’s
May 3, 2013 edition
The Pulse
Your regular check up on SCKMC activities Share your thoughts, story ideas, and comments by e-mail to claytonp@sckrmc.org.
A Sweet Way to Celebrate Lab Week April 21-27 was National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. The annual celebration takes time to recognize the laboratory professionals and pathologists who play a vital role in every aspect of health care. Since they often work behind the scenes, few people know about the critical testing they perform every day. There are more than 300,000 medical laboratory professionals around the country who perform and interpret more than 10 billion laboratory tests in the US every year. The lab team at SCKMC always come up with creative and entertaining ways to let the entire staff join in on the lab week celebration, and this year was no exception. The department hosted several contests including a guessing game to see who could estimate the correct number of red hot “droplets” in their blood bag, a hidden “lab rat” game, and a scavenger hunt. But the most popular event was the cookie decorating contest. Staff were able to choose sugar cookies in the shape of an atom, beaker, test tube, or flask and use a variety of colored icing and toppings to decorate them. Eryn Thomas’s beaker cookie was deemed the winning entry (pictured left). Winners of each event received a $5 Sonic gift card. (Pictured above: Katrina Langhorst and Renee White decorate their entries for the cookie contest as Joyce Baker looks on.)
Start Your Engines, Hospital Week is Coming National Hospital Week is May 12 -18. We will be celebrating with several fun activities and events. New for 2013 will be a Wii Mario Kart tournament held on May 16th. The contest is limited to the first 32 drivers. Staff wanting to take their turn behind the wheel should sign up ASAP in Administration.
May Employee of the Month Congratulations to Shari Spencer, PT, for being named “Employee of the Month”. Shari has worked in the department since 2008. She was nominated by multiple patients for exceptional customer service. Great Job!
Healthy Living: When it Comes to Blood Pressure, Make Control Your Goal Blood pressure is the force of blood on the walls of your blood vessels as blood flows through them. Blood pressure has two numbers, systolic and diastolic, and is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Systolic pressure is the force on the blood vessel walls when the heart beats and pumps blood out of the heart. Diastolic pressure is the force that occurs when the heart relaxes in between beats. Blood pressure is considered normal when systolic pressure (the higher number) is less than 120 mmHg and diastolic pressure (the lower number) is less than 80 mmHg. One of three American adults has high blood pressure, also called hypertension. Unfortunately, more than half of people with high blood pressure do not have their condition under control. May is High Blood Pressure Education Month, and it's a good time to find out how to "make control your goal." You may not have any symptoms of high blood pressure, but it can damage your health in many ways. For instance, it can harden the arteries, decreasing the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart and brain. This reduced flow can cause: • A heart attack, which occurs when the blood supply to your heart is blocked. • A stroke, which can occur when arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain become blocked or burst. • Chest pain, also called angina. • Heart failure, which occurs when the heart can't pump enough blood and oxygen to other organs. If you have high blood pressure, there are steps you can take to get it under control, including: • Ask your doctor what your blood pressure should be. • Take your blood pressure medication as directed. • Quit smoking—and if you don't smoke, don't start. • Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. • Participate in 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week. • Eat a healthy diet that is high in fruits and vegetables and low in sodium, saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol. • Manage stress. • Limit the amount of alcohol you drink (no more than one drink each day for women and two for men). For more information on this topic visit www.cdc.gov.
Celebrate Hospital Week
National Hospital Week is May 12th thru 18th and we would like to thank all of our employees and health partners for making a real difference in the community. Through every era of modern history, the hospital has stood as a timeless symbol of extraordinary human commitment. It is a well that we draw from to meet the needs of our patients and community. Times change. Your dedication remains. We’re grateful for your professionalism, your experience and the gifts you bring to the daily delivery of care. We applaud your commitment in changing times. It is an essential element of our success. Health care is an entity that grows and adapts to the needs of our world. Tomorrow may be unlike today, but our people – strong, capable, and caring – will be a continuing source of confidence and pride. You’re there for our patients. You’re there for our hospital. And we’re a better place because of you. We are…
6401 Patterson Parkway, Arkansas City