health news - firstlight · in every issue of health news we share stories about patients and their...

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Double the FunA very special delivery: A FirstLight Health System LPN welcomes twins! See page 4.

Medicine Across the MilesYour cardiologist is in Minneapolis and you’re in Pine City. See page 8 to learn about telecardiology.

Stay Healthy. Stay Happy.This year, be sure to avoid the flu bug—and common flu myths. Turn to page 12 for the facts.

A significant expansion project on the Mora campus of FirstLight Health System will take approximately two years and allow FirstLight to better fulfill its mission to meet the needs of the communities it serves. See page 6 to learn more.

Health NewsNovember 2016 A publication of FirstLight Health System

Building a Healthier TomorrowMORA EXPANSION UNVEILED

2FirstLightHealthSystem.org

FirstLight Health System Mora Hospital & Clinic301 Highway 65 SouthMora, MN 55051320-679-1212 – Hospital320-679-1313 – Clinic

FirstLight Health System Mora Eye Center20 Union Street NorthMora, MN 55051320-679-2020

FirstLight Health System Hinckley Clinic620 Sandy LaneHinckley, MN 55037320-384-6189

FirstLight Health System Pine City Clinic & Community Pharmacy1425 Main Street NorthPine City, MN 55063320-629-7505 – Clinic320-322-5141 – Pharmacy

FirstLight Health System’s Health News is published periodically for the communities of East Central Minnesota. The publication offers health and wellness information, as well as updates on the programs and services of the FirstLight Health System hospital and clinics. The contents of this publication are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider to answer any questions that you may have regarding a medical condition. To provide feedback or recommend stories for upcoming issues of Health News, please email [email protected].

Inside this Issue From our CEO 3

Patient Partnership Program 3

Twins Born at FirstLight 4

New Team Members 5

Hospital Expansion Project 6

New Treatment for Allergies 8

Telecardiology in Pine City 8

Same-Day Services 9

Health Care Home 9

Palliative Care Program 10

Teal Pumpkin Project 10

Take Note: Calendar of Events 11

Stay Happy. Stay Healthy. 12

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All of us at FirstLight, are truly committed to creating a positive patient and family experience for everyone who comes through our doors. What is “patient experience” exactly? To us, it’s about you, the patient and your perception of every interaction that you have at FirstLight; it’s about how we make you feel beyond your physical and mental health needs.

In the words of American poet laureate Dr. Maya Angelou, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

• Offer guidance in the implementation of the Health Care Home (see page 9);

• Provide input on FirstLight marketing materials; and

• Serve as a voice within the FirstLight communities.

“Minnesota Hospital Association research shows that hospitals that have successfully implemented patient family engagement committees experience lower readmission rates, resulting in better clinical outcomes and healthier communities,” said FirstLight Sr. Vice President of Nursing Services Diane Bankers. “All of the committee members are excited to be a part of this group and to help with various FirstLight projects.”

Health care is continuously changing, as are the needs of our patients. To better understand how best to meet our patients’ health care needs, FirstLight Health System created a patient partnership program that will engage patients and their families at all levels of care throughout our system.

The patient partnership program will shape how FirstLight provides care. The purpose is to create transparency, gather ideas, share feedback, and offer the patient perspective on all aspects of care delivery. Started last November, the nine-person group has already offered input into the new building project (see page 6). Going forward, the group will:

• Concentrate on how to improve patient experience;

Patient Partnership Program

Randy Ulseth, Chief Executive Officer, FirstLight Health System

People Remember How You Make them FeelIn every issue of Health News we share stories about patients and their experiences at FirstLight Health System. This edition is particularly moving because the featured stories cover the full spectrum of life: the birth of twin boys, the cardiac care of a retiree, and the death of a beloved mother.

While the required medical care differed widely across the three patients, their respective experiences with FirstLight providers, nurses and staff were similar. They appreciated the “small-town feel” of the care, admiring the attentive and experienced staff and their overall warmth and compassion. The patients and their loved ones felt like they were in good, caring hands.

At FirstLight, we have access to the latest treatments and technology like sublingual allergy drops and telecardiology (p. 8). We’re implementing proven models of care delivery (p. 9), attracting highly trained providers both in specialty areas and family medicine (p. 5), and we’re expanding our facilities to better meet the needs of our communities (p. 6).

While all of these efforts greatly enhance the medical care and support we provide to you and your families, what really sets us apart is the compassion that we show in every interaction.

