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[DEC. 17, 2001]  SPRINGFIELD — More accurate diagnosis and improved early treatment of burn victims are among the key benefits of the Regional TeleBurn Network being launched through the joint effort of Memorial Medical Center and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, both in Springfield, and Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln.

The Regional TeleBurn Network is the first interactive telecommunications network of its kind for acute burn care in the country. Funded by SIU’s Rural Health Initiative, it is the first clinical application for Memorial’s TeleHealth Network.

[Photo provided by SIU News]

The new TeleBurn Network establishes a real-time, visual link between Memorial and local burn evaluation centers such as Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital. With both audio and visual communication, the on-call physician in Memorial’s burn center can more accurately assess the extent and severity of a burn, prescribe proper administration of fluids and even direct the treating physician through surgical procedures. The burn center is staffed by SIU’s Division of Plastic Surgery. The ALMH physician overseeing the project is Dr. Larry Pinter, director of emergency medicine.

The system utilizes the state’s Illinois Century Network to provide audio and visual communications between Memorial and the hospitals and health care facilities that join the network. Computers, cameras, monitors and related telecommunications equipment provide audio and visual communication links between the hospitals. The technology has been installed in the emergency department at ALMH and at the Regional Burn Center at MMC. The network is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Communications will be encrypted in order to protect against interception and to maintain patient confidentiality.

Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital is the first to join the network as a certified burn evaluation center. As many as 15 hospitals in an area from Interstate 80 to the state’s southern tip are expected to join in the next several years.

[Photo provided by SIU News]

"Prompt, accurate diagnosis and treatment for burn patients are critical," said Dr. Stephen Milner, associate professor of plastic surgery at SIU and medical director of MMC’s Burn Center. "Until now, burn center physicians relied solely on telephone communication to assess a burn’s severity and recommend initial treatment, without the benefit of visual evaluation."

The new network also makes it possible to assess conditions that can be treated with local care and thus eliminate the need for patient transport to Memorial’s Burn Center.

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"Outpatient follow-up is another very important benefit," Milner said. "This will save patients, caregivers or family members time, travel expense and inconvenience."

The network was made possible by two grants, totaling $219,780, awarded by SIU to Memorial. The grants, made possible through state funding of SIU’s Illinois Rural Health Initiative, cover costs for equipment, installation, training and related costs to connect Memorial with four other downstate hospitals — including Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital. After those four, adding hospitals to the network will depend on availability of future funding.

Ongoing costs per site are estimated to be about $4,300 per year. These include Illinois Century Network access fees, equipment maintenance and administrative support.

"SIU School of Medicine is extremely pleased to support a health care initiative that benefits Illinois citizens and health care providers throughout a large region of Illinois," said Dr. Carl Getto, SIU dean and provost. "This is a real pioneering effort and the beginning of a more active ‘telehealth’ effort under way at the medical school. Not only can we further our mission of bringing high-quality, accessible health care to those we serve, it also allows us to expose our medical students and residents to the possibilities this technology holds." The medical school is part of Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Edgar J. Curtis, Memorial’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said, "Memorial is privileged to join the SIU School of Medicine, state of Illinois and the hospitals which join the network. The benefits range from improved assessment and treatment for burn patients to better continuing education opportunities for health care providers in various other disciplines."

Getto and Curtis pointed out that the network has application potential for many medical settings, including dermatology, cardiology, pediatric care, emergency medicine and psychiatry as well as administration of medical care for correctional facility inmates.

[DEC. 8, 2001]  The holidays are quickly approaching and with them bring many celebrations. For that reason, December has been designated National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Month. Drinking and driving is an all-too-familiar tragic occurrence during the holiday season. More people are on the road to holiday destinations, and more people are consuming alcohol as a part of their holiday celebrations.

