having a baby girl and our former billing manager, Brandi, has also decided to make the transition to stay-at-home mom. We were sorry to see Mari and Brandi go but wish them and their families nothing but the best. Fortunately, the new faces who have come in to replace them are doing an awesome job so far. Our new receptionist, Giovanna “Gio” Rivera, has been filling Mari’s shoes admirably. Gio is fluent in Spanish, and you’ll most likely hear her voice the next time you call the office. As for our new billing manager, we couldn’t be more thankful to have Kristina McNeal. As luck would have it, Kristina is the person who trained the person who trained Brandi when she first became our billing manager. Talk about a small world! Bringing someone new onto the team can be tricky. Our staff at the office is small, so they are a really close-knit group. Everyone gets along well, and you don’t want to jeopardize the culture by bringing in someone who doesn’t want to be part of the group. Fortunately, Kristina was referred to our office by our medical assistant, Laura. The two used to work at another ENT office in Austin, so Laura was confident Kristina would mesh with the team. I say, so far so good. Kristina has made a seamless transition and some days, it’s like she’s been here for years. In addition to finding a culture fit, I believe it’s equally important to find someone with a good work ethic. Some people might get hung up on prior experience, and sure, that can help in the beginning, but the way I “... if a person is willing to work hard, even if they don’t have a lot of experience, you can trust they’ll be willing to put in the time to learn how to do their new job right.”
My amazing team: Kristina, Lori, Laura, Victoria, and Gio
everything we accomplish in life boils down to our work ethic. Everything, from our careers and hobbies to our personal relationships, is the result of the work we are willing to put into it. If you’re lazy or ready to give up at the first snag, you’ll never get anywhere worthwhile. Like the name implies, hard work is hard, but it’s more than worth the effort. The hardest thing I ever had to learn was developing social skills. In school, I always did well in class and had good grades, but I was a giant nerd who wasn’t great at talking to people. It wasn’t until after my residency, when I took some time to travel and get more life experiences, that my social skills improved. You can’t go to a different country without talking to some strangers, and that will really put you to the test. It was challenging, but I’m so glad I did it. It helped me become a better- rounded person, and I know my business has benefited a lot. As a doctor, I need to be able to do more than examine and diagnose my patients. Visiting the doctor’s office can be a scary experience, no matter how old you are. I like being able to read my patients — figure out what’s going on in their heads while I’m working with them and reassure them that, no matter what’s wrong in that moment, we’ll be able to work through it together.
Once again, I want to welcome Kristina and Gio into the office. It’s only been a few months, but already, their hard work and great personalities let me know I made the right call. –Dr. Seth Evans
PAGE 2
512.550.0321
TexanENT.com
BECOME A ‘DOG WHISPERER’
A good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your mind and body. One study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research found that the quality of your sleep is much more important than the quantity — that is, if you want to feel rested. And we all want to feel rested. So, what can you do to improve the quality of your sleep and get the rest you need? Listen to your body. This, above all else, is crucial to a good night’s sleep. Your body knows when it’s time for bed. Generally, you want to go to bed when you feel tired, whether that’s at 8 p.m. or 1 a.m. Whenever your body tells you it needs rest, you should make a habit of going to bed then. The more consistent you are, the better your sleep will be. Wake up naturally. Jolting yourself awake with an alarm or radio isn’t doing your brain and body any favors (it can be stressful on the body and even elevate blood pressure, which is not good first thing in the morning). If you do need an alarm, consider a wake-up light. Wake-up lights mimic the sunrise, slowly brightening the room, waking your body in a natural, gentle way. Kick the screen habit. You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again: Looking at an electronic screen — a TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone — before bed is detrimental to sleep quality. Light from these devices is disruptive to your brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which helps regulate your circadian rhythm, and screen time before bed can throw off normal SCN function. Put your excuses for staying up too late to bed. Say no to “one more episode.” And all those emails? They can wait until tomorrow. Not getting enough quality sleep is harmful to your mental and physical health. When you get into the habit of following these three tips, you’ll find yourself feeling rested and refreshed in no time.
TRAIN AS A PACK FOR BETTER RESULTS Your whole family adores your dog — but not the barking. This issue can lead to feelings of frustration, and the more frustrated you get, the more your dog barks. It’s their only way of communicating, and they’re telling you, “My needs are not being met.” As Cesar Millan, the original “dog whisperer,” explains, “A barking dog needs exercise, discipline, and affection, in that order.” Exercise Part of the barking issue may be due to pent-up energy. According to the humane society, “A tired dog is a good dog and one who is less likely to bark from boredom or frustration.” If you already take your pup on a morning walk, try adding in an evening walk. You could add it to your child’s chore list and help get out some of the kid’s pent-up energy too. It may also be beneficial to practice obedience exercises and games that challenge your dog. Discipline To put a stop to the behavior, you’ll first need to change any of your behaviors that are reinforcing it. Any attention your dog gets when he’s barking — even yelling, “Rover, stop!” — teaches him to keep going, because you’re rewarding him with attention. Wait until your dog has stopped barking to give him any sort of attention, including looking at them. “To be successful with this method, you must wait as long as it takes for him to stop barking,” advises the Humane Society. Affection Of course, your dog needs love and attention to thrive — a lack of it could contribute to barking behavior. Reinforce silence by giving your dog a treat and an encouraging pat when she demonstrates good behavior, like not barking. “Our pups want to work for our attention,” Cesar Millan reminds us. “Allowing her to do that and to see your happiness is, to your dog, the biggest reward of all.” To make your training program successful, consistency is key. Enlist the help of the whole family to stick to the principles. Together, you can foster a calm, peaceful home where you and your dog happily coexist.
