Change in shuttle stop location at Salem Hospital
August 29, 2008

Salem Hospital Foundation grants scholarships
August 28, 2008

Pedestrian path shortens from parking structure to hospital
August 15, 2008

State's busiest ER offers heat-safety tips
August 15, 2008

Salem Hospital Auxiliary Awards Scholarships for 2008-2009 school year
August 8, 2008

OAHHS Presents Highest Honor To Oregon Community Advocate
July 25, 2008

Early Detection Can Save Your Life. Salem Cancer Institute offers free and confidential prostate cancer screening.
July 22, 2008

Change in shuttle stop location at Salem Hospital

August 29, 2008

The Shuttle stop that is currently in the turnaround at the front of the Winter Street hospital will move to the back of the building, where patient discharges occur.

This permanent change will begin on Tuesday, September 2. 

Valet service for patients and visitors will continue to operate in the turnaround at the front of the Winter Street hospital, as well as in front of the Center for Outpatient Medicine.

This change is needed to begin work on a permanent crosswalk under the skybridge on Winter Street SE, to protect pedestrians from the weather.

Salem Hospital Foundation grants scholarships

August 28, 2008

The Salem Hospital Foundation announces that 86 students in medical or medically related fields will be receiving scholarships for the 2008–2009 school year.

A total of $143,400 in scholarships was awarded to students pursuing degrees in nursing, pharmacy, imaging, and a variety of other medically related programs.

Several special scholarships were awarded in memory of various community members, including the John Alsever, M.D. physician scholarship; the Cass Bailey, M.D. physician scholarship; the Nita Jo Carter nursing scholarship; the Kathy deMarrais nursing scholarship; the Carl and Olive Emmons nursing scholarship; the Rollin Haag nursing scholarship; the Haap Jackson imaging scholarship; the Hattie Kremen nursing scholarship; the Elmera "Tiny" Richardson nursing scholarship; the Sewell Family scholarship and the Sigg nursing scholarship.

Awardees for the 2008-2009 school year are

Aumsville: Tiffanie Kuntz, Aaron Miller, Matthew Mongenel, Julie Naatz

Dallas: Anna Dentel, James Hoffman, Joseph King, Melissa Martin, Athena Samerotte, Benjamin Yost

Detroit: Jocelyn Hurley

Garibaldi: Tia Aho 

Jefferson: Betsy Alford 

Keizer: Katie Coburn, Paul Costales, Josiah Faville, Debbie Goodwin, Nathan Howell, Nicole  Mullins, Charlla Puig, Josie Silverman, Andrew Valov, Natalie Vuylsteke

McMinnville: Kelsey Johnson

Mt Angel: Amanda Beyer

Newberg: Carol Christiansen

Portland: Jacob Bumstead

Salem: Jannaeah Baty, Chris Bell, Lisa Bennett, Sarah Bos, Danette Butterfield, Jenna Callaway, Dawn Capwell, Stephanie Casey, Pamela Cortez, Angela Davis, Julie Douglas, Jennifer DonGilli, Kristin Faber, Daniel Fisher, Jia-Jan Fu, Dmitriy Gerasimenko, Kathryn Grim, Rebecca Hibner, Andrea Hughes, Kristy LeGault, Kelsey Lemons, Robert Martin, Maureen McNabb, Anne Meeks, Flynne Miner, Meghan Newstone, Danielle Noble, Veronica Nunez, Athena Pannas, Matthew Riggins, Doreen Rodecap, Jessica Slaughter, Stephanie Stupfel, Tammera Taylor, Sarah Terpin, Eric Timmons, Kathy Tran, Jessica Uken-Fowler, Zachary VandeGriend, Ross Wagner, Mark Wilhite 
 
Scio: Casey Lulay, Ruth Silbernagel

Silverton: Shannon Becerra, Elizabeth Garrard, Leah Kaufman, Shanna Lesire, Samantha Pelletier

Stayton: Rebecca Kelly, Kristin McCready, Katie Peterman , Jessica Schumacher, Chloe Selway, Brandy Toby

Sublimity: Linda James, Wendy Lindley, Susan Rodda

Tualatin: Nathan Trenholme

Woodburn: Daniel Lima

Pedestrian path shortens from parking structure to hospital

August 15, 2008

On Monday, August 18, the walking path from the parking structure to the hospital shortens. A new, shorter walking path from the parking structure will take you along the east side of the new tower and connect you with Oak Street SE, near the Center for Outpatient Medicine and the Family Birth Center.

