Healthbeat Spring 2022

SPRING 2022

HEALTHBEAT Community Healthcare, ROOTED IN TRADITION

Your Partners in Health, Growing to Meet Your Needs

INSIDE Meet Board Member Pastor Jeri Soens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Save the Date: Golf Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Employee Spotlight: Makalia Nelson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Introducing the C-Arm. . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Shift to Healthy Eating. . . . . . . . . . . . 7

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A Word from the CEO Haxtun Health is always looking for ways to make healthcare better for you and for everyone in our community. The number one question always remains, “What do you need and want from your healthcare partner?” As healthcare continually evolves, so does the needs of our community. Our responses and solutions to this evolution should always lead back to the best quality of care, delivered in a compassionate and caring way. Patient care has always been our top priority here at Haxtun Health and we determine our level of success based on your experience with us. You deserve the best, and we are striving to be the best healthcare partner you can have.

For us to become even better, we recently received a grant from the Centers for Optimizing Rural Health (CORH). CORH works with rural facilities and their communities to improve the quality of care and address the challenges unique to small hospitals. The CORH team conducted a site visit to Haxtun and met with the Board, Providers, Leadership Team, and Community members to understand our community and how they can help us improve what we do for the community. The Haxtun Health Team looks forward to this 4-year engagement that includes access to the CORH knowledge center, and peer mentoring – all at no cost to Haxtun thanks to the awarded grant. Think of this as ‘polishing the diamond’ or taking us from ‘Good’ to ‘Great’.

Progress continues on the most exciting thing in town – our Main Street Clinic. This is a 3-phase project. Phase 1 was to purchase property, ask our community what they wanted, design and prepare for construction.

Phase 2 was to install underground utilities, pour concrete, Services and erect the steel structure. With Phase 2 complete, we • Behavioral Health Counseling have now begun the 3rd and final phase. Phase 3 will involve • Cardiology external walls going up, a roof, and then the interior finish and fit up. Expect this 10,000 sq. ft. Clinic to open sometime • Diabetes Clinic in 2023 and be the Best Clinic in Haxtun. This new building • Direct Access Testing will house a 5,000 sq. ft. Clinic, a large Physical Therapy and • Dry Needling – Cash Pay Wellness space, and a Retail Pharmacy – all on Main Street.

• Emergency Room Stay tuned…

• Endoscopy • Family Medicine • In-Patient (Hospital) • Laboratory Dewane Pace, CEO • Laser Therapy • Nutrition Counseling • Occupational Therapy • Orthopedics Haxtun Health promotes optimum wellness through compassionate and high-quality care. We aim to be your • Pharmacy expert source of information in the medical world. Content • Physical Therapy for the Haxtun HealthBeat is provided by Haxtun Health staff • Podiatry and providers as well as trusted resources from around the • Radiology country.

• Respite Care • Sleep Studies • Swing Bed Rehabilitation

Spring 2022

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Board Spotlight: Pastor Jeri Soens, Board Member When she isn’t delivering a sermon at Haxtun United Methodist Church, literally clowning around – white face paint and everything – or out putting on puppet shows for seniors, Pastor Jeri Pastor Jeri Soens Soens spends time volunteering as a Board Member for Haxtun Health.

Pastor Jeri is in her second term as a Board Member and she loves being able to be a part of working toward change. She was recently honored at Haxtun Health’s Girls’ Night Out annual celebration with the 2022 Wellness for Women award for being known to always help women going through difficult times with a smile on her face and the perfect prayer for a given situation.

“I want to give back to the community, but in a way that would have an impact on everyone,” she said. “Without all that Haxtun Health offers, our community would simply maintain, not survive the way it should.”

Being Pastor of the Methodist Church is a full-time job, but Pastor Jeri says she will always make time for things that help seniors and children. Her passion is the residents in Extended Care. She wants to make sure things are accessible for the residents there and improve their quality of life. Even through all the roles she takes on, she is also spending time working on a sewing project that brings dignity to the residents.

“Right now, I’m working on bibs that look like shirts,” she said. “I don’t want residents or their families to feel embarrassed for needing an extra piece of fabric. I want to make sure people can keep their dignity throughout the aging process.”

While she loves spending time in Extended Care bringing entertainment and faith to the residents, Pastor Jeri also loves bringing joy to children.

Her late husband used to call her a pied piper of children. She said she loves putting on clown costumes and make-up to go out to events and make balloon art for children – and anyone else who wants one.

