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Features

[NOV. 23, 2001]  More accurate diagnosis and improved early treatment of burn victims are among the key benefits of the Regional TeleBurn Network being launched by Memorial Medical Center and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, both in Springfield. The network will make possible more accurate diagnosis and improved early treatment of burn victims at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital.ead

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.

The new network establishes a real-time, visual link between Memorial and 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.

"This is an extraordinary development in health care for Lincoln and Logan County," said Woody Hester, president and CEO at ALMH. "Our hospital’s link to the TeleBurn Network enhances patient care by improving communications capability with Memorial Medical Center."

The system utilizes the Illinois Century Network to provide audio and visual communications between Memorial and all those hospitals and health care facilities that join the network. Computers, cameras, monitors and related telecommunications equipment provide audio and visual communication links between the two 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.

As many as 15 hospitals in an area from Interstate 80 to the state’s southern tip are expected to join the network in the next several years.

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"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 eliminate the need for patient transport to Memorial’s burn center.

"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 other, related costs to connect Memorial with four other downstate hospitals, including Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital. Adding hospitals to the network will depend on availability of future grants.

"ALMH is privileged to join Memorial Medical Center, SIU School of Medicine and the state of Illinois in the network," states Hester. The benefits are many — from improved assessment and treatment for burn patients to better continuing-education opportunities for health care providers in various other disciplines."

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.

[ALMH news release]

[NOV. 9, 2001]  As part of the ongoing renovations at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, the hospital has opened a new area for patients receiving care on an outpatient or "same day care" basis. The new same day care area, which is located on the second level next to the surgery department, features private patient rooms in a newly refurbished area.

The previous outpatient area did not allow any separation between patients. "The new area provides privacy for our patients and helps maintain patient confidentiality," states Judy Bandy, director of nursing at ALMH. "It also separates outpatients from inpatients, which makes it easier for our staff," adds Bandy.

The new rooms are equipped with beds on wheels for easy transport of the patient from the surgery area to the patient room. The private rooms, which accommodate both patients and their family members, also have televisions and restrooms. The entire department has been remodeled with new tile, paint and wallpaper border to give it a brighter, softer decor.

"ALMH has experienced a growth in the number of outpatient surgeries in the past few years, increasing the need for this expansion," states Woody Hester, president and chief executive officer.

The old outpatient department, which had not been updated since 1985, will be dismantled and remodeled into two new inpatient rooms. This will help eliminate holding patients until a bed becomes available.

This most recent development is the latest in a series of building improvements the hospital has made in order to better serve the community.

[News release]

[OCT. 23, 2001]  Susan, a 51-year-old area woman, used to look forward to her visits to Virginia Beach to see her mother, Lou. They would comb the sandy beaches, looking for additions to Lou’s shell collection and take road trips to Texas or Rhode Island.

"We did a lot of traveling. We would just get in the car and go. One year, we rented a motor home, which is something I always wanted to do, and we went to Florida. We had a blast just being together and enjoying each other’s company. I was looking forward to retiring — we had lots of plans to travel," she said.

In the past two years, both women’s lives have changed dramatically. There are no future travel plans, and even a trip to the grocery store or a simple conversation can be a difficult experience.

"Sometimes my mother doesn’t even know who I am, and it’s only going to get worse," Susan said.

Susan’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, which results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. The disease, which affects four million people nationwide, is the fourth leading cause of death in adults.

Although there were warning signs for the past decade, it was only a few years ago that the situation required prompt action. Susan, (who requested that her last name not be used), moved her mother back to central Illinois and became her primary caregiver while maintaining a full-time job. She is in the process of selling her own home so she can move into a house with her mother.

Although Susan has two married brothers who live out of state, she made the decision to take care of her mother.

"Fortunately for me, I’m the only daughter and don’t have a spouse and kids. But even if I had a family, I’m the one that’s closest to her, and I can relate to her," she said.

"My life has totally unraveled. But I’m willing to do this. She’s my mom, and you want to provide and protect (your mom)," she said.

Despite good intentions, the burdens of caring for a loved one with the disease can be overwhelming.

"You have to have a sense of humor or you’ll cry. I cry a lot and get angry a lot. I would recommend (to others) to find a support group and learn what you can and can’t do. My job is not to make her happy; my job is to protect and provide for her. At times I get angry at her and the disease. You need to get counseling and deal with feelings of anger and guilt and realize you can only do so much," she said.

"In the patient’s mind, the bad guy is the caregiver. My mom gets upset with me, because she thinks I’m the one who won’t let her go back home to Virginia or spend money. You have to accept that. I will look back on this and know I did the best I could."

Experts predict that by the year 2050, as many as14 million in the United Sates will have the disease. While people of all ages can suffer from the disease, research shows that the older a person gets, the higher the risk is of getting the disease.

