Archive for September 2018

High School Football Round-Up Podcast: Week 4 Review/Week 5 Preview/Florence Update

Here’s what you’ll hear on this week’s installment of the High School Football Round-Up Podcast on the Southwest Georgia Network:

-Lee County remains unbeaten.

-Dougherty County teams struggle.

-Quick recap & preview of this week’s games.

-Plus, an even quicker update on Hurricane Florence.

Related Posts:

High School Football: Week 4 Scoreboard

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ICYMI: Phoebe revises visitation policy

(File Photo by Walter L. Johnson II)

Press Release courtesy of Phoebe Putney Health System

Albany, Ga. – The Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital Board of Directors approved an updated visitation policy at its board meeting on Wednesday.  It is designed to optimize family participation in the care of patients, minimize opportunities for the spread of germs and offer children a chance to visit loved ones, all while providing clinical staff a work environment most conducive to administering excellent care.  The primary guidelines of the new policy are:

·         Visiting hours will be from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. for those 12 and older.

·         In addition to a caregiver, two visitors will be allowed in a patient’s room at a time.

·         Children will be allowed to visit patients from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and during other special circumstances such as births and end-of-life care.

“We believe this revised policy is what is best for our visitors and our staff, but most importantly, it is best for our patients,” said Evelyn Olenick, DNP, Phoebe Chief Nursing Officer.  “We encourage family members to play an active role in the caregiving and healing process for patients in the hospital.  This policy promotes that family caregiving, provides ample opportunity for visitors to spend time with patients, and supports our staff as they work to offer the best possible care.”

The policy was developed based on input from more than 250 stakeholders.  “We sought opinions from a large and diverse group of people who spend a great deal of time in our hospitals,” said Joe Austin, Phoebe Putney Health System Chief Operating Officer.  “We discussed this issue with members of our patient and family advisory councils, hospital volunteers and members of the clergy.  We also surveyed members of our medical staff, other clinical staff and our leadership council to make sure we heard a variety of viewpoints.”

During the severe flu outbreak earlier this year, Phoebe restricted visiting hours and began asking all hospital visitors to use hand sanitizer when they enter the hospital.  “We will continue to maintain hand sanitizing stations at our visitor entrances,” said Steven Kitchen, MD, Phoebe Chief Medical Officer.  “This is an important part of our infection control measures.  It has been well-received by visitors and staff and shows Phoebe’s commitment to doing all we can to minimize the spread of illness.”

The boards at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center and Phoebe Worth Medical Center will consider this policy at their next meetings.  The new rules go into effect immediately in Albany.  “Our patients and visitors understand that we must enforce certain rules to ensure safe and efficient operation at our hospitals,” Austin said.  “We appreciate their cooperation as we institute this new policy as part of our continual efforts to improve our service to the people of southwest Georgia.”

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ICYMI: Two Dougherty County residents diagnosed with West Nile Virus

Press Release courtesy of the Southwest Georgia Public Health District
ALBANY-Two residents of Dougherty County have been diagnosed to have West Nile Virus infections, Southwest Health District reports. The cases are the first examples of the mosquito-borne infection in the District so far this season, prompting Public Health officials to remind area residents to take precautions against being bitten by the pests that carry the potentially dangerous disease.
One patient, an older adult, was hospitalized, but is recovering. The other, a young adult, was free of symptoms, which is a common scenario.
Recent rains have boosted mosquito activity, noted Southwest Health District Health Director Dr. Charles Ruis, who added that more mosquito activity increases the likelihood of mosquito bites.
“The best protection against West Nile Virus is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes,” he said.
Ruis offered tips for protection against mosquitoes:
*  Apply insect repellent. DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are effective repellents recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/prevention/index.html.
*  When possible, wear long sleeves, long pants and socks, particularly at dawn and dusk and in mosquito-prone areas.
*  Eliminate standing water in gutters, planters, toys, wheelbarrows and old tires.  A mosquito needs only a few drops of water in order to breed and lay eggs.
*  Trim tall grass, weeds, and vines to discourage mosquitoes.
*  Ensure window and door screens fit tightly to keep mosquitoes out of the home.
Ruis added that 80 percent of the people infected with West Nile Virus experience no symptoms. “It has no noticeable effect on them,” he said.
“About 20 percent of infected people will experience symptoms such as headache, fever, fatigue, joint pain and weakness,” he said. “The majority of those will make a complete recovery within a few days.”
But about one percent of people infected with West Nile Virus will develop severe symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches and mental status changes. Ruis added, “Uncommonly, the outcome is death.”
West Nile Virus cannot be transmitted from person to person. “Further, humans are considered dead-end hosts where West Nile is concerned,” Ruis said. “This means that even a mosquito cannot bite an infected human and transmit the virus to another human, in contrast to the Zika virus.”
Those most at risk of severe illness from West Nile Virus include those with pre-existing medical conditions and older adults.
So far this season, one person has died in Georgia from the infection. Each year, Georgia typically sees six to 10 cases per year. August is typically peak time for West Nile Virus infections in the state.
For more information about West Nile Virus, visit http://www.cdc.gov or contact your county health department.
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SWGA Health District News: September is National Preparedness Month

Press Release courtesy of the Southwest Georgia Public Health District

(Image courtesy of the Georgia Department of Public Health)

ALBANY-Southwest Georgia residents face familiar risks like tornadoes, floods and severe heat, says Southwest Health District Emergency Preparedness Director Hank Wilson.
“But there are other potential emergencies they should also have on their radar, such as pandemic flu, and man-made disasters, which could be accidental, such as a railcar spill of a hazardous chemical, or deliberate, such as a terrorist attack,” Wilson said. “National Preparedness Month is the time to think and plan about what to do in case of an event…not during the event itself.”
Preparing for worst-case scenarios allows individuals, families, schools, businesses and organizations to protect themselves and to able to return to normal more quickly.
“The theme for this year’s National Preparedness Month is `Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How,'” he said.  Wilson listed a series of simple steps aimed at improving disaster readiness:
 *  Be informed. Learn what protective measures to take before, during and after an emergency. Rely on credible sources.
 *  Make a plan. Prepare a plan and share it with your family. Be sure to include the elderly and your pets.
 *  Build a kit. Build a kit for disaster designed for you and your family’s specific needs.
 *  Get involved. Find opportunities to support community preparedness, such as volunteering with the Regional Medical Reserve Corps (medical background is not required).
More information on making an emergency plan, building a kit and other preparedness activities can be found at http://www.southwestpublichealth.org under “Preparedness” or by going to http://www.ready.gov. Plus, Southwest Health District is posting readiness tips on its Facebook and Twitter pages throughout September.
“Planning ahead and being prepared doesn’t waste time or resources,” Wilson said. “Being proactive can prevent damage and save lives.”

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

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