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Features

ALMH laboratory receives
national accreditation

[FEB. 4, 2002]  Based on the results of a recent on-site inspection, the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists awarded Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital laboratory an accreditation with distinction. The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, begun in the early 1960s, is recognized by the federal government as being equal to or more stringent than the government’s own inspection program.

To be accredited by CAP, the lab must participate in blind sample surveys. At different times of the year, every test that the laboratory performs is tested several times. In addition to this yearlong blind testing, the CAP sends a survey team to the lab every two years to make sure that they are meeting all requirements. ALMH scored high enough on both of these measures in the last two years to receive the rank "with distinction."

Inspectors examine quality control, education and qualifications of staff, adequacy of facilities and equipment, and laboratory safety and management to determine how well the lab is serving the patient. ALMH’s lab is one of only 6,000 CAP-accredited laboratories nationwide. It is not unusual for larger hospital laboratories to be CAP certified, but few hospitals the size of ALMH have a CAP certified lab. "The CAP is a very tough certifying agency," states Bill Wilson, ALMH’s laboratory manager. "It requires a great deal of time and resources to maintain the accreditation," added Wilson.

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The College of American Pathologists is a medical society serving nearly 16,000 physician members and the laboratory community throughout the world. It is the world’s largest association composed exclusively of pathologists and is widely considered the leader in laboratory quality assurance. The CAP is an advocate for high-quality and cost-effective medical care.

For more information regarding laboratory services at ALMH, please call (217) 732-2161, Ext. 153.

[ALMH news release]

Health Matters

A monthly feature from  Logan County Health Department

Make an imprint on a child’s life…

Become a foster parent

[FEB. 1, 2002]  More foster parents are needed every year as more people are getting involved in reporting child abuse and neglect. Hotline social workers this year will handle more than 130,000 reports of child abuse and neglect.

What are child abuse and neglect? Child abuse is the mistreatment of a child under the age of 18 by a parent, caretaker, someone living in the child’s home or someone who works with or around children. The mistreatment must cause injury or must put the child at risk of physical injury. Child abuse can be physical (such as burns or broken bones), sexual (such as fondling or incest) or emotional. Neglect occurs when a parent or responsible caretaker fails to provide adequate supervision, food, clothing, shelter or other basics of a child.

It is important for every person to take child abuse and neglect seriously, to be able to recognize when it happens, and to know what to do next. Care enough to call the state’s Child Abuse Hotline: 1 (800) 25-ABUSE or 1 (800) 358-5117 (TTY).

As more children enter the foster system, there is an increasing need for foster parents. Foster parents care about children, and they are willing and able to love, respect, and nurture them. A foster parent has to be at least 21 years old; law-abiding; free of communicable diseases; trained to foster children; a licensed foster parent; able to work closely with the agency that supervises their home; and provide living quarters which are large enough, safe enough and furnished in a way that is appropriate for a family with children.

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If you wish to become a foster parent, call 1 (800) 624-KIDS to request further information. If you prefer adoption, consider making a waiting child part of your family. For more information on how you can become an adoptive parent, call 1 (800) 572-2390.

Logan County Health Department provides services to foster parents and foster children by acting as the lead agency for HealthWorks of Illinois. HealthWorks monitors the medical needs of Department of Children and Family Services wards (foster children) for a 10-county area in Logan, Christian, Mason, Menard, Sangamon, Macoupin, Montgomery, Scott, Morgan and Cass counties. It is a medical program developed to provide the best possible medical care for the children. It provides and maintains a medical network that supplies consistent and appropriate medical services to DCFS wards. All children under the age of 6 also have on hand at each respective health department a medical case manager who will be available to answer any medical questions a foster parent may have about the DCFS ward.

If you desire a foster parent meeting about HealthWorks, please contact the Logan County Health Department at (217) 735-2317.

[News release]

Lincoln Park District

Red Cross

[FEB. 5, 2002]  The American Red Cross will have a class on Feb. 26 and 28 covering adult CPR, infant and child CPR, and first aid.

Class sessions will be in the Red Cross office at 125 S. Kickapoo Street, Lincoln, from 6 to 10 p.m. on the 26th and from 5 to 10 p.m. on the 28th. Attendance both nights is required for the class.

For further information or to preregister, call 732-2134 between noon and 4 p.m. weekdays. All other times, call (217) 522-3357.

