Mercy Health System invites you to its annual Women's Night Out Wednesday, March 24, at George Williams College at Aurora University in the Beasley Center dining room, 350 Constance Blvd. Williams Bay, WI.

Doors open at 6 pm. Dinner will be served at 6:30 pm.

This special event includes a relevant discussion on various health topics, delicious dinner and free screenings for only $10 per person.

Mercy Health System speakers will share the latest on:

• How to manage stress in an uncertain world

• Preventing bone, joint, muscle, tendon and ligament injuries

• Osteoporosis: prevention and treatment options

• Menopause and perimenopause

FREE health screenings include:

• Blood pressure

• Bone density

• Body mass analysis

• Grip strength testing

Great door prizes will also be available including a chance to win a basket of spa products, iPod Nano® and BOTOX® cosmetic.

To register, call Mercy HeathLine at (888) 39-MERCY. Please register by Wednesday, March 17. We look forward to seeing you there!

Mercy Health System is ranked in the top 10 in the Midwest and top 20 nationally in 2010 SDI Top 100® Integrated Healthcare Networks (IHNs) survey.

Mercy Health System ranks number 20 on this year’s Top 100 IHN list, and received the highest ranking in Wisconsin.

The survey’s results were published in the Modern Healthcare Magazine’s January 25 issue.

“It is a privilege to be recognized for providing excellent patient care and exceeding industry standards by SDI, and that Mercy is ranked among the nation’s largest and most prestigious health care networks,” said Javon R. Bea, president and CEO of Mercy Health System.

“It is through our broad expansion of services to a wide geographic area that we are able to offer the high-tech specialty care that was once only the province of large metropolitan hospitals. We continue to be a successful leader among integrated health systems by making tough business decisions, as all businesses must do in order to grow and prosper.”

This year marks the first time Mercy Health System is the top ranking health system in Wisconsin in the 13 years that the magazine has reported survey results. This is the ninth consecutive year Mercy Health System has been included in SDI’s Top100® IHN list.

SDI ranks integrated health care networks with respect to their level and degree of system integration, and each network’s ability to operate as a unified organization in eight categories: integration, integrated technology, contractual capabilities, outpatient utilization, financial stability, services and access, hospital utilization, and physicians.

For more information about Mercy Health System, visit, http://www.mercyhealthsystem.org

If you have a suspicious mole or spot on your skin, now is the time to have it checked. Brittany Zimmerman, PA-C, Dermatology, at Mercy Walworth Hospital and Medical Center is offering free skin cancer screenings throughout the month of March. These are screenings only; an additional appointment can be made if treatment is needed.

Early detection and treatment of skin cancer offers the best chance of a cure. For more information or to schedule a free screening, call Mercy Walworth Hospital and Medical Center at (262) 245-0535, or toll-free, (877) 893-5503.

February is American Heart Month. In honor of this very important occasion, you should know a little about how vital good heart health is.

Your heart supplies oxygen-rich blood to your body. A normal heart beats at a rate of approximately 70 beats per minute at rest. The well-conditioned heart beats as few as 40 times a minute. Thus a well-conditioned heart conserves energy by circulating blood with half the effort. This conditioning increases your supply of oxygen (and energy) and can lead to prolonged endurance and optimum performance. By conditioning your heart, you can also decrease your risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and other life-threatening diseases.

Since the heart is a muscle, it can become bigger and stronger through exercise that progressively increases the body’s demand for oxygen. This type of exercise is called “aerobic” which means “with oxygen.” Aerobic activities such as walking, running, swimming, cycling, etc., should be intensive enough to raise and sustain your heartbeat to a target heart range (THR) of 60-80 percent of its maximum capacity for at least 20-30 minutes. To achieve optimum benefits, this should be done three times a week.

A simple way to determine your maximum heart range (MHR) is subtract your age from the standard heart rate (220). For example, a 40 year-old would have an MHR of 180. Aim for a lower number (60 percent) when you first begin an aerobic fitness plan. Gradually work up to a higher range (80 percent) as you become more physically fit. For a 40 year-old, that’s 108 and 144 respectively.

Remember, if you are a smoker, suffer from a chronic medical condition or have a personal or family history of heart disease, check with your health care professional before starting any exercise program.

