TRY IVCH CareToday - Illinois Valley Community Hospital

Summer 2011
J O U R N A L O F W E L L N E S S & G O O D H E A LT H C A R E
Adult Day Care
A safe place
for your
loved one
In the
right place
IVCH emergency physician
helps young man get new heart
Don’t wait until tomorrow
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CareToday
Would you be able to deliver
the level of skilled care a
terminally ill loved one would
require?
support
With
the
services
extensive
offered
by
Illinois Valley Hospice, you can rest
easier knowing you’ve provided
the quality, compassionate care
necessary to make each day matter.
We help our patients maintain their
dignity of life with sophisticated
methods of symptom and pain
control, whether they are at home
or in assisted living or long-term
care facilities. And because we know
this can be an emotional and often
difficult time for family members, we
give you around-the-clock access to
our specially trained, local nursing
staff – the same nurses who care for
our patients every day!
If a day comes when you have to make
this decision for a loved one, call the
provider your neighbors have trusted
Having hospice care was like a gift from heaven. To
know that when a problem arose all we had to do
was make a phone call and someone was right there
to come and see my mom or just talk us through
something over the phone was so reassuring.
for more than 24 years – call Illinois
Valley Hospice.
1305 6th Street • Peru, IL
(815) 224-1307 • www.ivch.org/hospice
Illinois Valley Hospice is a
Medicare-certified hospice program.
inside this issue
Feature stories
The better to see
you with. Ultrasound
helps doctors diagnose
medical conditions
by giving them a look
inside your body. It’s
also great for checking
in on unborn babies.
page 7
Summer 2011
Information in HEALTH SCENE
comes from a wide range of medical experts. Models may be used
in photos and illustrations. If you
have any concerns or questions
about specific content that may
affect your health, please contact
your health care provider.
Copyright © 2011
Coffey Communications, Inc.
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A new heart—from
the start. When
Jermey Simmons came
to the IVCH emergency
department, doctors
discovered his heart
condition and got him
on a transplant list.
Never a dull moment.
The Illinois Valley Adult
Day Center has something
fun for everyone. They can
provide care for the older
adult in your life.
Why wait? Whether
it’s a twisted ankle or a
troublesome cough, IVCH
CareToday can help you
feel better right away.
HEALTH SCENE is published as a community service
for the friends and patrons of:
Illinois Valley Community Hospital
925 West St.
Peru, IL 61354
815-223-3300
www.ivch.org
President, IVCH Board of Directors
Kris Paul
CEO
Tommy Hobbs
Director, Public Relations
Gene Vogelgesang
Keeping informed
Feelin’ the burn? A new surgical
procedure can put a stop to
gastroesophageal reflux disease—
without cutting or scarring. page 4
Ready, set, go! The IVCH Fall Fitness 5K
race takes place Oct. 2. page 5
Thank you! Your support enables IVCH
to continue to provide safer, better care
right here in our community. page 15
Want more health news?
Joint Replacement Excellence Award
Five years in a row!
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get the health news that interests you delivered
right to your inbox.
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www.ivch.org • Health Scene 3
ivch digest
Get rid of GERD—for good!
Weather changes
kick up kids’ asthma
Fluctuations in temperature and humidity can make kids’ asthma worse and send
them to the emergency room one to two
days after those changes occur, according
to the results of a major study.
Researchers examined more than
25,000 records of emergency department
(ED) visits for asthma in kids.
The researchers compared the timing
of the visits with daily climate data
(barometric pressure, temperature and
humidity) over a period of two years,
controlling for air pollution and seasonal
allergen levels.
They found that a 10 percent increase
in humidity in one day meant approximately one additional ED visit for asthma
over the next two days. A daily 10-degree
temperature increase was associated with
1.8 additional visits. Researchers did not
find any correlation between barometric
pressure changes and ED visits.
Understanding the role of weather
may help patients identify the source of
symptoms and develop preventive treatment plans, the researchers say.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Vol. 103, No. 3
4 Health Scene • www.ivch.org
Illinois Valley residents who have daily
heartburn or other symptoms of reflux,
such as regurgitation, chronic cough,
hoarseness and dental erosions, can benefit from an innovative surgical procedure
now being performed at IVCH. The TIF
(transoral incisionless fundoplication)
procedure is performed with no cutting or
scarring and is now available from surgeon
Robert Wojcik, MD.
Until recently, people with heartburn
Robert Wojcik, MD
faced either a lifetime of daily medications—
and often incomplete resolution of their symptoms—or the risks of
invasive surgery. Now they have a better option.
“The TIF procedure can significantly improve quality of life for
our patients,” Dr. Wojcik says. “Gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD) is an anatomical problem which needs an anatomical
solution. Reflux medication like proton pump inhibitors can help
relieve patients’ heartburn symptoms but don’t solve the underlying
anatomical problems or prevent further disease progression.
“After the TIF procedure, clinical trials show that most patients
can eat and drink foods they avoided for many years. Reflux no
longer impacts their life like it previously did.”