The facts you should know to make a difference are:

•  There is an average of one alcohol-related fatality every 33 minutes. (NHTSA)

•  Most children who are killed in crashes where alcohol is involved, die at the hands of someone they know. (CDC)

•  Two out of three children who die in these crashes are actually riding as passengers in a drunk driver’s car when they are killed. (CDC)

•  The average American has a 30 percent chance of being killed or injured by an impaired driver during his or her lifetime. And while the number of alcohol-related fatalities are at an all-time low, impaired driving is still a leading cause of death for people under the age of 30. (NHTSA)

The simple fact of the matter is that driving while impaired is a crime. Last year alone, 15,936 fatalities were attributed to alcohol-related crashes, and in 1997, more than 1.5 million arrests were made of impaired drivers. To address this problem, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has initiated the "You Drink & Drive, You Lose" Campaign, with the underlying goal of reducing the number of impaired driving fatalities to no more than 11,000 per year by the year 2005.

While individuals rarely possess the tools to determine their own blood alcohol content (BAC is the amount of alcohol present in one’s blood system), law enforcement officials do and will not hesitate to use them if they believe a driver to be impaired.

An individual’s BAC can vary after drinking the same amount of alcohol, due to a number of physical and environmental factors, including, but not limited to, height, weight, previous experience with alcohol and amount of food consumed prior to drinking. Because of the wide variance that exists between individuals, it is wise to make alternate travel plans or designate a driver when even a minimal amount of alcohol is involved in any given situation.

Studies show that impairment begins at any BAC level over .00 and can affect an individual’s judgment and ability to react — factors that are critical to safe driving. While it is true that accepted BAC levels vary from state to state (Illinois’ BAC level is .08), to ensure the well-being of all those on the road, the only truly safe driving is sober driving. Real change will not take place until the public recognizes that driving under the influence, at any BAC level, endangers the life of the driver, his or her passengers, and all those traveling on the road. The physical, emotional and economic burdens impaired drivers inflict upon the community each year are unparalleled.

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If an individual is found to be impaired while driving, he or she will experience criminal repercussions. These repercussions can include fines, the loss of driving privileges, incarceration, higher insurance rates and a criminal record. Law enforcement officers are cracking down on impaired drivers by stepping up their policing activities on a regular basis.

The question of being caught, however, is a major factor in the impaired driving problem. The public needs, instead, to ask, "What will happen if I don’t get caught?" This answer is much more frightening and carries with it much more dire consequences than fines, prosecution or the loss of one’s license. The destruction impaired drivers inflict upon their communities is immeasurable. Everyone is affected by the impaired driver’s irresponsible and malicious behavior, whether in higher taxes or the emotional destruction a family experiences after losing a loved one.

The following is a list of tips for a safe holiday party:

Serve non-alcoholic beverages. It is possible that some of your guests will not want to drink alcohol.

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Always serve food with alcohol. High protein and carbohydrate foods like cheese and meats are especially good. They stay in the stomach much longer, which slows the rate at which the body absorbs alcohol.

* * *

If you serve alcoholic punch, use a non-carbonated base such as fruit juice. The body absorbs alcohol faster when mixed with carbonation.

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If you are serving alcohol, stop about two hours before the party is over.

* * *

If any of your guests have been drinking and should not drive, please don’t let them take their keys and drive. They could hurt themselves or others, and maybe just a little persuasion from you could mean the difference between life and death.

[DEC. 3, 2001]  SPRINGFIELD — As World AIDS Day was observed on Saturday, Dec. 1, Gov. George H. Ryan announced that the Illinois Department of Human Services' (DHS) Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (OASA) received three federal grants totaling more than $5 million to improve its drug, alcohol and HIV/AIDS treatment services. The funds will be used to implement pilot programs designed to expand services in targeted areas.

[Click here for World AIDS Day article posted Saturday in LDN.]

"These three grants will strengthen the Department of Human Services’ continuum of care as they work to ensure that the state’s resources are being used in areas that need them most," said Gov. Ryan. "This, coupled with the new pilot programs, will allow the department to improve services and better the lives of thousands of Illinoisians."

The first pilot program award will provide approximately $1.8 million over three years to create a team charged with linking homeless people with substance and mental health services, housing and supportive services on the west side of Chicago. The second pilot program award will provide approximately $2.5 million over five years to serve addicted people in East St. Louis who are at high risk of infection or have HIV/AIDS. These two grants were awarded from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and will be funded through the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

OASA’s other grant award totaled $900,000. This grant will be used to research and identify substance abuse services throughout Illinois. This grant was awarded to OASA from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

"Whenever the department can merge its services and interconnect supports, we can better help the client," said DHS Secretary Linda Reneé Baker. "I am very proud of OASA for all their efforts in the community and being awarded these grants, because they strengthen the department’s resolve to provide high quality services to Illinois’ citizens."

