Craig Resident is Back on the Combine after Cardiac Rehab at CH-F

Two years ago, rural Craig resident, Richard "Pude" Jackson, was a very different man than today. Recovering from open heart surgery, returning home from a three week stint in an Omaha hospital and feeling extremely weak, he could not imagine a time when he would be behind the wheel of a combine again. 

It was then that Dr. Aron Burke took one look at him and recommended he enroll in the CH-F Cardiac Rehab program.

"When Pude came into Cardiac Rehab for the first time, he was using a walker. I watched as he became stronger and walked in one day with a cane. By the time he graduated from the program, he walked out on his own," commented Jackie Martin, RN and Cardiac Rehab Nurse.

Pude attended Cardiac Rehab over a 12 week period with 36 sessions. During this time, he learned how to use the treadmill and strengthen his arms. He also changed his eating habits substantially. He lost 20 pounds over the three months he was enrolled in the program.

After graduating from Cardiac Rehab, Pude did not stop with the transformation. He began walking two times a day for 30 minutes on the treadmill.  In the summer, he adds a quarter mile walk outside and sometimes uses his stationary bike as well. He has continued to lose weight and his wife, Pat, has joined him in the new healthy lifestyle.

Even though he continued to make strides with his health, Pude was still experiencing weakness in his left arm after the surgery. Once again, he turned to CH-F for help and began receiving physical therapy for his arm. Today, he feels better than ever.

"I'm 67 years old and this fall my neighbor asked if I could run his combine. I wasn't sure that I could, but I ended up putting 137 hours behind the wheel over two weeks. That is something I never thought I'd do again" Pude shared.

Today, Pude sees Dr. Ryan Whitney in the CH-F Cardiac Outpatient Clinic. His last report was glowing.

Dr. Aron Burke, Pude's Primary Care Physician, is proud of what Pude has accomplished, "Pude is an excellent example of someone who took what was learned in Cardiac Rehab and applied it to his life. His health has taken a significant turn for the better in the last two years."

For questions about Cardiac Rehab, please contact Jackie Martin RN at (660) 686-2211 or jackiem@FairfaxMed.com

Wondering about your risk for a heart event? Find out here:

Mental Healthcare Shortage in Rural Areas: CH-F's Efforts

Eighteen months ago, CH-F started on a journey to better understand the needs of our community. When we started the process of our Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), we knew that mental health would rise to the top as an unmet need in our community. For years, our physicians have told us that the need was great and the resources very limited. And time and time again, we have experienced it ourselves when a patient seeks the ER as a last resort.

What you might not realize about mental health in our community:
*14% of the U.S. population suffers from moderate to severe mental illness from short-term situational depression to long term chronic conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
*Suicide rates in rural areas are higher than urban areas.
*Rural areas have a higher proportion of people who are at risk for mental and behavioral health problems, especially older adults.
*Stress is associated with increased mental health disorders. Rural people experience stress with cyclical farm crisis, natural disasters and isolation.
*Rural populations have a greater portion of untreated mental illness than non-rural communities.
*33% of households responding to the CH-F CHNA survey reported depression as a minor or major problem in their household.

And here are a few facts about mental healthcare:
*Distance to mental health providers and transportation costs can be a barrier. There is no psychiatric care in Atchison or Holt Counties.
*Rural Americans are less likely to have health insurance that covers mental health.
*Atchison and Holt Counties are not alone. 104 of Missouri's 114 counties are designated by the federal government as mental health shortage areas.

*http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhqr11/chap8.html

So what is CH-F doing?
We are so pleased to announce that Carl Greiner, M.D. will begin seeing patients in a psychiatry clinic in January. The clinic will be conducted using video conferencing where patients interact face to face with Dr. Greiner through the use of a screen.

With the shortage of psychiatric care, underserved communities all over the country are utilizing technology to increase access to mental health professionals. The CH-F Psychiatry Clinic is the first telemedicine clinic at CH-F.

