SJLH Social Worker and Bereavement Coordinator Pamela Crabtree discusses the bereavement program with Sharren Coehauer.
NEW BEREAVEMENT COORDINATOR PLANS TO BRING NEW COMMUNITY PROGRAM TO ST. JOHN'S
"I have always wanted to serve others since I was a child. As a Bereavement Coordinator, I will have the opportunity to walk beside you using my experience and education as needed," stated Pamela Crabtree, MSW, and new Bereavement Coordinator at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. Crabtree holds a masters degree in Social Work from Eastern Washington University in Cheney, WA, as well as a certification as a school social worker, and a foundation certificate in drug and alcohol studies. She has been in the field for 10 years, and has big plans for her role at St. John’s and for the communities that the hospital serves. Laura Sedler, MSW and long time employee of St. John’s is excited about the new ideas that Crabtree brings to SJLH. "Ms. Crabtree brings a lot of experience and enthusiasm to our St. John’s team; she is particularly excited about expanding our hospital’s bereavement care program into the community." Crabtree plans to provide community support offering the opportunity to address any questions or concerns regarding the SJLH Bereavement Program. "I am looking forward to having the opportunity to offer reassurance and understanding about the grief process; making known the availability of local support systems; pastoral, other counseling; and the hospice library, for example." She also has a desire to provide more than just immediate support for community members that seek her help. "I want to provide continued ongoing support to family after a loved one has died. If intensive counseling is needed, I am open to do one-on-one counseling or group sessions. I will set up appointments and conduct counseling as needed in the best setting for the people that I am helping. I am also excited to organize and facilitate support groups to encourage help and support to the bereaved through social activities such as picnics and plays," added Crabtree. Sheree Comer, RN, MS, COS-C, CPHM, and Home Health/Hospice manager at St. John’s is also thrilled about what Crabtree can bring to the hospital and the community. "Laura Sedler has done a remarkable job of handling patient bereavement in the past, but with the job of social worker for Home Health and Hospice, as well as her role as the volunteer coordinator, it is clear that there was too much work for one person. Pam is a welcome addition to our team, and will be able to provide needed and consistent bereavement services for the communities we serve. Bereavement support, counseling, and other services are greatly needed in our area to facilitate handling grief and loss after a patient’s death. We are thrilled at being able to offer new services to our population and provide the quality care people have come to expect from St. John’s." For more information about the SJLH Bereavement Program, contact the Home Health and Hospice department at 293-0180.
"Time is Brain" New Technology at St. John's Helps Physicians Treat Stroke Victims
In developed countries, stroke is the third leading cause of death. Each year, stroke occurs in more than 700,000 patients leaving many with disabilities and unable to resume their previous lifestyle or employment. This makes the social and economic impact of stroke one of the most devastating in medicine. There is an FDA approved drug called tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, that in some patients can help reverse the disability of stroke if given within the first 4 1/2 hours after the stroke has occurred. So, "time is brain" when it comes to the assessment and treatment of stroke patients. The faster a patient receives proper treatment for stroke, the better the chances for recovery. St. John’s Lutheran Hospital is working hard to make sure that this is an option for stroke patients in South Lincoln County. Using videoconferencing and image sharing technology, St. John’s Emergency Room Physicians can work with stroke specialists miles away to examine patients at SJLH, help diagnose the problem, and recommend a plan of care. Often times, within the first 4 ½ hours of a stoke, that plan of care includes the medicine, tPA. "This telestroke program gives our Emergency Room Physicians the option to interact with a stroke expert within minutes. Before we began this program, we didn’t have the option to speak with a stroke specialist this rapidly. Because of these challenges, administering tPA was always a guessing game for us. Especially since the drug comes with certain risks, we don’t want to administer it to patients unless the reward greatly outweighs those risks," stated Jay Maloney, M.D. at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. "It gives emergency physicians peace of mind to know that when we administer this medicine, we are doing it with the recommendation of an expert in that field. Now, we can administer the drug quickly, and we know that we are doing the right thing for our patients! We are continually working to bridge the gap that exists in rural medicine. Because of where we choose to live -- we have too!"
