Sleepy Eye Medical Center

HEALTH NOTES

• F A L L 2 0 1 5 •

A Community Newsletter from Sleepy Eye Medical Center

FALL INTO BETTER HEALTHWith the kids back in school and your family back to a regular routine, now is the perfect time to think about yourself. Are you caught up on routine screenings and checkups?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an international observance that increases awareness of breast cancer and highlights the importance of screenings and preventative measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that women have annual mammogram screenings beginning at age 40.

Depending on your gender, age and health history, you may be due for other routine screenings as well. Sleepy

Eye Medical Center encourages you to talk with your provider to determine what other screenings or procedures are best for you and your health.

“Now in medicine, a major focus for us as providers is keeping patients healthy, not only treating patients when they have illnesses arise. Routine screening tests are part of the way that we identify and treat conditions early for our patients, before they (conditions) become a problem,” said Dr. John Pelzel.

SEMC welcomes the opportunity to discuss your personal medical situation. To schedule an appointment with one of our providers, please call 877-794-3691.

2 Sleepy Eye Medical Center • Fall 2015

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

SAFETY TRICKSAND TREATS

Imaginations soar as little goblins, princesses and vampires fill neighborhood doorsteps on Halloween. Keep you adventurer safe with the following safety tips.

• Avoid costumes with baggy sleeves and long skirts to minimize the risk of contact with candles. Look for costumes with the “flame resistant” label. While this does not mean the costume won’t catch fire, it signifies that the costume will resist burning and should extinguish quickly once removed from the ignition source.

• Wear bright costumes that are visible to motorists or decorate them with reflective tape. Also, remember to bring a flashlight.

• Secure hats and scarves so they don’t obscure vision.

• If your child wants to wear a mask, apply a mask of cosmetics instead. Real masks can obscure vision and constrict breathing.

• Use accessories made of soft, flexible materials.

• Advise children not to eat treats until an adult has examined them.

• Always accompany young children.

• Avoid walking between parked vehicles. Use the sidewalk, if one is available.

• Only visit houses where the residents are known and an outside light is on. Ask children not to enter homes if they aren’t accompanied by an adult.

FALL FITNESSDon’t let fall’s chill keep you from staying active. Bundle up with a jacket and scarf and explore the beautiful outdoors.

• Take a walk through the woods.

• Go apple picking at an apple orchard.

• Rake leaves in your yard and make a pile for the kids to jump in.

• Play a game of backyard football.

• Go biking on a local trail.

Source: Consumer ProductSafety Commission

Fall 2015 • Sleepy Eye Medical Center 3

Getting a flu vaccine is the most important step you can take to protect yourself, as well as others, from getting influenza (“the flu”). In fact, the Minnesota Department of Health states that “everyone six months of age and older should get the flu vaccine every year.”

“This year’s flu vaccine has been updated to better match the kinds of influenza virus that occurred in our communities last year. We are confident we will see an increase in the effectiveness of the vaccine,” said Julie Kloeckl, RN, Infection Preventionist at SEMC.

Vaccination is especially important for children, adults 65 and older, pregnant women and people with asthma, diabetes and other long-term conditions. These individuals are at high risk of complications from the flu.

Many experts believe the influenza virus is most often spread by droplets made when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can then land in the mouths and noses of people nearby. Less often, a person might get the flu by touching a surface or object that has the influenza virus on it and then touching their

own eyes, nose or mouth.

In addition to getting the seasonal flu vaccine, there are other steps you can take to prevent contracting and spreading the flu, including:

• Stay home if you aren’t feeling well

• Keep your children home if they are ill

• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth - germs spread this way

• Cover your cough

• Wash your hands with warm water and soap, or use an alcohol-based sanitizer

DID YOU KNOW?SEMC received a blue ribbon and certificate of achievement from the MN Department of Health for achieving 91% vaccination rate among employees during the 2014-2015 flu season.

SEMC hopes to exceed this number during the 2015-2016 flu season.

SYMPTOMS OF INFLUENZA

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills• Cough • Sore throat • Runny or stuffy nose• Muscle or body aches• Headaches• Fatigue (tiredness)

Infants and children with these symptoms should seek medical help immediately:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing• Bluish skin color• Not drinking enough fluids• Not urinating or no tears when crying• Severe or repeated vomiting• Not waking up or not interacting• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held• Pain or pressure in the chest or belly• Dizziness or confusion

Adults with these symptoms should seek medical help immediately:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath• Pain or pressure in the chest or belly• Dizziness or confusion• Severe or repeated vomiting• Flu-like symptoms that get better but then return with fever and worse cough• Severe dehydration

Sources: Centers for Disease Control andPrevention and Minnesota Department of Health

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

STAY HEALTHY DURING FLU SEASON

4 Sleepy Eye Medical Center • Fall 2015

Heidi Sellner is accustomed to rolling up her sleeves and taking care of business on her family farm. With 180 heifers, 195 Holsteins and around 400 acres to run, there’s always work to be done. But after undergoing double knee replacement surgery in June, she found herself in unfamiliar territory.

