Are YOU at Risk? Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke

Are YOU at Risk? Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stroke kills almost 130,000 of the 800,000 Americans who die of cardiovascular disease each year—that’s 1 in every 19 deaths from all causes. Anyone, including children, can have a stroke. Every year,...
Life’s Simple 7…Small Steps to Big Changes

Life’s Simple 7…Small Steps to Big Changes

  Stroke can happen to anyone at any time. Stroke is not just an older person’s disease. Risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes are happening at younger ages. Unfortunately, risk factors may not be recognized...
Quality Improvement Toolbox: Tools You Can Use

Quality Improvement Toolbox: Tools You Can Use

Performance improvement is best accomplished by using tried and true techniques. These include the 5 Whys, PDSA cycles, Cause and Effect diagrams, eliminating waste, and more. Looking for a template or a short refresher for your skills? The National Nursing Home...
Q&A: Improving Resident Health in Long-Term Care Facilities

Q&A: Improving Resident Health in Long-Term Care Facilities

Great Plains QIN and other Quality Innovation Network–Quality Improvement Organizations are working in partnership with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reduce the use of antipsychotics in long-term care facilities and improve health outcomes...
High Blood Pressure Stakes:  One of Three Americans

High Blood Pressure Stakes:  One of Three Americans

  Personal and professional demands can change dramatically and impact levels of stress throughout the day, month and year.  As a result, blood pressure can become a moving target creating a challenge for proper diagnosis of hypertension. According to the...
Get Back to Basics to Prevent Infections and Sepsis

Get Back to Basics to Prevent Infections and Sepsis

Orlaith Staunton, co-founder of the Rory Staunton Foundation for Sepsis Prevention, and her daughter looked at each other in disbelief. They felt they were watching history repeat itself as a basketball coach bandaged a cut for one of his players, but without taking...
With Gratitude and Appreciation….We Celebrate You!

With Gratitude and Appreciation….We Celebrate You!

May 6 – 12: National Nurses Week & National Hospital Week A time to celebrate and express our appreciation and admiration for all the nurses in our region as well as all members of our hospital teams National Nurses Week falls on the same days each year,...