Good morning everybody, and welcome to the Balancing Act.
We are so glad you joined us.
I'm Julie Moran.
And I'm Olga Villaverde.
Today we continue our special series on rehabilitation
hospitals and how they are helping so many people get back
on their feet.
And, May means Cinco De Mayo.
Whoo!
A flavorful taste of the nations coming up as we create delicious
recipes with tortillas.
Julie, we can enjoy them all year round.
We got to say.
Aye Aye Aye canton no llores.
I almost got it.
I love her.
The Balancing Act starts right now.
(music).
Our Health Matters series continues this morning with the
second in a four part series about the important work being
done at inpatient rehabilitation hospitals.
In fact, once again, I am on location at Health South, one of
the premier inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the
country, with over a hundred hospitals nationwide.
I'm joined, once again, by Dr. Dexan-Colon, HealthSouth's chief
medical officer, and Dr. Cheryl Miller, national director of
therapy operations.
Ladies thank you so much for joining me again.
Thank you.
Great to see you.
You know, doctor, last time we spoke a lot about HealthSouth,
I'd like to remind our viewers, once again, exactly it is.
It's a system of hospitals where rehabilitation medicine is
practiced, so a system of rehabilitation hospitals.
We have 107 in 29 states, and Puerto Rico.
And who should consider a stay at a rehabilitation hospital?
A person that needs to be an inpatient.
In other words, they are not well enough to go home and have
outpatient therapy, who has complex needs.
Who needs more than one type of therapy, so they may need
physical therapy and speech therapy and/or occupational
therapy, or all three.
Dr. Miller, how does rehabilitation work, exactly?
Well, rehabilitation is a special field of medicine, as
Dr. Colon has said in the past.
We're really focused on restoring independence and
function after a major illness or injury for our patients.
I think the thing that's special about rehabilitation is that
it's provided by an interdisciplinary team, so in
our hospitals, typically a patient will be treated each
day, not only by a rehabilitation nurse, but also
by physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech
therapists, and many other people on the team.
And there are so many stories here.
Patients that have come in and left, and reached their goal.
I'd like to share one with our viewers of one young patient,
and let's hear what she has to say, shall we?
Let's do that.
Coming from ICU and then they told me I was going to have
three hours of therapy every day so I was really nervous, but
everyone did their best to like, kind of ease my nerves, tell me
it was okay.
They really kind of made me feel like they were going to take
care of me, as if I was their own, and just like, made me feel
really welcome, and like things are going to be okay.
Now, I love hearing stories like that, Dr. Miller.
Tell me exactly what a typical day is like here.
A typical day in rehabilitation starts very early in the
morning.
Our patients get up bright and early.
They start their normal day.
They start to their simple self-care and wash their face
and get ready for the day, but a really important thing, and I
think differentiating rehabilitation, is that they get
dressed in regular street clothes, no hospital gowns here
in HealthSouth, and then we start their therapy process.
So, during the day, they will typically get about three hours
or more of therapy per day.
That's all based on their individual needs.
Some physical therapy, some occupational therapy, some
speech therapy, and another really important part of
rehabilitation is providing adequate rest periods in between
these therapies, so that they can continue to tolerate and
progress through the rehabilitation process.
Dr. Colon would you like to add something?
She's talked to you about the busy day with therapy, but there
is also another 21 hours of the day that lots of other services
are taking place for our patients, so they are seen by
physicians.
They are taken care of by nurses, many of whom have
specific skills for rehabilitation.
There's a certification called a Certified Rehabilitation
Register Nurse that many of our nurses have achieved.
We're very proud of that.
We have case managers.
We have all sorts of people as part of this team.
It's really a team process to help a patient to help a patient
meet that patient's personal goals.
And how long does it take that patient to meet the goal.
For example, how long does a patient stay here, Dr. Miller.
Well, every patient is very individual.
It's based on their individual illness or injury.
We also track our length of stays on average for all of our
patients, and that's about 13.2 days, is how long a patient will
stay for their rehabilitation at HealthSouth.
I was actually expecting a little bit more Dr. Clohen.
We know that patients don't want to spend any more time in a
hospital than they have to.
So, we try to be very active and very intensive in getting people
better as fast as we can.
But, it's personalized.
Some people stay much longer, some a little shorter.
I can only imagine it's bittersweet because you're
helping this patient, you become close to them, but you want to
see them go too.
Any thoughts on that, doctor?
It's a little like seeing one of your own children graduate.
You are very invested in them.
You're a little sorry to see them go off, but you're so
proud, so excited, it's one of the very gratifying aspects of
rehabilitation medicine, and our patients frequently, when they
go out the door, they come back later, not as a patient again,
but they come back later to thank the staff.
