 Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial receives 2019 Outstanding Patient Experience Award in national study
FREMONT – Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial is the recipient of a 2019 Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades, which conducts a national survey of hospitals across the United States. In addition, Gerber Memorial Hospital was 5-star rated for sepsis outcomes. "Being ranked among the best hospitals in the nation is an honor. It is a great reflection of the people who provide exceptional care at Spectrum Health," said Gwen Sandefur, president, Spectrum Health Hospital Group. “This recognition validates the excellent outcomes and care provided by our caregivers. It translates to better care and value for our West Michigan communities." The achievement is part of findings released this week in the Healthgrades 2019 Report to the Nation. The new report demonstrates how clinical performance differs dramatically between hospitals nationally, regionally and at the local level, and the impact that this variation has on health outcomes. For its analysis, Healthgrades evaluated approximately 45 million Medicare inpatient records for almost 4,500 short-term acute care hospitals nationwide to assess hospital performance in 32 common conditions and procedures and evaluated outcomes in appendectomy and bariatric surgery using all-payer data provided by 15 states and the District of Columbia. Healthgrades recognizes a hospital’s quality achievements for cohort-specific performance, specialty area performance, and overall clinical quality. Individual procedure or condition cohorts are designated as 5-star (statistically significantly better than expected), 3-star (not statistically different from expected) and 1-star (statistically significantly worse than expected) categories. The complete Healthgrades 2019 Report to the Nation and detailed study methodology can be found at www.healthgrades.com/quality/. For more information on all of Spectrum Health’s honors, please visit www.spectrumhealth.org.
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 Saturday event provides coats for kids, adults
FREMONT— TrueNorth Community Services’ 29th annual Coats for Kids (& Adults) Distribution was Saturday at the TrueNorth Service Center. The event had served 421 children and adults as of Saturday afternoon, according to Mike Voyt, Volunteer and Special Projects Coordinator for TrueNorth. Voyt reported a half dozen volunteers took part Saturday, with nearly 70 volunteers helping with set up and the month-long coats drive at 12 sites throughout the county. The groups and organizations volunteering include Fremont Rotary Club, Fremont Christian School, Nestlé Gerber and Randy’s House. Coats for Kids (& Adults) is supported, in part, by grants from The Gerber Foundation and the Fremont Area Community Foundation. The Burlington Coat Drive, which is done by Burlington in partnership with Delivering Good, and Operation Warm are affiliated program partners.  Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division Chief Gary Hagler, Conservation Officer Jeff Ginn, Capt. David Malloch Conservation officer’s lifesaving efforts at Newaygo motel earn fourth DNR honor
Michigan Conservation Officer Jeff Ginn’s actions last year to resuscitate a man in a Newaygo motel were recognized with a Department of Natural Resources Lifesaving Award – his fourth such honor. Ginn was presented with the award at the October Michigan Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing. Nov. 13, Ginn responded to a medical emergency involving a 75-year-old man who was reported unresponsive at Cronk’s Oakridge Motel, located at 9135 Mason Drive in Newaygo. Within four minutes of receiving the call, Ginn arrived at the scene and evaluated the man, who did not have a pulse and was not breathing. Ginn moved the victim to the ground so he could use his department-issued automatic external defibrillator – a portable medical device that analyzes the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, automatically delivers an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart restore an effective rhythm. The AED delivered one shock to the victim and then advised Ginn to deliver chest compressions. Ginn performed chest compressions until paramedics with Life EMS of Newaygo County arrived. While paramedics provided care to the victim, Ginn continued chest compressions. The AED reanalyzed the victim and administered another shock. First responders continued to care for the patient while they prepared to transport him by ambulance to a hospital in Grand Rapids. While en route to the hospital, he regained his pulse. One day after the incident, the man was conscious with full neurological function. “Jeff’s help gave this patient a fighting chance of survival,” said Jason Best, field supervisor at Life EMS of Newaygo County. “It is very nice to have this compassion and helpfulness in a rural county where help is limited.” Conservation officers live in the communities that they serve and often are the first emergency responder to arrive at a scene. “I’m honored to recognize Conservation Officer Jeff Ginn for providing lifesaving care to this man,” said Chief Gary Hagler, DNR Law Enforcement Division. “His fast response and training that helped save this man’s life are excellent examples of what a conservation officer is capable of. You never know when an emergency is going to arise, and we are prepared to serve our communities.” Ginn has been a conservation officer with the DNR since 2006 and patrols Newaygo County. His earlier lifesaving actions include:
Apply now for the next Conservation Officer Academy Those interested in pursuing a career as a Michigan conservation officer are encouraged to submit an application for the DNR’s 10th conservation officer academy, which will begin July 12, 2020, in Lansing. Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned state peace officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect the public by performing general law enforcement duties and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. These officers undergo extensive search and rescue training to locate missing persons and have specialized equipment to navigate rural and difficult terrain. Learn more about conservation officers and the hiring process and qualifications at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers.  