Mercy leads the way in stroke education

May 14, 2010BulletinWhile May is Stroke Awareness Month, Mercy has been involved with several local, national and international stroke education initiatives over the past year that demonstrate how Mercy and Iowa are leading the way in promoting stroke awareness.

Most recently, on April 30, Mercy planned and executed a mock stroke drill with Mercy Health Network affiliate Stewart Memorial Hospital in Lake City, Iowa. The scenario involved a person falling ill with symptoms at a local store, where employees acted quickly and called 9-1-1. The Lake City volunteer EMS providers responded to transport the patient to Stewart Memorial, where the “stroke” was assessed and t-PA, a clot-busting medication, was ordered.

To make the drill more realistic and follow the true chain of events of a stroke, transport via Mercy One was requested and the helicopter flew to Lake City to fly the patient to Mercy. During the transport, the patient “relapsed” and the flight crew had to make decisions on how to care for the patient until they landed.

Once the patient was at Mercy, employees in the Emergency Department, Medical Imaging and Intensive Care Unit were tested on their knowledge of how to treat a stroke patient who has been transferred from another hospital after receiving t-PA and then relapsing.

“The drill ran extremely well and everyone knew their roles,” said Mercy Stroke Team Coordinator Terri Hamm, RN. “If this had been a real situation, the patient would have had a very positive outcome because everyone at Stewart Memorial and everyone at Mercy knew what they needed to do to treat this patient.”

The drill emphasized one of the key pieces of a bill signed into legislation in March by Iowa Governor Chet Culver, which calls for the development of a stroke registry in Iowa and a plan to ensure stroke care is the same at every hospital in the state. Terri serves on the American Heart Association’s Iowa State Task Force executive committee and was instrumental in developing the bill and getting support from legislators.

Health care providers at the national and international levels now know about Mercy’s pre-hospital stroke protocol, as well. Last February, Terri was invited to present at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference in San Antonio, Texas, and has since been contacted by hospitals from around the United States and as far away as Melbourne, Australia, seeking assistance in establishing their own pre-hospital protocols.

“If I can help save one life or educate one person each time education is involved, I’ve done my job,” said Terri.

Mercy physician recognized by Iowa Medical Society

The Iowa Medical Society (IMS), a professional association representing more than 4,600 Iowa physicians, recently presented Jose Angel, M.D., Mercy Jordan

Creek Internal Medicine Clinic, with its 2010 Merit Award.

The award is given annually to an IMS member who has served the medical profession with distinction. Dr. Angel was nominated for the honor by the IMS board of directors for his commitment to medicine and his outstanding contributions to the community – including his ongoing work with the Latin American Medical Clinic (1300 Des Moines St., Des Moines).

Mercy One flight team members Jeff Sisul (left) and Dennis Stofer (right) transport mock stroke drill patient Brian Helland to Mercy during the stroke drill with Stewart Memorial Hospital in Lake City. Mercy One was used in the drill because the patient would have been transported to Mercy via helicopter after receiving initial care at Stewart Memorial.

Mercy clinic, physicians voted “Best of Ankeny”In a recent Ankeny Register Press Citizen poll, readers named a Mercy clinic and three Mercy physicians among the best the city has to offer. The 2010 “Best of Ankeny” survey named Mercy North Physical Therapy as the city’s best physical therapy clinic.

Readers also voted Shannon Hood, D.O., Mercy North Family Practice, as Ankeny’s best doctor, and named her colleagues, Terry Van Oort, M.D., Mercy Van Oort Medical Clinic, and David Harrison, D.O., Mercy North Family Practice, second and third in the poll.

BuLLeTINVolume 10 Issue 20 | May 14, 2010

The Bulletin is published weekly for employees and friends of Mercy Medical Center, 1111 6th avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50314-2611.

eDITORIAL STAFFErin Kurth ....................................................... Editoramy Bentz ............................................. ContributorLisa Jones ............................................. Contributor Megan Jorgensen ................................. Contributor Gregg Lagan ......................................... ContributorTraci McBee .......................................... ContributorSarah Todd ............................................. Contributor Kate Westercamp .................................. ContributorHeather Hyatt ............................................ Designer Laura Vanden Bosch .................................... Director

If you are interested in submitting information to be printed in the Bulletin, send it to PR and Marketing or call (515) 247-3050.

