OCAHS News

Orange City Home Health & Hospice is offering a Grief Support Group five consecutive Monday afternoons from February 25 – March 25 from 12:30 to 2:30pm in the lower level conference room of the health system’s downtown campus at 400 Central Avenue NW in Orange City. Bereavement support groups offer a safe place and supportive environment for those who are grieving a recent death, to talk about their feelings of loss. The five-week program provides directed group support within an educational format. There is no cost to attend the Grief Support Group, but donations are accepted and appreciated. Pre-registration is required. Call Orange City Home Health & Hospice at 712-737-5279.

Orange City Home Health & Hospice is offering a Grief Support Group five consecutive Monday afternoons from February 25 – March 25 from 12:30 to 2:30pm in the lower level conference room of the health system’s downtown campus at 400 Central Avenue NW in Orange City. 
Bereavement support groups offer a safe place and supportive environment for those who are grieving a recent death, to talk about their feelings of loss. The five-week program provides directed group support within an educational format.. There is no cost to attend the Grief Support Group, but donations are accepted and appreciated. Pre- registration is required. Call Orange City Home Health & Hospice at 712-737-5279.

Adds new physician, extended clinic hours

Orange City Area Health System (OCAHS) announced the hiring of Michael A. Jurgens, MD, who will join their family practice physician team in February. Dr. Jurgens will see patients in the health system’s Orange City Medical Clinic on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, including a new extended care clinic with same-day appointments available until 6pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Dr. Jurgens comes to OCAHS from Sergeant Bluff Family Medicine Clinic, where he has served since 2008. Prior to that he was a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Iowa, and a Clinical Instructor of Family Medicine in the Department of Family Practice at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Dr. Jurgens received his M.D. from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. “We look forward to someone of Dr. Jurgens character and skill joining OCAHS and offering some extended hours to serve our patients,” reports Marty Guthmiller, health system CEO. According to Steve Walhof, OCAHS Clinic Director, “We recognize the need for additional primary care physicians and are trying to meet the demand for scheduling by adding additional appointments and hours.” Orange City Area Health System is a comprehensive health system including three family practice clinics, a sports medicine clinic, physical and aquatic therapy, a critical access hospital, OB, radiology, and surgical services, home health and hospice, two nursing homes, and a senior living facility. More information about OCAHS and its family practice team of 16 providers can be found at ocHealthSystem.org.

Shocking incidence of youth and pornography will be discussed at January 23 event in Orange City

“The shocking incidence and increase in youth and pornography” is the topic of the third session in the Circle of Support series. This session, facilitated by Aaron Baart, Dordt College Dean of Chapel, will be held on Wednesday, January 23, from 6:30-8pm at the Prairie Winds Event Center in Orange City. According to Baart, the statistics regarding youth pornography are alarming: the average age which a child first sees pornography is age 11; one out of every three porn viewers are females, most under the age of 24; and internet porn is a 2.84 billion dollar industry annually in the U.S. The public — especially parents, teachers, and anyone involved with teens or pre-teens — is invited to attend this free session. No pre-registration is required. Light refreshments will be served, hosted by ATLAS of Orange City. Circle of Support is a collaborative series of free sessions sponsored by the MOCHA Kiwanis Club, Orange City Area Health System, Community Health Partners, and Creative Living Center. The sessions revolve around the critical cultural issues impacting our youth today, offering strategies and resources for adults invested in teens and pre-teens, presented by experts, and offering time for questions and conversations. For more information contact Barb Den Herder, Orange City Area Health System Education Coordinator, at 712-737-5260.

First baby of 2013 born January 2

Tonia and Steve Westra of Hull are the proud parents of Orange City Area Health System’s New Year Baby. Grayden Lee was born on January 2, making him the first baby born at the hospital in 2013. He was welcomed with lots of fun gifts from Orange City merchants, and was welcomed home by siblings Marissa, Carter, and Whitney. In 2012, nearly 220 babies were born at Orange City Area Health System. Among the most popular baby names last year were Emma for girls, and a tie between Carter, Logan, and Ryker for boys.

