OPEN ANNUAL MEETING OF TYLER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
NEW STUDY EVALUATES HEALTHCARE QUALITY
NOVEMBER NATIONAL HOME HEALTH MONTH - TYLER HOME HEALTH OPEN HOUSE
TYLER IMPLEMENTS "CAUGHT IN THE ACT" PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES
2004 FALL COMMUNITY EDUCATION SCHEDULE
TYLER OFFERS IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS) SEMINAR
TYLER OFFERS CAR SEAT SAFETY CLASS AND CAR SEAT CHECK
TYLER OFFERS HEALTH SCREENING FOR HUNTERS NOVEMBER 5, 2004
TYLER SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE - COMMUNITY SERVICE NOVEMBER 4
TYLER OFFERS FREE CAR SEAT SAFETY AND CAR SEAT CHECK
LUPUS SUPPORT GROUP TO BEGIN OCTOBER 12, 2004
TYLER PROVIDES MULTIMILLION DOLLAR BENEFIT TO LOCAL COMMUNITY
PROJECT LINUS BLANKETS TYLER WITH GIFTS
TYLER PREPARES FOR CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL INCIDENT
42ND ANNUAL ANTIQUES AND ARTS SHOW
ALZHEIMER'S CAREGIVER TRAINING
WOMEN, MENOPAUSE & DEPRESSION PROGRAM
DIABETES MANAGEMENT CENTER OPENS AT TYLER
TYLER CEO DELIVERS HEALTH CARE MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
IMMUNIZATIONS: HEALTH VS. RISK
TYLER OFFERS PROGRAM ON EXERCISE FOR THE OVERWEIGHT
CHILDHOOD OBESITY TALK MARCH 30, 2004
MY NEW WEIGH OF LIFE WEIGHT MANAGEMENT COURSE
HEART PROGRAM OFFERS WAYS TO REDUCE RISK
COLORECTAL CANCER PROGRAM OFFERED AT TUNKHANNOCK LIBRARY
UNUSUAL
DELAYS AT TYLER EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
Santa Makes A Stop At Tyler
Santa Claus, aka Tyler Memorial Hospital President and CEO William Milligan, made an early holiday visit to Tyler on December 17. Santa gave away calendars to all Tyler's hard working employees, candy canes to visitors and patients, and children received stuffed bears.
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George
Brick, Factoryville, a participant in the Tyler Cardiac Rehabilitation
Program, gets some holiday encouragement from Santa Claus during Santa's
annual visit to Tyler employees, patients and visitors. In the off
season Santa is the president and CEO of Tyler Memorial Hospital.
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Baby
Nicoli David Getz, born at Tyler on December 16, is held by his dad,
David Getz, while mother, Renee Ann Cona and Santa look on.
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WHAT: Open Meeting
- Annual Meeting of Tyler Memorial Hospital Board of Directors
WHEN: Monday, January 24, 2004
WHERE: Tyler Memorial Hospital - Blue Room
The public is invited to attend.
For more information, please contact:
Gladys
Bernet
996-1301
New Study Evaluates Healthcare Quality - Bigger Isn't Always Better
A
new study, coauthored by Nancy Kane, a professor at the Harvard School of
Public Health, looks at how community hospitals compare in quality and cost
to larger teaching hospitals. The conclusion is that patients receive similar
care -- sometimes better care -- at community hospitals, at considerably
lower costs. The study evaluated 1,200 hospitals in six states.
“This is good news
for smaller, community hospitals like ours,” commented William Milligan,
Jr. president and CEO of Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock. “For
years we have have been fighting the bigger is better mentality, and I am
pleased to finally have some conclusive data that supports the level of
quality care available in the local community,” he said.
The study's findings
conclude that inpatient costs per case are 19% higher in teaching hospitals
(this figure reflects an adjustment for differences in patient case mix
and severity). And when analyzing serious, avoidable complications in both
teaching and community hospitals, the findings show that incidents are infrequent
in both environments.
The study, which was
conducted for the Pioneer Institute, Boston, did find some differences.
Of the 41 basic illnesses and conditions studied in both community hospitals
and teaching institutions, the study found that complications following
surgery, such as post-surgical pneumonia and post-surgical lung problems
were slightly higher in community settings. But the reverse is true when
looking at wound infections, post surgery urinary tract infections and death.
