Starke County Building Corporation, Commissioners Meeting This Morning

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse

The Starke County Building Corporation plans to appoint a committee to discuss future uses for the current jail. They are meeting this morning at 8:30 at the county annex building, prior to the commissioners meeting at 9. Skillman Corporation will also provide an update on how construction of the new jail east of Knox on State Road 8 is going. It’s scheduled for completion in the spring of 2015. The commissioners agenda includes consideration of a proposal from Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski to relocate some precincts. Officials from IU Health Starke Hospital will also discuss the physicians recruitment program. EMA Director Ted Bombagetti and James Coad are on the agenda regarding the county’s emergency preparedness plan. Wendy Elam from CADA has a proclamation for the county to declare April Child Abuse Prevention Month. CADA, CASA and the Indiana Department of Child Services are kicking off the awareness campaign tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Nancy J. Dembowski Convention Center in downtown Knox with a Pinwheels for Prevention candle lighting ceremony. Members of the public are invited to come show their support for children in the community. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place inside.

Annual Community Health Fair Scheduled May 13

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The annual IU Health and Community Services of Starke County Health Fair will take place Tuesday, May 13 from 2 until 7 p.m. at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in downtown Knox. IU Health Starke Hospital President Craig Felty says both organizations are dedicated to improving the health of local residents. He says the health fair will feature a number of educational exhibits and several types of screenings. Blood pressure and blood sugar checks, breast exams, oral cancer screenings and osteoporosis checks will all be offered. Also  take-home colorectal cancer screening kits will be available. Felty says checking for these types of conditions is critical in order to catch and treat problems before they become significant. IU Health Starke Hospital is also licensed to inspect child safety seats. Technicians will be available at the health fair to make sure car seats are properly installed and sized for the child. This year’s health fair will also feature a coloring area for youngsters so parents and other adults can more easily browse the exhibits and take part in the screenings.

IU Health Starke Hospital Celebrates Doctors Day

Posted on Author WKVI
Dr. Mangalore Subba Rao and IU Health Starke Hospital President Craig Felty
Dr. Mangalore Subba Rao and IU Health Starke Hospital President Craig Felty

Local physicians were the guests of honor Friday morning at IU Health Starke Hospital. The administration hosted a breakfast in the cafeteria to celebrate Doctor’s Day, which is actually Sunday, March 30.

Doctor’s Day was first celebrated in 1933. That date was chosen because on March 30, 1842 Dr. Crawford Williamson Long first used general anesthesia in surgery. He used ether on a patient who was having a tumor removed from his neck. Long went on to use anesthesia in both amputations and childbirth. In 1990 President George H.W. Bush officially made the date a holiday to recognize the nation’s physicians.

IU Health Starke Hospital Offers Final Free Affordable Care Act Event

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Area residents have one final chance to get their questions about the Affordable Care Act answered before Monday’s looming deadline. IU Health Starke Hospital is hosting a free question and answer session today from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. CDT in the conference room. IU Health Exchange Navigators will be able to help people sign up for coverage or answer any questions they may have. Monday is the last day for people without insurance to sign up for coverage in order to avoid paying a penalty during next year’s tax season.

The federal government did grant a reprieve for people who have started an application on the healthcare.gov website but can’t complete it by the March 31 deadline. They will be given an extension, although the amount of time was not specified. In order to qualify, the applicant needs to check the blue box on the healthcare.gov website indicating an attempt to sign up for coverage by the March 31 deadline.

Starke Council Receives Update on Hospital’s Capital Expenditures

Posted on Author WKVI

Craig Felty
Craig Felty
The recently named president of IU Health Starke Hospital presented the county council this week with the hospital’s fourth quarter report for capital dollars spent at the hospital. Craig Felty told the council that the hospital suffered from the loss of the hospital’s oldest generator, and as a result, they had no choice but to put in a new one. He said other expenses included finishing the work on the hospital’s electric system, fireproofing for firewalls throughout the facility and the installation of fire stops.

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Visiting Restrictions Lifted at IU Health Hospitals

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
IU Health has lifted visiting restrictions at IU Health LaPorte and Starke Hospitals.

The low number of positive influenza cases in the area and at the state level prompted the change in previous visitor restrictions.

The local facilities implemented the precautionary measures of visitor restrictions to protect patients, families and colleagues from unnecessary potential exposure to the flu virus in mid-January.

IU Health continues to encourage all visitors to use their best judgment when visiting a loved one in the hospital. If visiting someone in a hospital, make sure you are healthy. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer often.

Craig Felty Named IU Health Starke Hospital President

Posted on Author WKVI

Craig Felty
Craig Felty
IU Health Starke Hospital has named its new president but it’s a familiar face; Craig Felty was named president of the organization, after being previously named interim administrator after former executive Linda Satkoski retired in December. Felty previously served as executive director of patient care services at IU Health Starke Hospital since January 2011.