Some things to know about influenza and vaccination

Orange City Area Health System has begun to see cases of seasonal influenza, according to Val Droog, Director of Quality for the health system. “Flu epidemics occur annually and the onset and severity of the illness they cause are unpredictable,” reports Sanford Laboratories. “Influenza vaccines are designed to provide protection, and therefore the CDC continues to recommend influenza vaccination for individuals six months and older.” The efficacy of the influenza vaccine is high as it pertains to preventing serious illness, but only about 60% to 85% effective in preventing all symptoms of the flu, reports the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). According to IDPH, current surveillance in Iowa shows that the majority of influenza is the typical seasonal A(H3N2), which “is a good match for the vaccine strain.” Also being seen in Iowa is the A(H1N1) strain, which is also in the vaccine. Before children return to school after the holidays, it is recommended that they receive a flu vaccine if not already immunized. Orange City Area Health System offers the seasonal flu vaccine as a walk-in basis in the medical clinic. Or call the Orange City clinic at 712-737-2000.

Kamies and Bruxvoort represent health system at CDP training

Emergency responders Aiko Kamies, paramedic, and Rob Bruxvoort, firefighter and EMT – both employees of Orange City Area Health System – recently completed training offered by the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, Alabama. The CDP is operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Training at the CDP includes healthcare and public health courses at the Noble Training Facility, the nation’s only hospital dedicated to training healthcare professional in disaster preparedness and response. Hands-on training helps responders to effectively prevent, respond to, and recover from real-world incidents. Kamies and Bruxvoort are members of Orange City Area Health System’s “Hospital Incident Command System” (HICS) team, which meets regularly to plan for potential incidents and carry out drills involving the health system staff. More information about Orange City Area Health System, its clinics, hospital, home health and hospice, and senior care services, can be found at ocHealthSystem.org.

Public invited to share in conversations on this important topic

The second session in the Circle of Support program — a series of free sessions revolving around the critical cultural issues impacting youth today — is “What to know about teenage substance abuse.” Presented by Brenna Koedam, Substance Abuse Supervisor for the Seasons Center for Behavioral Health, this session will be held Wednesday, November 28, from 6:30-8pm at the Prairie Winds Event Center in Orange City. Light refreshments will be served, and no pre-registration is required. Circle of Support sessions “offer strategies and resources for adults invested in teens and pre-teens, presented by experts and offering time for questions and conversations.” The program is co-sponsored by Orange City Area Health System, the MOCHA Kiwanis Club, Community Health Partners, and Creative Living Center. For more information call Barb Den Herder, Orange City Area Health System Education Coordinator, at 737-5260

Orange City Area Health System is hosting the November Sioux County Diabetes Support Group with a special videoconference led by Dan Heinemann M.D., Sanford Chief Medical Officer Health Services, on Wednesday, November 7 at 7pm in the OCAHS boardroom in the lower level of the health system main campus at 1000 Lincoln Circle SE in Orange City. The informational session is titled “Great expectations: a year with diabetes,” and will include learning, sharing, and refreshments. Attendance is limited. The public is invited to attend by pre-registering with Shannon Beaty, Orange City Area Health System Diabetes Educator, at 712-737-5289.

November is American Diabetes Month … a time to raise awareness of diabetes prevention and control. In the United States, 24 million people are living with diabetes and 57 million more are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Over time, if it’s not controlled, type 2 diabetes can cause serious health problems like heart disease, stroke, and blindness. You can do a lot to lower your chances of getting type 2 diabetes and managing/controlling it.

The Auxiliary of Orange City Area Health System will host a Mountain Man Fruit & Nut Company gourmet candy, nut, and snack sale on Wednesday, December 12, from 8am to 5pm in the front lobby of the health system campus at 1000 Lincoln Circle SE in Orange City. Free samples, and lots of different snacks and gifts for sale, with proceeds directly benefitting patients and families.