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Local girl returns home to care for patients at JCH

By
Curtis Plant
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Waurika High School alumnus, Randi Berry, has returned home to provide rehabilitation care at Jefferson County Hospital. She attended Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls, TX) and then transferred to the University of Oklahoma where she earned her Physical Therapy degree.

“My first job out of school was with Duncan Regional Hospital,” said Randi. “I then worked for a home health care in Wichita Falls and now I am back.”  As a physical therapist, Randi works with a wide range of patients. For those recovering from knee replacement surgery to those requiring reconditioning after a long hospital stay.

Therapy services offered include:

• Exercises focused on improving strength and mobility

• Instruction on safe and correct use of walker, canes, braces and artificial limbs

• Improving everyday living skills including dressing and eating

Randi and her team are here to help those who have suffered functional loss due to a disabling illness or injury.  “Our goal is to get you moving again,” shared Randi.

Randi is married to Josh, a firefighter for Wichita Falls, and they have two children.

About Duncan Regional Hospital

Serving Stephens and the surrounding counties since 1977, Duncan Regional Hospital has a state-wide reputation as one of the premiere Oklahoma hospitals for medical excellence, advanced technology and nationally recognized high levels of patient satisfaction and is a 138-bed nationally accredited hospital.  To learn more visit www.duncanregional.com    

 

“My first job out of school was with Duncan Regional Hospital,” said Randi. “I then worked for a home health care in Wichita Falls and now I am back.”

 

 

May – National Stroke Awareness Month

By
Amber Hill
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What is a stroke?  When blood flow to the brain is blocked, or a blood vessel in the brain ruptures that is known as a stroke. Anyone can have a stroke at any age. 

Risk factors which can be changed, treated, or medically managed include:

• High blood pressure

• Heart disease

• Diabetes

• Tobacco Use

• Birth Control pills

• Lack of exercise

• Obesity

Risk factors that can’t be changed:

• Older age

• Race

• Gender

• History of prior stroke

• Heredity or genetics

If you have one or more of the above factors, take proactive steps and visit your primary care provider to discuss what you can do to lower your risk for stroke.

It is important to know the signs of a stroke and get help quickly.  Stroke symptoms may happen suddenly and each person’s symptoms may vary.  These symptoms may include:

• Weakness of the face, arm, leg, usually on one side of the body

• Trouble speaking or understanding

• Vision problems

• Loss of consciousness

• Severe headaches with no known cause

• Sudden nausea

You need to seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of stroke even if they disappear.  Think “FAST” and do the following:

F: Face drooping. Ask the person to smile – is one side drooping?

A: Arm weakness. Ask the person to raise both arms – does one arm drift down?

S: Speech difficulty. Is the person’s speech slurred – do they have trouble saying a sentence?

T: Time to Call 911. If the person exhibits any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately

Brad Scott Serving on Duncan Regional Hospital Board

By
Curtis Plant
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Duncan Regional Hospital is fortunate to have many passionate people serving on its boards who are willing to share their time and talent. We are pleased to announce the addition of Brad Scott to the DRH Board of Directors.

A fifth-generation Jefferson County resident, Brad graduated from Waurika High School in 1990. He attended Oklahoma State University graduating with a degree in agricultural economics. He returned to Waurika where he owned the Farmers Insurance Agency for 19 years. Three years ago, he sold the business to devote his time to running his and his family’s ranching business.

It was through his grandfather’s legacy of serving in the Oklahoma legislature for 30 years (the longest-serving member) Brad learned the importance of service. He ran for state representative while at OSU. “I won 3 out of 4 counties and lost the overall election by 117 votes,” said Scott. “It was a great learning experience for me.”

His commitment to service continues through his role as City Manager for Waurika. He has held this position for two terms and will serve in the role as long as he is needed. “I love our community,” shared Scott. “Our town looks as good as it has in 20 years. Main Street looks phenomenal as does the new Veterans Park.”

Additional boards, he has served on include the Oklahoma AgCredit, Jefferson County Hospital Authority and First Christian Church of Waurika.

Brad has been married to Elizabeth for 22 years, and they have two sons, Lodge, a freshman at Oklahoma State University and Houston, who is in 8th grade.

While welcoming a new member, it is also time to say thank you to Scott Stone as he steps off the Board of Directors.  Scott, a Duncan attorney, has served on the board since 2009.  During this time Scott served on several board committees including Compliance, Governance, Institutional Development, and Professional Affairs. Additionally, he served as Board Secretary for two years and as Chair for two.

“It’s truly an honor to welcome Brad to the DRH Board of Directors. He brings a lot of different talents and a passion for Jefferson County to the board that we need in our growing organization.  As well, we want to thank Scott Stone for all his work, direction, guidance and dedication to DRH over the past 9 years. It was an honor to have him on our board,” said Jay R. Johnson, President and CEO, Duncan Regional Hospital.

Duncan Regional Hospital Named a 2018 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital

By
Curtis Plant
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Duncan Regional Hospital was recently named one of the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in the United States by The Chartis Center for Rural Health for the third straight year.