TexanENT.com
512.550.0321
PAGE 3
like hair brushes, water bottles, lip balms, and eating utensils should be reserved for personal use only. AVOID DRINKING FOUNTAINS In 2006, ABC News conducted an experiment on the drinking fountains in public schools. They found that the average fountain spigot had a germ count of 2,335! To put that in perspective, a germ count of 300 means “microorganisms abound.” Encourage kids to use their own water bottles from home rather than putting their mouths near the public fountain. LEARN TO SNEEZE A sneeze erupts at around 30 mph and can send 40,000 infection droplets of saliva almost 20 feet. Help your kids reduce the spread of germs by teaching them to sneeze into their elbow, not their hands or someone else’s face. The same goes for coughing! WASH YOUR HANDS This one seems obvious, but be honest: how many times do we as adults forget to wash our hands regularly? Remind your kids to wash their hands before eating, after coughing or sneezing, after using the bathroom, and after they touch anything many other people might have touched, including library books and gym basketballs. These tips can help kids avoid common illnesses passed around at school, but if your child faces chronic problems, you may want to seek professional help. At Texan ENT Specialists, Dr. Evans and his staff can help kids with chronic ear infections, enlarged tonsils, allergies, sinus infections, and other ENT troubles. Call 512.550.0321 and help your child stay healthy all year long.
BACKTO THE GERM FACTORY
Help Your Kids Stay Healthy This School Year
No matter how much kids may complain about homework, school is a great place to learn and grow. Unfortunately, another thing that likes to “grow” at school is germs. For a lot of kids, back-to-school season also means back to the doctor, as they often catch colds, coughs, and sinus infections from their classmates. These health tips can help your kids have fewer sick days this year. SHARING ISN’T ALWAYS CARING Learning to share is important for kids — it’s a lesson some adults still need to learn. But to avoid getting sick, let your kids know there are some things they shouldn’t share. Things
LAUGH! HAVE A
Summer Grilled Halibut If you’re tired of grilling hamburgers at this point in the summer, try using your grill for something a little different. This easy halibut recipe is a great change of pace.
Inspired by Bon Appetit magazine
Ingredients
• 2 pounds mixed tomatoes, sliced • 1/2 cup hearts of palm, drained • Basil leaves, for garnish • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
• 4 boneless, skinless halibut fillets, about 5 ounces each • 1/4 cup olive oil, plus extra for drizzling • 1 lemon
Directions
1. Lightly oil grill grates and heat grill to medium. 2. Grate 1 teaspoon lemon zest onto halibut fillets. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. 3. Grill halibut, turning just once, for about 5 minutes on each side. 4. In a mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, hearts of palm, juice from lemon, and oil. Season with salt and pepper. 5. Garnish salad with basil. Spoon salad over grilled halibut. Serve.
PAGE 4
512.550.0321
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Satellite Offices: 601A Leah Avenue San Marcos, TX 78666 Tuesday and Thursday afternoons 1009 W San Antonio Street Lockhart, TX 78644 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month
1180 SETON PARKWAY, SUITE 330 KYLE, TX 78640
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Page 1 Some New Faces
Page 2 Sleep Better and Feel Great
Page 2 How to Get Your Dog to Stop Barking
Page 3 Does School Make My Kids Sick?
Page 3 Summer Grilled Halibut
Page 4 Word From the Westies
Hours: Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
DOG MOVIES TO BEAT THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
Lady meets Tramp, a charming rogue with a heart of gold who’s there to help. And don’t forget that spaghetti scene, which is one of the most romantic movie scenes of all time. ‘HOMEWARD BOUND: THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY’ If your family wants something with more action, “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey” never fails to deliver. When three beloved pets are left behind on vacation, they travel across the Sierra Nevadas to be reunited with their human family. The scenery in this movie is almost as incredible as the heartwarming story of friendship and loyalty. These are just a few of the doggone best movies around. And don’t worry — none of the dogs die in any of these movies!
Izzy and Emma here. We’re well into what humans call the “dog days” of summer, and all we really want to do is stay inside with the A/C on full blast. When it gets too hot to even play a game of fetch, there’s only one thing to do: Grab some treats and kick back for a family movie night! Here are a few of our favorite dog movies your family can enjoy during the dog days of summer. ‘BENJI’ Never judge a dog by his coat. In this 1974 classic, Benji may be a stray, but he’s smart, loyal, and the only one who can save the day when criminals kidnap his favorite kids. The dog who played the titular Benji, Higgins, worked in show biz for 14 years and is paws down the greatest canine performer of all time. ‘LADY AND THE TRAMP’ Who needs Romeo and Juliet? This is the greatest love story ever told! A Disney animated classic, “Lady and the Tramp” stars the lovely Lady, who has to deal with mean cats, a busybody aunt, and evil rats, all while protecting her humans’ new baby. Fortunately,
Izzy & Emma
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online