OCAHS News

Orange City Home Health & Hospice hosted a day camp on Saturday, April 28 for children TK through sixth grade who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Camp Hope’s mission is “to provide a safe place where children have the opportunity to share their feelings and experiences with other children who have also experienced death and to equip parents and caregivers with education and support.” According to social worker Kim Jansma, “Orange City Home Health & Hospice cares about grieving children. Our hope is to educate them about the grief process and give them tools for coping with their loss. We do this by working with the kids as a group while focusing on their individual needs.” Camp Hope, held at Orange City Area Health System’s downtown campus,  included games to encourage expression of feelings, a puppet show, crafts including decorating a memory box, peer support, and grief education. Comments gathered from the 14 participating children indicated that they learned that “It’s okay to cry,” and “I need to remember my grandma.” The children also wrote about activities they enjoyed, including “turning lemons into lemonade.” According to social worker Michelle Vaas, “Facing grief is not easy at any age. Camp Hope provides an encouraging environment where children can begin to accept the death of their loved one, reflect on their relationship, and begin to understand grief and loss.” For more information about services offered by Orange City Home Health & Hospice, visit ocHealthSystem.org or call 712-737-5279.

Area bikers can join the ride to Sioux Falls at noon

The sixth annual Children’s Miracle Network “Bikes and Babes” motorcycle run is set for Saturday, June 2 — sponsored by J&L Harley Davidson, Sioux Falls, in collaboration with Sanford Vermillion, Vermillion Wal-Mart, Sanford Clinic Beresford, and Orange City Area Health System. The ride — the proceeds of which are donated to the Children’s Miracle Network — starts at the Vermillion Wal-Mart. Registration is from 9-9:45am. Area bikers can join up in Orange City during a lunch at the new Prairie Winds Event Center on Highway 10 East; registration and lunch are from 12:15-1:15pm. Cost for the run is $25 and includes a poker/map card, lunch (provided by Orange City Area Health System and the Orange City Chamber of Commerce), a T-shirt, and a post-bash party at J&L including a RibFest ticket. The post-bash includes prizes, entertainment, and many food vendors. For more information contact Lisa Burg, Orange City Area Public Relations, at 737-5367.

Orange City Area Health System and ISU Extension and Outreach are hosting a Babysitting Class — for anyone who has completed fifth grade — with a choice of class days, Thursday May 31 or Friday June 1, from 9am to 3pm in the health system’s main campus lower level classrooms, 1000 Lincoln Circle SE in Orange City. The class will include information on child development, first aid, fire safety, and presentations by local professionals. Participants will also spend time learning about nutrition, will have a hands-on opportunity to make a healthy snack and will make their very own babysitting bag. Cost is $20 and includes noon lunch, snacks, and beverages. Participants are asked to bring a doll or teddy bear to class. Pre-registration is required by Friday May 25 by calling 737-5260 or registering on-line at ocHealthSystem.org. Class size is limited. For more information and to register CLICK HERE.

Did you know that every 53 seconds someone in America has a stroke? Help yourself prevent one with regular screenings. Orange City Area Health System will be holding Cardiovascular/Stroke/Osteoporosis screenings on Thursday, May 10, from 1-4pm in the Radiology department at the health system’s main campus at 1000 Lincoln Circle SE in Orange City. The screenings include: Carotid Artery/Stroke (15 minutes, no preparation required, $40); Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (10 minutes, fast for 6 hours prior, best attire is two pieces, $40); Ankle Brachial Index (10 minutes, wear short sleeves and socks, $40); Osteoporosis (10 minutes, wear removable socks/stockings, $20). All four tests for $100. Checks and cash accepted (no credit/debit cards please). Pre-registration required by calling 737-5241.

