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Grief is a journey that doesn’t have to be traveled alone. Often, talking or being with someone else who has experienced a loss can be helpful.

Burgess Home Health and Hospice is offering a 5-session grief support group for adults. Sessions will be April 3, 10, 17, 24 and May 1 from 6 – 8 p.m. The support group will meet in the conference rooms at Burgess Health Center in Onawa, Iowa.

There is no charge to participate. Please bring a photo of your loved one for the first meeting.

This support group is for any adult who has experienced a loss through death. It is designed to offer members a safe and understanding atmosphere where support can be drawn, and feelings, fears, and frustrations shared with others traveling the same “road of grief.”

While there is no time frame for when you experienced the loss of your loved one, it is recommended the loss have occurred at least two months before the start of the grief group.

Participants must pre-register by Friday, March 29. A minimum of four members is required for the group to take place. If you have questions or would like to register, please contact Sandy Beechy at Burgess Hospice by calling 712-423-9265.

In early December, Bomgaars held a night of festive fun and holiday shopping for ladies, and today, the radiology department at Burgess Health Center received a generous donation.

Bomgaars joined with local cancer centers and hospitals to raise awareness of women’s health issues and passed along a 20% discount for the ladies in attendance on December 2 from 5-8 p.m.  A donation of the evening’s total sales was pledged back into the community to help local agencies.

“We are grateful to have the support from our local Bomgaar’s store and the ladies that braved the cold that evening for some great discounts,” Jenny Coble, Director of Radiology stated. “This community rallies when it’s for a good cause, and in this case, cancer screening and women’s health.”

The donation of $259.70 will go towards the purchase of a new breast exam module that aids women in the recognition and detection of breast disorders, sizes of nodules, and other abnormalities during a breast examination. Breast cancer cannot be prevented; however, Burgess Health Center continues to provide and invest in the latest technologies, education, and support services for early detection.

PHOTO: Jenny Coble, Director of Radiology accepting the donation from Eric Ridder, store manager at Bomgaars Onawa.

Diabetes is a disease that will not go away, but it can be managed by taking proper and necessary steps. Burgess Diabetes Center offers the latest in technology to help patients manage their blood sugars.

A Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS) consists of a sensor worn on the back of the upper arm. The sensor uses a thin flexible filament inserted under the skin and measures glucose every minute. The blood sugar data from the sensor is downloaded to a computer and a print out shows a full 24 hours of blood sugars. The sensor can be worn for up to 14 days.

John Maule, a five-year diabetes patient, has had previous struggles with keeping track of his blood sugar. After wearing the professional CGMS, it motivated him to get a personal version and download the phone app.

“I’m afraid of needles, so pricking your fingers all the time was a big step for me,” said Maule. “Then on top of it, you have to keep track of the strips.” It got to be too much of a hassle for Maule that eventually he became inconsistent with testing his blood sugar altogether.

When a diabetes patient is inconsistent or just stops checking their blood sugar, they are taking a major risk.

Michele Kirkendall, Burgess Health Center diabetes educator, and dietician said not checking your blood sugar can lead to problems with a diabetes patient’s vision, heart, kidneys, and circulation in hands and feet.

“You can also feel extremely tired and just not feel like doing anything,” said Kirkendall.

Since beginning the sensor in May, Maule has noticed an improvement in his daily life.

“I think the biggest thing is I know what to eat when to eat and how I react to what I eat.” Before he was just guessing and paying the consequence later.

The sensor relays important information to the reader, such as graphs and charts.

All of these conveniences have changed the way Maule feels about checking his blood sugar.

“I can’t believe that anyone with diabetes doesn’t struggle with pricking their finger,” he said. “I would recommend the sensor to anyone with diabetes.”

Personal Continuous Glucose Monitors are becoming a very useful tool to help individuals monitor their blood sugars. If you or someone you know could benefit from this technology, contact our diabetes educators at Burgess Diabetes Center.

www.burgesshc.org or call 712-423-9268.

A baby girl, Kylie Mae Funkhouser, born January 1 at 9:37 a.m., was the New Year’s Baby at Burgess Health Center. She weighed 6 lbs., 3 oz. and was 19 inches long.

As the Burgess Family Beginnings New Year’s Baby, Kylie, and her parents received a personalized work of art made by Sue Cutler, chairperson of Burgess Health Center Auxiliary New Year’s Baby Gift Committee.

If you would like to find out more about Burgess Family Beginnings or the Burgess Auxiliary visit www.BurgessHC.org.

 

Photo: Sue Cutler presents the New Year’s Baby artwork to Kylie Funkhouser.

Burgess Health Center will conduct a life-saving blood drive at Burgess Health Center, 1600 Diamond St, Onawa, on Friday, January 11, 12:30 – 5:15 p.m. Also, all donors will receive a coupon for one free ice cream cone redeemable at the Onawa Dairy Queen. The need for blood locally remains constant. Burgess reminds donors to eat a meal and drink plenty of water prior to giving blood. Photo ID is required at donation time. People can donate a pint of blood every 56 days, so roll-up those sleeves and save lives.

