JRMC Mammography Services Remind Women to Receive Yearly Exams

Early Detection is Key

Jamestown Regional Medical Center’s Digital Mammography services want to remind women that getting a yearly mammogram could help detect breast cancer in its early stages. To help get the word out about the services offered, JRMC will be hosting a booth at the Running of the Pink event this Saturday, June 2^nd at R.M. Stoudt in Jamestown.

The new state-of-the-art full-field digital mammography system at JRMC offers increased diagnostic capabilities. Dawn McCarty, mammography technologist at JRMC, states “the full-field digital mammography equipment is designed to improve patient comfort.” It has many new features such as flexible compression paddles and a technique that senses the thickness of the breast and applies only the amount of compression needed to produce a good image. In-house full-field digital mammography is available in only one other facility in North Dakota.

The mammography program stresses the importance of education and instruction on self-breast examination. Women should have at least one mammogram between the ages of 35 to 40. Women over 40 should have a mammogram every year. A mammogram could save your life, states McCarty.

The fifth annual Running of the Pink is set to begin at 9 am Saturday. All money raised from the event goes to the local Women’s Way chapter resource fund to help people who need examinations or screenings of the breast or female-specific organs that are not covered by Women’s Way. Last year, 298 people participated in the event which consists of a 5K and 10K run and the most popular event being the 5K walk. In 2011, participants raised $6,300 for the local Women’s Way chapter.

Cheer on the participants and join JRMC in spreading the word about breast cancer and early detection by stopping by the Running of the Pink event.

Jamestown Regional Medical Center is a 25 bed, state-of-the-art facility located in the South Central region of North Dakota. The hospital serves over 55,000 people in a 9 county area. JRMC is located at 2422 20^th St. SW, I-94, Exit 256 South. For more information on Digital Mammography at Jamestown Regional Medical Center visit www.jrmcnd.com or call (701) 952-1050.

Jamestown Medical Building Construction Update

Construction progress May 31, 2012

Putting up steel beams for drive through on Medical Building

Bricks installed around foundation of building on south side

Northeast corner of building

North side of building ready for windows

Lightpole bases in parking lot on south side of the building ready for cement

The rain over Memorial Day weekend made things a little slick for construction workers currently working on the Jamestown Clinic Building.

With the steel structure of the building complete, construction this week will focus on framing the exterior walls and doors. Cement blocks can already be seen going in around the building’s foundation.

Other projects expected to begin this week include:

• roofing deck (a layer that ties the roof’s structural components together)

In addition to the building itself, earth is being moved and the parking lot is taking shape. The new lot’s lighting has been roughed in and the bases for light poles are ready for concrete.

Next:

• curbs and grading around the building
• more roofing progress
• construction to begin on building’s northwest corner, including windows!

2nd Annual JRMC Foundation Golf Tournament

JRMC U Arthritis

Wednesday, May 30th Noon – 1 pm

Please RSVP. Space is limited to the first 40 registrants.

Presenter is Dr. Micheal T. Dean, Orthopedic Surgeon

JRMC Reminds Patients to Get Blood Pressure Checked Regularly

May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month. High blood pressure is a serious condition that can lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, and other health problems. The focus of this observance is to increase awareness about the prevention and treatment of this life-threatening condition.  Jamestown Regional Medical Center wants to remind you to get your blood pressure checked out. High blood pressure usually has NO signs or symptoms. The only way to know you have high blood pressure is to get it checked. Go to a doctor or local health clinic to get your blood pressure checked at least once a year. It is important to check it more often if you have high blood pressure.

 

Learn how to read your blood pressure number: blood pressure is always given as two numbers, systolic and diastolic. For example, 120 over 80 is written like this: 120/80. The top number (120), systolic, tells you the pressure of the blood when the heart is beating. The bottom number (80), diastolic, is the pressure when the heart is at rest.  Know your number. Less than 120/80 is normal blood pressure. 120/80 to 139/89 is prehypertension (hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure). Your blood pressure could be a problem. 140/90 or more is high blood pressure.

 

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offers the following five tips to prevent and control high blood pressure.

1. Eat foods low in salt and sodium, saturated fat and cholesterol. Also, watch your calories.
2. Fruits, vegetables, nonfat or low fat dairy products, cooked dry beans and peas, fish, poultry, lean meats, nuts, and grain products, especially whole grains, are heart-healthy choices.
3. Take off extra weight by cutting down on calories, eating smaller portions, and being more physically active.
4. Cut back on alcoholic beverages. If you drink alcohol during celebrations with your family do so in moderation. This means no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
5. Take your blood pressure medicine as your doctor tells you.

Source: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Stay Healthy, Even While on the Job

Now is a good time to implement healthy eating and physical activity into your work routine. A healthy eating plan and regular physical activity are important for increased energy and productivity.

 

 

Here are some ideas:

• Bring healthy snacks, such as fruits or vegetables.
• Sip on water throughout the day to keep hydrated
• Walk during lunch
• Choose healthy meals or bring your own healthy meals to work.
• Find time to relax.

