Your Safety is Our Priority

Mistakes shouldn’t happen, especially in healthcare. An estimated 206,000 avoidable deaths occur at hospitals every year, and Grinnell Regional Medical Center is doing its part to make sure that none of those happen here. Safety is important, and GRMC takes it seriously. This spring, GRMC received an “A” quality safety rating from the Leapfrog Group®, a national patient safety initiative comprised of employers and other large consumers of healthcare. The name, Leapfrog Group, sets the intent that it will help hospitals show “leaps of improvement.” As shown by the A rating, some of those leaps of improvement happened at GRMC.

Each year, the hospital completes a voluntary safety survey, providing statistics on patient safety and hospital performance. The safest hospitals – those who score at least .6 standard deviations above the mean - are given an A rating, which less than a third of all hospitals that complete the survey receive). According to the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, 33,459 lives could be saved every year if B, C, D, and F ranked hospitals had the same safety performance as A hospitals.

This is an exciting designation; it shows that the processes and procedures put in place here at GRMC meet national standards. According to Erica Mobley at the Leapfrog group, “‘A’ hospitals maintain a laser focus on safety that permeates from executive leadership down through all levels of staff.” GRMC puts safety first, and this rating shows that that is paying off. For patients, it should be reassuring to know that GRMC is one of the safer hospitals in the area. The journey doesn’t stop here, however. Having made the A rating, GRMC will work to keep it, and continue making safety improvements.

For more information about hospital safety ratings, and to see how GRMC compares to other hospitals, check out http://www.hospitalsafetyscore.org/h/grinnell-regional-medical-center?findBy=zip&zip_code=50112&radius=50&agree=undefined&rPos=300&rSort=distance.

Source:

http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/managed-healthcare-executive/news/grade-hospitals-have-50-fewer-avoidable-deaths

Written by Anya Silva, GRMC summer intern

Don't Get 'Bugged' This Summer

Summer may not officially begin until June 20 but that isn’t stopping mosquitoes from bugging our outdoor activities. With the summer months quickly approaching, we are reminded of those pesky insects and the importance of staying protected from their itchy bites, especially in the midst of Zika; a mosquito transmitted virus.

So what do you need to know about Zika? Transmitting the Zika virus is of low risk to Iowans.

Surprised? Well, the explanation is simple. Mosquitos known to transmit the virus are not native to Iowa, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. While there have been seven confirmed cases of Zika in Iowa, the effected people had traveled to areas where transmitting the virus was possible. So, the most realistic threat of transmitting the virus would be for anyone traveling to countries where Zika is actively being transmitted. Areas of concern include:

•  Mexico
• The Caribbean
• South Africa

Iowans who should be cautious of the Zika virus include women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. This is because exposure to the virus during pregnancy can have negative results for the baby. The main concern for these women would be traveling or if someone they know recently traveled, because the Zika virus can be sexually transmitted. Women who are planning to become pregnant should be aware of a partner who traveled to an area with the virus because the pregnancy can still be affected. Women who are already pregnant are encouraged to postpone traveling to areas where the virus is active, regardless of trimester.

The current focus on viruses carried by mosquitoes does bring an opportunity for Iowans to brush-up about staying protected from a virus more relevant to our area, the West Nile Virus. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa has had between five and 44 cases of West Nile reported each year since 2005. West Nile Virus is reported more in Iowa because mosquitoes here transmit West Nile, and other viruses.

With summer around the corner, it is important to know how to protect you and your family from mosquito bites and transmitting viruses such as the West Nile Virus. In addition, understanding how to prevent mosquitoes from breeding is a proactive step in protecting against bites.

• Use DEET-containing insect repellants when outside
• When outside, wear long sleeves and long pants when possible
• Avoid being outside during dusk and dawn as this is when mosquitoes are out
• Fix window screens or screened-in porches to keep mosquitoes out of your home
• Get rid of standing water to eliminate potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes

For more information about the Zika virus, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/ehi/zika. To learn about West Nile virus, see https://idph.iowa.gov/cade/disease-information/west-nile-virus.

Written by Miranda Jones, GRMC summer intern

Partners in Education Engages Local Youth

Grinnell Regional Medical Center staff and volunteers took to Fairview and Bailey Park to end the school year with a bang for kindergarten and second grade students.  Wednesday, June 1, GRMC hosted their annual Partners in Education Health Fair at the local elementary schools. 

Students learning what blood is composed of with an
interactive display.

Students and teachers were electric with last week of school jitters, as they traveled from classroom to classroom learning about different aspects of health through interactive stations.  Touching ‘blood’, making fruit smoothies using pedal power, and getting their very own plaster finger casts were just a few of the unique educational activities for students.

Parents of elementary students were almost certainly victims of the, “Mom, Dad, I broke my finger at school today!” prank, while frantically waving their finger cast in the air. Classic.