Schedule your appointment online at www.lifeservebloodcenter.org or call 800.287.4903. 

Burgess People Care teamed up once again to provide families in need with clothing items, gifts, food, and household items for Christmas. This project is a great way to connect one-on-one with families in the community and for them to experience the many joys of the holiday season that they otherwise may not have been able to afford.

This year nine families were adopted. “We appreciate the generosity of our employees,” said Di Lenz, Burgess People Care representative. “They are the ones that brighten the holidays for our families.”

Burgess People Care, an employee organization at Burgess Health Center, sponsors this project each year and relies on the generosity of employees to make it happen.

Pictured: Di Lenz, Jeremy Cameron, Marsha Samway, Janie Schlitter, and Jamie Brummond.

The Burgess Clinic in Whiting hosted the 3rd annual “Hat, Mitten, and Scarf” drive for the holidays.  Nearly 50 items were collected and donated to the Whiting Community School for children who are in need of warmth during the cold Midwest winters.

“We want to provide warm winter items that children need to stay safe and healthy throughout the season,” says Kris Wulf, Whiting Clinic registrar, and coordinator for the annual project. “But none of it would be possible without so much help from our communities.”

The “Hat, Mitten, and Scarf” drive is open to the community and the success of it depends on the generosity of our citizens. Please visit www.burgesshc.org or call us at 712.455.2431 to learn more about our work and the patients we serve.

Burgess Health Center was named 2018 Employer of the Year as part of Monona County Economic Development Partnership’s (MCEDP) business recognition program. Burgess was nominated by community leaders and chosen as the award recipient by the Board of Directors for MCEDP.

Burgess has been providing health care to the Monona County area since 1963 and employs a diverse group of professionals, including those with extensive clinical degrees and those in nonclinical support positions. Burgess is one of the leading employers in the area, employing approximately 260 people and offering attractive benefits, including competitive salary, generous PTO, health plan, 403(b) with company match, professional development, tuition assistance, and health club membership discounts.

“On behalf of MCEDP, I congratulate this year’s Major Employer of the Year Award winner, Burgess Health Center, for their demonstrated commitment to partner with local workforce and education partners in support of the local economy,” said MCEDP Executive Director, Jessica Carrier. “Preparing our future healthcare workforce is crucial, and I commend Burgess for their innovative and valuable work.”

Burgess is actively involved with Monona County’s workforce initiatives by means of a partnership with MCEDP. Burgess also is an active community partner with various civic and community organizations. Through the Burgess Auxiliary organization, scholarships are awarded each spring to area high school seniors and first-year college students that wish to pursue a career in a health-related field. Burgess’s support of the county workforce system aligns with its mission to continue improving the quality of
life for the people and communities they serve by providing excellent healthcare and exceptional patient experience.

Monona County Economic Development Partnership (MCEDP) is a public-private partnership dedicated to helping Monona County employers, workers, and communities prosper economically.

Holidays are the biggest time of the year for spending, traveling, and eating. It’s easy to get swept up in the chaos of things to do and conveniently wave activities like exercise and diet out the window. Here are a few tips to staying healthy during the torrent of family and friends without sacrificing health and happiness.

Go for green. This can be as easy as adding an extra helping of green beans or salad to your plate or signing up to bring a side of vegetables at a family potluck. Maximizing color–specifically green–to your diet is the first step towards a healthier you.

Balance your plate. Eating healthy doesn’t have to (nor should it) mean eating only greens at every meal. The USDA’s My Plate program recommends half of your plate consist of fruits and vegetables and the other half, grains and protein. Dairy should be a small side portion if consumed at all, though calcium is easily obtainable from leafy greens and soy-rich foods like tofu and soybeans. Sticking to a solid ratio ensures that you won’t go without favorites like potatoes and stuffing while still getting plenty of goodness.

Watch liquid calories. Although one glass of red wine a day can be beneficial, beer, wine, and most liquors contain more calories than you might think. For example, a glass of red wine sits at about 125 calories, while a bottle of beer is about 115. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t have a few drinks over the course of a night, but always (especially with alcohol) keep an eye on your consumption. Moderation is key.

Monitor portion size. The best way to limit food cravings and overeating is to eat small meals throughout the day. Take a few minutes while getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner to take a break and snack on pecans, fruit, or whole wheat crackers. Eating throughout the day can prevent bingeing at meals and will keep you satisfied for longer.

Get up and move. Although it might seem like there’s no time to breathe let alone exercise, even just taking fifteen minutes a day can generate endorphins that boost your mood. It doesn’t just have to be you getting exercise either. Get the family out on a walk with the dog or throw a ball around between dinner and dessert. Don’t let a little cold trap you or your family inside.

Finally, these tips aren’t hard rules. The root of a healthy lifestyle is moderation. You don’t have to limit calories, nor should you push yourself to get up and run every day unless that’s what you want to do. Staying healthy is just one step to retaining energy and happiness in the busiest time of the year.