Scientific literature has documented the most substantial benefits of cardiac rehabilitation include improvement in exercise tolerance, improvement in symptoms, improvement in blood lipid levels, cessation of smoking, improvement in psychosocial well-being, reduction of stress and reduction in mortality.

Ultimately, obtaining and maintaining good heart health is up to you. Why not make February the month to honor that “lose weight,” “quit smoking” or “start exercising” resolution you made a month ago?  It’s to your good health!

For more information on heart health, contact Mercy Healthline at 888-39-MERCY.

Children and adolescents are developing human beings who are susceptible to all the variety of human ailments. Depression is one of those ailments. It is one of the lesser-recognized and more deadly ailments of children and adolescents. Suicide, which is often associated with depression, is the third leading cause of death for adolescents. Recognizing and treating the disease of depression is essential to the health and future of all children and adolescents.

According to the Wisconsin Medical Journal (2005), “Wisconsin youth (are) intentionally hurting and killing themselves at a significantly higher rate than youth across the country.” In Walworth County alone, between 2001 and 2006, 15 youth died by suicide with over 200 youth being treated in hospital emergency departments for suicide attempts. These numbers are above the state average.

Depression takes those natural attributes of childhood and adolescence and warps them and twists them, and can destroy them if it is not treated. There is effective, proven treatment for depression. There is no need for anyone to suffer the effects of depression once it has been diagnosed.

If your child exhibits any combination of the following symptoms, seek treatment:

Treatment for depression is varied and individualized. Several levels of treatment can be considered, depending upon the severity of symptoms. These are (from least restrictive to most) outpatient, day treatment, intensive outpatient, partial hospital, and hospital.

Day treatment involves spending half-days at the treatment facility and again focusing on specific issues to resolve the depression. Outpatient treatment is the most common treatment and is offered at Mercy Options Behavioral Health Clinic-Walworth in Williams Bay. This involves meeting with a master’s- or doctoral-level psychotherapist. The therapist does not prescribe medication.

Outpatient treatment can be in conjunction with medication management with a psychiatrist. Outpatient treatment can be individual, group or both. Outpatient treatment combined with medication treatment is generally found to be the most effective treatment of depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy involves the therapist helping the patient look at what the patient’s thoughts are that support the depressed mood. Then those thoughts can be challenged and changed to more adaptive and realistic thoughts.

 Parents, teachers and community leaders all have leadership responsibilities when it comes to providing a safe and supportive environment for children and adolescents. Being open and responsive to children and adolescents is vital. If a child or adolescent knows someone is trustworthy and non-judgmental, they are more likely to confide in that person.

 Adults who are aware of and interested in the children and adolescents around them can be a great resource for them. Children and adolescents will turn to those who are available to them at the time of need. Assuring appropriate adult contacts and supervision is important to make sure the person they turn to will be a safe and supportive person.

Joseph Fairbanks, MS, is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Mercy Options Behavioral Health Clinic - Williams Bay. He works with children, adolescents, and adults and specializes in anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, child abuse, child perpetrators of abuse, behavior problems, school difficulties, and anger. Joseph can be reached at (262) 245-5608 or visit his blog at www.constructivecounsel.blogspot.com

In any given one-year period, approximately 9.5 percent of the American adult population suffers from some type of depressive illness. Depression interferes with normal functioning and causes pain and suffering for the depressed individual, along with those who care about him. Unfortunately, many people with depression never seek help, even though a great majority of those with depression can be helped. A depressive disorder is an illness that affects the body, mood and thoughts. It is not a sign of personal weakness or something that can be willed or wished away.

Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months or years. Symptoms of depression can include:

·        A persistent sad or anxious mood;

·        Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism;

·        Continual feelings or low self-esteem or worthlessness;

·        Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies or activities that were once enjoyed;

·        Decreased sexual drive;

·        Continuous feelings of fatigue, despite adequate rest;

·        Difficulty concentrating or remembering;

·        Insomnia or sleeping excessively;

·        Significant weight loss or gain;

·        Thoughts of death or suicide;

·        Chronic physical symptoms that don't respond to treatment; e.g., headaches, back pain
    and digestive disorders. Depression comes in different forms and can manifest itself in a number of ways.

