1
Health
Watch May 2020
ATS collaborates with OSF
2 • Wednesday, May 20, 2020 • Health Watch
IN THIS ISSUE
healthwatch
2...............Vitamin C: An essential vitamin needed in our diet 3...............Cover Story: OSF, industrial maintenance services company collaborate for frontline masks 4...............OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center launches Pandemic Health Worker program 5...............Cardinals comfort couple during no-visit era 6...............Families enjoy sweet moments during pandemic 6...............Dear Dietitian: Proof of vinegar benefits lacking 7...............Should I still go to the emergency department? 7...............Conscious and Connected with Dr. Kristina Bemis
HEALTH WATCH HEALTH PUBLISHER WATCH Denise EDITOR-INVonderHaar CHIEF dvonderhaar@ Jill Moon edwpub.net jill.moon@ (618) 463-2500 hearst.com — (618) 208-6448 HEALTH — WATCH HEALTH ADVERTISING WATCH DIRECTOR COORDINATOR Carole Regina Fredeking Harbison carole. rharbison@ fredeking@ thetelegraph. hearst.com com (618) 463-2500 (618) 208-6433 — —
Vitamin C : An essential vitamin needed in our diet By Dustin Heiser B.A., CPT, FNS Wellness Coordinator SSP Wellness For Health Watch
Consuming a healthy and balanced diet has proven to be beneficial both, physically and mentally. A balanced diet includes eating a lot of vegetables and fruits. Whether its from having more energy through out the day, or the ability to get well from things like the common cold faster, fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants like vitamin C are essential. The immune system is your bodies host defense system against pathogens and is strengthened with consumption of
Vitamin C. Vitamin C is not formed in the body and must be either found in ones diet or supplemented. Vitamin C is categorized as an antioxidant because of its protective qualities against free radicals. The daily value, or DV for vitamin C is around 65-90 mgs. Common foods that contain vitamin C include: guavas, kiwis, green peppers, strawberries, oranges, cabbage, kale, spinach, and broccoli. Kiwi’s are especially plentiful in this vital vitamin with a remarkable, 165 mgs per cup. This amount alone would provide for roughly 185% of a persons DV. Vitamin C is water a soluble vitamin, meaning it rarely builds
up to toxic levels because most excess intake will be excreted in the urine. The immune system is undoubtedly of the utmost importance for maintaining and regaining a persons health. Make sure to follow a healthy diet and perform a healthy amount of exercise to support a your immune system. Adequate amounts of antioxidants such as vitamin C can easily be implemented into most peoples diets. Living a healthy lifestyle includes eating foods that assist with a persons natural homeostasis. Healthy foods combined with a healthy amount of exercise can assist in living a long, active, and fulfilling life.
Courtesy of OSF HealthCare | For Health Watch
ON THE COVER: Workers with Advanced Technology Services (ATS), in a collaboration with OSF HealthCare, make protective face shields. The two Peoria-based companies worked together to develop a lightweight, reusable, face shield, which also is helping the companies’ own supply issues, respectively.
Health Watch • Wednesday, May 20, 2020 • 3
OSF, industrial maintenance services company collaborate for frontline masks Health Watch
PEORIA — The COVID-19 pandemic has stressed supply chains around the country, particularly when it comes to personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks and face shields for those caring for patients on the frontlines. Headquartered in Peoria, OSF HealthCare has 14 hospitals, including Saint Anthony’s Health Center, throughout Illinois and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. As the need for additional protective face shields grew, OSF turned for a solution to another Peoriabased company, Advanced Technology Services (ATS), a leading supplier of industrial maintenance and repair, specializing in outsourced industrial maintenance services and “maintenance, repair and operations (MRO)” asset management.