Brings accreditation in neonatal care to OCAHS

Marty Guthmiller, CEO of Orange City Area Health System (OCAHS), announced the hiring of Kara DeGroot, who will join the health system’s family practice team this summer. DeGroot will serve patients in the Orange City and Hospers medical clinics as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP). The addition of DeGroot brings the health system’s family practice medical team to 11 physicians and five mid-level providers. DeGroot has eight years of nursing experience in a variety of positions, including supervising the neonatal intensive care unit at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. She is currently studying for her advanced practice credentials at South Dakota State University. As an ARNP, DeGroot’s scope of practice will include patient physicals, diagnoses, and ordering tests, prescriptions, and treatments of care. She holds certification as a S.T.A.B.L.E. Neonatal pre-transport care lead instructor, and will bring that skill and experience to OCAHS’s obstetrics team as well. DeGroot and her husband and children currently live in Sioux Center. She attended Northwestern College and received her B.A. in Nursing from Augustana College.

Orange City Area Health System staff, Board members, fundraising team members, and Orange City officials and residents joined in breaking ground for the area’s newest senior care facility on Tuesday, April 10, at the site located on the north edge of Orange City adjacent to Landsmeer Ridge Retirement Community. The name for the new $18.5 million home for seniors — which is part of the health system — was also unveiled. People from throughout the area were encouraged to submit name suggestions, and the final name was chosen from among 94 entries. Two Orange City Area Health System employees — Kathy Van Marel and Gail Van Grouw — submitted the name Prairie Ridge Care Center. Construction is underway, with an expected completion of the facility — featuring 83 all-private rooms in a village atmosphere — in the latter part of 2013. For more information about Prairie Ridge Care Center visit the health system’s web site at ocHealthSystem.org.

The Auxiliary of Orange City Area Health System will hold its popular annual Spring Plant Sale on Thursday, May 3, from 7am to 1pm in the front lobby of the main campus, 1000 Lincoln Circle SE in Orange City. There will be a large selection of bedding plants, assorted flower planters, and hanging baskets for sale. Proceeds from plant sales go toward the purchase of medical equipment and other things that directly benefit health system patients and families.

Orange City Area Health System is hosting a Living with Grief videoconference titled “End-of-Life Ethics” by the Hospice Foundation of America on Wednesday, May 2, from 1-4pm at the health system main campus, lower level conference room, at 1000 Lincoln Circle SE in Orange City. This program, moderated by Lynn Sherr, former ABC News’ 20/20 correspondent, will examine – using a case study approach – the ethical issues and dilemmas that emerge at the end of life, the principles of ethical decision-making, and the effects of these decisions on staff and families. There is no cost to attend, and low-cost Continuing Education credits are available. Light refreshments will be served. To pre-register by Monday April 30 or for more information call the Orange City Area Health System Education Department at 712-737-5260 or on-line at ocHealthSystem.org.

Purse-n-ality purse and accessories sale raises money for health system patients

The Auxiliary of Orange City Area Health System will host its popular Purse-n-ality Purse and Accessories Sale on Thursday, April 26, from 8am to 5pm in the health system’s main campus front lobby, located at 1000 Lincoln Circle SE in Orange City. A portion of the proceeds directly benefit patients and families served by OCAHS.

“Camp Hope” hosted by Orange City Home Health & Hospice

Orange City Home Health & Hospice will host a day camp for grieving children on Saturday April 28 from 10am-4pm at the Orange City Area Health System downtown campus located at 400 Central Ave NW in Orange City. Camp Hope is designed to help educate grieving children about the grief process and how to cope with their grief. Hospice professionals and trained volunteers work with the children as a group while also focusing on their individual needs. According to Michele Vaas of Home Health & Hospice, “Our mission is to provide a safe place where children have the opportunity to share their feelings and experiences with other children who have also experienced death, and to equip parents and caregivers with education and support.” Camp Hope activities include games, a puppet show, crafts, and decorating a memory box. Following a parent and caregivers meeting from 2:30-3:30pm, they will join the children for snacks and a balloon release. Pre-registration is required by April 20 by calling 712-737-5279