The cause or causes of depression are not yet known, but there appears to be biological and emotional factors that may increase the likelihood that an individual will develop a depressive disorder. Some types of depression run in families, suggesting a genetic link. People with low self-esteem, those who consistently view their world with the attitude that the glass is half empty, or those who are easily overwhelmed by stress are prone to depression. Medical illnesses such as a stroke, heart attack, cancer, Parkinson's disease and hormonal disorders can precipitate depressive illness.

Although there is much that we still don't understand about depression, there is help and hope for those who suffer from it. Don't let symptoms of depression control your life. The most important step toward overcoming depression is seeking help.

If you have symptoms of depression, call Mercy Options Behavioral Health Services at (262) 245-5608.

Mercy Options Behavioral Health Clinic-Williams Bay is located at:
N2846 State Rd. 67
Williams Bay, WI 53191

For a list of other Mercy Options clinics, please visit www.mercyhealthsystem.org

Mercy Health System invites girls aged 9 to 11 and their moms or an adult female relative or friend to “Girl Talk,” a unique health and wellness talk that focuses on teaching girls how to grow up healthy, confident and strong.

This free event will take place Wednesday, January 27 from 6-8 pm, at George Williams College of Aurora University, 350 Constance Blvd., in the Beasley Campus Center Executive Dining Room.

Mercy’s female health experts will discuss and take questions about:

• Improving body image

• How every body changes

• Increasing self-esteem

• Proper skin care

• The vital role of exercise and good nutrition during puberty

Adults will learn:

• Issues that concern today’s girls

• How to help girls grow into confident young women

• How to open the lines of communication

Growing up isn’t easy. Our bodies, our moods, our concerns and our questions seem to change daily. Come hear what our experts have to say about teaching girls how to grow up strong and confident. Speakers include Brittany Zimmerman, PA-C Dermatology, orthopaedics, Lora Nerland, DO, Pediatrics and Jenny Paul, RD, Dietitian.

Refreshments and finger foods will be served. Seating is limited and registration is required. To register for this free program, call (888) 39-MERCY.

Mercy Health System is proud to announce that the Mercy Cooperative Childcare Institute in Janesville has earned the 2009 ACMPE-MGMA (American College of Medical Practice Executives-Medical Group Management Association) Fred Graham Award for Innovation in Improving Community Health. The award is the highest recognition given to a health care organization that has developed activities and solutions to advance the effectiveness of health care delivery and improve community health.

Mercy Cooperative Childcare Institute (CCI) combines the resources of Mercy Health System, Rock County Social Services and the Janesville school district. This convergence provides intensive residential treatment for children aged 6-17 with moderate behavioral and emotional conditions. CCI receives nearly all its support from the counties it serves and provides care at a much lower cost than charged by many counties with mental health institutional facilities. CCI offers patients and their families cost-effective, comprehensive, quality care in a homelike setting. Parents and guardians also receive in-home parenting skills education.

Opened in 1996, CCI taps Mercy Health System’s child psychiatry and therapy treatment team, teachers from the local school district and social services from the county at a centrally located residential facility. It primarily cares for physically and sexually abused children, children with emotional challenges, children requiring respite care and children with behavior-control issues. Most also have mental health diagnoses such as bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and significant attention-deficit disorders. Typically, these children have failed to respond to community supports such as schools, case management, traditional outpatient mental health services and foster care.

“Our philosophy is to provide support and services to these children to help them stay as close to their community as possible,” says Javon R. Bea, Mercy Health System president/CEO and MGMA member. “These kids are some of the most abused. They come from terribly troubled families. We feel a real sense of mission to help them recover and reposition their lives. Ultimately, we hope to see them re-integrated into a supportive and nurturing family environment”

To date, CCI has cared for 329 children placed by 22 Wisconsin counties. It has helped another 117 through its respite program, which houses and treats troubled youngsters to give their caretakers a break. “We apply trauma-informed care—getting a trauma history from the child, using behavior modification, respecting the child’s worldview. This has contributed to our success rate. Our average length of stay has gone from one year to three months; we’re seeing success in a much shorter time.”

In response to the troubled economy, CCI has also developed an intensive, 90-day residential treatment program. “This service is for children who need drastic medication changes and evaluation for the proper next steps in care,” Bea says.

