Did you know

Breast Cancer

15 November 2010

Breast CancerThe importance of regular mammography screening of women over the age of 40 is well known. The promotion of Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an excellent reminder to schedule your annual mammogram, if you have not already done so. Statistics show that female breast cancer is one of the leading cancer diagnoses for women. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. The good news is that breast cancer deaths are in decline, mainly attributed to early detection and improved treatments. Screening mammograms can be scheduled through the Outreach Department of Murray County Medical Center at 507-836-1227.

MCMC offers state-of-the-art Digital Mammography. If, as the patient, you notice a new symptom or finding, please contact your physician or mid-level provider. Diagnostic mammography is only scheduled at a facility with the Radiologist in attendance, so cannot be performed by a mobile service. Remember, “early detection is the best prevention”! Schedule your annual mammogram today.

MRSA Awareness (Part 2)

07 November 2010

What is MRSA, what does it look like, and How is it transmitted?

MRSA is a resistant organism that is easily transmitted to other people via touching something that has the bacteria -- as touching the skin of an infected person, using personal items of someone that has MRSA, or touching objects such as public phones or doorknobs and then touching your nose or an open sore. Usually, staph bacteria doesn’t cause any harm, but if they get inside your body they can cause an infection. When antibiotics don’t kill the staph bacteria, it means the bacteria have become resistant to those antibiotics. Then this becomes a drug resistant organism.

Most often MRSA causes skin infections. These infections may look like a large, red, painful bump under the skin like a boil or abscess. It may be a cut that is swollen, hot and filled with pus. Sores that look and feel like spider bites, but are not caused by a spider bite, could be a MRSA infection. Your chances of getting MRSA increase if you take antibiotics a lot, you take antibiotics without a prescription, or you do not follow your doctor’s directions when taking antibiotics as you stop taking the antibiotics before you finish your prescription.

MRSA infections are very hard to treat since they are resistant to many antibiotics. Pharmaceutical companies cannot make

antibiotics fast enough to treat all the drug resistant organisms that are present in our communities. Remember, antibiotics are for infections caused by bacteria or a fungi. Antibiotics are not used to treat viruses and ANTIBIOTICS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE DIRECTION OF YOU DOCTOR!

MRSA Awareness (Part 1)

01 November 2010

MRSA (methicillin Resistant Staylococcus Aureus ) is a bacteria that commonly lives on the skin and in the nose. Once your are known to have MRSA you will always have MRSA. Why do we isolate patients that are known to have MRSA when the are admitted to the hospital? Why do we test patients admitted to our hospital from nursing homes, larger hospitals or assisted living area, etc. for MRSA?

People who live in a facility with other people like a nursing home have a higher incidence of contacting MRSA. To protect our patients in the hospital, who already have a lower resistance to organisms, and to protect our staff, we isolate those individuals with MRSA. The MRSA organism is very hard to destroy and can live many weeks on inanimate objects. Next week we will talk about what MRSA is, what it looks like, and how it is transmitted.

Murray County Rehabilitation and Therapy Services

13 September 2010

Physical Therapy

 

Murray County Medical Center has been offering outpatient therapy services since the 1980s. In the 80s and 90s the services included mostly physical therapy. In 2001 MCMC decided to cooperate with Sanford affiliated hospitals in Tracy and Westbrook so that staffing for the additional services of occupational and speech therapy could be possible. At that time it was decided by administration to name the therapy clinics in all three towns “Shetek Therapy Services” even though each was actually an outpatient department of each hospital. Shortly after the new therapies were added by MCMC the outpatient clinic was opened at the Murray County Professional Building on Broadway Avenue in Slayton due to space constraints in the hospital.

 

Many people have received therapy services since 2001 at “Shetek Therapy Services” in Slayton and may or may not have realized that this service is actually provided by MCMC. For a number of reasons, including an attempt to avoid any confusion among clientele and insurance companies, MCMC has decided to change the name of it’s outpatient therapy services from “Shetek Therapy Services” to “Murray County Rehabilitation and Therapy Services”. The name is the only thing actually changing which means that the services are provided as an outpatient service of Murray County and the therapist staffing is still a cooperative effort with Sanford related facilities in Tracy and Westbrook. You can contact Murray County Rehabilitation and Therapy Services for your therapy needs or for memberships at the Steve Cohr`s Wellness Center at 836-6262.

 

The Current Generation of Children is the First Generation in Two Centuries to Have a Shorter Life Expectancy than Their Parents

05 August 2010


Obesity
With advances in healthcare and technology, how can that be? The answer to this lies in our lifestyle behaviors and making good healthy choices. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. are the most costly and preventable of all health problems. Many times these chronic diseases are caused by smoking, lack of exercise, eating foods high in fats and cholesterol and being overweight. Did you know that 63 percent of all Minnesotans are either overweight or obese? Seventy percent of Minnesotans die each day from chronic diseases that could have been prevented.

We need to work together to reduce chronic diseases by promoting positive health behaviors like smoking cessation, eating good nutritious foods and participating in an exercise program at least 3 times a week. An investment of $10.00 per person per year in proven community based programs to increase physical activity, improve nutrition and prevent tobacco use could produce annual net saving of $316 million per year. We cannot wait until tomorrow - we must start today to change our behaviors that affect our health, thus decreasing our health care costs and improving our quality of life.