For more information on how to lead a healthier lifestyle, consult JRMC’s registered dietitian at www.jrmcnd.com and visit www.eatright.org for more healthy tips.

Happy Mother’s Day from Jamestown Regional Medical Center

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Motorcyclists are much more vulnerable to crashes than other drivers. Many crashes occur because motorcycles are hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot. It is important that motorists always make a visual check for motorcyclists by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic.

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Throughout May, the National Safety Council will encourage motorists to share the road with motorcyclists and be extra alert when they are nearby.

Fatalities involving motorists and motorcyclists increased 131 percent between 1998 and 2008. The mileage death rate for motorcyclists in 2007 was 37 times greater than for passenger car occupants.

“Throughout spring and summer the number of motorcyclists on the road will increase. It is important for both motorists and motorcyclists to be aware of one another,” said David Teater, NSC senior director of Transportation Initiatives. “To better defend themselves, motorcyclists should follow the rules of the roadway and wear protective gear, including a Department of Transportation compliant helmet.”

NSC offers these tips for motorists and motorcyclists:

Motorists

• Allow greater following distance behind a motorcycle.
• Be extra cautious in intersections. Most crashes occur when a motorist fails to see a motorcyclist and turns left in front of a motorcycle.
• Give a motorcycle the full lane width – never try to share a lane.

Motorcyclists

• Avoid riding in poor weather conditions.
• Position motorcycle in lane where you will be out of a motorist’s blind spot.
• Use turn signals for every turn or lane change.

Source: http://www.nsc.org/Pages/MotorcycleSafetyAwarenessMonth.aspx

This week marks National Nurses Week

By: By Brian Willhide, The Jamestown Sun, The Jamestown Sun

This week marks the 18th annual celebration of National Nurses Week, during which nurses in all roles are honored for their commitment to the medical profession.

From emergency rooms to clinics across the country, staff nurses, educators, nurse practitioners and researchers not only serve patients suffering from a variety of illnesses and injuries but also mentor the next generation of student nurses coming up through the ranks.

Beginning in 1994, National Nurses Week has been celebrated from May 6 through May 12, coinciding with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is considered to be the founder of modern nursing.

Nightingale was an English nurse whose most notable contributions to the field took place while helping deathly ill British soldiers during the Crimean War of the 1850s.

This week is a chance to carry on the work Nightingale accomplished and celebrate the highly-skilled work nurses provide, according to Cindy Gohner, vice president of clinical services with Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

“Nurses are highly dedicated and caring individuals that have impacted most everyone at some time during their life,” she said.

Nurses each day complete work behind the scenes that isn’t necessarily recognized, but that can be part of the lure of the profession, said Marcia Bollingberg, director of nursing at Central Valley Health District.

“That may be part of the reason people go into nursing — just knowing they’re helping people directly or indirectly is enough for many nurses,” she said.

According to a 2011 Gallup poll, nursing was rated the most trusted profession out of 21 professions tested including doctors, teachers and clergy.

Perhaps that trust comes from building positive relationships with patients, which Bollingberg said is one of the most rewarding aspects of the job.

“Especially in our agency here, we see patients for great lengths of time and there’s something special about that relationship you develop with a patient over that time,” she said.

There are about 3 million licensed registered nurses in the United States, one-third of which hold bachelor’s degrees and one-fifth of which hold an additional academic degree beyond a bachelor’s, all according to the American Nurses Association and American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

“Please take this week to recognize a nurse that has touched your life or the life of maybe a member of your family,” Gohner said.

For more information about the American Nurses Association and National Nurses Week, visit www.nursingworld.org.

Sun reporter Brian Willhide can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by email at bwillhide@jamestownsun.com

Originally posted in The Jamestown Sun 05/08/12

JRMC to celebrate national hospital week

Exceed expectations and be THE difference in the lives of those we serve

National Hospital Week will be celebrated at Jamestown Regional Medical Center May 6^th through the 12^th, 2012. National Hospital week is the nation’s largest health care event. It is a celebration of the history, technology and dedicated professionals that make our facilities beacons of confidence and care.

The celebration of National Hospital Week began in 1921 when a magazine editor suggested that more information about hospitals might alleviate public fears about the “shrouded” institutions of the day.

The annual event provides advantages throughout the year including staff retention, improved recruitment, better departmental interaction, a more satisfied workplace and increased awareness throughout the community.

Employees of JRMC will be participating in various events such as Bingo, a cake walk, sports shirt day and jeans day. Thank you to all Jamestown Regional Medical Center employees and volunteers for your dedication to healthcare in our region.

Jamestown Regional Medical Center is a 25 bed, critical access facility with 24 hour emergency care, located in the South Central region of North Dakota. The hospital serves over 55,000 people in a 9 county area. JRMC is located at 2422 20^th St. SW, off of I-94, Exit 256 South. For more information on Jamestown Regional Medical Center visit www.jrmcnd.com.