’s
January 11, 2013 edition
The Pulse
Your regular check up on SCKMC activities First Baby of the New Year! Jaxon Lewis was delivered by Dr. Lin on January 3rd at 12:36 p.m. He weighed 6 lbs 14 oz and was 20” long.
Congratulations to Janci Vogele for successfully completing the Kansas State Board of Nursing exam! Janci began her SCKMC career as a student intern and has continued as an emergency room tech, LPN, and is now a Registered Nurse.
SCKMC Sees Sharp Increase in Patients Since early December the staff at the medical center have cared for a historic high number of patients. The Medical/Surgical unit census has been at 18 to 24 during most of the past six weeks. The average number of inpatients for the hospital is usually thirteen. Many times an increase in census can be anticipated and attributed to certain seasonal ailments, such as influenza, bronchitis, or RSV. SCKMC’s current increase in numbers are partially due to flu and respiratory illnesses, however it is not tied to one specific cause. “We have had a variety of orthopedic cases due to injury, and other various illnesses that are not directly caused by one particular ailment,” said Shelley Pinnegar, SCKMC’s Manager of Nursing Services. An increased number of patients is being seen in other departments as well, including the family birthing center and same day surgery. On one of their busiest days, the surgery team cared for 18 eye patients before lunch. “We are coming off a strong year in our OB/Birthing Center with 181 deliveries compared to 118 in 2011. The addition of Dr. Thomson and Dr. Lin to our other 6 physician performing deliveries is showing in our volumes,” said Steve Perkins, SCKMC CEO.
Jan. Employee of the Month Congratulations to Nikki Morris, Radiology, for being named “Employee of the Month”. Nikki has worked for SCKMC since 2006. She was nominated by a patient for providing exceptional customer service. Great Job!
Healthy Tips for 2013 Many New Year's resolutions focus on how to improve our health. That is good news, considering that being healthy provides us protection against disease and injury, as well as strength and energy to help us have a good quality of life. Start of your year by seeing your health care provider to find out how you can live a safer and healthier life. Here are a few general tips for a safe and healthy life: •Find health resources online or at your local library to help you achieve your goals. •When outdoors protect yourself from injury or disease by wearing a helmet, sunscreen, or insect repellent when necessary. •Make an appointment with your health care provider for a check-up, vaccination, or screening. •Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. •Make healthy food choices. Grab a healthy snack such as fruit, nuts, or low-fat cheese. •Be active. Try simple things such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Be active for at least 2½ hours a week. •Be smoke-free. If you are ready to quit, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free counseling. •Get enough sleep. Remember that sleep is a necessity, not a luxury. •Reduce auto-related injuries by using seat belts, child safety seats, and booster seats that are appropriate for your child's age and weight. •Learn positive parenting tips to keep teens safe on the road. •Develop and enforce rules about acceptable and safe behaviors using electronic media. •Lower the risk of food-borne illness by safely preparing meals for your family. •Gather and share your family health history. •Get pets vaccinated and keep pets healthy. Need inspiration to get started? Visit www.cdc.gov. to read about three people who changed their health habits—and their lives. They lost weight, became active, gained energy, and grew in self-confidence. Here are their stories and tips for making healthy living easier. They say if they can do it, you can too! How can we improve this publication? Share your thoughts, story ideas, and comments by e-mail to claytonp@sckrmc.org.