He is a 76 year old gentleman who works in sales at Massanutten Resort. He was getting his morning cup of coffee at work and noticed that he couldn’t grasp his coffee cup the way he would normally hold it…and then he dropped it. He started feeling weakness on the right side of his body. He went to walk and sit down, but could not do that either. It was a co-worker, also an EMT, that recognized Bill was having a stroke. His coworker loaded him in the car driving 70 miles an hour and in the process called EMS and the police. ED was called in advance and they were waiting for his arrival.

Our EMS providers in the community have been trained to use the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale. The scale is used to assess whether someone is having a stroke. If the scale is positive for stroke the EMS provider calls our ED with a “Brain Attack!”

When our ED doctor was called in to see Bill, he knew he was having a stroke. Our ED stroke team quickly took action! tPA was ordered as Mr. Kearns was sent to CT Imaging to make sure he did not have a bleed (hemorrhagic stroke).

tPA is a clot busting drug which helps to dissolve the blood clot and re-establish circulation in the brain.

When Bill was assessed by our neurologist, he had a scale of 4 on the National Institutes Stroke Scale. Because Mr. Kearns came to the hospital immediately, he was given the tPA. He was sent to CCU to be monitored for any subtle neurological changes. Once he was stabilized, he was moved to the RMH stroke unit. Bill, quite the character, said he had 5 things on his list for the nurses: to be treated kindly; to be tucked in by a beautiful nurse; to be the patient of the year; to receive a daily massage; and to find mints on his pillow. He said he got all but the massage and raved about the care he received.

He left our hospital walking out to his car without any residual effects from the stroke. The next day he was out on the golf course!

This is a result of what becoming a Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center is all about! It’s about creating processes, tools, education and best practice outcomes for our stroke patients and community. On March 14, 2012, RMH Healthcare received recognition as a certified Primary Stroke Center.

Many times the students ask me what they can do as future nurses that might make a difference in working with patients. This is a great question and if I can give a face to patients that they may care for in the future I will have done my job. When answering this question I usually share a specific story from my journey.

I had two surgeries over a 12 month period during my treatment. For both of these surgeries the first 24 hours post-op I had compression devises on my legs to prevent blood clots since I was fairly immobile.

With the first surgery right before going to sleep, I was anxious that I might need to go to the bathroom during the night and the compression boots would keep me from getting there “in time”, plus they weren’t very comfortable. So…. I removed them. About 30 minutes later my nurse came into my room. She asked why my boots weren’t on and I explained. She then calmly sat on my bedside and explained how important it was to keep me from getting blood clots, how she wanted my recovery to be safe and she promised that if I turned on my call bell she would come within 2 minutes. She put the boots back on me and I went to sleep totally relaxed and reassured.

Go forward 10 months when I had a second surgery. Yep, I had the same compression boots and being the wonderful person I am when getting ready to go to sleep I took them off (ok, you have to give me some slack; I was on powerful pain medications). The nurse came in and asked why my boots were off, and I explained. This nurse stated sternly that “the doctor has ordered the compression boots, they need to stay on” and then she put them back on me and left the room.

Now which I ask you was the great nurse? Sure, as a nurse myself I technically knew what the boots were for. But as a patient, fear trumps knowledge and pain erases reasonableness. But the nurse, who sat on my bedside, taught me how she wanted to keep me safe and healthy and heard my fears– that was a Great Nurse!

Happy Nurses Week!

I have thought a lot about that in the six years since I completed all my treatment and surgeries related to my breast cancer. A couple of years ago, if someone had told me, “Take this pill every day and you will decrease the chance that your cancer will return by 50%,” I wouldn’t have been able to swallow it fast enough!

Knowing that, I decided that my daily “pill” would be to eat 5-7 vegetables and fruits every day, eat more Omega 3 type fats and seafood, and whole grains for carbohydrates. That was only half my pill though; I also needed to get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days, if possible. Why would I be willing to swallow a pill but not do these life sustaining practices that would give me great odds? (And not just to avoid cancer, but to decrease my chances for heart disease, too!)

Well, I am taking my whole pill. I walk to and from work (4.5 miles one way) 2-3 days a week, which helps with disease prevention and is better for the environment, too! I have joined a Jazzercise class and love dancing my way to health. I pay close attention to my diet and eat healthy most days. Now, I am not perfect. I have my days when I eat something totally off the charts (like my warm, fresh glazed donut from the donut truck this morning), but I deserve that because it is rare and an exception, not the rule.