The two organizations worked together to develop a lightweight, reusable, face shield, which also is helping the companies’ own supply issues, respectively. In this effort, ATS brought back about six employees from furlough to help with the manufacturing process, providing an additional boost to the local economy. “We evaluated the situation with ATS and they said, ‘What do you think about a reusable face shield that can be cleaned and sanitized and you could have continuous use of it?’ Frankly their engineers came up with a great solution for us to develop just that,” said POINTCORE Construction Inc.’s Eric Webb, vice president and administrative officer, of POINTCORE, a division of OSF HealthCare. “I think what’s great about it is, it not only provides longer utility of this product, it
Photos courtesy of OSF HealthCare | For Health Watch
Workers with Advanced Technology Services (ATS), in a collaboration with OSF HealthCare, make protective face shields. The two Peoria-based companies worked together to develop a lightweight, reusable, face shield, which also is helping the companies’ own supply issues, respectively.
is more durable and safer for our clinicians, plus it’s from this local solution that really helps us out.” After testing several prototypes, ATS began production of the face shields in early April. Ultimately, 15,000 face shields will be produced for use throughout the OSF HealthCare Ministry. While they have received inquiries from other health care providers, ATS stated its first priority is meeting the needs of OSF HealthCare. “Once we were able to identify the three pieces that go into this, we were able to work with our supply chain division and identify those pieces and how to get them here,” said ATS’ Jason Power, project manager. “We did run into some issues, initially, trying to get the right sizes, so what we were able to do, is get a little bit larger sizes of some of the hook and loop, and in working with our internal engineering team, able to cut those larger ones down,” Power explained about the prototype-building process. He said the team leaders wanted to make sure production did not stop due to not having parts. “The support from ATS and others throughout the communities served by OSF HealthCare, has been invaluable in addressing the needs created by the COVID pandemic,” Webb said. “This has turned out to be solving an immediate need, but I believe what we’ve done is solve it in a better manner
A worker with Advanced Technology Services (ATS), in a collaboration with OSF HealthCare, make protective face shields.
for a long-term solution for OSF HealthCare. This is a more comfortable and better fitting solution than the disposable options, so I think there’s real value to those who are wearing these all the time. “This will be a long-term solution for us,” Webb said. “I think we’ve totally changed our focus of how to utilize
face shields going forward.” Power also had a positive response. “As we work through and we build these face masks, knowing on the other side how they’re going to be used in taking care of the real heroes on the front line, that’s incredibly important and really special to us,” he said.
4 • Wednesday, May 20, 2020 • Health Watch
Breathe Easier with
OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center launches Pandemic Health Worker program OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center Special to Health Watch
MedResources is the premier provider of home oxygen and sleep therapy equipment including CPAPs and BiPAPs. Our Clinical Respiratory Program includes: State-of-the-ArtSleep SleepCenter Center ● State-of-the-Art on-site for fittings, fittings,assessments assessments and forall alloxygen oxygenand and and education education for CPAP/BiPAP CPAP/BiPAPpatients. patients.
ALTON — We’re all being asked to stay home and avoid those outside our households to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. That can be challenging, especially if you’ve been experiencing symptoms or have been diagnosed with COVID19. But we want you to know you are not alone. To ensure you get the same level of care you need without leaving your home, OSF HealthCare has launched the Pandemic Health Worker program to provide the support and comforting assurance you need. Who is a Pandemic Health Worker? A Pandemic Health Worker (PHW) digitally connects
with you during the pandemic crisis, and acts as a direct connection between you and health care providers. Why would you need to connect with a PHW if you have COVID-19? Many individuals with COVID-19 can be treated and monitored at home instead of in a hospital setting. Our PHWs play a role in slowing the rate of new COVID-19 cases by allowing you to stay home, decreasing the risk of further exposure to others. How will PHWs care for you? If you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19 or have similar symptoms, one of our PHWs will deliver a health kit to your home that will help us monitor your illness. This may include: PHWs connect you with care and support: • a tablet, pre-loaded with communication applications
Offering . . . Curbside Assistance, Drop Off Service, Telehealth Remote Help and Guidance
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and equipped with a data package (if needed) • client guide book • health education materials • thermometer and hand sanitizer. Our PHWs will digitally visit with you up to two times a day over a 16-day period via telephone, video or chat function. They also will do a follow-up to ensure no further assistance is needed. What if your condition worsens? If your symptoms worsen, you will be referred to the Acute COVID@Home program where you will receive monitoring equipment that allows us to evaluate blood pressure, heart rate and blood oxygen levels. Nurses and licensed providers will oversee you and escalate care as needed. If you continue to get sicker, you will be referred to a designated facility.
