January 2001

PMHH partners with parish nursing to fill health care gaps

As our population ages, health care providers are faced with the challenge of providing care to those in need. How do we ensure individuals who are ill receive care? In what ways do we need to be able to provide care? How can we help people maintain their independence and the ability to make their own decisions?

When approached with the concept of parish nursing by area nurse, Judy Lightowler, RN, MS, who directs a program locally, PMHH looked at this as an opportunity to fill the gaps that are present in today’s health care. “Judy had been working on implementing a parish nursing program in the area and approached us about partnering with her in applying for a Faith in Action Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant that would make the establishment of parish nursing a reality,” said PMHH administrator, Chuck Hofius. Attempting to bring parish nursing to the community was the right direction to take.” PMHH provided the non-profit status required to apply for the grant which supports the program director position, as well as in-kind services including office space, equipment, and employee benefits. In addition, PMHH will host a resource center and library for use by all parish nurses.

Parish nursing fills the gaps between the individual or family and the health care system. It promotes education on health issues and encourages and empowers individuals in their journey toward wholeness physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It is not “hands-on” nursing, emphasized Lightowler, and is provided through area churches.

Who is the parish nurse?
A parish nurse is a registered nurse who volunteers his or her time and acts as a health resource person who organizes the health ministry program within each church. Roles the parish nurse may have include health educator, personal health counselor, resource referral agent, volunteer trainer, health advocate, integrator of faith and health, and developer of support groups. The parish nurse has special training in parish nursing.

Parishioners can contact the parish nurse with questions about medical language and symptoms or for interpretation of test results or even the many medication questions that come up. The individual is encouraged by the parish nurse to seek the appropriate health care provider. All medical decisions are ultimately left up to the individual unless the parish nurse is asked specifically to intervene at which time he or she can act as an advocate speaking directly to the provider for the person or even to accompany the person to see the doctor.

How will parish nursing work in the Perham area?
As program director, Lightowler is in the process of contacting area churches and pastors to inform them of the benefits of parish nursing in their faith community and the development of caregiving programs that provide volunteer services to people who are frail, elderly, or disabled, among others.

“Most health ministry in a church is done informally and individually and is not organized in a manner that people know how to access assistance,” she stated. “Parish nursing formalizes and expands the volunteer services that currently exist.” She lists the volunteer services to include shopping assistance for the elderly; shut-in and nursing home visitation; transportation for church services and shopping; outreach services to the poor, hospitalized or indigent; assisting with business matters such as medical bill interpretation and taxes; respite care; and babysitting among others.

Lightowler says the next step is to seek health ministry volunteers and nurses, and encourages those interested or with questions to contact her at 346-1150 or to email her at jlightowler@pmhh.com.

Dr. Deraney joins PMHH healthcare team

Perham Memorial Hospital is pleased to introduce Jaimie Deraney, M.D., OB/GYN. Dr. Deraney specializes in women’s health. His specialty includes gynecology which is the medical and surgical treatment of diseases of the reproductive organs; and obstetrics which is the care of pregnant women and the delivery of babies. Conditions often treated by Dr. Deraney include endometriosis, infertility and cancer of the reproductive system.

Dr. Deraney received his medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Grand Forks, and completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita.

He is a Grand Forks native who moved to Detroit Lakes in August with his wife Susan. Dr. Deraney’s interests include racquetball, downhill skiing and fishing.

Employees honored for service and commitment

Five years Left to right: Belinda Marweg, Carol Benke, Marlene Calhoun, Diane Bauck, Judy Selander, Caryl Schepper, Wendy Hendrickx, Dan Peterson, and Cindy Neihaus. Not pictured: Jennifer Johnson, Katherine Huwe, Gretchen Hoffman, Deborah Frost, Sandra Vareberg, and Linda Hespe.	Ten years Left to right: Jill Carlson, Veronica Bergeron, Brenda Bormann, Denise Ristinen, and Marie Wokasch
15 years Left to right: Ellen Doll, Peg Johnson, Lorrie Schmidt, Teresa Stoderl, and Collette Jahnke. Not pictured: Sandra Rudolph and Irene Seedorf.	25 years Left to right: Charlotte Whitman, Delores Rust, and Sharon Swanson.
20 years Left to right: Diane Monson, Lisa Dahl, and Marceil Bucholz. Not pictured: Mari Elliott and Pam Honer.	30 years Bonnie Johnson	35 years Betty Greiff

Volunteer Spotlight

One could say that Marianne Minten’s involvement as a volunteer at PMHH began quite naturally. “My mother-in-law was in the nursing home and I would visit her daily,” said Marianne. “Since I would be there (nursing home) anyway, I thought why not stay awhile longer and volunteer.” To make a short story even shorter, she’s been volunteering ever since.

In the eight years that Marianne has been a part of the volunteer team, she has given hundreds of hours to the facility and its residents. She helps set up the chapel for Mass, can be found helping with the Tuesday morning shopping cart, and volunteers to help with the numerous social activities which are offered to the nursing home residents.

Marianne has lived in the area all her life having farmed with her husband in the Butler area for 39 years before moving to Perham. She also volunteers at the Perham Senior Center.

Influenza activity low so far this season, says CDC

Influenza activity in the United States was low in October and November, and the viruses most frequently isolated were well matched with the influenza vaccine strains chosen for this season, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in the December 8 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. CDC also reports that as of December 4, approximately 51.2 million (68%) of the 75 million doses of influenza vaccine projected to be produced this year had been distributed.

The reports says that as of November 25, 24 state and territorial health departments reported no influenza activity, 24 reported sporadic activity and two (Kentucky and Texas) reported regional activity. No states reported widespread activity.

Although influenza activity was low from October through November 25 and lower than the same period in 1999, “the percentage of respiratory specimens that were laboratory-confirmed influenza each week began to increase during this period, and influenza activity is expected to increase during the next few weeks to months,” the report says. So far this season, both influenza A and influenza B viruses have been isolated. Most of the viruses isolated were influenza A. However, the report says it is too early to know what strain(s) will predominate this season.

The CDC says vaccination efforts should continue during January and beyond, if necessary, for people at high risk for complications from influenza, household contacts of high-risk persons, and health care providers who care for high-risk people. Efforts also should be made to vaccinate persons age 50-64 years, the report says.

Four prescription antiviral medications are approved for treating uncomplicated influenza. The agents can reduce the duration of influenza symptoms by approximately one day if treatment is started within 48 hours of symptom onset.