It isn’t always easy — when the alarm goes off earlier in the morning so I can take the extra time to walk to work, when someone brings in to the break room a scone that looks oh-so-good—but I tell myself, “remember your pill.” I know I am doing everything I can to impact my health in a positive way.

When a plateau occurs, it means your body is no longer losing extra water weight. Instead, your body is converting all that stored energy into usable energy to fuel your workouts (ie, burning fat). One of the main reasons this won’t show up on your scale is that you are simultaneously gaining muscle mass. Few people realize just how dense muscle mass is. In fact, muscle weighs seven times as much as fat mass that takes up the same amount of space! Instead of trusting the scale, use your clothes to determine your success instead. If your clothes are getting looser, you have more energy, and you notice you are becoming more tone in areas of your body, you are definitely on the right track.

Whatever you do when trying to get over a plateau, do NOT starve yourself! Skipping meals can actually be one of the worst things you can do on a weight loss journey. If your body thinks it isn’t getting enough calories to fuel the work you do with your body, it will enter something called “starvation mode.” Once in this mode, your body slows its metabolism down to hoard all extra calories just in case you’re starving. In this instance, you are far more likely to gain weight.

The best way to get out of a plateau is to change up your workout routine. Most plateaus will figure themselves out given time and dedication, but sometimes your body has adapted to your current level of fitness and is ready for a new challenge. If it’s been a few months since you’ve changed your routine, it might be time to try something new. The RMH Wellness Center has many options that may be just what you need to break though your plateau. One of the services offered at the RMH Wellness Center is regular fitness assessments. In an assessment, you get to work with a certified fitness specialist one-on-one to find your current level of fitness.

Based on the results from that assessment, the fitness specialist will then create a brand new program for you and teach you how to do it! Group fitness classes are also a great way to shake up a workout routine, and also gain some extra motivation. Classes and assessments are included in your membership and are offered regularly at many convenient times. Another great service that is not included in your membership is personal training. In personal training, you work privately with a certified professional trainer to help you achieve your goals. Trainers will help you find the strength to push to the next level, as well as provide you with added motivation. Need some moral support to train? Try partner or group training where you can train with friends, and everyone saves some money!

Plateaus happen, but they don’t have to stay. Get rid of your plateau by utilizing the resources available to you at the RMH Wellness Center. Best of luck, and don’t give up!

In January I began an internship for the RMH marketing department. I knew it would be a great resume builder but what I did not know is that I would come to truly appreciate the employees and environment here at RMH. Before working here I recognized the RMH logo, but I had not the slightest idea of how many wonderful events, programs and people that the symbol represents.

Over the past few months I have shadowed some truly incredible people and helped them to put on fun and educational RMH events for the Harrisonburg community. Helping organize and run RMH events has made me realize how much time and effort is spent to create worthwhile, educational experiences.

Employees here at RMH are motivated and excited to organize events that are appealing to different age groups. I encourage you to get involved and see what is being offered over the course of these next few months. There are many opportunities to participate in at the hospital, the RMH Wellness Center and through RMH Senior Advantage. From 5Ks to seminars, the RMH team offers or sponsors an event for everyone. Here’s a peek at some of the events coming up soon:

RMH Family Fair:

April 22 at RMH. A fun event for the whole family, or for those expecting a new arrival! Details>>

Aging Gracefully:

May 8 at Harrisonburg First Church of the Nazarene. A health event for adults 55 and older, including health presentations and free screenings. Details>>

Take Control:

May 16 at RMH. A seminar on achieving bladder continence, featuring a presentation by urologist Jeffrey York, MD. Details>>

To learn more about these events, visit RMHOnline.com or call Healthsource at 855-564-7200.

1. Choose vegetable salad or fruit salad instead of potato or traditional macaroni salad
2. Bring a healthier main dish such as grilled chicken breast or turkey burgers or even a rotisserie chicken
3. Enjoy seasonal fruit for dessert instead of cake or cookies
4. Stay hydrated with low-calorie beverages such as water, unsweetened iced tea or sugar-free flavored water
5. Exercise! Don’t spend all of your time around the food….try starting a game of kickball or frisbee or just take a walk and catch up with friends in the process

Try this recipe for a yummy main dish to bring to your next picnic: Zesty Grilled Chicken with Thyme.

