BBH PUSE - Box Butte General Hospital

Box Butte General Hospital is an equal opportunity provider

and employer.SAFETY...EXCELLENCE...COMPASSION...INTEGRITY...DEVOTION...TEAMWORKNovember 2017 Edition

INSIDE:

90+ YEARS CELEBRATION!

BBGH PULSE BOX BUTTEGENERAL HOSPITAL

2 PERSONAL TRAINER ON BOARD! 3 AUDIT APPROVED 5 RHC MEETINGS 6 NICE DONATIONS

This over 90 age trio is an inspiration to Rehab and Wellness Center members and staffEXERCISE IS HARD. Always was, always will be. But the benefits of exercise (health, stamina, improved movement and preventative management, to name a few) are long lasting. A person has to look at the long term benefits. Just ask these three individuals who, all over 90 years young, were recently celebrated for their dedication to exercise: Sister Mabel Meng, 91; Harold Johnson, 92, and Lila Fiebig, 94. A surprise “birthday party” was held for them Thursday, October 26 at the Rehab & Wellness Center with around 100 people attending. Food, drink and conversation were enjoyed by all.

Asked why they do it, they all responded in their own way that they know exercise is what is keeping them healthy and mobile. “I’ve always been active,” Mrs. Fiebig said. “But I really started exercising around nine or 10 years ago when my husband Glen’s doctor urged him to go to Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) for his heart condition; not mine, because everyone knows I don’t have a heart. I just thought to myself, by golly if he has to do it, then we might as well do it together.” Mr. Johnson had a similar experience. “In 2008 I had a heart attack, and I also went to Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation for treatment. Before that I had never had a major illness or broken bone in my life.” Sister Mabel also started in Cardio-Pulmonary in 2008. “In my case, it was more preventative treatment my provider recommended I do,” she said. “And I just continued. I really believe in it.”

Anyone familiar with Mrs. Fiebig knows she has a witty mind with a quip ready for just about any conversation (as readers can see above with her joke about not having a heart). Asked what her favorite exercise is, her answer was, “None.” Asked what her preferred piece of exercise equipment is, she followed up with, “The Dreadmill … not treadmill … be sure you spell it with a capital ‘D.’” Mr. Johnson concurred, saying he also, “prefers the treadmill. I used to really like the elliptical. I still use it, but not as much. I really don’t do the weight machines, mostly cardio exercise on six of those machines.” Sister Mabel made it unanimous with her treadmill vote as well.

Asked what advice they’d give people who are thinking about exercising but put it off, they said not to wait. “It took a heart attack for me to start exercising, so that was a real wake-up call,” Mr. Johnson said. “Just don’t wait. Do it now.” Mrs. Fiebig added, “Make it part of your daily routine.” Sister Mabel answered with, “It’s just good for you. If you want to be healthy you need to exercise, especially if you’re sedentary, like office people. If you have a job that entails a lot of physical work, well not so much. But people with sedentary jobs really should exercise. Just get with it and do it.”

The trio come more than three times per week, with Lila at the Wellness Center five days a week, Howard five days a week as well, and Sister Mabel about the same. Mrs. Fiebig likes to mix up her times. “I’ll come up when I feel like it, late morning or early afternoon,” she said. Mr. Johnson has a more set routine, arriving around 7:00am each day.

All three said they enjoy coming to the hospital’s Wellness Center. “When I said get with it and do it, it really is better when you have nice machines to work with like they do here,” Sister Mabel said. “And the people here are wonderful. One day I was having some trouble with my oxygen tank while using the bicycle, and here comes Tim Devlin (Rehab & Wellness Center Manager). He stops and helps me find a place for me to put the tank so that I could do my exercise properly.” “The people here are very nice,” Mr. Johnson chimed in. “They look out for you and are great people.”

The staff of the Wellness Center had been planning the reception for the three 90+ year olds for several weeks. Fitness Center Attendants Tim Aanenson, Stephanie Daniels, and Personal Trainer Courtney Schnell say they enjoy visiting with the three on a weekly basis. “We think they’re great,” said Mr. Aanenson. “I tell people all the time that I hope I can exercise

Standing under a banner featuring photos of the three when they were a tad bit younger are, l-r: Sister Mabel Meng, Howard

Johnson and Lila Fiebig, all three in their 90s and all three dedicated members of the fitness center at the Rehab & Wellness Center of Box Butte General Hospital. A ‘birthday’ celebration was held Thursday,

October 12, in honor of their dedication and the inspiration they provide the staff and other members.