NEW PHARMACIST WELCOMED AT ST. JOHN’S
Libby/Montana - St. John’s Lutheran Hospital recently welcomed Amie Wells, RPh as the newest member of their management team. Wells has been hired to fill the Pharmacy Manager position. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the University of Montana, as well as a Montana state license. Wells has worked in healthcare field since 2008, and has been a pharmacist since June of 2009. She comes to St. John’s from Well Life Pharmacy in Bonner’s Ferry, ID. Cathy Wolfe, Vice President of Nursing Services at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital is overjoyed to have Wells on board! "I am thrilled that Amie has decided to join the St. John’s team. Since she grew up in this area, and is returning home, we are sure that she will be a great fit for our organization and our community. " Wells comes back to the area with her husband Michael who is also a pharmacist working at Kootenai Drug in Troy. - 2/10
ST. JOHN’S WELCOMES DR. BRIAN BARSTAD
Libby, MT - St. John’s Lutheran Hospital is proud to welcome a new member to their Emergency Department Team of Physicians. Brian Barstad, M.D. comes to St. John’s Lutheran Hospital by way of Gateway Family Health Clinic in Hinckley, Minnesota. "We are thrilled to have Dr. Barstad on board in our emergency room! He is a joy to work with, and we know that he will be a perfect fit for our hospital and for our community," stated Jay Maloney, M.D. and Director of Emergency Medicine at St. John’s. Dr. Barstad is board certified in family practice medicine. He completed his undergraduate degree at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and attended medical school at the University of North Dakota, School of Medicine in Grand Forks, ND, where he also completed his residency. In addition to that, Dr. Barstad did an internship at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Fort Gordon, GA, and spent 4 years as a physician in the military. Dr. Barstad enjoys a plethora of outdoor activities. "My favorite outdoor activities include hunting – especially for pheasants – fishing, downhill skiing, and golfing. Literally anything where there are no or very few mosquitoes," joked the Minnesota native. "My favorite sport is football, and I am a Vikings fan. I still have season tickets and plan to keep them...the Amtrak goes from here straight into Minneapolis!" Barstad also coached his oldest daughter’s soccer team and helped out with the local basketball team in Minnesota. "With Dr. Barstad’s background in Emergency Medicine, his love for the out of doors, and his focus on community and family, he’ll be great fit for our area," added KC Hoyer, Marketing Manager at St. John’s. "He’s such a great asset to our Emergency Department, that even the Green Bay Packer backers on the hospital team can overlook his ‘Viking Condition’; I’m sure it can be treated!" Barstad moved to Libby in February, and will soon be joined his by his wife, Jennifer and their four children Brianna, Joesphine, Jacob, and Noah. - 2-10
Jimmy Ray Fincher receives an infusion treatment from Linda Matthews, RN, OCN at the SJLH Chemotherapy and Infusion Center
Additional Services In Chemotherapy Department at St. John's Lead to Name Change
Chemotherapy and Infusion Center
Libby/Montana - St. John’s Lutheran Hospital is proud to announce their new Chemotherapy and Infusion Center. According to Bill Patten, CEO at St. John’s, the Chemotherapy Department has been steadily increasing their services and their patient numbers for years. "In 2007, we moved the Outpatient Chemotherapy Department to a larger area to accommodate their growth," said Patten. "As a result of this change the number of services that they offer multiplied substantially. In an effort to recognize this growth, we decided to rename them the Chemotherapy and Infusion Center, a name befitting the additional services that they can provide." In addition to Chemotherapy, the Center also provides a variety of infusion therapies. Infusion therapies are intravenous medications that patients need to have on a regularly scheduled basis. "There are many different types of infusion therapies that physicians order for their patients to receive, and they all have to be closely monitored for side effects," stated Linda Matthews, RN, OCN and Center Coordinator. "We work closely with our doctors to monitor dosage and frequency of treatments. Offering infusion therapies, as well as outpatient chemotherapy saves our patients the time and expense of travel, especially when they are feeling weak or in pain." The Center offers a number of infusion therapies including Remicade (for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Crohns), Orenica (for Rheumatoid Arthritis), Venofer (for Anemia or Iron Deficiency), Prolastin (for Alph1 Antitrypsin Deficiency), IVIG (for Auto Immune Deficiency), Solu-Medrol (for Multiple Sclerosis), Reclast (for Osteoporosis), Thyrogen injections (for patients undergoing Thyroid Cancer scans), and Blood Product Transfusion.
"It’s amazing to think that we have only been in our new area for a little over three years and we are already out-growing it," added Matthews. "I am so looking forward to the completion of the new hospital. The added space will provide a more comfortable area for patients that require wheel chairs or walking devices. And, it will offer enough room for family members to stay with their loved ones during the procedure. These are the human touches that small hospitals like St. John’s are famous for providing. We’re just lucky that we can offer it all locally." For more information about the Chemotherapy and Infusion Center, please contact Linda or Connie at 293-0121.