“This achievement is very gratifying and validates our daily commitment to providing the best health care possible to our community,” said Jay Johnson, President/CEO.

“This recognition for three years in a row is truly a reflection of how our medical staff and team members provide the highest quality care we can to our friends and families. We are so honored to be named as one of the Top 100 again this year”

Duncan Regional Hospital scored in the top 100 of rural and community hospitals on iVantage Health Analytics’ Hospital Strength INDEX®. The INDEX is the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural provider performance and its results are the basis for many of rural healthcare’s most prominent awards, advocacy efforts and legislative initiatives. The list of the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals can be found at www.ivantageindex.com/top-performing-hospitals.

The Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals play a key role in providing a safety net to communities across America – and the INDEX measures these facilities across eight pillars of hospital strength: Inpatient Share Ranking, Outpatient Share Ranking, Cost, Charge, Quality, Outcomes, Patient Perspective, and Financial Stability.

“The Hospital Strength INDEX provides a true benchmark for helping rural providers to better understand performance levels and identify areas of improvement. When we look across the spectrum of rural-relevant INDEX indicators, the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals are establishing a new standard for how to deliver higher quality care to their communities despite an unpredictable healthcare environment,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader of The Chartis Center for Rural Health.

About Duncan Regional Hospital

Serving Stephens and the surrounding counties since 1977, Duncan Regional Hospital has a state-wide reputation as one of the premiere Oklahoma hospitals for medical excellence, advanced technology and nationally recognized high levels of patient satisfaction and is a 138-bed nationally accredited hospital.  To learn more visit www.duncanregional.com

About The Chartis Group

The Chartis Group® (Chartis) provides comprehensive advisory services and analytics to the healthcare industry. With an unparalleled depth of expertise in strategic planning, performance excellence, informatics and technology, and health analytics, Chartis helps leading academic medical centers, integrated delivery networks, children’s hospitals and healthcare service organizations achieve transformative results. The Chartis Center for Rural Health (CCRH) was formed in 2016 to offer tailored services, performance management solutions, research and education to rural hospitals and facilities. Learn more at Chartisrural.com.

Food Allergies

By
Cathy Dalrymple
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 Do peanuts or shellfish cause you to become ill?  A plate of scrambled eggs causes your skin to itch? If so, you are not alone; millions of people suffer from an allergy to a food. In fact, food allergies affect around 5% of adults and 8% of children and these percentages are rising  A food allergy occurs when the immune system attacks a food protein that it mistakes as a threat to the body.

It is possible for any food to cause an allergy, but just eight foods cause most:

• Cow’s milk (most commonly found in children)

• Eggs

• Peanuts

• Tree nuts (i.e., walnuts, almonds, and pecans)

• Soy

• Wheat and other grains with gluten

• Fish (mostly in adults)

• Shellfish (mostly in adults)

Symptoms can present themselves within minutes of digesting the food or a few hours later. Some of the mild to moderate ones may include:

• Hives

• Dry, itchy rash

• Redness of the skin

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Stomach pain

• Sneezing

Severe symptoms may include:

• Trouble swallowing

• Shortness of breath

• Drop in blood pressure

• Chest pain

• Turning blue

Severe symptoms, alone or combined with milder symptoms, may be signs of life-threatening anaphylaxis (an acute allergic reaction). Immediate treatment is required.  Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. You should work with your primary care provider to determine the best treatment plan for your specific allergy.

The only way to prevent a reaction is to avoid the food completely.  Make sure to read food labels to ensure the food you are allergic to isn’t in the ingredients. Avoid cross-contact of foods.  You should clean your cooking utensils and cook all allergy-safe foods first.  Recognize your symptoms. You know your body – spotting your signs early could save your life. If you have an epinephrine injector, always know where it is and how to use it. 

Your primary care provider should make a food allergy diagnosis. You should not diagnose yourself with a food allergy. If you have concerns, visit with your provider.

Soap vs. Hand Sanitizers

By
Amber Hill
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0

We have been hearing the phrase “wash your hands” a lot these days.  And it should be something that all of us are doing regularly.  Determining when you should use soap and water or hand sanitizer is important to help prevent the spread of germs and you getting sick.

Soap and water works to remove all types of germs from your hands while hand sanitizers acts by killing certain germs on the skin.  Soap and water is more effective in removing certain kinds of germs as well as chemicals.

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CD) use Soap and Water:

• Before, during, and after preparation of food

• Before eating food

• Before and after caring for someone sick

• After using the bathroom, changing diapers

• After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing

• After touching an animal, animal food or animal waste

• After touching garbage

• If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy

Hand Sanitizer (60% or more alcohol):

• Before and after visiting someone in the hospital/nursing home

• If soap and water is not available but wash with soap and water as soon as possible.

If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy, do not use hand sanitizer; use soap and water.

Additionally, with COVID-19 you should also make sure to clean your hands:

• After you have been in a public place and touched an item or surface that may frequently be touched by others (door handles, counters, shopping carts, etc.)

• Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth

Hand washing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. For more information regarding hand washing and other COVID-19 issues, please visit the DRH Health website at www.drhhealth.org.

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