The Aspen Birth Center is where families are born - where babies take their first breath, surrounded by love and joy, where patients become parents, and where siblings begin a lifelong journey with a little brother or sister.

On October 4th, 2008, the expanded and newly renovated Aspen Birth Center at Aspen Valley Hospital celebrated its grand opening with an open house for members of the community. The Birth Center includes a 5,800-squarefoot expansion featuring comfortable, private patient and family-oriented rooms, therapeutic whirlpool tubs, lactation experts, around-theclock anesthesia services and, as always, personalized care. The expansion promises to offer an added degree of comfort, privacy, efficiency, and security for patients and their families.

The renovation includes a large nursery with isolation area, ante-partum room for assessment and observation, family waiting area, patient education classroom, and sleep room for obstetricians and nurse midwives.

According to Cheryl Heffernan, Department Manager and Obstetrical Nurse, "The Aspen Birth Center is where families are born - where babies take their first breath, surrounded by love and joy, where patients become parents, and where siblings begin a lifelong journey with a little brother or sister." Cheryl, who has participated in the birthing of thousands of babies during her career, led the design of the Aspen Birth Center to ensure that it meets the needs of families today and in the future.

A threefold increase in the number of births since Aspen Valley Hospital was built 30 years ago, along with changing expectations and standards of care, were the driving force behind the expansion. From large private rooms to an inviting family lounge, the patient/family experience is significantly enhanced with the new birth center.

For more information or a tour of the new facility, please contact the Aspen Birth Center at 970.544.1130.

To improve one’s sight is to improve one’s quality of life.

The human eye consists of a series of lenses that refract (bend) light rays to focus light images on the retina. These images are then transferred via the optic nerve to the brain where we "see" them. The two primary focusing lenses of the eye are the cornea (outside lens of the eye) and the natural crystalline lens (inside lens of the eye).

A cataract occurs, usually gradually, as the natural lens of the eye becomes clouded or discolored. This clouding of the natural lens of the eye causes light entering the eye to scatter prior to reaching the retina, causing hazy or blurred vision. If left untreated cataracts can cause blindness. An estimated 20.5 million Americans older than age 40 have a cataract in either eye, and the total number of person who have a cataract is estimated to rise to 30.1 million by 2020.

Millions of Americans have taken charge of their eye health and undergone cataract surgery.

Take a minute to think about your eyesight. Is your vision as clear as you remember it to be?

Do you need more light to read than you used to? Do straight lines seem distorted? Are sunny days as bright? If you feel like your vision lacks precision, talk to your eye doctor - you may be suffering from cataracts.

In addition to replacing a cloudy lens, cataract surgery can correct astigmatism, which is an uneven curvature of the front of the eye. The newest lenses are incorporating some multi-focal capacity, which can reduce and sometimes eliminate even the need for reading glasses.

Humans rely on their eyesight more than any other sense. To improve one’s sight is to improve one’s quality of life. Hoffman Eye Care continues to be on the cutting edge of technology, using the latest developments in technology of multifocal implant lenses. These new techniques and devices make this a great time to be an ophthalmologist, and even better for patients needing cataract surgery.

Dr. Jason Martin, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who relocated to Aspen from Manhattan, joins us for a Question and Answer session to help those contemplating plastic surgery understand how to ensure they receive the safest, most effective treatments available. Dr. Martin, who specializes in cosmetic surgery, is the director of the Aspen Institute of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He currently performs surgeries at Aspen Valley Hospital.

Q & A WITH PLASTIC SURGEON, DR. W. JASON MARTIN

Mountain Medicine: What can I do to protect my skin and stay youthful without plastic surgery?

Dr. Martin: Many patients are confused about how best to preserve the skin’s integrity and youthful appearance, especially in our mountain climate. Much of the aesthetic damage and skin cancer risk can be reduced with a proper skin care regimen and regular visits to professionals who specialize in maintaining the skins youthful appearance.

Prescription of a medical-grade skincare regimen offers the best method for maintaining the integrity of the skin and reversing unwanted damage from the elements. On a case by case basis, this regimen should be further combined with non surgical treatments like chemical peels, laser therapy, microdermabrasion and injectibles such as Botox. In combination, the natural skin changes attributed to aging can be slowed and delay the need for more invasive procedures and noticeably improve ones appearance. As a patient, it is beneficial to choose a physician with experience in office-based and hospital-based cosmetic procedures. From this standpoint, any comprehensive skin care regimen will include every facet of treatment available for improving ones appearance.

Mountain Medicine: What changes have taken place in the field of plastic surgery in the last decade? How does the process differ from years ago?

Dr. Martin: Emphasis is now on maintaining a natural appearance. Procedures have become less invasive, and in most cases require minimal recovery time. These new and innovative techniques that I have incorporated into my practice utilize shorter incisions, a less invasive surgical approach and place more emphasis on staging of the procedures. By scheduling a cosmetic procedure earlier in the aging process, a cosmetic surgeon will have a greater impact on the continued aesthetic changes inherent to aging.

Mountain Medicine: Can you give us an example of staging procedures as a means of countering the natural aging process?

Dr. Martin: Early hospital based cosmetic procedures followed by minor secondary procedures much later in life, place emphasis on subtle, natural changes over time. For example, the desired progression for the aging patient is to address changes around the eyes in their early 40’s, followed by a short incision, minimally invasive facelift 5 to 10 years later. Secondary refining procedures would then be performed in the late 50’s or early 60’s. This ensures a natural preservation of a youthful appearance while avoiding the over-operated appearance sometimes associated with more invasive procedures.

Mountain Medicine: How long does it typically take to recover from what you describe as a minimally invasive procedure like a facelift?

Dr. Martin: With a short incision facelift procedure, our patients have much less bruising and discomfort during the recovery period and should be able to return to normal activities within 2 weeks of surgery.

Mountain Medicine: Can you provide us with a recap of your surgical training?

Dr. Martin: I completed my general surgery residency and a plastic surgery fellowship over a six year period at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. I also was selected for post surgical training in cosmetic surgery at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital.

Dr. Martin can be reached at 970.544.0500.

The very best things in life are custom-fit, and today that includes laser vision correction.

Just like the tailoring of a fine suit or couture fashion, today’s LASIK procedure is 100% tailor-made for you, your vision and the unique characteristics of your eyes.

Spivack Western Slope LASIK located in Glenwood Springs at 20/20 EyeCare is proud to offer the new iLASIK^TM technology to the Roaring Fork Valley. The iLASIK procedure is one of the most precise medical procedures performed today. 3-D mapping technology, called Wavescan, provides precise measurements of your eye similar to a blueprint, allowing Dr. Spivack to then custom-fit the iLASIK procedure for each of your eyes. Combined with the use of the most advanced lasers available, the CustomVue Visx S4 IR and the blade-free Intralase Laser, differentiates the iLASIK^TM procedure from all others.

Renowned surgeon Dr. Lawrence Spivack, 20/20 EyeCare and their caring, professional staff are committed to providing better vision for your life. Their comprehensive, all inclusive package features pre and post-op care, 0% interest free financing, zero down, for one full year and state-of-the-art technology permanently located in Glenwood Springs. With the absolute best in LASIK right here in the valley, there’s no reason to spend time and money driving to Denver. If you’ve been thinking about iLASIK^TM to improve your active lifestyle now is the time to call Spivack Western Slope Lasik at 970- 928-9752 for a free evaluation and see life more clearly.