Bea notes that CCI is seeing more children diagnosed with autism and is developing programming to meet this need. “We offer educational processes, mental health and behavioral therapies all at once. This is a unique model for a health care system. CCI is a trusted community resource, and we will continue to reach out to troubled and struggling children in order to give them a brighter future.”

Mercy Health System is pleased to announce that after an intensive on-site review in December 2009 by a team of nationally recognized trauma site reviewers, the Regional Emergency Trauma Center at Mercy Hospital Janesville has been verified as the only Level II Trauma Center in south-central Wisconsin—including Madison—by the verification review committee (VRC) of the American College of Surgeons.

This extraordinary achievement recognizes Mercy trauma service’s exceptional care for injured patients. Other hospitals in the area have lower State Level III and IV designations except for University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison, a Level I trauma center with teaching and research activities and services such as burn care and organ transplant.

The Regional Emergency Trauma Center at Mercy Hospital Janesville and UW Hospital and Clinics, Madison, are the only Level II and I American College of Surgeons-verified trauma centers serving south-central Wisconsin.

What does this designation mean to our patients?

The Regional Emergency Trauma Center at Mercy Hospital Janesville offers patients immediate, life-saving care close to home with resources available to care for critical emergencies, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and continues to care for most injured patients through their entire course of hospital care and rehabilitation.

As 24/7 Level II providers, our trauma-trained surgeons and 10 new emergency department physicians are experts at providing critical care to injured patients. This team of experts works with our neurosurgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, ear, nose and throat surgeons, plastic surgeons, and highly trained critical care intensivists, cardiologists, hospitalists and rehabilitation specialists. State-of-the-art laboratory and medical imaging, trauma-trained emergency department nursing staff, skilled inpatient nursing, respiratory therapy, social services, and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs support our doctors and patients.

 
“Congratulations and thank you to the trauma team, our regional emergency medical professionals and everyone who played a role in helping Mercy receive Level II trauma verification center status,” says Javon R. Bea, president/CEO of Mercy Health System. “This is a major accomplishment in advancing a high level of trauma care to our local and regional communities,” Bea adds.

“Seamless trauma care requires teamwork, incorporating every aspect of care provided to critically injured patients,” says Robb Whinney, DO, FACOS, board certified general surgeon, trauma surgeon and medical director of Mercy’s Regional Trauma Program, adding, “EMS providers and our medical staff can care for most patients, and their families, in our region from the initial contact at the injury site, to the emergency/trauma department, through recovery, rehabilitation and re-entry into the community.”

What is the American College of Surgeons? The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The College has over 72,000 members and it is the largest association of surgeons in the world. Long-standing achievements have placed the American College of Surgeons in the forefront of American surgery and have made it an important advocate for all surgical patients.

The winter weather might make you feel like hibernating, but you don’t have to hang up your sneakers until spring. With some common sense, there’s usually no reason you can’t exercise outdoors year-round. Exercise can help shake those winter blues, improve your mood, increase your energy level and help you sleep better.

There are many ways to work in a little exercise here and there, and it doesn't have to be strenuous. But you must remember to protect yourself during outdoor winter workouts.

Try these tips:

n      Dress in layers. Years ago, we bundled up with cotton or wool underwear, a thick scarf and a heavy parka. Today we know that layering high-tech, lightweight fabric is more comfortable and allows us to move more freely. Layering helps retain body heat while allowing perspiration to dissipate.

n      Protect your feet. Wool or polypropylene socks are a good choice for insulation and moisture wicking. Some people prefer to wear lightweight polypropylene socks under heavier wool socks. Tight boots or too many socks will reduce your circulation and make your toes colder faster.

n      Wear gloves or mittens. Hands also benefit from layering. Lightweight polypropylene glove liners are an inexpensive way to keep your hands drier and warmer. Mittens retain warmth better than gloves, but if you have to remove your mittens often for better dexterity, the warmth will be lost anyway.

n      Last but not least, your head and neck deserve effective protection against the elements. You lose a lot of body heat through your head. Like your feet and hands, your head and neck benefit from layering. Choose wool or synthetic fleece caps and scarves that wick perspiration away. A cap with ear flaps will protect those easily frostbit ears.

Remember: it only takes about 30 minutes of walking a day to create a significant change in your quality of life. Make sure to keep all your body parts protected and warm while you exercise outdoors this winter.