Mr. Milligan believes
that the most important result of this study is the debate that will certainly
follow publication of these results. “Large, teaching hospitals are
absolutely necessary for any region, and these facilities provide an invaluable
source of specialized care and research that keeps moving healthcare forward,”
he emphasized. “But there are also very tangible benefits to using
the smaller, community hospitals appropriately,” he said.
According to Mr. Milligan
and other healthcare executives, one of the issues that needs to be addressed
is finding ways to help patients evaluate healthcare choices. This study
shows that care for common conditions costs 19% more at teaching hospitals
than community facilities.
“Big hospitals
have to charge more because they have added expenses in training new physicians,
treating the most seriously ill and conducting research,” Mr. Milligan
added. “But as healthcare becomes more expensive, we all have to evaluate
the best allocation of resources - and in the future, that may include choosing
the best care as well as the best value.”
The authors hope that
if outcomes and quality for common conditions are roughly equal at both
types of hospitals, but costs at community hospitals are less, then maybe
the cost - benefit analysis will become part of the selection process for
consumers and insurers.
Previous studies have concluded that care at teaching hospitals is superior
because of the ability of larger facilities to pay for safety measures,
such as computerized drug ordering and other patient safety measures.
Consumer studies show
that younger people with higher incomes prefer larger facilities. As age
increases, the ability to receive care in the community becomes increasingly
important.
“All we are asking for is that patients and families evaluate their
needs for healthcare and then choose appropriately,” Mr. Milligan said.
November is National Home Health Month - Tyler Home Health Services Hosting Open House
Tyler
Home Health Services, Tunkhannock, invites the community to celebrate National
Home Health Month by attending an open house on Thursday, November 18, between
10 AM and 2 PM at the agency's offices in the Warner Complex on Kim Avenue.
Free blood pressure screenings will be offered and refreshments served.
According to Robert
Cooney, LCSW, director, Tyler Home Health Services(THHS) provides compassionate,
quality in-home care to patients' whose recovery stretches beyond the hospital
setting; and also to those challenged by a chronic or terminal illness.
"Health care at home can be an important part of a patient's recovery because it acts as a bridge between the need for the acute, medical care of a hospital, and restoration to the patient's optimal level of health and function," Mr. Cooney explained. "Patients able to remain at home during an illness - or who return home after hospitalization, often get better faster," he said; "and the comfort of family and the security of familiar surroundings helps to promote recovery." A caring team of 25 professionals that includes registered nurses, nurses aides, physical and occupational therapists, medical social workers and nutritionists work together to enhance each patient's recovery. The services offered include the monitoring of vital signs, intense wound care, administering IV antibiotics, occupational and physical therapy, social services, and nutrition counseling. To supplement this care, home health aides take care of bathing, assisting with exercise, and care of the sick room (the room where the patient resides).
THHS
is certified by Medicare, licensed by the state of Pennsylvania and is accredited
by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, JCAHO.
As an affiliate of Tyler Memorial Hospital, THHS was created in 1993 to
meet the post hospital needs of local patients, and covers a service area
of about 40,000 people. The primary area of coverage stretches from the
Bradford County line east to Rte. 81, and from the New York border south
to Luzerne County, with a few visits in Lackawanna, Bradford, Luzerne, and
Sullivan counties. "Our employees often travel 50 miles to visit one
patient," noted Mr. Cooney. Visits last between 30 minutes and one
hour; and the average patient receives services for 42 days.
Home health care must
be ordered by a physician, and is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, Worker's
Comp, Disability and most private insurance and HMOs.
In addition to providing
direct, hands-on care to patients, the focus on patient education is becoming
more important, Mr. Cooney said. "From our very first visit, we begin
educating the patient, family, and any other caregivers that may play a
part in the overall care of the patient," he added.
Diplomacy and empathy
are key to successful home care. "Our staff understands that we are
guests in the patient's home, and that our goal is to work with the physician,
the needs of each family - and especially the desires of the patient, to
restore optimal health and healing," he emphasized. "We see ourselves
as completing the circle of community care that begins with the physician,
then advances to the hospital for acute care, and ends with us serving the
patient at home." Among the agency's long-term goals is establishing
a local hospice.
