Hospital-based initiative in Willmar, Minn., brings wellness to the masses

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Editor

By Anne Polta, West Central Tribune, Monday April 15, 2013 — WILLMAR — Wendy Foley had some health goals, and she hoped that signing up for Rice Memorial Hospital’s Healthy Community Partnership would help her reach them.

“I think we all need to take an active role in our own health,” she said while waiting in line at the Lakeland Health Center recently for a blood pressure, weight and cholesterol screening. “The days are behind us that the doctor is in charge of our health.”

And yes, she had already set her first goal and a four-week timetable for meeting it.

Read the full story on wctrib.com…

Kidney Heath 101 – Free Health Education Class – June 24

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Editor

Download a flyer

A Free Community Health Education Class
Sponsored by Rice Memorial Hospital

What are the kidneys and why are they important to maintain good health?
What are the causes of chronic kidney disease?
What does high blood pressure or diabetes have to do with your kidneys?
Can I prevent chronic kidney disease even if I am at increased risk?
Are there warning signs to kidney disease?
What tests are used to help detect chronic kidney disease?
What is the treatment for chronic kidney disease?

Please join us!

Monday, June 24, 2013
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Lakeland Auditorium
Lakeland Health Center – 502 2nd St SW Willmar

Presented by:
Betty Rustad, RN, Hemodialysis Unit – Rice Memorial Hospital

NO PRE-REGISTRATION NECESSARY

Free Fun and Food Classes are back by popular demand

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Editor

Sharon Kluempke, RD

Register now

Cardiovascular Health & Rehabilitation will be offering the second class in the Free Fun and Food series on May 22nd. Registered Dietitian, Sharon Kluempke along with Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Randy Kobienia will be the speakers.

It is the mission of Rice Hospital to promote health and well-being of residents and communities of West Central Minnesota by offering these free classes. Registration is required.

Click here to register for the second class in the series… Portion Distortion

April 16 – 22nd Annual West Central Cancer Symposium

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Editor

WILLMAR, MN – Willmar Regional Cancer Center will host the 22^nd annual West Central Cancer Symposium on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 from 7:45 am – 4:00 pm at the Holiday Inn and Willmar Conference Center in Willmar.

Topics at this year’s event include: cancer rehabilitation (from diagnosis to survivorship), head and neck cancer, radiation therapy basics, palliative care, and the importance of customer service (from a cancer patient’s perspective).

The event is designed for nurses and healthcare professionals (including advanced practice nurses) who care for patients with cancer. Registration includes education materials and lunch.

This workshop has been designed to provide 7.9 contact hours and 6.5 continuing education credits.

This activity has been submitted to the Oncology Nursing Society for approval to award contact hours.

ONS is accredited as an approver of continuing education by The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s COA.

Register online and pay with a debit or credit card through PayPal. Or send your registration information (with a check made out to the Willmar Regional Cancer Center) to: Education, Rice Memorial Hospital, 301 Becker Avenue SW, Willmar, MN 56201.

Download a brochure…

For more information, contact Barb Hoeft at 320-231-4292 or bhoe@rice.willmar.mn.us.

To register, call 320-231-8920 or email leri@rice.willmar.mn.us.

Rice Hospice Pet Therapy Program is looking for a few good dogs

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Editor

As seen in the West Central Tribune. Click to enlarge.

Rice Hospice is looking for a few good dogs and their owners to join our pet therapy program.

The training involves a three-step process that starts with Pet Temperament Evaluations on Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13^th at Rice Memorial Hospital.

Next, the owner attends our Hospice Volunteer Training on Monday April 29^th followed by Canine Training and AKC Certification, Friday – Saturday, June 7-9^th.

Canine Care for the Journey is a pet therapy program from Rice Hospice which provides comfort, support and animal companionship to hospice patients and their families. All dogs accepted into the program are American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizens and are registered with Therapy Dogs Incorporated. Therapy dog handlers are Rice Hospice trained volunteers.

Therapy dog visits may reduce loneliness, offer entertainment and distraction, and are often a welcome change from routine. Therapy dogs are currently available in all of the areas that Rice Hospice serves.

Therapy dog training is open to the general public and anyone interested in becoming part of the pet therapy program is encouraged to contact Rice Hospice at 320.231.4450.

