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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.

A baby girl, Kylie Mae Funkhouser, born January 1 at 9:37 a.m., was the New Year’s Baby at Burgess Health Center. She weighed 6 lbs., 3 oz. and was 19 inches long.

As the Burgess Family Beginnings New Year’s Baby, Kylie, and her parents received a personalized work of art made by Sue Cutler, chairperson of Burgess Health Center Auxiliary New Year’s Baby Gift Committee.

If you would like to find out more about Burgess Family Beginnings or the Burgess Auxiliary visit www.BurgessHC.org.

 

Photo: Sue Cutler presents the New Year’s Baby artwork to Kylie Funkhouser.

Burgess Health Center will conduct a life-saving blood drive at Burgess Health Center, 1600 Diamond St, Onawa, on Friday, January 11, 12:30 – 5:15 p.m. Also, all donors will receive a coupon for one free ice cream cone redeemable at the Onawa Dairy Queen. The need for blood locally remains constant. Burgess reminds donors to eat a meal and drink plenty of water prior to giving blood. Photo ID is required at donation time. People can donate a pint of blood every 56 days, so roll-up those sleeves and save lives.

Schedule your appointment online at www.lifeservebloodcenter.org or call 800.287.4903. 

Burgess People Care teamed up once again to provide families in need with clothing items, gifts, food, and household items for Christmas. This project is a great way to connect one-on-one with families in the community and for them to experience the many joys of the holiday season that they otherwise may not have been able to afford.

This year nine families were adopted. “We appreciate the generosity of our employees,” said Di Lenz, Burgess People Care representative. “They are the ones that brighten the holidays for our families.”

Burgess People Care, an employee organization at Burgess Health Center, sponsors this project each year and relies on the generosity of employees to make it happen.

Pictured: Di Lenz, Jeremy Cameron, Marsha Samway, Janie Schlitter, and Jamie Brummond.

The Burgess Clinic in Whiting hosted the 3rd annual “Hat, Mitten, and Scarf” drive for the holidays.  Nearly 50 items were collected and donated to the Whiting Community School for children who are in need of warmth during the cold Midwest winters.

“We want to provide warm winter items that children need to stay safe and healthy throughout the season,” says Kris Wulf, Whiting Clinic registrar, and coordinator for the annual project. “But none of it would be possible without so much help from our communities.”

The “Hat, Mitten, and Scarf” drive is open to the community and the success of it depends on the generosity of our citizens. Please visit www.burgesshc.org or call us at 712.455.2431 to learn more about our work and the patients we serve.

Burgess Health Center was named 2018 Employer of the Year as part of Monona County Economic Development Partnership’s (MCEDP) business recognition program. Burgess was nominated by community leaders and chosen as the award recipient by the Board of Directors for MCEDP.

Burgess has been providing health care to the Monona County area since 1963 and employs a diverse group of professionals, including those with extensive clinical degrees and those in nonclinical support positions. Burgess is one of the leading employers in the area, employing approximately 260 people and offering attractive benefits, including competitive salary, generous PTO, health plan, 403(b) with company match, professional development, tuition assistance, and health club membership discounts.

“On behalf of MCEDP, I congratulate this year’s Major Employer of the Year Award winner, Burgess Health Center, for their demonstrated commitment to partner with local workforce and education partners in support of the local economy,” said MCEDP Executive Director, Jessica Carrier. “Preparing our future healthcare workforce is crucial, and I commend Burgess for their innovative and valuable work.”

Burgess is actively involved with Monona County’s workforce initiatives by means of a partnership with MCEDP. Burgess also is an active community partner with various civic and community organizations. Through the Burgess Auxiliary organization, scholarships are awarded each spring to area high school seniors and first-year college students that wish to pursue a career in a health-related field. Burgess’s support of the county workforce system aligns with its mission to continue improving the quality of
life for the people and communities they serve by providing excellent healthcare and exceptional patient experience.

Monona County Economic Development Partnership (MCEDP) is a public-private partnership dedicated to helping Monona County employers, workers, and communities prosper economically.

Constant exposure to stress can leave you mentally and physically depleted. Feeling helpless in the face of insurmountable problems can rob you of the energy to even care, let alone solve them. The resulting exhaustion, known as burnout, causes you to lose motivation and interest in whatever undertaking may have led to the condition. Here are some strategies to help avoid burnout.

Turn to Others

One of the quickest ways to relieve stress is to talk to someone, especially face-to-face. Even if they don’t know how to fix your problems, it’s comforting to share them with someone who will listen. The best choices are family and friends since they are less likely to feel burdened and will probably want the best for you. Confiding in someone also has a way of strengthening the existing bond.

Reframe Your View of Work

The best remedy for burnout is to switch careers and find something more rewarding. However, this isn’t always possible and you may need your job to stay afloat. It may help to focus on the impact your job has on the lives of others, especially if it provides needed products or services. You can also choose to focus on whatever aspects of the job you do enjoy, even if it’s sharing laughs with your coworkers. Remember that your experience at work is partly the result of the attitude with which you approach it.

Take Time Off

The value of a much-needed vacation should not be overlooked. The more hours you work, the more quickly your energy stores will be depleted and the less time you’ll have to recover before you’re back at work again. No matter how young you are, you won’t be able to keep this up indefinitely. If you’re not due any vacation time, use up your sick days or request a leave of absence. The point is to take time away to relax and recharge, before returning to the grind.

Reassess Your Priorities

Burnout indicates that something in your life is out of balance. Maybe you’ve neglected your hopes and dreams while ascending the career ladder. Maybe you’ve neglected your family. This can be an ideal time to begin setting boundaries and learn to say “no” to unreasonable demands on your time. Don’t be afraid to turn off your phone and quit checking your email after hours. Spend more time pursuing hobbies that feed your creative side, taking care of your health and getting enough sleep.

Exercise

You may not feel like exercising when you’re burned out, but it may be what your mind and body need. It’s one of the best ways to combine stress and improve your mood. All you need is 30 minutes per day to begin feeling better, both physically and mentally. If you can’t get in the entire half-hour at once, break it up into 10 or 15-minute sessions. Any type of exercise is beneficial, so don’t be discouraged if all you have the energy for is walking. Consistency is what’s really important.

Fix Your Diet

What you get out of your body is the direct result of what you put into it. Your energy levels and mood will reflect this the most. Refined carbohydrates, sugar, and caffeine can lead to crashes as the day goes on. Hormones and preservatives are known to adversely affect people’s moods. Cut back on these foods, along with alcohol and nicotine, which can increase anxiety levels. Seaweed, flaxseed, and salmon are all rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Working them into your diet can help boost your mood.

There may be other things you can do to avoid burnout, but these tips cover the basics. Good health, a reassessment of your priorities and an honest conversation with loved ones will help ensure that you can make those decisions. If you do have to quit your job or move to another city, you’ll be able to do so from a position of strength.