Anchor home gets new driveway, walkway. Hope 101 Ministry Inc. of Newaygo has received a $4,712 grant from the Great Lakes Energy People Fund. The grant has been used to remove broken, sunken concrete, replace sidewalks and enlarge the driveway at Anchor Home, Hope 101’s three-unit apartment home on Quarterline in Newaygo. The new driveway and sidewalks have improved the appearance of the home and the neighborhood. The cement work by AAA Concrete has provided more off-street parking and eliminated muddy and icy areas, which have been a hazard for Hope 101 program participants. The Hope 101 Ministry Board appreciates members of Great Lakes Energy who support the People Fund by voluntarily rounding up their bills to the next highest dollar. The rounded up amount, which averages $.50 a month per bill, is distributed to non-profit organizations and charitable activities that benefit people in communities served by the cooperative. The People Fund has awarded over $3.3 million to local charitable groups since 1999. Persons who belong to the Great Lakes Energy Cooperative are encouraged to participate in this program of community support. Contact Great Lakes Energy at 888-GT-LAKES or visit gtlakes.com for more information. Hope 101 Ministry is a transitional program providing housing to persons who are homeless while they work to become self-sufficient. The participants pay a program fee to live in the home. They must be employed, follow program rules, set goals, and work on them weekly. The program provides a case manager and mentors to support participants. In addition to Anchor Home, Hope 101 Ministry owns Mercer Home on W. Washington in Newaygo, which provides housing for a family with children. Hope 101 Ministry was started by Family of God Community Church in Newaygo in 2015 but became an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2018. Grants and donations from churches, individuals, and businesses support the ministry financially. Volunteers from the community are always needed to serve as mentors, members of committees or the Hope 101 Board, and to help prepare units for participants, to do handyman jobs and landscaping. Interested in volunteering? Please call 231-652-1056 for more information. Persons who would like more information about program participation can go to the web page www.hope101ministry.com, call 231-245-8877, or email info@hope101ministry.com.  Old medications? Drop-off event across Newaygo County on Oct. 26
FREMONT – Got old, expired and unused prescription medications lying around? The public is invited to dispose of unwanted medications at locations throughout Newaygo County on Oct. 26. The sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The locations are:
Organized by the Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, the drop-off event includes partnerships with Headway Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and the Newaygo County Sheriff’s Department. “These drop-off sites are a good way for people to safely dispose of medications that can’t be used anymore, and we encourage everyone in our community to visit our five locations,” said Rachel Uganski of the Headway Coalition. “Our drop-off events are also a good time to educate people about the potential and the dangers of misusing medications.” Jena Zeerip, supervisor of community programs at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial and chair of the prescription drug action team at Headway, said: “By safely and responsibly getting rid of unused medications, we can better remove drugs from our homes that are at risk of getting in the hands of children and individuals who could potentially misuse them.” While Michigan saw a 25-percent decline in the number of opioid prescriptions between 2013-2017, the most recent year for available data, the number of deaths more than doubled in that time span to 2,033 in 2017, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse.  Gerber Memorial to host free expo Wednesday on reducing dangerous falls that put seniors at risk
Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial is hosting an informational expo to highlight ways people can prevent falls that often lead to injuries and even death as part of No Falls Day 2019. Gerber Memorial’s free expo will be held Wednesday, Oct. 2, in the main lobby of the hospital 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free event will feature information from Gerber Memorial’s pharmacy team about medications that can contribute to falls, as well as free blood pressure screenings. Physical therapists and visiting nurses will be on hand to provide additional information and resources. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls affect one in four Americans 65 and older, and older Americans die from falls every 19 minutes, making falls the leading cause of fatal injury – more than 27,000 deaths a year – and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults. Falls also cost families more than $34 billion a year, the CDC reports.  L-R Dawn Murphy, Behavioral Health Director, Family Health Care Molly Kaser, Board President, Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) Ian Farquhar, Analytics Optimization Analyst, Family Health Care Corey VanFleet, Board Member, Family Health Care Kathy Sather, President & CEO, Family Health Care Michigan Primary Care Association Awards Family Health Care Employee
BALDWIN- Passion for improving the health of rural communities is a commitment by all those who work for Family Health Care (FHC). Recently, the Michigan Primary Care Association awarded the 2019 Distinguished Service Award to Ian Farquhar, Analytics Optimization Analyst, at Family Health Care. As an integral part of Family Health Care’s quality department, Ian keeps the organization focused on patient health improvement programs while providing necessary reporting through registry systems. He pays close attention to indicators that improve health outcome. “Ian has a passion for helping the organization succeed in its mission to serve the community,” said Kathy Sather, President and CEO. “While his work is not in direct patient contact, what he does for the organization directly benefits and makes an impact on the services we can offer to our patients.” Ian was recently promoted to Analytics Optimization Analyst. He began his journey contributing to FHC’s sustainability four years ago as a Health Administration Intern while attending Grand Valley State University. Ian continues to uncover information that helps move FHC forward in its mission of providing quality, integrated and comprehensive health care services that are accessible to all. Being a self-starter, Ian recognized early on the challenges in optimal health care outcomes and how to develop programs to enhance health. He works closely with clinical staff and the quality director to ensure FHC can fund programs that impact lives of its patients.  Local events can help families prepare for, talk about healthcare wishes