Patients will be referred to the clinic by their primary care physician. Our staff will then schedule the patient for an appointment at the hospital. At the hospital, the patient will interact with Dr. Greiner face to face via a screen just like a traditional office appointment. After the appointment, Dr. Greiner and the patient's primary care physician will then collaborate on treatment recommendations.

Psychiatry has been a significant need in our community for many, many years. This clinic represents the first  step toward getting the patients the care they need close to home. We are honored to offer this service to our community.

Those interested in this clinic should contact their primary care physician.

Cindy Lewis Breathes Easy After a Visit to the CH-F Emergency Room

Being short of breath with a paling complexion were the first signs that something was not right for Cindy Lewis. When these symptoms turned into a struggle to breathe, it was time to seek help. She arrived at the Community Hospital-Fairfax (CH-F) Emergency Room that October afternoon struggling for every breath.

On duty that afternoon was Nurse Practitioner Melissa Masonbrink and registered nurse Bryan Krutz. The team quickly assessed Cindy's condition and began to examine what could be causing the dangerous symptoms. After giving Cindy blood and running a number of tests, it was determined that Cindy had bleeding ulcers and needed a procedure offered at The Nebraska Medical Center. Cindy was quickly transported north to receive the care she needed.

Not long after her recovery from the bleeding ulcers, Cindy found herself struggling to breathe once again. Without hesitation, she arrived at the CH-F Emergency Room where she was diagnosed with blood clots in her lungs within one hour of arrival. Soon, she was once again on her way to breathing easy.

Cindy Lewis is a believer in the CH-F Emergency Room, "I feel like they are going to figure out what is wrong with me very quickly. They are always friendly, attentive and efficient. When they order a test, it is done and the results are relayed to the patient quickly. When the diagnosis is made, they waste no time starting treatment or, if necessary, getting you to the right place to get the help you need."

Samantha Grist, RN, Med/Surg and ER Nurse Manager, is proud of the response time at the CH-F Emergency Room, "In many larger hospitals, patients wait hours to get help. In most cases, we are able to connect our patients with a provider very quickly. In a stressful situation, the last thing any patient wants is a wait."

Cindy wants to remind the community about the CH-F Emergency Room. She commented, "I lived in Kansas City for 28 years, so I know what it's like to wait for several hours in the E.R. when you're not feeling well.  The zero wait time here is a luxury that I very much appreciate."

The CH-F Emergency Room is staffed 24 hours a day with Family Nurse Practitioners or Physicians. Staffing the Emergency Room are specially trained individuals in emergency care. CH-F is also a stroke ready facility.

For more questions about the CH-F or the services offered, please call (660) 686-2211.

2013 at Community Hospital-Fairfax, The Year in Review

The American Hospital Association reports that 72 million Americans live in rural areas. Serving those Americans are 2,000 rural hospitals like Community Hospital-Fairfax (CH-F), often offering the only access to healthcare within many miles.

Providing the fullest range of healthcare possible, is important to CH-F. Recent service additions include an oncology clinic provided by Susan Kambhu M.D., new interventional radiology procedures offered on a weekly basis and PET/CT scans. Coming in 2014 are varicose vein procedures. These services join acute, skilled and obstetrical care along with radiology, laboratory, cardiac rehab, therapy, surgery and specialty clinic services.

Dr. Douglas Niemann joined the CH-F Radiology Team to share
about new varicose vein procedures at the Me Market. For more information
call (660) 686-2360.

CH-F is also proud to report excellent scores for quality in 2013. In the last 12 months, the hospital recorded a readmission rate lower than the industry standard. CH-F also performs well on Core Measures (standard of care determined by Medicare) with an average of 99% on all Core Measures reported. Medicare's website for hospital patient satisfaction reports that CH-F patients are recommending CH-F at higher rates than patients visiting other local hospitals. Community Hospital-Fairfax is currently outperforming the state and national average. (www.hospitalcompare.hhs.org).

In many communities, the local hospital is the largest employer and adds to the attractiveness of the community to businesses or families planning to make the community their home. In the last year, Community Hospital-Fairfax has employed 104 with a payroll of over $4.2 million. For every hospital job in a rural community, the American Hospital Association uses a multiplier of .77.  That means that CH-F contributes another 80 jobs to the local community. In the last fiscal year, CH-F spent over $145,700 supporting local businesses and organizations in Atchison and Holt Counties.

