News

CDC H1N1 Flu Website Update for Week Ending May 15, 2009: A New Influenza Virus

Novel influenza A (H1N1) is a new flu virus of swine origin that was first detected in April, 2009. The virus is infecting people and is spreading from person-to-person, sparking a growing outbreak of illness in the United States. An increasing number of cases are being reported internationally as well.

It’s thought that novel influenza A (H1N1) flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread; mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus.

It’s uncertain at this time how severe this novel H1N1 outbreak will be in terms of illness and death compared with other influenza viruses. Because this is a new virus, most people will not have immunity to it, and illness may be more severe and widespread as a result. In addition, currently there is no vaccine to protect against this novel H1N1 virus. CDC anticipates that there will be more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths associated with this new virus in the coming days and weeks.

Novel influenza A (H1N1) activity is now being detected through CDC’s routine influenza surveillance systems and reported weekly in FluView. CDC tracks U.S. influenza activity through multiple systems across five categories. The fact that novel H1N1 activity can now be monitored through seasonal surveillance systems is an indication that there are higher levels of influenza-like illness in the United States than is normal for this time of year. About half of all influenza viruses being detected are novel H1N1 viruses.

For the most up-to-date information on swine flu, visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu.

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Deckerville Community Hospital Lexington Clinic to Reopen

April 2, 2009 - Deckerville Community Hospital announced that its Lexington Walk In Clinic will re-open April 4, 2009. The clinic was closed in February as part of the hospital’s short-term solution to a cash flow issue.

Clinic Supervisor Tarry Radatz reported that Kelly Schuitman, PA-C will be seeing patients on Saturday, April 4. Coverage at the Lexington Walk In Clinic will also be provided by Dennis A. Smallwood, D.O. Bob Hill, PA-C, Judith Kaszyca, MSN, RN, NP and Stacie Hill, PA-C.

The clinic is located one block south of the stoplight in Lexington, in the Lexington Plaza. The clinic will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. On May 16, 2009 the clinic will extend its hours to include all Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. More information is available by emailing infoDCH@deckervillehosp.org, or by calling 810-376-2835.

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Complete Admission Forms Before Arriving

Can I pre-register for my visit to Deckerville Community Hospital?

Yes! We make every effort to provide the best care and service for our patients, and offering a quicker admission process is one way we hope to meet this goal.

You may download and print a copy of our Admission Form here. Fill out the form and bring it with you to your appointment. (Please note: there may be additional paperwork to complete in person at the time of your appointment).

The requested information is very important for your medical records and for billing purposes, and will assist us in providing you the best medical care. If you have any questions about the personal or financial information that is required, you may contact our Admission Department at (810)387-2835, and our staff will be glad to answer any questions you have.

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Colorectal Cancer: Are You at Risk?

March 20, 2009 - "Colorectal cancer is one of the easiest cancers to prevent since it comes from polyps or flat lesions that can be removed before they become cancerous," says board-certified gastroenterologist Kavita Tumma, M.D..

Dr. Tumma, who is one of the team of specialists who provides care at Deckerville Community Hospital, offers a variety of elective services and procedures, including biopsies and colonoscopies.

"In the early stages of colorectal cancer," she states, "a person may not experience any symptoms. But a simple colonoscopy can identify the presence of polyps before the disease has a chance to develop. If I could tell my patients only one thing about colorectal cancer, I would tell that prevention is better than a cure."

Colorectal cancer, commonly referred to as colon cancer, is cancer of the colon and/or rectum. Each year, nearly 150,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer and almost 50,000 die from the disease in the United States. It is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and women and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Yet, many of these deaths could be prevented with early detection.

Prevention of developing colorectal cancer is connected to several lifestyle choices, which includes the following:

1. Regular exercise.
2. Maintaining a healthy weight.
3. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
4. No smoking, and drink alcohol only in moderation.

Those at risk for the disease include:

• Men and women age 50 and older.
• Family history of colorectal cancer or benign (not cancerous) colorectal polyps.
• Family history of inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.
• Family history of inherited colorectal cancer and those who use tobacco, are obese and sedentary.

Dr. Tumma and the other healthcare professionals at Deckerville Community Hospital would like to remind you that, if you are 50 or older, it’s time to be screened for colorectal cancer. Talk to your primary care doctor and schedule a screening today.

Please visit the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org to find more information about the importance of getting screened for colon cancer. The ACS has published a brochure entitled "Talk to Your Doctor About Getting Tested for Colon Cancer". You may send an email to infoDCH@deckervillehosp.org to receive your free copy of this brochure.