Although many of the
services offered by hospice are available through Tyler Home Health now,
Mr. Cooney wants to bring all the aspects this important service closer
to home.
For more information about Tyler Home Health Services, please call 836-1640.
Tyler employees now have the opportunity to recognize good deeds performed by their co-workers. A new program, Caught in the Act, was implemented October 4, 2004. This program allows employees to acknowledge any co-worker that is seen "going above and beyond the call of duty." A Basket of Good Deeds is displayed in the hospital lobby, displaying flowers with descritions of the good deeds that have been performed.
The following employees
and volunteers have been named as having performed a good deed. New nominees
will be posted every Friday. Please be sure to stop by to see this basket
and all of the nice things our employees do.
Tyler Offers Car Seat Safety Class and Car Seat Check
You
can never be too safe when it comes to your children. That is why Tyler
Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock, is sponsoring a Carseat Safety Check on
Friday, October 29.
The inspection will
be held between 3:00 and 5:00 P.M. in the hospital's outpatient parking
lot, which adjoins Route Six West. Watch for the signs directing participants
to the area. The following day, Saturday, October 30, between 10:00 A.M.
and noon, parents and grandparents will have an opportunity to learn the
safe, proper use and installation of car seats at a special class sponsored
by Tyler. The program will be held on the hospital's fourth floor. The class,
taught by certified carseat technicians, will off er instruction about infant,
convertible, forward facing and booster car seats.
Participants are encouraged
to bring along their care seats and their questions for this informative
hour of safety.
For more information, call Tyler at 996-1264. This program is free.
Tyler Offers Health Screening for Hunters November 5, 2004
Believing
that a healthy hunter is a safer hunter, Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock,
is offering a Hunters' Health Screening on Friday, November 5, between 5:00
and 9:00 p.m. on the hospital's second floor. The cost is $5.00.
The annual event, which
attracts hunters from across the region, offers blood pressure screening,
pulse ox and EKG, heart and lung check, vision screen, private consultation
with a physician, PSA test (for men over 50) a variety of health and safety
information and refreshments.
According to Diana Noreika,
program coordinator, all hunters are welcome. "For some of our participants
this is the only time they ever see a doctor," Ms. Noreika explained.
"For others, it is a supplement to their regular healthcare program."
Dr. Charles Swisher, Tyler chief of staff, explained that hunting can be
a very stressful activity. "We are particularly concerned about hunters
who are not physically active year-round, who suddenly are walking for miles
while dragging a heavy deer," he said. According to Dr. Swisher, hunters
may reduce their risk by participating in this program, which often identifies
problems, such as elevated blood pressure or respiratory conditions.
After the testing, each
hunter has an opportunity to meet privately with a physician who explains
the tests and makes referrals for follow-up care as needed.
"The low cost makes
this screening available to anyone who needs it," Ms. Noreika added.
"I encourage everyone planning to be out in the woods next month to
participate," she said.
To register, or for
more information, please call Ms. Noreika at 996-1238, or download
a form to mail. The deadline to register is Friday, October 29.
Tyler Service of Remembrance - Community Service Planned for November 4
The community is invited
to a memorial service to honor and remember persons who died within the
hospital community during the past few years. The brief service, sponsored
by the Tyler Memorial Hospital Chaplaincy Committee, will be held on Thursday,
November 4, at 4:00 p.m. at the Tunkhannock United Methodist Church, Tunkhannock.
The community is invited
to submit names of loved ones to be read at the service. Names may be submitted
by calling the Tyler Chaplaincy Office at 996-1301 or may be added at the
service.
"Grieving cannot be done on some artificial timetable," explained Gladys Bernet, director of Tyler chaplaincy services. "This service is an opportunity to express grief, whether recent or long ago, or just spend a few minutes remembering the loved one within a loving, supportive environment." The Chaplaincy Committee will provide light refreshments following the service.
Click here to read memorial service advertisement
For more information, please contact:
Gayle
Gipson, RN
996-1281
Tyler Provides Multimillion
Dollar Benefit to Local Community
HAP issues summary of estimated benefit of healthcare on state
Tyler Memorial Hospital,
Tunkhannock, provides an estimated total economic benefit to the local community
totaling over $44 million dollars, according to a report released this month
by the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP).