New facility plan for Rice Memorial Hospital

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Editor

By Anne Polta, West Central Tribune, Monday March 25, 2013 — WILLMAR —Rice Memorial Hospital is preparing to launch a study of the hospital facility, focusing on current and future space needs and how to plan for them. Representatives of three architecture firms will be interviewed April 2 by hospital leaders and the board of directors. One of the firms will then be chosen to help guide the hospital through the study. It has been more than a decade since Rice took a comprehensive look at its space needs. The last plan, developed in the late 1990s, led to a $50 million-plus expansion and renovation that began in 2002 and was completed four years later. Read the full story…http://www.wctrib.com/content/new-facility-plan-needed-willmar-minn-hospital

Restaurant owners honored for quick action to save customer from choking

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Editor

By Anne Polta, West Central Tribune, Tuesday March 12, 2013 — WILLMAR —Mary and Ron Guetter, owners of McMillan’s Restaurant, knew their customer was in trouble when he came up to the cash register during Sunday morning brunch last month, wheezing and unable to speak. The couple’s quick action to perform the Heimlich maneuver likely saved the man from choking to death and earned them a lifesaving certificate of merit Monday night from the Willmar Ambulance Service.

Read the full story…http://www.wctrib.com/content/life-saving-act-restaurant-owners-honored-quick-action-save-customer-choking

Rice Hospital Offers Free Kidney Screening

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Editor

In partnership with The National Kidney Foundation, Rice Memorial Hospital invites you to register for our FREE Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) health screening on Thursday, May 2, 2013 from 10:00AM-4:00PM at the Health and Human Services Building located at 2200 23^rd Street NE, Willmar, MN 56201.

This screening is part of the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Early Evaluation program (KEEP), designed to identify and educate individuals at increased risk for chronic kidney disease. Individuals who have diabetes and/or high blood pressure, plus a family history of kidney failure, are most at risk.

As part of the screening process, participants will complete a health history form, receive physical measurements (height, weight, blood pressure), provide blood and urine samples and physicians will be on site to review participants results. It will take about 60 minutes to complete the screening process.

The National Kidney Foundation is dedicated to preventing kidney and urinary tract diseases, improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases and increasing the availability of all organs for transplantation.

To make an appointment, you can call 651.636.7300, or 800.596.7943 or visit http://www.kidney.org/site/313/keep_regform.cfm?kID=916. Appointments are on a first come, first served basis.

The Rice Grief Center and Rice Hospice Offer Free Bereavement Camp for Children

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Editor

Rice Grief Center and Rice Hospice at Rice Memorial Hospital will be hosting “Camp G.K. Bear” on Saturday, April 6 at Rice Auditorium (Lakeland Health Center) in Willmar. This is a one-day camp for children who have experienced the death of a significant person in their lives. Camp G.K. Bear is centered around 4 main themes: (1) the life/death cycle; (2) feelings; (3) memories; and (4) change and moving forward.

“We have seen an increasing need for a camp like this in this area. Children are often overlooked in the grieving process. We have structured the camp to accommodate the needs of children in our area,” said Mary Beth Potter, Rice Hospice director. “We’ve designed the camp to provide one day of bereavement support and education to children, grades K-6.”

According to Brenda Wiese, Grief Center coordinator, “Our goal is to help the children understand the grief process and to teach them the skills necessary to help them heal. And, of course, we’ll make sure that the children also participate in recreational and other fun activities.”

The camp staff includes: Grief Center and Rice Hospice staff, with special assistance from Rice Hospice volunteers.

There is no charge for Camp G.K. Bear. It is available for ALL children, grades K-6 who have experienced the death of a loved one. Camp G.K. Bear is made possible through the support of Rice Memorial Hospital, Rice Health Foundation, United Way of West Central Minnesota, Montevideo Area United Way, Ortonville United Appeal, and private contributions.

For additional information and to register, please call Brenda Wiese at the Grief Center at (320) 231-4714. Registration deadline is Friday, March 29.

Rice Hospice

Bowl for Hospice raises over $30,000 for patients in their communities

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Editor

The 30th annual Bowl for Hospice was held on Saturday February 23rd, 2013 in

Bowl for Hospice with Barry

Benson, Montevideo, Graceville, Granite Falls, New London, Ortonville and Willmar. Paynesville sponsored their event on Saturday, February 16^th 2013. There was a total of 436 bowlers between all the towns, with a total of $30,759.00 donated in the one day event.

The traveling trophy went to Thompson Auto Glass from Dawson. They raised $6914.00 in donations. Joy Thompson alone raised over $6731.00

All of the money raised is used for services to assist terminally ill hospice patients in the entire Rice Hospice area, which includes: Appleton, Benson, Dawson, Granite Falls, Montevideo, Ortonville/Graceville, Paynesville and Willmar area. A BIG thank you to all the businesses whose donations covered all of the Bowl for Hospice expenses, the participating bowling alleys who donated their facilities for the day and to all the bowlers and hospice volunteers who made the success of the 30th Bowl for Hospice possible.

Bowl for Hospice Totals

Door Prize Winners