They come to reunions.
It's extremely exciting.
Before we go, is anyone leaving today?
We have someone going home today, and it's always exciting
when that happens.
Usually, the staff celebrates a bit, patients and families are
very proud.
I saw a patient earlier today who was standing up, and
recently told me he was not expected to live.
So, these are the kinds of stories that make it a pleasure
for us to come to work everyday.
God bless them.
Thank you so much for what you do.
Thank you.
We do appreciate it.
Thank you for sharing that story with me.
We'll see you again to talk more about HealthSouth.
What's that website one more time for patients or even family
members out there that need that help?
HealthSouth.com Ladies, thank you so much, again.
And, as always, if you want to learn more just head to our
website, it's really easy.
It's TheBalancingAct.com we're also on Facebook and Twitter.
We always love to hear from you.
(music).They're referred to as GMOs or Genetically Modified
Organisms and with so much public discussion of GMOs and
GMO labeling we started wondering, what really are GMOs
and what do they mean for American women?
To find out we turned to our friends at Common Ground, an
organization bringing together the women who grow food with
those who buy it.
And bringing that conversation right to the breakfast table and
beyond this morning is Julie Kenney, an Iowa farmer, as well
as a volunteer for Common Ground.
It's so great to have you in the studio.
Thanks for having me.
Alright, before we start tell me a little bit more about yourself
and Common Ground.
I'm a fifth generation farmer along with my husband.
We farm in Iowa and we have primarily corn and soy beans and
also we're raising two little kids so at any time on the farm
you might find them helping us plant corn and soy beans or
nurturing those crops throughout the growing season or riding in
the combine at the end of the year.
So it's a very fun family farm.
And Common Ground, you volunteer for them.
I do, yea, it's a great opportunity.
You know, I recognize as a mom that I'm fortunate to have
access to a farm and see how food is grown today, but not
everybody has that access so I think it's important to help
describe what's going on and answer questions that consumers
might have so that's really the goal and the mission of that
organization.
Julie, we hear so much about GMOs and a lot of people really
don't know what they are.
Could you just explain it in kind of layman's terms for me
and our viewers?
Sure, sure.
So farmers and gardeners have been improving seeds and plants
for centuries and genetic modification or GMOs is really
kind of the modern version of that, where we take that process
of improving the seeds into the lab and what it results in is
really a more accurate and precise way of improving those
plans so some of the benefits that we've seen today is you
know protection against insects or diseases, or some of the
common challenges that we might have on our farm, but I'm really
excited about some of the benefits to come like improved
nutrition of the food we produce.
Those kinds of things.
Really exciting times.
Let's examine in greater details some of the myths surrounding
GMOs.
The short list food allergies, ADD, cancer.
What is the research showing?
You know most people don't realize that these products have
been on the market for about two decades.
Really.
And before they even come to the market they're really really
thoroughly tested and researched and you know, as a mom whose not
only growing these products, but also feeding them to my children
it's really important to me to know that they are the most
thoroughly researched foods on the market today and have proven
to be just as safe as all the other products available to us.
Now both organic foods and GMO foods use pesticides and
insecticides and what's most important when it comes to
safety and also I think some people sometimes think organic
doesn't use any pesticides.
Yea it's also a common misconception so both organic
farmers and conventional farmers like ourselves have access to
insecticides and pesticides, and it's just one of the tools that
we use to help protect those plants.
But as farmers we're always looking to continuous
improvement, so how can we grow as much as possible and be as
productive as possible, but also use those resources in a really
responsible manner and the GMO technology has allowed us to do
that.
What's the most important thing that you want to share with
women out there and maybe specifically moms out there?
Yea, I think there are a ton of questions about food and farming
and as a farmer I think that's really exciting.
I invite those questions and that's really the main reason
that I volunteer my time with Common Ground.
I think it's a great opportunity for, not just myself, but other
farm women from across the country to share what's going on
on farms today and help answer some of those burning questions.
We've got a great website.
Ok, that's the viewers will want to know.
Where can they find you?
FindOurCommonGround.com and it's a great opportunity to connect
with farmers like myself and maybe asks some of those burning
questions we haven't talked about today.
Well I just want to thank you and all the farmers and ranchers
out there that just provide us with, America has the safest,
tastiest healthiest food in the world.
Thank you.
And if you'd like additional information on GMOs, your
invited for some nutritious nuggets at TheBalancingAct.com
or send us your fresh food ideas, share your thoughts or
questions on Facebook/TheBalancingActFans.
(music).
So excited.
Cinco De Mayo, one of my favorite holidays because it
means fun, music, and best of all, great food.
And what better way to celebrate than taco night at home with the
family.
