News

Onawa, IA – Cindy Vaughn, Burgess Health Center nurse, was 1 of 5 Siouxland area nurses honored with The Heart of Health Care awards event, presented by CNOS on May 9, 2019. This was the first year the event was held to honor and celebrate nurses in Siouxland who have made an impact on patients and their families and friends.

“I am so honored and humbled by this award,” said Vaughn. “It means so much to me that my patients recognize how much I care for them.”

Vaughn has been a nurse for 39 years and currently works at Burgess Health Center. She said the simple fact of making a difference in someone’s life is the rewarding part of her job.

“My reward comes from the relationships that are built with the patients I care for,” she said. “We don’t just meet the patient’s physical needs, there is also their emotional wellbeing.”

Sioux City Journal and CNOS partnered up to honor “outstanding nurses” in Siouxland. Nominations were submitted and then voters determined the outcome for the best nurse. Eligible candidates included nurses in area hospitals, clinics, schools or retirement communities.

The Burgess Health Center Pharmacy Department is pleased to announce employee Brooke Mills successfully challenged the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam in early April 2019.  Brooke is joining a group of health care certificate holders that is nearly 700,000 strong nationally.

PTCB certification is not a given, as evidenced by an exam pass rate of less than 60%.  Brooke has been receiving on-the-job training in the Pharmacy Department for the past nine months, as well as taking the time to study the various areas that are tested on her own time.  Her dedication to improving her skills is undoubtedly deserving of commendation.

“We are so proud of Brooke, who dedicated herself to becoming certified,” said Mark Harris, Pharmacy Director at Burgess. “In the end, our organization and patients are the ones who will benefit the most.”

We are excited to announce, “Fashion for All Ages” fashion show!  Enjoy an afternoon of fun and fashion as models ages nine months to 90 years young strut their stuff down the catwalk, Sunday, May 5 at 2 p.m. at the Onawa Community Center.

Dress Diva of Onawa and Graceful Boutique of Mapleton are providing their unique styles and accessories for a fun-filled fashion extravaganza!

“We wanted to kick off a new fundraiser, and what better way than to showcase new outfits for spring in a fun setting,” LaRae McKinven, committee person and Foundation Board member exclaimed. “And it was quite easy, as we have two very successful boutiques in our communities.”

Tickets are $15 and available at Dress Diva, Graceful Boutique, Burgess Gift Shop, and at the door the day of show.  Refreshments and snacks will be available.

Attendees will have a chance at a raffle prize, a stunning pair of diamond earrings paired with a tennis bracelet from Gunderson’s Jewelry, valued at $500. Tickets available day of the show, 1 for $5 or 3 for $10. Door prizes will be available too.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the purchase of new wheelchairs at Burgess Health Center.

For more details, email Foundation@BurgessHC.org or call 712-423-9374. Follow the Foundation Facebook page for more information: Facebook.com/BurgessFoundation.

 

In early December, Burgess Foundation and Burgess People Care teamed up with the West Monona High School Family Career and Community Leaders of America class (FCCLA) to provide 30 hand-made fleece blankets for the children that are seen in the Burgess Health Center Emergency Room.

Karla Copple, Director of Emergency Services at Burgess Health Center, accepted the blankets from the students. Copple and the ER staff are now ready to provide additional comfort to children entering the ER.

“We were excited to hear of this project and what it would mean to our younger patients,” said Copple. “The children that come in with injuries or sickness are already scared. With this donation, we are able to provide them with a comfort item they will be able to take home after discharge.”

The cost of the fabric was approximately $1,000 but is priceless according to Burgess People Care member, Janie Schlitter.

“We are glad that we could help fund a service project like this,” said Schlitter. “It not only comforts the children in our ER, but it also provided the students a chance to give back to the community.”

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PHOTO front row from left to right: Abby Wessel, Emma Black, Amber Disney. Middle row: Laura Heisterkamp, Morgan Warner, Ally Darwin, Maggie Lage, Joanna Koenig, Kloie Lester, Skyla McClure. Back row: Kelsey Gray, Janie Schlitter, Lori Jensen, Averie DeBartolo, Jayleigh Anderson, Devyn Beck, Tasha Miller, and Karla Copple, Director of Emergency Services.

 

About Burgess Foundation:
Burgess Foundation is committed to seeking community partners whose time, talent and treasures ensure the future of Burgess Health Center.

About Burgess People Care:
Burgess People Care is a long-time employee committee of Burgess Health Center that raises funds to support community drives, events and fellow employees.