When German physician Alois Alzheimer first described the disease in 1907, it was rare. Today, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting 10 percent of people over the age of 65 and nearly half of people aged 85 and older. However, because of improved testing and greater public awareness, physicians are seeing an increase in diagnosed patients in their 40s and 50s. Alzheimer’s disease strikes both men and women and all races and socioeconomic groups. In Illinois 540,000 people are affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

Before the disease, Susan’s 72-year-old mother was an immaculate housekeeper who loved to sew, crochet, travel, read and collect shells.

"She has four bookcases full of books. She loved to read. Now, she can read one newspaper all week long. Seeing her die emotionally and physically is sad. She writes me little notes, and her spelling is atrocious. She was always able to express herself well. Now, we have no meaningful conversations. We talk about things in the past. In five minutes, she can repeat the same story four times," she said.

Now, it’s the little things they have found they can do together that eases some of the pain of the situation, liking taking their dogs for a walk in the park or going out for a milkshake — two of her mother’s favorite things.

Susan said there are three things that are really difficult about her mother’s disease. "The dreams of the future are decimated. My mother says hurtful things because of paranoia. I have to step back and realize it’s the disease and not my mother talking, but it’s hard to not personalize it. Also, the randomness and unpredictability of the disease — one minute she’s there and the next she’s gone," she said. "Her reality and my reality are two different things. She can’t live in my reality, so I have to live in hers."

Through a support group, Susan is learning not only how to deal with her mother’s disease, but also recognizing how to take care of herself and what her limitations are.

"It’s surprising how comforting it is. You realize you’re not the only one, and you learn about ideas of how to handle situations. Just being able to talk about it helps. It’s a lifeline," she says of her support group.

James Dearing, program manager at the Great Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, said loss of memory is the most frustrating aspect of the disease, for both the person with the disease and their family.

"Forgetting names and memories they have shared is very troubling. It’s very frustrating for spouses and for the children when Mom and Dad forget who they are. And for the patient, forgetting and losing reality in their world is probably one of the most frustrating things," he said. "The disease disorients them to time and place. They may be living in 2001, but they feel like they are living in 1950 and looking for the house they grew up in, for example."

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The association is the only national voluntary organization dedicated to conquering Alzheimer’s disease through research and providing information and support to people with the disease, their families and caregivers. Founded in 1980 by family caregivers, the association has more than 200 chapters nationwide and is the leading funding source for Alzheimer research after the federal government.

The local chapter focuses on education programs, support groups and offering information to the public. Monthly meetings of a support group at the Oasis in Lincoln were canceled recently, but two support groups meet in Springfield:  at the Hope Presbyterian Church, 2211 Wabash Ave., and at Westminster Presbyterian Church, located at Walnut and Edwards. More information can be obtained by calling 1 (800) 823-1734 for meeting times and dates.

Workshops, seminars and conferences on Alzheimer's disease are also offered throughout the year. The programs, designed to increase knowledge of the disease, are appropriate for family and professional caregivers. Program topics include research developments, caring for the Alzheimer individual and coping strategies.

Dearing said that during his 10 years working in the long-term care health field, he developed a passion for working with Alzheimer’s patients and their families to ensure they received a good quality of life. He advises people who are diagnosed with the disease and their family members to prepare for the future as soon as possible.

"After the initial shock, people should find out as much as they can and know what to expect, including legal issues. They need to be proactive and need to be aware of their options later on in life. From diagnosis, this disease can last from two to 20 years," he said.

Matters that should be addressed in the early stages of the disease are legal issues, such as power of attorney, a will and health care proxy; health care insurance; financial affairs, such as bank accounts, stock certificates and mutual funds; and future housing options.

While it may seem premature to think about those issues in the early stages of the disease, Dearing said matters that require judgment and attention to detail is best done early, while the person with the disease is able to make decisions.

Even though Alzheimer’s is an incurable illness, there are important interventions, including medical and behavioral treatments, that can treat some of its symptoms. This is especially true if the disease is diagnosed early.

If a person suffers from several of the 10 warning signs, such as disorientation, poor judgment and changes in personality, they are advised to see a physician. Not everyone with Alzheimer’s disease has all of the warning signs, and not all signs have to occur for the disease to be present. Experts advise contacting a health care professional for an evaluation if you have concerns or show several of the warning signs.

Most people with Alzheimer’s live about eight to 10 years after symptoms appear, but life expectancy varies widely.

The three most common stages of the disease are mild, moderate and severe.

The first, or mild stage, usually lasts two to four years. People in this phase may say the same thing over and over, get lost easily and undergo personality changes, among other symptoms.

The moderate stage of the disease is often the one that last the longest, from two to 10 years. People in this phase may become more confused about recent events, believe things are real when they aren’t, require close supervision, pace, argue more often and have problems with simple daily activities.

