Health Beat - Winter 2013 - (Page 15)

sunflower health network news By John Berggren Region Mourns Loss of Smith County Administrator Members of the sunflower health network and employees at smith County Memorial hospital were saddened by the death of Carolyn hess, r.n., in september. hess had been the hospital administrator since 2004. hess formerly served as president of the sunflower health network and chair of the kansas hospital association Critical access hospital Committee. she was active in many efforts to help shape health policy in the region. hess was instrumental in getting a 1 percent sales tax passed in smith County to support the hospital. she also was successful in recruiting family practitioner Justin overmiller, M.D., to the community and had Carolyn Hess, R.N., coordinated efforts to greatly reduce the number of congestive heart 1947–2012 failure patient readmissions to the hospital. In 2010, hess led efforts to launch an annual hospital fundraiser that included a meal and silent and live auctions to support projects and enhance services at the hospital. she also established a “ragpicker Committee” to provide motivational support to employees. as a former nurse, hess made a career working in small hospitals. she thrived with the challenge of making them vital services in the communities she served. Lab EquipmEnt EnhancEs carE at ccmc Improving Breast Health in Dickinson County Impact sports and fitness, an affiliate of Memorial health system in abilene, held its third annual Impact the Cure 5-k run and 2-Mile fun walk in september. Proceeds from the event were directed to create a free Mammogram Clinic in october for uninsured Dickinson County residents. Proceeds from previous years’ Impact the Cure events helped purchase new digital mammography equipment that was installed at abilene’s Memorial hospital last year. the popular event draws participants from a wide area with more than 530 registering in 2012. a pancake breakfast and vendor booths also added to the festivities. w I n t e r 2 0 1 3 | 15 In medicine, time is often the enemy. Ruth Magalong Dela Cruz, M.T. (AMT), lab manager When test results are delayed, medical at CCMC, prepares to use the new GeneXpert System to detect life-threatening bacteria. value diminishes. The addition of a new molecular diagnostic testing platform at Clay County Medical Center (CCMC), called the GeneXpert System, can rapidly detect the DNA of life-threatening bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile (C. diff.) and group B Streptococcus. The new technology allows for fast and accurate results, enabling physicians to prescribe antibiotics that focus on treating specific bacteria rather than treating patients with widespectrum antibiotics that may ultimately prove to be ineffective. “With results in as little as one hour, this technology will improve patient management and reduce hospital length of stay,” says Ruth Magalong Dela Cruz, M.T. (AMT), lab manager at CCMC. “It is also projected to reduce hospital-acquired infections at our facility.” Find out more at ccmcks.org. People of all ages and fitness levels participated in the Impact the Cure run and walk. Proceeds from the 2012 event sponsored a Free Mammogram Clinic for Dickinson County’s uninsured residents. http://www.ccmcks.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Health Beat - Winter 2013

Health Beat - Winter 2013
Table of Contents
Healthy Happenings
Change Your View
No Place Like Home
Flying High: One Family’s Hospice Story
Thinking Big
In the Community
Sunflower Health Network News

Health Beat - Winter 2013