Right Choice - St. Nicholas Hospital

Central Scheduling
Many hospital visits are comprised of a combination of
services, a number of which can be scheduled with one call
from your physician to the St. Nicholas Hospital Central
Scheduling Department. Following the call, department
staff will make all the arrangements necessary for your visit.
Community Education
Helping you maintain good health is of the utmost
importance to St. Nicholas Hospital. With that in mind,
our Community Education Department presents a variety
of health education classes and outreach activities which
help you learn more about health. From blood pressure
screenings to stroke awareness, from summer sports fitness
to winter health hazards, St. Nicholas Hospital wants to
make sure you have the best information available to you.
Programs are conducted by physicians, nurses, therapists,
and other Hospital staff. Many are offered free or at a
minimal charge. The HealthExpress van travels to
community events, providing health information and
screenings to the public. Health fairs familiarize the public
with Hospital services and health issues. Child safety seat
clinics and multi-sport and extreme skateboard helmet
fittings are offered both on-site and in community locations.
Comprehensive Wound Care Center
Outpatient wound services are offered in the newly
renovated Comprehensive Wound Care Center. The Center
is dedicated to providing “best practice” advanced wound
care interventions. Goals of treatment in the Center include
providing acute and chronic wound care management,
disease/condition specific patient and caregiver education,
access to the most cost effective wound care technology
and specialty trained and certified physicians and staff, and
access to a wide referral base within the hospital system
and campus.
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The Center offers specialized care for leg and foot ulcers
and other wounds often caused by diabetes, poor
circulation, and unhealed surgical incisions. A wound
care specialist and trained nursing staff provide patients’
wound care and work with the physician to coordinate
their multidisciplinary care needs.
The Center and the St. Nicholas Hospital Home Health
Department have also collaborated to provide a wound
telehealth program in managing and healing wounds of
home health clients (see Home Health Services, page 39).
The Center also recently added two hyperbaric oxygen
chambers to the Comprehensive Wound Care Center. As
the only facility to offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy in
Sheboygan County, residents now have access to state of
the art wound care for acute and chronic wounds.
The Center has added advanced wound care and hyperbaric
medicine trained physicians from Infinity Healthcare.
Wound care services include:
• Assessment Following a comprehensive examination
and detailed workup for wound healing risk factors,
a comprehensive treatment plan is developed.
• Photo Documentation As part of the ongoing
evaluation process, digital photographs are used to
document the progress of healing.
• Treatment Plan A comprehensive treatment plan is
developed for each patient. Plans may include
medications, dressings, and patient education.
• Follow-up Care Progress and treatment needs are
monitored and assessed throughout wound healing.
The Wound Care team works with the patients’
primary physician to develop an evidence-based
clinical plan to promote healing.
Medical Director: Jeffrey A. Herold, MD, FACS
Continence Services
Over ten million Americans have a bladder control
problem, but many are too embarrassed to talk about it—
even to their own doctors. Inpatient and outpatient
continence services are available for these individuals.
Both new and continuing patients with stress or urge
incontinence benefit from the comprehensive assessments,
advanced treatments, and compassionate counseling
provided by occupational therapists and a Continence
Specialist.
Incontinence services include:
• Patient/family education
• Prevention of skin breakdown
• Complex skin care
• Product selection
• Behavior training
• Pelvic muscle re-education
Deaf Communications Superphone
A Deaf Communications Superphone is located in the
Hospital Emergency Department. This special equipment
gives hearing impaired persons the ability to contact the
Hospital in the event of an emergency. The service is
available 24 hours a day. The telephone number is
920/459-4769.
The Diabetes Center
The Diabetes
Center offers a
team approach
to help patients
manage their
diabetes and live
healthy, normal
lives. Patients
work with
their personal
physicians, nurses, certified diabetes educators, registered
dietitians, exercise specialists, and counselors to develop
a personal management plan that works for them.
The Center’s self-management education program has been
awarded recognition by the American Diabetes Association
in accordance with the National Standards for Diabetes
Self-Management Education Programs.
Patients receive education regarding the importance of
proper exercise, diet, stress management, and medications,
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including insulin. Newly diagnosed diabetes patients are
taught the skills to become more confident in their diabetes
management and allay any fears. For those whose diabetes
management requires some “tuning up,” staff can help find
a plan that best works for the individual and help develop
the skills needed to succeed. Family members are welcome
to take part in the education process. The Center also
provides a 72-hour blood sugar monitor for patients by
physician order. Community Forums are offered for Type 1
and Type 2 diabetes, including those with insulin pumps.
Diabetes Center services are offered in Sheboygan and
Plymouth with appointments to accommodate most
schedules. Foot clinics and free diabetes (blood sugar)
screenings offer preventive care while the Center offers
group and individual education classes that:
• Define diabetes and its effects
• Monitors blood sugar
• Provides insulin management including insulin
pump and Continuous Glucose Monitoring System
• Manages oral medication
• Offers nutrition counseling and meal planning
• Provides Diabetes Forums/Support Groups
• Provides exercise training
• Offers classes in Stress Management
• Manages diabetes during a woman’s pregnancy
Medical Director: Vytas K. Kerpe, MD
Diagnostic Imaging Services (Radiology)
Diagnostic Imaging
Services provides complete
radiologic testing,
including magnetic
resonance imaging
(MRI), computerized
tomography (CT or
CAT scan), peripheral
vascular, neurovascular
and interventional
radiology, plain film
radiology (x-rays), ultrasound,
nuclear medicine
diagnosis and treatment,
mammography, breast
biopsies, fluoroscopy,
cardiac sonography, and
angiography. Cardiac catheterization (see Cardiac Services,
page 35) and a mammography program are also part of