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Becci, a Pine City native who spent a decade in Nashville before returning home, was delighted when Dr. Ingrid came to FirstLight. Although Becci loved being under Dr. Ingrid’s care, she trusts and would recommend any of the providers at FirstLight.

“All are wonderful, caring, down-to-earth humans who are in the business to genuinely help others. We are lucky to have the staff and resources we have right here in our small town.”

An Unforgettable Moment: FirstLight LPN Gives Birth to TwinsBecci Palmblade will never forget the moment she and her husband Joe found out they were expecting twins. She was having an ultrasound at eight weeks and the technician cheerfully said that everything looked great. She then added, “The heartbeat is 160...and the other one is 164.”

Becci looked at Joe, who responded, “It’s girls. I know it’s girls…” But Joe’s paternal instinct was off. On Monday, Sept. 19, Becci delivered two healthy

boys—Augustus Dewitt and Archer James—who joined big sister, Bea, in the Palmblade household.

Overall, Becci, a licensed practical nurse at FirstLight, had a wonderful pregnancy. In fact, this pregnancy didn‘t feel much different from her first, but being pregnant with twins, she was concerned that she might have to deliver in the Twin Cities, an hour away from her daughter, family, and home.

Thankfully, she made it to full term without complications. Dr. Ingrid Kaijage, a family physician who started at FirstLight’s Pine City clinic in July, delivered the identical twin boys via cesarean section.

“I am so happy that I was able to deliver just 20 minutes from home with a medical team I trust with my life and the lives of my children,” said Becci. “Life is busy—and will get even busier—and time is valuable. I don’t want to drive any farther than down the road for great medical care.”

“ I am so happy that I was able to deliver just 20 minutes from home with a medical team I trust with my life and the lives of my children.”

- Becci Palmblade

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Twin brothers Gus and Archie.

Becci Palmblade delivers twin boys by C-section.

Dr. Ryan Gaalswyk Dr. Ryan Gaalswyk is a Minnesota native from Duluth, where he earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He returns to Minnesota after completing his residency

in Seattle and working as an Emergency Medicine physician and hospitalist in rural Alaska. Dr. Gaalswyk specializes in Family Medicine, Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Emergency Medicine. He now sees patients in Mora, noting, “I am eager to be practicing full-spectrum Family Medicine alongside the great group of physicians and nurses at FirstLight.”

Dr. Ingrid KaijageDr. Ingrid Kaijage (pronounced Ki-ja-jay) began her medical education in Tanzania and made her way to Minnesota to complete her residency in Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota. For the past 20 years, her philosophy has been to listen to patients and ask them to share

in decision-making. She specializes in Family Medicine, Chronic Disease Management, Women’s Health, Obstetrics, Pediatric Care, and wellness visits. Dr. Kaijage, who sees patients in Pine City and Hinckley, shares, “I cherish the opportunity to build relationships with my patients over time. It’s such a joy for me to watch families grow, and particularly rewarding when I’m the one to deliver their babies!”

FirstLight Welcomes New Team Members

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Dr. John Kampa

Dr. John Kampa was born and raised on a small hobby farm in Chisago Lakes, where he developed a passion for fixing and repairing all the things little boys find on a farm. As he grew up, that mechanical inclination drew him to the world of orthopaedics.

“I was immediately attracted to orthopaedics after seeing the instruments used in surgery—hammers, drills, and screwdrivers—and ultimately chose orthopaedics because of my passion for fixing things. Whether it’s a fracture or arthritis, I love being able to help people get back to the things they enjoy.”

Dr. Kampa completed extensive medical and surgical training including a fellowship at Hennepin County Medical Center—Minnesota’s premier Level 1 Trauma Center—and orthopaedic residency at the University of Minnesota, After his training, Dr. Kampa was ready to return to small-town living, and found everything he was looking for within FirstLight. He’s happy to be part of FirstLight, where he can help his new friends and neighbors.

John and his wife Lindsey look forward to raising their four young children—(Lucy 4), Claire (2) and three month old twins, Daniel and Amelia—in a community that upholds small-town values and traditions.

Dr. Kampa enjoys snowmobiling, spending time with family, and restoring classic cars.

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OrthopaedicsWhen we move, we use our musculoskeletal system, a complex system of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and nerves. Orthopaedics is the medical specialty focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions and injuries of this system. FirstLight offers a wide range of orthopaedic care, from evaluation and diagnosis to prevention techniques and surgical intervention. Need a hip replaced? A knee? Seeking relief from joint pain or sprains? The FirstLight team can help.

