A woman was injured after an accident in Washington Township Wednesday night.
The driver, whose name has not been released, was driving at a high rate of speed on 700 E. just north of 25 N. in Starke County. She reportedly went off the roadway by the Eagle Creek Cemetery and hit the fence. This caused her vehicle to spin around and hit a tree. Her car came to rest against another portion of the cemetery’s fence. She was taken to IU Health Starke Hospital for injuries sustained in the accident and later transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend.
IU Health Starke Hospital personnel attended a Strategic Planning Retreat this week. Presenting pertinent information were Doug Leonard, the president of the Indiana Hospital Association; Tory Castor, vice president of Government Affairs at IU Health Indianapolis; and Dr. Curt Bechler, managing partner of Venture International, LLC.
Included was a review of surveys taken by community members and an examination of national trends. Most of the respondents expressed confidence in the medical staff, and praised the decision to affiliate with IU Health. One weakness, however, was the perception that the antiquated Starke Hospital building denoted inferior services – but Hospital Interim CEO David Hyatt noted that the services rendered at Starke have never been better.
An alleged battery incident occurred yesterday in the North Judson area.
Angela Schwei and another woman were reportedly engaged in a verbal argument in the Burger King restaurant on Talmer Avenue and were told to leave. They went out in the parking lot and the argument escalated. Schwei allegedly got out a sharp object and slashed the victim on the leg, causing a gash.
Mark Savage, director of occupational services for IU Health, spoke to the Starke County Chamber of Commerce members Wednesday night about the rising cost of health care for the employees of the business.
Savage contended that employee healthcare costs are going to increase for employers if their workforce does not become healthier, and he said employers can anticipate a total healthcare cost increase of 6.2 percent this year over 2011.
IU Health Starke Hospital Interim President David Hyatt announced this week that the hospital has invested nearly three quarters of a million dollars in new equipment. He presented his capital expenditures report to the Starke County Council last week, and he said total capital expenditures so far this year total $862,071. He says $735,280 of these expenses were for equipment, with $63,589 in contingency funds.
Two high-tech pieces of equipment cost nearly half a million dollars alone, including a Nuclear Medicine Dual-head Camera at $276,749, and a new Patient Monitoring System for the inpatient units with a cost of $202,470. Hyatt says the new patient monitors are the most technologically-advanced monitors available, and will allow patients to be monitored anywhere in the hospital from central monitoring screens in the ICU and Medical Surgical Units.
The LaPorte Hospital Foundation, on behalf of IU Health Starke Hospital and the Starke Health Fund, was recently awarded a $15,000 grant from the Northern Indiana Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to help fight breast cancer.
This grant will assist low-income, uninsured women age 40 and older and women of any age who are at high risk for breast cancer to receive screening or diagnostic mammography services through a physician’s referral. This year’s funding also provides for the purchase of breast biopsy equipment for the Imaging Department at IU Health Starke Hospital.
Call your physician or the Imaging Department at IU Health Starke Hospital to see if you qualify for a free screening or diagnostic mammogram voucher at (574) 772-1143.
WKVI Groundbreaking in 1987 (L to R) LeRoy Gudeman, Harold Weinberg, Tom Bell, Ted Hayes, Ralph Harbison and Mike Gurrado (missing from the picture-Almo Smith)
To all of my WKVI friends,
Today, I begin a second career in Knox. After 43 years at the radio station, I have formed a new company, Hayes Media Solutions. In the early stages, I will be publicizing information from IU Health Starke Hospital. In my almost 50 years in broadcasting, I have always been interested in health-related issues, so this new task will be a labor of love.
With temperatures still expected in the 90s today, it’s important to be safe while in the heat.
An excessive heat warning continues today so remember to stay hydrated and stay in an air-conditioned shelter during the hottest parts of the day. Check on homebound and elderly family members or neighbors several times a day to make sure they are staying hydrated and not showing signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Statewide, nearly 1.5 percent of all emergency department visits the past few days were heat-related. One person was admitted into the Emergency Room at IU Health Starke Hospital for heat exhaustion.
The Supreme Court has upheld President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act. The law requires individuals not covered by employer or government-sponsored insurance plans to maintain minimal essential health insurance coverage or pay a penalty unless exempted for religious beliefs or financial hardship.
Be careful about that friendly puppy you pet, the purring cat you stroke, or anyone who wants to shake your hand after coming inside from a walk in the woods. You could be in for a case of poison ivy if you come in contact with pets, people, or your own touching of the plant.
Dr. Almuhannad Alfrhan at I.U. Health-Starke Hospital explained that there are some creams that can prevent getting poison ivy rash.
“There are some topical creams that help in prevention. They are only partially effective though, and they need to be applied every three hours to have a reasonable response,” Alfrhan said.
Poison ivy afflicts 55 million Americans each year. For severe cases, a trip to the doctor is necessary for a cortisone shot. Smoke from burning poison ivy can affect your lungs and cover your face and lungs. Fortunately, itching skin can be soothed with calamine lotion.
Alfrhan explained what to do if you realize you have been in contact with poison ivy.
“Take your clothes off that were in direct contact, and wash the skin. You will need to do this within ten minutes to give yourself a chance of not being affected,” he said.