FREMONT – Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial is shining a spotlight on the importance of educating people about expressing their healthcare wishes through preemptive planning by offering what are known as advanced care planning sessions. The sessions are free to the public and will be held at multiple locations throughout Newaygo County, starting Oct. 1. “Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial looks forward to providing this free service as part of our effort to empower our community with as much healthcare information as possible, and that includes raising awareness about how important it is to clearly identify the wishes of people and their advocates, who will ensure those wishes are respected,” said Stephanie Kooistra, community health program specialist who will be leading the advanced care planning sessions. “Everyone should be thinking about the kind of life they want to live, especially as they age, and we can’t always plan for the unexpected. What doesn’t always happen are communications and conversation between a person and their advocate about decisions affecting their future medical care. Through our free advance care planning program, Gerber Memorial is encouraging people to have those conversations as a key step toward more peace of mind.” The sessions, which all start at 10:30 a.m., are scheduled at:
The sessions will help people identify their wishes in anticipation of moments when they can’t communicate their healthcare wishes themselves. The sessions will also help people better discuss the scope of care and treatment that should be honored and executed by that person’s advocate, who could be anyone from a spouse to a relative to a friend – anyone who the client believes is most likely to uphold their wishes. “Whoever that person is, you have to be able to trust and know they’ll follow your wishes,” Kooistra said. said. “If it’s a close relative, it may be hard because they may not want to withhold treatment. They may want the person to stay around longer but that could affect the patient’s quality of life.” Kooistra said some people can identify their wishes and find a resolution in one conversation. Others may take more. She said advance directives are important, even when a person has a will.  New Gerber Memorial diabetes support group begins on Oct. 2 FREMONT – People living with diabetes, their caregivers and family members will soon have a place to share stories of hope and inspiration, and share tips and best practices, at a free diabetes support group that begins Oct. 2. The support group will be held the first Wednesday of every month at Tamarac. All sessions will be at Tamarac, 1401 West Main, Fremont, and led by Geri Merkey, RN. The group meets from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. “Our support group is all about letting people living with diabetes know that they aren’t alone,” Merkey said. “People with diabetes who learn more about the illness and combine it with group support do better than those who don’t manage the disease. The goal of our support group is to motivate and inspire people, by sharing helpful tips, lessons, information and hope. By being part of a group, we can draw strength from others who’ve been in the same shoes and walked a similar journey. I highly encourage everyone who’s faced diabetes to join our group and share stories of hope.” Nearly one in 10 American adults and children have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association, with a quarter of all Americans 65 and older suffering from the disease. People with diabetes are expected to have medical financial burdens 2.5 times greater than people without diabetes. Newaygo County’s current and most recent previous community health needs assessments identified diabetes as the region’s number one health concern. The ADA identifies diabetes as the nation’s seventh-leading cause of death. Gerber Memorial’s diabetes support group is free and open to the public. For more information: 231.924.3073   (Not to be confused with Foo Fighters because that’s a rock band)
N3- There’s nothing like autumn. It’s the time of year to capture all the things the season brings. Time to go to a local football game, take in some fall colors, do a little apple picking, visit a corn maze, get a flu shot… Yep. Get a flu shot. We are on the cusp, I fear, of that time of year when the flu bug begins its attempt to meander its way through our community. So here is a bit of info sent to us by those ever-vigilant folks at our Health Department. District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) is helping communities prepare for the upcoming flu season by offering flu vaccines to children, adults, and seniors. Flu season is unpredictable - even healthy people can become seriously ill. The best way to protect you and your family against influenza is to get an annual flu vaccine and the time to do so is now. The following are walk-in flu clinics – no appointment necessary: Location: Croton American Legion Address: 6812 S. Croton Dr., Newaygo MI 49337 Date: 9/30/2019 Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM Location: Grant Township Hall Address: 1617 E. 120th, Grant MI 49327 Date: 10/03/2019 Time: 1:00 - 3:00 PM Location: First Congregational Church Address: 714 Hillcrest Ave, Fremont MI Date: 10/09/2019 Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM You can also schedule an appointment for a flu shot at DHD#10. Location: District Health Department#10 Address: 1049 E Newell St., White Cloud MI 49349 Number: 888-217-3904 Time: 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. The cost for the seasonal flu vaccination without insurance is $37. High dose and preservative-free flu shots are available for $42. Many health insurance plans now cover the cost of flu vaccines. If not, DHD#10 may be able to help through Vaccines for Children (VFC) or other programs. DHD#10 will bill Medicare or Medicare Health Plans (only for flu, pneumococcal, and PCV13 vaccinations), Medicaid, Medicaid Health Plans, Priority Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Care Network (excludes Mercy Partnered Plans), Cigna, McLaren Commercial, ASR, TRICARE and United Health Care with an insurance card present at the time of appointment. It is important to be aware of your insurance benefit rules. For more information, call DHD#10 at 231-689-7300 or visit www.dhd10.org/locate-flu-clinic. Make plans. We need you healthy and no one wants you down and out during the holidays. The time to prepare, as the DHD#10 peeps put so eloquently, is NOW!- N3 |
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