About Burgess Health Center:
Burgess Health Center, located in Onawa, IA, is a rural acute care hospital that is accredited by the State of Iowa, and also has family clinics that serve the communities of Dunlap, Sloan, and Mapleton, IA as well as Decatur, NE. The staff is committed to improving the quality of life for the people and communities served, by providing excellent healthcare and exceptional patient experiences.

April is National Occupational Therapy Month, to promote awareness of occupational therapy.  Burgess Health and Rehabilitation Center is honoring our very own occupational therapist, Robin McLey who is dedicated to improving the lives of her patients.

Read McLey’s responses to common questions about the profession below.

Q.) What is occupational therapy (OT)?
Occupational therapy is more than exercises! Patients that are appropriate for OT vary from musculoskeletal diagnoses to cognitive diagnoses. Occupational Therapists play a vital role in mental health, and many patients may benefit from a referral to OT if they are dealing with mental health issues. Coping mechanisms, therapeutic use of self and interventions that focus on effective communication may be beneficial to a variety of different mental health diagnoses.

Occupational Therapists can also address vision impairments and assist with retraining or adaptations for visual issues. Peripheral vision loss, visual tracking issues, visual attention delays and general safety recommendations for visual changes are just a couple ways OTs can assist with vision issues.

Children can also benefit from OT. Occupational Therapists can assist children in progressing handwriting, grasp and motor skills, and developmental milestones. Sensory interventions are also appropriate for children who have issues with sensory processing. Perhaps a child is having a difficult time with attention to a specific task in the classroom. An OT referral may be beneficial in identifying what is distracting the child and what intervention or treatment options are useful for solving the issue.

Q.) What kind of patients do you typically see?
I play many roles at Burgess and see a variety of different patients. I serve inpatient, outpatient, and home health clients. Goals for my clients vary depending on the setting. In the outpatient setting, I see a variety of upper extremity diagnoses as well as generalized weakness and cognition issues such as memory or problem-solving. Inpatient clients typically present with weakness and issues with their abilities to care for themselves, while my focus for home health is assessing clients’ need for equipment and problem-solving how to make them as safe and independent as possible.

Q.) What is your favorite part of your job?
Easily the patients and people I work with! I love the variety of patients that I see daily, and I enjoy the unique relationship I build with each one of them. I also love my coworkers! At Burgess, we strive to be progressive and innovative. Each one of my coworkers genuinely care about the patients we see and the community we serve.

Burgess Health and Rehabilitation Center is grateful for and appreciative of Robin for her dedication and hard work. Whether you are recovering from surgery, injury, illness, or stroke, let us help you regain your mobility, strength, and daily function.

Ask your family physician for a referral to Burgess Rehabilitation Services today.

Patients of Burgess Health Center will now have access to safe and comfortable exams with the recent installation of Canon Medical Systems Aquilion^TM Lightning CT system. The 80-detector-row CT is designed for full-body imaging and routine volumetric scanning with the premium CT technology found on high-end systems so that providers can deliver a better patient experience.

“To ensure our patients continue receiving the best possible care without sacrificing the image quality we rely on for fast and accurate diagnoses, we have bolstered our imaging offerings by installing this new system,” stated Jenny Coble, Director of Radiology, Burgess Health Center. “We constantly strive to provide a better patient experience with safer and lower-dose exams for all of our facility’s imaging needs, and the Aquilion Lightning will help us to continue exceeding these goals and meeting industry standards.”

The Aquilion Lightning delivers fast reconstruction speeds of up to 50 images per second at full resolution, and with the industry’s thinnest slices at 0.5 mm and a 78 cm bore, it optimizes workflow and patient comfort. To simplify exams, the system comes standard with Adaptive Diagnostic solutions, such as Single Energy Metal Artifact Reduction (SEMAR^TM).

“The machine is designed to operate reliably and efficiently, producing high-quality images that can potentially help more patients,” said Dominic Smith, senior director, CT, PET/CT, and MR Business Units, Canon Medical Systems. “Additionally, providers don’t have to choose between a cost-effective solution and premium patient care, as the Aquilion Lightning helps reduce dose and improve patient safety.”

Pictured left to right: Elsa Roslansky, Ali Sears, Jenny Coble, Katie West, and Molly Savery.

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About Burgess Health Center
Burgess Health Center, located in Onawa, Iowa, is a rural acute care hospital that is accredited by the State of Iowa. Burgess Family Clinics serve the communities of Dunlap, Sloan, and Mapleton in Iowa as well as Decatur, Neb. Burgess has retail family pharmacies in Dunlap and Whiting, Iowa. The staff is committed to improving the quality of life for the people and communities served, by providing excellent healthcare and exceptional patient experiences.

