Tri Valley Health System News
Mary Alexander finds perfect ingredients in family, local healthcare facility, and herself to recover from stroke
When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade. Mary Alexander definitely has the right ingredients for a successful recovery from the stroke she had on March 1 and she has never been more grateful for her local healthcare system and her loving family.
Mary is healthy and showed no signs of a possible stroke, but on March 1 while at home, Mary slid out of her chair and couldn’t use the right side of her body. Mary was brought to the Tri Valley Health System emergency room by her husband, Larry, and son Jerry where she was evaluated by Sarah Norton, PA-C. Norton said, “We were quick in evaluating her for a stroke and went into stroke protocol immediately.” Part of that stroke protocol was the use of Teledigm and Bryan telestroke technology that Tri Valley Health System implemented last August. Tri Valley Health System quickly connected to Neurologist and Stroke Specialist Dr. Wanahita. Norton said, “The whole process was very easy and Dr. Wanahita was great to work with. She quickly gave her recommendations after being able to evaluate Mary directly through the device. This was able to give me time to begin making arrangements for her transfer which time is extremely important with stroke cases. It was wonderful to have expert care right with the patient during this acute phase of the stroke.” Mary was treated with medication to reduce bleeding and then transferred to Bryan West with a diagnosis of hemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by a weakened vessel that ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain and accounts for about 13% of stroke cases.
Mary stayed at Bryan West until March 28 when she was finally able to return to Tri Valley Health System as a swing bed patient to be closer to home. Mary received care at Tri Valley Health System for a month and continued to rehabilitate with loved ones and a great support system by her side.
Family is a key ingredient to Mary’s recovery. Larry, Mary’s husband of 60 years, was always by Mary’s side and wanted to learn how to do everything to be able to help Mary. One of the things Mary is looking forward to doing is going for walks, which always involves holding hands with Larry. Mary and Larry have 2 children, 8 grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren. Three grandchildren are nurses so Mary said they have been able to provide her lots of help and information.
Tri Valley Health System provided Mary meals, therapy, and any assistance that she needed. Mary said, “The care has been incredible. They are there every time I need them 24 hours a day. The therapy departments have been helping me regain skills. The care is here, we just have to use it.”
Recovery from a hemorrhagic stroke is very difficult, but no one was going to tell Mary that as she has made a nearly miraculous recovery. Tri Valley Health System staff attributed her recovery to Mary’s attitude and determination. Mary said, “I just took it day by day, and I wanted to get better. I have many more memories to make and new babies to meet.”
Tri Valley Health System honors nurses with the DAISY award
Congratulations to Daisy Nominees Ashlee Minard, Kristi Shoemaker, Justine Brott, and Amanda Bennett. This year’s winner is Justine Brott. The DAISY Award stands for “Diseases Attacking the Immune System” and is presented to nurses who display extraordinary care and go the extra mile for their patients. Justine’s nomination letter said, “We found Justine to be so kind and caring and going the extra mile by asking little things that made us feel valued and well taken care of. She even thought of the potential IV admin, when she took blood samples so as not to put another needle in. She was always asking if I needed anything and even bringing me ice for the soda and crackers. She is very professional and exemplifies the core values of TVHS. She even got the medications from the pharmacy, knowing that they would be closed by the time we were released from the ER.” Justine was presented the Healer’s Touch Sculpture along with a special Daisy Pin. Congratulations to Justine and all the nominees. Tri Valley Health System would like to thank everyone who nominated our DAISY Honoree and nominees today. This award does not happen unless people take the time to submit a nomination story, and it means a great deal that you care enough for our nurses to do so.
Tri Valley Health System's Advanced Wound Care Clinic Receives Center of Excellence Award
Award acknowledges exceptional success in multiple wound healing benchmarks.
Tri Valley Health System's Advanced Wound Care Clinic is a recipient of RestorixHealth’s highest achievement, the Wound Center of Excellence Award. Recipients of this prestigious award meet or exceed national wound care quality benchmarks over a set period of time.
The Wound Center of Excellence Award distinguishes centers that have demonstrated exceptional success by meeting or exceeding clinical and operational benchmarks in several categories, including healing outcomes, adherence to clinical practice pathways and patient safety, along with a patient satisfaction rate of 96% or higher.
“This achievement reaffirms our mission through our partnership with RestorixHealth to improve the health and quality of life for those in our community with wounds,” said Sally Farquhar, APRN. “We are proud to be recognized for the outstanding care that we provide patients every day.”
