Treating illness, promoting health
Joyce Grove Hein - Interim CEO, Newman Reginal Health
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
IT DOESN’T take long after the first cool days of fall for the phone calls to begin coming to the hospital, asking when our drive-through flu shot clinic is scheduled.
This event has become a popular way of getting immunized for the approaching flu season. Even with the rising cost of gasoline, people enjoy the convenience of not having to get out of their cars, especially those individuals with limited mobility. If the weather cooperates, our sixth annual drive-through clinic will be held in our south lot on Thursday. The rain location will be at the Flinthills Mall.
During the winter months, pneumonia is one of the leading causes of admission to the hospital, and, unfortunately, one of the leading causes of death. Influenza is a respiratory illness that can lead to pneumonia as well as other serious complications. Those with heart and lung problems or other chronic illnesses are especially susceptible to influenza, but even young, healthy people can fall victim to its effects. It is a serious illness, but in many cases, one that can be prevented.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the flu vaccine is the single best way to prevent the flu and can reduce the chances of getting the flu by 70 to 90 percent in healthy adults. This year an all-time high of over 143 million doses of influenza vaccine will be produced for use in the United States. Research now shows that the vaccine provides protection for about a year, so getting the flu shot now should keep you immunized throughout the entire flu season.
In years past, hospitals have been more about treating illness than promoting health, but now we need to do both. Our role as a community hospital is to help keep our citizens healthy. Last year the hospital’s marketing and education staff provided 50 clinics and gave over 1,800 shots at area schools, senior centers and businesses. Our nurses will once again be busy over the next two months, traveling throughout Lyon County and even into surrounding counties in a joint effort with other community health providers to immunize as many people as possible before the flu season gets underway. If you miss the drive-through clinic, visit your physician’s office or the health department, which will once again be providing its mass immunization clinic.
The rest is up to you. When the germs begin to fly, avoid crowds and wash your hands often. Teach your children how to contain germs by covering sneezes and coughs. Send some hand sanitizer to school and carry anti-bacterial wipes with you in your car. Stay home if you’re sick. Protect yourself and you will be helping protect all of us, especially our community’s elderly and young.
This will be my last editorial.
Newman’s new CEO, Bob Driewer, will be arriving the end of this month to take the helm. This will be a busy month, preparing the first draft of next year’s budget and management plan, as well as starting our strategic plan. I hope you will welcome Bob to our community and help him through this transition. I have enjoyed my time here in Emporia and wish you all well as we enter a new era in local healthcare.
Comments
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Posted by MargaretBack (anonymous) on October 8, 2008 at 9:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is a new way to teach your kids to cover their coughs and sneezes that works like a charm
www.germywormy.com
Posted by dml (anonymous) on October 9, 2008 at 1:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am considered to be in the high risk category, but I do not get the flu shot because everytime I did, I would get sick about 3 days later and it would take me all winter to get over it. I get along fine without it.
Posted by Happiness08 (anonymous) on October 9, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Flint Hills Community Health Center will also be having their flu shot clinic at the fairgrounds on October 21st. The cost is $20.00
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