Students were able to pedal to power a
blender to make fruit smoothies.

Each station had a different stamp to mark onto the student’s Passport to Being Healthy; once all of the stamps were collected they spelled out H-O-S-P-I-T-A-L.  The passports doubled as bookmarks; the clever tool designed to encourage students to continue reading throughout the summer was also a nice take-home piece of memorabilia.

GRMC employee volunteer Jan Veach applying a finger cast.

While the kindergarten and second grade students were exploring different aspects of well-being at the health fair, students in first grade were off having fun of their own on a field trip to GRMC. The tour of the medical center is held in collaboration with the Partners in Education Health Fair.

During the tour,students explored the facilities at GRMC and learned about different activities that go on in the medical center.  The tour also helped to show the first grade students that the hospital is here to help them and should not be considered a frightening place.

Both the health fair and tour were fun and successful events, but neither of these events would have been possible without the help of volunteers. GRMC’s plethora of wonderful volunteers makes events like Partners in Education a reality. If you are interested in volunteer opportunities at Grinnell Regional Medical Center contact Cara Kenkel, GRMC’s volunteer coordinator, at 641-236-2043 or by email at ckenkel@grmc.us.  

To learn more about volunteering opportunities at GRMC, please visit http://www.grmc.us/donate/grmc-auxiliary/auxiliary-volunteer-opportunities.

-Written by Nick Moorehead, GRMC summer intern

The Heimlich Maneuver—the Life-Saving Chokehold

Dining in his senior living facility in Cincinnati, 96-year-old Dr. Henry Heimlich perfectly executed a—you guessed it—Heimlich maneuver, saving a choking victim’s life.

While enjoying a wonderful dinner, Heimlich noticed Patty Ris, a resident dining next to him, began displaying the tell-tale signs of choking.

Signs of choking may include:

• Inability to speak
• Lack of breathing / having difficulty breathing
• Inability to cough
• Skin turning pale or blue
• Loss of consciousness

Heimlich jumped into action with his tried-and-true Heimlich maneuver, which employs an abdominal-thrust technique. Standing directly behind the choking victim, Heimlich wrapped his arms around Ris and placed one fist between her naval and rib cage. Gripping his fist with his other hand, Heimlich performed a quick, upward thrust into the Ris’ abdomen.

Three “Heimlichs” later and the piece of meat that was stuck in Ris’ throat dislodged.  She is confident she would not be alive without the quick actions of Heimlich, telling him, “God put me in this seat next to you, Dr. Heimlich, because I was gone, I couldn’t breathe at all.” At 96 years old, this was the first time Heimlich had to practice what he preaches in an emergency situation.

Learn how to respond when someone is choking and what to do if they lose consciousness by reading more about choking first aid at https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000049.htm.

Sources:

http://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/nation-and-world/dr-heimlich-96-saves-choking-woman-with-namesake-maneuver-20160527?utm_campaign=550a491fc9dce6c509063cc1&utm_source=boomtrain&utm_medium=email&bt_alias=eyJ1c2VySWQiOiI2ZjY0M2MzYy1lOWMxLTQ0ZTUtYWMxYS04MmU1ZTEyMDY0NWMifQ%3D%3D

http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-choking/basics/art-20056637

http://www.deaconess-healthcare.com/Heimlich_Institute/Heimlich_Maneuver/How_to_do_the_Heimlich_Maneuver/

-Written by Nick Moorehead, GRMC summer intern

Dread the Red

The sweat beads on your overheating brow, leeching into your eyebrows; one droplet glides past your swiping fingers and slips quickly into your eye, stinging. One pesky sweat droplet cascades down your cheek, flushed pink by the heat, making its way down to the southernmost point of your chin before it dribbles off and soaks into your already sweat-drenched tank top.

WHY AM I SO HOT AND WHY IS MY SKIN SO RED?!

Infrared radiation, or heat, which is a type of energy that the sun sends toward us and is the reason your body is sweating (a natural cooling agent). Accompanying that energy is visible light, what our eyes can see, and ultraviolet (UV) light, which is not visible to our eyes, but it’s there and it’s what is turning your skin red!

All of those energies are types of electromagnetic waves, but they all have different levels of energy, making some more dangerous than others.

The amount of space between the highs and lows of the waves determines the amount of energy; infrared waves are longer with more space between the highs and lows, causing them to have less energy. UV waves have much less space between the highs and lows of its waves, making it have more energy than visible light and infrared radiation; that amount of energy is dangerous and can hurt us.

Over time, UV light’s contact with our skin can hurt and even kill our skin cells. Our bodies’ reaction is for the skin to become red, which can hurt…a LOT! Although this light originates from the sun, it has the ability to reflect or bounce off of other surfaces, including water, snow, concrete, etc. These powerful rays can even project through clouds, making it possible to get burned on overcast days that you rarely or never even see the sun!