The Advanced Wound Care Clinic is dedicated to optimizing outcomes and preventing lower limb loss in those patients with non-healing wounds. The approach to wound care is aggressive and comprehensive, coordinating traditional and advanced therapies and techniques that are proven to reduce healing time and improve healing rates.
The center is staffed with clinicians with advanced training in wound care.
The Wound Clinic is open every Thursday. For more information, please call 308-697-1285.
Tri Valley Health System Health Fairs Scheduled
Tri Valley Health System is again offering area community health fairs. Health Fairs will be held from 7-9 a.m. on June 16 at the Cambridge Community Building, July 3 at the Ella Missing Center in Arapahoe, July 14 at the Beaver City Community Building, and August 11 at the St. Catherine’s Hall in Indianola.
Tri Valley Health System will run a CBC, PSA, A1C, and TSH.
The costs are as follows:
Results will be mailed to you within two weeks of the fair. Tri Valley Health System does not forward the results to your provider. However, if you’d like to visit with your provider about the results, call the medical clinic at 308-697-3317 to schedule an appointment.
Forms are available here, at all three clinics, and will be available at the health fairs.
Tri Valley Health System adds dermatology clinic
Premier Dermatology & Mohs Surgery Center will be providing dermatology services at Tri Valley Health System starting on April 20, 2023. Dr. Adams will be seeing patients at Tri Valley Health System on the third Thursday of every month.
From 2013-2016, Dr. Adams served on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Mohs Surgery. In 2016, he served as the President of the Kansas Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. Dr. Adams has also been selected as one of “America’s Top Physicians.” He currently serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dr. Adams received his medical degree from the University of Southern California. He has been practicing at Advanced Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center, PA since 1998.
Some of the conditions Dr. Adams will treat include: acne, all types of skin cancer, irregular moles, melanoma, eczema, poison ivy, psoriasis, rosacea, skin abnormalities, skin infections, warts and more.
Tri Valley Health System is very excited to be able to offer expert dermatology care to this area. For an appointment call (402) 462-4872 or toll-free at (888) 806-6571.
When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade. Mary Alexander definitely has the right ingredients for a successful recovery from the stroke she had on March 1 and she has never been more grateful for her local healthcare system and her loving family.
Mary is healthy and showed no signs of a possible stroke, but on March 1 while at home, Mary slid out of her chair and couldn’t use the right side of her body. Mary was brought to the Tri Valley Health System emergency room by her husband, Larry, and son Jerry where she was evaluated by Sarah Norton, PA-C. Norton said, “We were quick in evaluating her for a stroke and went into stroke protocol immediately.” Part of that stroke protocol was the use of Teledigm and Bryan telestroke technology that Tri Valley Health System implemented last August. Tri Valley Health System quickly connected to Neurologist and Stroke Specialist Dr. Wanahita. Norton said, “The whole process was very easy and Dr. Wanahita was great to work with. She quickly gave her recommendations after being able to evaluate Mary directly through the device. This was able to give me time to begin making arrangements for her transfer which time is extremely important with stroke cases. It was wonderful to have expert care right with the patient during this acute phase of the stroke.” Mary was treated with medication to reduce bleeding and then transferred to Bryan West with a diagnosis of hemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by a weakened vessel that ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain and accounts for about 13% of stroke cases.
Mary stayed at Bryan West until March 28 when she was finally able to return to Tri Valley Health System as a swing bed patient to be closer to home. Mary received care at Tri Valley Health System for a month and continued to rehabilitate with loved ones and a great support system by her side.
Family is a key ingredient to Mary’s recovery. Larry, Mary’s husband of 60 years, was always by Mary’s side and wanted to learn how to do everything to be able to help Mary. One of the things Mary is looking forward to doing is going for walks, which always involves holding hands with Larry. Mary and Larry have 2 children, 8 grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren. Three grandchildren are nurses so Mary said they have been able to provide her lots of help and information.
Tri Valley Health System provided Mary meals, therapy, and any assistance that she needed. Mary said, “The care has been incredible. They are there every time I need them 24 hours a day. The therapy departments have been helping me regain skills. The care is here, we just have to use it.”