Here to share her tips on how to elevate your meal is culinary
consultant, cookbook author, and chef, Jill Houk.
Good morning!!
Hey Olga!
How are you?
Buenas Dias!!
Buenas Dias to you too!
You know what is served every Tuesday at mi casa?
My house?
I'm guessing tacos.
Taco Tuesday!!
I love it.
I am so excited you're hear this morning.
My producer was telling me earlier that you make the best
tacos because you have a secret weapon?
I sure do.
What is it?
I start with Tortillaland uncooked tortillas.
And why is that?
They are so special.
They come in the refrigerated section, because they are
without any kind of preservatives.
It's 5 all natural ingredients, and you cook them fresh to
order.
Wow, that's awesome.
Yes.
And what I love about tortillas is you really can use them for a
lot of things.
Not just a taco.
Oh my goodness, no, but let's get cooking.
Alright, let's do that.
So, what we're going to is I start with my Tortillaland
uncooked tortillas, and I've got a nice hot pan here, and in 60
seconds, we're going to have a wonderful fresh hot tortilla.
So you're actually cooking these, as opposed to me grabbing
those off the counter.
What makes this, I guess, a little bit more special?
This is more special because it's cooked to order.
The ones at the counter have been cooked, and they're
delicious, but these are cooked fresh and so they are nice and
hot and you're ready to make a taco with them.
I like that.
And you also mentioned some all natural ingredients.
What are those?
Stuff that you find in your own kitchen?
Really?
So, flour, water, oil, sugar, salt.
Ingredients that you've got on hand all the time.
Alright, you're making me really hungry.
So, you've got a great spread.
Tell me what you have here.
So let's make some tacos.
Okay, I'm going to get one for you, and one for me.
So, while we're making our tacos, I'm going to flip over
the Tortillaland tortilla, and this is where the magic happens.
It gets all nice and puffed up.
This is fun to do with the kids.
That is cute.
They just love these, and of course you have to supervise
them, as you're doing this, but what's fun about taco night is
you can put on everything you want.
It's a way to make the whole family happy.
So we've got chicken.
I'm going to put a little bit of this.
I'm going to put some corn on.
And you know that Tortillaland tortillas are great for other
foods as well.
So, I'll make a homemade pizza night, where everybody is using
a tortilla as an individual pizza crust.
Let me tell you, I'll make a tuna salad and I'll use a
tortilla.
Right?
Oh, that is delicious.
That's not bad?
Not at all.
You can even make desserts, so if you have some chocolate and
some fruit, everything is just so delicious.
I've never tried these tortillas so I'm going to tell you right
now that I think I'm ready to go, because everybody out there
is going man this woman can eat.
Oh my goodness.
Let me see the difference.
Let me taste real quick.
Mmm, they're so soft.
Aren't they wonderful?
And that's the difference between a cooked to order fresh
Tortillaland tortilla, and right now we're using the flour
variety, but we also have corn and cheesy, so you can put those
out with your taco night spread, or you can put them out with
whatever you're cooking, whether it be breakfast, dessert or
lunch.
I love it.
Let me tell you my kids are going to love this, because when
I pack lunches, I can actually make them a ham and cheese
sandwich, and just put a little tortilla on and change out that
bread, right?
Absolutely.
And it's like a little hug.
You've got the tortilla that's hugging the ingredients, and
your kids are just going to love it.
You know who else is going to love this?
I have to do this.
My producer, he's married to a gorgeous Latina.
Her name is Rosie, and Chris, get over here, I know you love
tacos, so I'm not going to make you bite off my side.
I'm in taco heaven right now.
Take a bite, my friend.
I love this man.
He'll do anything for me.
MMmmmmm.
Go ahead, say que rico!
Que rico!
Isn't he handsome too?
Thank you Chris.
Okay, I want my kids to eat these tortillas, so where can I
get them?
Go to the Tortillaland.com website.
Easy.
We have a product locator.
You put in your address and it will tell you what retail stores
to buy them at.
We're at Costco, Wal-mart, Kroger, Meyer, and Safeway.
And if you'd like to learn how to spice up your meal, visit us
at TheBalancingAct.com, or share some of your favorite tortilla
recipes by logging on to Facebook.com/TheBalancingActFans
Okay, I'm going to take another bite.
This is divine.
(music).
Well, it's almost time to start the day.
Hope you make it a great one.
Let's go eat some tortillas.
Let's do it.
All year long, everyday.
Remember to check our website TheBalancingAct.com you can find
lots more information there.
We're also on Twitter and Facebook.
Follow us, like us, tweet us.
Be social.
Yes!
We're going to eat tortillas.
Until next time, remember find your balance.
So long everybody.
(music)