FREE Pre Healthfair Health Screening Tests Available
St. John’s Lutheran Hospital’s Annual Road to Health: Health Fair will be held on March 27, 2010 from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Memorial Center in Libby. The fair --popular for it’s interactive health/wellness related exhibits, kid friendly activities, bone density testing, and more-- is once again offering free and discounted health screening tests (cholesterol, PSA, glucose, thyroid, etc.) before the fair. This advance testing is beneficial to participants because the lab results will be available at the fair where local medical providers will be on-hand to answer questions and provide more information concerning the results. "Last year, many fairgoers took advantage of the medical providers who donated their time to answer health related questions and explain screening results," commented Susan Horelick, Health/Wellness Managers at St. John’s. "Our motivation is to offer folks attending the fair the information and guidance they need to understand which are normal results, and which results indicate the need to see their medical providers for diagnosis and treatment." St. John’s will once again be giving away 200 free Lipid Panels (Cholesterol) and Glucose screening (a $90 value), as well as offering significantly discounted screenings for PSA (prostate), A1c (diabetes) and TSH (thyroid) for $15 each, and a Hemogram (anemia) for $5 each. After all of the 200 free Lipid Panels are given out (on a first come, fist serve basis) that screening will also be offered at the reduced cost of $15. The lab draws for all the pre-fair screenings will take place during the weeks of March 8th – 12th and March 15rd – 19th. Registration is required for all of these screenings. Staring March 1st from 10 am – 3 pm, you may call 293-0164 to register. On the days of the screening all parties must check in at the front desk of the hospital before they proceed to the lab. Twelve hours of fasting is required for Lipid and Glucose testing. Payment for the discounted screenings will be required at the time of service and insurance will not be billed. There are no fasting requirements for the other discounted screening tests. Vouchers for these same reduced cost lab tests can be obtained at the Health Fair (these lab tests must be drawn within the time period of March 29 – April 1, 2010). "Making the commitment to regular health screening tests is one of the most important things you can do to protect your good health," said Horelick. "Because they don’t cause recognizable symptoms until they are already a problem, disorders such as hypertension –or high blood pressure-- osteoporosis, and diabetes are often called the "silent stalkers" of your good health. A simple blood test, heel scan, or finger stick can often alert us to a potential problem before serious disease is present, and while the condition is most easily treated. An out of range test result can be a lifesaving wake up call and a great motivator to seek advice and treatment." At the Health Fair, people will have the opportunity to pick up lots of great health information from over 60 exhibits. The Health Fair, March 27, 2010, will be open from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm, and it is free to the public.
Daryl Smail, RN gets "hands on" trauma training at the conference while nurses Amy Hays, Roy Moore, and Riki Cochran look on.
Hospital Nurses Complete Trauma Training
Libby/Montana - On February 10-11 and 13-14, 22 nurses from St. John’s Lutheran Hospital completed a 20-hour Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) endorsed by the Emergency Nurses Association. Trauma nursing, as a discipline, refers to the process and content of all the different roles nurses have in the care of a trauma patient. Trauma is often referred to as the neglected disease of the twenty-first century. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) reports that trauma related injuries in the United States are estimated to exceed 160,000 deaths each year, ranking it as the 5th most common cause of death. It is the leading cause of death for Americans 44 and younger -- with children and youth comprising 25% of all traumatic deaths. But most alarmingly, it is estimated that 60% of all injury/trauma related deaths in the U.S. occur in rural areas - even though only 20% of the nation’s population live there. "It is a well known fact that rural people suffer more trauma than those living in urban areas. We are more self-reliant, and we tend to live life more extreme than those in urban areas, especially here in Lincoln County," commented Cathy Wolfe, RN and VP of Nursing at St. John’s. "That’s why we are bringing the training to St. John’s. Because the question is not if a trauma will happen, it’s when. Being prepared for our community when they need us is simply what St. John’s is all about."
TNCC was built on the principle that optimal care of the trauma patient is best accomplished within a framework in which all members of the trauma team use a systematic, standardized approach to the care of the injured patient. Emergency nurses are essential members of the trauma team. "Educating and training nurses to provide competent trauma care can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality of trauma patients," added Wolfe. "Emergency nurses play a variety of roles during a trauma, and they must be proficient at all of them. In a trauma situation there is just no time to open a textbook. You have to always be at the top of your game." According to Wolfe, the Trauma Nurse Core Course is in high demand all across the country. "We waited a long time for an instructor to be available to come to Libby, and it was well worth the wait. Our nurses show their dedication to our communities by continuing to get the advanced education and certifications you would expect in larger hospitals. They have to be prepared for just about anything….and they are."
DON’T MISS THE BUS
Local Diabetes Support Group arranges free transportation to nationally renowned Diabetes Conference.