Community health is important to rural hospitals. CH-F is no exception. In the last fiscal year, CH-F sponsored many events to improve community health. Those include the Wear Red Challenge for Heart Health, Pediatric Orientation for 80 plus area first graders, the Kids Cafe and pool party for over 150 children and families, the Back to School Fairs in Atchison and Holt Counties, a free prostate screening, the Me Market for over 250 women and free screenings for high school students in Atchison and Holt.

Shannon Pruitt PT visits with guests at the Me Market.

Dr. Aron Burke was recognized as the Missouri Family Physician of the Year in 2013!

In 2014, CH-F will be reporting patient satisfaction and quality results at www.FairfaxMed.com. Patients and community members are encouraged to visit the website and learn more about how CH-F is providing care for the community. Other questions about Community Hospital-Fairfax services can be directed to the hospital at (660) 686-2211.

Hall of Snowflakes at CH-F

Last week, I made a visit to our Radiology Department and was delighted to find the snowflakes had made their way to the ceiling. Snowflakes have been a CH-F Radiology Department tradition for many years. Each year, the staff adds just a few snowflakes to the collection from the year before. Now over 70 snowflakes (some many years old), greet patients.

As you know, the winters can be long and gloomy in Northwest Missouri, but health needs know no season. Rain or shine, cold or warm, the staff at CH-F know that tests need run and patients need answers. The beautiful snowflakes can make your visit a little more palatable even if you had to venture out in Missouri's winter weather. 

We hope that you will enjoy the care and love given to each little piece of artwork. Each has been designed to bring a smile to a patient's face. We love how our youngest patients seem to find time to crank their necks back and take a look!

So from our house to yours, we wish you the very best health this holiday season. Should you find yourself needing to make a visit to our hospital, take a moment to admire our snowflakes and remember that winter will soon be over and the snowflakes back in storage. 

Seasons may change, but our commitment to you remains the same. 

Happy Winter Friends!

CH-F Volunteer-Turned-Patient Comes Full Circle

Each year, when the Celebrity Waiter Dinner or CommuniTEE Golf Benefit roll around, Community Hospital-Fairfax (CH-F) is fortunate to work with a great team of volunteers. From determining the decor, to filling out the scorecards, both events are an all hands on deck kind of affair. Before each event, emails are sent,  phone calls are made and a fantastic crew is assembled that makes each fundraiser run like a well oiled machine.

One of the most important, and pleasant, phone calls made each year is to Jimmy and Leisa Paris, Fairfax residents and members of both the CH-F Celebrity Waiter Dinner and CommuniTEE Golf Benefit committee. Jimmy and Leisa are always available with a helping hand, big smiles and 14 coolers. Yes, you read that correctly. Through chance and a collector's eye, Jimmy and Leisa have assembled enough coolers to keep 300 golfers and volunteers hydrated with cold water and pop and hold enough ice for 700 plus drinks at the Celebrity Waiter Dinner.

Jimmy & Leisa (right) proudly sport their official volunteer shirts at the 2013 CommuniTEE Golf Benefit.

Along with the plethora of coolers, Leisa and Jimmy assist in many other ways. Many may not know that Jimmy and Leisa are part of a hard working team that provides the delicious steaks grilled onsite for both the golf tournament and the Celebrity Waiter Dinner. Jimmy and Leisa supervise the trimming, seasoning and grilling of over 500 steaks a year for the hospital. The smell and taste of steaks hot off the grill provided for each guest is part of what makes CH-F events so special. CH-F is so appreciative of this talented crew! One year, the hospital attempted to give Jimmy a year off. He was sure to let us know that he missed his role as grillmaster despite the added rest!

Just recently, CH-F got the opportunity to give a little back to the Paris family as they have generously given to us throughout the years. Approximately a year ago, Jimmy experienced an injury to his shoulder. When asked what tasks were more difficult after the injury, Jimmy commented that everything was more challenging. He knew he needed therapy to get back to the activities he was accustomed to doing and CH-F was his choice for therapy services.

