Spectrum Health Hosts September Web Chats

Consumers can have their health questions answered through live Web chats this month with Spectrum Health medical specialists.

Three chats are scheduled for September at www.spectrum-health.org/onlinechat.

Peter J. L. Jebson, MD, presents “Raise Your Hand If It Hurts” on Friday, September 17 at noon. From lumps and bumps, to pain, stiffness, numbness and tingling, at one time or another, nearly everyone has had a problem with a hand, wrist, finger or thumb. Jebson will answer questions about managing and treating common conditions that affect hands or wrists including carpal tunnel syndrome, sprains and strains, arthritis, tendonitis, trigger finger or thumb, ganglion cysts and more.

Jebson is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with a certificate of additional qualification in hand surgery. He recently joined the practice of Donald P. Condit, MD. He recently moved from Ann Arbor, where he served as associate professor, University of Michigan, Department of Orthopedic Surgery.

John Anderson, MD, of Orthopedic Associates of Michigan discusses “Common Foot and Ankle Problems” on Wednesday, September 22 at 7 p.m. Walking puts up to one and a half times your body weight on your feet and one hour of strenuous exercise means your feet cushion up to one million pounds of pressure. Three out of four Americans experience serious foot problems. Anderson will answer questions about common foot and ankle conditions and injuries including arthritis, heel pain, bunions, stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis and more.

Anderson is board-certified orthopedic surgeon and serves as associate professor, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine; co-director, Grand Rapids Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Fellowship, and associate program director, Grand Rapids Orthopedic Residency Program.

“Oh, My Aching Back” will be presented by Jason Squires, DO, of the Spectrum Health Medical Group on Tuesday, September 28 at noon. Eight out of every 10 Americans have experienced some sort of back pain during their lives. Back pain can prevent people from enjoying a good quality of life. Chat participants can learn more about prevention and treatment options for back and neck pain.

Squires graduated from Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his fellowship at the Louis A. Goldstein Spinal Surgery Fellowship, University of Rochester. He has special interest in treating patients with neck or back pain, including traumatic spine injuries, degenerative spinal disorders, pediatric spinal disorders and scoliosis.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, a collection of eight hospitals and more than 140 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group, mmpc® and West Michigan Heart—physician groups totaling more than 500 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with nearly 580,000 members. Spectrum Health’s 16,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members and 2,000 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care. The organization provided $79.4 million in community benefit during its 2009 fiscal year. In 2010, Spectrum Health was named a Top 10 Health System by Thomson Reuters.