Hero in translation: First-grader Ali Deen, 8, singled out for EMS award

by Jenna Mink, The Daily News, originally published on 3/14/2011

When Caroline Millette started two years ago teaching English to a young student from Iraq, she did not know he would soon be rewarded for using those language skills in an intense situation.

Ali Deen, 8, a first-grader at Briarwood Elementary School, helped translate a 911 call a few months ago after his mother fell at his family’s home. The Medical Center’s Emergency Management Service is rewarding Ali for his actions.

“My mom fell down, and we called the doctor,” Ali said. “And it’s OK.”

His mother recovered, and Ali will receive his award Thursday at Briarwood. EMS specialists reach out to the public and venture to schools, churches and other organizations to teach people about the importance of calling 911.

They spoke to a group, which included Ali, a few months ago, teaching the audience when it’s appropriate to call 911 and how to communicate with the dispatcher and answer his or her questions, said Randy Fathbruckner, director of The Medical Center EMS.

After a dispatcher recounted her conversation with Ali, they discovered that he had attended one of their sessions. EMS specialists then decided to recognize Ali.

“Children are very receptive to (our lectures). They’re fascinated by police, fire and EMS anyway,” Fathbruckner said. “It was obvious that this one really paid attention.”

Tiffany Merten, a communication specialist with The Medical Center, remembers getting a call from a scared child whose mother had fallen down the stairs.

“I was taking calls that night, and I received a call from a little boy,” she said. “He did a great job of answering my questions and was very helpful.”

Ali, the oldest of four children, was inside the house when his mother fell. He remembers his baby sister crying on the floor, and his brothers were outside. After his father dialed 911, Ali stepped in.

“We don’t have a lot of child callers and the fact that he took the initiative and was able to translate and let us know what was going on was amazing to me,” Merten said. “He remained calm and did what we asked him to do. I was really impressed.”

Ali’s family immigrated to Bowling Green from Iraq a couple of years ago. At the time, Ali only spoke Arabic, but he has picked up some English with the help of Millette, an English as a Second Language teacher at Briarwood.

“He’s learned a lot and grown very strong in his English speaking skills both written and verbal,” she said. “It’s amazing how far he’s come.”

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

Working with hospital volunteers is rewarding to Hall

by Alyssa Harvey, The Daily News, originally published on 3/5/2011

“Every encounter counts” is sort of a motto for Emily Hall.

As director of service excellence and volunteer service at Commonwealth Health Corp., she helps educate the staff about customer service.

“We know that employees are hired for abilities in training, but we feel strongly that it must be delivered in a courteous, respectful manner,” she said. “We help with concerns patients and their families may have.”

She also places volunteers in various departments in some CHC facilities where they can assist the staff.

“I have a fun time. I really enjoy recognizing volunteers,” she said. “They are such a faithful group of individuals. They are dedicated to volunteer work.”

Hall’s original career was not in health care. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in consumer resource management from Purdue University. She taught at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif., earned her doctorate and was on the faculty at Oklahoma State University. Eventually, she and her husband moved to Bowling Green. They were both employed by Western Kentucky University, she as coordinator of an early childhood grant and he as chairman of the Consumer Family Sciences Department.

After years of working in the education field, Hall began a new career at The Medical Center as a volunteer in the volunteer services office before becoming a part-time employee. She was hired full time about four years ago.

“My husband and I retired from Western, and we had a friend who wanted me to volunteer here,” she said.

At The Medical Center, volunteers work at a variety of departments, such as outpatient and ambulatory services, where they escort family members to see patients, or the front desk, where they may greet patients and their families and friends.

“I very much love working with volunteers. It’s very rewarding,” she said. “They give of themselves. They are the busiest people I know. They are contributing to the community with volunteer work.”

Hall works with the volunteers to find out what their interests are and tries to find an area that would be a good fit for them. They go through special training within that area and are asked to work at least one-half day a week.

“We have a few who work longer than that,” she said.

The volunteers come in a wide range of ages. There is even a summer program for teens ages 14 through 18.

“We place them in some of the clinical units,” she said.

Hall said she enjoys her dual role in customer service and volunteer services.

“It’s a good fit,” she said. “I enjoy the challenge of both of these areas.”

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

Awareness is needed in regard to heart disease

The Daily News, originally published on 2/12/2011

February is American Heart Month and during this time of emphasis it is important to bring awareness to the seriousness of this disease.

This month, local organizations will host events to remind people of the dangers of heart disease.

These are helpful and informative events that everyone should be concerned with, especially women and children.

“More women die from heart disease than from the other four leading causes of death, including all cancers. More children die of congenital heart defects than all three childhood cancers combined,” said Michelle Alloway, division director of the American Heart Association Great Rivers Affiliate. “Unless it happens to someone personally, they don’t think about it.”

