Consider Giving Blood - A Gift For Someone In Need And So Easy To Do!

Mark your calendar with the dates for blood drives held at Kirby Medical Center and co-sponsored by the Kirby Auxiliary and Kirby Medical Center.

The Kirby Auxiliary has been hosting American Red Cross blood drives every eight weeks since 1981. The blood drives at KMC will be held in the classrooms, which are adjacent to the Apple a Day Café.  Anyone needing directions or assistance can ask a helpful guest services member located right inside the front entrance.

Blood Drive Dates for 2015/2016 include:

December 15th, 2015  12 - 5:30pm

February 16th, 2016  12 - 5:30pm

Walk-ins are always welcome!

If you need transportation to Kirby Medical Center to donate blood (or for blood pressure screenings), consider calling Piattran (Piatt County Public Transportation) at (217) 762-7821.  Registered Seniors may be able to ride for free.  You may call Piattran Monday - Friday from 6AM to 6PM for more details.

Free Blood Pressure Screenings

The Kirby Auxiliary hosts a FREE Blood Pressure screening every Tuesday in the Promenade at Kirby Medical Center from 9am until 11am.

It's fast, easy and the best part...it is FREE.  While you are here, why not stop by the Gift Shop where you'll always find new and exciting things in store.

If you are in need of transportation to Kirby Medical Center for blood pressure screenings (or to donate blood), you may want to consider calling Piatt County Public Transportation (Piattran) at 762-7821.  Registered Seniors may be able to ride for free.  You may call Piattran Monday - Friday from 6AM to 6PM for more details.

Thankful for Fellowship

From Kirby's Quarterly E-Newsletter (Fall 2015):

Members of the Christ Lutheran Church in Monticello visit the Apple A Day Café at Kirby Medical Center every Wednesday and Friday for friendship, fellowship and a few laughs. Because they always look like they’re having so much fun, we decided to ask Pastor Micah Garnett what these groups are all about.

What do you do at your coffee groups?

Mostly, we (the guys) sit and talk about sports and current events, infused with a healthy dose of humor.

How did these groups begin? How long have you been getting together?

The group has been getting together for many years now - I don't even know how many, as they were already meeting regularly when I started as pastor of Christ Lutheran a little over four years ago. They began as a men's Bible study breakfast group that met two Wednesday mornings each month. For a time, the group met one of those Wednesdays at Bement Bowl and one at the Red Wheel in Monticello. Eventually, they enjoyed the fellowship so much that they went to another place after breakfast for coffee and conversation. The coffee group became a weekly gathering and expanded in the last couple years to two mornings per week.

Who usually attends?

The Bible study and coffee group is for men of any age, and it is usually attended by about 10 men from Christ Lutheran Church; however, it is open to anyone who wants to stop by! We like to say hello to friends and neighbors as they pass by. People from other congregations who had coffee groups in our previous locations will often come down to the café and give us a shout if they happen to be at Kirby Hospital for a medical procedure. The time of day is easiest for retired people, but sometimes guys will come if they have the day off from work.

There is also a separate women's group of about 8-10 from Christ Lutheran that meets at Apple A Day Café for breakfast each Wednesday. They had been meeting at other places around town but settled on Apple A Day Café when the men's group kept telling them how wonderful it is!

What do people like about the coffee groups?

The coffee group bounced around to several locations in Monticello before ending up at Apple A Day Café. We tried Apple A Day Café for our Bible study breakfast while the Red Wheel was under construction, and we enjoyed the location so much that we have stuck with it ever since! The space is quiet, which really helps folks who have trouble hearing. The layout of the cafe is also very convenient for large groups, much easier than the fixed booths and tables in the fast food places where we used to meet. The food is tasty yet inexpensive, there are a variety of coffees available and the staff are absolutely top-notch – they even bring the made-to-order food out to our table!

Who can join, and how do you go about joining?

The groups are open to anyone who would like to attend. The men's coffee group gets together each Wednesday and Friday morning around 8:30am, and we usually sit in the booth along the left wall as you enter the café – it's close to the restroom, which is a major plus for retired guys who drink a lot of coffee! We also have a simple Bible study before coffee group on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, beginning at 7:45am.

The women's group meets for breakfast each Wednesday around 9:00am, and they either pull tables together near the food service area or sit outside around one of the patio tables.

