Medical decisions are often defined by ethics. Should I end life support? Is this treatment helping or harming my loved one? Is this what he or she would have wanted? Many times patients and their families just need someone to listen to them during these difficult moments. Or they need the wisdom of faith, family and community in their difficult decisions.

The recently revitalized Medical Ethics Committee at CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial serves as a resource to educate, clarify and resolve ethical issues, and to foster an ethical culture throughout the Memorial organization and the community.

Made up of physicians, nurses, social workers, administrators, clergy and representatives of the community across East Texas, the group recently met to revitalize the program by establishing a charter and bylaws.

This was a year-long project for 15 Ethics Associates who just finished a training program sponsored by Catholic Health Initiatives in Houston, under the direction of Carl Middleton, D. Min., CHI Senior VP of Ethics and Theology.

“A robust ethics ministry is a necessary component of our mission as a faith-based system. It is vital to our efforts to provide healing and comfort for our patients and their families, as well as our own employees,” said Jay Gilchrist, CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Vice President of Mission Integration.

An ethics consultation may help whenever a patient, a family, or the health care team has an unresolved ethical concern by offering recommendations to aid in the decision-making process. The Medical Ethics Committee seeks to follow the patient’s wishes and/or written directive whenever possible.

“If these things are not clear, we rely on the advice of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. We gather a ‘wisdom circle’ of family, clinicians, Ethics Associates and our CHI Medical Ethics leadership, to reach a consensus about the best way forward,” said Gilchrist.

A few examples of ethical dilemmas in health care include:

• Moral distress about a health care decision
• Uncertainty as to how to make or who should make health care decisions
• How to make decisions for patients too sick to speak for themselves
• Conflict between values or spiritual beliefs and a recommended treatment
• Disagreement over whether to start, continue or end treatment, such as breathing or feeding tubes
• A complex medical situation that also raises ethical concerns

“We are here to facilitate dialogue; we aren’t here to make the decisions because that authority rests with the patients and their family,” Gilchrist said. “We want to provide clarification for ethical issues that arise in health care, as we are guided by the Gospel and the healing ministry of the Church.”

Ethics consultations are free of charge and may be requested by any patient or family member, as well as hospital staff. For more information, or if an ethics consultation is needed, call Gilchrist at 639-7340.

CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Lufkin welcomes Crystal Smith, CNM, MSN, RN, to the medical staff in Angelina County. Ms. Smith is a Certified Nurse Midwife and she joins the Memorial Clinics team.

Ms. Smith specializes in prenatal care, family planning and women’s health. She is passionate about helping East Texas women improve their overall well-being, especially young mothers by assisting with breastfeeding and the new stages of motherhood.

She graduated from Frontier Nursing University in 2011 and Northwestern State University in 1996. She has worked as a Certified Nurse Midwife in Cleveland, Texas, University of Texas Medical Branch’s Regional Maternal Child Health Program (UTMB RMCHP) and Livingston Birth Center. She was also a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner at CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Livingston, as well as a Registered Nurse there in the newborn nursery and Labor & Delivery departments. She has also worked as a Labor & Delivery Registered Nurse in Kingwood Medical Center and as a Registered Nurse at UTMB RMCHP.

“We are excited to have Ms. Smith join our Memorial Clinics staff as she brings with her a wealth of knowledge and passion for women’s health,” said Shawn Barnett, CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial COO & Lufkin President.

Ms. Smith speaks English and Spanish and is now seeing patients at 503 S. John Redditt Drive in Lufkin. Patients can schedule an appointment by calling 936-632-1533. Her office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to noon.

Back-to-school season can be fun and exciting for kids and parents alike. With your kids coming home after being exposed to all the children at school and the added stress that the school year brings, it could mean more days stuck in bed for your whole family. Experts say that rather than being reactive, it’s important to be proactive by taking steps to keep kids healthy.

“Building and maintaining a strong immune system is key to a long, healthy life,” says Larry Robinson, PhD, and vice president of Scientific Affairs, Embria Health Sciences, a manufacturer of science-based ingredients that support wellness.

For a strong and healthy school year ahead, Robinson and Embria are offering some useful health and wellness tips.

Great Habits

A healthy lifestyle means developing healthy habits. Perhaps most important is to enforce a consistent bedtime to promote adequate sleep, which is proven in studies to promote good health. Added bonus: kids will be more alert in their classes after a full night’s rest.

Proper nutrition is also key: three solid nutrient-filled meals a day and healthy, non-sugary snacks. Regular, moderate exercise also promotes good health, so encourage them to participate in physical activities like sports teams, dance classes and even just playing in the yard.

Smart Supplements

Even well balanced diets can use a few more benefits to promote better wellness and good health. The best immune system supplements are well researched and do more than simply boost the immune system.

Consider supplements containing the breakthrough, fermentation ingredient EpiCor, shown to support the body’s ability to initiate the proper immune response when needed. For example, NOW Healthy Immune contains EpiCor, Zinc, Selenium, and Vitamin D-3 and C for additional support for the body’s immune system. Formulated into easy pouring packs, they are a convenient way for busy families to stay healthy on-the-go.

To help strengthen the immune system another way, think about your gut, which is where 70 percent of your immune system resides. Probiotics can keep your gut and you healthier. Consider a supplement such as Hyperbiotics Immune, which contains EpiCor, targeted probiotic strains, zinc, vitamin C and echinacea.

While these statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration and these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease, many experts believe they can help you maintain a strong immune system.

Reduce Stress

Too much stress can compromise the immune system. Help kids reduce the stress in their lives by not over-scheduling them. Ensure that with schoolwork, chores and after school activities, kids still have time to relax, see friends and just be a kid.

For happy, healthy kids, practice wellness habits that promote a strong immune system.