Happy Thanksgiving!
Please enjoy this special double issue of the E-Connection. We'll be back in your in-box on Thursday, December 2!
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Resisting antibiotic resistance |
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U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week is November 18-24.
Antibiotics are a very important resource in medicine and save countless lives each year. When Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, many common infections were considered to be life threatening. His discovery, and the ability to mass produce penicillin, changed medicine forever. But it also changed bacteria forever.
Bacteria are living organisms that adapt to their environments. Have you heard the expression “only the strong survive?” This is definitely true when it comes to bacteria. Within a few years of the mass production of penicillin, there were already strains of bacteria that were completely resistant to it. Since then it has been a battle between discovery and resistance. As new antibiotics are discovered, new resistance patterns emerge. That is why it is very important when treating a bacterial infection that you receive the right drug, at the right dose, for the right length of time. Getting all of these things right is what we call Antimicrobial Stewardship.
At CHCS, we are committed to being good stewards of antibiotics. We have an Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee that works hard to empower our staff (clinical and nonclinical) and our patients and help them champion this cause. Last year, we implemented what we call our V-Pack (Viral Pack) Program. Viral illnesses are not sensitive to antibiotics, and taking an antibiotic when you have a viral illness contributes to antibiotic resistance. This can increase your risk and your community’s risk of developing a drug-resistant infection in the future. Through our V-Pack program, patients have access to a quick supply of over-the-counter items that help with symptom control of their viral infection. We received great feedback from our providers and nurses regarding this program and have decided to continue it for this year.
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Thanks to all members of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee for their work!
- Dr. Marcus Weiser
- Michele Reisinger, APRN
- Hali Brown, PharmD
- Karen Elliott, RN, Infection Control
- Lacey Niehues, RN, Nurse Manager
- Deanne Tanking, RN, Case Manager
- Bailey Tucker, RN, Charge Nurse
- Eduardo Bertulfo, Laboratory Manager
- Manda Thompson, PCMH Coordinator
- Ann Stallbaumer, Pharmacy Buyer
- Shelli Wimberly, Eastridge Director of Nursing
- Jane McClain, LPN, Redbud Lead Nurse
--Hali Brown, PharmD
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Celebrate Perioperative Nurses Week! |
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November 14-20 is Perioperative Nurses Week!
Perioperative nurses assist surgeons and surgical teams to care for patients before, during, and after surgery. They are highly skilled and use a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to patient care.
Thank you to our excellent team of perioperative nurses. They are pictured above, L to R:
Hannah Karn, LPN; Kari Holthaus RN; Kayla Jones RN; Jenna VanDonge, RN; Jessica Pruitt, RN. Not pictured: Mollie Hiltibrand, RN.
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The Huerter family has two members with Type 1 diabetes. Hannah Huerter recently took time to share the main tool her family has used to fight the disease: Communication.
“We had a lot of family discussion. Once a week, we sat down together as a family to talk about diabetes and whether they were having a good week. Everyone got involved! If you were home, you took part in the discussion,” Huerter said.
Click the green button below to read more about the Huerter family's experience, plus find tips from CHCS provider Michelle Reisinger, APRN-C, in honor of Diabetes Awareness Month.
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Birth Center delivers 'a joyful day' |
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Annie Crumbaker’s daughter Emmy is now five months old. Crumbaker smiles when she talks about her, and you can hear the pride in her voice when she describes her: “She’s such a happy baby,” said the proud mom.
Crumbaker was not all smiles the day Emmy was born. Although she anticipated an uncomplicated birth like those of her other three children, Crumbaker’s labor did not progress as expected, and she ended up needing a C-section to deliver Emmy. After Emmy was safely delivered, Crumbaker had too much bleeding and required an injection to stop it. On the whole, the day sounds like it was rough, but when she looks back, Crumbaker says she remembers a positive experience.
“The difficulties of the day could have meant we had a negative experience, but it was still a joyful day, and we welcomed a healthy girl,” she said.
Crumbaker, who is a physician assistant with the CHCS Westmoreland Clinic, said delivering her baby at Onaga Community Hospital was still a better experience than the uncomplicated deliveries she had elsewhere. Everyone was attentive, professional, and personable, and the facility was both comfortable and state-of-the-art.
The care of Katie Kufahl, Birth Center manager and labor and delivery nurse, stood out.
“Katie spent significant one-on-one time in the room with us for hours as we were trying to figure things out. She did everything she could to make me comfortable. After delivery, Katie noticed the bleeding issue promptly and addressed it,” Crumbaker said.
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Give back through Greater Giving |
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CHCS associates care deeply for our patients and the communities we serve. Our team is skilled, compassionate, and dedicated. We are also generous, and we are known for going the extra mile for our patients.
Are you ready to give back through Greater Giving in 2022? If so, you can sign up at Open Enrollment, or you can find the forms you need plus more information on the Greater Giving page in the For Associates section of the CHCS website.
Thank you!
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Community Events
'Tis the season to be jolly! Below are a few events that will help you get into the Christmas spirit.
If you have an event in your town that you'd like to see listed in the Dec. 2 edition of the E-Connection, please send it to news@chcsks.org
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Shop Small Westmoreland: Nov. 26, 27. For every $10 you spend at participating businesses, you are entered into a drawing for Chamber Bucks prizes. Learn more.
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Centralia PRIDE Night at the North Pole: Dec. 4, 4-7 p.m., Fellowship Hall (west church). Soup, relishes, and desserts; Santa arrives at 5:15 p.m. Learn more.
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Holton Small Town Christmas: Dec. 4. Christmas Homes Tour, shopping, Santa visits, Parade of Lights, and more! Learn more.