The final stage of the disease, which lasts from one to three years, requires constant care, 24 hours a day. Those in the final stage may not use or understand words, recognize family members or care for themselves.

Additional information on the disease is available at the Greater Illinois Springfield office at (217) 726-5184 or this website:
www.alzheimers-illinois.org

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

Health Matters

A monthly feature from  Logan County Health Department

(Safe for you, not the turkey)

Roasting instructions

Set the oven temperature no lower than 325 F. Preheating the oven is not necessary.

Place turkey on a rack in a roasting pan.

For safety and uniform doneness of the turkey, cook stuffing separately in a casserole. Use a food thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the stuffing has reached 165 F.

If you choose to stuff a turkey, you must use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of the turkey and the stuffing. The temperature of a whole turkey must reach 180 F in the innermost part of the thigh and the center of the stuffing must reach 165 F. If the stuffing has not reached 165 F, continue cooking the turkey until the stuffing reaches 165 F.

If the turkey has a "pop-up" temperature indicator, it is also recommended that a food thermometer be used to test in several places, including the innermost part of the thigh and the center of the stuffing.

When cooking only a turkey breast, the internal temperature should reach 170 F.

Many factors can affect the roasting time of a whole turkey:

•  A frozen or partially frozen turkey takes longer to cook than a completely thawed turkey.

•  A turkey will cook faster in a dark roasting pan.

•  The depth and size of the pan can affect heat circulation to all areas of the turkey.

•  The use of a foil tent for the entire cooking time can slow cooking.

•  Putting a lid on the roasting pan speeds up cooking.

•  An oven cooking bag will shorten cooking time.

•  A stuffed turkey will take longer to cook than an unstuffed turkey.

•  Ovens may heat unevenly.

•  The oven rack position can have an effect on even cooking and heat circulation.

Optional steps

•  Tuck wing tips back under shoulders of turkey.

•  Add 1/2 cup water to the bottom of the pan.

•  A tent of aluminum foil may be placed loosely over the turkey for the first 1 to 1½ hours, then removed for browning. Or, a tent of foil may be placed over the turkey after the turkey reaches the desired golden brown.

•  For quality, you may choose to let the turkey stand 20 minutes before removing the stuffing and carving.

[to top of second column in this article]

Approximate cooking times

Time charts are based on fresh or completely thawed turkeys at a refrigerator temperature of 40 F or below. Frozen or partially thawed turkeys will take longer to cook. The cooking time for a frozen turkey will take at least 50 percent longer than the time recommended for a fully thawed turkey. These cooking times are guidelines only. Use a food thermometer to determine safe doneness.

Unstuffed

Stuffed

Note: Turkeys purchased stuffed and frozen with the USDA or state mark of inspection on the packaging are safe because they have been processed under controlled conditions. These turkeys should not be thawed before cooking. Follow package directions for handling.

For further information

Meat and poultry hotline:

1 (800) 535-4555 (toll-free nationwide)

(202) 720-3333 (Washington, D.C. area)

1 (800) 256-7072 (TTY)

Food Safety and Inspection Service website: www.fsis.usda.gov.

Lincoln Park District

Red Cross

Events

November 2001

Thursday, Nov. 29
SPONSOR: OSF St. Joseph Medical Center
WHO: Public; preregistration required; call 1 (800) 407-4557
WHAT: Life Line Screening (stroke prevention and osteoporosis screening)
WHERE: Friendship Manor

Honors & Awards

Announcements

[NOV. 2, 2001]  Life Line Screening will be available at Friendship Manor in Lincoln on Thursday, Nov. 29. Life Line Screening is a mobile health screening service that screens for stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease and osteoporosis (for women only).

With the use of ultrasound and Doppler equipment, Life Line Screening can view the arteries. The first test views the carotid arteries, looking for plaque buildup, where 75 percent of strokes originate. A second test checks the aortic vessel in the abdomen for a breakdown in the lining of the vessel. This is known as an abdominal aortic aneurysm. A third test, an A.B.I., is performed to screen the lower extremities for plaque buildup, known as peripheral arterial disease. This disease is directly linked to coronary heart disease. The fourth test, for osteoporosis, screens for abnormal bone mass density in women over age 45. This disease is painless and silent in its early stages. Results are read by a board-certified physician and mailed within 10 business days.

Screening fees are $40 for stroke-carotid, $40 for abdominal aortic aneurysm, $40 for peripheral vascular disease, or $99 for complete vascular screening, which includes the preceding three tests. Osteoporosis screening (for women only) is $35. The cost for all four tests is $125.

Preregistration is required; call 1 (800) 407-4557.

The screening is sponsored by OSF St. Joseph Medical Center.

[News release]

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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