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Constant exposure to stress can leave you mentally and physically depleted. Feeling helpless in the face of insurmountable problems can rob you of the energy to even care, let alone solve them. The resulting exhaustion, known as burnout, causes you to lose motivation and interest in whatever undertaking may have led to the condition. Here are some strategies to help avoid burnout.

Turn to Others

One of the quickest ways to relieve stress is to talk to someone, especially face-to-face. Even if they don’t know how to fix your problems, it’s comforting to share them with someone who will listen. The best choices are family and friends since they are less likely to feel burdened and will probably want the best for you. Confiding in someone also has a way of strengthening the existing bond.

Reframe Your View of Work

The best remedy for burnout is to switch careers and find something more rewarding. However, this isn’t always possible and you may need your job to stay afloat. It may help to focus on the impact your job has on the lives of others, especially if it provides needed products or services. You can also choose to focus on whatever aspects of the job you do enjoy, even if it’s sharing laughs with your coworkers. Remember that your experience at work is partly the result of the attitude with which you approach it.

Take Time Off

The value of a much-needed vacation should not be overlooked. The more hours you work, the more quickly your energy stores will be depleted and the less time you’ll have to recover before you’re back at work again. No matter how young you are, you won’t be able to keep this up indefinitely. If you’re not due any vacation time, use up your sick days or request a leave of absence. The point is to take time away to relax and recharge, before returning to the grind.

Reassess Your Priorities

Burnout indicates that something in your life is out of balance. Maybe you’ve neglected your hopes and dreams while ascending the career ladder. Maybe you’ve neglected your family. This can be an ideal time to begin setting boundaries and learn to say “no” to unreasonable demands on your time. Don’t be afraid to turn off your phone and quit checking your email after hours. Spend more time pursuing hobbies that feed your creative side, taking care of your health and getting enough sleep.

Exercise

You may not feel like exercising when you’re burned out, but it may be what your mind and body need. It’s one of the best ways to combine stress and improve your mood. All you need is 30 minutes per day to begin feeling better, both physically and mentally. If you can’t get in the entire half-hour at once, break it up into 10 or 15-minute sessions. Any type of exercise is beneficial, so don’t be discouraged if all you have the energy for is walking. Consistency is what’s really important.

Fix Your Diet

What you get out of your body is the direct result of what you put into it. Your energy levels and mood will reflect this the most. Refined carbohydrates, sugar, and caffeine can lead to crashes as the day goes on. Hormones and preservatives are known to adversely affect people’s moods. Cut back on these foods, along with alcohol and nicotine, which can increase anxiety levels. Seaweed, flaxseed, and salmon are all rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Working them into your diet can help boost your mood.

There may be other things you can do to avoid burnout, but these tips cover the basics. Good health, a reassessment of your priorities and an honest conversation with loved ones will help ensure that you can make those decisions. If you do have to quit your job or move to another city, you’ll be able to do so from a position of strength.

 

Thanks to the generous donation from Burgess Foundation, the Burgess Health Center medical-surgical department now has 13 new, state-of-the-art Versacare Beds. Each bed is equipped with several features designed to keep safety and prevention at the forefront of care. Features like the Bed Exit Alarm System will alert staff to patients exiting the bed without assistance. The new Versacare Beds are also equipped with Active Integrated Response®. This feature alleviates pressure points by continuously regulating the amount of air in the mattress. Another feature designed to protect the skin is the Advanced Microclimate® Technology. This wicks moisture away from patients keeping them dry and comfortable. In addition to these notable features is Turn Assist. Turn Assist hyper-inflates one side of the mattress making it easier for patients to reposition. This dramatic upgrade is the latest equipment addition that will help to continue the advancement of care at Burgess Health Center.

 

Effective September 1, the outside door to the Burgess Emergency Room will remain locked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure patient privacy and safety. After 8:30 p.m., patients with an emergent medical condition are urged to go through the ER door, press the call button and speak with the operator for entry. All other patients and visitors, please use the main entrance of the hospital from 5:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. We understand the inconvenience but believe this new regulation is the kind of approach needed to foster the privacy and safety in our healthcare facility.