For more information, call Dr. Wojcik’s office at 815-223-6041.
Fetch!
Get your paws on the latest health news and
community events at www.IVCH.org.
ivch digest
Dancing
doctors
return to
the stage
Born
to run
“Healthy choices, healthy you” is the
theme of the IVCH Fall Fitness 5K race
through the streets of Peru scheduled for
Sunday morning, Oct. 2. Walkers will also
be welcome at the event, which is not a
fundraiser but instead an IVCH initiative
to promote the value of exercise in maintaining good health. Sponsored by the
IVCH Center for Physical Rehabilitation
and Aquatics, the race will start at 9 a.m.
and feature:
✓✓Chip timing.
✓✓Technical T-shirts for all entrants.
✓✓Results available online.
✓✓A post-race pie fest.
Runners and walkers of all ages are
invited to enter the race. You can register
online now through Sept. 29 by going
to www.runrace.net, or you can download an entry form at www.starvedrock
runners.org. Paper entries must be
received by Sept. 27. The entry fee is $18
if paid before the race or $22 on race day.
Learn more
For more information, call Jim Schaefer at 815-780-3208 or email
[email protected].
The 2010 IVCH
Foundation Community
Variety Show was such
a hit that the hospital is
putting on a new show
in 2011 and, yes, there
will be another dancing
doctors act. Produced by
a committee of IVCH
employees headed by
Dawn Moutray and
Maureen Rebholz, this
year’s show will be at
7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, in
Matthiessen Auditorium
at LaSalle-Peru High
School. It’s a fundraiser
for the ongoing hospital
construction project to
build new obstetrics and
intensive care units by
adding a third floor to the
East Addition.
New clinicians and hours at IVCH Oglesby Clinic
A new doctor and a nurse practitioner
are seeing patients at the IVCH Oglesby
Medical Clinic, which will soon be expanding its hours to give you more choices when
making appointments.
The doctor is new to Oglesby but not to
the Illinois Valley. Bharat Puchakayala, MD,
had been in practice with Mario Cote, MD,
in Peru. Board-certified in internal medicine,
Dr. Puchakayala joined the IVCH medical
staff in 2009 and began seeing patients in
Oglesby June 20.
Another new face at the Oglesby clinic
is Anna Freeman, a certified family nurse
practitioner who received her medical training at Purdue University. She has extensive
experience meeting the health care needs
of families, including infants, children and
young adults.
Charles Running, MD, and Cynthia
Running, MD, who had staffed the IVCH
Oglesby medical office since it opened in
2007, moved to Wisconsin at the end of
June.
To serve the Oglesby area better, the
IVCH Oglesby clinic will be changing its
hours of operation beginning Monday, July
11, including expanded hours on Mondays
and Thursdays. Here’s the new schedule:
✓✓Monday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
✓✓Tuesday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
✓✓Wednesday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
✓✓Thursday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
✓✓Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bharat Puchakayala, MD
Need a provider?
Make an appointment with Dr. Puchakayala
or nurse practitioner Freeman.
Call 815-883-3588.
Anna Freeman, APRN, FNP
www.ivch.org • Health Scene 5
We’re expecting!
Illinois Valley moms-to-be can plan to deliver in a new IVCH obstetrics unit this fall. The new OB unit, which will be located on a third
floor being added to the hospital’s East Addition, is expected to be
open by Oct. 1.
The new unit will have 10 rooms, each larger than current IVCH
obstetrics rooms. It will also include a surgical room for cesarean
deliveries.
Also under construction is an intensive care unit that will be
located on the new third floor.
Extra help for
baby’s arrival
IVCH
prenatal
classes can
help you and
your baby get
off to the right
start. Call
815-780-3337
to enroll.
MOST BABIES enter this world in the
customary way. But 1 out of 3 infants
needs some extra help arriving and
is delivered via surgery—or cesarean
section.
If you are pregnant, your doctor might
suggest a cesarean section (commonly
called a c-section) if it appears to be safer
for you or your baby than a vaginal birth.
While some c-sections are planned
because of a known medical problem,
most occur unexpectedly when complications arise during labor.
Rest assured, a c-section is generally
very safe for a woman and her baby. It can
even be a lifesaving operation.
Why surgery may be needed
A c-section may be medically necessary
for many reasons. Among them:
Your labor stalls. About one-third of
c-sections occur because labor either
slows down or stops altogether. If medications don’t speed things up, a cesarean
may be needed.
Your baby is too large for your pelvis.
Some babies are simply too big to pass
safely through a woman’s birth canal.
Your baby is breech. A baby who enters
the birth canal feet- or buttocks-first is considered in the breech position. Your doctor
6
Health Scene • www.ivch.org
might be able to move the baby into the less
risky head-first position before labor starts.
If not, a c-section may be the best choice.
Labor is too stressful for your baby. A
change in your baby’s heart rate may indicate that your baby is in trouble and needs
to arrive by c-section.