The shuttle service continues to be available to pick up pedestrians on the new tower path and take them to the Winter Street hospital.

The previous, longer path is closing in order to complete the new ambulance service drive behind the patient-care tower.

State's busiest ER offers heat-safety tips

August 15, 2008

The staff and physicians of the hospital’s emergency department want area residents to stay healthy and safe during this record-breaking heat wave. They offer these tips to help you, your children, and even your parents, stay safe, and what to do if you have problems in the heat.

Stay well hydrated

• Aim for two to three quarts of fluid per day (non-caffeinated).
• Water is good, but don't limit your intake to just water. You also need electrolytes, which you can get from a variety of sports drinks.
• If you're thirsty, you've waited too long.
• One way to tell if you're getting enough fluid is to look at your urine. In general, it should be clear. Yellow urine means you need to drink more water, unless it is affected by food, vitamin, medication or caffeine intake.
• Limit alcohol intake during hot weather. It doesn’t count toward your water consumption and it can impair your judgment.
  Be smart about your outdoor activities
• Unless your job requires you to be outdoors, stay inside.
• If you have to be outdoors, avoid strenuous activities between the hottest times of the day, typically 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• If you need to be outdoors, prime the pump before you go. In other words, start your fluid intake before you take your first step outside.
• Wear sun block and a hat.
• Use a water spritzer to cool off. Battery-operated, hand-held fans may also be helpful.

Some people need extra precautions

• “Before the day is over, call your mom and check on her,” says Sherri Wood, R.N., emergency department director. High heat can cause people to be confused. So be sure to check on your elderly relatives or neighbors to see how they’re doing.
• The very young and the elderly are most susceptible to thermal-regulation problems. Their bodies simply have a harder time regulating heat. They especially should avoid the outdoors and manage their fluid intake. This is also true for people with chronic illnesses, like those on dialysis.
• Children can become dehydrated much more quickly than adults. Be sure they get enough fluid and follow all heat and sun-safety procedures.
• Don’t overdress your newborn. If you’re wearing a tank top and shorts, then a similar outfit for your baby is appropriate, whether it be a shorts outfit or simply a t-shirt and diaper. Stay in the shade. Use a lukewarm washcloth to cool baby. And carry a blanket to protect the baby when you enter air-conditioned extremes.
• Some medications can cause problems during heat spells, particularly some psychiatric medications and diuretics. Talk with your pharmacist if you have concerns.

Be safe in the water

• When it gets hot, you may be tempted to jump in the river to cool off. Be careful. Remember, Oregon rivers are cold, even on hot days. Do no dive into rivers or ponds. They may be shallow.
• Wear a life jacket on the boat and in the river.
• Do not consume alcohol.
• Children need close parental supervision in the water, as do some people who have mental or physical disabilities.
• If you have a home pool, make sure it has a fence around it.
  Warning signs and what to do if you experience them
• Heat illness progresses through three stages: heat cramps, then exhaustion, then heat stroke. If you experience heat cramps, you'll have muscle cramps and feel dizzy. You need to get in the shade and use a cold compress and take fluids.
• In heat exhaustion, you'll sweat profusely, and be pale. You need to get in the shade, and use a cold compress and fluids. IV fluids may be needed.
• “If you are having a heat stroke, you will be very pale and have a fever. You won't be able to sweat and you will be mentally confused. Your body core temperature has gotten too high. Call 9-1-1!,” says Kyran Colbry, M.D., an emergency physician with Salem Hospital.

Heat related illness can cause serious problems. You can reduce your chance of feeling tired or becoming seriously ill with a few simple steps.

Salem Hospital Auxiliary Awards Scholarships for 2008-2009 school year

August 8, 2008

Salem Hospital Auxiliary is a charitable organization with 300 members who volunteer time to raise funds for scholarships and other projects at the hospital.

The Auxiliary is pleased to assist students pursuing healthcare studies by awarding scholarships, thereby looking at future needs for healthcare in our community.

Note to editors: Scholarships have been awarded to students in Aumsville, Dallas, Falls City, Jefferson, Keizer, Salem, Silverton and Stayton.

The Salem Hospital Auxiliary has awarded scholarships totaling $32,500 to 29 local area students.

All recipients are enrolled in medically related fields of study for the 2008–2009 school year.

The Ethel McKeon Healthcare Scholarship was awarded to Stephanie Houdeshell, Salem; the Laura Prince Scholarship to Melissa Hale, Salem; and the Lynda Fitzsimons Scholarship to Holli Tuss, Salem.