Recovery from a hemorrhagic stroke is very difficult, but no one was going to tell Mary that as she has made a nearly miraculous recovery. Tri Valley Health System staff attributed her recovery to Mary’s attitude and determination. Mary said, “I just took it day by day, and I wanted to get better. I have many more memories to make and new babies to meet.”
Tri Valley Health System honors nurses with the DAISY award
Congratulations to Daisy Nominees Ashlee Minard, Kristi Shoemaker, Justine Brott, and Amanda Bennett. This year’s winner is Justine Brott. The DAISY Award stands for “Diseases Attacking the Immune System” and is presented to nurses who display extraordinary care and go the extra mile for their patients. Justine’s nomination letter said, “We found Justine to be so kind and caring and going the extra mile by asking little things that made us feel valued and well taken care of. She even thought of the potential IV admin, when she took blood samples so as not to put another needle in. She was always asking if I needed anything and even bringing me ice for the soda and crackers. She is very professional and exemplifies the core values of TVHS. She even got the medications from the pharmacy, knowing that they would be closed by the time we were released from the ER.” Justine was presented the Healer’s Touch Sculpture along with a special Daisy Pin. Congratulations to Justine and all the nominees. Tri Valley Health System would like to thank everyone who nominated our DAISY Honoree and nominees today. This award does not happen unless people take the time to submit a nomination story, and it means a great deal that you care enough for our nurses to do so.
Tri Valley Health System's Advanced Wound Care Clinic Receives Center of Excellence Award
Award acknowledges exceptional success in multiple wound healing benchmarks.
Tri Valley Health System's Advanced Wound Care Clinic is a recipient of RestorixHealth’s highest achievement, the Wound Center of Excellence Award. Recipients of this prestigious award meet or exceed national wound care quality benchmarks over a set period of time.
The Wound Center of Excellence Award distinguishes centers that have demonstrated exceptional success by meeting or exceeding clinical and operational benchmarks in several categories, including healing outcomes, adherence to clinical practice pathways and patient safety, along with a patient satisfaction rate of 96% or higher.
“This achievement reaffirms our mission through our partnership with RestorixHealth to improve the health and quality of life for those in our community with wounds,” said Sally Farquhar, APRN. “We are proud to be recognized for the outstanding care that we provide patients every day.”
The Advanced Wound Care Clinic is dedicated to optimizing outcomes and preventing lower limb loss in those patients with non-healing wounds. The approach to wound care is aggressive and comprehensive, coordinating traditional and advanced therapies and techniques that are proven to reduce healing time and improve healing rates.
The center is staffed with clinicians with advanced training in wound care.
The Wound Clinic is open every Thursday. For more information, please call 308-697-1285.
Tri Valley Health System Health Fairs Scheduled
Tri Valley Health System is again offering area community health fairs. Health Fairs will be held from 7-9 a.m. on June 16 at the Cambridge Community Building, July 3 at the Ella Missing Center in Arapahoe, July 14 at the Beaver City Community Building, and August 11 at the St. Catherine’s Hall in Indianola.
Tri Valley Health System will run a CBC, PSA, A1C, and TSH.
The costs are as follows:
- Health Fair $55
- PSA Test (Men) $25
- TSH Screening Only (Thyroid) $25
- A1C Test (Avg. 3-month blood sugar) $25
Results will be mailed to you within two weeks of the fair. Tri Valley Health System does not forward the results to your provider. However, if you’d like to visit with your provider about the results, call the medical clinic at 308-697-3317 to schedule an appointment.
Forms are available here, at all three clinics, and will be available at the health fairs.
Tri Valley Health System adds dermatology clinic
Premier Dermatology & Mohs Surgery Center will be providing dermatology services at Tri Valley Health System starting on April 20, 2023. Dr. Adams will be seeing patients at Tri Valley Health System on the third Thursday of every month.
From 2013-2016, Dr. Adams served on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Mohs Surgery. In 2016, he served as the President of the Kansas Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. Dr. Adams has also been selected as one of “America’s Top Physicians.” He currently serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dr. Adams received his medical degree from the University of Southern California. He has been practicing at Advanced Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center, PA since 1998.
Some of the conditions Dr. Adams will treat include: acne, all types of skin cancer, irregular moles, melanoma, eczema, poison ivy, psoriasis, rosacea, skin abnormalities, skin infections, warts and more.
Tri Valley Health System is very excited to be able to offer expert dermatology care to this area. For an appointment call (402) 462-4872 or toll-free at (888) 806-6571.