Always known to have a positive outlook and smile on her face, Pastor Jeri even found a joyful way to make it through two battles with cancer, learning ventriloquism while in isolation.

“Life is a journey, and no matter what path I’m put on, I get excited because I get to meet new people,” she said about the experience. “I always say, no matter what it is, that if things go wrong, then something good is going to happen.”

Pastor Jeri Soens receiving the 2022 Wellness for Women Award

After coming out of retirement to take the call and become Pastor at Haxtun United Methodist Church, Pastor Jeri said she really is glad to be here and that she loves the community. While she was only supposed to be working two years in Haxtun, she has now served as Pastor for eight years. She said the only time she wants to hear the word retire is when her car gets new tires.

“I feel that if you want change, you have to be part of the change,” she said. “I want to see this little town grow. We are all little pieces of a puzzle and I love seeing that come together.”

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5th Annual

Golf Scramble

June 11th, 2022 F&H Golf Course Haxtun, CO

Registration and sponsorship details coming soon!

Follow Haxtun Health on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

Stroke Awareness Who is at Risk?

There are several factors that contribute to the risk of suffering a stroke. The major risk factors include; high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, smoking, age, race and ethnicity, and personal or family history of stroke. In 2018, 1 in every 6 deaths from cardiovascular disease was due to stroke. 795,000 people in the United States suffer from a stroke each year.

Symptoms of Stroke

The first signs of stroke are distinct because they happen very quickly.

There is sudden numbness of the face, arm, or leg, specifically on one side of the body. There will also be severe confusion and trouble speaking. You will also notice issues with walking and dizziness.

Stroke Prevention

The best treatment for stroke is prevention. Prevention includes maintaining a healthy blood pressure, quit smoking, control diabetes, make efforts to lower cholesterol, lose weight.

What to do if You Suspect a Stroke

If you think you or someone else is having a stroke, call 9-1-1 right away. Do not drive to the hospital or let someone else drive you. Call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the emergency room. During a stroke, every minute counts.

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Act FAST

Face paralysis is one of the first signs. There will be drooping on one side of the face.

Due to the numbness effecting one side of the body, one arm will usually show weakness.

Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech.

Every minute counts! Don't hesitate to call 911 if you suspect a stroke.

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Employee Feature: Makalia Nelson, MA Being awarded Employee of the Quarter at Haxtun Health is an esteemed honor. The people nominated produce high-quality work and exhibit commitment to quality and responsibility. Overall, these individuals are an asset to their department and the staff as a whole at Haxtun Health.

Makalia Nelson is a Medical Assistant Makalia Nelson (MA) at Haxtun and she is the most recent award winner. Her nomination was glowing. It talked about her willingness to always go the extra mile for patients and coworkers.

been a MA for 12 years and has worked in several areas, including Pediatrics, Urgent Care, and Family Medicine.

“My favorite part of this job is learning something new every day and interacting with staff and patients daily,” she said. “At Haxtun, I love working with and learning from our great providers.”

Right now, she is currently in school to finish her Registered Nurse degree. She said she has always wanted to work in the healthcare field as a nurse.

“There is nowhere else I would rather be,” Makalia said. “I love working with the public and especially patient care.”

She has been known to pick up patients from their homes in order to get them to their appointments when they have no way to get there. She has even taken them back home after they receive their care. Makalia is the type of person who will volunteer to take on extra tasks — with a smile on her face — even when her plate is full.

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Makalia was born and raised in North Idaho near Coeur d’Alene. After her husband accepted a job on a farm in Nebraska, she discovered that the state does not recognize Medical Assistants as a job description.

Being close to the Colorado border, when she saw an opening at Haxtun Health, she applied and has now been with the Haxtun Health team for two years.

As an MA, her philosophy is to always put empathy first. She said that she always listens to the patient’s concerns and does the best for every patient, every day. Outside of work, she said she loves being outdoors.

After growing up in a rural area and also working in a rural area, Makalia has seen the challenges for individuals in the community.

She believes that everyone should have the same access to quality care. Makalia has

“Whether we are traveling or trap shooting, the outdoors is my happy place,” she said.

“I have been married to my husband, Bryon, for eight years, and I love spending time with him and my daughter Abby.”

Makalia Nelson with Dr. Seinfeld

New Technology at Haxtun Health: Introducing the C-Arm Haxtun Health is happy to announce the addition of innovative equipment in the Radiology Department.

The new Mobile Fluoroscopic System, also known as a C-Arm X-Ray Machine, is an extreme benefit to interventional pain patients, allowing our interventional radiologist to provide on-site procedures.

