Dr. Katrina Baker, Every Woman OB/GYN

Dr. Katrina Baker and her staff at Every Woman OB/GYN offer general obstetrical and gynecological services, as well as specialty services, to include minimally invasive surgical procedures and menopausal treatment with bio-identical hormones.

Baker has won AV’s Best Obstetrician/Gynecologist three times and has nearly 15 years of specialized medical experience. Every Women OB/GYN has been in business for over fve years and understands the needs of women.

“We are daughters, mothers and sisters,” Baker said. “We are every woman!” With their all-female staff, they are dedicated to providing personalized and exceptional care to their patients.

44241 15th St. West, Suite 303, Lancaster 661.949.5850 board-certified in hematology and medical oncology, and she’s a great physician. She’s a talented clinician, and she is dedicated to caring for her patients and their families throughout their cancer journeys.

Dr. Amartej Merla is also board-certified in hematology and medical oncology and has been practicing in Antelope Valley for quite some time now, and we are very happy that he’s joined the clinic, as well as taking on a leadership role. He has tremendous empathy toward his patients. That’s what you’ll find at City of Hope. From the moment a patient enters, they are the most important person in the room. Dr. Merla truly wants patients to know they are cared for. He has a wonderful vision for bringing world-class care to our local community.

What services does City of Hope | Antelope Valley provide?

It’s one of City of Hope’s largest community practice sites. We have a large, comfortable infusion therapy suite where chemotherapy, immunotherapy and other treatments can be delivered. Our nursing staff is chemo-certified, very caring and very competent. We are so proud of them.

Other services include radiation therapy, with two full-time radiation oncologists, gynecological oncology, surgical oncology, and a team of five urologists. We have supportive services such as a social worker on-site.

What does the City of Hope community practice site mean to the community in Antelope Valley?

People want treatment closer to home. That’s the whole idea of our local sites: We come to the community rather than expecting the community to come to us. We have the commitment to bring the same quality of care from Duarte to the Antelope Valley.

Our City of Hope community practice site has become a landmark of cancer care here. hands, this technique produces excellent results with standard lens implants. However, there are now more advanced lens implants such as the trifocal lens implant (PanOptix®) and astigmatism-correcting lens implants that perform best when they are perfectly centered in the eye. Laser-assisted cataract surger y allows the surgeon to eliminate the variability inherent with manual techniques and delivers a consistency that offers greater predictability regarding lens centration. The laser is used instead of a blade to make the incisions in the patient’s cornea, make a perfect circular opening to access the cataract and use laser pulses to soften the cataract and allow it to be more easily removed.

Q: Wow! That sounds a little complicated! What are the main advantages of the laser?

Dr. Helm: (Laughs) Yes, it can get a little technical! Basically, the advantages of using a laser with cataract surgery are that the laser gives us a level of precision, predictability and programmability that allows for greater customization of surgery. Each eye is different. The laser takes that into account and allows us to precisely tailor the best contoured incision for that particular eye.

Q: Is there anything special about this particular laser that Helm Vision Group has acquired?

Dr. Helm: This laser represents Swiss technology at its finest! Other lasers can be very finicky. This laser is very solidly built and is highly accurate. The most important difference however, is that unlike other laser platforms that are available for cataract surgery, the Ziemer FEMTO LDV Z8 uses the lowest pulse energy to do the job. That means that with less energy needed to perform, it causes less inflammation and makes the surger y a more gentle experience.

Q: Is there anything else that this laser can do?

Dr. Helm: Yes, this laser is incredibly versatile. We can also use it to do corneal transplant surgery. The laser can make complex incisions that result in a stronger bond between a donor cornea and the host cornea. Basically, anything type of corneal surgery that required a blade in the past can now be done more accurately and precisely with this laser. We are very excited to bring this technology to the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley and surrounding areas.

Palmdale Regional’s ER is ready to serve you, 24/7.

But where do you go for those minor, non-life-threatening concerns, like the flu, cuts and ear infections? A facility like Rosamond Urgent Care, affiliated with Palmdale Regional, or an urgent care nearest you, could be the answer.

Urgent Care Centers

The number of urgent care centers continues to increase, as the demand for convenient healthcare increases. Many visit urgent care centers because of the convenience of being able to walk in without an appointment and be seen quickly.

It is important to remember that an urgent care center is not a replacement for a continuing relationship with a primary care physician.

Medical Emergency? Make the Right Choice.

Use the following as a guide when you need help deciding where to go. If you are unsure what type of facility to choose, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Go to the ER or Call 911 for:

Signs of possible stroke (slurred speech, facial drooping on one side, etc.)

Signs of possible heart attack (chest pain, shortness of breath, etc.)

Serious burns

Fever with rash

Difficulty breathing

Broken bones

Severe cuts

Abnormal bleeding Concussion/confusion

Visit an Urgent Care Center for: Allergies

Burns

Cold or flu

Coughs

Cuts

Ear infections

Pulled/strained muscles

Urinary tract infections

Remember! Certain medical conditions are simply too serious for urgent care centers and must be treated at a hospital ER.

About the Palmdale Regional ER

Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, visit palmdaleregional.com or rosamondurgentcare.com

Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Palmdale Regional Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website.

Of all the things we think about in a day, walking around may be something we take for granted. However, as we age, we become more prone to falls. They can come from a variety of factors – weakened muscles, worsening eyesight, underlying health issues and much more.

For seniors dealing with memory loss, additional risk factors include difficulties in finding their way around, processing and responding to situations and communicating their concerns.

It’s important to consider the risk factors that could impact your loved one’s ability to stay safe, so we invite you to join us for a free Fall Risk Webinar on Thursday, March 18 at 1 p.m. PST. Led by Licensed Athletic Trainer and Senior Fitness Expert Adrian Cagigas, this webinar will explain the factors that increase fall risk and provide you with the tools and resources to reduce your loved one’s risk of falling.

Visit PrestigeCanHelp.com to sign up for this free webinar.

A Team Effort

It’s important to talk to your loved one’s doctor about how their health can impact their risk of falling.

In addition, any changes to their medications could cause physical or cognitive side effects that increase the possibility of suffering a fall. Polypharmacy – taking four or more prescriptions at the same time – can also cause side effects that can lead to falls.

At Prestige Senior Living, we have Health Services Directors who can run medication reviews, helping our residents and their families understand how their prescriptions work in combination with each other.