—continued next page

2 BBGH PULSE www.bbgh.org

BBGH LEADERSBOX BUTTE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Mike McGinnis, ChairmanDoug HashmanSusan Lore

BOX BUTTE GENERAL HOSPITALBOARD OF TRUSTEES

Tom Furman, DVM, MS, ChairmanJohn Annen, Secretary/TreasurerLinda Schneider, RNRandy Langemeier, CPATom Cummings

BOX BUTTE GENERAL HOSPITALCHIEF EXECUTIVE TEAM

Lori Mazanec, CEOBridget Miller, Chief Financial OfficerTracy Jatczak, Chief Financial Officer EmeritusJim Bargen, Chief Operations OfficerCarolyn Jones, Chief Nursing Officer Mary Mockerman, Chief Quality Officer

PERSONNEL FOCUS

—from previous pagelike them when I’m 90 years old, if I make it to that age. They’re some of our most dedicated members.“ Ms. Daniels said, “I enjoy having conversations with all three of them. They always have so much to share. I find them very inspiring and I hope I am able to do what they are doing when I’m their age.” Ms. Schnell added, “I think it’s inspiring to everyone around them. Here they are, in their 90s, and they still come to the center every single day.”

“We really wanted to do something special for them,” concluded Wellness Coordinator Dan Newhoff. “Although their birthdays weren’t around the same time, we thought a birthday party would be nice. They’re all over 90 and come

and visit us, or use our facility (most of the time both) week in and week out. As health care professionals, we often only interact with people who need us for treatment of an illness or rehabilitation. These guys are special to us in that we get the interaction when they are preventing those things. Whether they know it or not, they make many of us want what they have just by showing up. It’s definitely something worth celebrating being as active and dedicated to something like this at the age of 90+. We are proud to have all of them as members of the fitness center and think they are great role models, inspirations, and just awesome people.”

Box Butte General Hospital is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

♦ This over 90 age trio...

New Personal Trainer at The Rehab & Wellness Center a cheerleader for fitness

COURTNEY Schnell, MS, CPT, the new certified personal trainer at the Rehab & Wellness Center of Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH), is a cheerleader at heart. “I love it when someone I’m working with comes in a few sessions later to tell me about how they had an easier time doing something they’ve struggled with prior to training,” she said. “I’ll get excited: ‘That’s great! Look what you’re accomplishing compared to just a few weeks ago!’ That’s what I love about being a personal trainer. You see tangible results in a person’s life and you see people feel good about themselves when they reach a milestone. They come to me because they want to achieve a goal. And when we get to the end of our sessions, they are very pleased with where they are at. It’s awesome to have that kind of experience in your line of work.”

Mrs. Schnell, an Alliance native, joined the BBGH Rehab & Wellness Center in October, and only a few weeks later has only seven openings left in her schedule for personal training. “That will fluctuate, as people come on and go off the schedule,” she said.

She received her Master’s in Nutrition and Health Promotion from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, graduating in May. “This is my first full time career opportunity in the field I want to be in,” she said. “Before here, I became a personal trainer in 2015 as a result from a course in my undergraduate career. I

was working at a small fitness center in Lincoln taking on clients there as a part-time job. Then I was offered a graduate assistantship at UNL were I was able to work with a weight management program, comprised of students and faculty who wanted a personal trainer. I worked with a wide variety of people for nearly two years, from children age two to a person who was 102 years old. All had various goals, from functional fitness (being able to get out of a car easier), to weight management. And no, the children didn’t end up with six pack abs. We played games with them that reinforced healthy activity; from how walking and running was good for their hearts to how throwing a ball was good for their muscles. The elderly clients were almost all about regaining functionality and balance training; from being able to make a meal without having to sit down to being able to tie their shoes.”

Having a personal trainer is simply having a professional working with a client to develop a plan for a workout specific to individual goals. “We always start with an assessment of capabilities and goals the client wants to obtain,” Mrs. Schnell said. “We discuss medical history to find out if there are any medical

conditions or physical issues. We’ll even go into family medical history. There’s a good reason for that. If a person has had heart problems, we want to design a routine that takes that into account. If they’ve had an operation, say work on a disk in their back or other orthopedic procedures, we want to make sure the routine takes that into account.” From there, Mrs. Schnell will obtain a performance baseline of the client, from how long they can do a cardio exercise or core work

to starting weights on various machines. “I’ll show each client the proper form for core exercise routines, how to use each exercise machine properly, and how many reps and sets to start out with,” she said.

