Latest News from December 2009

Valley County Health System has published their second annual report. This report is for the July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009 fiscal year.  The report is an eight page, full color publication featuring sections titled CEO's Message, In Recognition, Small Steps-Giant Leaps - Breaking Ground on our New Healthcare Destination, Committed to Excellence, Giving Back and Financial Review.  This report is published annually as a method of communication with area residents about the services provided by Valley County Health System and the accomplishments of each year.

Nearly 7,000 copies of the report were mailed to addresses in Ord, Burwell, Taylor, Sargent, Comstock, Arcadia, Loup City, North Loup, Scotia, Greeley, Ericson and Cotesfield.  The annual report may also be viewed by clicking this link.

Valley County Health System's annual Celebrate Being a Woman event raised $840 in funds from the raffle of items that were donated by departments and individual employees.  The funds were used to purchase gift certificates for meat to the Ord Grocery Kart, Speed's Apple Market and Hruby's Market in Arcadia.  The certificates were then donated to Make Christmas Happen, a local project providing holiday assistance to families in Valley County.  The hospital worked with Make Christmas Happen organizer, Agnes Janda, to determine the number of gift certificates needed and to which grocery store, based on where the families live.  Twenty five dollar gift certificates were provided to large families and $10 certificates were provided to small families.

VCHS also sponsored their annual wreath auction on Friday, December 11th.  The auction generated $1,123 and these funds were also donated to Make Christmas Happen. The wreaths were donated by VCHS employees and displayed at the hospital.

In addition, the Home Health and Hospice Department held a bake sale on Dec. 18th.  The sale generated $430, all of which was donated to Make Christmas Happen.

Valley County Health System is pleased contribute to funds from these three events to Make Christmas Happen for the benefit of area families.

Pictured (l to r):  Darlene Bruha, Carol Thomsen, Pat Konkoleski, Rose Ella Sevenker, Doris David, Agnes Janda, Larry Schrage, Harlan Green and Lyle Sevenker.

Christy Peterson, Physical Therapist at Valley County Health System, has received Postural Restoration Certification (PRC) through the Postural Restoration Institute.  In 2004, the Institute established a certification process for physical therapists as a way to recognize and identify those individuals with advanced training, extraordinary interest and devotion to the science of postural adaptations, asymmetrical patterns and the influence of polyarticular chains of muscles on the human body as defined by the Postural Restoration Institute.

Certification is available to physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and occupational therapists who have attended all PRI courses, demonstrated a thorough understanding of the science through completion of the PRC application, and successfully participate in both clinical and analytical testing.

Postural restoration allows effective treatment of any type of diagnosis, however, great improvements have been seen with many chronic pain conditions.  This program centers around restoring diaphragm and appropriate breathing function combined with repositioning and balancing the pelvis, hip, back and shoulder muscles to create a restored posture that moves and functions more normally. This approach may effectively treat many difficult entities including hip bursitis, sacroiliac and low back pain, leg and foot pain, headaches and cervical pain, as well as pain in the upper back and rib cage regions. Exercise as well as many manual techniques and breathing are utilized.

To date 45 Physical Therapists, 1 PT Assistant, and 2 Occupational Therapists worldwide have earned the designation of Postural Restoration Certified (PRC) under the direction of Ron Hruska.  Several therapists at Valley County Health System have training in Postural Restoration and will be seeking certification in the future.

Valley County Health System congratulates Christy on this outstanding achievement.

During the weeks of December 7 and 14, the contractors continued work on the new hospital.  Taping of the dry wall in the acute care department was completed as was dry wall installation in the surgery and emergency room departments.  Dry wall installation in the medical clinic and specialty clinic began as did taping dry wall in the surgery and emergency room departments.   Cable tray installation began in the acute care department and sprinkler piping rough in continued.

The roof flashing and gutter installation was started as the weather warmed up.  The roof on the entry canopy will begin next week.  Ceiling grid, installation of case work and painting will begin in the acute care department in January.   

For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

ORD - The Valley County Health System will offer the American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking® program beginning January 2010.

The program will begin on Wednesday, January 6 and will meet for seven classes; January 13, 15, 20, 27 and February 3 and 17.  All classes will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Valley County Health System Education Building, 1617 M Street in downtown Ord.  