Orthopaedic services are available in Hinckley, Mora, and Pine City. Please call 320-679-1313 to schedule an appointment.

Please note that some insurance plans may require a referral from your primary care physician to see one of our specialists.

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Organizations typically expand their facilities to address growth or much-needed upgrades. Both reasons are at play with the upcoming expansion project for FirstLight’s campus in Mora.

Over the past seven years, for example, Emergency Department visits have increased 11.3 percent, while

Rehabilitation visits have increased a whopping 87 percent. In addition, inpatient rooms haven’t been remodeled to

allow for newer technology or plumbing since the 1970s.

This fall will see the completion of pre-construction and site work including moving power lines, installing fiber optics, and

removing the houses along Clark Street (see article on page 7).

In spring 2017, groundbreaking will kick off the first of the four-phase project, moving rehabilitation services to the building’s southwest side and adding a second floor to house 23 newly designed inpatient and birthing rooms. These new rooms will enhance our team approach to health care delivery, and make our use of resources more efficient.

The second phase involves moving the existing Emergency Department and helipad to the northeast corner of the campus, and remodeling the existing lab, imaging, materials management, and IT areas.

During phase three we will construct a community pharmacy, a new public dining and common area, create a centralized

entrance from State Highway 65, and relocate the eye clinic from downtown. In addition, the current birthing

center will become infusion rooms, allowing for more privacy and improved healing environments for chemotherapy and infusion patients.

The final phase will optimize parking areas, alleviating congestion and helping with patient drop-off and pick-up.

The entire project will take approximately two years to complete and result in approximately 200,000 finished square feet. FirstLight’s current finished square footage is roughly 130,000.

“This expansion is necessary to continue to exceed our patients’ expectations and to

adapt to changing needs of our community members,” comments CEO, Randy Ulseth.

FirstLight to Expand Mora Campus in New Phased Project

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Expansion Creates Unexpected Opportunity for Mora Firefighters When lives depend on your job skills, good training can make the difference between life and death. Brett Anderson, a Mora Fire Department captain and FirstLight employee, knows this well.

As the facilities operations team discussed demolition plans for three FirstLight-owned houses, Anderson got an idea. Why not use them for search-and-rescue training?

“The houses were situated too close to the hospital for a controlled-burn exercise, but were perfect for search-and-rescue training,” explains Anderson. “We could create a scenario that was more realistic than yet-another training in the firehouse basement.”

The firefighters wore full gear in the training, including air masks with regulators and packs. Wax paper in their masks simulated smoke and poor visibility. As they maneuvered through the house searching for hidden mannequins, they carried a fully charged hose.

“Pulling a hose that is pressurized full of water is a lot of work,” said Anderson. “In a typical training space, you rarely—if ever—have the chance to carry a fully charged hose because of the damage it can cause.”

During the training, the regulator on one firefighter’s breathing apparatus became unhooked as he searched for victims. In real life, he would have been breathing smoke-filled air. The “distressed” firefighter reattached the regulator, but it broke again. He called mayday. Now, one of their own needed rescuing, and the backup crew outside scrambled to help. Though unplanned, the incident created a critical learning opportunity.

“Today it’s just training,” reflected Anderson. “Tomorrow it could be the most important thing you’ve ever done.”

In addition to the Mora Fire Department, the Brook Park Fire Department, the Kanabec County SWAT team, and the Pine County SWAT team all seized this unique opportunity to train in a new environment.

“Our local emergency response teams risk their lives to protect and serve our communities,” said FirstLight CEO Randy Ulseth. “We are honored to have had the chance to give back to them.”

The Making of a Strong Construction Team Behind any successful construction project is a strong team. This includes an organization’s leaders and staff as well as outside architects, a general contractor, an engineering firm, and other end-users. All must collaborate from the start to keep the work on track, on time, and on budget.

Mark Vizenor, FirstLight’s Facilities Operations Manager, is thrilled with the team assembled on the new expansion project. His go-to partner, DSGW Architects, is once again on board.

“DSGW has done a great job on their last four projects with FirstLight, including the Pine City expansion that we completed last year,” explains Vizenor. “When this latest project came up, we called their health-care lead Rebecca Lewis and moved forward immediately.”

Selecting a construction partner took more time. The FirstLight team invited 10 firms to the kick-off meeting and site visit. Three of the companies were invited to present to the building committee.

Vizenor found the process extremely productive and transparent. The team used a comprehensive scoring system that provided apples-to-apples comparisons of each potential partner.