There are problems with the umbilical
cord. Sometimes, the cord becomes
pinched or compressed in labor. If this
happens, your baby may not get enough
oxygen. As a result, an emergency cesarean may be warranted.
The placenta (afterbirth) covers all or
part of the lower end of your womb.
Your baby’s exit from the birth canal may
be blocked if this pregnancy complication,
known as placenta previa, occurs.
You’re expecting twins, triplets or more.
Though many women carrying twins
safely give birth in the traditional way,
those having more than two babies usually deliver by cesarean.
You’ve already had a c-section. A past
cesarean may mean that you need one this
time too.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
IVCH ultrasound techs
Joe Kamphaus and
Cindy Schlesinger with
expectant mom Amy
Stash; BELOW: A 4-D
ultrasound image
Picture-perfect service
Ultrasound
imaging at IVCH
AS A FIRST-TIME MOM-TO-BE, Amy
Stash felt a little anxious at her fi rst
ultrasound.
So it helped that Joe Kamphaus,
RT, RDMS, the technologist who
performed Stash’s exam at IVCH,
put her mind at ease. He explained
what to expect and what he was
looking for on the screen.
At just eight weeks, her baby
was the size of a small berry,
which Kamphaus pointed out.
To Stash’s delight, she heard her
baby’s heart—“the best sound in the
world,” she says.
“When anybody hears ultrasound, they immediately think
of babies,” says IVCH ultrasound
technologist Cindy Schlesinger, RT,
RDMS.
But ultrasound has a wide variety of uses beyond prenatal care.
Th is imaging tool can help doctors
diagnose, treat or evaluate many
health conditions.
Seeing with sound waves
Ultrasound uses high-frequency
sound waves to see inside the body.
Their echoes make internal
pictures that appear on a screen.
Ultrasound is often done to check
the gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys,
and other organs and structures.
“But over the years we’ve advanced into doing a lot of blood
vessel work,” Schlesinger says.
A technique called Doppler
ultrasound measures the speed
and direction of blood flow through
veins and arteries. Blockages
caused by clots or narrowing
caused by fatty plaque in the arteries can be revealed. Th is helps
doctors plan treatments that could
prevent stroke or other problems.
Other exams that may use ultrasound include: ➜ Breast imaging.
➜ Monitoring of abdominal aortic
aneurysms. ➜ Echocardiograms.
➜ Image-guided biopsies.
Experts with technology
IVCH added two new ultrasound machines that offer very
detailed images.
The advanced equipment can even
produce images of babies in 3-D
motion, a technique known as 4-D.
If you choose to have your
ultrasound exam at IVCH, you can
also feel confident that our technologists are highly trained. Most
states don’t require technologists
to be board-certified. Yet two fulltime technologists at IVCH—each
with 32 years of experience—have
earned that qualification.
Then board-certified radiologists
interpret your results and send a
report to your doctor.
“It’s our goal at our hospital to
see the fi nest detail in every image,
patient after patient,” Schlesinger
says. “And our equipment—along
with our technologists and our
radiologists—makes that happen.”
For Stash, it was a comfort to
know that everything looked as it
should early in her pregnancy. The
kind care she received also made
her feel calm during the experience.
“Joe was very patient and walked
me through everything,” she says.
www.ivch.org • Health Scene
7
EMERGENC Y
L
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S
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AN
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a
o
h
t
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T
JERMEY SIMMONS’ STORY
reads like a movie script.
A healthy, athletic young man
comes down with a mysterious
illness. His loving stepfather is
determined to fi nd him help. An
observant emergency room doctor
makes a key diagnosis that others
missed. And, ultimately, the young
man undergoes a life-changing
surgery—with a happy ending.
It’s all true, and it happened
right here in our community.
Jermey’s story
“If it wasn’t for the emergency
department at Illinois Valley
Community Hospital, we may not
have my son here,” says Andrew
8
Health Scene • www.ivch.org
Jackson, Simmons’ stepfather.
Jackson is also director of Putnam
County Ambulance Services.
“It all started back in early winter 2008,” Jackson says. Simmons,
then 21 years old, had been out
playing football and came home
with coldlike symptoms.
He saw a doctor at another hospital and was prescribed antibiotics. But several days later, he still
wasn’t getting better.
“So I said ‘I’m taking you to the
ED I deal with in Peru,’” Jackson
recalls, referring to IVCH.
Serge Golber, MD, was on duty
that night.
“Jermey had very bizarre symptoms,” says Dr. Golber, an emergency physician at IVCH since 2006.
He noticed that Simmons became
very short of breath from walking
just a short distance.
“My son’s breathing sounded like
he was underwater,” Jackson said.
“You could hear water in his lungs
like a drowning sound.”
Dr. Golber ordered an electrocardiogram, a test that measures the
heart’s electrical activity. It showed
that Simmons’ heart wasn’t working like it should.
