Advanced Prosthetics & Orthotics - June 2020

Advanced Prosthetics & Orthotics - June 2020

kormyloortho.com

June 2020

Guiding You Through the Insurance Maze To Get You the Plan You Need

While I’ve worked in the prosthetic field ever since I moved to Boise with my two sons 10 years ago, I had worked in the medical field for several years while I still lived in New York. Soon after we arrived in Boise, I found a job at a prosthetic office through Craigslist. Two years later, I started working in billing, and a year ago, I started working at Advanced Prosthetics & Orthotics as the billing manager and patient care coordinator. I’m not really sure what drew me to working in the prosthetic field initially. All I know is that when I started my first job, everything just seemed to click. Billing doesn’t seem like the most exciting department of any office, and a lot of people find it hard to grasp. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the work when I first started, and I’ve just run with it since then. One of the best parts of my job is playing an instrumental role in seeing our patients walk again. While I might not be the one actually creating their prosthetic or walking them through the exercises that will get them back on their feet, I’m the one who’s guiding our patients through the insurance maze. I help patients pick which insurance plan will be best for them, and I help them understand every part of it. I’m always here to let them know what their responsibilities will be and what’s expected of them throughout the process of getting their prosthetic and learning how to use it. Navigating insurance plans and coordinating with insurance companies can be difficult and frustrating. Each provider brings its own set of challenges to the table that make it more difficult for me to get patients the prosthetics they

need. That said, no matter how much I have to advocate for our patients and fight the insurance

company for what we need, it’s always rewarding when we finally get their approval. Then, I get to watch our patients become mobile again and regain their independence.

Anyone who comes to Advanced Prosthetics & Orthotics needs to know this about me: I understand my job thoroughly, and I am always here to guide our patients and answer their questions. No matter the case, I will always prioritize patients’ needs above all else. Even though I was once a city girl, my family and I have ended up doing a lot of “country” things since we moved to Boise. I love spending time with my oldest son out on the shooting range, and our whole family attends every single Firebird race of the season. If you love drag racing, those Firebird races are the best! I also love all the outdoor concerts here, like Jacksons Country Stomp or Rock the Village, as well as more relaxing outdoor activities like floating the Payette. That said, I love this community, and I love working with so many people who share the Treasure Valley with me. Even though the past few months have been hectic, I am looking forward to seeing more of you in person soon!

– Denise Gambino

“I’m always here to let them know what their responsibilities will be and what’s expected of them throughout the process of getting their prosthetic and learning how to walk with it.”

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MAKING THE MOST OF BOISE’S SUMMER WEATHER

If We’re Still Social Distancing

As Idaho starts to open back up, it might still be hard to enjoy your favorite haunts and pastimes like you did before the quarantine. And until someone develops a vaccine, it’s very likely that social distancing will be the new norm for the foreseeable future. That being said, if you want to get out of your home and enjoy some of the summer fun Boise has to offer, here are a few things you can do safely.

FEELING RENEWED AT ANY AGE

Visit a local park.

While much of the city might still be finding its footing, Boise’s local parks have been a bastion of normalcy and remain open to the public, so long as everyone abides by social distancing orders. You could try your hand at disc golf at Ann Morrison Park’s 18-hole course, have a picnic on the grass, or just relax next to the Boise River with a good book.

2 Ways to Revive Your Life This Summer

Get out on the trails.

If the mercurial spring weather has prevented you from getting out as much as you would have liked these past few months, you might be feeling a bit of cabin fever about now. Luckily, you can still introduce positive changes to your life that help you feel healthier and younger. Here are two ways to awaken your body and mind.

For some real social distancing, sometimes the only option is to get out of town completely. Luckily, as most Boise residents know, hundreds of trails cover the foothills and mountains that surround the city, and all of them are open to the public. If you’re looking for trails that feel isolated but are within an hour of your home, drive north up 8th Street into the Hulls Gulch/Camel’s Back Reserve or east of downtown to the Military Reserve. If you want to see some evergreens up close, you can’t go wrong with Shafer Butte near Bogus Basin. Just make sure to give other hikers a wide berth on the trails.

Adopt a new activity.

As you get older, it’s not uncommon to drift further from the lifestyle you had in your 20s and 30s. Things have settled down, and you know a bit more about who you are, what you enjoy, and what you’re capable of. With this better understanding, you can make choices more aligned with your true interests and personality. Think about getting involved with a new activity you may have always wanted to try but never had the chance, like yoga or even a video game. Trying out new things keeps your brain active. You may even discover a new favorite activity along the way!

Make your own outdoor movie theater.

If you’re hesitant to venture far from home, you can still enjoy the blissful Boise summer evenings with your own private outdoor theater. Find a white bedsheet, buy a projector (or order one online), and cozy up with some blankets and delicious movie snacks on your lawn.

While it might not be the summer we’re used to, the weather is still nice, and we can make the most of our time out in the sun!

Pay attention to mental health.

Although more years provide more experience and knowledge, sometimes they also come with heavy baggage. The loss of a loved one, trauma, and other struggles can impact your life in later years. This is why it’s good to practice mindfulness. Take some time to focus on the present. Go for a walk and listen to the world around you, feel the fresh air against your skin, fill your lungs, and take in everything you can see. Meditation is also a good way to spend a few minutes to focus on your body in the moment and the things in life that make you happy. Practices like these can help you feel lighter, both physically and emotionally.