Alloway’s comparisons will surprise many people and remind us why holding these events and spreading information about the disease is so important.

There are many events coming up and we would encourage people who are affected or have family or friends who have been affected to come out and learn about the disease.

On Thursday, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Alpha Theta Chapter had a luncheon and fashion show where proceeds from the event went to the American Heart Association.

On Sunday, the Heart Institute at The Medical Center will have a reunion for former heart patients from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Knights of Columbus Hall.

Rockin’ B Horse and Carriage Rides will have carriage rides downtown from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. today and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays throughout the month. Twenty percent of the proceeds will benefit Mended Little Hearts of Bowling Green, which is part of a nationwide group that provides support for families and caregivers of children with congenital heart defects.

We are hopeful that people will come out and participate in these events. Heart disease is very serious and learning how to prevent it or to live with it for those who already have the disease can be a lifesaving step.

It all starts with good information and awareness.

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

Feb. events draw attention to dangers of heart disease

by Alyssa Harvey, The Daily News, originally published on 2/8/2011

The month of February is often dedicated to matters of the heart, but it’s not all about Valentine’s Day.

It’s American Heart Month, and local organizations will host events to remind people of the dangers of heart disease.

“More women die from heart disease than from the other four leading causes of death, including all cancers. More children die of congenital heart defects than all three childhood cancers combined,” said Michelle Alloway, division director for the American Heart Association Great Rivers Affiliate. “Unless it happens to someone personally, they don’t think about it.”

Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Alpha Theta chapter, will have a luncheon and fashion show by Chico’s at noon Thursday at The Medical Center auditorium. Door prizes will be awarded. Tickets are $12. Proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association. For more information or to reserve a ticket, call Romanza Johnson at 842-3416.

The Heart Institute at The Medical Center will have a reunion for former heart patients from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Knights of Columbus Hall. For more information, call 796-5566.

Rockin’ B Horse and Carriage Rides will give carriage rides downtown from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays throughout the month. Rides, which will begin across the street from 440 Main Restaurant, are $5 for adults and $1 for children under 13, who must be accompanied by a paying adult. Twenty percent of the proceeds will benefit Mended Little Hearts of Bowling Green, which is part of a nationwide group that provides support for families and caregivers of children with congenital heart defects.

“We have 53 groups nationwide,” Mended Little Hearts co-coordinator Venica Pollard said. “We were the first one to start a support group in the state of Kentucky.”

According to the March of Dimes, congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect and the top cause of birth defect-related deaths. CHD Awareness week continues through Monday.

Pollard’s daughter, Zoey, was born with a congenital heart defect. Zoey, who will turn 4 on Feb. 22, has had several surgeries, has survived a stroke and has decreased blood flow in both legs in addition to other ailments. It doesn’t stop her from being a fun-loving preschooler, though.

“She continues to thrive every day. She doesn’t let life slow her down. She’s full of laughter and love,” Pollard said. “She’s our little miracle. Her heart defect does not define her.”

Pollard said her daughter is her hero and a survivor.

“She looks healthy on the outside but her scars tell a different story. She’s endured more in her short life than most adults will endure their whole lifetime,” she said. “That is why it is so important for our family to raise awareness and funding for research for congenital heart defects.”

Alloway said she is speaking to several local groups this month to talk about a variety of heart-related topics, including how heart attack symptoms for women may be different than those for men and ways to keep heart disease at bay.

“There are certain things you can do with diet, exercise and lifestyle where you can prevent (heart disease),” she said. “So many people say ‘I just have high blood pressure.’ It’s heart disease. It’s not something you play around with.”

— For more information about Mended Little Hearts, call group coordinator Lara Barnhouse at 392-4839 or co-coordinator Venica Pollard at 303-0377. For more information about the American Heart Association, call Michelle Alloway at 842-5700.

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

The importance of communication: Medical Center’s Health and Wellness Center offering new support group for hearing impaired

by Alyssa Harvey, The Daily News, originally published on 2/5/2011

Donna Woods’ world didn’t sound crystal clear a few years ago.

“I started noticing hearing loss in my late 40s and early 50s,” she said.

Although the Bowling Green woman had tried using hearing aids twice, she ended up taking them back within the trial period.

“I didn’t feel like I heard any better, plus it was an ego thing,” she admitted. “I felt hearing impairment was a sign of old age.”

It wasn’t until one day when she was driving and straining to hear her young grandson, who was in the car with her, that Woods began to truly understand what was at stake.

“I could not understand what he was saying to me when he was in his car seat,” she said. “I knew I wanted to do something.”