The Third Annual Taking Control of Your Diabetes, (TCOYD) conference and health fair will be held March 20, 2010 in Kalispell, bringing national and local medical experts in diabetes care to people with all types of diabetes, those at risk for diabetes, and their loved ones for a day of highly informative and motivational programs. The Libby Diabetes Support Group is once again making it possible for anyone who has, or is associated with, diabetes to go to this nationally acclaimed (TCOYD) conference. This will be the third year that this volunteer group has worked with the TCOYD coordinators to get the bus transportation sponsored. "We didn’t want the price of gas to deter people from attending the conference, so we asked the TCYOD coordinator to help us sponsor a bus and they were more than willing to help," said Becky Brundin, Diabetes Educator at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. "The support group members have learned the importance of keeping up with the latest information and treatment options for diabetes. This conference is one way for them to reach out to others in the community--encouraging them to take every opportunity to improve their own quality of life." TCOYD participants can hear lectures, participate in screenings, and speak one-on-one with diabetes specialists including physicians, exercise specialists, dietitians, diabetes educators, podiatrists, pharmacists and ophthalmologists. Reflecting on the many years she has worked with the support group, Brundin added, "Over the year’s Libby has developed a quality support group program in order to meet the needs of people who want current information to help better manage their diabetes. The vision of the program comes from the dedicated members who not only want to enhance their self-care and disease management, but also want to provide a way to help others; the free transportation to the TCOYD conference is one way to get others involved." For more information about the conference and the free transportation please call Becky at 293-0175.
St. John’s O’Rourke Earnes Highest Sleep Technologist Credential
Libby/Montana – Robert O’Rourke, CRT, RPSGT, and Respiratory Therapy Department and Sleep Lab Manager with St. John’s Lutheran Hospital has earned the Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) credential. This internationally recognized credential represents the highest certification in the field for health care professionals who clinically assess patients with sleep disorders. To obtain this credential, a technologist must have necessary clinical experience, hold CPR certification, adhere to the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) Standards of Conduct, and pass the RPSGT credentialing exam. The BRPT is an independent, nonprofit certification board that seeks to cultivate the highest professional and ethical standards for polysomnographic technologists by providing an internationally recognized credential – the RPSGT. The credential course is the first NCAA-accredited program of its kind. With more than 40 million Americans affected by sleep disorders, it is important for patients to seek out sleep clinics that employ Registered Polysomnographic Technologists. The RPSGE credential is a symbol of quality, responsibility, and credibility, indicating that the credentialed technologist has a level of experience and competence aligned with an international standard. "O’Rourke’s achievement of the RPSGT credential represents a commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards for public health and safety," stated Jeanie Gentry, Vice President of Allied Health at SJLH. "This credential will allow Robert to do more work on our Sleep studies here in Libby rather than needing to utilize outside technical help from Missoula or Kalispell. And that should make our turnaround times for tests faster. As always, it’s for our patients!" A polysomnogram is a test that records the patient’s physical state during various stages of sleep and wakefulness. It provides data that is essential in evaluating sleep and sleep-related complaints, such as identifying sleep stages, body position, blood oxygen levels, respiratory events, muscle tone, heart rate, amount of snoring, and general sleep behavior. Currently, there are more than 14,000 polysomnographic technologists certified by the BRPT internationally. Additional information about the RPSGT can be found at www.brpt.org. For additional information about the SJLH Sleep Lab, call 293-0163. – 2/2010
Opal Smith at the SJLH Cardiac Rehab Center
Heart disease is not just a man’s disease
For Libby resident Opal Smith, having a heart attack was the last thing she expected.
"I was tired and my jaw hurt," said Smith. "I would have never have thought I was having a heart attack. I let it go too long."
After three days of discomfort, Smith decided to seek medical attention at the St. John’s Lutheran Hospital emergency room. After a thorough evaluation, it was determined that she was in need of immediate, specialized care. From there, she was flown via the A.L.E.R.T. helicopter to Kalispell Regional Medical Center, and doctors inserted a stent to open a blocked artery.