The report, Beyond
Healthcare - Pennsylvania Hospitals: Key Assets to the State’s Economy,
illustrates the positive effect Pennsylvania hospitals have on state, region
and local economies. The report updates a 2003 HAP study and presents new
data from HAP and other sources.
Tyler’s total spending
of $22 million has an estimated ripple benefit to the community that totals
over $44 million. Tyler employes 253 full time equivalent employees, ranking
it among the top three employers in the county, according to William Milligan,
Jr. Tyler president/CEO.
“Tyler’s number
one priority is providing quality healthcare to our community,” Mr.
Milligan commented. “But we are also an economic catalyst which provides
stable employment in a variety of clinical, technology and service positions.
We buy local goods and services, provide services beyond basic healthcare,
and, through our various programs and employees, contribute to the overall
quality of life in our region and towns,” he emphasized.
In addition, the report
stresses the importance of local hospitals as anchors to related healthcare
professionals and services, such as physicians and pharmacies.
Other findings in the report show that Pennsylvania hospitals:
Data in the report are
from the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Health & Human
Services, and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.
In 2002 hospitals nationally
provided more than $22 billion in uncompensated care. In 2003, Pennsylvania
provided more than $457 million in uncompensated care. Hospitals also subsidize
Medicaid services. In 2002, Medicaid payments to hospitals were $2.3 billion
less than the cost to provide that care.
“Some people want
hospitals to be run like businesses,” explained Mr. Milligan. “And
for the most part, we do adhere to the same financial safeguards and budget
balancing that any corporation is bound by. The difference with a hospital
is that the compensation we receive is determined by others at the federal
level; or by insurance companies and HMOs. This takes the control of a large
part of our business operation out of our hands,” he pointed out. “That
is why it is so important that our political representatives understand
the issues facing this industry and act accordingly,” he concluded.
“We are fortunate
to have Don Sherwood and his staff working so hard for Tyler, and all the
hospitals in this region. Congressman Sherwood understands the challenges
facing hospitals today; and we are grateful for everything he has done to
improve healthcare in our community,” Mr. Milligan added.
The report was researched and written by the Penn State Cooperative Extension and the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health on the association's behalf. A copy of "The Hospital Sector's Contribution to the Pennsylvania State Economy" is available online at www.haponline.org.
Flu Shot Availability Update
Tyler
Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock, received a flurry of phone calls last week
in response to news that the flu vaccine will be in short supply this year.
According to Gladys Bernet, Tyler spokesperson, people are calling the hospital
and asking if Tyler has vaccine available for the public. "We are explaining
to callers that they should contact their family physicians to obtain a
flu shot or the Department of Health for information on local flu clinics
being planned," she explained.
According Kathy Ritter,
director of infection control and risk management for Tyler, the hospital
ordered 500 doses of vaccine from Aventis Pasteur, Inc. To date, 250 doses
are confirmed for delivery, and the hospital is hopeful that it will receive
its full allocation. A new federal mandate, which requires hospitals to
offer a flu shot to any patient, 65 or over, who is a patient for more than
24 hours, is putting further pressure on the available supply. In light
of the reduced national supply, that mandate is currently being reconsidered,
according to Ms. Ritter. "To date, Tyler has not been notified of an
official change in policy, so for now, only Tyler employees, volunteers
and patients will receive the vaccine," Ms. Ritter said.
Because of the urgent situation, the CDC (center for Disease Control) in coordination with its Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP), issued interim recommendations for influenza vaccine during the 2004 - 2005 season. The following priority groups are of equal importance and should be vaccinated with inactivated influenza vaccine:
The CDC further recommends that persons in priority groups identified above are encouraged to search locally for vaccine if their regular healthcare provider does not have vaccine available. Persons who are not included in one of the priority groups identified above should be informed about the urgent vaccine supply situation and asked to forgo or defer vaccination. Ms. Ritter explained that if Tyler is successful in receiving its full, 500 - dose allotment and does use it all by the end of November, it will redistribute the remainder to area physicians.
Project Linus Blankets Tyler With Gifts
Project
Linus, an all volunteer organization with a new, local chapter in Wyoming
County, recently donated a series of beautiful, handmade blankets to Tyler
Memorial Hospital.