Anyone interested in joining is invited to call Christ Lutheran Church at (217) 762-5826 or email them for more information.

https://www.imakenews.com/kirbymedicalcenter/e_article003263945.cfm?x=b11,0,w

Thankful for Care, Close to Home

From Kirby's Quarterly E-Newsletter (Fall 2015):

When Megan Jones’s infant son, Wade, wasn’t gaining weight, she and her husband took him to a digestive doctor for testing. By complete coincidence, a geneticist walked by the doctor’s office during their visit and heard Wade’s distinctive cry.

“He sounded like a cat when he cried,” explains Megan. “When you’ve heard a baby with cri-du-chat cry, you never forget it.”

The distinctive mewl was instantly recognizable to the geneticist, and when Wade’s diagnosis was confirmed, the news was devastating: Wade would likely never walk or talk, and any development would be slow.

Cri-du-chat is a genetic disorder affecting around 1 in 50,000 people. Cri-du-chat (French for "cry of the cat") is usually not inherited, and families typically don’t have any history of the disorder; rather, it occurs randomly during fetal development when there is a deletion of part of a chromosome. Cri-du-chat symptoms and their severity differ from child to child and can include poor muscle development; growth, speech, cognitive and motor delays; and behavioral problems.

Wade was four months old at the time of his diagnosis, and Megan knew that he needed to see an early childhood physical therapist. While therapists for other ages are common, early childhood therapists are much rarer, so Megan thought they’d never find someone close to home in Monticello. For the first few months, they hired a therapist to travel from Champaign to their home.

Then, by chance, an old high school friend, Betsy, was joining Kirby Medical Center. Megan knew Betsy was certified as an early childhood physical therapist, so Megan contacted Betsy immediately. Wade was a little over a year old at the time and could barely sit up.

Weekly therapy sessions with Betsy began with the goal of strengthening Wade’s core so he could sit up. Betsy made therapy fun for Wade. Once he was sitting and could begin crawling, Betsy used lots of supportive equipment like wobbly boards to crawl across so Wade could try to keep his balance, and there were always lots of balls to play with, which Wade loved.

“Therapy can be hard, and there can be a stigma attached, but only positive things come from it,” Megan says. “When we got our diagnosis, if you would’ve told me that Wade would be walking at the age of three, I wouldn’t have believed it.

“It can be overwhelming, and you just have to focus on one thing, one day at a time, and not let it overwhelm you. Sometimes, if you look at the big picture, it can be frustrating because you’ll only focus on the bad things and get upset, but the therapists are great. They’re trained and know what to do and keep pushing forward.

“Sometimes, as a mom, when your kid is crying, it’s hard to watch, but I knew in the end he was only going to get stronger because of it.”

Wade is now three and a half years old. He’s graduated from his early childhood therapy sessions with Betsy and attends preschool, where he can continue his therapy and development.

Megan and her family have joined a cri-du-chat group on Facebook and have gotten to arrange visits with other families around the Midwest, as well as attend an annual conference where around 70 families from all over the world get together to offer each other support, friendship and understanding.

Megan says, “People say to me, ‘I don’t know how you do it,’ but when you’re in the situation, you adjust. You have to. It’s never easy to get a diagnosis like that, but we are both teachers and have been around kids with different abilities for a long time. In our field as educators, we see on a daily basis that kids are capable of a lot more than people sometimes expect of them.”

Friends of Cri Du Chat Facebook Support Group is a non-medical support group open to parents of children with cri-du-chat, as well as parents’ close connections.

Kirby’s therapy services include physical and occupational therapy for children and adults. Call (217) 762-1830 for more information or visit Kirby’s website.

https://www.imakenews.com/kirbymedicalcenter/e_article003263943.cfm?x=b11,0,w

Thankful for Heart Health - by Charylene Taylor

From Kirby's Quarterly E-Newsletter (Fall 2015):

John and Charylene Taylor at Kirby Cardiac Rehab

My husband, John, and I are very thankful this year for our "heart health" and Kirby Medical Center’s cardiac rehab sessions. We are both survivors of heart issues.

You might say I became a patient at Kirby when I was born on November 18, 1941, in the John and Mary Kirby Hospital in Monticello. The hospital had opened that year on January 20 in an old mansion. Through the years, we've had various tests, X-rays, mammograms, etc. at Kirby Hospital.