Radiology and Imaging Services at Haxtun Health Haxtun Health Radiology offers a fullservice menu for a variety of imaging needs.

Here, you will find our equipment is top of the line, and our professional radiology team offers caring service that’s supportive of each patient’s situation.

For more information about Radiology and Imaging Services at Haxtun, visit haxtunhealth.org.

To schedule an appointment, call 970-774-6123.

What is a C-Arm? A C-Arm is a piece of radiology equipment comprised of an X-ray source and an image intensifier or flat panel detector that allows providers to see images in real-time. It can be used for orthopedic and surgical procedures. It got its name from being in the shape of the letter “C.” The equipment uses radiation, much like a typical X-ray, but it displays a live image rather than a still shot. It is very beneficial for providers when placing needles and conducting barium swallow studies.

While we don’t currently provide these procedures at Haxtun, it can also be used during total knee and hip replacements.

The C-Arm at Haxtun Breyona Hill is the Director of Radiology and Materials Management at Haxtun Health. She is very excited to have the equipment on-site.

“Our interventional radiologist was limited at Haxtun because we didn’t have a C-Arm. Patients were having to travel to the Front Range to receive care,” she said. “Now that we have C-Arm, we are able to perform more procedures, allow other specialists to also use the equipment, and our patients have the convenience of not having to travel.”

All radiology technologists and any operating providers must obtain a certification in fluoroscopy to operate the C-Arm. Currently, at Haxtun, there is an interventional radiologist on-site once per month to perform procedures in which the C-Arm will be used.

Hill said she looks forward to serving patients in numerous ways and hopes to expand current service line offerings now that there is access to this innovative technology.

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Plan Your Plate: Shift to Healthier Eating Healthy eating is one of the best ways to prevent health problems. Eating well, along with getting enough physical activity, can help you lower your risk of health issues like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and more. To reach your goals, experts advise making small, gradual, realistic changes.

The best diet to follow is one that is science based, that allows you to meet your nutritional requirements, and that you can stick to long-term.

Limit Added Sugars Added sugar is the extra sugar added to foods and drinks during preparation. Corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, brown sugar, and honey are examples of sweeteners added to foods and drinks, especially regular sodas.

Studies have shown that consuming too much highfructose corn syrup increases the risk of weight gain and heart disease.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest a daily limit on added sugar of no more than 10% of calories. That’s about the amount in 16 ounces of regular soda (190 calories).

Anybody can improve their diet by substituting fruits and vegetables for sugar as their snacks, as part of their dessert, and as part of their meals.

Consider Your Fats Fat is high in calories. Getting too many calories can contribute to obesity, which elevates the risk for heart disease and other health problems. But there are different kinds of fats.

Fats that are liquid at room temperature, or oils, are generally healthier than those that are solid. Solid fats are found in high amounts in beef, chicken, pork, cheese, butter, and whole milk. Liquid oils— such as canola, corn, olive, or peanut oil—have mostly unsaturated or polyunsaturated fats.

Check Labels for Salt Experts advise you to limit salt, which tends to be very high in processed foods. If you eat salty foods you can quickly go over the daily limit of one teaspoon of salt. Examples of salty, highly processed foods are bacon, frozen pizzas, and salad dressings.

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Along with a lot of added salt, processed foods might have preservatives, sweeteners, and other substances added during preparation.

Make a Meal Plan Planning is the key to success. Figuring out what to eat is less than half the battle. Sticking to a plan is the bigger challenge. That is why prepping and planning will help you reach your goals.

The DASH eating plan is a good place to start.

DASH was developed to help people lower blood pressure without medicine, but it’s for anyone.

Studies have shown that it reduces the risk of many diseases.

The DASH diet is very realistic and flexible because it can easily be followed without going to a specialty grocery store and the foods are available in every region of the United States.

The DASH eating plan is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, seeds, nuts, and fish. Compared to the typical American diet, it’s lower in salt, added sugars, fats, and red meat.

It’s also higher in fiber, potassium, magnesium, and calcium than the typical American diet.

Haley Edwards, Registered Dietitian at Haxtun Health

These guidelines are designed to help people avoid developing obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. But everyone is different. You may have needs and risks that aren’t like the average American. Talk to your healthcare provider about your unique nutritional needs.

Call 970-774-6123 to schedule a time to meet with our Registered Dietitian, Haley Edwards, to set up an individualized plan that will meet your needs and get you on track for where you want to be.

Haxtun Health complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.

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