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Health Watch • Wednesday, May 20, 2020 • 5
Cardinals comfort couple during no-visit era Alton Memorial Hospital Special to Health Watch
ALTON — While many of us are missing the Cardinals this spring, as in the baseball team, David and Marian Fitzgerald, of Bethalto, had cardinals watching over them, even while David was a patient at AMH. David Fitzgerald is not a COVID-19 patient, but health care goes on for all who need it. Marian couldn’t visit her husband while he was a patient because of the no-visitor policy in effect because of the coronavirus pandemic. So she delivered some flowers to the Medical Care Unit (MCU) for him. Along with the flowers was a small Northern cardinal ornament.
“When I walked in and showed Mister Fitzgerald the flowers and the cardinal, he began to tear up,” MCU manager Amy Toenyes said. “I acknowledged that he was very moved, and he said, ‘Turn around and look at that wall.’ “Behind me was a picture on the wall that had a cardinal on it.” He explained that he and his wife have cardinals that fly near their house, and they feed them Ritz crackers. “When he came into the room, he called his wife and told her about the picture on the wall,” Toenyes said. “He told her the cardinals at home will watch over her and not to worry about him because he has one watching over him here,
too. He was just so genuinely moved. “I apologized for his wife not being able to come visit, and he was very understanding,” she said. “It was such a nice little thing, about how even though they are apart they are still sharing with each other.” Toenyes took the photographs of the arrangement and the picture hanging on the wall of her husband’s MCU room . She sent them to Marian Fitzgerald. “It made her day,” her husband said. Toenyes noted that the whole exchange shows how important it is for families to stay connected and for hospital staff to help patients keep in touch when loved ones can’t visit.
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Photos for Health Watch
David Fitzgerald with the bouquet of flowers his wife sent to him while he was a patient at Alton Memorial Hospital. Visit www.altonmemorialhospital.org for more information.
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ABOVE: A small cardinal ornament tucked into the bouquet. BELOW: A cardinal print hangs on the wall of David Fitzgerald’s room at Alton Memorial Hospital.
6 • Wednesday, May 20, 2020 • Health Watch
Proof of vinegar benefits lacking By Leanne McCrate
Photos for Health Watch
Joan and Jeff Kiel with a sign for their new grandson, Beau William Kiel, who was born March 30.
Families enjoy sweet moments during pandemic Alton Memorial Hospital Special to Health Watch
ALTON — Life goes on amid the coronavirus pandemic. Even better, new life begins. That’s what encourages Joan Kiel each day. Kiel, a receptionist at Alton MultiSpecialists, became a grandmother for the first time on March 30 with the birth of Beau William Kiel. But in these strange times, she hasn’t been able to hug him yet. Beau was born at St. Louis’ Mercy Hospital, and there were no
made from wine vinegar diluted with water and flavored with herbs. It was Dear Dietitian, consumed by soldiers, the Can you settle a bet lower economic classes, between my sister and and slaves. The acid in the me? She says apple cider vinegar destroyed germs in vinegar has many health otherwise unclean water. benefits and that it even Vinegar still is used today can help with weight loss. I as an inexpensive cleaning say that’s bologna. What do agent. It cleans windows you say? and floors and can even Thank you, help remove the unpleasant Jenny odor of pet urine in carpet Dear Jenny, by neutralizing uric acid. If you check out apple Of course, ACV also is used cider vinegar (ACV) in salad dressings on the internet, you and other recipes. will find uses for it As far as ACV from weight loss to health studies, there blood sugar manare few and they are agement to cancer small. A randomized, treatment. How is controlled trial of 39 one to know what to participants studied believe? its effect on weight McCrate Apple cider vinloss. All the volunegar, or just cider teers were put on a vinegar, is made from calorie-restricted diet for apples and water that 12 weeks. One group was have fermented over time, given 30 mL/day of ACV, producing alcohol. Then a while the other group was bacterium known as Aceto- given a placebo. The ACV bacter converts the alcohol group lost more weight to acetic acid, and the conand had reduced levels coction becomes vinegar. of triglycerides and total Some claim ACV is rich in cholesterol compared to micronutrients and antioxi- the control group. But this dants. The truth is it constudy is greatly limited by tains mostly water, about its small size. It is too small 4% acetic acid, and small to draw any real scientific amounts of potassium and conclusion. If the study carbohydrate. contained 100 people in Cider vinegar has a long the control group and 100 and rich history. It is said in the ACV group, it might that Hippocrates, the father attract attention. of medicine, prescribed it In another small study along with honey to alleviof 29 people, ACV was ate a cough. It also was found to improve post-meal used as a disinfectant to blood sugar levels in those clean wounds. The acetic who were insulin resistant acid would eliminate bacor had type 2 diabetes. It teria, which would help was proposed that vinegar prevent infections. prevented the breakdown Vinegar also was used and absorption of some to make posca, a drink starches, thereby decreascommon in ancient Greece ing blood sugar. The same and Rome. Posca was limitation of small study For Health Watch
visitors allowed. And since her son, Cody Kiel, and daughter-in-law, Ashley Kiel, went home with Beau to Golden Eagle, the best that Kiel and her husband, Jeff Kiel, have been able to do is look at Beau through a front door or window. “I look forward to the time I can actually hold him,” his grandmother said. “I feel for all who are away from the ones they love, but at least I can view him through the glass.” Visit www.altonmemorialhospital.org for more information.