While there is no easy answer on how to combat infrared waves that make the summer heat, you can protect your skin from the invisible UV rays.

• Wear breathable (so you don’t get overheated from those infrared waves), lightweight, full-coverage clothing that will help block UV rays.
• Use sunscreen or sunblock; research which is the better choice for you. http://www.melanomafoundation.org/prevention/facts.htm
• Don a hat and sunglasses – aside from looking great, these items will help keep the sun’s harmful rays from reaching your sensitive skin and eyes!
• Sit in the shade – whether it’s a tree, umbrella, or something else, shade offers a cool reprieve from the hot sun and protection from the powerful and often damaging UV rays.

This is all fine and dandy, but the most important reason to use sun safety and protection measures is to help prevent melanoma.

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Cancerous growths are developed when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells trigger mutations, or genetic defects, that lead to skin cells multiplying rapidly and forming malignant tumors, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. These cancerous growths are typically caused by UV radiation.

Wait, the sun produces UV rays – which can be mostly blocked, using the above methods – that can cause CANCER? You’ve got it right. Knowing your skin well, checking it often, and using sun safety and protection are all ways you can prevent melanoma.

Do summer the smart way – use sun protection every time you go outside!

Sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety.htm

http://www.melanomafoundation.org/prevention/Prevention.htm

http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma

http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/sunburn/en/

How a F.A.S.T. Reaction Can Save a Life

Strokes strike quickly and, often, seemingly out of nowhere. Knowing the signs of strokes and reacting quickly may help minimize the long-term damage strokes can inflict.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (ruptures). Once that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it and brain cells die, according to the American Stroke Association. They recommend a F.A.S.T. reaction approach.

F.A.S.T. is a simple acronym to remember the sudden signs of a stroke, and will enable a quicker outreach to emergency personnel.

F Face Drooping – If one side of the face droops or feels numb, ask the person to smile to see if his or her smile is uneven.

A Arm Weakness – If one of the person’s arms feels weak or numb, ask the person to raise both arms to see if one arm drifts downward.

  S Speech Difficulty – If the person’s speech is slurred or difficult to understand OR if they are unable to speak, ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, such as “The sky is blue,” to see if they repeat it correctly.

T Time to call 9-1-1 – If the person shows any of the above symptoms, call 9-1-1 to get the person to a hospital immediately, even if the symptoms subside. Be sure to check the time so you’re aware of when the first symptoms presented.

Other symptoms of strokes include sudden:

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body.
• Confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding speech.
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.
• Severe headache with no known cause.

Should you or someone you are with experience these symptoms, contact emergency services immediately. GRMC’s emergency department is equipped to diagnose individuals suffering from a stroke or a recent stroke; a robotic stroke unit in the GRMC emergency department connects with neurologists at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

This connection allows tests to be run that enable medical staff to make an informed decision on the status of the stroke and if medication is necessary or if the symptoms are severe enough that the patient should be referred to a higher level trauma center.  GRMC also provides additional necessary rehabilitation, including physical, occupational, and speech therapies.

To find out more about occupational therapy at GRMC, please call 641-236-2985; physical therapy at 641-236-2364; and speech therapy at 419-787-5788.

Sources:

• http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/WarningSigns/Stroke-Warning-Signs-and-Symptoms_UCM_308528_SubHomePage.jsp
• http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/WarningSigns/Learn-More-Stroke-Warning-Signs-and-Symptoms_UCM_451207_Article.jsp#.Vz3upfkrLcs

Pain, I've Had Enough

Eman R. Boulis, MD

Pain – we’ve all experienced it in one form or another; the dull, deep ache of chronically sore muscles; burning, electrically-charged nerve pain; the stiff, throbbing twinges that accompany joint pain – all of these types of pain can affect our daily lives. An often overlooked syndrome that causes significant pain is fibromyalgia.

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Fibromyalgia is considered a rheumatic condition that impairs joints and/or soft tissues and causes chronic, widespread pain. The majority of people affected by fibromyalgia are middle-aged women, but men and children may also be affected.

According to the American College of Rheumatology, rheumatologists have expertise in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disease and systemic autoimmune conditions commonly referred to as rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases can affect the joints, muscles, and bones causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and deformity. But, what can you do if you experience inexplicable, widespread pain? GRMC has just the service for you: visiting rheumatology specialist Eman Boulis, MD, with the Central Iowa Rheumatology Clinic. Dr. Boulis has the know-how to help diagnose and treat fibromyalgia and other rheumatic diseases.

If you are suffering from any of the aforementioned symptoms, do not hesitate to call 641-236-2338 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Boulis today.

Sources:

http://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/fibromyalgia/#b

http://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Health-Care-Team/What-is-a-Rheumatologist