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Families and Addiction Seminar Planned for Starke County Residents

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Several community groups are teaming up to sponsor a family education and support program on a significant, but often taboo, topic in Starke County. IU Health Starke Hospital, Mayor Rick Chambers and the city of Knox, Moving Starke County Forward, the Starke County Community Corrections Advisory Board and Porter Starke Services present four Families and Addiction programs. They will take place each Tuesday in February from 6 until 7:30 p.m. CST at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center. Porter Starke Substance Abuse and Addiction Counselor Todd Willis says they wanted to present information in a non-threatening, educational setting.

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Visitation Restrictions in Place at Some Hospitals Due to Flu

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The increase in incidences of the H1N1 flu virus in the area has prompted several hospitals to take preventative steps to curb the spread of the flu viruses, including the implementation of visitor restrictions at some campuses.

Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Plymouth and Mishawaka are among those hospitals implementing restrictions, prohibiting any visitors under the age of 18 and allowing only healthy adults to visit. In addition, only two visitors per patient are allowed at a time.

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IU Health Offering Free Heart Screenings for Student Athletes

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
IU Health Starke Hospital is offering free heart screenings to student athletes on a first-come, first-served basis later this month. Student athletes will be screened with an electrocardiogram and limited echocardiogram. The specialized tests, which take about 15 minutes, help identify any possible structural abnormalities within the cardiovascular system that may lead to premature cardiac arrest, screening organizers said.

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IU Health Starke Hospital Names New Interim Director

Posted on Author WKVI

Craig Felty
Craig Felty
IU Health Starke Hospital has a new interim administrator. Craig Felty will take over for fellow executive Linda Satoski, who is retiring. He’s served as the executive director of patient care services at the Knox facility since January of 2011. IU Health executives said in a statement that the search for a permanent president of IU Health Starke Hospital is ongoing and should be finished this spring. Felty brings more than 25 years of patient care and healthcare management experience to the position. He has worked as Patient Care Manager of the Mitchell Emergency Department at the University of Chicago Medical Center, Critical Care Transport Nurse for an ambulance service in Illinois and Director of Emergency Services for Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, Ill.

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MDWise and IU Health Starke Hospital Schedule Affordable Care Act Forum

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Health care industry experts will be available Tuesday, Dec. 10 at IU Health Starke Hospital to answer your questions about the Affordable Care Act. Representatives from the nonprofit health insurance company MDwise will offer a presentation about the health insurance marketplace at 3 p.m. CST in the conference room of the Knox facility. It’s one of several “learn and enroll” events the hospital is putting on to answer questions about the effect of the Affordable Care Act, health insurance options and the consequences of not enrolling in a health plan. Hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers will be eligible for health insurance starting next year, but there’s still quite a bit of confusion about the enrollment process and various health plan options. The session is open to the public, and an RSVP is not required to attend.

Great American Smoke Out Urged Americans to Drop the Habit

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The American Cancer Society’s 38th Great American Smoke Out was held yesterday, when Starke County residents were encouraged to drop the habit in celebration of the event. Brittany Ward, a respiratory therapist at IU Health Starke Hospital, said even though the event is over, now is still the perfect time to quit.

“According to the American Cancer Society, the Great American Smoke Out is held on the third Thursday in November. During this day, smokers across the nation make a plan to quit or plan in advance to quit smoking today. It challenges people to stop using tobacco and makes people aware of the many tools and resources they can use to quit for good,” Ward said.

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IU Health Starke Hospital Receives MRI Accreditation

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
IU Health Starke Hospital recently received what’s described as the “gold seal” for the administration of a popular non-invasive diagnostic medical procedure. The American College of Radiology has issued a three-year accreditation to the hospital’s MRI service. MRI uses magnetic fields to produce a three-dimensional x-ray of internal body parts to help physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions.

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IU Health Starke Hospital to Hold Breast Cancer Awareness Walk Saturday

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
With Breast Cancer Awareness Month in full swing, IU Health Starke Hospital has announced they will hold a 5K, two-mile walk in partnership with multiple organizations in the community to raise awareness of breast cancer. According to Craig Felty, executive director of Patient Care Services, the race begins on Saturday with registration at 3 p.m. and opens at 3:30 p.m. with ceremonies before kicking the races off at 4 p.m.

Felty said it’s a great cause to get behind and invites everyone in the community to participate.

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Special Event Planned for Saturday to Recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
IU Health Starke Hospital and WKVI Radio are urging you to “think pink” this October. One way to do that is to participate in a 5K race/2 mile walk this Saturday, Oct. 5 at Knox High School.

Registration for the event begins at 3 p.m. and the race begins at 4 p.m. At 3:30 p.m., a celebration will be held to recognize all breast cancer survivors. Continue reading →