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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

Logan County health fairs

[MARCH 1, 2002] 

The 16th annual Children’s Health Fair will be at the Lincoln Park District Indoor Sports Complex, 1400 Primm Road, on Friday, March 22, from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Children’s Health Fair is sponsored by Logan County Health Department and Lincoln Park District.

Fifth-grade students from Lincoln and Logan County schools will be brought to the sports complex for two-hour-long segments during the day. Home-schooled fifth-grade students are also invited to attend. The goal of the Children’s Health Fair is to encourage children to learn about health in a way that allows them to play an active part in the learning process. More than 30 agencies will be represented at the fair. The children will receive information about topics such as cancer prevention, exercise, nutrition, hospitals, disabilities, drugs and alcohol, farm safety, personal hygiene, personal safety, and tobacco prevention.

Special new features for 2002 include the debut appearance in Lincoln of the giant 32-foot crime-fighting dog McGruff. This larger-than-life inflatable figure will also be on hand for Saturday’s Community Health Fair.

Also new to this year’s Children’s Health Fair is a rollover simulator provided by the Illinois State Police. The simulator is designed to demonstrate the importance of wearing safety seat belts. Two life-size dummies, an adult and a child, are placed in the truck cab unbelted. To simulate a rollover accident, the cab is mechanically rotated, which causes the dummies to be ejected. The dummies are returned to the cab and secured with safety seat belts. Again the cab is rotated, and the dummies remain safely in the cab.

The students will once again be going through a Heart Adventure Challenge Course. The Heart Adventure Challenge Course teaches children about the heart as they experience traveling through the heart. Students are physically involved in aerobic exercise while navigating the blood’s pathway through the body.

The fifth-graders will conclude their visit to the fair with a presentation by students from Hartsburg-Emden High School about the dangers of smoking. The skit will give the students an opportunity to get information about tobacco prevention via the performing arts.

As in the past, children have been encouraged to make posters before the fair that relate to some aspect of health. Prizes will be awarded, and the posters will be displayed at the fair. The top four winning posters will be on display at restaurants in Lincoln.

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The theme for this year’s Community Health Fair is "A Healthy You in 2002." The Community Health Fair will be on Saturday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lincoln Park District Indoor Sports Complex. Admission is free. Everyone is invited to attend. The Community Health Fair is sponsored by Logan County Health Department and Lincoln Park District.

More than 70 organizations will have displays or health screenings. Guests at the fair will learn new and innovative approaches to wellness and have the opportunity to win door prizes donated by area merchants.

Several health screenings will be offered to the public at the Community Health Fair. People interested in the screenings should plan to arrive early enough to allow time for all the screenings to be done before the fair ends. Fasting is not necessary before the tests.

Screenings offered at no charge are those for blood pressure, by Logan County Health Department; bone density, by Logan County Health Department, Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Family Medical Center; blood sugar, by Graue Pharmacy; child development from newborn to age 3, by United Cerebral Palsy; height and weight, by Logan County Health Department; pulmonary function, by Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital; and vision, by Logan County Health Department.

In addition, the following screenings are available for a minimal fee: hemoglobin, $1, by Family Medical Center, and cholesterol, $5, by Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

The American Red Cross will conduct a blood bank from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in conjunction with the health fair.

All ages will be treated to plenty of scheduled entertainment during the fair.

At 10 a.m. magician Richard Landry is sure to captivate both children and adults with his magical performance and educational message.

At 11 a.m. Emily Navares and students from Lincoln Park District will be doing a spirited tumbling demonstration.

At 11:30 a.m. Dan Dugan and his students of chito ryu karate will be on hand to entertain you with an enthusiastic demonstration on this self-defense discipline.

Lincoln Community High School Choir will take center stage at noon. Highlighting their performance will be an inspirational salute to America.

At 12:30 p.m. the HYPE puppets will entertain. Lincoln Junior High School’s Helping Youth in a Positive Environment group is making their fourth appearance at the fair.

Sure to add plenty of excitement to the lineup is a 1 p.m. performance by Scott Brown and his students from Lincoln Tae Kwon Do. This popular segment will conclude the day’s entertainment.

Questions about the health fair should be directed to Marcia Dowling at Logan County Health Department, 735-2317, or Marcia Greenslate at Lincoln Park District, 732-8770.

[Logan County Health Department news release]

Lincoln Park District

Lincoln Park District notes

[MARCH 5, 2002] 

The spring session of ceramics kicks off the first week of March.  Scotty Hinman offers several class times to make it convenient for you.  This 12-week session will be our last offering until the fall.  Scotty has a great selection of green ware for you to choose from and is willing to help in any way.

Although the weather does not agree, it is time to play ball!  Registration for baseball (boys) and softball (girls) has already begun.  Representatives of both leagues will be on hand the second and third Saturday of March.  If you have any questions, they will be here from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration will take place in the front lobby.  If Saturday is an inconvenient time for you, you may sign up at the front desk between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.  If you need more information, call 732-8770.

Basic Dog Obedience returns for another four-week session.  Classes start Thursday, March 14.  Mike Beiser will be our instructor again.  Mike has been a professional dog trainer for many years.  He currently works with police departments, training officers and their drug dogs.  Handlers should be over 8 years of age.  You will need to provide your dog’s current inoculations records, a choke-chain-type collar, and a 6-foot leash.

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Lincoln Park District in conjunction with Logan County Health Department is offering the annual Community Health Fair on Saturday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The theme this year is "A Healthy You in 2002." This fair promises to be one of the largest in our history.  Not only will there be a vast number of informational booths but many screenings as well.  There will be a minimal charge for some screenings, but many are free.

Hippity-hoppity, Easter is on its way.  The Easter bunny will stop at the park district on Saturday, March 30.  Our special thanks to Maple Ridge Care Centre and the Lincoln Kiwanis for underwriting the cost of this program and supplying the manpower as well.  We begin the egg hunt at 10 a.m. in the 0-2 age division.  Older age divisions start hunting at 15-minute intervals after that.

Finishing touches are being put on our summer programs. The summer brochure should be out in May.  If you have a question about a program we did last year, feel free to call us.  Also, if you have program ideas, don’t hesitate to share them with us. You might even be the next Lincoln Park District class instructor.

[Lincoln Park District news release]

Red Cross

Red Cross blood drives in March

[MARCH 6, 2002]   Two blood drives will be conducted by the American Red Cross in March at the Lincoln Sports Complex.

On Wednesday, March 6, hours will be from noon to 5 p.m. On Saturday, March 23, there will be a blood drive in conjunction with the Community Health Fair, and hours will be 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Appointments may be made by calling (800) 728-3543, but walk-ins are always welcome.

During February, the following people reached goals in their blood donations: David Smith, 12 gallons; Mike FitzHenry, seven; Gene L. Cross, five; Marcia Warner, four; Kirk Dobihal, two; and Carol Ross, one gallon.

Events

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.

Friday, March 22
SPONSOR: Logan County Health Department and Lincoln Park District
WHO: Logan County fifth-graders
WHAT: Children's Health Fair
WHERE: Lincoln Sports Complex, 1400 Primm Road
WHEN: 8:45 am to 2:30 pm

Saturday, March 23
SPONSOR: Logan County Health Department and Lincoln Park District
WHO: Public
WHAT: Community Health Fair
WHERE: Lincoln Sports Complex, 1400 Primm Road
WHEN: 9 am to 2 pm

SPONSOR: American Red Cross
WHO: Public
WHAT: Blood drive
WHERE: Lincoln Sports Complex
WHEN: 9 am to 2 pm

Honors & Awards

Announcements

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.

Community resource list

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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