In the end, the building committee selected Kraus-Anderson, a national leader with a Minneapolis-based health care division.

Having partners with direct health care experience is critical to FirstLight. As a clinical engineer, Vizenor is particularly excited that Obermiller Nelson Engineering (ONE) is on board.

“Health care is a different animal...we are operating life-saving equipment,” said Vizenor. “ONE understands health care, and we sought them out for their experience.”

Vizenor noted that the end-owner typically works directly with the mechanical and electrical partners. Given FirstLight’s close partnership with DSGW, however, and the health care experience of both firms, Lewis and her team are directly supervising ONE’s work, streamlining the construction process.

“We are fortunate to have such an experienced team working on the Mora expansion process. I look forward to seeing the end result,” concluded Vizenor.

First responders conducting training in FirstLight-owned houses.

much easier,” said Terry. “The doctor listened to everything we had to say, and it felt like he was right there in the room with us.”

Terry, who admits he isn‘t very tech-savvy, was amazed with the technology, comparing it to “something out of Star Trek.”

In reality, the technology is quite straightforward. According to Brent Nihart, RN, FirstLight’s clinical nursing supervisor in Pine City, “There is minimal equipment required in telecardiology, just an audiobox on the table, which is slightly smaller than a phone book; the e-stethoscope that is plugged into the computer; and a camera. That’s it.”

Nihart and the rest of the nursing team are excited to use the telecardiology program with more patients. “The timing is perfect, given shifting demographics. Demand for cardiac care will only continue to grow.”

The telecardiology program builds on FirstLight’s efforts over the past year to provide patients telehealth access to specialty care at all of its locations.

Telecardiology Delivers Care in Pine City

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Sublingual Allergy Drops: Another Option for Allergy Sufferers‘Tis the season for seasonal allergies, particularly ragweed. If you suffer from allergies, you’re not alone. There are more than 50 million allergy sufferers in the United States, and only 5 percent currently receive treatment with potential for long-term relief. The balance either suffer with symptoms, avoid exposure, or take prescriptions or over-the-counter medications. Now there’s another option available at FirstLight.

The treatment is called sublingual immunotherapy, known more informally as allergy drops. These drops help patients build tolerance to the causes of their allergy symptoms. Like allergy injections, the drops desensitize patients to substances that cause reactions by delivering small amounts of the allergen, or antigen, to the body. Unlike the shots, however, patients can take the drops at home, which eliminates the need for frequent office visits.

Allergy drops can be a good long-term solution for young children, asthmatics, highly sensitive patients, and those with related chronic conditions. Seasonal allergies, pet dander, dust, and mold can all be treated by allergy drops.

For more information about allergy drop treatment (also called the La Crosse Method™), contact Dr. Matthew Patterson at 320-679-1313. Dr. Patterson sees patients in Mora.

Terry and Vickie Miller dreaded trips to Minneapolis for Terry’s cardiology appointments. The 66-year-old Pine City resident first experienced cardiac issues in 2003. Then, in July 2013, he had double bypass surgery and needed regular cardiac care.

On appointment days, the Millers would get up early, drive an hour and 20 minutes, sometimes wait for two hours, and then turn around and head home, hoping they would miss rush hour and road construction.

In July, FirstLight started telecardiology services, five minutes from the Millers’ home.

Telecardiology, an offshoot of telemedicine, virtually brings a cardiologist from the Minneapolis Heart Institute into FirstLight’s Pine City clinic via technology, with something similar to Skype. Onsite nurses like Brent Nihart coordinate the care, making sure that the patient has completed—and the cardiologist has received—all of the requisite lab work and testing prior to the visit. At the appointment, the nurse communicates with the patient and cardiologist and operates the equipment, including the camera and the e-stethoscope, which allows the cardiologist to hear the patient’s heart in real time.

Before this program started, there were no cardiology services in the Pine City area. A FirstLight cardiologist from the Minneapolis Heart Institute travels to Mora weekly, but appointments tend to be booked weeks in advance. If an appointment was needed sooner, patients had to travel to Minneapolis.

“Being able to see a cardiologist right in Pine City has made it so

FirstLight nurse, Tasha Swanson, with telecardiology patient Terry Miller

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Health Care Home Flourishes Successful teams allow people to play to their strengths. Members communicate often and openly, fostering effective collaboration. At FirstLight, the Health Care Home team is proving to be a strong one.