When you rinse an exposed area, use cold water as hot water can open your pores and let the bad oil in. Finally, remember to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants while in the woods or gardening.
Alfran said some people don’t develop the rash right away.
“That’s the tricky part,” Alfran noted. “Most people don’t develop the reaction immediately afterwords. Some people will take a few days to three weeks before it develops. It’s really hard to connect the dots to know where you got the exposure from.”
Ladies over 40, have you had your yearly mammogram? According to Josephine Klicek at IU Health Starke Hospital, there is no more important decision you can make today than to schedule your mammogram.
Klicek is so passionate that women over 40 should have a yearly mammogram that she set up a table at the recent Health Fair, sponsored in part by IU Health Starke Hospital.
“When the patients would come up, one of the things we would ask them is, ‘Do you have insurance? Have you had your yearly mammogram?’” she said.
IU Health Starke Hospital is gathering information from community leaders, public health professionals, and community members regarding the health needs of the communities the hospital serves. All nonprofit hospitals are being asked to collect this information under the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
According to IU Health Starke Hospital Interim President David Hyatt, this gives the hospital an opportunity to improve the health of its patients.
Those selected for the survey are being asked to fill out an online survey and participate in a one-on-one interview.
David Hyatt takes over as the interim CEO of IU Health Starke Hospital today. Hyatt says that he is looking forward to the new opportunity and has some good changes in mind.
“I’ve been here at Starke Hospital for the past three years now. I really enjoy it, and love working with the people here. I’m just excited for this new opportunity, and making some good changes and taking Starke Hospital to the next level,” Hyatt said.
The Starke County Council failed again this week to pass an amendment of the ordinance regarding the use of Save the Hospital Funds. The amendment would have authorized the use of up to $50,000 in Save the Hospital Funds to hire a consultant to evaluate the hospital’s value.
This information would be used in the possible sale of the hospital to IU Health La Porte or other interested buyers. IU Health La Porte has already made an offer.
Starke County Council members will resume discussion tonight concerning an amendment to an ordinance that, if approved, would allow the county to use up to $50,000 in Save the Hospital Funds to hire a consultant to evaluate the hospital’s real and personal property.
The Council had discussed the proposed amendment during a special meeting on May 14, but it was voted down. Council President Dave Pearman said the motion needed a five-member approval, but only gained four “yes” votes.
“The thing that I really want to reiterate about this is this is not necessarily saying that we are going to spend even one dollar to start with, but we need some enabling legislation to allow us to seek a consultant for this project to make sure that we make the wise decision for the public’s best interest,” said Pearman.
Thousands of Indiana University Health employees helped build the framing for more than 20 homes yesterday. IU Health Starke County employees were building framing for Henryville while IU Health La Porte built framing for a home in Kingsford Heights.
The employees were assisted by volunteers and local Habitat for Humanity members. The work was done during the hospital’s Day of Service commitment.
Habitat for Humanity officials say this one day of work goes a long way toward improving the lives of more than two dozen Hoosier families in need of their own space.
IU Health was named among the “Best Hospitals in America” by U.S. News and World Report. The hospital system has received the award for 14 straight years.
“If it wasn’t that I had strep throat, I never would have gotten the job,” said Rosie Heise, who was recently promoted to the position of Vice President of Business Improvements for both IU Health La Porte and Starke hospitals.
In an interview with WKVI News, Heise said that while visiting her local physician, Dr. Walter Fritz, for strep throat four years ago, she learned that Starke Memorial Hospital was looking for a controller. She applied, was hired, and the rest is history.
Since being employed, Starke Memorial has become IU Health Starke Hospital, and Heise has been an integral part of the operation.
IU Health Starke Hospital will be establishing a patient and family advisory council. The council will consist of past patients and families, and will give advice on future programs and services.
The hospital is seeking patient and family nominations for the IU Health Starke Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Council. Nominees should represent the diversity of IU Health’s patient community, have had a recent experience with the IU Health System, and be able to share their insight in ways that are constructive and be able to interact well with others and speak candidly in groups.
The public hearing regarding the possibility of selling IU Health Starke Hospital to IU Health La Porte was held yesterday evening, and a number of questions were answered regarding the sale. Several concerned citizens, including some hospital board members, were present at the meeting with questions.
The county officials discussed a possible amendment of the county ordinance restricting the use of the proceeds from the lease of Starke Memorial Hospital dated October 1, 1996. The amendment would authorize the use of up to $50,000 in Save the Hospital Funds to be used to hire a consultant to evaluate the hospital’s real and personal property.
Starke County Council President Dave Pearman encourages the public to attend the public hearing of the County Council and Commissioners on Monday, May 14, at the Starke County Annex Building.
The county officials will discuss the possible amendment of the county ordinance restricting the use of the proceeds from the lease of Starke Memorial Hospital dated October 1st, 1996. The amendment would authorize the use of up to $50,000 in Save the Hospital Funds to be used to hire a consultant to evaluate the hospital’s real and personal property. Starke County Council President, Dave Pearman, said you are encouraged to attend this public hearing to ask questions and voice concerns.