Of course, exercise takes will power and determination. “We all have our bad days,” Mrs. Schnell said. “If someone comes in and mentions how they just didn’t want to do any exercising that day, I’ll point out that, ‘Hey, you’re here, aren’t you? That’s a good thing.’ And then we’ll get right into the routine. I guess that’s another thing about having a personal trainer; accountability. I keep them accountable to what they need to do to reach their goal by giving encouragement when they need it, praise when they do it,

Above is Courtney Schnell, MS, CPT, The Rehab & Wellness Center’s new

personal trainer.


www.bbgh.org BBGH PULSE 3

TRUSTEESREPORT


PLEASE WELCOME THESE NEW EMPLOYEES TO OUR BBGH FAMILY!

Kristi Stumpff, Ins. Author. Clerk

Kaleb Hudson, IT Help Desk

Courtney Schnell, Personal Trainer

Clifford Payne, EVS

Mercedes Mach,Nurse Aide

—from previous page

and ‘Oh, wow, that’s great!’ when they reach their goal. Then of course, once they’re done with their sessions, it’s up to them to keep up that work to ensure they maintain their physical health. I’ll still be there after that for any questions they may have in their continuing fitness journey.”

Sessions with Ms. Schnell at the Rehab & Wellness Center are 45 minutes each. There are four levels of training; two levels over four weeks ($20 per session), and two levels over eight weeks ($17 per session). Eight sessions over four weeks costs $160; 12 sessions over four weeks $240; 16 sessions over eight weeks $272; and 24 sessions over eight weeks $408. She provides sessions from 6:00am to 3:00pm Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 10:00am to 7:00pm Thursdays and Fridays.

Mrs. Schnell and her husband Gunnar both live in Alliance, where he works as a body technician at Todd’s Body Shop. “We moved back here last month after living six years in Lincoln and we’re glad to be back,” Mrs. Schnell concluded.


♦ Personal Trainer...

AUDITOR:Financial position at BBGH strong; third party payment adjustment a negative THE BOX Butte General Hospital Board of Trustees met Monday, October 30 at noon to go over the annual audit for fiscal year 2016-17 with Dohman, Akerlund & Eddy, LLC (DA&E) representative Kurt Moural. The nearly hour long audit report went over the hospital’s strong financial health in detail, with Mr. Moural reporting that the hospital had a clean audit opinion. It also showed that all the changes that have occurred at BBGH over the past year will require more detailed third party payment analysis of the hospital’s estimates of what the reimbursement will be from Medicare and Medicaid payment models to prevent large negative adjustments from occurring in the future.

The audit’s Statement of Financial Position shows the hospital’s assets total $67,030,929, almost the same as the previous year. Total operating revenue increased $2.45 million from last year, to $39,262,556. Cash flows indicate net cash provided by operating activities increased to $3,842,151 compared to last year’s $1,394,326. The Current Ratio, defined as current assets divided by current liabilities, shows BBGH’s ratio increased for the fiscal year from 3.5 to

4.8. Mr. Moural said the increase is a good indicator of the hospital’s financial health, since a declining Current Ratio indicates that current liabilities are growing faster than the hospital’s ability to meet them from liquid assets. Days Cash on Hand remain steady at 95 days and meets the covenant of the USDA loan requiring 90 days cash on hand. Days of Gross Patient Accounts Receivable are also better than DA&E averages, coming in at 69.5 days.

The Medicare and Medicaid payment models pay BBGH as a reimbursement of the hospital’s cost. According to Mr. Moural, “BBGH has had numerous changes that made this cost calculation more difficult than usual, including new additions, new equipment and new service lines. Throughout the year, the finance department estimates what BBGH’s Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement will be (since actual payment from those entities are often delayed by several months). Because of the complexity of this cost calculation, the hospital’s net income was over-estimated.” The auditors made an adjustment to that cost estimate, reducing it by approximately $961,000. “This changed our bottom

line from $816,000 to a negative $145,000,”said CFO Bridget Miller. “As analysis is performed on the hospital’s estimation process and as there is more stabilization in the many changes occurring at BBGH, a similar adjustment for 17-18 should be unnecessary.”

