Healthbeat - July, 1999
HEALTH FAIR 1999
Wrangell Medical Center’s
annual Health Fair was held April 10, 1999, providing local residents with Health Profile, thyroid and prostate screening exams at
greatly reduced rates. Two hundred eighty-eight residents of Wrangell took advantage of the screening lab tests. Many other residents browsed through
the booths which were set up by local organizations, as well as many from out of town.
This year’s grand prize of two
round-trip domestic tickets was donated by
Alaska Airlines. A crossword puzzle was given to each person upon entrance
to the fair, and had to be completed before being placed in the drawing. Marlene Messmer was the lucky winner of the grand prize. Also given away,
were over 25 door prizes. SOMETHING NEW!
An exciting addition this year were
four high school seniors who set up
booths:
Also new this year, was Lifecenter
Northwest, which is an organ
procurement organization. They provided information on becoming an
organ donor. Wrangell Public Health Center also set up a booth this year,
and provided Tetanus boosters and Pneumovax. The Lion’s Club provided
a new eye screening test for young children.
Back this year was Airlift
Northwest with their Lear Jet which they use to
medivac critical patients for further care. Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department
not only helped in the blood draw booths, but provided rides to and from the
airport in the ambulance for tours of the jet.
This year’s fair was a great
success. We have many volunteers who
participate and help with the organization each year. Without the help of these generous people and organizations, Wrangell’s Health Fair would not be
the success that it is. Our thanks go out to these people — give yourselves
a pat on the back.
CLINIC NEWS:
We will be hosting two medical
students during June and July. Alison Roxby
from the University of North Carolina is here from June 1 to July 14. A second
student, Ryan Peirson, will be here from June 15th to July 9th.
Ryan is from Southwest Washington.
FROM THE HOSPITAL:
Joyce spent her first 16 years in
Wrangell working as a staff nurse and
providing anesthesia in surgery. After she retired from anesthesia in 1991,
she has continued to work as a staff nurse.
Joyce has provided countless hours
of kind and compassionate care
to our long term care residents and the acute care patients of the
hospital.
We all know Joyce is looking
forward to retirement and getting out on the
water to catch that big fish! We wish her well and hope she won’t forget
all of us here.
It is time again to say farewell to
Donna O’Donnell, RN. She has been a
great addition to our nursing staff for the last five months. Donna is
returning to Idaho and her family the first of August. We will miss her
cheerful disposition, and hope this won’t be the last time she comes to
help us.
Another person we will be saying
goodbye to is Mary Gales, Physical
Therapist. Mary has provided excellent physical therapy coverage
for the community of Wrangell for many years. Mary has always been
very accommodating, even increasing her visits to twice a month.
However, it has become apparent that we really do need someone
full-time. Therefore, we have hired Ron Chadwick, Physical Therapist.
Ron, his wife, Lynda, and their children should be arriving in Wrangell
around the end of June. Ron is scheduled to begin work the
6th of July.
The Hospital Auxiliary has
purchased new, low beds for the LTC unit,
as well as a reclining wheelchair used in LTC and for hospital patients.
We thank the members very much for these additions to Wrangell
Medical Center, as we do all the contributions over the years.
We also want to thank The Nolan
Estate for our new defibrillator and bed
for the procedure room.
The Residents of the Long Term Care
unit would like to thank the following
people: Joyce Phillips for all the years of collecting BINGO gifts; Barb
Maenhout for every Tuesday treats; Margaret Fletcher for the Current Events and wrapping
BINGO gifts; Lucille Massin, Tom Rooney Jr., Annie Fino,
Georgie and Randy Sansom, Fran Edwards, and Lurine McGee for helping
with BINGO each week; Jerry Holland, Sharon Fudge, James and Beverley Lloyd and members of
the Salvation Army for providing transportation to and from church; Jack Hewes for
volunteering to help where we need it; Alice Bakke for being our daily coffee server and
entertainer; Arne and Kathy Sandness for all the salmon, as well as Brennan and Susan
Eagle for donated fish; Women’s Home League for the monthly potluck; Hospital
Auxiliary for always thinking of our needs; Pioneer Auxiliary for monthly fruit baskets
and flowers; all of the Wrangell churches for providing church services; and Beta Sigma
Phi for all the holiday gifts.
We couldn’t do it without you
all — Thanks. If you are interested in becoming
a volunteer for the long term care, contact Cinda Stough or Angie Lynch at
874-7000.