As an award-winning critical access hospital, Burgess Health Center is committed to improving the quality of life for the people and communities served, by providing excellent health care and exceptional patient experiences. We are always considering new and creative approaches to patient care.

Karla Copple, Director of Emergency Services states, “This is a collaborative effort to safeguard our patients and ensure they receive the appropriate and timely care they deserve.”

Burgess Emergency Service’s staff have begun the transition with current patients and will continue to implement the change with future patients. We feel that this new process will allow staff to provide adequate care, retain patient privacy, and prevent potential intruders from reaching patients.

“Our emergency department’s caseload is unpredictable and we want to provide the quality care necessary for our patients,” Fran Tramp, president of Burgess Health Center said. “We are pleased that Burgess is taking additional steps to ensure all emergent patients are examined effectively in a private and safe environment.”

The Burgess Emergency Room is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for the treatment of emergent and urgent medical conditions.

Here are some examples of emergent conditions:

• Head injury
• Signs of a heart attack or stroke
• Bleeding that will not stop
• A health issue that is getting much worse very quickly

For more information please call, 712-423-2311.

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Burgess Health Center, located in Onawa, Iowa, is a rural acute care hospital that is accredited by the State of Iowa. Burgess Family Clinics serve the communities of Dunlap, Sloan, and Mapleton in Iowa as well as Decatur, Neb. Burgess has retail family pharmacies in Dunlap and Whiting, Iowa. The staff is committed to improving the quality of life for the people and communities served, by providing excellent health care and exceptional patient experiences.

Those in pain now have one more option available to help relieve what ails them. Physical therapists at Burgess Rehabilitation Services are offering a new form of therapy. Josh Lander, MPT in Onawa and Jenny Miller, MPT, in Mapleton and Dunlap are now offering dry needling.

Dry needling is a physical therapy technique that decreases pain in your muscles. The technique uses a “dry” needle, one without medication or injection, inserted into areas of the muscle.

Dry needling is used to treat a variety of conditions, including:

• Headaches
• Tissue adhesions
• Back pain
• Chronic pain
• Tennis elbow
• Hamstring pain
• Knee pain
• Sciatica
• Fibromyalgia pain

A typical fear that some people have involving needles is “does it hurt?” Lander answered this question by saying, “Dry needling is known to be relatively painless. Generally, the needle insertion is not felt, and the local twitch response only provokes a very brief pain response, feeling more like a shock or cramping sensation. Following the treatment, patients may be sore for about a day but may experience an immediate improvement in range of motion and strength, as well as a decrease in pain.”

There is more to this technique than just sticking a dry needle into your skin and magically making you feel better. There is science involved. Let’s say you’re suffering from shoulder or neck pain; the therapist will insert needles into detected trigger points. The needles will release tension, inflammation, and pressure in the muscles that has caused the pain. Overall, what makes needling effective is that it encourages your body to fix the injury and reduce the pain by naturally healing itself.

Both Lander and Miller have specialized training and certification in dry needling therapy. For the most effective treatment, this service is performed as part of a complete rehabilitation plan rather than a standalone treatment.

“Patients with musculoskeletal dysfunction are the majority of our clients. Dry needling gives us another way of addressing these issues,” said Miller.

Burgess accepts most insurances, and your insurance benefits can be checked before your evaluation. For questions or more information about how you may benefit from dry needling therapy, call Burgess Rehabilitation Services in Onawa at 712-423-9287 or Mapleton at 712-882-2343.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Hospital Association’s (IHA’s) Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation (IHERF) has awarded $182,000 in scholarships to college students from all parts of Iowa. Among those receiving a $3,500 scholarship is Robin McLey an employee at Burgess Health Center who is enrolled in the occupational therapy doctorate program at University of South Dakota.

Since its inception 14 years ago, the IHERF scholarship fund has provided support to about 34 students each year. This year, that number was increased to 52. Similarly, in 2016, the scholarship amount was increased from $3,000 to $3,500. Each recipient is also eligible for an additional $3,500 award. Seven of the students are repeat recipients from 2017.