After answering several questions to clarify statements made in the audit’s notes section, the Trustees voted

unanimously to approve the audit as presented.

The Trustees also conducted the following business.

The Board recognized Rehab & Wellness Center Rehab Tech Kathe Steggs as the October Employee of the Month. They also welcomed new employees Mariah Bell, Certified Dialysis Tech; Courtney Schnell, Fitness Personal Trainer; Seron Dillard, Apprentice Electrician; Kaleb Hudson, IT Help Desk Tech; Corley French, Imaging/Lab Clerk; Clifford Payne and Amber McElroy, Environmental Services; Mercedes Mach, Nursing Assistant/Ward Clerk; Yadira Garza, LPN; Kristi Stumpff, Insurance Verification Specialist; and Brandi Grossnickle, Patient Registration Clerk.

After unanimously approving the consent calendar, Chief Quality Officer Mary Mockerman gave her monthly Quality Management and Safety report. She focused on three items, the first being a follow-up survey from The Joint Commission to be conducted this week. Nine Joint Commission Standards and 20 elements of performance will be surveyed, which will include review of documents and a focused walkthrough of the building. The annual employee flu shot campaign is nearly complete, with all employees and vendors required by the hospital to have a flu shot by November 1, with very specific exceptions allowed. Influenza incidence in Nebraska is currently listed as sporadic by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Ms. Mockerman said BBGH is currently not seeing influenza activity. An effort is also underway to raise awareness of the risk of occupational

exposures. Finally, Ms. Mockerman and CNO Carolyn Jones attended the 2017 COPIC Risk Management Symposium; with information obtained to be reviewed with the hospital’s COPIC risk manager and corresponding procedure to be written.

COO Jim Bargen presented a synopsis of three Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Advisory Board meetings recently held in Hemingford, Alliance, and Hyannis, with all three agendas having similar items for discussion.

Provider Recruitment Specialist Shelby Andersen provided a brief update on Physician Recruiting and Retention efforts. Ms. Andersen recently attended the University of Wyoming Family Medicine Residency Program where she was able to meet with several residents who expressed interest in practicing in a rural setting. Ms. Andersen said she will be following up on a couple of the residents who seemed especially interested. She also attended a Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas Physician Recruiting Association career fairs in Omaha at Creighton and UNMC, where she also met students interested in future contacts. While in Omaha, Ms. Andersen met with a prospective physician who is from the Rushville area. A site visit is planned for her December 28. She will be done with her residency in August of 2018. While there, Ms. Andersen attended educational classes that focused on millennial generation communication techniques to help market BBGH; focusing on mentorship opportunities, friends at work, and having stock in the organization. She reported that she is developing a Facebook page specific to Greater Nebraska Medical & Surgical Services operations to enhance marketing of the clinic. She ended her report on her efforts to revive the hospital’s Provider of the Quarter recognition program, with new nomination forms and receptacles to be placed in prominent public areas throughout the hospital.

The annual Election of Officers was the next item on the agenda. Both current Chairman Dr. Tom Furman and Secretary John Annen had indicated that they would be willing to serve another year. A motion was made to re-appoint them to those positions, which was unanimously approved.

After all credentialing requests approved by the Trustees, the board entered executive session at 1:35pm to discuss quality management and a real estate opportunity. The board reentered open session at 1:56 pm with one action item. A motion was made and seconded to purchase a lot in Hemingford, which was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 1:58 pm. The next board meeting will be held Monday, November 27, at 7:00pm in the Alliance Room. As always the public is welcome to attend.




Kathe Steggs earns her Employee of the Month title because she has continually demonstrated the value of excellence, compassion and teamwork. She is excellent at her job in the Rehab & Wellness Center and goes above and beyond to make sure patients and coworkers are organized. Kathe makes sure the correct paper work is done thoroughly and completely prior to patients being seen. She has recently been given extra job duties and she has jumped right in, completing them with high standards. Kathe demonstrates compassion to all patients who check in, making sure they feel welcome. She often offers a listening ear to patients when other staff have to return to work duties; truly enhancing the patient experience. Kathe’s teamwork is invaluable. She is always willing to go the extra mile to help out a coworker. The department would truly not function as smoothly without her. Congratulations Kathe on being named the October 2017 Employee of the Month!