Simmons was immediately admitted to IVCH by Mark Fernandez, MD,
for further tests. He was diagnosed
with myocarditis—inflammation of
the heart muscle. It may have been
caused by a viral illness that, in a very
small percentage of people, goes on to
cause severe heart dysfunction.
A new heart
“The job of the staff in the ED is to
imagine the worst-case scenario,”
Triage and technology help
streamline emergency visits
There are many kinds of
medical emergencies. Severe
chest pain, a sudden loss
of consciousness or a nail
through the foot are a few
examples.
Although each case that
comes into the emergency
department is serious, some
require faster treatment
than others. The triage system helps doctors identify
who needs help first.
HOW TRIAGE WORKS
When you come into
the IVCH emergency
department, you will be met
by an emergency nurse. He
or she is specially trained to
recognize the signs of serious
illness, says Paul Bonucci, MD,
IVCH emergency department
medical director.
The nurse will ask questions and may order laboratory tests or x-rays before
you’re seen by a doctor. A
nurse may also assess your:
✓ Breathing.
✓ Circulation.
✓ Mental status.
People who need immediate care will be moved into
Jermey Simmons (seated) and the team that put him on the road to a
heart transplant: (from left) Mark Fernandez, MD; stepfather Andrew
Jackson; and emergency department physician Serge Golber, MD
a room right away. If timing
is less crucial to your care,
you may be asked to wait.
UP-TO-THE-MINUTE
TECHNOLOGY
In addition to the
computers throughout the
emergency department,
we also have a new, 48-inch
computer monitor at the
nurses’ station to track
The IVCH emergency room
entrance is on the north side
of the hospital.
things like wait time and lab
results.
The large screen is easy
for nurses to see, which can
help make your medical
care more efficient and
more effective.
eart
says Paul Bonucci, MD, emergency
department (ED) medical director
at IVCH.
“Even with illnesses that seem
mild, like Jermey’s, we look at all
possible causes and eliminate the
more deadly ones as we go along,”
he says.
“Fortunately, Dr. Golber is a very
knowledgeable physician and was
able to pick up on a rare diagnosis
like this.”
Within a week of his visit to
IVCH, Simmons was transferred to
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
in Chicago and placed on a heart
transplant list.
He received his new heart in
April 2009.
“He’s doing really well,” Jackson
says. “He’s doing great, and he’s
back in college full time.”
Community-based care
“Although your stay in the emergency department is often a brief
one, our staff takes a great interest in the people that we care for,”
Dr. Bonucci says. “We know that
these events are very important in
the lives of our patients. They are
also very important to us.”
In fact, IVCH emergency department nurse Melissa Mickley, RN, has
developed a close relationship with
Simmons’ family since that night.
“Melissa’s been following
Jermey’s progress and keeping all
of us up-to-date on how he’s doing,”
Dr. Bonucci says. “Jermey and his
dad have also come by the hospital
to update us.”
That’s one of the special things
about IVCH: We are connected
to our community—and we offer
sophisticated medical care.
“One of the satisfying things
about practicing in a community
like Peru is we do have the chance
to take care of family members,
friends and friends of friends,”
Dr. Bonucci says. “It’s a real community hospital.”
Jackson agrees. “In my working
relationship with them, I have nothing but admiration for everyone
who works there,” he says. “Before
this happened with my son, I would
have trusted them with anyone’s life.
“But now, especially, I would take
anyone there.”
Be prepared
Want to know more about the IVCH emergency department?
Go to www.ivch.org.
www.ivch.org • Health Scene
9
risks to know
No one is safe from the sun,
including people with dark skin.
However, the risk is greater if
you have:
1. Fair skin.
2. Blue or green eyes.
3. Blonde or red hair.
4. A family history of skin cancer.
5. Skin that burns, freckles or
reddens easily.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Family sun smarts
Before putting
sunscreen on
a child, rub a
small amount
on his or her
back to check
for an allergic
reaction.
Find us on
Facebook
For more timely
health tips and the
latest IVCH news,
“like” us on
Facebook.
10 Health Scene • www.ivch.org
Sunshine on your body may feel good.
But too much exposure to the sun’s powerful ultraviolet (UV) rays can do damage, ranging from aging skin prematurely
to causing skin cancer—even in young
people.
That’s why it’s important for everyone in
the family to practice sun safety. Here’s how:
Safeguard your baby. The American
Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping infants younger than 6 months old out
of direct sun entirely. If that’s not possible, make sure to completely cover all
of a baby’s skin in clothing, including the
head. It’s OK to apply a small amount of
sunscreen to a baby’s face and the back of
the hands.
Slather up. Use a sunscreen and a lip
balm with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 or higher, the American Cancer
Society advises. For youngsters, choose a
waterproof sunscreen with a label indicating that it’s recommended for children.
Before applying sunscreen to a child,
rub a small amount on his or her back to
check for an allergic reaction. If no reaction occurs, spread sunscreen evenly over
all uncovered skin, including the ears and
lips, the tops of feet and hands, and the
backs of knees (if they are exposed).