Like most women, Smith was unaware that symptoms of heart disease in women can differ from those of men. Although women do experience chest pain generally associated with heart attack, they commonly have other more subtle symptoms including fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, jaw pain and general discomfort in the chest and abdominal area. While smoking can increase women's risk for heart attack up to five times that of nonsmokers, some risk factors are beyond one's control, including age (risk of heart disease increases in postmenopausal women), family history (women with parents with heart disease are most likely to develop it) and race (African-American and Hispanic Women are at greater risk than Caucasian women). Even if you have these risks, certain lifestyle changes can improve your overall outlook, according to the American Heart Association. Women can decrease risk quickly and significantly by not smoking, eating a diet low in saturated fat that includes five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily, exercising regularly and controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol. Although the symptoms of heart disease may vary, prevention is similar for men and women. Everyone who adopts a healthful lifestyle is doing a lot to decrease the risk of heart disease. Both Smith and her husband have adopted a more healthful lifestyle by eating more healthy foods and vegetables. Also, after having smoked most of her life, Smith quit. She is enrolled in the Cardiac Rehabilitation program at St. John’s where she exercises regularly and attends health education lectures. St. John’s recently expanded its cardiology program by partnering with Kalispell Regional Medical Center to offer a cardiology clinic in South Lincoln County providing cardiac care for local residents. Cardiologists and a Nurse Practitioner from Rocky Mountain Heart & Lung are available at the clinic in the Medical Arts West building every Wednesday to see patients for follow-up and preventive care. "I don’t like to drive those icy roads in the winter," said Smith. Both she and her husband, who has his pacemaker managed at the clinic, appreciate having cardiac care available in their home town, "It’s absolutely wonderful." In recognition of February as American Heart Month, Smith’s advice to other women is simple. "Don’t ignore the signs of heart disease. See your doctor," she said. For more information please call: Ruth Fenn, RN, St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Cardiac Rehab Program at 293-0125 Leslee Chavez, FNP, Rocky Mountain Heart & Lung Clinic/Libby 293-1920
Moral Support a Key Component of Cardiac Rehabilitation
By Ruth Fenn Learning how to modify your diet, exercise more and work with your doctor to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors are the primary goals of cardiac rehabilitation, but there is another critical aspect of the program that can be just as important in your recovery. Moral support in dealing with any challenge can be helpful, but among heart patients, in whom depression and anxiety can be common conditions, addressing mental health recovery is vital. Patients new to cardiac rehab see that they are not alone in dealing with heart disease and witness how dedication to the program can produce visible results in patients just like themselves. Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death among men and women. Cardiac rehab is structured as a group setting, it allows the opportunity for people to learn from each other, see progression from people just starting out to those who are completing the program. People start at different times, where the ones who have been there longer give support to the ones just starting out. They watch and protect each other. The combination of having patients new to Cardiac Rehab alongside upbeat and healthier patients who have been in the program for weeks or even months is one of the more important aspects of group rehabilitation. The American Heart Association came out more than a year ago with a recommendation that all heart patients be screened for depression, because so many heart patients experience al least some depression symptoms. It’s not uncommon for people to have some depression or anxiety after a heart attack or open heart surgery. Getting into a rehab program allows people to begin to get back to their normal lives and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Cardiac Rehab helps you take charge of your life and see that with time and effort, you can improve from the discomfort and limited exercise capacity immediately after heart surgery to become like the people who exercise everyday and admit to feeling better than they have in years. Social support is a key factor in improving survival as well as optimizing quality of life. In Cardiac Rehab patients should not feel intimidated about their recovery, because they are surrounded by staff that will take them step by step through the process. The goal of Cardiac rehab is to leave with the information, skills and commitment to sustain the lifestyle changes introduced in rehab. The personal aspect of cardiac rehab is particularly important. Because each patient’s case in unique, cardiac rehab is individually tailored to the patients’ individual needs. Each person comes in with their own problems and a care plan with short term and long term goals is made between staff and patient to match the needs of each patient. Some need help with weight loss, some with weight gain. Some need help/counseling for smoking cessation. Others have concerns, such as arthritis, bad hips or knees. Cardiac rehab provides a comprehensive assessment of individual risk factors that contribute to the progression of heart disease, including exercise, nutrition, lipids, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes management, and weight, behavioral issues such as stress, anxiety and depression. Factors such as age, gender, and genetics all set a base level of risk, each modifiable risk factor contributes to the unique risk of the patient. For more info on Cardiac Rehab call Ruth Fenn, RN at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital at 293-0125