"Use of one's shoulder is extremely important to day to day activities. We have watched Jimmy assist at hospital events and knew that he was an active, hardworking individual. We devised a therapy plan to help him regain the strength and use of his shoulder as quickly as possible," commented Shannon Pruitt, PT, Director of Therapy Services at CH-F.

Jimmy attended therapy over the course of several months. Although he may never regain the use of his shoulder that he once had, he is able to complete many more tasks than before therapy. As you can only imagine, Jimmy was not about to be left out of the CH-F golf tournament when August rolled around. He was upfront with the therapists when he told them he expected to be able play golf. Thanks to Jimmy's hard work and the therapy he received, Jimmy and Leisa hit the links in August along with their many friends from CH-F.

"Even though I often dreaded going, the therapists made each visit enjoyable. Thanks to all of them," commented Jimmy.

Jimmy and his wife, Leisa, stay dry at the 2012 golf tournament.

"Knowing our patients and being able to give back to them as they have supported us is extremely rewarding. Seeing Jimmy at the golf course was wonderful. Enjoying the steak he will cook at the Celebrity Waiter Dinner in March is even better!" Ann Schlueter, Director of Strategic Planning at CH-F.

Jimmy and his crew have a grill full at the 2012 Celebrity Waiter Dinner.

A Recipe for a Successful Me Market

What does it take to make a Me Market? 

Today, let's go over the recipe for a great health related event tailored especially for women. 

First you start with amazing volunteers: 

Many thanks goes out to these two, who put in hours worth of chair and table organization. We also have an amazing team of Development Council volunteers, plus other hospital employees who faithfully show up to events all year long to help. Whether it's setting up the 52 plus tables and chairs or helping the vendors find their booth space, our volunteers stay busy! 

The next essential ingredient is amazing healthcare professionals that provided screenings and information about important topics like health insurance and new procedures offered at Community Hospital-Fairfax:

1. Radiology Director Beth Mackey and Douglas Niemann, M.D. discuss a new procedure called Venacure that CH-F will soon be offering. Venacure is a non surgical procedure that effectively treats and diminishes varicose veins. 

 2. Home Health nurse Jeanie Mackey provided 50 blood pressure checks and 60 glucose checks at the Me Market.

3. Bonnie Erickson and April Stoner, both employees in CH-F Business Office, provided helpful information about health insurance. 

1. Madeline Hamilton, PT and Shannon Pruitt, PT informed guests about potential fall risks in homes that can lead to injury.

2. Labor and Deliver nurse Marcee Dugan handed out free samples of formula, baby lotion, diapers and more and shared information about Community Hospital-Fairfax Obstetrics Services. 

What else goes into a great event? 

1. A dash of Zumba fun! Instructor Tiffany Rhine of Rock Port took over the auditorium with her fitness routine and gave out free classes to many lucky winners! 

2. Mother daughter pair Lee and Abbie Harms take in all of the shopping together.

3. Charlie Smith, who was recently crowned America's U.S. Miss Missouri, Jr. Tween reigned at the Me Market, helping the Auxiliary collect stuffed animals for the hospital's Emergency Room pediatric patients. Charlie helped the Auxiliary collect 30 stuffed animals!

You can also add in 14,335 steps, which is what guests who turned in their steps logged while at the Me Market. They kept track thanks to pedometers that CH-F handed out to the first 200 women who attended. Cassie Hegstrom of Tarkio logged 2,337 steps and won a month's membership to Heartland Rec Center! 

And just to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves, we also gave out door prizes all day long, thanks to donated items from the vendors. We also added spice to the mix with the Enchilada Lady's lunch and helped mothers by providing babysitting with the Tarkio High School FCCLA class. 

All of these ingredients helped Community Hospital-Fairfax create the perfect day out for women. 

If you attended the Me Market, we would love to hear what thought: Click on this link to take a quick, anonymous survey about your experience:  Me Market Survey

We'll see you next year on Saturday, November 9th!