OCAHS News

Orange City Area Health System is participating in the nationwide “Flags Across America” campaign by flying the Donate Life flag during April as part of an organ and tissue donor awareness initiative. The goal of this effort is to honor and celebrate the hundreds of thousands of donors and recipients whose lives have been affected by organ, eye, blood, bone marrow, and tissue donation. Last year, more than half of the 120 hospitals in the state of Iowa committed to flying the Donate Life flag. Iowa Donor Network, the organ procurement organization spearheading this campaign, invites Iowans to view these flags locally and to register their intentions to be donors by visiting IowaDonorNetwork.org.

The Auxiliary of the Orange City Area Health System is hosting a “Purse-n-ality” Purse & Accessories Sale on Monday, April 25, from 9am to 5pm in the front lobby of the health system’s main campus at 1000 Lincoln Circle SE in Orange City. All proceeds directly benefit patients and families.

Orange City Area Health System is now an official sponsor for the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), a service of the State of Iowa. SHIIP volunteers will be providing free-of-charge counseling and information to people with questions about Medicare, Medicare supplement insurance, long term care insurance, and claims filings. The Sioux County SHIIP office is currently seeking volunteers to serve as health insurance counselors. Once volunteers have been recruited and trained — hopefully by early summer 2011 — the Sioux County SHIIP office will be located on the main campus of Orange City Area Health System. For more information on this service or on becoming a volunteer contact SHIIP Iowa Insurance Division at 515-281-6867, or Char Ten Clay, Orange City Area Health System Director of Senior Care, at 712-737-4002.

Orange City Area Health System invites families to its Family Safety Fair on Thursday, May 5, from 4:30-7:30pm in downtown Orange City. Co-sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Orange City, and featuring over 20 participating organizations — including “stranger danger” puppetry, fire department and fire house, bicycle safety rodeo, children’s ID cards, the Sanford Zoo Express, Jaws of Life demonstration, Mercy Air Ambulance, and much more. This event is free to the public. Located in the Windmill Park. Fun and learning for people of all ages. Food for sale by Don’s Food Center.

Area 4th-6th graders invited to attend

Orange City Area Health System (OCAHS) is hosting its first “Move, Munch, and Media” day camp, designed to educate 4th-6th grade youth on the links between health, fitness, and media. This fun and interactive camp will be held on Friday, April 22, from 9am to 3:45pm at the OCAHS Downtown Campus at 400 Central Avenue in Orange City. According to Barb Den Herder, OCAHS Education Coordinator, “This camp is intended to help empower young people to think critically about media, and make thoughtful decisions about nutrition and physical activity.” A variety of presenters and topics will fill the morning, while the afternoon includes production, editing, and previewing of public service announcements with the help of Dordt College media production students. Attendance is limited. For registration information and permission forms, contact Den Herder at 737-5260.

In Iowa, Hospitals Generate $6.1 Billion and 70,000 Jobs

Orange City Area Health System generates 742 jobs that add in excess of $26,430,000 to Sioux County’s economy, according to the latest study by the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA). In addition, Orange City Area Health System employees by themselves spend over $7,120,000 on retail sales and contribute over $427,000 in state sales tax revenue.

“Health systems and health related services remain a vital and critical element of our local economy,” reports Marty Guthmiller, CEO of Orange City Area Health System. “The data provided by the Iowa Hospital Association confirms once again the importance of these services to not only the physical health of those we serve, but also to the economic health of the region and state.”

“We are truly grateful and appreciative of the economic impact to our community and area from the health sector of Orange City,” added Mayor Les Douma. “We look forward to continued opportunities to partner with Orange City Area Health System as we strive to elevate the quality of life available in Orange City and surrounding areas.”

The IHA study examined the jobs, income, retail sales and sales tax produced by hospitals and the rest of the state’s health care sector.  The study was compiled from hospital-submitted data on the American Hospital Association’s Annual Survey of Hospitals and with software that other industries have used to determine their economic impact.

The study found that Iowa hospitals directly employ 70,484 people and create another 67,247 jobs outside the hospital sector.  As an income source, hospitals provide $3.8 billion in salaries and benefits and generate another $2.3 billion through other jobs that depend on hospitals.