Other scholarships were awarded to:

• Aumsville: Aaron Miller.
• Dallas: Benjamin Yost.
• Falls City: Mandy Graham.
• Jefferson: Betsy Alford.
• Keizer: Penny Edwards, Josiah Faville, and Nathan Howell.
• Rickreall: Breanne Rohde.
• Salem: Emily Barfknecht, Danette Butterfield, Stephanie Casey, Pamela Cortez, Kristin Faber, Daniel Fisher, Melissa Hale, Stephanie Houdeshell, Kristy LeGault, Kelsey Lemons, Benjamin Long, Anne Meeks, Flynne Miner, Charles Nguyen, Gerri Pratt, Matthew Riggins, Jessica Slaughter, Stephanie Stupfel, and Holli Tuss.
• Silverton: Leah Kaufman.
• Stayton: Kristin McCready.

OAHHS Presents Highest Honor To Oregon Community Advocate

July 25, 2008

Lake Oswego, Ore. (July 25, 2008) --- On Thursday, July 18, 2008 the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (OAHHS) honored its second recipient of the Ellen C. Lowe Community Advocate Award. 

This is the association’s highest honor for a community member.  This year’s recipient is Judie Foreman from Salem, Oregon.  She has been a community volunteer and breast cancer advocate within the Salem Health System since 1990. 

She was nominated by the executive team at Salem Hospital.  The award was presented by Ellen C. Lowe the inaugural recipient of the award.

Foreman’s life changed in the summer of 1990 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. 

From that moment, with her husband Bob by her side, she has been an outspoken community advocate surrounding breast cancer awareness and the need for continued research and education; together, they are true survivors.

“Judie is definitely a leader and driver to make things happen.  She has the ability to work with a variety of people and contributing ideas to help promote our overall message of awareness and the importance of early detection,” according to the nomination form submitted by Sherryll Johnson Hoar, manager marketing and communications for Salem Health.

Most recently, Foreman has volunteered to be the patient educator assisting primary health care providers learn how to do a thorough clinical breast exam. 

She has also spoken to large groups through the American Cancer Society and other health care-related events on the topic.

“I am committed to beating this disease. With the support and resources of my family and community I will continue my advocacy.  I am honored to be recognized by the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems for a cause that has been so natural to me.  I am humbled by the experience,” commented Judie Foreman on receiving the award.

“Judie possesses all the qualities that embody this award,” stated Kevin Earls, vice president of policy and advocacy for OAHHS. “She possesses a certain grace and style that fosters easy and comfortable communications and rapport with the people she comes in contact.  We are proud to honor her as a role model of success."

About the Award
The Ellen C. Lowe Community Advocate Award honors a community member for his or her unique, unusual or continuous support of a hospital mission and/or the health of its community. 

The recipient possesses compassion, understanding, wisdom and a clear vision to see to the core of community issues.  This is an award for a community member and not a hospital employee.

About OAHHS
Founded in 1934, OAHHS is a statewide, nonprofit trade association that works closely with local and national government leaders, business and citizen coalitions, and other professional health care organizations to enhance and promote community health and to continue improving Oregon’s innovative health care delivery system.

OAHHS’ current membership includes 57 acute care hospitals, 10 health systems and related health plans, 16 affiliated allied organizations and 32 associate members representing health care consulting and other professional service companies.

Early Detection Can Save Your Life. Salem Cancer Institute offers free and confidential prostate cancer screening.

July 22, 2008

Salem Cancer Institute, in partnership with the National Prostate Cancer Coalition, is hosting a free and confidential prostate screening for men age 40 and over.

The screening will be offered on Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27, from 8 a.m.–4 p.m., at the Great Oregon Steam Up event, held annually at the Antique Powerland Museum in Brooks.

To get there, take I-5 to exit 263, then head west on Brooklake Road for  1/4 mile. The Steam Up is a tractor and steam engine show with activities for the whole family.

The mobile screening RV will be located outside the front entrance of the event. It boasts a flat-screen television with satellite programming and a "locker room" atmosphere.

There are two private exam rooms. The free testing takes about 10 minutes and doesn't require an appointment, a primary care physician or insurance.

Who should be tested? All men age 50 and over should be tested every year. Since early detection can save your life, this screening is offered to men age 40 and over.

For testing guidelines, visit the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.

For more information, call Salem Cancer Institute at 503-562-4321 or visit www.salemcancercare.org.