When a patient comes to Lakeland Regional’s ER, visits one of our outpatient clinics, or is admitted to the hospital – nurses make a point to realize what a vulnerable time it can be, for the patient and the patient’s family.  They treasure each patient’s unique medical circumstance and needs, and they act.  Whether someone is having a baby, overcoming a life-threatening condition, or has a broken leg – our nurses are honored to provide care during those critical hours.   They advocate to ensure patients receive the medical attention they need and deserve, listen, hold hands, encourage, and offer hope.  That’s what nursing is all about to us. 

Through the years, our profession has evolved and our nurses are often considered the front-line leaders of care.    Nurses consistently manage complex situations, yet, in the midst of these activities, nurses make sure that a tangible sense of caring is not lost – instead, they make it a vital part of their job.  By knowing our patients and their families and creating trusting relationships, we strive to do all of these things better.  

After thoughtful research, Lakeland Regional’s nurses were inspired by and subsequently adopted JoAnne Duffy’s Quality Caring Model, from which our house-wide promises were created.  These promises guide the way we care for ourselves, our team members, our community, and – most of all – our patients and their families.

This Nurses Week, we thank the 1,740 nurses in our hospital and outpatient facilities and also recognize the contributions of the hundreds of other caregivers and support teams who make quality care possible at Lakeland Regional.  We also say thank you to our patients – for giving us a chance to do what we love every day: to listen, care and make a difference.

We researched, read, discussed and tested. We examined ourselves, as individuals and team members, and discovered key motivators to bringing our best every day – for ourselves, our colleagues, our community, and, most of all, for our patients and their families.

Out of all of this, Dr. Joanne Duffy’s Quality-Caring Model© made a significant impression on our team. What resonated most was the relationship-centered focus of Duffy’s model, which highlights caring for patients and families, caring for self, caring for our health team and caring for the community.

Inspired – because the model puts into words what we strongly believe to be the best way to provide care – our team acted. Individuals from human resources, public relations, information technology, nursing, clinical services, support services and financial services participated in focus groups in order to craft a compelling message for our change.

Then, our team of more than 4,500 made the commitment. Of time. Of passion. Of education. Of understanding. Of change. We did – and are doing – the work.

We found, at the foundation of our collective inspiration, consistency: relationships. Using relationships as our muse, Lakeland Regional developed and adopted “We Promise” statements that will shape our culture.

We promise…

• to treasure all people as uniquely created
• to nurture, educate and guide with integrity
• to inspire each and every one of us to do our very best

These are our promises to you, to our community, and to ourselves. You will see these promises prominently displayed on our walls, within our elevators, and exhibited in our people. At Lakeland Regional, our culture will revolve around these “We Promise” statements. Accordingly, they will be at the heart of our care-taking, our decisions, and our interactions every day.

They come home from school hearing about the cinnamon challenge, salt & ice challenge, saltine challenge, and the blueberry challenge.

OK, the last one I just made up — but with a quick internet search it seems there is a dare for anything, along with 50 videos of people trying it.

For the last few years, internet videos show people attempting many dangerous activities. But all too frequently, these videos don’t show the dark side of some stunts, challenges or dares. 

Although videos of people trying to swallow cinnamon have been around for years, almost all show a lot of coughing, gagging, and laughing by those filming and watching. 

The videos never seem to emphasize that the cinnamon challenge can, in some instances, collapse a lung and cause lingering wheezing and coughing.  The treatment of a collapsed lung often requires chest x-rays and the insertion of a long tube through the skin and between the ribs.  The tube is as thick as your thumb and stays in place for a few days hooked up to vacuum suction.

For other challenges, it is sad to see a person with scars and “burns” from putting ice and salt on his/her skin.  What they thought was just a dare to endure discomfort actually caused damage similar to frostbite.

 The list goes on.

 What saves many children from these experiments and peer pressure is not just common sense (that anyone would claim to have), but open conversations where parents are listening to their children. 

 We all try to nurture common sense, but without life experiences to back it up, sometimes kids see only part of the story.

That is the real challenge: Keeping up with our kids’ (and grandchildren’s) fads while making time to talk and really listen.  It may be at dinner or on the ride to school.  Simply hearing about their day and opinions while gently adding guidance helps keep the conversations going and hopefully helps them make good decisions.

 To read a related article that offers great tips for communicating with your teenager, visit http://bit.ly/11qqZDA.

I am proud of our staff’s recent accomplishments to improve hospital-based quality outcomes, digitize electronic health records, and drastically reduce ER wait times. As a result of these efforts, our patients have access to the best healthcare options – not just for today – but for the future.

