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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 2015)
that processed foods, dairy products, red meat, and eggs consumed in excess can prove detrimental to one’s health. A 15-person pilot program conducted in summer of 2014 was followed by two 50-person classes — each including 18 sessions lasting 90 minutes — from late September to mid-November 2014, and mid-January to early March 2015, and a third class began in April. Results have been so positive, says hospital general surgeon Dr. Kenneth Rose – another licensed facilitator along with Dr. Emily Sheahan and WMH Director of Med- ical Records Kathy Webster – that WMH will support two additional CHIP classes beginning Sept. 8, 2015, and in the spring of 2016. “I have more energy, am thinking clearer, and am more excited about getting older.” – Marcy Hamilton, past participant of the CHIP program More grants are being sought to continue the work. The $40,500 grant secured in 2014 from the Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization (EOCCO) has allowed people from Wallowa County to enroll in the program for $99, instead of a normal cost of about $500. Dr. Rose says most participants in the classes, through personal insurance, have been reimbursed for that $99 fee. Included in that $99 investment — in addition to nightly live and video lectures, cooking demonstrations, and hot, healthy meals — are a packet of written material including a textbook, workbook, and cookbook and three free blood draws to calibrate successes of programs. Overall results from blood draws taken from participants of the first two full classes regarding total cholesterol, LDL (or bad) cholesterol, and weight loss are known. In the two 50-person classes in 2014, total cholesterol levels exceeded acceptable norms in more than 70 percent of class participants when the programs began. During the two-month courses, participants ate plant- based meals on class nights and were encouraged to follow a similar regimen throughout the entire two months. Hamilton, the woman who says she’s now seeing life through new eyes, says she’d always been a chronic dieter, but now has learned she can eat more than ever of the right kinds of foods. Both Lamm and Dr. Rose are excited thus far about results here of the CHIP program. Lamm says participants regularly tell her, “I can do this. I didn’t realize it was that easy.” Dr. Rose simply says it’s rewarding to see others getting excited about their health. A sought-after public speaker around the world, Dr. Hans Diehl attended the final session of the first local CHIP program in November 2014. During that visit he said, “I would like to see Enterprise become a template for other small communities in the country.” HOSPITAL TAKING NAMES FOR CHIP PARTICIPATION Wallowa Memorial Hospital (WMH) is currently taking names of people who are interested in attending classes of the Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP). Upcoming available classes start in September 2015 and in spring 2016. To be placed on the list, contact WMH's Sue Womack at 542-426-5301. Highlights from the 2-month, 50-person CHIP classes • Total cholesterol levels dropped 10% in one class and 8.2% in thr other • With half of all participants starting with high LDL levels, the average LDL loss was 16.2% and 10% for the classes. • Average weight loss per person in the classes were 7.8 pounds and 7.2 pounds. • The largest individual weight loss for one person in the class was 28.6 pounds. Rich Rautenstrauch/Chieftain During a class meeting of CHIP at Wallowa Memorial Hospital, Dr. Emily Sheahan, right, and Dr. Kenneth Rose present information to program participants. 2015 goodhealth | wallowa.com 11