Be careful applying sunscreen around
the eyes, and be sure to avoid the eyelids.
You can use a lip balm instead of sunscreen on the lips if you prefer.
Everyone should apply sunscreen
30 minutes before going outdoors. Reapply
after swimming or excessive sweating.
Use sunscreen all the time—even when
you think you might not need it, such as
on overcast days. Radiation from the sun
can pass through clouds. It can also pass
through glass, which means you’re still
susceptible to the dangers of the sun when
in a vehicle.
For extra sun protection, rub opaque
creams containing zinc oxide or titanium
dioxide on the nose, cheeks, tops of the
ears and shoulders.
Dress for protection. Dress your child
(and yourself) in lightweight, tightly
woven clothing that covers the arms and
legs, and put on a hat with a 2- to 3-inch
brim to shade the face, scalp, ears and
neck. Children and adults should wear
wrap-around sunglasses that provide protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
Play safely. Encourage children to play
in the shade as much as possible, and
keep them indoors when the sun’s rays
are strongest, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
When possible, adults also should avoid
sun exposure during this time.
American Academy of Dermatology; Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
Convenient cancer care
VALLEY REGIONAL CANCER CENTER
(VRCC) may be new, but Illinois
Valley residents will discover there is
much that is familiar about it when
they study the list of services it provides and who is providing them.
Now open in the former Leath
Furniture building near Peru Mall,
VRCC centralizes diagnostic and
treatment services that local cancer
patients formerly had to travel to
multiple locations to fi nd.
The center is a joint venture of
Vantage Oncology, Illinois Valley
Community Hospital, St. Margaret’s
Hospital, the oncologists of the
Illinois CancerCare medical group
and the radiation oncologists of
Valley Cancer Center. Here are the
roles each of these partners plays:
➜ Illinois CancerCare oncologists, including James Knost,
MD, and Greg Gerstner, MD,
have offices in the center and see
patients there. Patients who need
chemotherapy treatments can
have them done at the center.
➜ Patients who need radiation treatments and had been
receiving them under the direction of Neelima Kabre, MD, and
Thomas Zusag, MD, at the Valley
Cancer Center in Spring Valley, will
We’re working
together to provide
compassionate
cancer care in one
central location.
Valley Regional Cancer Center
is located in the former Leath
Furniture Building in Peru.
continue to be the patients of the
two radiation oncologists and begin
receiving their treatments at VRCC.
➜ Working together as Valley
Regional Health Services, IVCH and
St. Margaret’s manage the center’s
on-site laboratory and diagnostic
imaging services, which include
an on-site computed tomography/
positron emission tomography (CT/
PET) scanner.
➜ Vantage Oncology, a Californiabased developer and operator of
radiation oncology centers, is providing management and organizational
knowledge to the joint venture.
“The big benefit to patients is the
center’s convenience,” says Tommy
Hobbs, IVCH CEO. “Cancer patients
can visit their doctors and have
tests and treatments done all in one
location.”
Contact us
You can reach us at:
➜ Valley Regional Cancer Center,
866-964-5864.
➜ Illinois Cancer Care (Drs. Knost
and Gerstner), 815-223-7010.
➜ Valley Regional Health
Services (diagnostic/lab services),
815-220-1074.
➜ PET/CT scheduling, 866-667-7226.
➜ Valley Radiation Oncology
(Drs. Kabre and Zusag),
815-224-5511.
Caregivers can
help ease pain
When someone you care about has
cancer, there are many ways to offer
support. For example, if the person is
in pain, you can:
Ask about the pain. You may
notice a grimace or a moan, or the
person may seem distant, tense or
reluctant to move. If you know he or
she has pain, you can take action.
Offer physical relief. You may be
able to give your loved one a gentle
massage, run a warm bath or apply an
ice pack.
Provide pleasant distractions.
Find out what the person might enjoy
doing and has the energy to do.
Consider timing when planning
activities. Do things when he or she
isn’t likely to be napping and is likely
to be most comfortable.
Prepare nutritious meals. Serve
plenty of liquids and high-fiber foods.
Help him or her remember to take
stool softeners if the doctor has recommended them to counteract side
effects of some pain medicines.
Also, encourage your loved one to let
the doctor know about his or her pain.
American Cancer Society
www.ivch.org • Health Scene
11
n
u
f
g
n
i
h
t
e
S om
ILLINOIS VALLEY ADULT DAY CENTER
e
n
o
y
r
e
for ev
A
At a glance
The Illinois Valley Adult
Day Center offers:
✓ Care for Alzheimer’s
patients.
✓ Individualized care
plans, including personal care services.
✓ Health supervision
and monitoring by
registered nurses.
✓ Breakfast, lunch and
snacks.
✓ Therapeutic activities.
✓ Exercise.
Transportation is
available to and from
LaSalle, Peru, Oglesby,
Spring Valley, Granville,
Ladd, DePue, Mendota,
Lostant, Tonica, Utica
and the surrounding
rural areas and from
the Ravlin Congregate
Center in Ottawa.
