St. Mary’s is the only non-academic Joint Commission and American Heart Association/American Stroke Association certified Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center in Virginia
RICHMOND, Va. (July 5, 2016) – Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital has been recognized for clinical excellence by earning Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center status from The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. As the highest level of stroke care certification, Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center status identifies hospitals that meet standards for treating the most complex stroke cases. Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital is the only non-academic facility to earn this honor in the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as in a four-state region. There are approximately 100 Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Centers nationwide out of 5,000 hospitals.
“This accomplishment speaks to the expertise, dedication, and service of each individual caring for patients in our facilities,” said Francine Barr, CEO of Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital. “This certification, coupled with Bon Secours primary certified stroke center network, establishes Bon Secours as the premier provider of cerebrovascular care in the region and across Virginia.”
Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Certification is provided through a partnership between the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and The Joint Commission, the nation’s largest independent health care evaluation body. Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification recognizes hospitals that meet standards to treat the most complex stroke cases. Eligibility standards include all components of a Primary Stroke Center plus: availability of advanced imaging techniques, including MRI/MRA, CTA, DSA and TCD; availability of personnel trained in vascular neurology, neurosurgery and endovascular procedures; 24/7 availability of personnel, imaging, operating room and endovascular facilities; ICU/neuroscience ICU facilities and capabilities; experience and expertise treating patients with large ischemic strokes, intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
According to the American Heart Association, every 40 seconds someone has a stroke in the United States, with over 500,000 new and approximately 200,000 recurring strokes every year. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in adults and the leading cause of adult disability.
“Every second matters during an acute stroke. Rapid diagnosis and treatment by a neurologist is critical to restore blood flow to the brain and prevent permanent damage,” said Stacey L. Epps, M.D., executive medical director, Bon Secours Virginia Neuroscience Institute. “Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital is dedicated to improving the quality of stroke care, and as an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center we have the opportunity to continue to greatly improve the care and outcomes for stroke patients, particularly the most severe and complex cases.”
Recently, Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital also received the 2016 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to providing the most appropriate stroke treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence, and brings national recognition to St. Mary’s for improving patient care and outcomes.
The Bon Secours Neuroscience Institute provides comprehensive specialty care encompassing neurology, neurosurgery and neuro-interventional services and serves patients in eight acute care facilities in Richmond, Hampton Roads and the Northern Neck. Patients at each location benefit from the expertise of all Bon Secours’ physicians, due to an advanced teleneurology system—the largest stroke teleneurology network in Virginia—that enables a board-certified neurologist to link to other doctors via a high-definition video to quickly evaluate patients with neurologic emergencies.
Click here for more information about the Bon Secours Neuroscience Institute.
In light of recent news concerning the health risks of mosquito bites, many people are itching to find the most effective repellent this summer.
It’s not a simple task.
Not all repellents work on every species of mosquito. Two types of mosquitoes prefer to bite during the day. A third likes to feed from evening to morning. This may explain why some mosquito repellents seem to work great one day, but leave you covered in bites the next.
In the United States, mosquitoes have been known to transmit the West Nile Virus, which can cause serious disease for some people. People who travel outside the continental U.S. face a greater risk of getting bitten by a mosquito that carries other viruses that cause diseases such as: dengue, chikungunya and Zika – recently tied to birth defects in babies born to born to women infected while pregnant.
To protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites, you’ll need to do a little research online and some label reading. Health authorities from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend using an insect repellent that’s been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency with one of the following active ingredients:
DEET
Picaridin (also called KBR 3023)
Bayrepel
icaridin
oil of lemon eucalyptus
para-menthane-diol (PMD)
IR3535
So which ones will work best for you? That depends on how long you need a repellent to be effective and whether you also want it to protect against tick bites. The EPA has created an online search tool that allows consumers to check if a company has any registered products or to find a repellent by ingredient or length of protection.
Although the EPA doesn’t recommend or endorse any products, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women, according to the CDC.
It’s important to follow the instructions on the bottle, especially when applying insect repellent to children. Insect repellent should not be applied to baby younger than 2 months of age. If you’re using oil of lemon eucalyptus or PMD, do not use these ingredients on children under 3.
For those who are trying to specifically avoid the mosquito that transmits the Zika virus, there is some good news. Researchers from New Mexico State University have tested eight commercial mosquito repellents to see how effective they were against the Aedes aegypti species.
None of them provided 100 percent, but after four hours the most effective products were ones that contained DEET or oil of lemon eucalyptus, according to the study published in the Journal of Insect Science.
It’s also important to note that nearly all of the Zika cases reported in the United States as of mid-June are from people who traveled to a place outside the continental states where Zika is spreading. There have been no cases reported of people getting the Zika virus from a mosquito bite that occured in the continental U.S.
With that in mind, CDC health authorities say they cannot predict if Zika virus will spread to the states. For mosquitoes to cause an outbreak all of the following must happen:
People infected with Zika must enter the U.S.
An Aedes aegypti mosquito in the U.S. must bite an infected person during their first week of infection when the virus can be found in their blood.
The infected mosquito would then have to live long enough to multiply or bite another person.
The cycle would have to continue multiple times to start an outbreak.
In the meantime, health providers recommend protecting against mosquito bites, especially if you are traveling. Using insect repellent is the best way to prevent diseases like Zika, dengue and chikungunya.
Sources: CDC, EPA, Journal of Insect Science
For additional information about mosquito prevention, consult your primary care provider. Call 804-359-WELL or visit goodhelpdocs.com if you need help finding a healthcare provider.
Keep your employees healthy and productive with an onsite flu shot clinic.