The author (Elizabeth J Clark) identified several principles about individual hope that I wanted to share with you:

• Hope, by definition, can never be “false”
• Hope is a prerequisite for action
• Everyone has the right to be hopeful
• A hopeless person becomes a helpless person
• True hope transcends reality
• Hope changes as the situation changes
• Unrealized hopes can be reframed
• There is always something to hope for

The last four spoke the most to me. True hope does transcend reality. I think miracles still happen and I believe hoping and praying for miracles is awesome. But when all our hopes don’t come true, we can reframe it according to the situation and still have hope. It may just take a different form. I hoped and prayed my cancer could be cured and I may never have to face it again. That hope has come true in part, but I don’t know yet if I will have to reframe my hope if my cancer does ever recur. But I know I always will have hope, no matter what life brings me, and this is good enough for me to love each day, smile each morning and skip my way through life.

Sleep, or lack thereof, can affect your overall health. It’s just as important to your body as food and exercise. Did you know that March 16, 2012 is World Sleep Day? World Sleep Day is an annual event designed to promote awareness of the importance of sleep, sleep disorders and their effective treatment and management. One very common sleep disorder is Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a very serious sleep disorder that involves the obstruction or blockage of the upper airway. This leads to blockage of breathing, which is usually associated with a reduction in oxygen levels in the blood. Signs and/or symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include: loud snoring, choking or gasping for air, excessive sleepiness or fatigue during the day, memory problems and/or difficulty concentrating. Obstructive Sleep Apnea not only affects your sleep but can lead to very serious health disorders such as heart attacks, strokes, and poor control of diabetes.

If you have any questions about your sleep or feel you might have a sleeping disorder, please speak with your family physician or call the RMH Center for Sleep Medicine.

Happy World Sleep Day and I hope you sleep well!

In all, I had a great time. They’re awesome kids who are very bright, very funny, and very full of energy.

Sometimes, though, I felt incredibly outnumbered, overwhelmed, and frustrated. For three little people, they certainly are loud! And messy! And listening to Aunt Sarah was not always at the top of their list of priorities.

Keeping the kids safe, however, was my top priority. Not being a mom myself, and being in a house and town outside of my normal community, made things a little uneasy for me at times. Is Rose usually allowed to ride her scooter with no helmet? Is Zach seriously allowed to climb out on the roof from his bedroom window? Can Emily walk home from band practice when it’s dark out?

Yeah, I was seriously outnumbered.

But we survived – with no injuries, no ER visits, and no tears. A success!

But being with them for those three days made me much more aware of everyday dangers and risks that I don’t normally consider. Thankfully, there are folks in our Harrisonburg community who DO consider these risks – and have organized an event to help parents and kids alike learn about the dangers of both home and farm – and how to avoid them.

I encourage you to check out the RMH-Bowman-Progressive Farmer Home and Farm Safety Day. Long name = great event. The event costs only $5 and is held at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds on Saturday, March 10. There’s a long list of different safety topics that will be covered (bike safety, tractor safety, preventing fires, etc!) — all taught in a fun, exciting atmosphere.

A link to the complete info can be found here.

Check it out!

In late January, the magazine listed 247 hospitals located in areas with populations less than 500,000 as Best Regional Hospitals. To be considered a Best Regional Hospital, the organization must rank in the top 25 percent of all hospitals in at least one of 16 categories. RMH ranked among the top 25 percent in two areas: pulmonary care and ears, nose and throat care.

The magazine reviewed more than 5,000 hospitals in the nation while compiling the list.

“U.S. News & World Report looked at thousands of hospitals and picked only a select few as Best Regional Hospitals based on their criteria,” said RMH President Jim Krauss. “This recognition validates our commitment to providing the best possible care for our patients and community.”

RMH is a part of the Sentara Healthcare system, headquartered in Norfolk, Va., that includes 10 not-for-profit community hospitals. Another Sentara hospital, Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville, also was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Regional Hospital.

In addition, Sentara Norfolk General and Sentara Virginia Beach General were listed No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in the metro hospital rankings (hospitals located in areas with populations greater than 500,000) in the Virginia Beach market.

RMH, located in Harrisonburg, Va., is a 238-bed community hospital that has provided health care services to the central Shenandoah Valley since 1912. Among its regional services are comprehensive cardiac care, including cardiothoracic surgery, cardiac intervention and electrophysiology; cancer care; general surgery; orthopedics and sports medicine; advanced imaging; pediatrics and obstetrics; general acute care; emergency medicine and women’s services.