AGING IS A PART OF LIFE that
You’re right in saying adult day
most of us can’t avoid. For many older
services are often misunderstood.
Americans, advancing years bring with
Many times people think we have a
them the fear of confi nement to a nursing
babysitting service when, in fact, we
home. IVCH helps many Illinois Valley
provide a program that offers significant
families delay that decision through the
benefits to participants and their families.
services it has been offering for more than
We encourage families to visit the center
20 years at the Illinois Valley Adult Day
for a fi rsthand look at what we do so they
Center (ADC).
can determine if the ADC would be a good
Located on the fi rst floor of the Robert
fit for the older adult living with them.
Hughett Towers senior citizens’ high-rise
We offer therapeutic activities, health
at 1020 Second St. in LaSalle, the ADC
monitoring and personal care assistance
provides day care for older adults who
in addition to numerous social activities.
can no longer
Is there a
stay home alone
typical ADC
yet don’t require
client?
nursing home
Some of our
care. Janelle
participants
Mrowicki, adult
have Alzheimer’s
day center direcdisease, dementor, talked with
tia, or physical or
Health Scene
mental health imabout the ADC.
pairments. Others
What role
simply want to
does the
socialize and have
ADC fill in
something fun
our comto do. Some of
munity?
our participants
We
live alone and
ADC participant Connie Morales
help
others live with
with certified nursing assistants
seniors
family members
Amanda Hoelzer (left) and Sonya
maintain
who are in need
Marquez (right)
their indeof respite—a
pendence. We want
temporary relief from care.
to prevent early nursing
Tell us about a typical day at the
home placement.
ADC.
What are some of the misconParticipants will usually eat breakceptions people have about adult
fast and then take part in arts and
day care?
crafts and perhaps go on a community
Q
A
Q
A
Q
12
Health Scene • www.ivch.org
Q
A
woodworking, trivia, sing-alongs, movies,
Bible study and communion services with
Deacon Ray Fischer. We provide nail
care and have the occasional Red Hat
party. We encourage exercise, and we
have a walking group. The activities
list also includes shopping, rides
to Starved Rock, special holiday
events, and live entertainment once
a month, provided by local singers
and choirs from area schools.
Tell us about your staff. Do
clients get a lot of personal
attention?
We have a well-trained staff
that includes certified nursing
assistants, RNs, social workers, certified activity directors, and drivers who
are trained in first aid and CPR. They are
compassionate, knowledgeable, supportive
and attentive to each individual.
One-on-one attention is given
when personal care is provided,
when range-of-motion and
walking programs are requested,
when someone needs assistance
with eating, and when participants need a little extra guidance with activities.
What are your hours?
What is your service area?
What does adult day care cost?
Are financial aid and transportation available?
We are open Monday
through Friday from
6:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. We
serve portions of LaSalle, Bureau
and Putman Counties. We also
provide transportation to and from the
Ravlin Congregate Center in Ottawa.
Currently, services can be provided at
no cost to the participants if they meet
certain state guidelines; however, after
July 1 of this year the Illinois Department
on Aging is proposing that adult day care
be a Medicaid-only program. We also
accept private pay at the rate of $9.02 per
hour. Transportation is a separate cost.
For further information, please call us at
815-223-0891 or stop by and spend a few
hours with us. We welcome visitors.
Is there a waiting list to get into the
adult day center?
We are currently accepting new
participants.
Q
A
Registered nurses Linda Duttlinger (left)
and Diane Hunt discuss medications with
Arlene Wilsman.
trip. Exercise is also an important part of
our day. After lunch, we might play bingo
or other table games, have a light snack,
and then have quiet time until we help
them prepare to get on the bus to head
home. Participants can even get a shower
and a shave if they request one.
Do clients receive medical care at the
ADC? How closely do you monitor
their health?
Our registered nurses (RN) assist participants with arranging
for medical and therapeutic care that
includes managing and administering
medications and drawing blood for lab
work, if needed. We also monitor blood
pressure and weight. We have an individualized plan of care for each participant
every day.
Who prepares the clients’ meals and
snacks? Is there much variety?
We prepare the breakfast and the
snack, and lunches are delivered
from IVCH. All meals are on a rotating
schedule for variety, and a registered
dietitian plans the menus.
What kind of activities do you
have?
Some activities include arts and
crafts, bingo, euchre, dominos,
Q
A
Q
A
Q A
Q
A
Q A Janelle Mrowicki
For more
information,
call us at
815-223-0891
or stop by
and spend
a few hours
with us.
www.ivch.org • Health Scene
13
After a heart attack:
Changes for
the better
Recovering
from a heart
attack?
Talk to your
doctor about
a referral to
the IVCH
cardiac
rehabilitation
program. Call
815-780-3407
for details.
14
Health Scene • www.ivch.org
YOu’VE SuRVIVED a heart attack. Now it’s
time to get back on the road to a healthy
life and to do all you can to avoid more
heart problems.
