’s
April 19, 2013 edition
The Pulse
Your regular check up on SCKMC activities Hospital Volunteers Honored The SCKMC Annual Auxiliary Awards Luncheon was held on April 9th. The event is used to recognize those members who have shown an outstanding commitment to the hospital over the past year. With over 50 active members, the organization provided a substantial impact to the hospital in 2012. “We had 11,090 hours volunteered,” said Marilyn Tracy the Auxiliary President. “We purchased several different things for the hospital amounting to about $6,600 this past year. We also donated 167 baby blankets, 73 bears for child patients, four scholarships at $400 each, and we purchased some wheel chairs for our own use along with several other items.” Auxiliary members are recognized with certificates or lapel pins depending upon the number of hours volunteered throughout the year. Steve Perkins, SCKMC’s CEO, presented the awards. “On behalf of the whole organization, board, and staff we just really thank you for the many accomplishments. Today is about not only you as a group, what you have achieved, but individually recognizing the hours that you put out for our organization,” Perkins said. The Auxiliary volunteers their time at the medical center’s gift shop, information desk, and various other departments through out the facility. They also volunteer their time to create items for craft bazaars, bake sales, and other fundraisers. The funds raised throughout the year are used to purchase equipment and furnishings for the facility.
SCKMC Slims Down Healthy choices are some of the fundamental building blocks of any hospital. At SCKMC that philosophy applies not only to the patients, but also the staff. Many activities are offered to assist employees in making better choices for their personal well being including offering healthier meal options through the cafeteria, gym membership discounts, and a weight loss competition led by Diane Ray, the hospital’s Registered Dietitian. The newest activity available is an evening “Dance Your Weight Off” class. Physician Assistant Racquel Szabo leads the class twice per week. The one-hour long class averages ten members and only costs staff $1 per session. Staff members interested in joining an upcoming class should check “The Daily Vitals” for a full schedule. How can we improve this publication? Share your thoughts, story ideas, and comments by e-mail to claytonp@sckrmc.org.
Advance Directives: For You, For Your Family All of us hope and anticipate that we will always be able to speak for ourselves and make our own decisions. However, if you were to become very seriously ill or injured and not able to communicate, who would speak for you? Who would make decisions about your healthcare? How would your healthcare team know what you wanted in the way of medical treatment? An advance care plan can be a gift you give yourself and your family. A plan gives you the opportunity to provide your loved ones peace of mind that they will know what to do on your behalf should the need arise. While many of us do not think we will ever need a plan, too often the lack of one can result in questions, confusion, and disagreements on the part of family members trying to envision what you would want. A plan relieves them from having to guess whether they did the "right thing." A plan also helps your healthcare team make treatment decisions that reflect your preferences and values. Advance care planning is not difficult but it does involve having thoughtful conversations with close family members or other loved ones about your care wishes and preferences, and documenting those preferences in writing through an instrument such as an advance directive or living will. Among the decisions to be made and documented is the name of the individual you have chosen to serve as your "healthcare proxy," or the person who will be responsible for making decisions for you on your behalf if the need arises. This person is someone you trust to help ensure that your wishes are carried out. A lack of advance care planning, coupled with our rapidly aging society, has a tremendous effect on our nation’s healthcare resources. More than 25% of all Medicare expenditures are for care during the last year of life. This is true despite the fact that many Americans have expressed preferences for “no heroic measures” when faced with a terminal condition. Documenting in writing what you would want and sharing your plan with your loved ones and healthcare providers helps to ensure that your wishes will be honored. Many materials are available to help people better understand the value of advance care planning and how to complete a plan. Learn more about resources on advance care planning and related topics such as hospice, palliative care, caregiving, cognitive impairment, and relevant legal issues. For more information on this topic visit www.cdc.gov.
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Dr. Perry Lin – OB/GYN Dr. Lin is the newest member of SCKMC’s birthing team, and our first staff obstetrician and gynecologist, with a sub-specialty in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. He provides a full range of women’s health services including advanced laparoscopic surgery, and is now accepting new patients through SCKMC’s specialty clinic. Dr. Lin, and our entire birthing team, are highly qualified and experienced. With their specialized training in prenatal care, pain management (including epidurals), delivery, and postpartum, they are nearby and able to help. To find out more call or visit us online.
Scheduler: 620-441- 5711 www.sckmc.org
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