About Canon Medical Systems USA
Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc., headquartered in Tustin, California, markets, sells, distributes and services radiology and cardiovascular systems, including CT, MR ultrasound, X-ray and interventional X-ray equipment. For more information visit Canon Medical Systems website at https://us.medical.canon.

About Canon Medical Systems Corporation
Canon Medical Systems Corporation develops and manufactures diagnostic imaging systems including CT, MRI, ultrasound, X-ray systems, and clinical laboratory systems and provides them to around 140 countries and regions around the world, offering technology that provides faster diagnosis and early treatment. Under the slogan “Made for Life” (Made for Partnerships, Made for Patients, Made for You.), Canon Medical Systems is making positive contributions toward hospital management, and provides a range of patient-friendly healthcare systems and services, continuing its long tradition of contributing to healthcare.

Grief is a journey that doesn’t have to be traveled alone. Often, talking or being with someone else who has experienced a loss can be helpful.

Burgess Home Health and Hospice is offering a 5-session grief support group for adults. Sessions will be April 3, 10, 17, 24 and May 1 from 6 – 8 p.m. The support group will meet in the conference rooms at Burgess Health Center in Onawa, Iowa.

There is no charge to participate. Please bring a photo of your loved one for the first meeting.

This support group is for any adult who has experienced a loss through death. It is designed to offer members a safe and understanding atmosphere where support can be drawn, and feelings, fears, and frustrations shared with others traveling the same “road of grief.”

While there is no time frame for when you experienced the loss of your loved one, it is recommended the loss have occurred at least two months before the start of the grief group.

Participants must pre-register by Friday, March 29. A minimum of four members is required for the group to take place. If you have questions or would like to register, please contact Sandy Beechy at Burgess Hospice by calling 712-423-9265.

In early December, Bomgaars held a night of festive fun and holiday shopping for ladies, and today, the radiology department at Burgess Health Center received a generous donation.

Bomgaars joined with local cancer centers and hospitals to raise awareness of women’s health issues and passed along a 20% discount for the ladies in attendance on December 2 from 5-8 p.m.  A donation of the evening’s total sales was pledged back into the community to help local agencies.

“We are grateful to have the support from our local Bomgaar’s store and the ladies that braved the cold that evening for some great discounts,” Jenny Coble, Director of Radiology stated. “This community rallies when it’s for a good cause, and in this case, cancer screening and women’s health.”

The donation of $259.70 will go towards the purchase of a new breast exam module that aids women in the recognition and detection of breast disorders, sizes of nodules, and other abnormalities during a breast examination. Breast cancer cannot be prevented; however, Burgess Health Center continues to provide and invest in the latest technologies, education, and support services for early detection.

PHOTO: Jenny Coble, Director of Radiology accepting the donation from Eric Ridder, store manager at Bomgaars Onawa.

Diabetes is a disease that will not go away, but it can be managed by taking proper and necessary steps. Burgess Diabetes Center offers the latest in technology to help patients manage their blood sugars.

A Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS) consists of a sensor worn on the back of the upper arm. The sensor uses a thin flexible filament inserted under the skin and measures glucose every minute. The blood sugar data from the sensor is downloaded to a computer and a print out shows a full 24 hours of blood sugars. The sensor can be worn for up to 14 days.

John Maule, a five-year diabetes patient, has had previous struggles with keeping track of his blood sugar. After wearing the professional CGMS, it motivated him to get a personal version and download the phone app.

“I’m afraid of needles, so pricking your fingers all the time was a big step for me,” said Maule. “Then on top of it, you have to keep track of the strips.” It got to be too much of a hassle for Maule that eventually he became inconsistent with testing his blood sugar altogether.

When a diabetes patient is inconsistent or just stops checking their blood sugar, they are taking a major risk.

Michele Kirkendall, Burgess Health Center diabetes educator, and dietician said not checking your blood sugar can lead to problems with a diabetes patient’s vision, heart, kidneys, and circulation in hands and feet.

“You can also feel extremely tired and just not feel like doing anything,” said Kirkendall.

Since beginning the sensor in May, Maule has noticed an improvement in his daily life.

“I think the biggest thing is I know what to eat when to eat and how I react to what I eat.” Before he was just guessing and paying the consequence later.

The sensor relays important information to the reader, such as graphs and charts.

All of these conveniences have changed the way Maule feels about checking his blood sugar.

“I can’t believe that anyone with diabetes doesn’t struggle with pricking their finger,” he said. “I would recommend the sensor to anyone with diabetes.”

Personal Continuous Glucose Monitors are becoming a very useful tool to help individuals monitor their blood sugars. If you or someone you know could benefit from this technology, contact our diabetes educators at Burgess Diabetes Center.

www.burgesshc.org or call 712-423-9268.