arthritis Month highlights importance of physical activity

Arthritis affects 46 million adults, costs patients $128 billion a year and is the most common cause of disability in the United States. By 2030, an estimated 67 million adults (approximately one out of every four Americans) are expected to be affected by arthritis, which is one reason the Arthritis Foundation has designated May Arthritis Awareness Month and sets aside time each year to educate the public on the prevention and treatment of arthritis. This year’s theme – “Moving is the Best Medicine” – highlights the importance of physical activity for decreasing arthritis pain. Arthritis is a complicated disease because there are many different types (up to 100 varieties), various symptom patterns and numerous treatment options. Severe forms of arthritis can be disabling and can affect many aspects of daily living.

“Arthritis can be a debilitating disease that profoundly impacts the lives of millions of Americans on a daily basis,” said Michael Finan, M.D., Mercy Arthritis and Osteoporosis Clinic. “Most people think asking them to move more will make arthritis advance even quicker, but really it is one of the most effective, preventative treatments we have to offer.”

The Mercy Arthritis and Osteoporosis Clinic is dedicated to the care and treatment of patients with arthritis, osteoporosis and other rheumatoid diseases. The clinic has 12 rheumatologists on staff and is the largest clinic of its kind in the state.

Dr. Finan added, with the aging of the baby boomer generation, the prevalence of arthritis is expected to continue to increase. “Managing the disease with exercise and medications is vital,” he said. “The older we get, the harder it can be to stay active and fit. However, even light exercise can help reduce the pain associated with arthritis.”

For more information, please call x-39699 or visit www.mercyclinicsdesmoines.org.

Mercy Clinic’s arthritis and Osteoporosis Clinic located in Urbandale is the largest arthritis Clinic in Iowa with 12 physicians.

Students donate blankets to comfort pediatric patients

On May 6, Panorama middle and high school students donated nearly 100 fleece blankets to the Mercy Children’s Center and were treated to lunch in the East Tower Auditorium, courtesy of the Panorama Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).

The students decided to take on the community service project after a local family’s baby was born at Mercy and was cared for in both the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. Raychelle Repp was born premature with Down’s syndrome and had a hole in her heart. During her two-month stay in Mercy’s NICU, she received blankets made by other caring people, which was very comforting to her family.After coming home for four months, Raychelle returned to Mercy for heart surgery and stayed in the PICU for a month and a half.

Raychelle’s older siblings are Panorama students or have graduated from the school,

so when students learned about Raychelle, they contacted the family to see if there was anything they could do. Her family had planned to make fleece blankets to give the Mercy Children’s Center. The students used that fleece and expanded the project on their own. Each blanket has a note about the story behind it and the name of the student who made the blanket.

Josh and Avi Asner, juniors at Panorama High School and children of Dr. Julia Asner at Mercy Panora Medical Clinic, both participated in the project. Josh, who is the vice president of the school’s FCCLA chapter, presented the blankets on behalf of the Panorama students to Mercy Children’s Center during the lunch.

“We can’t thank the Repp family and the Panorama students enough for this wonderful donation,” said Lisa Fox, Pediatric Unit child life specialist. “These blankets will provide comfort for so many children who need to be hospitalized.”

Mercy makes commitment to continue greatly discounted YMCA membership rates

Mercy recently announced continuation of greatly discounted YMCA membership rates from June 1, 2010, through July 1, 2011. The annual rate for a Mercy employee or Mercy College of Health Sciences student will be $65. Children of single parents can be added for an additional $11 per month. A family membership is available for an additional $23 per month. While this is a slight increase from current rates, Mercy has made a commitment to keep the $65 annual rate for the next three years.

Individuals who wish to join the YMCA of Greater Des Moines should stop by their local branch to register. Rates will be increased for current members automatically upon their renewal date.

Mark your calendar...

HeALTHIeR WeIGHT AND LIFe eVeNTSaturday, May 15 (11 a.m. – 3 p.m.)Jordan Creek Town Center, Center Court

This free event, hosted by the Mercy Weight Loss & Nutrition Center, is designed to increase awareness about the benefits of losing weight. Attendees will learn about Mercy’s weight-loss services and programs; sample meal replacement products; hear weight-loss success stories and discover how physical and aquatic therapy can help reduce pain. Guests who register for an informational session during the event will receive special pricing on Mercy weight-loss programs. Everyone is welcome; registration is not required.