Perry Shumway
Madisonhealth Blog
March is trisomy awareness month. Trisomy is a genetic abnormality that results from improper distribution of chromosomes during cell division. This improper division is called non-disjunction. Trisomy is when a cell has an extra chromosome. Complete trisomy of chromosome 8 is fatal, and usually results in a miscarriage during the first trimester of pregnancy, although this is not the case for other trisomies. It is important to note that most trisomy occurrences are not a result of inheritance, but are rather a genetic accident. Which is the most common? Trisomy 21 is the most common, also known as Down Syndrome. Other less common trisomies can occur on chromosome 8, 13 (Patau syndrome), and 18 (Edwards syndrome), but there are others. What is the difference between partial, mosaic, and complete trisomy? Partial trisomy is when only a piece of the extra chromosome is in the cells. Mosaic trisomy occurs when only...
What is it, and why is it important to know about? Naloxone is an emergency drug used for those who manifest respiratory or central nervous system depression as a result of an opioid overdose. This is a life saving drug that those outside of the opioid epidemic may not know about. Understanding its importance in saving lives and its availability could prevent more people from dying of overdoses. It is most commonly used by paramedics and emergency room doctors, or any other first responder. How it works Naloxone works by competing with opiates for the same receptors, also known as an antagonist. This can help block symptoms from getting worse, or even reverse them entirely. It should be used any time someone is suspected of overdosing from opiates. Some of the symptoms of opiate overdose are pinpoint pupils, slowed breathing, or loss of consciousness. Where is it found? Naloxone is...
Statins are a class of drugs that lower blood cholesterol levels. They accomplish this by reducing the amount of cholesterol that the liver produces, and also by increasing the amount of low-density lipoprotein receptors, which clear LDL from the body. Statins have been used in humans since the 1980s, with Lovastatin being the first to market in 1987. They are prescribed for the primary and secondary prevention of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). The goal of primary prevention is to prevent the onset of a disease, compared to secondary prevention, which aims at stopping the progress of a disease before it develops completely. Statins generally reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by 1% for each percentage of LDL-C lowered. High-intensity statins reduce LDL levels by 50% or more, and moderate regiments reduce LDL levels by 30% or more. Importance of Statins: Statins are the only drug with significant data that...
The CDC warns that 15% of US adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Even worse, half of the people with low kidney function who are not on dialysis do not know they have CKD. 1 in 3 American adults are at risk for CKD. What do the kidneys do? The kidneys are important in the removal of toxins from the body, as well as regulation of waste products such as creatinine, urea, and uric acid. They also play a role in regulating the amount of fluid outside of the cells in our body, amongst other things. The kidneys can also be impacted by medications. Diabetes, high blood pressure, infections, and kidney stones all affect the function of the kidneys. Because the kidneys filter the blood in our body, if they are impaired drug potency can be increased How do we test kidney function? Testing kidney function generally...
Regional Covid-19 Plan
- We are continuously retraining and crosstraining key staff in necessary skills.
- We are keeping current on the latest testing methodologies.
- We have team members on the front lines.
- We make sure to keep our providers informed and in-the-loop.
- The safety of our patients and staff is our number-one concern.
In these uncertain times, with so many MMH employees now working from home, the real-life superheroes working in the Information Technology department at Madison Memorial Hospital have truly gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep everyone productive and connected. “The other night,” said Lisa Wright (MMH Education Department), “I was trying to get ready to teach an online class and I couldn’t get it to work. It was getting close to start time. Kaylyn was on call and she got Noble on the phone and the two of them remoted in to my computer and helped me get it up and ready to go. Noble was at home because this was 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm. I am so grateful for their help. I truly could not have done my job without them. They saved my life that night and so many other times, IT has helped...
At Madison Memorial, we follow best practices. In this unique time, the majority of our best practices and policies are coming from the CDC, Eastern Idaho Public Health, and governmental collaborations at all levels – local, state, and federal.
We are making our decisions based upon the safety and wellness of our communities (our Madison family and the counties we serve), balanced with our mission to care for a likely surge of patients.
We are fortunate to have time to prepare and position ourselves in the best possible way we can for this crisis. Our gratitude goes out to everyone who is working very hard and sacrificing to be the caregivers our friends and neighbors will need in the coming weeks.
– Rachel Gonzales, CEO, Madison Memorial Hospital
A certified nurse is a nurse who has gone on to gain additional training, skills, and experience in a specific area of specialty, becoming certified in that area after having met the standard nursing qualifications. Nursing professionals who advance themselves toward the designation of certified nurse demonstrate a willingness to continue to learn and improve, contributing to the overall excellence of our organization here at Madison Memorial. Of all of the amazing nurses who work here, 26 are certified nurses, meaning they’ve acquired specialized skills and knowledge on top of their previous nursing training. In today’s volatile, uncertain climate of COVID-19 and worldwide pandemic concerns, it’s comforting to know that we have so many specialized, professional, dedicated staff members, right here in Rexburg, Idaho. To all of our certified nurses: Happy Certified Nurses Day, and thank you for all you do. To everyone else: Go out of your way today...
Recently, the CDC released an update on the outbreak of EVALI (E-cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use-Associated Lung Injury). Discover how common vaping is in Idaho, and among Idaho youth. Then learn more about related health risks below. Important Statistics: 82% of patients hospitalized with EVALI reported using tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products. Vitamin E acetate, a common additive to THC vaping products, has also been linked to the EVALI outbreak. Are things getting better? Incidence of reported EVALI cases dropped drastically since it last peaked in September 2019 with 215 per million weekly hospital admissions. The most recent rate is 35 per million for the week of January 5, 2020. The CDC suggests that the decrease in the reported cases of EVALI has been caused by increased awareness of the risk associated with vaping THC containing products, removal of Vitamin E acetate from products, and action from law enforcement agencies to reduce...
Dawntae Scott has joined the Madison Memorial team as our new value engineer.
Dawntae is an experienced RN who will be assisting with value projects across the hospital. She’ll work closely with our teams on LEAN, Six Sigma, and PSDA methodologies. Her focus will be value projects to improve quality and service while maintaining or reducing costs.
Please welcome Dawntae Scott!!
https://www.auajournals.org/article/S0022-5347%2817%2973303-4/abstract Epidural Facts When was the Epidural Invented The epidural during childbirth has been used since 1909. Before adding this as a treatment for pain in childbirth epidurals had been used on animals and men. Who Invented the Epidural Epidurals were developed overtime by more than one person. What does an epidural feel like? A common concern from new mothers is the anticipation of the pain associated with an epidural. Kylee, one of Madison’s compassionate Labor and Deliver Nurses, and a mother discusses epidurals with Paul. Paul is one of our Anesthetists. Both of these professionals have extensive research and training. Most importantly, they have substantial experience as healthcare providers. Paul and Kylee agree that generally receiving an IV hurts worse than an epidural. Paul explains this is partially because there are less sensory receptors in the back than places like the hands. To minimize the pain and discomfort from...
You may ask how to get stability of mind. Everyone has positive and negative experiences that effect their mental health. When you focus on positive emotions from your experiences, you have a greater chance of improving your health. Furthermore, negative emotions lead to developing fear and anxiety while a positive outlook can benefit your physical and mental health, according to News In Health. Most doctors in town ask questions related to your mental health and stability. They also are prepared to help you access good mental health care. There are three things that can help you obtain a stability in your mental health. These include first developing a resilience, second focusing on important things, and last developing a sense of meaning and purpose in your life. 1. Develop Resilience Resilience is the power to rebound after difficult times. Self-reflection is one of the main things you can do to develop resilience. Reflect...
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