Here's To Your Health - CCMH Denison

During the pandemic, Medicaid and public assistance recipients were not required to continuously qualify for benefits. Now that the pandemic has been declared over as of May 11, the State of Iowa has passed a law requiriing purblic assistance receipients to re-qualify for benefits. Patty Aguilar, Lead Financial Counselor at CCMH, describes the process Medicaid recipients will need to follow to bec...

National Donate Life Month (NDLM) was established by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations in 2003. Observed in April each year, National Donate Life Month helps raise awareness about donation, encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation. For more information, go to www.iowadonaornetwork.org or...

Chronic wounds can be uncomfortable and stressful and make it difficult to do the things you enjoy. On this week's podcast, Jamie Gross, a physical therapist and wound care specialist at CCMH, discusses how the rehabilitation team at Crawford County Memorial Hospital can help individuals of all ages regain lost function related to acute, chronic and non-healing wounds or lymphedema. Should you or...

Anyone who has traditional Medicare, or Medicarecare Part B coverage, or who has a Medicare Advantage Plan qualifies for an Annual Wellness Visit. Nancy Meier, RN, Population Health Nurse in the CCMH Medical Clinic, discusses what an Annual Wellness Visit is and what it isn't, and why an Annual Wellness Visit is important to maintaining good health and avoiding potential physical or mental issues....

Sleep is not something you really think twice about until it becomes disrupted or difficult to achieve. It’s estimated that 33% of adults do not get enough sleep. Sleep helps the brain and body to rest and reset. Without it, fatigue begins to set in, causing decreased alertness and other negative outcomes. Patrick Stevens, Director of Cardiopulmonary Services at CCMH, discusses sleep disorders, sl...

A swing bed is a service that rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) with a Medicare provider agreement provide that allows a patient to transition from acute care to Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) care without leaving the hospital. On this week’s podcast, Amber Young, Care Coordinator, discusses the swing bed program available at CCMH and steps individuals should take if they are lo...

Childhood immunizations are important to help kids grow up healthy. Nonetheless, the COVID-19 pandemic caused childhood immunization rates to go down, opening the door to the possiblity that some diseases, including measels, mumps and polio, which were considered eradicated, will re-appear in the general population. Dr. Elizabeth "Libby" Ranniger, Board Certified Pediatrician at CCMH, discusses th...

The next Community Wellness Event at CCMH is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, March 21 and 22, from 6 am to 9 am, in the meeting rooms at the hospital. Sara Gaul, RN, Population Health Nurse Manager, discusses the importance of an annual wellness check, the costs for the blood panels, and how to sign up.

A greeat day of education and hands-on learning for EMS providers is coming up on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at the 26th Annual Crawford County EMS Conference. Sponsored by Crawford County Memorial Hospital, the conference features well-know instructors and one-of-a-kind experiences including a Mas Casualty and Flight Simulation Drill. The conference is being held at the Denison High School Fine Art...

The early year's of a child's life are very important for his or her health and development. Annette Koster, Program Director for Early Childhood Iowa in Buena Vists, Crawford and Sac counties, describes the importance of good parenting in childhood development. She also talks about the role of grandparents and other care providers in childhood development, as well as state and local programs to a...

This week is CRNA Week - Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. Ed Cutler, CRNA, Director of Anesthesia Services, discusses what CRNAs do, the training required to become a CRNA, and how CRNAs can help manage chronic pain conditions.

Chemical exposures, even with household chemicals, can result in death, injuries, eysight and breeathing problems. The Poison Control Center receives more than 3.3 million calls on its hotline each year from people who have been exposed or ingested chemicals, or those who desire additional information about how to handle accidental exposure to chemicals. Bob Fink, Director of Facility Services, di...

The winter months bring real challenges for diet and exercise due to shortened days and cold termperatures. Dana Neemann, Nurse Director of Education and Patient Experience, discusses dietary and exercise options to keep you happy and healthy in the winter.

Erin Muck, CEO and President of CCMH, discusses recent events at the hospital and clinic in 2022 and takes a brief look ahead at what's coming in 2023.

Crawford County Memorial Hospital offers pulbic information about CPR and Stop the Bleed, medical techniques that anyone can use to help save a life. CCMH is also implementing its first Patient and Family Advisory Council. Dana Neemann, Nurse Director of Education at CCMH, discusses these topics as well as the annual Crawford County EMS Conference coming up in March 2023. For more information on a...

Respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV, influenza and COVID have dominated the health landscape this fall with large numbers of children and adults suffering from these seasonal illnesses. Heather Rasmussen, Chief Officer for Ancillary Services and Quality, discusses each of these maladies, how they affect us, and the best strategies to minimize the chances of contracting any of these il...

Patient experience encompasses every interaction that a patient has with a health care organization including engaging with and talking to providers, nurses, and staff, It includes the entire experience from when an appointment is made until the bill is paid. Jason Franklin, Chief Nursing Officer, discusses the difference between patient satisfaction and patient experience, the renewed focus on pa...

Crawford County Memorial Hospital is holding its quarterly Community Wellness Event on Wednesday, December 7 and Thursday, December 8, from 6 am to 8 am, in Conference Rooms C & D at CCMH. The basic wellness screening is $40. Additional tests are available for thyroid function and prostate function for an additional fee. These are fasting screenings only. No insurance claims will be filed - ca...

National Patient Transport Week is November 6-12, 2022! On this week’s podcast, Dustin Durbin, Volunteer Services & Community Outreach Coordinator at CCMH, discusses the CCMH Patient Transportation Program and current volunteer opportunities.

The Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) is a government program funded by grants to assist those on Medicare with questions and challenges related to Medicare (Parts A & B), Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D), and Medicare Supplement Insurance. On this week's podcast, Connie Riesselman, a volunteer counselor for the SHIIP program at CCMH, pro...

Physical therapy is an important part of an overall treatment plan for those who are experiencing pain or who are about to undergo some types of surgery. Occupational therapy can help people get back to work and productive lives, while speed therapy is used to improve the communication skills and quality of life for the patient. Kelly Wieman, Director of Rehab Services, discusses the types and imp...

Bodies change as they age and, as we get older, the chances are more than one medication will be required to maintain our health. Andy Segebart, Pharm D., Director of Pharmacy Services at CCMH, talks about how to manage medications, when to talk to your healthcare provider about your medications, and how to store and dispose of medications properly.

With harvest time now in full swing, farm safety is of the utmost importance. With hundreds of farm accidents each year resulting in serious injuries and even deaths, it is important to slow down, focus, and keep safety as the highest priority. Kelby Eck, Director of Emergency Services, shares tips on how to keep everyone safe during the harvest season.

Clean hands means a healthy body. Without clean hands, sickness can be spread quickly throughout an entire population. Dana Neeman, Nurse Director of Education for CCMH, discusses the importance of hand washing, how hand washing can stop disease from spreading, and the benefits of clean hands for the health of children.

September is International Environmental Services (EVS) Month and this week is EVS Appreciation Week. Kade Ohlmeier, EVS Specialist with CCMH, talks about what environmental services are, why EVS is such an important function in healthcare, and the difference between cleaning and disinfecting.