IHA established the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program in 2004 to help address the ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals and encourage young Iowans to establish or continue their careers with Iowa hospitals. The first scholarships were awarded in 2005, and more than 450 students have now benefited from the program. To date, the scholarship program has provided more than $1.4 million in direct support to students since its inception.

Iowa hospitals also benefit from the scholarship program. In exchange for financial support, scholarship-receiving students agree to work one year in an Iowa hospital for each year they receive an award. Today, 250 past scholarship recipients are working in hospitals across the state.

IHA staff, the IHERF Board, hospital leaders and IHA Auxilian/Volunteer Board members from throughout the state evaluated scholarship applications from 165 students, who were judged on grade-point average, a written personal statement, letters of reference and extracurricular, community, and health care-related activities.

“We are very proud to support these high-achieving students who will help Iowa hospitals continue their tradition of high-quality health care throughout the state,” said IHA President and CEO Kirk Norris.

The Iowa Hospital Association is a voluntary membership organization representing hospital and health system interests to business, government, and consumer audiences.  All of Iowa’s 118 community hospitals are IHA members.

 

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Photo: Burgess Health Center staff members Teresa Butler, VP of clinical services; Robin McLey, occupational therapist and scholarship recipient; Josh Lander, director of rehabilitation services.

Burgess Mental Health has received a grant to provide an international mental health training program. Adults are invited to participate in the training, free of charge.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. Topics covered include:

• Common mental health challenges for youth, and typical adolescent development.
• The potential risk factors and warning signs for a range of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
• A 5-step action plan encompassing the skills, resources, and knowledge to assess the situation, to select and implement appropriate interventions, and to help the individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional care.
• The professional, peer, social, and self-help resources available to help someone with a mental health problem.

The Youth Mental Health First Aid program is interactive and runs 8 hours. Training is scheduled for Saturday, June 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room of the Onawa Public Library, 707 Iowa Avenue. Staff from Burgess Mental Health will provide the training.

For those who would like to participate in the training, please register by Friday, June 1. Space is limited to the first 20 people who register. To register or ask questions, please call 712-423-9160.

Visit www.MentalHealthFirstAid.org to learn more about this program.

Burgess Auxiliary made a generous donation toward the purchase of telemedicine technology for Burgess Health Center. The first specialist who will use the technology is Dr. Jennifer Gibert, an endocrinologist from Omaha. Endocrinologists treat things like diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, disorders of menopause, PMS, and pituitary disorders. Many people in the area will benefit from endocrinology appointments close to home.

If you don’t know what telemedicine is, keep reading.

Telemedicine is a fast growing field of medicine. Telemedicine improves access to medical specialists. In the past patients may have had to travel a long way to see a specialist. Now they have the option of being treated by those same doctors, close to home.

The introduction of video conferencing has made a big difference, allowing doctors and patients to see one another. Burgess will use technology that allows patients to talk with Dr. Gibert using a secure live video feed. During the appointment, the doctor can get a medical history from the patient, talk to the patient about current symptoms, do an evaluation, and then recommend the best course of treatment. There will also be a nurse or medical professional in the room with the patient to help by taking vitals and getting the technology set up.

Ongoing conditions like diabetes or thyroid disorders are ideal candidates for telemedicine. The Burgess lab will carry out tests and report the results back to the doctor, allowing her to monitor the patient’s condition and recommend any necessary changes to their treatment plan.

While telemedicine can’t completely replace traditional forms of medicine, it is a valuable addition which can vastly improve quality of life for both patients and healthcare providers.

Telemedicine is changing the way healthcare works. Patients can now access high-quality, timely, specialist care wherever they are in the world. While telemedicine isn’t a complete replacement for traditional face-to-face visits, it’s an extremely valuable way to supplement existing care.

If you would like an appointment with Dr. Gibert, please ask your primary care provider for a referral to Burgess Specialty Clinics.

Burgess Health Center improved our Emergency Department through a LEAN process and working with our Electronic Health Records provider.

Here is a great article about the work being done behind the scenes in the Burgess ED.

https://www.evident.com/resources/blog/20180112/burgess-health-center-improved-their-ed-through-lean-process-and-working