Benefits of Cardiac Rehab can Boost Survival Rates
By Ruth FennBeing diagnosed with cardiovascular disease can make you feel like an old dog learning a new trick. Most people are confronted with major lifestyle changes: stopping smoking, loosing weight, eating better, exercising and now taking a handful of medications everyday that you don’t understand why or what you are taking. There is no doubt that lifestyle modification is difficult. It takes time, education and support to muddle through all the new information. Cardiac Rehab provides support when needed from nutrition to diabetes to education on medications, exercise and physiological support as needed. The rehab staff helps you understand the cardiovascular disease process, treatment goals, identify hurdles to success and help finding comfortable ways to meet your health care goals. The staff works closely with individual physicians as well as cardiologists. Those who are eligible for Cardiac Rehab are those who have had recent heart attacks, stents, coronary artery bypass surgery, valve replacements, chronic angina or heart transplant. Bypass surgery, angioplasty, and stents are all effective strategies to treat advanced heart disease. These procedures do not prevent or stop the progression of the disease. Heart disease is a progressive condition caused by a variety of factors, many of which can be modified with appropriate medical and/or lifestyle changes. Studies have shown that people that attend all 36 sessions of Cardiac Rehab are less likely to die or suffer a heart attack in the next 3-4 years than other people who went to fewer sessions. Heart attacks were also less in that group. One study showed that 18% of those who participated in fewer than 12 Cardiac Rehab sessions had died three years later as opposed to 11% of those who participated in all 36 sessions. That’s a 47% reduction in the risk of death for those attending all 36 sessions. Although this is a covered service by Medicare, only 15% – 20% of patients nationwide enroll in even one session. The only way to reduce the development of cardiovascular disease is to aggressively treat all of the risk factors that lead to cardiovascular disease. There are 3 main components to recovery: 1. Working closely with your physicians, both cardiologist and family physician to diagnose treat and provide therapy to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors, 2. Diet 3. Physical activity
1. Work with your doctor and rehab team While some of the more visible aspects of cardiac rehab include exercise and the monitoring of your vital signs, a key to making sure you remain healthy long after the rehab program ends is the education and counseling you get about medications, risk factor modification and following your doctors advice. Often people stop taking their medications after they start feeling better. Medications can be very confusing. What are they for, how do I take them, what are the side effects, how do I store them, what do I do when I travel? Cardiac Rehab can help address questions regarding taking medications. The staff can also relay information back to your physician regarding how the medications are working. Not all medications work on all people. Sometimes the medications and dosages need to be adjusted. If your blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rhythm, etc are not at the level the doctor wants, the staff can communicate that to help your doctor make sure you have the right amount and type of medication. Cardiac Rehab patients also learn how to pay attention to the signals their bodies send, which is important because prompt response to symptoms will help head off emergencies down the road. By learning to pick up on what your body, the better your healthcare provider can help you optimize your health. This will allow you to be more proactive with your health instead of reactive.
2. Diet
As part of the lifestyle change you’ll learn about in Cardiac Rehab, starting a more heart healthy eating plan can be among the toughest challenges many patient may face. Learning how to reduce the fat, cholesterol and sodium in you diet and your weight under control, if needed, is critical to long term cardiovascular health. Everything that a person eats affects their body. It may be reflected in cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, blood pressure and/or a persons body weight. Rehab provides classes on Sodium, Label Reading, Cholesterol, Food portions, Eating out, and Glucose control.
3. Exercise
Even if you were fairly active before you started Cardiac Rehab, you’ll need to learn how to approach exercise from the perspective of a heart patient. If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, regular exercise may be something altogether new. It’s important to remember that exercise helps burn calories to keep your weight under control and revs up your metabolism so you can burn calories more efficiently even when you aren’t working out. Regular physical activity also helps strengthen your heart , which is at the very core of your recovery. It takes guidance to know just how hard to push yourself. It is possible to overdo exercise and cause undo harm to your heart. Many people envision exercise as running on a treadmill. This is not true, it can be just a walk on the treadmill or riding on a stationary bike. Exercise is about target heart rate, not keeping up with your neighbor just because it looks good. Your target heart rate can be calculated by subtracting your age from 220 and dividing by 60 and 80%. This is the range you want your heart to be with exercise. You may be burning muscle instead of fat if you over exercise. A Cardiac Rehab program assists people with exercising with the proper type, frequency, intensity and duration to achieve goals and minimize cardiac risks associated with exercise. There is a right and wrong way to exercise. If you do have any questions about an exercise program or if you have not exercised on a regular basis, talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise program. For more information on Cardiac Rehab in Libby, call Ruth Fenn, RN at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital at 293-0125.