The blankets, which
are lovingly created by the local chapter, established by Holly Bonning,
Falls, are to be used by seriously ill or traumatized children who are patients
at Tyler. According to Ms. Bonning, the organization plans to replenish
the blankets as needed. “This is not just a one time gift,” she
emphasized.
In accepting the blankets
for Tyler, Linda Ferguson, RN, expressed the hospital’s appreciation,
noting that the blankets will be a real comfort to frightened children and
their parents.
Tyler Prepares for Chemical or Biological Incident
The
meaning of Tyler Memorial Hospital's slogan, Caring for our community...one
neighbor at a time, has expanded as the small, rural hospital prepares
to respond to a biological or chemical attack.
During September, 40 employees, representing a variety of disciplines, received theoretical and hands-on training in how to serve the community during an attack. Funded this year by a $36,000 HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the training is designed to raise hospital skill levels and create of a core group of individuals who are trained and ready to respond to a terrorist or natural event, according to Michael Castellano, pharmacist and chairperson of the Tyler Health and Safety Committee.
An initial grant of
$10,000 received in 2003 was used to purchase six protective ensembles and
over a dozen two-way radios. This years money builds on that start by providing
funds for the training and the purchase of a portable negative air system
which, when placed in a window, scrubs the air within a defined environment.
The decontaminated air is then safely discharged outdoors like a dryer vent,
Mr. Castellano explained.
Also purchased was a
three-line decontamination tent, which can accommodate two lines of ambulatory
victims and one line of stretcher patients who have been exposed to hazardous
materials. Vests to identify incident command personnel complete this years
purchases.
"Here in rural America, it is hard to imagine being touched by terror, but being prepared to care for our community is our hospital's responsibility," commented William Milligan, Tyler president and CEO. "Sad to say even small hospitals in quiet, safe communities, such as ours, have to be ready for the unthinkable," he said.
Mr. Castellano explained
that even though a terror event may be remote, hazardous chemicals travel
the roads of Wyoming County and the region all the time. "By getting
ourselves prepared and working closely with our local EMA (Emergency Management
System), and our regional counter-terrorism organization, Tyler will be
better equipped to meet even the most unlikely challenges," he emphasized.
Pennsylvania is divided
into counter terrorism regions and Tyler is part of the seven-county, East
Central Region, which which extends through Luzerne County and all the way
to Columbia and Berks.
The hospital has MOUs
(memorandums of understanding) with the regional group, which outlines procedures
for the transfer of personnel and equipment between counties and regions
as needed. "Terror preparedness is a very multi-layered system, which
is dependent upon good communication and cooperation between groups and
communities at all levels," Mr. Castellano pointed out. "This
training and the new equipment is an important step in getting Tyler ready
for whatever the future holds." The training sessions were conducted
by representatives of Tetra-Tech, the same organization instrumental in
the clean-up of the Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, following
the anthrax attack three years ago.
What are the benefits of this training to the Wyoming County community? "We still have a way to go, but I feel confident that after completing two years of training, Tyler can now respond quickly in the event of an incident," Mr. Castellano said. He explained that the training included setting up the three-line tent, triaging patients, communication procedures, decontamination protocols, and much more. He also stressed that being prepared for an attack involves employees from all areas of the hospital. "Clinical people are important because they can be used for triage and other medical care decisions, but everyone has an important role to play in protecting our community."
WHAT: 55 Alive
Safe Driving Course
WHEN: Fridays,
October 1 and October 8
WHERE: Wyoming County Senior Center (Tunkhannock)
TIME: 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
COST: $10 pre-registration required (Class size is limited)
For more
information or to register by September 24th, please call:
Tyler
Education Office
570-996-1238
The Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania and Tyler Memorial Hospital are sponsoring “Living with Lupus” on August 31, 2004. This program will offer an overview of lupus followed by a panel discussion on life with lupus. The program will be held at the Tunkhannock Library at 7 PM. It is free of charge and open to the public.
Lupus affects 1 out of every 185 Americans.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system actually attacks its own healthy tissues and organs. At least 1.4 million Americans are reported to have lupus, yet it remains one of America’s least known major diseases. Lupus can occur at any age and in either sex, although it appears 10 times more frequently in women than men.
The Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania is a non-profit organization that serves the needs of lupus patients and their families in a 15 county area, including Wyoming County. The mission of the organization is to educate and support those affected by lupus and to help find a cure.
Reservations are encouraged, but not required. To make a reservation or for more information, please contact the Lupus Foundation at 1-888-99-LUPUS.
Tyler Open House
Mothers and families had an opportunity to tour the newly decorated birthing
suites at Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock, during an open house held
on Sunday, July 11. Enjoying the festivities on Sunday was Melanie Harvey,
3 years old, who was born at Tyler. Her mother, Susan, is expecting to deliver
a second child at Tyler later this summer. OB Nurse Manager, Betsy Blaine,
RN, is pictured with Melanie.
For information about maternity care at Tyler, contact:
Betsy
Blaine, RN
996-1289
Diabetes
Management Center Opens at Tyler
Managing
diabetes just got easier for patients and physicians in Northeastern Pennsylvania
with the opening of the Diabetes Management Center at Tyler Memorial
Hospital, Tunkhannock. The Center also has locations at Wyoming
Valley Health Care System, Wilkes-Barre and at the Greater Hazleton Health
Alliance, Hazleton. The Diabetes Management Center, which is made possible
by a grant from the Blue Ribbon Foundation of Blue Cross of Northeastern
Pennsylvania, offers self-management classes that provide diabetics and
their families with the most up-to-date information and tools to help
manage the disease. The first session of classes will be held at Tyler
on July 15, 22 and 29, from 1 to 4 P.M. in the hospital Blue Room. A physician
referral is required and fees are covered by most health insurances. Sessions
are planned every month through November. Individual counseling is also
available. Classes are taught by a registered nurse and a registered dietitian
and address issues including: the basics of diabetes; nutrition and meal
planning; medication and diabetes; specific health concerns of diabetics;
monitoring blood glucose levels and how patients can help prevent complications.
For
more information, please call:
552-7150
OR
1-800-387-1649
William M. Milligan
Jr., president and CEO of Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock, visited
the nation's capital in early May to share concerns about the current and
projected condition of Pennsylvania's hospitals.
"Our hospitals are still hurting," Mr. Milligan told Congressman
Sherwood (R-10th) during a Capitol Hill meeting sponsored by The Hospital
& Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP). Expressing gratitude
for Congressman Sherwood's help to date, Mr. Milligan emphasized that Government
policy still doesn't recognize the health and economic benefits each hospital
provides to its community or how badly Pennsylvania hospitals are suffering.
"The bottom line is that Pennsylvania's hospitals are still just scraping by financially and cannot handle anymore cuts in government reimbursements," he said.
According to Mr. Milligan, healthcare is the only industry that has so little control over its costs and reimbursements. "Insurance companies and Medicare dictate what hospitals, such as Tyler, are paid.
Hospitals then must work backwards to try to maintain costs within that unrealistic budget; it's a bizarre system."
The president of the 58-bed, rural hospital urged Congressman Sherwood to maintain the federal government's commitment to Medicare and to reject any proposed Medicaid cuts that jeopardize patient access to care; to commit to medical liability reform; to include health care in federal economic development proposals; and to defend hospitals against additional regulatory burdens.
Tyler is one of 13 hospitals in the region that recently had their reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid increased. Mr. Milligan thanked Congressman Sherwood for his hard work in guiding this legislation through Congress. "He (Sherwood) has done more for for healthcare in this region than anyone," Mr. Milligan said.
While in Washington, Mr. Milligan also attended other programs offered by HAP held in conjunction with the American Hospital Association's 2004 Annual Meeting. U.S. Representative Melissa Hart (R-Bradford Woods) was a featured presenter at the HAP legislative briefing.
Mr. Milligan and other hospital executives also met with Senator Rick Santorum, (R-PA).
Despite the well-known
health and quality-of-life benefits of regular physical activity, few Americans
are routinely active.
On Tuesday, May 25, Dr. Christopher Andres will discuss the importance of
an exercise program and the positive effect increased activity can have
on weight loss, total body fat, and body fat distribution. This program
is sponsored by Tyler Memorial Hospital and will be held at the Tunkhannock
Public Library, Route 6 W, Tunkhannock, from 7 to 9 P.M.