Joan and Jeff Kiel visit newborn grandson Beau Kiel through the door of the family home in Golden Eagle.
size applies here. A misconception exists that the acid in vinegar can treat or prevent cancer. Although a study found that tumor cells died when treated with cider vinegar, these tests were done in a laboratory and have no indication of its use in the human body. The same goes for the theory that cancer grows more quickly in an acidic environment. These tests were performed on cancer cells in a lab. The human body has a built-in mechanism that constantly regulates pH balance, and it is not affected by what we eat or drink. As with just about anything, ACV has potential harmful effects. Fullstrength ACV can cause erosion of tooth enamel, which may lead to decay. It also can cause mouth sores and trigger gastric reflux. Proponents recommend diluting ACV with water before drinking it. In summary, apple cider vinegar has versatile uses as a cleaning agent and food ingredient. However, there is no significant clinical evidence to support any health claims of ACV, and its use is not recommended in medical guidelines of any major public health organization. That should settle the bet. Until next time, be healthy! Dear Dietitian
Leanne McCrate, RDN, LD, CNSC, aka Dear Dietitian, is an award-winning dietitian based in Missouri. Her mission is to educate consumers on sound, science-based nutrition. Do you have a nutrition question? Email her today at deardietitian411@gmail.com. Dear Dietitian does not endorse any products, health programs or diet plans.
Health Watch • Wednesday, May 20, 2020 • 7
Conscious and Connected Should I still go to the emergency department? with Dr. Kristina Bemis Health: What is it?
OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center Special to Health Watch
ALTON — Staying home and avoiding the risk of exposure is the best way to protect yourself from novel coronavirus, which causes COVID19. But avoiding medical care that you need could put you at even greater risk. As people all around the world were urged to stay home and stay safe, visits to emergency departments everywhere sharply declined. Some of that can be explained by people avoiding travel or other activities that could put them or others at risk of illness or injury — but many emergency department physicians worry that people at home are ignoring the warning signs of serious and potentially fatal medical emergencies. Emergencies, such as a heart attack or stroke, still pose a risk during a pandemic, as do complications from chronic health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes. “Within OSF, and across the nation, EDs are seeing patients come in with delayed, and more serious presentations of disease,” said Dr. Leon Yeh, vice president of hospitalists, emergency services and diagnostic medicine for OSF HealthCare. “Conditions like strokes, heart attacks and appendicitis are time-dependent, and should be treated as soon as possible.”