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Bells of St. Marys: Dec. 4, 5-9 p.m., downtown. Gift market, food vendors, Santa's parade, and more. Learn more.
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Onaga Christmas Frenzy: Dec. 5, 3-6 p.m., downtown on Leonard Street. Vendors, carriage rides, Santa, hot chocolate bar (provided by CHCS!), kids' games, and more. Learn more.
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Christmas in Westmoreland: Dec. 11, 3-7 p.m., Westmoreland Elementary School gym. Vendors, family bingo, Santa, soup supper, wreath "wraffle," and more.
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Need some Christmas assistance?
The Onaga Christmas Bureau is accepting applications for residents of USD 322 until November 26. For information, please contact Janet McKinsey at 785-889-4581.
Not in Onaga but need some help? Send an email to info@chcsks.org, and we'll help research options in your community.
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Important reminders
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If you live in Pottawatomie County or work primarily in the county, please fill out our Community Health Needs Assessment Survey by November 22. Please encourage friends and family to do the same! (It won't take long--maybe 10 minutes, max!)
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Here's to our associates with December birthdays. Join us in wishing them all the best as they celebrate!
Mary Pedersen, Shelby Helget, Jordan Sowers, Tabitha Shuler, Rachel Clayton, Alexis Jones, Rhonda McLaughlin, Ben Schlegel, Tamra Jones, Cassandra Petri, Ashley Bean, Amanda Broxterman, Hanna Schober, Kassidy Fisher, Mackenzie Spear, Savanna Booth, Kari Holthaus, Alegria Martinez, Jamie Todd, Kendra Reith, Anita Anderson, Hailie Domann, Lacey Niehues, Karen Zartman, Holly Schmitz, Marie Wessel, Sylvia Quenneville, Kayla Jones, Katherine Ostmeyer, Tristan Gernhard, Christie Rabe, Deanne Tanking, Josie Harrison, Avery Huerter, Jill Greene, Ellie Haverkamp, Nancy Zidek, Maribelle Collado, Alicia VanDonge, Sarah Todd, Eric Bjelland, Nahtanha Smith, Andrea Lutz, Kim Domann, Nancy Rose
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Speaking of birthdays ...
Dr. Marcus Weiser celebrated his 40th birthday yesterday (November 17). He enjoyed some special decorations and more than a little good-natured ribbing on his big day.
Best wishes for a great year ahead, Dr. Weiser! Thanks for all you do for your patients and our communities.
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Nov. 22-26
Pumpkin bread latte
- Pumpkin pie and shortbread
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16 oz., $4
- Hot, cold, or frappe
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Nov. 29-Dec. 3
French vanilla latte
- 16 oz., $4
- Hot, cold, or frappe
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Want an additional discount? Bring your own cup and we'll bump your employee discount from 10% up to 15%.
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Reminder: Order Thanksgiving florals by Friday, November 19
Preorders are available for lovely, long-lasting arrangements to make your Thanksgiving table special or thank your hosts. View a flyer with details or visit the Gift Shop to order.
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You are cordially invited to the Coffee and Gift Shop Holiday Open House on Tuesday, November 30 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Find gifts, stocking stuffers, and gourmet goodies for everyone on your list
- Make your own holiday card with Pam Dillon from Redbird Sisters, 1 to 3 p.m.
- Enjoy special giveaways and free samples
- Roll the dice to get a discount! (Are you feeling lucky?!)
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Can't visit the Gift Shop? Take a look at our online store!
- Note: it's a work in progress.
- Another note: We can't ship orders to your home, but we can send them via CHCS courier or have them ready for you to pick up!
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Coffee and Gift Shop holiday hours
- The Gift Shop will be closed 12 noon Tues., Nov. 23 through 10 a.m. Mon., Nov. 29.
- The Coffee Shop will be open until 12 noon Nov. 24 and 26 (closed Nov. 25 for Thanksigiving)
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Monday, November 29: Coffee Shop, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.; Gift Shop, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
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Tuesday, November 30: Coffee Shop, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.; Gift Shop Holiday Open House, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
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December 1-23, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
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December 24, 7 a.m.-12 noon
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December 27-30, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
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December 31, 7 a.m.-12 noon
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Do you have special requests for late hours or a Popup Gift Shop in your location? Let us know! Call the Gift Shop at ext. 5059. |
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CHCS menu: Onaga and Eastridge |
- Note: Tuesday and Thursday menus will be swapped for Thanksgiving (November 25) in Onaga.
- Eastridge will also serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal on November 25.
St. Marys menus are available each morning through the Activities chronicle.
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Veterans Day celebrations
On Veterans Day, Redbud honored veterans Kay Towne, Courtland Dodds, and John Rempe.
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Kay (below, left) served in the Army Reserve Nurse Corps from 1974 through 1994. During that time, she was head nurse of the operating room at the 410th Army Evacuation Hospital.
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Courtland (below, right) was First Sergeant in the Army Air Corps for 20 years.
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John served in the National Guard from 1956 through 1964. He was presented a quilt by Debbie Berges on behalf of Crafting for Others, and organization that donates quilts to veterans. He is pictured (bottom, left) with his wife and daughters. Daughter Janelle Glatczak (bottom, right) came and played "Taps" on her trumpet in honor of Veterans Day.
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Eastridge thanked six residents and two associates for their service on Veterans Day (see photos below). |
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Did you miss your Connection?
Important information is relayed every week in the E-Connection. If you miss it in your email, an archive is available on our website. Visit the For Associates page, then click E-Connection Archive.
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Send items for the E-Connection or for sharing with our broader social media audience to sarahhancock@chcsks.org. Please send items by close of business on Tuesdays when possible. Ideas are welcome!
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