We live in Monticello, and on Sunday, October 2, 2005, around 2 a.m. my husband, John, was pacing the floor with what he called severe indigestion. After a couple hours, the pain started moving up to his left shoulder. I rushed him out to Kirby’s ER on State Street. When I went through the sliding doors of the ER, I was met by Jay Lamb, a physician’s assistant who was there that morning. He got my husband into an ER room, ran tests, EKG, blood work, etc. and said it was a heart attack. Jay quickly had a Kirby ambulance arrive, which transported John to Decatur Memorial Hospital, where he was taken to the catheterization lab. He had 100% blockage in a heart artery and had a stent placed in it by Dr. John Waters. John was taken to the cardiac unit, and it was touch and go for the next few days. A second stent was placed in December, and he took Cardiac Rehab Phase II there at Decatur Memorial. Then he eventually returned to work at Caterpillar.

Our sincere thanks to Jay Lamb for being there for John at Kirby’s ER that morning. Jay got John stabilized and transported to Decatur quickly enough to save his life from a massive heart attack. Jay Lamb is now with the Kirby Medical Group, seeing patients including my husband, John.

In August of 2008, I suddenly had a hard time breathing, and John took me to Kirby’s ER. Tests were run, and the doctor could not find anything wrong. Later in November, after the catheterization lab at Decatur Memorial Hospital showed a 100% blockage, I underwent triple bypass surgery on November 19, 2008. In January of 2009, I started Phase II Cardiac Rehab at Kirby on State Street, under the watchful eye of Heidi Grieser, who is in charge of cardiac rehabilitation there at Kirby. Later, I signed up for Phase III Cardiac Rehab, which Kirby offers those who wish to continue heart healthy exercise.

When Kirby Medical Center opened, we moved to their new therapy room, where I have continued rehab. My husband retired January 1, 2015, from Caterpillar and joined me at Kirby’s rehab at that time. So three mornings every week we go out for cardiac rehab for an hour of exercise and blood pressure and heart rate checks. We are the early birds, along with a few others who arrive at 6 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.

We have also gotten acquainted with Duane Schlabach, the specialist who fills in for Heidi when she can’t be there. We have met several other patients with whom we have been able to share our "heart" stories. We learn a lot from each other and have some fun times, too, together. The new therapy room has windows to the north, through which we can look out while exercising. Kirby now has a new Wellness Trail, which runs just north of the hospital. It’s fun to watch others out there while we are on the inside.

Kirby is a wonderful facility, and the entire community and surrounding areas are very fortunate to have medical care so close to home. We have less than a mile to drive out to the hospital.

I feel our quality of life is much better due to the weekly exercise and am sure it has extended our lives.

So much to be thankful for this year!

Charylene Taylor

https://www.imakenews.com/kirbymedicalcenter/e_article003263942.cfm?x=b11,0,w

Thankful for Early Detection

 From Kirby's Quarterly E-Newsletter (Fall 2015):

Miriam Garrett at the Paint Piatt Pink Glow Run & Zumba

Miriam Garrett is not only a Kirby employee – she’s also a breast cancer survivor who learned first hand what a difference early detection can make. Miriam was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 after her radiologist noticed an enlarged lymph node under her left arm during a mammogram. Miriam says, “Unfortunately the larger tumor in the breast tissue was not visible, but the end result was the same. It was biopsied and discovered to be breast cancer. It was caught early and treated successfully with surgery, chemo and radiation. By God’s grace, I am a healthy, six-year survivor!”

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women; an estimated one in eight women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer sometime during her life. Early detection is key in the treatment of breast cancer. Along with monthly self-exams, women should have clinical breast exams and mammograms every one to three years, depending on age and additional risk factors such as family history.

Women's Imaging Suite and mammography machine

Diagnostic Imaging at Kirby Medical Center has a suite dedicated specifically to women’s imaging, which includes digital mammography, bone densitometry, ultrasounds, MRIs and X-rays. Thanks to this state-of-the-art technology, patients receive in-depth knowledge and diagnoses at earlier stages, which means quicker treatments and better success rates for the best possible health outcomes. The Women’s Imaging Suite offers a quiet, comfortable environment that ensures patient privacy with waiting and guest areas that are kept separate from staff work areas and the general hospital.

“This specialized area for women is becoming common in most new medical centers, and we wanted to put women at ease; when they visit us for any of their radiology needs, they will feel completely comfortable in their surroundings,” said Director of Radiology Jaime Richards. “Kirby Medical Center has been so well thought out and is so convenient. It’s much better from a workflow and organizational perspective. It’s a wonderful thing for us as employees and a great thing for the community.”

If you’d like more information about the Women’s Imaging Suite and the Diagnostic Imaging department at Kirby, you can visit our website or contact your Kirby primary care physician.