As your community hospital, our commitment remains to invest in the latest technologies and treatments across every service line. We are proud to bring you state-of-the-art innovations like the area’s first hybrid operating room, a fully automated lab system, advancements in radiology and more.  We are also excited to move forward with the first phases of a recently announced, multi-year master facility plan, which will allow our team to continue to transform and improve patient care, as we move forward on our journey to become a teaching hospital.  

This Hospital Week, we re-state our commitment to you – to deliver exceptional care, offer the latest treatments, bring greater access to primary care, and become one of the best hospitals in the nation.  On behalf of the LRHS Board of Directors and CEO Elaine Thompson, PhD, thank you for your support in this journey to improve patient and family care for this community and beyond.

Even though mosquitoes do not fly far distances, they can spread the virus to birds which can then fly long distances and spread the disease to local mosquitoes.

Our local mosquito control team in Central Florida’s Polk County not only sprays to reduce these biting insects, they also trap mosquitoes for further research.  By doing this, they can tell what types of mosquitoes are breeding and determine that some mosquitoes carry disease (while others do not).

If the mosquito control team counts numerous disease-carrying mosquitoes, they spray that area more thoroughly.  If cases of infection are found in local birds, horses, or people – the health department will alert our community.

We can do our part by remembering the 5 “D”s and one “S”:

Dusk and dawn are times to beware of mosquitoes because the ones that bite during these times can often carry disease.

• Consider the way you dress. If you are outdoors during those times, wear clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
• DEET is the most effective insect repellant to apply, as directed, onto exposed skin. However, take caution when applying on young children.  If you consider more natural repellants instead, remember to re-apply more frequently.
• To reduce the number of places where mosquitoes breed, drain any standing water near your home.
• Repair your screens.  It is important to keep mosquitoes out of your home and porch.

Fortunately, most people infected by a mosquito will have no illness. But 15 percent will have a fever, headache, and nausea.  In addition, a small number will develop confusion, seizures, and possible coma.

For more information, take a look at this site:
http://www.cdc.gov/EasternEquineEncephalitis/index.html.

Which of the above suggestions will be easy to do, and which ones do you think will prove to be a challenge?

On top of that, in recent months, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index ranked Lakeland and Winter Haven among the most obese communities in the nation. This was news our organization did not take lightly.

We catapulted our employee health programs, and healthy changes ignited within our organization. On-campus exercise classes, nutrition seminars and healthy menu items were among the changes implemented at Lakeland Regional to support our team members. Our hope was to inspire each and every one of our employees to do – and be – their very best. And that’s what happened. Lives improved and healthy habits were born – not because of what we have done, but because of what many of our employees decided to do for themselves.

We are proud of the efforts made, though we know there is much work to be done. What steps are you currently taking to improve your own health?  What type of support do you have from your employer to make healthy choices?

It is not the flu, but rather a virus that causes fever, vomiting and explosive diarrhea (known by doctors as Gastroenteritis*).

Most doctors try to avoid calling it the “stomach-flu” since this germ is very different than the flu germ influenza.

This germ is called “norovirus,” and you may have heard of it when it struck a few cruise ships.

Fortunately, for most, it only lasts a few days but it can still wipe you out. If you are elderly or have a chronic medical condition, you could lose too much fluids and become dehydrated.

After having diarrhea, if a person does not wash their hands, they can carry trillions of these germs on their finger tips (it can go right through soiled toilet paper).

If you touch something that was previously touched by a sick person’s unwashed hands, then you could get sick if you bite your nails or prepare food.

It is not surprising to see small outbreaks at home, in daycare centers, schools, offices, and even nursing homes.

This germ is tough. It can rest on commonly touched surfaces and is strong enough to get through the acid of your stomach.

There is no vaccine or treatment except for rest and fluids. If a person is dizzy, not urinating, and/or not making tears, then a doctor should be called due to potential dehydration. It can be very hard on the elderly who may not be able to swallow needed daily medications because of the vomiting.

There is a new strain of norovirus called “GII.4 Sydney” that was discovered in Australia, but is causing outbreaks in the United States and throughout the world. There are no known outbreaks in Polk, but health officials are carefully monitoring for this, and our emergency department has been alerted to look for possible cases. This strain seems to cause more hospitalizations and serious illness. Some deaths have been reported, and more information is being gathered to better understand this germ.

So, what can you do?

• Be very careful when you are close to someone who is vomiting and has diarrhea. A sick person should wait 2 – 3 days after recovering before preparing food.
• Keep sick infants out of areas where food is being handled, prepared, or served.
• The germ shows up on commonly touched surfaces at home and work.
• Disinfect surfaces with a bleach-containing cleaner (follow the directions on the label).
• Keep your fingers out of your mouth and wash them before handling food.
• Buckets of ice used to chill canned drinks can spread this germ as a sick person could reach into the ice water to grab a drink.
• Immediately remove and wash all bed sheets and clothes that are dirty with vomit or diarrhea.