Never delay an emergency A delay in seeking treatment can be the difference between life and death. In addition to the rising death toll associated with COVID-19, physicians also are worried about increasing numbers of Americans dying in their homes. “We suspect these are not all COVID-19 cases, but other serious illnesses that were fatal because the person avoided coming to the emergency department for evaluation,” Dr. Yeh said. All OSF emergency departments have made sure they can safely treat all patients by screening and isolating any patients believed to be at risk of COVID-19. By keeping patients separated and using personal protective equipment, such as face covering, emergency rooms are still a safe and necessary destination for those in need of immediate medical care. Know the signs Knowing when to seek help is the first step toward recovering from a medical emergency. Classic heart attack symptoms include: • Chest pain during exer-
tion • Shortness of breath • Sweating • Nausea Heart attack pain will typically start in chest and radiate into left arm or jaw. To recognize symptoms of a stroke, remember the acronym BE FAST. • Balance — Watch for a sudden loss of balance. • Eyes — Is there a sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes? Or double vision? • Face — Ask the person to smile or show their teeth. Does one side of the face droop? • Arm — Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? • Speech — Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Do they slur their words? Do they repeat the sentence incorrectly? • Time to call 911 — If a person shows any of these symptoms, get to the hospital as quickly as possible. If you’re experiencing a medical emergency such as heart attack or stroke, never drive yourself to the emergency room. The fastest and safest way to get the care you need is by calling 911. For more information, contact OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center.
and enzyme levels of various organs. So, what if everything comes back “normal?” That’s good, but is that enough? And if your data is within By Dr. Kristina Bemis Tupman For Health Watch a “normal” or healthy range because a medication has that system “controlled,” does that mean your body is ALTON — The past several really functioning the best it possibly months has forced us to behave difcan? ferently and, for many of us, it has It’s important for us to recognize forced us to look at our own health, that the body, mind and spirit all play as well as the health of those closest a role in our overall health, and to us. not all aspects of these comSo, what does “health” ponents can be scientifically mean? According to Merriammeasured. Webster, the definition of We all know healthy habits health 1a: the condition of include eating a rainbow of being sound in body, mind, colors of fruits and vegetables, or spirit; especially: freedom from physical disease or pain.” Bemis Tupman drinking plenty of water every day (which should be half our The first part of this definition body weight in ounces), getsurprised me some, because ting at least 30 minutes of moderate I’m not sure the general idea of exercise daily, getting 6-8 hours of health encompasses the body, mind sleep a night/day and avoiding sugar, and spirit. The second half, is what fried foods, processed foods and limI expected to see: “freedom from iting caffeine and alcohol consumpphysical disease or pain.” tion. Generally speaking, most people In addition to these habits, it’s consider themselves to be “in good important you care for your mental, health” or “healthy” simply because emotional and spiritual self as well. they haven’t been diagnosed with a These factors are much more perserious condition or don’t have serisonal and will look different for every ous pain. The reality is, other than person. However, starting each day in a single traumatic event, by the time a diagnosis has been given and/ with three things that you are grateor there is significant pain, a problem ful for and making it a point to laugh every day, is a great place to begin has been there brewing silently for your self-care journey. some time. When we take care of ourselves The idea that we’re healthy simply mentally, emotionally and spiritudue to a lack of symptoms gives us a ally, it’s often easier to take care of false sense of “health.” I think many ourselves physically. I challenge you of us often use this to justify those to take a health inventory of yourself unhealthy habits almost all of us and make one choice a day that will have, or even worse, to justify not improve the health of your body, doing the healthy habits we all know mind or spirit. Consciously working we should be doing. on your mental, emotional and spiriThe most common ways to meatual health may be the missing link to sure health is through a series of improving your physical health. tests that many people receive from their primary care physician, at least Dr. Kristina Bemis Tupman owns Bemis Tupman yearly, and often includes: height and Chiropractic, along with her husband, Dr. Stephen weight used to calculate your body Tupman, at 4105 Humbert Rd suite 101, Alton. For more information on how to begin or continue your mass index (BMI), blood pressure on sustainable, toxin-free living, join Dr. and blood work (fasting A1C), which journey Bemis Tupman’s Facebook group — Consciously shows what blood sugar levels look Connected Momma — where she focuses on education, awareness and accessibly. like, white and red blood cell counts,
OSF HEALTHCARE
KEEPING YOU CONNECTED AND INFORMED
THREE ways to connect you 24/7 to trustworthy information about novel coronavirus (COVID-19). • Chat with Clare, a digital assistant at osfhealthcare.org • Text OSF to 67634 to connect with OSF COVID Companion, a FREE text messaging tool • Call the COVID-19 Nurse Hotline* at 1-833-OSF-KNOW (833-673-5669) *Staffed by RNs and other health care professionals.