Paint Piatt Pink

Every October, Kirby Medical Center organizes Paint Piatt Pink, which is an annual breast cancer awareness fundraising program that includes a variety of events and ways to get involved, such as fun runs, Zumba® parties and jewelry t-shirt sales. More information about Paint Piatt Pink, as well as volunteering and participating opportunities, can be found on our website.

https://www.imakenews.com/kirbymedicalcenter/e_article003263940.cfm?x=b11,0,w

Thankful for Speedy Service

From Kirby's Quarterly E-Newsletter (Fall 2015):

Kirby Medical Center is incredibly thankful to the Auxiliary for their generous donation that made it possible for us to purchase a new ambulance this year.

At the annual Auxiliary luncheon in July, Auxiliary Treasurer Bev Erickson presented a check for $16,000, a combination of gift shop sales and other fundraising activity proceeds, to Kirby CEO Steve Tenhouse.

Mr. Tenhouse said at the luncheon, “These ambulance units allow us to continue to meet critical needs within our community. The Auxiliary’s financial support not only helps us make this important purchase but also strengthens the opportunity for future growth of educational and medical services that our ambulance staff provide to Piatt County.”

Director of Ambulance Services Crystal Alexander said, “We are thankful to have the opportunity to replace our aging fleet with newer ambulances so that we can provide the best care to our community, and we’re thankful for the support given by our Auxiliary and individuals in our community.”

The new ambulance will be used by Kirby’s highly trained EMTs (emergency medical technicians) and paramedics as part of Kirby Ambulance Services, which serves the community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whenever someone needs emergency medical transportation. Kirby Ambulance Services is also involved in many local teaching programs and events for healthcare providers and the general public, such as CPR classes and Relay for Life® standby support. We are thankful to all of our ambulance staff who work so hard throughout the year to keep our community safe and healthy.

A special thanks to our Auxiliary for all their support and smiles!

In addition to the ambulance funding, the Auxiliary provides annual donations to the Thomas Dixon Memorial Scholarship fund and clocks thousands of volunteer hours providing free blood pressure screenings and hosting blood drives. The Auxiliary also operates the Auxiliary Gift Shop and serves as greeters at the Kirby Medical Center’s Welcome Desk. Thank you to all the volunteers and Auxiliary members – we are so grateful for all that you do!

If you are interested in learning more about the Auxiliary or want to become a member, please stop by the Kirby Medical Center Gift Shop to speak with an Auxiliary member for more information.

Find out more about the community involvement of Kirby Ambulance Services on our website.

https://www.imakenews.com/kirbymedicalcenter/e_article003263938.cfm?x=b11,0,w

Thankful for Scholarship Opportunities

From Kirby's Quarterly E-Newsletter (Fall 2015):

Beginning in 1974, the Kirby Auxiliary has provided annual Thomas Dixon Memorial Scholarships to deserving students in Piatt County who are pursuing higher education in a medical field. Congratulations to this year’s recipients – we believe in you and your future success and are thankful for your hard work and dedication to helping others!

The 2016 scholarship application will be available on our website starting February 1, 2016.

“I appreciate the scholarship and am excited to graduate as an RN and continue on with my BSN from an Illinois University.”

Allyssa Brewer

Nursing Student at Parkland College

“Thank you, Thomas Dixon Memorial, for this generous scholarship, and congratulations to all of the other participants!”

Blake Doane

Physical Therapy Student at Concordia University

“Thank you, Kirby Auxiliary!”

Carolyn Rigsby

Doctorate of Nursing Practice-Nurse Anesthesia Student at Millikin University

“The Thomas Dixon Memorial Scholarship is a big help, and I appreciate the support.”

Carter Ness

Physical Therapy Student at Harding University

“The Thomas Dixon Memorial Scholarship helps tremendously, and I appreciate the support.”

Chloe Nayonis

Nursing Student at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis

“Thank you, Kirby Auxiliary, for awarding me with the Thomas Dixon Memorial Scholarship.”

Emily Smith

Physical Therapy Graduate Student at the University of Indianapolis

“I could not be more grateful to the Kirby Medical Center and Kirby Auxiliary for this amazing honor. Thank you!”

Emily Wells

Community Health Student at the University of Illinois

“I look forward to serving and helping others when I graduate. Thank you, Kirby Auxiliary.”

Lisa Stanek

Nursing Student at Parkland College

“I received assistance for both of my nursing degrees and now this year through the Thomas Dixon Memorial Scholarship, for which I am very grateful.”

Matt Brewer

Doctorate of Medicine Student at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

“Thank you, Kirby Medical Center, for supporting me this school year.”