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 * Gastroenteritis broken down:

Gastro… = stomach

…enter… = intestines (bowels or “guts”)

…itis = inflammation or irritation

 So putting it all together, a person suffering from viral gastroenteritis has a germ that is irritating their stomach and intestines. So it is expected that the patient would complain of fever, belly pain, vomiting, and diarrhea – usually in that order.

Instead of lighting up, a battery powers the production of water vapor (which looks like smoke), while the user inhales nicotine.  There is even a red light at the end to simulate burning.

They are basically a nicotine delivery device.  We are most familiar with other devices such as nicotine patches, gum, nasal spray and inhalers.

But, most of those are used as stepping stones to quit smoking.  This device, however, seems more like another addiction all together – with a recurring cost if an individual chooses to switch.

Some e-cigarette manufacturers do not advertise their products as a short term purchase to eventually give up.  It seems that with the availability of flavors such as vanilla, fruit, menthol and coffee, the manufacturers are leaving open the possibility of long term use.

Of course, any amount of nicotine makes it hard to stop, but there are choices in the level of nicotine – varying from high, medium, low and even none.  So, these products can be a tool to help someone quit smoking and hopefully save money in the long run.

Regarding the health effects, The Medical Letter recently reported the most common side effects were mouth and throat irritation, dry cough and even lipoid pneumonia – likely due to the glycerin in the vapor.

The FDA noted that contaminants such as cancer-causing hydrocarbons and nitrosamines were present in some of products tested along with diethylene glycol (which is also hazardous).

And just like smoking, the cost adds up because the “e-juice” in the cartridge needs to be replaced.  This is after an initial cost of about $50 for the battery, charger case, etc. One cartridge is similar in price to one to two packs of cigarettes.

In a recently published Nicotine & Tobacco Research Journal, Dr. Ii-Lun Chen shared an article that summarized FDA reports of adverse events in users of e-cigarettes.  The list contained serious incidents that were thought (not proven) to be associated with e-cigarettes.

In conclusion, it is safe to say that more information is needed regarding the safety and best use of this product.

What are your thoughts?  Are they a quitting device or another vice? Or, just another choice for consumers if they want it?

For patients who arrive at our Emergency Department, we now have access to records from their primary care physician.  This allows us to give the safest possible care since we can access pertinent allergies, current medications, lab tests that have been run (along with results) and any conditions that may be causing the emergency visit.

Patients admitted to our hospital are seamlessly transferred from one clinical team to the next – with a clear record of care, including important notes from the doctor or nurse.

On another note…getting hungry? Now, patients can simply order from our electronic menu. The computer program accounts for their special needs—allowing them to order only appropriate foods in line with their dietary restrictions.

Finally, electronic medical records will allow patients to create their own “health portal,” so they can access their medical record any time and take charge of their health.

This is a historic moment for Lakeland Regional, as we move to the digital world—the future. This transformation will do for medical records what the iPhone did for the rotary telephone.

Most importantly, electronic medical records bring patient and family-centered healthcare to the next level – with doctors and hospitals working together to improve the health and well-being of the community.  We are committed to this transformation for one reason: to improve the care for our patients and their families, not just today, but for the future.

But a more obvious answer is “During Cold and Flu Season.”  (By the way…that is NOW!)

It is this time of year that you might hear the BIGGEST MYTH about the flu shot:

MYTH: THE FLU SHOT CAN MAKE YOU SICK WITH THE FLU.

MYTH BUSTER: This is just not true.  If a person gets the flu shot and then, by chance, catches a cold a few days later; the flu shot is not to blame. It was just a coincidence they caught a bad cold around the time they received their vaccination.  The flu shot only helps block the influenza germ and not the germs that cause the common cold.

The flu shot will rarely make you feel run down. Or, it can make your arm feel a little sore.  Those chances are tiny compared to the much higher chance of feeling horrible with the flu.  One thing that is not a myth, having a cold will not make you feel nearly as bad as the flu (Those who have truly had the flu, can you back me up on this?).

Finally, another thing to remember about the flu shot is that it is not the only way to stay healthy. Eat nutritious foods, get enough sleep, stay home if you are sick and wash your hands with soap (or use an alcohol-based hand gel) frequently.

At Lakeland Regional, we are taking proactive measures to fight the flu. We are continuing to offer employees the flu shot free-of-charge.  See what else we are doing and how you can join in this cause: http://bit.ly/10h93P3

We will follow the flu situation closely and take further steps to protect our patients and staff as necessary.For more myths about the flu shot, check out this article: http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/11/health/flu-shot-questions/index.html.