St. John’s Annual "Road to Health" Health Fair
Libby/Montana St. John’s Lutheran Hospital is gearing up for their annual community wide "Road to Health" Health Fair on Saturday, March 27, 2010, and is looking for vendors who might want to participate by entering an exhibit. "Once again, the theme for this year’s fair is The Road to Health," commented Susan Horelick, RN, and Health and Wellness Manager at St. John’s. "We are looking for health related organizations and businesses who want to bring awareness to their products and services. We try to keep the fair interesting and interactive, so we encourage our vendors to do more than just display their wears. Interactive exhibits always get the most attention." The St. John’s Road to Health-Fair celebrates health and wellness with the community by bringing together numerous wellness related displays and activities including reduced or free health screenings, body mass index testing, bone density testing, blood typing, blood pressure checks, blood sugar level checks, health club and fitness activities for kids of all ages, skin care, emergency services, and many other health related products and services. Exhibit space rental at the fair is $30 for those vendors who are selling items and $10 for those who are just displaying and educating. "With over 800 people attending the fair each year, it’s a very inexpensive way to get your wellness word out in the community," added Horelick. "We only have a limited number of exhibit spaces available, so if businesses or individuals are interested they need to contact me as soon as possible." Proceeds from the fair go back into the event to offset the cost of the facility rental. If you are interested in entering a booth at the 2010 Healthfair, please call Susan Horelick at 406-293-0164. – February 2010
NURSE ANESTHETISTS COMMEMORATE NEARLY 150 DREAMY YEARS OF EASING PATIENTS’ PAIN
Libby/Montana – Relax and Dream a little Dream with Us is the mantra of Libby’s three Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), and nurse anesthetists across the country who are celebrating the 11th annual National Nurse Anesthetist Week, beginning January 24-30, 2010. "National Nurse Anesthetists Week serves as an opportunity to promote the fact that throughout history, nurse anesthetists have furthered the art of science and nurse anesthesia to ensure patients receive high quality care," stated Loren Clausen, CRNA. Established by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) in 2000, National Nurse Anesthetists Week was created to highlight the nurse anesthesia profession and allow CRNAs to educate the public about anesthesia safety, questions to ask prior to undergoing surgery, and the benefits of receiving anesthesia care from a nurse anesthetist. Nurse anesthetists are advanced practice nurses who administer approximately 30 million anesthetics in the United States each year. Practicing in every setting where anesthesia is available, CRNAs are the sole anesthesia providers in nearly 100 percent of all rural hospitals, and have been the main provider of anesthesia care to U.S. service men and women on the front lines since World War I. "I take pride in belonging to a profession that has been at the forefront of anesthesia patient safety for nearly 150 years. Nurse anesthetists have played a key role in developing trends related to monitoring technology, anesthetic drugs, provider education, and patient safety. In fact, anesthesia today is nearly 50 times safer than is was just 25 years ago," added Clausen. "The communities of Libby and Troy are very fortunate to have the high caliber of experience and expertise found in the CRNA’s at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. They not only perform anesthesia during surgeries, but also carry out independent procedures for pain, and other treatment modalities. Their assortment of backgrounds ensures compliance with the National Patient Care & Safety Standards found in major medical facilities throughout the country. This is an achievement to be proud of for a small, rural hospital like St. John’s," stated Karen Edward, RN, BSN, Surgical Services Manager at St. John’s. Founded in 1931, and AANA is the professional organization for more than 39,000 nurse anesthetists throughout the nation. To learn more about National Nurse Anesthetists Week or the AANA, visit www.aana.com/nnawpublic.aspx. - 1-10
St. John's Diabetes Educator Recertified
Libby/Montana – Joan Bush, RN, CDE with St. John’s Lutheran Hospital, has been recertified as a diabetes educator. "Diabetes is the fastest growing health crisis of the 21st Century," stated Becky Brundin, Diabetes Department Manager. "By having such a qualified professional team here at St. John’s, we are positioning ourselves to handle the ever growing population of diabetes that we see right here in South Lincoln County." "Having the right people in place to deal with the crisis is critical to the success of the patients that we treat," added Brundin, "Certified Diabetes Educators, like Joan, work closely with patients and primary care providers to help those with diabetes improve their self-management skills and control. We are very fortunate that our staff members continue to hone their skills to keep up with the incredibly fast changes in medicine. Joan is a testament to that and we’re very proud of her," added Brundin. Joan Bush has been with St. John’s for 18 years, 12 of those years as a team member in the Diabetes Program.
Pictured: L to R – Terry Crowell, KC Hoyer, Paul Lammers, & Tommy Cook
CDM Supports New Hospital Building Project
Libby, Montana - KC Hoyer, Executive Director of St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Foundation, accepts a $1,000 check from CDM Employee, Paul Lammers for the Foundation’s $1.5 million dollar fundraising effort for the new hospital facility. CDM is the consulting and engineering contractor for the EPA/Volpe Center for asbestos cleanup in Libby. According to Paul Lammers, Libby Site Manager, CDM is proud to continue their ongoing support of the hospital foundation’s efforts to maintain local quality health care for the residents of Lincoln County.
OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW
St. John’s Hospital Installs New 16-Slice CT Scanner
Libby, MT – St. John’s Lutheran Hospital has acquired a 16-slice LightSpeed computed tomography (CT) system that provides highly detailed images of the human body.