Over 97 million Americans, representing 60 percent of U.S. adults, are overweight or obese (obesity is defined as being at least 30 lb overweight, placing this population at a heightened risk for a host of chronic diseases and conditions.
Dr. Andres, using the FITT philosophy, (FITT = Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type of exercise), will explore how even the most sedentary and obese can get started on a healthier lifestyle.
According to a recent article in the Family Practice Journal, approximately 300,000 deaths each year are attributed to a combination of dietary factors and physical inactivity -- the two primary culprits of obesity. This makes obesity second only to cigarette smoking as the leading cause of death in the United States.
This program is free. For information, please contact the Tyler Education Office at 996-1281
My New Weigh of Life Weight Management Course starts March 22, Tyler Memorial Hospital
Tyler Memorial Hospital will offer the 10-week weight management course, My New Weigh of Life beginning Monday, March 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the hospital Blue Room.
The program, which offers a sensible approach to weight loss and weight management, was developed by specialists at Penn State University and is offered at Tyler in cooperation with the Penn State Cooperative Extension Program.
"My New Weigh of Life" emphasizes sound nutrition, along with behavior modification and the importance of exercise in lifelong weight management. Within a caring, supportive environment, participants learn how to make wise food choices, how to recognize and change the behaviors that contribute to overeating, how to dine in restaurants sensibly, how to plan nutritious menus and learn ways to integrate physical activity into a new way of life.
Carla Morgese, Tyler dietician, will lead this ten-week program. The cost is $50. For more information or to register, please call the Tyler Education Office at 996-1281.
A Pint-Sized Epidemic
Experts point to the fast-food industry, less exercise and increasing affluence, as reasons, for what the Centers for Disease Control (CDC),describes as an epidemic : childhood obesity. The CDC estimates that 23% or roughly one in four &endash; US children is overweight.
On Tuesday, March 20, 7 - 9 .M. at the Tunkhannock Public Library, Dr. Daniel Williams, Tyler Memorial Hospital, pediatrician and internist, will discuss this issue and - what parents can do to encourage a healthier body weight among young people.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , recently linked the growing prosperity of the nation , which leads to children eating more and exercising less, as a possible explanation for the increase in overweight children.
This program is free and reservations are not needed. For information, contact Gayle Gipson, education department at 996-1281.
Colorectal Cancer Program Offered at Tunkhannock Library
Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the Wyoming County area. To help raise awareness concerning this serious disease, the Northeast Cancer Institute, and Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock, are sponsoring a Colorectal Cancer Awareness Program on Tuesday, February 24, 2004, 7-9 p.m. at the Tunkhannock Public Library
The featured speaker will be Maggie Snyder, LSW, BCD, Community Outreach Specialist, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute
This free education program will give an overview of colorectal cancer, including the risk factors, the benefits of screening, as well as local colorectal cancer information.
Light refreshments will be served. In case of inclement weather, please call ahead to make sure the library is open. For information, or to learn more about cancer care at Tyler, please contact Gayle Gipson, RN, Tyler education manager, at 996-1301. Visit the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute at www.nrci.org.
Unusual Delays at Tyler Emergency Department
Patients needing emergency care are waiting longer than usual at the Tyler Memorial Hospital Emergency Department.
According to Carol Berry, RN, emergency department nurse manager, on a recent weekend, waits were as long as three hours. "This is so unusual for us," Ms. Berry explained. "We pride ourselves on excellent customer service and providing quality care to our patients." she explained. "But we are seeing so many people with the flu or severe upper respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, that it creates back-ups sometimes."
Ms. Berry explained that patients are triaged on arrival. Triaging is a process of evaluating the severity of a patient's condition and treating the most seriously ill or injured first. This means that a suspected heart attack patient will be treated before someone with a broken ankle.
These long waits, which are common at hospitals in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, are unusual for Tyler patients. "Last weekend, most of the hospitals in Lackawanna County were on diversion, which means they were so busy they weren't accepting any new ambulance patients at all," Ms. Berry said. "We never go on diversion because we are the only hospital in Wyoming County."
Ms. Berry pointed out that the hospital is doing everything possible to work through this challenge and asks the community for patience. "We understand that it is frustrating to wait when you or a family member is sick or injured, but be assured that everyone will receive the quality care needed."
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