Pioneer League battle: Iola High readies for Wellsville attack.
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THE IOLA REGISTER Locally owned since 1867
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Sepsis awareness stressed By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Polly Barker describes sepsis as one of society’s leastknown, but most dangerous, health issues in Kansas and beyond. Barker, infection prevention nurse at Allen County Regional Hospital, told the Register about September’s designation as Sepsis Awareness Month. Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming and potentially life-threatening response to an infection, Barker explained. It occurs when chemicals released into the bloodstream to fight the infection can trigger widespread inflammation, which leads to blood clots and “leaky” vessels. This, in turn, leads to impaired blood flow, damaging the body’s organs by depriving them of oxygen and nutrients. In short, “it’s a bad, bad deal,” Barker said. While sepsis numbers aren’t necessarily more prevalent than in years past, awareness and detection have climbed steadily as more advanced health care measures are developed. The problem with sepsis is its high mortality rate. Upwards of half of all who suffer from sepsis will die from its complications, Barker said. For comparison’s sake, “this is higher than heart atSee SEPSIS | Page A3
LaHarpe cleanup efforts take shape By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
LAHARPE — Plans are being finalized for a mammoth yard cleanup effort, followed by the installation of p l ay g r o u n d equipment at Damaris LaHarpe City Kunkler Park. Damaris Kunkler, program director at Thrive Allen County, spoke to LaHarpe City Council members Wednesday about the effort, slated to run Oct. 8-11. A half-dozen University of Kansas students will be in town then to assist the LaHarpe PRIDE Committee, Kunkler explained. At least 10 Allen County 4-H youth, as part of a “48 Hours of Service” campaign, also will be on hand. Organizers are searching for five yards in LaHarpe in dire need of cleanup. PRIDE Committee members are looking over properSee CLEANUP | Page A6
Patty McGuffin, Allen County Regional Hospital’s chief nursing officer, left, and Polly Barker, ACHRG infection prevention nurse, are eager to share information about sepsis awareness. September is Sepsis Awareness Month. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
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No drugs found in IHS, IMS searches
Searches for illegal drugs at Iola High School and Iola Middle School We d n e s d a y came up clean, Iola Police Chief Jared Warner told the RegJared Warner ister. The search, including use of canine units capable of detecting illegal drugs, was done cooperatively with the Iola Police Department and USD 257. Assisting with the effort were the Allen County Sheriff ’s Department, as well as agencies from Montgomery County, Wilson County, Bourbon County and Neodesha, Warner said. “Nothing of significance” was found, Warner said. “There were no drugs found.” Iola High School Principal Stacey Fager said he was “very pleased” with the results. Jack Koehn, USD 257 superintendent of schools, welcomed the cooperation between the school district and local law enforcement. “We welcome these searches to ensure a safe learning See SEARCHES | Page A6
Studies: Employer costs slow as deductibles soar By JAY HANCOCK and SHEFALI LUTHRA Kaiser Health News
Employer health insurance expenses continued to rise by relatively low amounts this year, aided by moderate increases in total medical spending but also by workers taking on a greater share of the costs, new research shows. Average premiums for employment-based family coverage rose 3.4 percent for 2016, down from annual increases of nearly twice that much before 2011 and double digits in the early 2000s, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the foundation.) But 3.4 percent is still faster than recent economic growth, which determines the country’s long-run ability to afford health care. And the tame premium increases obscure out-of-pocket costs that are being loaded on employees in the form of higher deductibles and copayments. Another new study suggests those shifts have prompted workers and their families to use substantially fewer medical services. Shift to high-deductible plans
For the first time in Kaiser’s annual survey, more
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than half the workers in plans covering a single person face a deductible of at least $1,000. Deductibles for family plans are typically even higher. Deductibles are what consumers pay out of pocket before the insurance kicks in. Employers sometimes contribute to pre-tax accounts to help workers pay such costs. Employers have been flocking to high-deductible plans in recent years, argu-
ing that exposure to medical costs makes consumers better shoppers. It also saves employers money. Having workers pay more out of pocket shaved half a percentage point off premium increases of employment-based plans in each of the past two years, Kaiser researchers calculated. Since 2011, the average deductible for single coverage has soared 63 percent, according to the survey, while
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workers’ earnings have gone up by only 11 percent. The study of more than 1,900 small and large companies showed little evidence that high costs are prompting employers to dump health coverage or cut workers’ hours to make them ineligible for insurance. The Affordable Care Act requires companies with at least 50 employees to offer coverage See INSURANCE | Page A6
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