Fall, 2013 - Fulton County Health Center

More documents

Recommendations

Info

A T T E N T I O NMedicare PatientsThe rules have changed for traditionalMedicare coverage of durable medicalequipment, such as wheelchairs, walkersand oxygen. As of July 1, 2013, Medicarephased in a new Competitive BiddingProgram in Fulton County. The following istaken from the www.Medicare.gov website:“The Competitive Bidding Programchanges the amount Medicare payssuppliers for certain durable medicalequipment, prosthetics, orthotics, andsupplies (DMEPOS) and changes whocan supply these items. The CompetitiveBidding Program replaces the outdatedprices Medicare has been paying with lower,more accurate prices. Under this program,suppliers submit bids to provide certainmedical equipment and supplies at a lowerprice than what Medicare now pays forthese items. Medicare uses these bids to setthe amount it will pay for those equipmentand supplies under the Competitive BiddingProgram. Qualified, accredited supplierswith winning bids are chosen as Medicarecontractsuppliers.”“Medicare patients can no longer goanywhere they choose to obtain medicalequipment if they want to use their Medicarebenefit,” says Don Christian, RN, BSN,FCHC Case Management Manager. “Theyshould check in advance.” To learn moreabout suppliers or the Competitive BiddingProgram, visit www.Medicare.gov and selectthe “What Medicare Covers” tab, then select“Find suppliers of medical equipment &supplies.”HelpingEmployersandEmployeesOver the past 15 years, the FCHCOccupational Medicine Department has workedwith area industries in a variety of ways. “Thereare really two components to our OccupationalMedicine program,” says Billie Miller, RN, BSN,COHC, Program Director. “There is the portionwhere we offer physical exams and suggest waysto prevent work injuries, and then there is theportion where we help workers when they do getinjured.”Laura Precht, LPN, COHC, is the Coordinatorof the Industrial Physicals portion of theprogram, designed to offer physical exams andhelp individuals prevent work injuries. Under herdirection, industries provide pre-employmentphysical exams through FCHC physician AlanRivera, MD. The physicals are designed to makesure the employee is healthy and can performthe job for which they are applying. Precht alsoworks with workers to show them the properlifting techniques to avoid injury.“When a worker is injured on the job, typicallythey visit the FCHC Emergency Department oranother area hospital Emergency Department,”says Miller. “The injured worker would thenvisit us for a follow-up exam by Dr. Rivera.” Thefollow-up exams help to evaluate the progressof the injured worker with the goal of helpingthe injured worker return to full productivityas quickly as possible. This aids not only theemployer but the employee as well, since injuredworkers are not compensated for lost time untilthey are off eight days or more.Miller spends time working with areaemployers and the injured worker to managethe huge amount of paperwork that must befiled with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.“Paperwork must be filed for each visit andapproval obtained from the BWC for everytreatment Dr. Rivera feels is necessary,” explainsMiller. “I function as a liaison between the6The FCHC Occupational Medicine Department (Seated):Alan Rivera, MD. (Back, L-R): Laura Precht, LPN,COHC, Industrial Physicals Coordinator; Billie Miller,RN, BSN, COHC, Occupational Medicine ProgramManager; and Jesse McKean, Drug Screen Coordinator.Bureau, employer, and injured worker to ensureeverything is filed correctly so treatment can begin asquickly as possible. Organization and staying on topof the paperwork is a large portion of my job.” Shesays the employer is updated with the progress of theinjured worker with a work ability form that is issuedwith each follow-up Occupational Medicine visit.Miller says most injured workers are able to returnto work quickly after an injury with some type ofwork restriction or accommodation. “For example,a patient with a back sprain may be able to returnto work with a 10 pound pushing, pulling, liftingrestriction,” says Miller. “In our geographic area weare very fortunate to have employers that are willingto work with their employees to help them return tohealth and be able to work at the same time. Theydo not want to see their employee get hurt again andmiss more work. So they work with us to comply withthe restrictions.”The FCHC Occupational Medicine Department alsoperforms drug screenings, hearing tests as well aspre-employment physicals, including Departmentof Transportation physicals for truck drivers.Hearing tests are conducted in an OSHA-approvedaudio testing booth and both Miller and Precht arecertified occupational hearing conservationists. Thetests help prevent and/or detect hearing loss amongoccupational workers. The FCHC OccupationalMedicine Department will also perform on-siteseasonal flu vaccinations for local companies.The FCHC Occupational Medicine Department islocated on the first floor of the Health Center in theFast Track section of the Emergency Department. Formore information about the program, contact BillieMiller, RN, BSN, Program Director, at 419-330-2660or bmiller@fulhealth.org.