“When I talk to someone who has had a
heart attack, I tell him or her it is going to
change everything,” says Gina Lundberg,
MD, a cardiologist and spokeswoman for
the American Heart Association (AHA).
“It changes your lifestyle. It changes how
you feel about yourself and your relationships with others.”
It’s important to acknowledge this, she
says, and to realize that these changes can
pave the path to recovery.
Changes ahead
Lifestyle changes are crucial after a heart
attack, according to the AHA. You will
need to: ➜ Avoid tobacco. ➜ Become
more active. ➜ Choose good nutrition.
Quitting smoking is often the biggest
challenge, Dr. Lundberg says. But if it’s too
hard to quit smoking at this time, try to
cut back on how much you smoke and focus on other changes, such as adjustments
to your diet and exercise habits.
You can expect to take new medications after a heart attack. They may
prevent blood clots, lower cholesterol and
reduce the workload on your heart. It’s
crucial to take all of them as directed.
But the new routine of daily pills can
exaggerate feelings of lost confidence in
your body and health. It’s a reason depression is so common after a heart attack.
Don’t hesitate to let your doctor know
if you feel depressed. It might help to talk
with a counselor. You might also fi nd
valuable support in a cardiac rehabilitation program, Dr. Lundberg says.
A heart attack can cause stress at home
too—shaking up emotions and family
roles. For instance, “It can be upsetting
when a woman has a heart attack and her
husband takes up her caretaking role,”
Dr. Lundberg says.
On the other hand, a man who’s had a
heart attack may begin resenting a wife
who reminds him to take his pills and
who monitors his diet. “A spouse can suddenly seem less of a helpmate and more of
a nag,” says Dr. Lundberg.
Try to remember that your partner
is acting out of love, she suggests, and
consider asking your doctor about family
counseling.
American College of Cardiology; National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute
Rehab for a
healing heart
A heart attack can bring changes that
can seem overwhelming, especially if
you’re still coming to grips with the fact
that you had a heart attack in the first
place.
Enrolling in a cardiac rehabilitation
program can help.
Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised program of recovery for people
with serious heart problems. It wraps all
the pieces of better heart health together
into one package.
Research has found that cardiac rehab
can reduce the risk for future heart
problems. It also can give you added
confidence and independence at a crucial
time in your life.
American Heart Association
to purchase a vital signs monitor
for the IVCH Diabetes Center for
Excellence, a program that helps diabetes patients manage their disease.
$2,484
$5,000
for the hospital’s employee continuing
education fund.
to obtain an additional vital
signs monitor for the day
surgery unit to help speed the
delivery of patient care.
$3,043
Nurse Deb Redd, RN, a certified diabetes
educator, uses the new Diabetes Center for
Excellence vital signs monitor to measure
blood pressure for Ann McIntyre, of
Granville.
$700
IVCH Foundation grants
to replenish a fund used by the social
service department to aid indigent
patients.
$863
Grants from the IVCH Foundation, funded by your
donations, help the hospital purchase medical equipment and provide services that benefit everyone in
the Illinois Valley. Recent grants include:
to the diagnostic imaging
department for a “phantom” to
help ensure the quality of stereotactic breast biopsies. The money
came from a fundraiser organized
by the Illinois Valley Super Bowl.
Memorials to the IVCH Foundation
The IVCH Foundation gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the people of the Illinois Valley. The
following memorial contributions were received between Feb. 1 and April 30, 2011.