In all, Iowa’s health care sector, which includes employed clinicians, long-term care services and assisted living centers, pharmacies and other medical and health services, directly and indirectly provides 329,793 Iowa jobs, or more than one-fifth of the state’s total employment.

“Just as no one provides the services and community benefits found at our hospitals, there is also no substitute for the jobs hospitals provide and create,” said Kirk Norris, IHA president/CEO.  “Iowa hospitals are at the foundation of Iowa’s economy and remain major employers and business partners in all parts of the state.  Iowa’s economic security is directly tied to having one of the finest health care systems in the nation.”

Orange City Area Health System consists of a hospital and birth center, four medical clinics, surgical and radiology services, physical and occupational therapy, two nursing homes, a senior living facility, and home health and hospice. More information is found at ocHealthSystem.org.

Orange City Area Health System employees are encouraged to “go green” by wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate the accomplishments of the Green Team and the entire staff in implementing environmentally sound practices throughout the health system. Recent “green” initiatives include:

• Mattresses from the nursing homes were donated to missions
• Used wheelchairs and parts were donated to Hope Haven Wheelchair Ministries
• Printers were networked to reduce faxing
• Outdated alcohol is being used for cleaning windows and mirrors
• Admissions’ registration forms are now laminated so they can be wiped off and re-used
• A reprocessing program whereby surgical recovery sleeves are sterilized and re-used has been implemented in Surgery/OR

In the past four years, the health system has launched many environmental programs, including coreless toilet paper; paper and cardboard recycling; “green” cleaning products; reduced use of disposable/styrofoam plates and drinkware; battery and cell phone recycling; mercury elimination throughout the facility; organic fertilizer; and reduced lawn watering.

“At Orange City Area Health System, not only do we think that being green is cost effective,” reports Dan McCarty, health system COO and member of the Green Team, “we also believe it’s the right thing to do, as evidenced by one of our Core Values: ‘Be good stewards of the resources entrusted to you’.”

Orange City Area Health System (OCAHS) will be holding Diabetes Self Management Education (DSME) courses in March and April in the Patient Education Room in the health system’s main campus. “Diabetes Basics,” by Shannon Beaty, RN — OCAHS Diabetes Educator — will be held on March 7 from 3-5pm and again on April 4 from noon-2pm. “Diabetes and Diet,” presented by OCAHS Dietician Colleen King, will be held March 14 from 3-5pm and April 11 from noon-2pm. These classes are for newly-diagnosed Type II patients, or anyone looking for a refresher course. Contact Beaty at 737-5289 for more information.

Health System Auxiliary 18th annual Spring Fling luncheon March 29

The Auxiliary of the Orange City Area Health System is hosting its 18th annual “Spring Fling” salad luncheon and program on Tuesday March 29 in the lower level of the health system’s downtown campus at 400 Central Avenue in Orange City. Serving begins at 11:30, with the program following from noon to 1pm. This year’s program is “A Fresh Start for Spring,” presented by Jen Vogel. Cost is $6 per person, with all proceeds going to the health system to directly benefit patients and families.

Consider becoming a Hospice Volunteer; training offered in April

Orange City Area Health System is seeking volunteers to be part of its Hospice program, and is offering a three-session training in April.

Hospice Volunteer Training is Monday April 11 from 6-9pm, Thursday April 14 from 6-9pm, and Saturday April 16 from 9am-noon in the lower level meeting room at the health system’s downtown campus at 400 Central Avenue NW in Orange City.

“There are many ways to become involved with Hospice,” explains Kim Jansma, Orange City Hospice Volunteer Coordinator. “By volunteering you will touch and enrich many lives, including your own.”

According to Jansma, volunteers will have the opportunity to make home visits, serve in the Hospice office, or work with bereaved families. “To help make this experience truly rewarding for both the volunteer and patient,” explains Jansma,, “the Hospice team works with each volunteer to help assess interests and skills before placement with a patient or family.”

Those interested in learning more about this valuable experience — or to sign up for the three-session training — are asked to call Kim Jansma, Orange City Home Health and Hospice, at 737-5257.