Molly Lawler

Nursing Student at Illinois State University

“I am thankful for the Thomas Dixon Memorial scholarship.”

Saylor Bower

Biomedical Engineering Student at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

“Receiving this scholarship has motivated me and given me the confidence I need to complete my journey to the medical field.”

Anna Hendrix

Physiology/Pre-med Student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

“With the scholarship’s financial help, I will be able to get to where I want to be and become the doctor I’ve always dreamed of becoming.”

Alyssa Hendrix

Physiology/Pre-med Student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

“I am thankful for the Kirby scholarship because it allows me to get my BSN without going into debt and worrying about paying off loans after college.”

Elizabeth Nisly-Nagele

Nursing Student at Millikin University

https://www.imakenews.com/kirbymedicalcenter/e_article003263936.cfm?x=b11,0,w

Thankful for Our Wonderful Staff

From Kirby's Quarterly E-Newsletter (Fall 2015):

Way to go Kirby Lab Team! Pictured L to R: Somer, Lisa and Annie

It’s the time of year when we pause to reflect on all the things that matter in life and give thanks for the health and happiness of our families and loved ones. At Kirby Medical Center, we’re especially thankful for our dedicated and caring staff who make such a difference in our patients’ lives and our community.

We recently received some wonderful feedback from a woman named Sandra, who contacted Kirby to tell us how much she appreciated the extra attention and service of several members of our Laboratory Team – Somer, Annie and Lisa.

Sandra is the exclusive caregiver for her mother, Barbara, who has numerous health challenges including dementia. Barbara lives at home and is bedridden, so when the need for lab work arose, it was a challenge for them both. Sandra looks after her mother without the assistance of home care or a private nurse, and she does not want Barbara to live in a nursing home. So Sandra called Kirby to see if she could arrange a special home visit to get the necessary lab work done.

When Sandra called Kirby, she spoke to Medical Technologist Somer Berkemann, who was kind and patient and took the time to listen to Sandra. Somer promised to speak with Lisa Castang, the laboratory director, and see if there was anything they could do to help. That same day, Sandra received a call back from Lisa, who was able to make arrangements for another lab technician, Annie Comerford, to make a special home visit to get Barbara’s lab work. After the home visit, the doctor reviewed the lab results, and a nurse was able to call Sandra with the results – all in the same day.

Sandra was “impressed with the teamwork, courteous staff, great interpersonal skills and team spirit and loved Kirby’s hometown feel.” She went on to say that “Somer and Lisa showcased Kirby’s spirit and was putting Kirby’s mission statement to action by going above and beyond to bridge a gap for a community member in need.”

Director of Laboratory Lisa Castang said, “We as Kirby employees are always conscientious of our patients’ best interests. So when Sandra called us concerned about how she could get her mother’s lab work taken care of, it was a no-brainer for us. We were happy to accommodate their needs. I am proud of the lab employees that were involved because they not only knew this was the right thing to do, but they were eager and happy to take action.”


Thank you, Somer, Annie and Lisa, for making a difference in our patients’ lives!

https://www.imakenews.com/kirbymedicalcenter/e_article003263931.cfm?x=b11,0,w

Thankful For You

From Kirby's Quarterly E-Newsletter (Fall 2015):

Welcome to the first edition of our new quarterly eNewsletter! We hope you’ll take a moment to read, reflect and enjoy. Just click on the video below to see what some of our staff and patients are thankful for this year. (You might even see some familiar faces!)

A Message from Kirby CEO Steve Tenhouse

The theme of this quarter’s newsletter is timely and seasonal – thankfulness. While we’re all busy planning big meals and family get-togethers, we at Kirby want to take a moment to give thanks and share some of the stories and events from around the center.

I said in the video above that I’m thankful for you – and it’s true! Because I know that creating an outstanding healthcare landmark in Piatt County doesn’t just take a great team; it takes an entire community…dedicated, supportive staff and caregivers who have such impact on our patients’ lives, ongoing support and outreach from our wonderful volunteers and The Kirby Foundation, the latest and best in medical technology and facilities to provide top-quality care, financial support from our generous donors who make it all possible, and so much more.

Whichever category or categories you might fall under – nurse, doctor, medical staff, volunteer, donor, patient, family member, community member – to you I say, “Thank you.” You really do make all the difference in helping Kirby Medical Center provide quality healthcare, close to home.

Best wishes for a safe and healthy holiday season,

Steve Tenhouse, CEO

http://www.imakenews.com/kirbymedicalcenter/e_article003263941.cfm?x=b11%2C0%2Cw