In The News
On a recent morning at a senior housing complex, while conducting a presentation on the dangers multiple prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can cause, Jolynn Officer asked the dozen or so residents in attendance how many took at least one prescription drug.
It was really no surprise that every hand in the room quickly shot up. After all, advances in health care equate to longer life expectancy, but sometimes at a cost. An ever-increasing portion of our aging population is dealing with multiple illnesses or medical conditions, meaning they typically take numerous medications.
It wasn’t until the number hit three that hands started going down. After six or so, a couple of hands remained raised, but by then Officer had made her point. A registered nurse with A Better Life Homecare, Officer frequently conducts these types of presentations and is never surprised by the number of seniors who take multiple medications.
“Polypharmacy is the main medication safety issue for seniors,” she said.
Departments
Features
Three Hillcrest Medical Center volunteers were queen for a day last week as the health system recognized the women – all whom are over age 90 and still actively volunteer at the hospital.
Opal Carlton, left, Eleanor Fitch, center, and Estelle Norvell were honored for their continued dedication to Hillcrest.
”It would be difficult for any organization such as Hillcrest to function without a loyal group of volunteers,” said Hillcrest Chaplain Ron Nofziger. “These three ladies are a real inspiration. They keep serving and giving, and are truly engaged in helping others.”
Guest Columnist
Medical care and education in Iraq is slowly but steadily improving. As a population, Iraq is medically underserved with nearly a 100,000 physician need to provide care for its citizens and only approximately 15,000 to 20,000 physicians currently working in Iraq.
Level of care, formal education and training are greatest in the larger urban areas while most of rural Iraq is without sufficient primary, emergency and specialty care or formal educational opportunities. Most of the universities, teaching programs and hospitals are currently working to
rebuild their health system infrastructure and educational capabilities.
Health & Fitness
As the health-care reform debate rages on and gains emotional steam, more and more emphasis is being put on prevention.
Finally.
This message of prevention hit home a couple of months ago as we were going through some things in my parents’ home in Missouri. There, deep in a closet, was a box containing a worn notebook. Although we were all raised in this home, the box was something neither I nor my siblings had ever seen, but were so glad for its discovery.
Contained in the tablet were the thoughts of my maternal grandmother just after being diagnosed with cancer. She titled the message “The Two Greatest Gifts: Love and Good Health.” Through her writing she admits good health was something she had always taken for granted. After all, she was rarely, if ever, sick as a child – a trend that continued well into adulthood.
Shortly after having her sixth child, however, her world would be turned upside down after the diagnosis. The message was penned over numerous pages, apparently during several months, including the time she underwent radiation to battle the cancer.
I never had the opportunity to know my grandmother as she succumbed to cancer when I was less than 2 years old. But the worn memo pad gave me a whole new perspective and appreciation into who she was.
Click below to read "The Two Greatest Gifts; Love and Good Health."
Job Profile
It’s no surprise that the health-care job market is booming. With the aging population and technology changing the way medicine is performed, new health care jobs are constantly popping up. In each issue of the Tulsa Health Care Journal we take a look at some of the jobs out there, some of which are familiar, some not so. Here we look at the respiratory therapist. Helping us gain a better perspective on this growing field is Jill Tollison, director of respiratory therapy for MeadowBrook Specialty Hospital in Tulsa.
Health Files
The Tulsa State Fair wrapped up this weekend with fewer medical incidents being reported than in the past several years.
According to Tina Wells, EMSA vice president of marketing, paramedics responded to fewer medical incidents this year than they projected.