The first grant will create an intergovernmental, interagency network to administer services. Partners and providers involved in the initiative include the city of Chicago’s Departments of Human Services and Public Health, the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Northwestern University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration and a number of substance abuse treatment, mental health and homeless service organizations.

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Under the second program grant, OASA will add 50 methadone treatment slots at its Cornell-Interventions’ East St. Louis site and provide specialized services to reduce the risk of infection, re-exposure and the transmission of HIV and hepatitis C. In addition to group counseling and education, the project will provide enhanced medical and psychiatric services, case management, and a recovery assistant to help clients make the transition from addiction to recovery. The project will be linked with St. Mary’s Hospital in East St. Louis.

The third grant will fund three-year studies that will identify the state’s specific substance abuse treatment needs and how to better allocate those resources.

The Household Survey will assess the current substance abuse treatment needs of the state’s older adolescent and adult populations. The data will be used to better identify those in need of treatment, including adolescents, people with disabilities, people suffering from mental disorders, domestic violence victims, people at risk for homelessness, gay and lesbian populations, pathological gamblers, people receiving government assistance and criminal justice populations, including people currently on probation and those recently incarcerated.

The Database Linkage project will analyze data from multiple state agencies in order to track post treatment performance and assist OASA in determining the state’s unmet needs.

The Administrative Client-Level Treatment Data project will develop an integrated database of treatment results and long-term client histories. This information will allow OASA to better understand how treatment episodes are linked and how treatment works over time. The Household Survey, the Database Linkage project and the Administrative Client-Level Treatment Data project will be completed in conjunction with the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Survey Research Laboratory.

[News release]

Health Matters

A monthly feature from  Logan County Health Department

[DEC. 1, 2001]  World AIDS Day is being observed Dec. 1. The United States theme, "I care... Do you? Youth and AIDS in the 21st century," emphasizes that every individual has a responsibility and an opportunity to make a constructive contribution to the prevention of HIV/AIDS. The goal of this day is to underscore that youth are significantly affected by HIV and to call for greater education and involvement of young people in diagnosing, treating and preventing HIV/AIDS.

As of 2000, 25 percent of teens surveyed in the United States falsely believed that HIV testing was standard in routine exams. Fewer than one-third of sexually active teens in the U.S. have been tested for HIV.

In the United States 800,000 to 900,000 people of varying ages are living with HIV or AIDS. An estimated 300,000 of these are unaware they are infected! Since the beginning of the pandemic 450,000 people in this country have died from AIDS. In the early 1990s new HIV infections were estimated at 40,000 per year and have remained largely at that level throughout the last decade.

The number of new HIV infections and AIDS cases is increasing among women in the United States. Of all HIV-positive women, 41 percent report they were exposed through heterosexual contact, and 20 percent reported infections were through IV drug use. Studies indicate that women are less likely to receive or seek treatment when compared to men because of health care, social or financial barriers.

Statistics for HIV and AIDS remain high for Hispanics and African-Americans. As of 1999, while African-Americans accounted for 37 percent of all AIDS cases, they represented only 12 percent of the U.S. population. Social and economic conditions contribute to the increasing risk of HIV among minority communities.

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As of December 2000, 46 percent of all reported U.S. AIDS cases were transmitted through male-to-male sex. Cultural and religious biases may act as significant barriers to treating and preventing HIV transmission among this group.

If you have engaged in any behavior that can transmit HIV — sexual transmission or needle and blood contact — it is important that you seek counseling and testing. Are you certain the needles used in body piercing or tatooing were clean? Your risk for HIV increases if contaminated equipment was used. Engaging in a committed, monogamous relationship with a person who is free from HIV or other STD is safer if you both mutually agree to refrain from any high-risk behavior.

We all have the power and responsibility to make a difference. We appeal to our youth and those who influence them to educate themselves on how to prevent HIV infection and to help others learn how to prevent the spread of this devastating illness. For more information on HIV prevention or testing, phone the Logan County Health Department at (217) 735-2317.

Click here for a previous LDN posting, "How long has it been since we talked about AIDS?" by Trisha Youngquist.