“Free Range Kids” Enjoy Being Outside and Playing with their Friends

05 August 2010

soccer

What was one of  your  fondest memories of an activity you participated in as a child?  Was it riding your bicycle, playing “flashlight tag” way after dark, building a fort in a vacant lot with your friends, or playing ball?  You were outside engaging in some type of physical activity.  We need to bring back this type of activity to our children.  We need to turn the TV off, limit time on the computer and playing video games.  Today you may feel that your children are not safe playing outdoors by themselves.  Statistics show that there are no more violent crimes against children now than there were 30 years ago.  We only hear about them more often because the media thrives on reporting such stories.

Childhood obesity is on the rise.  Being obese as a child only leads to physical and psychological  problems that can carry through into adult life.  Obesity can cause chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, etc.  Chronic diseases are among the most prevalent, costly, and preventable of all health problems.  According to the Minnesota Student   Survey only 61% of high school boys and 45% of high school girls participate in enough vigorous physical activity.  Fewer than 22% of all elementary, middle, and high school students surveyed eat the recommended five servings a day of fruits and  vegetables.  Ten percent of middle school students and 29% of high school students currently use tobacco.  Be role models for your children and make bicycle riding or walking a “Family Affair”.  Let's create an environment that encourages our children and grandchildren to become “Free Range Kids.”  Behavior changes cannot wait until tomorrow - they must start today!!!

 

Who Needs a Sports Physical?

03 August 2010

Physical

The Minnesota State High School League mandates that all students participating in an athletic sport have a physical every three years. The physicals usually happen prior to the 7th and 10th grade; however, in some cases they fall at other times. The school must have a record on file of each student’s physical before the student can participate in a sport.

The Murray County Medical Center provides free sport physicals to all Murray County students in grades 7 - 12 as a community service. Physicals are available at the Murray County Clinic - Fulda on July 15th in the morning from 9:00a.m. - 1:00p.m. and at Murray County Clinic - Slayton on July 15th and July 29th in the afternoon from 2:30p.m. - 4:30p.m. A completed physical examination form must be signed by a parent or guardian and must be presented at the time of the physical. These forms can be picked up at your school or either clinic. Contact Murray County Clinic - Slayton at 507-836-6153 for more information.

What Are "Outreach Services"?

16 June 2010

MRI

Murray County Medical Center offers a wide range of specialty outreach services to meet the health care needs of our patients. By offering outside services in our facility, patients can see a specialist close to home, saving both time and money.

Specialists come from the surrounding area to see patients at MCMC’s Outreach Services.  There are a wide variety of services offered such as: Cardiology, Nephrology, Podiatry, Psychiatry, Urology, Pulmonology, Ear, Nose, and Throat, plus General Surgeon services. Many of these specialists also provide surgery in MCMC’s Surgery Department. These      services are available either by a doctor referral or by making an appointment yourself.

MCMC’s Outreach Services schedules appointments for such services as: Digital Mammography, Vascular, MRI, Nuclear  Bone Scans, Nuclear Medicine, ECHO’s, and Ultrasounds.  MCMC’s Outreach Services is located in the front lobby of Murray County Clinic - Slayton.  If you have questions about making an appointment or questions about what other services are available call MCMC Outreach Services at  507-836-1227.

Filing Insurance Claims has Changed

09 June 2010

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Blue Plus ( Blue Cross) are changing the claim submission requirements for providers.  This change is being made to improve the efficiency of submitting claims accurately and promptly to assure patients obtain maximum benefits due to them under benefit plans and to support administrative efficiency.

Effective July 1, 2010, all claims must be submitted by providers no later than six months from the date of service.  The patient must provide their current insurance card at the time of admission so the claim can be filed accurately.  If we do not receive this information from the patient, the patient will be responsible for the amount due.

If you have questions pertaining to a claim, please contact the Murray County Medical Center Business Office at 507-836-6111.

Mammography

03 May 2010

Mammogram

What advances in technology are available for mammography screening? Sanford Clinic Breast Health Institute will be offering Mobile Digital Mammography scheduling at the Murray County Medical Center, starting in June 2010. This will provide regional access to the best technology and quality for mammography. The service is staffed by Registered/ARRT, Mammography Certified Radiologic Technologists and report interpretation by Radiologists with American College of Radiology accreditation. The entire program utilizes quality and service with the best technology of imaging maintained with a Quality Assurance Program. Planned dates for scheduling Digital Mammography at our facility in 2010 are: June 9 and 23 July 14 and 28 August 11 and 25 September 8 and 22 October 13 and 27 November 10 and 24 December 8 and 22 Please call Outreach of Murray County Medical Center at 507-836-1227 or 1228 to schedule your screening Digital Mammogram. Outreach can also schedule mammograms with the Avera McKennan mobile unit on the second Tuesday of each month, who anticipate offering digital mammography in the near future.

Colonoscopy

27 April 2010

Colonoscopy

During a colonoscopy your physician is moving a small camera through the colon and inspecting the wall of the colon for any growths, polyps and discolorations.  It is very important for the colon to be prepped thoroughly so your physician can inspect the entire wall of the colon.  The entire contents of the prep solution must be consumed in order to ensure a thorough prep.  Patients having a colonoscopy may only drink clear liquids the day before their procedure as well.  Patients are encouraged to drink plenty of water throughout the day to maintain hydration.  This also helps them receive a thorough prep.  The more liquids consumed prior to the prep, the better the prep will be.  If the prep is incomplete, often times the procedure is unable to be completed.