Freedom From Smoking® is a personalized program that works to identify specific smoking triggers for each participant which then helps to create a plan for quitting smoking. Positive behavioral changes, along with additional reinforcement tools, are used during this life-changing course.

The classes feature informal group discussions, which creates a supportive environment for participants to fully adopt step-by-step behavior modifications, encouraging long-term success.

Cost for the program is $50.00 which covers all materials.  Registration deadline is December 30, 2010.  For more information or to register, please call Sheri Schrage, Freedom From Smoking® Facilitator at 308-728-4312 or Lea Miller at 308-728-4299.

Ord - Valley County Health System will be offering three fitness classes for the public beginning January 4 and continuing through February 26. Johnathan Tomjack, Personal Trainer at VCHS will instruct a core conditioning and toning class.  The class consists of dynamic balance, strengthening and improved range of motion through weight training, kickboxing and use of an exercise ball.  This class will be offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6:00 to 6:45 am at St. Mary's Gym in Ord.  Each participant will need a 65 cm exercise ball, 2 or 3 lb. hand weights and a yoga mat.

Sheri Schrage, Certified Health Fitness Instructor through the American College of Sports Medicine, will teach a low impact aerobics and toning class as well as a step and sculpt class.  The low impact aerobics class will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the VCHS Education Building, 1617 M Street in downtown Ord.  The step and sculpt class will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the VCHS Education Building.  This class will consist of aerobics performed by stepping up onto and down from a portable platform.  Participants in these classes will need to bring an exercise mat.

Registration is $40.00.  This fee allows the participant to attend any or all classes.

To register, call Johnathan Tomjack at 728-4257 or stop by the VCHS Rehabilitation Department.

ORD - The annual Valley County Health System Christmas Party was held Dec. 4 at the Ord Veterans Club.  More than 260 employees, spouses and board members attended the celebration. 

During the event, Karlie Koinzan, Danielle Proskocil and Marianne Stevens with the VCHS Human Resources department, presented employees with awards for their years of service to VCHS.

The twenty-one employees recognized at the event were: 35 years - Loretta Misko; 30 years - Emily Hayek; 20 years - Virginia Bures, Connie Fread, Sharon Murdock, Shannon Peterson; 15 years-Vicki Bredthauer, Jeanne Tinkham, Kristie Zulkoski; 10 years-Cathy Foster, Tammi Knutson, Jo Trofholz; 5 years-Becky Babb, Michaela Brown, Ashley Jeffres, Karla Kinney, Steve Kusek, Kathy Rowse, Kristen Ryschon, Evelyn Schaaf and Jackie Stepanek.

During the weeks of November 23 and 30, major progress was made on the new hospital construction project.  Taping of the dry wall in the acute care department was started and dry wall installation in the surgery and emergency room departments was completed.  The sidewalk at the main entry was poured as well as rough site grading.  Electrical and plumbing rough-ins began in the medical clinic and specialty clinic departments.

The installation of the frames for the large window openings in the front lobby, chapel area, rehab and acute care were started.  These windows will be installed within the next few months.  The roof flashing and gutter installation and the roof on the entry canopy will begin next week.  Ceiling grid, installation of case work and painting will begin in the acute care department in January.   

For more information contact the Public Relations office at 728-4347.

Ord - Valley County Health System announces that they have received additional doses of both the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines.  Anyone interested in one or both of these vaccinations should make a nurse visit appointment at any one of the five Medical Clinics in Ord, Burwell, Loup City, North Loup or Ericson. 

The cost for the seasonal flu shot is $30.  For Medicare Part B patients, Medicare will be billed and must present their Medicare Part B card.  There is a $16.00 administration charge per person for the H1N1 vaccination.

The H1N1 vaccination will continue to be administered to those at high risk, which includes those age 6 months through 24 years, pregnant women, those ages 25 through 64 with chronic medical conditions, and all adults, children and teens who are household contacts or caregivers of infants younger than 6 months of age.  In addition to the high risk category, VCHS will also now begin administering the H1N1 vaccine to all other healthy adults ages 25 through 64 years.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Ord Family Health Center at 308-728-3606.