Woods was one of several people who attended the Hearing Loss Association of America’s new support group Tuesday at The Medical Center’s Health and Wellness Center at Greenwood Mall.

“We focus on education, advocacy and support to the hearing impaired and those around them,” said Ed Schickel, a volunteer hearing assistive technology resource. “Sometimes people around the person with hearing loss is frustrated.”

The meetings, which are at 4:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month, feature a program on some aspect of hearing loss and social time so that people can share ideas that have helped them.

“The support group is important because we don’t always understand our own hearing loss and what’s out there to help us,” Schickel said.

The meetings will be real-time captioned, said Schickel, a former co-state Kentucky chapter coordinator for HLAA.

“Sometimes people are afraid to come to meetings because they’re afraid they won’t understand,” he said. “They will be able to read what the speaker is saying to them almost as rapidly as the presenter presents. We also have listening devices. Individuals can wear a headset with a receiver.”

While the HLAA support group has been available in other areas in Kentucky, it is new to Bowling Green, said Schickel, who works with a chapter in Bardstown.

“We’ve had a couple of people talk about it,” he said. “We have been to other meetings and want to start a chapter in Bowling Green.”

Tuesday’s meeting was designed to help people with normal hearing communicate better with the hearing impaired. Noreen Gibbens, assistant director of audiology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, used a digitally filtered recording to show what hearing loss sounds like.

“For people with normal hearing, the response (to the demonstration) is usually kind of like, ‘Wow!’ The assumption is that a person puts on a hearing aid and it will be better. We’re still sending sound to an ear that is damaged. We’re just changing the sound that enters the ear canal,” she said. “It’s not just slowing down. It’s not just talking louder. Speaking louder tends to create a distortion in speech.”

Instead, it’s more about the range of frequencies, Gibbens said.

“The most common type (of hearing loss) in adults is high-pitch or high-frequency hearing loss,” she said. “This is because of noise exposure.”

Hearing impairment – which can be caused by a variety of things, including age, disease, noise and medication – is hard on those with the problem and the people around them, Gibbens said.

“Listening requires a lot of attention. It’s exhausting by the end of the day to be focused on so much,” she said. “Communication is a two-way street. It’s important to explain what your hearing loss is. Look at the speaker. Ask for clarification. Use amplification. Speak in a manner that maximizes the signal.”

Schickel, who is hearing impaired, said people who can hear often don’t understand how hearing loss can affect someone.

“Sometimes we hear, sometimes we don’t hear and sometimes we get every other word,” he said. “Even with hearing aids, I don’t always hear the doorbell or telephone.”

Hearing loss can rob someone of independence, but it doesn’t have to, Schickel said.

“Some people have been forced into nursing homes because they can’t hear the telephone or the doorbell,” he said. “There are simple things people don’t know exist that can allow people to maintain their independence and safety.”

Eventually, Woods decided to try hearing aids again. She said her latest pair – which fit behind her ears – allow her to hear more, possibly because of improvements in technology.

“These are working much better,” she said. “I miss only about 10 percent of what’s going on.”

Woods doesn’t worry about her ego anymore. If she can’t hear someone well, she doesn’t hesitate to ask him to repeat himself. At home she uses “TV Ears,” a television listening device. When she goes to movie theaters, she uses headsets that are available at the concession stands.

“You can sit on the top row midway and hear the best,” she said.

She is happy that there is a group to offer support for people like her.

“I hope to stay up to date on what is available to me as a hearing-impaired person,” she said. “I hope to be an advocate for hearing-impaired people.”

The next Hearing Loss Association of America support group meeting will be at 4:30 p.m. March 1 at The Medical Center’s Health and Wellness Center at Greenwood Mall. Ed Schickel, former co-state Kentucky chapter coordinator for HLAA, will present “Enhancing Your Life with Hearing Assistive Technology.” For more information, call 846-3800 or 502-349-6792 or visit www.hearinglosskyhome.org or e-mail ed@hearinglosskyhome.org or olivetree@hearinglosskyhome.org.

According to the Hearing Loss Association of America pamphlet “Questions and Answers on Hearing Loss”:

One out of 10 people in the United States has hearing loss.

At age 65, one out of three people has hearing loss.

Hearing loss ranks with arthritis, high blood pressure and heart disease as one of the most common physical conditions.

There are 43 million Americans with disabilities. Of those, 31 million have hearing loss.

It is estimated that 30 schoolchildren per 1,000 have hearing loss.

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

Hospital’s administrative manager wears several hats

by Alyssa Harvey, The Daily News, originally published on 1/29/2011

Sheron Harper’s official title at The Medical Center at Franklin is administrative services manager, but she does so much more there.