“In our Health Care Home, we engage the right professionals to do what they do best,” said Jennifer Peterson, MSW, LGSW, and leader of the Health Care Home efforts at FirstLight. “Our nursing specialists manage chronic diseases, our social workers help with emotional and social needs, our pharmacists cannot be matched with their clinical medication expertise, and our physicians are an amazing mix of all these things. We have a truly collaborative team approach that recognizes the role of everyone, including the patient, on the team.”

A Health Care Home is a coordinated approach to treating a specific population. It follows the triple-aim goal of improving population health, patient experience of care, and affordability and access.

Some Health Care Homes focus on drug addiction and prevention, pediatric care, chronic illness, or mental health. To date, the FirstLight Health Care Home has focused on advanced chronic illnesses, but there are plans to expand the model to other areas, including mental health.

“We are looking to offer more coordinated care to all FirstLight patients, examining individual needs,” said Peterson. “We are rolling out the model where we can have the biggest impact on patients and caregivers.”

One of the biggest patient benefits is coordinating care with existing caregivers. On the next page you can read about Bruce Randall, who looked after his mother for 47 years.

“Through our Health Care Home, we bring everyone together on a patient’s support team—providers, family members, case managers from the county, assisted living staff, and so on—for a coordinated care approach,” explains Jenny Friday, RN, a nurse care coordinator. “In the process, we work hard to break down barriers that are preventing patients from meeting their health care goals. We aim to be supportive, without being intrusive.”

The Minnesota Department of Health certified the FirstLight program as a Health Care Home on June 23, 2016. While the certification itself doesn’t change how FirstLight offers care, it affirms the team approach.

Same-Day Services: When You Can’t Wait for Care

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Mora Same Day Clinic 11 a.m.—8:00 p.m.

Monday through Friday

NEW HOURS! Pine City Urgency Services

11 a.m.—8:00 p.m. 7 days a week

Can’t wait to schedule an appointment? FirstLight offers Same-Day Clinic hours in Mora and Urgency Services in Pine City.

Mora Same-Day Clinic hours are 11 a.m.—8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, while the Urgency Services hours in Pine City are 11:00 a.m.—8:00 p.m., 7 days a week.

Our Same-Day Clinic and Urgency Services are staffed with certified physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and Family Practice providers.

More information about specific conditions that can be treated by our Same-Day clinic and Urgency Services can be found by visiting www.FirstLightHealthSystem.org/Urgency.

In a Health Care Home, primary care providers, families, and patients partner to improve health outcomes and quality of life for individuals with chronic or complex health conditions and disabilities. The development of Health Care Homes in Minnesota is part of the U.S. health reform legislation. FirstLight received a grant as part of a cooperative agreement awarded to the Minnesota Departments of Health and Human Services by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to help implement the Minnesota Accountable Health Model.

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Palliative Care—“A Breath of Fresh Air” “I’m the mama, and you have to love me!”

When Bruce Randall heard these words from his mother, Beverly, he knew it was going to be a good day.

“I could tell how she was feeling by how she answered the questions during our memory exercises...whether she called me by my childhood nickname or Bruce Randall,” he explained.

Beverly Randall was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1969, when Bruce was just 10 years old. She was bound to a wheelchair in the 1970s, and for the next 47 years, Bruce, the oldest of three children, was her primary caregiver.

Mrs. Randall passed away in August of this year, at the age of 74. For many years, she spent much of her time at the FirstLight hospital in Mora.

During one of those stays, a FirstLight social worker talked with Bruce about palliative care, a program focused on managing symptoms associated with chronic illness, coordinating resources, and optimizing quality of life. In 2011, FirstLight began its palliative care program as a community-based project designed to coordinate

More children suffer from food allergies than ever before. For them, Halloween can be a time of fear, exclusion and frustration. To raise awareness of food allergies, a national food allergy nonprofit launched the Teal Pumpkin Project. The idea is to offer non-food Halloween treats and signaled by a teal pumpkin on the door. FirstLight is raising awareness of this national effort, championed by Food Allergy Research & Education. For more information, go to www.foodallergy.org.

“Some of the medications work for some people but don’t for others— each person is different, and the care has to be different from one person to another,” said Bruce. “The FirstLight team understands this and made sure Ma got the care she needed. She loved the care here.”

Palliative care is now available through FirstLight as a part of its Health Care Home certification. If you are interested in learning more, please talk to your primary care provider or contact FirstLight’s Social Service Department at 320-225-3576.