Giving BackFor the past 16 years,Jane Patterson has beensurrounded by patientsfighting cancer. Pattersonis a full-time secretaryin the clinic of The FCHCRainbow Hematology/Oncology TreatmentCenter. She has also beenheavily involved with theHealth Center’s AmericanCancer Society Relay forLife Team. The last sevenyears she has servedas its Team Captain,performing manydifferent roles. The timespent on the Relay forLife is done outside of normal work hours.“I probably work on the Relay for Life sixmonths out of the year,” says Patterson. “But Ithink about it all the time.” This year’s Relay forLife was held over an 18-hour period on June7th & 8th at the Fulton County Fairgrounds. Oneof her roles is to round up 30 team memberswho each spend up to an hour walking thefairgrounds’ track during the event. She orderst-shirts for team members, candy bars for allRelay teams that are sold for $1 as a fundraiser,and contacts area businesses for donations.“This year I began contacting businessesin January to solicit donations of gift cards,products, and services that are used in variousRelay for Life fundraisers at the Health Center.Our business community is extremely generousin supporting the Relay for Life.”In the spring, Patterson was in charge of theEaster Extravaganza that involved selling Eastereggs with hidden prizes inside for $1. Thefundraiser raised nearly $700. A separatebasket raffle raised another $700. A silentauction at FCHC and a recycling program forcell phones and ink and toner cartridges alsoraised money for the Relay.“Our staff members really support the Relayfor Life,” says Patterson. “For example, our HRDepartment holds a fundraiser each year. TheFood & Nutrition Services Department holdsa Game Day and Sunday Bar fundraiser, andthe Health Information Department has heldbake sales. “Other departments have donated abasket for the basket raffle and silent auction.”Under Patterson’s leadership, the FCHC Relay forLife team raised $11,000 from fundraisers andoutside donations.“Jane works really hard on the Relay forStaff member Jane Patterson has been instrumentalin FCHC’s Relay for Life efforts.Life and really servesas an inspiration to allof us,” says Patti Finn,FCHC Chief ExecutiveOfficer. “There are a lotof staff members whoget involved in variousways throughout theyear for the Relay, andJane is instrumentalin coordinating thoseefforts.”In addition toworking at The RainbowHematology/OncologyTreatment Center forthe past 16 years,Patterson has a personalstory to tell. “My husband was diagnosed withcolon cancer and received his six months ofchemotherapy treatment from Dr. Skeel at ourTreatment Center,” says Patterson. “So I canrelate to what patients and their families are goingthrough. It’s what motivates me to work on theRelay for Life.”Helping Local Cancer PatientsHow are Relay for Life funds used to supportlocal cancer patients? The American CancerSociety says it:1. Helps People Stay Welln Provides a phone counseling service to helppeople quit tobaccon Develops guidelines for cancer screenings2. Helps People Get Welln Serves as a phone and web resource foranswersn Offers an online support community forcancer survivors3. Finds Curesn Has been involved in nearly all major cancerbreakthroughs in the past centuryn Serves as the largest private funder of cancerresearch in the U.S.4. Fights Backn Supported smoke-free lawsn Helps uninsured, underinsured & lowincome women get breast and cervicalcancer screenings7Messagefrom the CEOYou may notice something different aboutthis issue of Health Centering – it’s 4 pageslonger than usual! We have much to tell you, sowe’ve decided to expand our quarterly newsletter asneeded to accommodatethe extra articles and news.We begin this issue withthe very personal medicalstories of two women whohappen to be employees ofour Health Center. We hopetheir stories inspire you totrust Fulton County HealthCenter for your diagnostics,treatment and follow-up care.Big news! We are installing a 128-slice Hitachi CTscanner in September, the only one of its kind in thenorthwest Ohio region. What that means for you iseven more advanced imaging quality that will makeit beneficial to doctors trying to diagnose disease.Please take time to read about this importanttechnological investment.We are also stepping out in this issue andfeaturing the behind the scenes work of JanePatterson, one of our staff members, who has beeninstrumental in inspiring and motivating all ofus to participate in the annual Relay for Life. It’sa human interest story that we hope you enjoy.Thanks, Jane, for all of your hard work.There are many other articles about specificprograms, honors, awards, and news … and wewant to share that information with you.As always, we want to hear from you. So pleasedo not hesitate to contact a staff member with yourquestions, comments or concerns.Best Regards,Patti FinnPatti Finn,Fulton County Health CenterChief Executive Officer
Page 2 and 3: From Diagnosticsto Treatmentto Reco
Page 4 and 5: From Diagnosticsto Treatment toReco
Page 9: IDENTIFICATION INFORMATIONeffects o
Page 12 and 13: Health & Wellness ProgramsRegister
Page 14 and 15: Health & Wellness ProgramsRegister
Page 16: 725 South Shoop Avenue • Wauseon,

Fall, 2013 - Fulton County Health Center

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?