In addition to working for hospital CEO Clara Sumner, the Edmonson County native manages environmental services and hospital volunteers and is a hazard surveillance representative and a Joint Commission patient tracer, which helps evaluate patient care.

She also serves on the safety committee and is a notary public. She is one of a handful of people in Kentucky who are certified health care environmental services professionals, who are certified through the American Hospital Association. She also has DOT Hazardous Materials Training and can teach the hospital staff.

“We’re a small hospital,” she said, laughing. “We have to wear a lot of different hats.”

Many members of Harper’s family work in health care. She became interested as a teen.

“When I was in high school, I went to vocational school for health careers,” she said. “You got aide training for going to that class.”

She worked as a nursing assistant at Turtle Creek, which was located where Rosewood Health Care Center is now, before becoming a home health aide at The Medical Center in Bowling Green in 1977. She stayed in that position until 1984. When she returned to work, she went to orthopedics for a year before returning to home health. Then she went to what was called the “First Lady Suite,” a section of The Medical Center specifically for women.

“They got a rose on their trays each morning and had special bathrobes,” Harper said. “We had a lot of surgery patients.”

She returned once more to home health, became a team leader for the aides and eventually became the aide coordinator. She then went to adult day care as an office coordinator. In 2002, she went to The Medical Center at Franklin and became manager of environmental services before entering her current position.

“I enjoy coming to Franklin,” she said. “(The hospital) has changed so much.”

Since Harper has been there, The Medical Center at Franklin has grown to include new patient care rooms, a medical pavilion and will soon complete an expansion to enhance surgical services. She is also experiencing personal growth. Harper graduated magna cum laude last May with an associate’s degree in business from Mid-Continent University.

“I’m not bored,” she said of her job. “We’re busy here all the time.”

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

Health & Wellness Expo boasts most vendors ever

by Robyn L. Minor, The Daily News, originally published on 1/8/2011

Mary Boards of Smiths Grove said she always learns something at the Health & Wellness Expo.

On Saturday, Boards learned the new method of administering CPR, which now involves only compressions, rather than a combination of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions.

“I feel confident that I can do that now,” Boards said.

The new CPR guidelines were put into place late last year, primarily because most experts felt it was most important to begin those compressions to start the heart pumping as soon as possible.

And The Medical Center and American Heart Association want to get the word out about those changes, according to Linda Rush, director of The Medical Center’s Health & Wellness Center.

On Saturday, participants got to see what should happen in the case of a heart attack from the time a 911 call is placed until the patient gets to the hospital.

“We want them to see what goes on inside an ambulance on the way to a hospital,” Rush said. “So many times, people will put someone in a car and rush them to the hospital ... but that’s not what is best for the patient.”

Rush said a lot of life-saving care is administered in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

Boards said she always enjoys coming to the annual event, which is sponsored by The Medical Center and WBKO-TV, and Saturday was no exception.

For Peggy Meredith, owner of the local Curves franchise, it is a chance to get the word out about her business.

“I think there are a lot of people out there who don’t really know what we are about,” she said. “They think it’s just about weight loss, but really it’s a combination of weight loss and fitness.”

In two weeks, Curves will offer its several hundred members the chance to add Zumba to their fitness routines.

Meredith said Zumba’s Latin dance moves will be incorporated, in certain time slots, with the regular circuit workout. The combined routine will still be just 30 minutes long.

“It will be a good way to mix it up,” she said.

Speaking of mixing it up, Allison Millet, started her BG Backyard Bootcamp as an alternative to traditional fitness club settings. In good weather, Millet has the classes in her backyard.

On Saturday, she was demonstrating a class to spectators.

Jill Wilson was hoping to introduce more people to Pilates.

“We just use a mat,” so it’s not as expensive as studios that use equipment, Wilson said.

She charges $35 to $55 a month, depending on the frequency of sessions. Wilson offers her class at Starz Elite Dance Studio, at 830 Fairview Ave., and will have a class through Community Education beginning in March.

Jean Blair of Bowling Green was just finishing up with one of the free chair massages given out by Heartland Massage.

“I wish I could get massage regularly,” Blair said, noting she understands the wellness benefits that come from massage. “Getting the massage today, I can tell where I’ve really been hurting.”

The event was just for those vendors providing wellness and health care, it also was a chance for such agencies as the Barren River Area Development District to let seniors know about the aging services they offer, according to Director Michelle Hines.

The office also had someone on hand to help seniors sign up for extra help they can receive to pay for their Medicare Part D prescription benefits plans.

Rush said the expo this year was the largest by far, in terms of vendors. There were 75 signed up by the time the event opened. Attendance was slow to build Saturday because of the early snow and cold temperatures, but as the day moved on, the parking lot filled.

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)