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Pulmonary Physicians to Join
Deckerville Community Hospital Team of Specialists

December, 2008 - Ali H. Haidar, M.D., F.C.C.P., Michael A. Basha, D.O., F.C.C.P and Vasken Artinian, M.D., of Pulmonary and Critical Care Associates in Port Huron will resume their Pulmonary Clinic at Deckerville Community Hospital on February 17, 2009. The specialists will hold monthly clinics at the hospital to diagnosis and treat pulmonary (lung) conditions and disease. To the right is a list of Pulmonary Clinic dates scheduled for 2009, to be held at Deckerville Community Hospital. To schedule an appointment, please call Pulmonary and Critical Care Associates at 810-987-5500. The pulmonary specialists will schedule office visits at Deckerville Community Hospital. You may also call the hospital at 810-376-2835 for more information about the Pulmonary Clinic or other Specialty Clinics offered at Deckerville Community Hospital. Please note all clinics will be held on Tuesdays. No clinics are scheduled for January, May, or December of 2009. Back to the top.

Date Pulmonary Specialist February 17 Artinian March 24 Haidar April 21 Basha June 16 Artinian July 7 Haidar August 4 Basha September 15 Artinian October 6 Basha November 24 Haidar

Critical Access Hospital Governor's Award Release

November, 2008 - Deckerville Community Hospital has received MPRO's 2007 Governor's Award for Improving Patient Safety and Quality of Care in the Critical Access Hospital Setting. Deckerville Community Hospital received the accolade for improving patient care in medication safety.

"Award recipients are committed to providing Michigan citizens with high quality health care," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. Award criterion aligns with improving care in a number of clinical areas. Deckerville Community Hospital chose from pre-selected clinical areas. These clinical areas are designated as national health care priorities by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Hospitals focused on intense work in one or more of the following clinical areas:

• Clinical Performance
• AMI (Acute Myocardial Infarction Transfer
• Systems Improvement - Health Information Technology

Deckerville Community Hospital established a multidisciplinary team to spearhead improvement measures using proven, evidence-based practices. "Together, our staff is demonstrating that we are providing the very best in medical treatment and care - the right care, each and every time. Our efforts have been enhanced through our collaborations with MPRO, Michigan's Medicare Quality Improvement Organization", states Ed Gamache, CEO.

The Governor and MPRO have partnered since 2003 to honor hospitals for their efforts to embrace best practices to improve systems and health outcomes. This marks the 4th that Deckerville Community Hospital has received the Governor's Award of Excellence. The Governor's Award has been enthusiastically supported by a variety of Michigan organizations and professional associations including the Alliance for Health, American Cancer Society, American College of Physicians, BCBS of Michigan, Michigan Academy of Family Physicians, Michigan Association for Healthcare Quality, Michigan Health Council, Michigan Health Information Management Association, Michigan Rural Health Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium; and the Michigan State Medical Society.

MPRO and the Governor honored Deckerville Community Hospital at an award ceremony on October 29, 2008, at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

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Deckerville Community Hospital and Harbor Beach Community Hospital Named One of 100 Best Places to Work in Health Care

November, 2008 - A new national list ranks Deckerville Community Hospital as 38th and Harbor Beach Community Hospital as 49th among the 100 best places to work in health care. The list, created by Modern Healthcare, a leading health care trade magazine, includes hospitals from across the country. Over 200 healthcare organizations and companies across the nation participated in the survey.

On September 8, Modern Healthcare announced an alphabetical listing of the healthcare companies that made the cut, and on October 27, the organization revealed the specific ranking of those 100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare.

Rankings are based on the results of a survey in which employees were given the opportunity to rate their work environment. The survey collected information from employees in core areas that included leadership and planning, culture and communications, role satisfaction, working environment, relationship with supervisor, training and development, pay and benefits and overall satisfaction.

"It is an honor to know that these hospitals have received this award, and especially rewarding to know that the results are based on employee input," says Ed Gamache, who is CEO of both hospitals. "There is a strong relationship between quality patient care and employee satisfaction. Deckerville Hospital and Harbor Beach continue to demonstrate success in achieving high performance in both these areas."

Tina Osantoski, who divides her time between the hospitals as Director of Human Resources, states that the administration at both HBCH and DCH has worked to create the type of workplace in which excellence is rewarded. "It is gratifying to know that this is appreciated by our employees, and we believe this attitude will be passed along to our patients," she says. "A high level of employee engagement leads to greater employee satisfaction in the workplace, which creates a more positive work environment. This approach is critical in helping sustain the best healthcare system for our patients."

The list is available online at www.modernhealthcare.com/bestplacestowork. More information about Harbor Beach Community Hospital is available at www.hbch.org, and the Deckerville Community Hospital website can be accessed at www.deckervillehosp.org.

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