In memory
Yvonne Baker
Mr. & Mrs. Don Baker^
Michael Barry
Jan & Gene Vogelgesang
Ellen Bartels
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Blank
Mr. & Mrs. Ralph
Haggerty*
Mr. & Mrs. Billy Hendrix
Brian Kulak*
McLane Foodservice, Inc.*
Calvin Parker
Max Wheeler*
Mr. & Mrs. Michael
Youngblood*
Patricia Brown
Joan De Vault*
Rose Byczynski
Mr. & Mrs. John Patyk
Mr. & Mrs. Terry Patyk
Julia Carpenter
Mr. & Mrs. Daryl Stuhr**
Ruth Daniels
Joan Perona
Katherine Fiorentini
Mr. & Mrs. Jay Trimmer^
Julia Fitzgerald
Paul McLachlan*
Jean Hahn
Mr. & Mrs. Jay Trimmer^
Irene Hylek
Mr. & Mrs. Carl Sons
Walter Joop
Anonymous*
Mr. & Mrs. Frank Assalley*
Douglas Biederstedt*
Mr. & Mrs. Gary Biolchini*
Janet Crane*
Mr. & Mrs. William
Entwistle Jr.*
Mr. & Mrs. Stan Erjavsek*
Mr. & Mrs. Vincent
Flannery*
Irma Gallagher*
Nancy Humpage*
Mr. & Mrs. Ken Knafelc*
Mr. & Mrs. Scott Lauer
and Nick
Sheila Leshewski*
Betty Nelson*
Pauline Perra*
Linda Puchalski*
Mr. & Mrs. John Sadowski*
Mr. & Mrs. Earl Theisinger
and family*
Mr. & Mrs. Roger
Tidaback*
Mr. & Mrs. William
Vlastnik and family*
Mr. & Mrs. Kent Wicks*
Lee Matson
Norma Matson*
Catherine Mequio
Mr. & Mrs. Scott Karas
Dolores Wallin
Peter Miller III
Mr. & Mrs. Don Baker^
Mr. & Mrs. Carl Sons
Lucy Nieslawski
Bernadette Eustice*
Loretta Glynn*
George Quinn
Anonymous
Jeanette Coughlin
Barbara Husser
Mary T’s Cleaning
Mr. & Mrs. William
Munson
Mr. & Mrs. John Patyk
Robert Samolinski
Mr. & Mrs. John Patyk
Henrietta Skotnicki
Mr. & Mrs. Daryl Stuhr*
Grace Tattini
Dorothy Ambrose
Mrs. Pat Anderson
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Argubright
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Batty
Beth Ann Benvenutti
Mr. & Mrs. Richard
Benvenutti
Douglas Biederstedt
Anne Biolchini
Mr. & Mrs. John Borovac
Mr. & Mrs. John Crew
Mr. & Mrs. Bill Delvallee
Phyllis Dose
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Ebner
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Ficek
Madeline Mills
Oglesby AARP #3684
Oglesby American Legion
Auxiliary
Theresa Pavinato
Mr. & Mrs. Aloysius Piecha
Rose Ann Prey
Mr. & Mrs. John Riva
Mr. & Mrs. Bob Sheridan
Dorothy Stickney
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Van De
Wyngaerde
Mrs. Lee Zermeno
Hazel Wilson
Constance Bauer^^
Janet Redshaw^^
Ron Wren
Geno Caffarini~
Mr. & Mrs. William
Etzenbach~
Mrs. Murielann
Jermenc^^^
Mr. & Mrs. Dan Lawler~
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Lynch
Mr. & Mrs. Bill Martuzzo~
Dawn Pantenburg~
Mr. & Mrs. Lee Perry~
Patricia Wren~
*Illinois Valley Hospice
**Special Procedures
***Greening Memorial
Scholarship
^Heflebower Memorial
Scholarship
^^Adult Day Center
^^^ IVCH For a Lifetime of
Care campaign
~Emergency Department
www.ivch.org • Health Scene 15
Send a cheer card to a
patient at www.ivch.org.
reach
us
Numbers to know:
Main Number
Emergency Room
Central Scheduling
Class and
Event Registration
Billing and Insurance
Human Resources
Illinois Valley Community Hospital
925 West St.
Peru, IL 61354
Nonprofit Org.
u.S. Postage
PAID
Pewaukee, WI
Permit No. 921
815-223-3300
815-780-3411
815-780-3199
815-780-3337
815-780-3418
815-780-3546
IVCH CareToday
When feeling better can’t wait
IVCH
CareToday
is located in
the Miller
Building next
to the Illinois
Valley YMCA.
Lucille Damasauskas,
MD (right); Autumn
Haupt, RN; and
patient James
Schaefer at IVCH
CareToday
MINOR ACCIDENTS AND ILLNESSES don’t
always require a trip to the emergency
room, but where else can you turn for
prompt medical attention when your
regular doctor’s office is closed?
The answer is simple: IVCH CareToday,
the newest walk-in clinic operated by IVCH.
The physicians and mid-level providers at IVCH CareToday can diagnose and
treat most medical conditions that aren’t
life-threatening, such as x-raying and
setting simple fractures, stitching open
wounds, and administering IVs. They also
offer lab services, so you can save time by
not having to make an extra trip to the
hospital for standard tests.
IVCH CareToday is conveniently located
next to the Illinois Valley YMCA, giving
you easy access to the care many minor
injuries and ailments require.
CareToday is open from 4 to 9 p.m.
on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on
weekends, when you need us most. And
because you can’t predict a minor emergency, you won’t need an appointment—
just walk in. We accept credit card payments, or you may present your insurance
or Medicaid card for billing.
Call today
Want more information about IVCH CareToday?
Call us at 815-780-3855 or visit
www.ivch.org/CareToday.
IVCH FastCare
IVCH FastCare is the hospital’s other
walk-in clinic. Located at Walmart in Peru,
FastCare is staffed by certified family nurse
practitioners Jane Battles and Lisa Ilg.
Also open daily, FastCare offers care
for conditions such as sore throats, mild
fevers, flu and colds, urinary tract infections, ear and sinus infections, pinkeye,
skin rashes, and allergies. The $57 fee for
a FastCare visit covers lab work that can
be done at the clinic, including rapid strep
testing and urinalysis.
FastCare hours are 8:30 a.m. to
8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday,
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Holiday hours are
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
16
Health Scene • www.ivch.org