The LightSpeed CT scanner manufactured by GE Medical Systems allows doctors to simultaneously capture multiple wafer-thin images of a patient’s anatomy within seconds, shaving precious minutes off of exam time. The system provides exceptionally high-resolution images that help doctors to more accurately diagnose patients.
"The addition of the LightSpeed CT system compliments and extends the high range of quality diagnostic services that St. John’s offers the residents of south Lincoln County," said Dr. Steve Becker, Radiologist. "The LightSpeed \will provide us with vastly improved image quality over our recently updated 6-slice CT Scanner. The 16-slice scanner produces higher quality images much faster than the current scanner. This is especially beneficial with our patients who have asbestos related lung disease and with emergency room patients. This new scanner will also allow us more timely access to the films that are taken. "
"The technical difference between a 6-slice and a 16-slice CT scanner is the number of cross sections that the machine allows us to see at one time," stated David Broderick, Imaging Department Manager at St. John’s. "Picture a loaf of bread. If you cut into that loaf of bread 16 times with one rotation of the scanner, as opposed to 6 times, you will be able to see much more of the inside of the loaf with each rotation. That is exactly what the 16-slice CT will allow us to do for our patients. We will see a greater surface area of the body part that we are examining in a much quicker time frame. Before a common scan would require a 25 second breath hold. With our new scanner, that same scan will require about a 10 second breath hold. A quick scan means less motion, which equals better images and improved patient comfort."
Originally developed in the 1970’s CT or "CAT" scans combine the power of x-ray technology and computers – allowing physicians the ability to view wafer-thin cross-sections of internal anatomy without the need for surgery. The LightSpeed CT system is the fourth evolution of GE’s award-winning LightSpeed CT platform, the CT scanning system that revolutionized the industry in 1998.
CT exams are used when people are ill or injured, or when a doctor suspects a medical problem that is not easily detectable from a normal physician examination. The LightSpeed CT scanner non-invasively assists physician in the diagnosis of a variety of anatomical areas, including spine, head, abdomen, and chest.
"We are fortunate to have the level of services that we do here at St. John’s," added Becker. "In addition to this CT upgrade we have added Orthopedic and OB/GYN practices, MRI, Digital Mammography, DEXA Bone Scanning, and Laparoscopic Towers in our Surgical Department all in the past three years. Those are substantial services that aren’t typically offered in small rural hospitals like St. John’s. Fortunately we have the vision to continue to grow to meet the needs of our ever changing demographics."
COMMUNITY BUSINESSES TEAM WITH ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN HOSPITAL TO WELCOME THE FIRST BABY OF 2010
Libby/Montana - On January 2, 2010, the staff and physicians at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital welcomed Tahley Renee Dobrowsky, daughter of Shayna Dobrowsky of Troy, as the first baby born in 2010. Tahley made her entrance at 6:15 am, weighing in at 7 lbs., 1 oz, and measuring 19 1/2 inches long. Dr. Jana Hall of Northwest Community Health Center was the attending physician. Tahley joins her big sister, Zoe, age 2, who is very excited to have a little sister to play with! "We think that all of our births are exciting here at St. John’s, and we look forward to each one, but there is something very special about the first baby of each year, and the way the whole community awaits the arrival," commented Cathy Wolfe, Vice President of Nursing Services at St. John’s. "In 2009, we delivered 107 new lives into this world and anticipate even more in 2010." The New Year’s baby is celebrated throughout the community, and Zoe was more than happy to open the New Year’s gifts for her little sister. Along with St. John’s Hospital employees and Auxiliary members, who provided the new family with a swing, a case of diapers, a beautiful gift basket, and an afghan made especially for the New Year’s arrival --other area physicians, businesses, and individuals joined in the celebration. Dr. Anne Camber generously donated a car seat, Pamida donated a high chair, Glacier Bank and First Montana Bank provided savings bonds. Libby Clinic put together a gift bag loaded with baby gifts including a baby monitor and a Johnny Jump Up, and the Northwest Community Health Center donated a Soothe ‘n Play Bouncer. Approximately 100 babies are delivered annually at St. John’s. "We pride ourselves in our Obstetric services," added Wolfe. "We offer our mom’s the best possible care including free pre-natal classes, state-of-the-art birthing equipment, trained and certified OB nurses, Jacuzzi Tub for relaxation, and newborn care instruction; all of the services new parents should expect for their delivery. We also offer the kind of care and compassion that sends our new families home confident in the care they received, and in their impending parenthood." For more information about the Birthing Facilities at St. John’s or a tour, please call KC Hoyer at 293-0106 or visit our web site at www.sjlh.com. - 01/10
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