Events

February 2002

Tuesday, Feb. 26
SPONSOR: American Red Cross
WHO: By preregistration; call 732-2134 noon-4 pm weekdays or (217) 522-3357 at other times
WHAT: Class covering adult CPR, infant and child CPR, and first aid (first of two sessions required)
WHERE: 125 S. Kickapoo St.
WHEN: 6-10 pm

Thursday, Feb. 28
SPONSOR: American Red Cross
WHO: By preregistration; call 732-2134 noon-4 pm weekdays or (217) 522-3357 at other times
WHAT: Class covering adult CPR, infant and child CPR, and first aid (second of two sessions)
WHERE: 125 S. Kickapoo St.
WHEN: 5-10 pm

March 2002

Thursday, March 7
SPONSOR: Logan County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee
WHO: Public; by preregistration. Call 1 (800) 407-4557.
WHAT: Life Line Screening; tests for stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease and osteoporosis
WHERE: St. John United Church of Christ, 204 Seventh St.

Honors & Awards

Announcements

[FEB. 12, 2002]  Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital offers prenatal classes in a series of four sessions, each on Wednesday, from 7 to 9 p.m. The current series began Jan. 30 and will conclude Feb. 20. The next series will begin March 27.

Participants are provided with information on topics including delivery, breathing and relaxation techniques, infant care, and breastfeeding. Participants will also be given a tour of the Family Maternity Suites.

Classes meet in Conference Room B, located on the lower level at the hospital.

The cost of the series for expectant mothers and their significant others is $30.

For more information or to register for the prenatal classes, call ALMH’s Family Maternity Suites at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 236.

[ALMH news release]

[FEB. 11, 2002]  The National Association for Children of Alcoholics, or NACoA, announced that it will join with its affiliated organizations nationwide to celebrate Children of Alcoholics Week 2002 from Sunday, Feb. 10, through Saturday, Feb. 16.

The theme of this public awareness campaign, "No Child Unsupported," proclaims the responsibility all share for the well-being of all children, but especially for those who struggle with alcohol or drug addiction in their families. NACoA envisions a society where these vulnerable children are encouraged to seek help and have access to adults who can help them.

An estimated one in four U.S. children is exposed to a family alcohol problem, and countless others are affected by familial drug abuse. These young people are at increased risk of a range of problems, including physical illness, emotional disturbances, behavior problems, lower educational performance, and susceptibility to alcoholism or other addiction later in life.

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As a centerpiece of its campaign, NACoA is helping to publicize a series of posters and pamphlets developed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and NACoA to encourage young people to talk with supportive adults. These materials from the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol on Alcohol and Drug Information are available at Logan-Mason Mental Health, (217) 735-2272.

[Provided by Logan-Mason Mental Health]

Health care career scholarship applications available

[JAN. 26, 2002]  Applications for the Dwight F. Zimmerman Scholarship, sponsored by the Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation, are currently available.

Applicants must be seniors graduating from Lincoln Community High School, Mount Pulaski High School, Olympia High School, Hartsburg-Emden High School, Delavan Community High School or Illini Central High School, or students currently attending Lincoln College.

All applicants who are chosen as finalists to interview with the scholarship selection committee will receive an award to be applied directly toward tuition, fees and books. The two top applicants will receive scholarships of $1,500. Other finalists will be awarded $500 scholarships.

Applications are available in the guidance offices of the above-listed schools. Applications are to be submitted to the Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation, 315 Eighth St., Lincoln, IL 62656. The deadline to submit an application for the Zimmerman scholarship is April 5. For more information, call the foundation office at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 405.

People wishing to contribute to the scholarship fund may send their contributions to the Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation, 315 Eighth St., Lincoln, IL 62656.

[News release]

Stroke prevention screening

[JAN. 18, 2002]  Life Line Screening will be in Lincoln on Thursday, March 7.

Life Line Screening is a mobile health service that screens for stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease and osteoporosis. This local opportunity for screening, sponsored by Logan County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, will be at St. John United Church of Christ, 204 Seventh St.

Using ultrasound and Doppler equipment, Life Line Screening can view the arteries. The first test views the carotid arteries, where 75 percent of strokes originate, looking for plaque buildup. 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, called an ABI, is performed to screen the lower extremities for plaque buildup, known as peripheral arterial disease. This disease is directly linked to coronary heart disease.

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The fourth test, for osteoporosis, screens for abnormal bone mass density. This disease is painless and silent in its early stages.

Results are read by a board-certified physician and mailed within 10 business days.

Fees are as follows: stroke-carotid screening, $40; abdominal aortic aneurysm, $40; peripheral vascular disease, $40; or the complete vascular screening, including all three of the preceding tests, $99. Osteoporosis screening is $35. All four tests are available for $125.

Pre-registration is required. Call 1 (800) 407-4557.

More information is available on the Internet: http://www.lifelinescreening.com/
Default.asp?Page=Screenings

[News release]

The Rural Health Partnership has announced the schedule for its mobile health unit for 2002.

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

Resources for Logan County families

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

(updated 2-15-02)

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