Growing older doesn’t mean you can’t feel renewed and positive. This isn’t just an impossible idea — it’s a reality.

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An Escape in Your Own Backyard

You can nurture a growth mindset. We can approach new activities in our lives with two possible mindsets: a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. When you adopt a fixed mindset, every mistake becomes a personal failure with no upside. When you adopt a growth mindset, however, you see mistakes as learning opportunities. You can make all sorts of mistakes when you garden: sowing seeds wrong, watering too much, or exposing plants to too much sun. Grappling with mistakes and not giving up is part of the process. A can-do attitude can help us approach other areas of our lives in the same way. You can surround yourself with greenery. Lush greenery is beautiful, and spending lots of time in it has been shown to benefit our mental health in a number of ways. If you’re recovering from surgery, light gardening can help improve the recovery process. Spending time tending to green plants can also lead to decreased anxiety and depression. While you could get these benefits just from spending time out in nature, by gardening, you have a more hands-on, nurturing relationship with greenery whenever you want. If you’re looking for other ways to cope with stress and anxiety during this time, don’t hesitate to reach out to all of us at Advanced Prosthetics & Orthotics. Just give us a call at 208-377-4024.

If you’re looking

for an activity at the intersection of social distancing, spending time outdoors, and improving your mental health, you might try taking up gardening

this summer. Whether it means tending a small spice garden in your windowsill or a vast vegetable garden to feed your family and neighbors, gardening is the ultimate outdoor activity for improving your mental health. Here are a few specific benefits of gardening.

You can relinquish control. Gardening demands focus. You can’t tend to plants while your

mind is elsewhere — upcoming appointments, your job, or bills. In a time when it feels like we have so little control over what happens in our lives, gardening forces us to focus on something besides our anxieties. Plus, gardening can yield beautiful flowers, delicious fruits and vegetables, and delectable spices as a result of your hard work and focus.

You can’t go wrong with grilled chicken and tomatoes on a warm summer’s evening. It’s a simple recipe that packs a flavor punch. INGREDIENTS GRILLED BASIL CHICKEN AND TOMATOES

SUDOKU

•

2 tbsp olive oil

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1 clove garlic

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1/2 tsp salt

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3/4 cup balsamic vinegar

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1/4 cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves

•

8 Roma tomatoes

•

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 oz each)

DIRECTIONS

1. For marinade: In blender, combine olive oil, garlic, salt, vinegar, and basil. Cut 2 tomatoes into quarters and add to mixture. Cover and process until blended. Halve remaining tomatoes for grilling. 2. In bowl, combine chicken and 2/3 cup marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Reserve remaining marinade. 3. Heat grill to about 350–400 F. Lightly oil grates. Grill chicken until internal temperature reads 165 F, about 4–6 minutes per side. Grill tomatoes until lightly browned, about 2–4 minutes per side. Discard remaining marinade. 4. Serve chicken and tomatoes with reserved marinade.

208-377-4024 3

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

175 N. Benjamin Lane Boise, ID 83704 208-377-4024

3906 E. Flamingo Ave. Nampa, ID 83687 208.466.4360

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inside

1 Denise Gambino: A Guide Through the Insurance Maze

2 How to Feel Renewed at Any Age 2 Summer Is Coming — What Will You Do? 3 Why Gardening Is a Great Activity for Improving Your Mental Health 3 Grilled Basil Chicken and Tomatoes

4 Your Guide to the Perfect Virtual Hangout

Your Guide to the Perfect Virtual Hangout It’s Time to Raise a Glass!

If you can’t see your friends in person never fear: A virtual hangout can bring all of your closest pals right into your living room. The concept is simple. Using online meetup programs like Google Hangouts, Zoom, or FaceTime, you can drink with friends across the country without leaving home. If you don’t want to get out of your sweatpants but want to sip a classy cocktail, this is a win-win. But, you can also ditch the sweats and go all-out for the full virtual hangout (VH) experience. Here are five short steps to VH success. 1. Pick your platform. In the days leading up to your VH, your friends need to agree on a single platform. Once you choose, make sure everyone has downloaded it and encourage your buddies to do a test run to ensure they can be seen and heard. 2. Theme it up. Every party is better with a theme, and VH is no exception! Considering the decade, Roaring ‘20s is a popular choice, but you can go with whatever floats your friend group’s boat,

whether that’s Kentucky Derby or "Harry Potter" (butterbeer, anyone?).

3. Write your menu. While you could just drink whatever you have sitting in your respective refrigerators, where’s the fun in that? To really class up your VH, chat with your friends about the ingredients you all have on hand and come up with a themed drink menu to “order” from on the big night. 4. Dress to the nines. Since you’re in the privacy of your own home, you can try out your wackiest, fanciest outfits without public judgment. If you’ve always wanted to try on a Roaring ‘20s flapper dress or a Roman toga, now is the time! Remember, if you go with the "Harry Potter" theme, your bathrobe could easily pass as a wizard’s robe in a pinch.

5. Enjoy! You’ve planned perfectly, so now it’s time to enjoy each other’s company.

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