Lincoln Park District

Red Cross

Events

Honors & Awards

Announcements

The Rural Health Partnership has announced the schedule for its mobile health unit. Effective Feb. 1, 2001, the unit will run as follows:

For more information on the mobile health unit schedule and services, contact Dayle Eldredge at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 409.

This family resource list to save and use is provided by the Healthy Communities Partnership (732-2161, Ext. 409) and the Healthy Families Task Force.         

Resources for Logan County families

Agency	Phone number	Address
911	911 (Emergencies) 732-3911 (Office -- non-emergency)	911 Pekin St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital	732-2161	315 Eighth St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Aging (Department of)	785-3356	421 E. Capitol, #100 Springfield, IL 62701-1789
American Cancer Society	546-7586 (24 hour)	1305 Wabash, Ste. J Springfield, IL 62704
American Red Cross	732-2134 1-800-412-0100	125 S. Kickapoo Lincoln, IL 62656
Catholic Social Services	732-3771	310 S. Logan Lincoln, IL 62656
Chamber of Commerce	735-2385	303 S. Kickapoo St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Community Action (CIEDC)	732-2159	1800 Fifth St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Community Child Care Connection	525-2805 1-800-676-2805	1004 N. Milton Ave. Springfield, IL 62702-443
Crisis Pregnancy Center	735-4838	513 Pulaski St. Lincoln, IL 62656
DCFS (Department of Children & Family Services)	735-4402 1-800-252-2873 (crisis hotline)	1100 Keokuk St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Heartland Community College GED Program	735-1731	620 Broadway St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Hospice Care of Illinois	1-800-342-4862 (24 hour) 732-2161, Ext. 444	720 N. Bond Springfield, IL 62702
Housing Authority	732-7776 732-6312 (24 hour)	1028 N. College St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Illinois Breast & Cervical Cancer Program	735-2317 1-800-269-4019	LCHD - 109 Third St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Illinois Department of Public Health	782-4977	535 W. Jefferson Springfield, IL 62761
Illinois Employment and Training Center (replaces JTPA office)	735-5441	120 S. McLean St., Suite B Farm Bureau Building Lincoln, IL 62656
Legal Assistance Foundation	(217) 753-3300 1-800-252-8629	730 E. Vine St., Ste. 214 Springfield, IL 62703
Library - Atlanta	(217) 648-2112	100 Race St. Atlanta, IL 61723
Library - Elkhart	(217) 947-2313	121 E. Bohan Elkhart, IL 62634
Library - Lincoln	732-8878	725 Pekin St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Library - Mount Pulaski	792-5919	320 N. Washington Mount Pulaski, IL 62548
Lincoln Area YMCA	735-3915	319 W. Kickapoo St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Lincoln/Logan Food Pantry	732-2204	P.O. Box 773 Lincoln, IL 62656
Lincoln Parents’ Center	735-4192	100 S. Maple Lincoln, IL 62656
Lincoln Park District	732-8770	1400 Primm Rd. Lincoln, IL 62656
Logan County Department of Human Services (Public Aid)	735-2306	1550 Fourth St., P.O. Box 310 Lincoln, IL 62656
Logan County Health Department	735-2317	109 Third St., P.O. Box 508 Lincoln, IL 62656
Logan Mason Mental Health	735-2272 1-888-832-3600 (crisis line)	304 Eighth St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Logan-Mason Rehabilitation Center	735-1413	760 S. Postville Dr. Lincoln, IL 62656
Oasis (Senior Citizens of Logan County)	732-6132	501 Pulaski St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Project READ	735-1731	620 Broadway St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Salvation Army	732-7890	1501 N. Kickapoo Lincoln, IL 62656
Senior Services of Central Illinois	732-6213 1-800-252-8966 (crisis line)	109 Third St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Sojourn Shelter & Service Inc.	732-8988 (217) 726-5200 (24-hour hotline)	1800 Westchester Blvd. Springfield, IL 62704
U. of I. Division of Specialized Care for Children	524-2000 1-800-946-8468	421 S. Grand Ave. West, 2nd Floor Springfield, IL 62704
U. of I. Extension Service	732-8289	122 S. McLean St. Lincoln, IL 62656

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