Allie Knapp, RN, with Beverly Randall, “Ma“

care more efficiently for their chronically ill patients, and Mrs. Randall was one of the first patients.

“The palliative care program was a breath of fresh air,” said Bruce.

“We used to have so many hassles. It was frustrating because I used to have to explain our situation multiple times to different staff and caregivers. Sometimes I would leave a message and sometimes it would take a long time for them to get back to me.“

All of that changed with the palliative care program and the Health Care Home model at FirstLight (p. 9).

“It was great to have actual people helping us, not just physically with what we needed to do, but emotionally as well,” said Bruce.

“Though we worked closely with Danielle, the social worker who coordinated everything, everyone would help out.

Bruce commends the team at FirstLight. He loves the small-town feel of the hospital and the exceptional care received from the staff. He also appreciates the attention of the palliative care team, especially given the complexity of MS and potential complications from MS medications.

Teal Pumpkin Project Raises Awareness of Food Allergies

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VOLUNTEER! Look for opportunities

to get involved in the community!

It‘s easy during the holidays!

Be Grateful Write a thank-you noteStart a gratitude journal

Count your blessingsMeditate or pray

It‘s good for your health!

Take Note 1 Cancer Support Group

Lung Disease Support Group – The Blowhards

3 Diabetes Support Group – Mora

6 Daylight Saving Time Ends – Fall Back One Hour

8 Election Day - VOTE!

9 Caregivers Support Group

11 Veteran’s Day

22 Heart to Heart Support Group

24 Thanksgiving Day

30 Diabetes Support Group – Pine City

November is Diabetes Month. Learn more at www.diabetes.org, the American Diabetes Association website.


6 Cancer Support Group Pre-Diabetes 101 Seminar


25 Christmas Day



December is Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. Be sure you have a safe ride home. 1 Happy New Year!

3 Cancer Support Group Lung Disease Support Group – The Blowhards





26 Lymphedema Support Group

January is Family Fitness Lifestyle Month. Get the entire family off the couch and moving!


3 National Wear Red Day®

7 Cancer Support Group


14 Valentine’s Day



Go Red for National Wear Red Day and help the American Heart Association raise awareness of heart disease and stroke.

New Year‘s Resolutions

~ Eat more veggies ~ Eat LESS sugar ~ Get to the gym

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Common Flu Shot Myths DebunkedI’m healthy—I don’t need a flu shot. Anyone can fall to the flu and experience serious complications. Flu viruses are unpredictable, and every season puts you at risk.

The flu vaccine makes me sick—I can’t risk missing work or school. The flu vaccine cannot give you the flu. The most common side effect is a sore arm; some people may get a low fever or body aches.

I have an egg allergy. People with an egg allergy should discuss flu vaccination with their doctor.

Many egg-allergic people can safely get a flu vaccine.

I got a flu vaccine once and still got sick. It takes about two weeks for full immunity against the flu virus, so people can get the flu if they were exposed during that window.

Flu virus strains can also differ from what is included in that year’s vaccination.

I don’t trust that the vaccine is safe. The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration monitor vaccine

safety very closely, and the flu vaccine has an excellent track record. Over the course of 50+ years, hundreds of millions of flu vaccines have been given safely.

I got a flu vaccine last year, so I don’t need another one. Immunity to influenza declines over the year, and the most common strains differ from year to year. So we recommend an annual flu vaccination.

I’ll get vaccinated only if my family and friends get sick with flu. If you wait, it will likely be too late. The sooner you get vaccinated, the more likely it is that you will be fully protected once the flu is circulating.

Prevention is KeyBy Cindy Teichroew Influenza is a serious, highly contagious disease that can spread before symptoms even appear. It can cause a mild illness and even death. Older adults, young children, and people with suppressed immune systems are at high risk for serious flu complications. Protect yourself and others from the flu.

Get vaccinated. Vaccination is the primary flu prevention measure, and is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older.

Wash your hands. Hand hygiene is critical to preventing the spread of disease. Wash your hands often. Don’t touch your face, particularly your eyes, mouth and nose, and disinfect potentially contaminated surfaces and objects.

Cover your cough. When you sneeze or cough, germ-infused droplets spread and settle on the mucous membranes of others either directly or indirectly, i.e., your cough contaminates a surface that people touch, they touch their eyes and then voilà, the flu virus spreads.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year the flu results in 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths in the United States. Help prevent the spread of influenza.

The Flu—The Facts

FirstLight Health System 301 Highway 65 SouthMora, MN 55051

Stay Happy. Stay Healthy.

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