Bon Secours Workforce Wellness, in collaboration with our partners at IVNA, will be providing onsite flu shot clinics for our employer community in an effort to promote wellness in the workforce. Protect your employees from the flu and make a difference. Proceeds from vaccinations are used to provide charitable home health care services for those in need.
IVNA, (Instructive Visiting Nurse Association) is a non-profit agency located in Richmond, VA that has been around for over 115 years. IVNA is an Immunization and Wellness Program that provides over 12,000 flu shots per year, in addition to our other immunizations and wellness services, to the Greater Richmond community. Proceeds from the immunization and wellness services are invested back into the community through their Charity Care Program, which helps to support skilled home health care for uninsured or underinsured patients that have no other access to care. So not only are you protecting yourself against diseases, you are helping your community at the same time.
IVNA’s CARE Clinic, located at 5008 Monument Avenue, provides all of the following services Monday through Friday. Appointments are preferred for all services, though the flu shots are primarily offered as a walk-in service during the flu season.
Influenza
Pneumonia
Hepatitis A & B series
Meningitis
Td/TdaP
Shingles
TB Skin Test (PPD)
IVNA also provides onsite services throughout the community to workplaces, churches, and organizations. In 2015, IVNA provided services to over 350 clinics in the community. Please call the IVNA office at 804-355-7100 for more information or to schedule your immunizations. At IVNA, Your Shot Does A Lot!
Click here to schedule your onsite flu clinic today!
With the summer months upon us, whether you’re running, playing a pick-up game of basketball or going for a power walk, make sure you take care of your body when the temperature rises to avoid heat illness.
Working out in hot weather puts extra stress on the body because both exercise and the air temperature increase your core body temperature. If the humidity is also high, your body faces additional stress because sweat will not readily evaporate from your skin. This can push your body temperature even higher.
Not staying properly hydrated can compound the problem. In addition to circulating the blood throughout the body to cool itself, your body also uses fluids – sweat – to cool itself. Be sure to drink extra fluids before, during and after exercising.
Heat-related illnesses occur along a spectrum, starting out mild but worsening if left untreated. Heat illnesses include:
Heat rash – a skin irritation caused by heat
Heat cramps – painful muscle contractions that cause the affected muscles to feel firm to the touch
Heat syncope – a feeling of lightheadedness or fainting caused by high temperatures, often occurring after standing for a long period of time, or standing quickly after sitting for a long period of time
Heat exhaustion – a medical condition characterized by sweaty, clammy skin, weakness, rapid pulse, dizziness, nausea, headache, fatigue and irritability
Heat stroke – a medical emergency characterized by hot, dry skin, temperature over 105, rapid pulse, unconsciousness, disorientation, headache, fatigue and irritability
If you develop any of these symptoms, you must lower your body temperature and get hydrated. Stop exercising immediately and get out of the heat. If possible, have someone stay with you to monitor your condition. If your symptoms do not improve within 30 minutes, seek medical attention immediately. By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesn’t have to be sidelined when the heat is on.
Here are some tips on how to avoid heat-related illnesses:
Know your fitness level.
Drink plenty of fluids – water and sports drinks are your best choices, avoid sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages, avoid caffeine, increase fluid intake before, during and after exercise, take frequent water breaks and don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink water.
Watch the temperature and adjust your activity accordingly.
Get acclimated – if you’re used to exercising indoors or in cooler weather, take it easy at first when you exercise in the heat. Gradually increase the length and intensity of your outdoor exercise.
Dress appropriately – lightweight, loose-fitting clothing helps sweat evaporate and keeps you cooler.
Source: National Athletic Training Association position statement from September 2015 – Exertional Heat Illness, consensus statements for Heat Illnesses Guidelines
This blog was written by Brandon Johnson, CSCS, FMS, USAW
“How much water should you drink?” is a loaded question. There are a lot of factors that play a role in how water you should consume. The old saying is “eight servings of eight ounces of water a day,” but that does not take into account a lot of outside factors, no pun intended. Humidity, temperature, elevation, how much you sweat, and activity intensity and duration should all be taken into account when trying to prevent dehydration. A 2% loss of body weight has been shown to significantly affect your performance.
How should I measure or tell that I am hydrated? There are two simple methods to gauge your hydration level. First, and probably the easiest, is your urine color. The darker in color the more dehydrated you are; we are trying to stay lighter in color. The second; weigh in before your run and after your run and measure the amount of body weight you have lost. Keep in mind any clothing that you may have worn that has absorbed a lot of your sweat or extra water that you may have poured on yourself to cool off. It is best to weigh in, in a minimal amount of clothing to prevent confusion.
Now that I am aware of my hydration, how do I hydrate? If you know the time of your exercise, plan ahead. A couple of hours before you begin to exercise; drink 2-3 cups (eight ounces) of water, this allows for absorption into the body. Have another 1 to 1.5 cups 10 to 20 minutes before. During exercise, have another 1 to 1.5 cups every 10 to 20 minutes, up to five cups per hour during heavy activity. Post activity you would want to drink 2-3 cups of “fluid” per pound of body weight lost. “Fluid,” does not mean anything; certain products (i.e., sports drinks) may be advisable to have depending on the considerations outlined earlier.
A couple of last minute reminders: You can drink too much water. It can cause a sodium imbalance, possibly resulting in a serious condition, Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia. This can be exacerbated by the loss of electrolytes during exercise and a large consumption of water. Plan ahead on extremely hot and humid days and try to get exercise done in the cooler parts of the day. Older athletes, generally over 50, have a harder time staying hydrated. A number of theories are proposed to as why, but it is a serious consideration when performing exercise.