HomeArchives October 2012

Sioux County Diabetes Support Group to meet

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.

Epidural steroid medications purchased directly from manufacturer for safety of health system patients

Orange City Area Health System confirmed that it does not receive its epidural steroid injection medication from the compounding pharmacy that has led to multiple cases of meningitis recently. According to hospital administration and the anethestist/surgical staff, the steroid medication used at Orange City Area Health System is purchased directly from the manufacturer for consistent safety. “Patient safety is always our first priority,” reports Marty Guthmiller, CEO of the health system, “and we work hard every day to ensure that.” Meningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include headache, fever and nausea. The steroid medication linked to the current fungal meningitis outbreak was produced and widely distributed by the New England Compounding Center. Orange City Area Health System does not receive its epidural steroid medication from this company.

Long Term Care and Heritage House residents have friendly “catch competition”

With the acquisition of Orange City Area Health System’s “trip trailer,” residents of the Heritage House Nursing Home and Long Term Care have taken several fishing trips to the Landsmeer Golf Course fishing pond. On the first trip Heritage House anglers caught three fish. The next week the Long Term Care (LTC) group, not to be outdone, caught six. On their return to the pond Heritage House residents managed just another three catches. Finally, on October 3, the LTC team pulled in a whopping 14 fish – a record not soon, if ever, to be outdone by the avid fisher-folk of Heritage House!

Heritage House Nursing Home residents, staff and volunteers recently worked on two community service projects. They trimmed “Labels for Education” for the MOC-FV Elementary School in Orange City and made tie blankets for Bethany Christian Services. “All of us like to feel useful,” reported Char TenClay, Director of Senior Care for Orange City Area Health System, which owns and manages the nursing home. “That doesn’t necessarily change as we age.”