“I’ve never had to be in the hospital that long before,” said Sellner.

Following surgery, Heidi participated in the SEMC swing bed program as well as six weeks of outpatient physical therapy.

“I came here because I think this facility is a good one. Plus, it’s close to home. They take the time to get to know you and help you get through physical therapy or whatever you are receiving care for so that you can get back to your regular routine.”

During her recovery, Sellner worked with Physical

Therapist Ariel Brandl, DPT and Physical TherapyAssistant Jodi Belseth.

“I didn’t really have a clue as to what I was getting into. I didn’t know anything about physical therapy, but Jodi and Ariel walked me through it at my own pace,” said Sellner. “They knew when to encourage me and when to slow me down.”

Sellner admitted that neither Brandl nor Belseth were quite like she expected them to be.

“I really enjoyed working with them. They aren’t the drill sergeants you’d expect them to be. They take the time to get to know you, so they have a better feeling for what your life is really like.”

Sellner explained how Brandl created exercises that were specific to her lifestyle, ultimately helping her regain strength for life on the farm.

“You know, I had to learn how to carry five gallons of feed after surgery. (I carry five gallon pails of feed to our calves at the farm.) Ariel had pails for me to carry, and we gradually added more and more weight.”

Sellner also commented on how Brandl improved the way she walked.

BACK TO HERROUTINE

Heidi Sellner lifts weights to regain strength after double knee replacement surgery as Physical Therapist Ariel Brandl observes.

Fall 2015 • Sleepy Eye Medical Center 5

“She also taught me how to walk better; I used to walk with a shuffle. I can still hear her in the back of my head giving me advice on how to walk,” said Sellner.

When asked what made the biggest difference in her healing process, Sellner was quick to respond.

“My family’s support. They’d either help me or back off and let me do it myself. And at SEMC, it was all those little things that really helped get my knees back and working as they should.”

PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES

• Pain relieving modalities• Manual therapy• Balance/gait training, including prosthetic use• Wound care• Wheelchair/power mobility evaluations• Work conditioning• Post-operative rehabilitation• Sports injury rehabilitation

• Incontinence• Pediatrics• Neurological rehabilitation for CVA, MS and Parkinson’s• Aftercare following MVA• Work comp injuries• Headaches and comprehensive spinal care • Chronic pain• Body mechanics training

PATIENT & FAMILY ADVISORY COUNCIL

In an effort to enhance the patient experience, Sleepy Eye Medical Center will implement a Patient and Family Advisory Council in 2016. An Advisory Council partners patients and their families with members of the healthcare team to provide guidance on matters pertaining to the patient experience.

SEMC is currently looking for patient advisors to serve on the newly formed Patient and Family Advisory Council. Patient advisors will be asked to share their views, perspectives and experiences at quarterly meetings, where their voice will not only be heard but also

integrated into service and quality improvement measures at SEMC.

The unique, shared relationship with patient advisors and the healthcare team will allow the Patient and Family Advisory Council to do the following:

• Identify patient and family needs and concerns

• Develop programs and policies relevant to those needs and concerns

• Explore areas of growth and enhancement

• Empower patients to become active participants in their own healthcare

• Act as advocates to integrate patient-centered care

• Strengthen community relations

If you are interested in enhancing the patient experience as a patient advisor, please contact Sara Schultz, Quality Improvement Coordinator, at sschultz@semedicalcenter.org or 507-794-8459. Patients of all ages and their family members are invited to join the Patient and Family Advisory Council.

Meetings will be held every three months from 6-7 p.m. in the lower level of SEMC. A free meal will be provided at each meeting.

We value your feedback as we strive to enhance the care we provide to our patients, their family members and the surrounding communities.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Sleepy Eye Medical Center400 4th Ave. NW PO Box 323Sleepy Eye, MN 56085

Dr. KVK MurthyGeneral Surgeon

Dr. James JoyceFamily Practice/OB

Dr. Harman DhaliwalFamily Practice/OB

Dr. Karlyn Armbruster

Family Practice/OB

Dr. Adam Armbruster

Family Practice/OB

Sue Ahlness APRN, BC

Dr. John PelzelFamily Practice/OB

Dr. John BernhardsonInternist-Cardiology

Dr. Steven WachterPodiatrist

Dr. Michael JamesUrologist

Dr. Richard ErbesPodiatrist

Dr. Mario DeSouzaOrthopedic Surgeon

SEMC Hospital: 507-794-3571Sleepy Eye Clinic: 507-794-3691

SEMC Medical Staff

Visiting Specialists

Morgan Clinic: 507-249-3115Comfrey Clinic: 507-877-5300

www.semedicalcenter.org Find us on Facebook:Sleepy Eye Medical Center