Congratulations also to Alexa Minich, Anne Stirewalt, Chelsey Heredia, and Matt Pinneo for being nominated!

♦ Financial position at BBGH strong; payment adjustment a negative...

Bette Gerlach (in the pink scarf), is surrounded by her Diagnostic Imaging teammates just prior to her “Cheers to 29 Years” retirement party held Oct. 30 at BBGH. Bette has been a driving force for Jane’s Closet since its inception over 10 years ago. The importance of mammograms in breast cancer detection has been her passion for most if not all of her career. To that end, fellow BBGH employees donated $188.50 to Jane’s Closet during her retirement party. A fond Fare Thee Well Bette!

THE GREATER Nebraska Medical & Surgical Services (GNMS) Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Advisory Boards for the Hemingford, Alliance and Hyannis Clinics met October 16, 17 and 18, respectively.

The Hemingford Clinic Advisory Board met in the Hemingford Telephone Company meeting room over the noon hour Monday, Oct. 16 in order to meet RHC compliance requirements for clinic evaluations. The meeting allows representatives from the community who are board members to provide input and feedback about the clinic, concerns from the community, positive feedback heard from the community and ideas and suggestions for future operations. Attending the meeting were: Community member Joni Jespersen; Brittney Bauer, PA-C; Tonya Green, receptionist; Lori Mazanec, Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) CEO; community members Lynda Novotny and Blanche Randolph, BBGH COO Jim Bargen, Dr. Jessica Ott, GNMSS Clinic Manager Joni Sautter, Nurse Practitioner Abigail Vogel, PA student Rosemary Rushton, BBGH Marketing Department’s Brian Kuhn, and Brittany Stull, GNMSS Administrative Assistant. The minutes of the last meeting held October 19, 2016 were approved. Ms. Mazanec and Ms. Sautter reported on a recent Joint Commission Survey and its findings concerning the Hemingford Clinic. Ms. Sautter said the Joint Commission RHC surveyor reviewing the Hemingford Clinic found only two deficiencies that needed correcting: the need to conduct an annual fire drill and having a BBGH pharmacist visit the clinic once every quarter to inventory the clinic’s pharmacy supplies to make sure they are current and removing any medications that are out of date. Both findings have resulted in plans to resolve the issues within a short period of time.

The RHC Advisory Board for the Alliance Clinic met over the noon hour Oct. 17. Attending the meeting were: Ms. Stull, Ms. Vogel, Ms. Bauer, Dr. Ott, Ms. Sautter, Nurse Practitioner Sally Bryner, Nurse Practitioner Kristin Ferguson, Community Member Linda Schneider, BBGH Promotions Specialist Shae Brennan, Mr. Kuhn, Mr Bargen, and Ms. Mazanec. The approval of the Oct. 25, 2016 minutes was the first order of

business. Ms. Sautter then reported the findings of the Joint Commission survey, relaying there were no deficiencies or findings in the Alliance Clinic. She also later mentioned the chart audits had great reviews from the Joint Commission.

The RHC Advisory Board for the Hyannis Clinic met over the noon hour at the Grant County Courthouse over the noon hour Wednesday, Oct. 18. Attending the meeting were: Ms. Mazanec, Ms. Sautter, Mr. Kuhn, Community Members Cliff Dailey (current board chairman), Pat Keslar, Merlin Ring, Lyle Burton, Alice Dubs, and Vickie Retzlaff, Ms. Vogel, LPN Kendra Bixby, Ms. Sautter, Mr. Bargen, and Ms. Stull. The minutes of the last meeting held October 7, 2016 were approved. Ms. Mazanec and Ms. Sautter reported on a recent Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Survey and its findings concerning the Hyannis Clinic. Ms. Sautter said the DHHS representative reviewing the Hyannis Clinic was impressed, and gave

the clinic a clean review, with no deficiencies found.

The following items were discussed at all three meetings and synopsized here:

As far as physician recruitment, Ms. Mazanec reported that Sally Bryner, APRN-BC, joined the GNMSS medical team in September and is now seeing patients in Hemingford every Thursday. Also joining GNMSS this year was Kristin Ferguson, who is certified in Adult Geronotological practice. She is currently attending Creighton University to earn her Family Medicine certificate. A locum physician has been at the clinic with her last day in mid-November. Steve Van Noy, PA-C, resigned from GNMSS and now works full-time in the emergency department both in Valentine and every other Thursday and Friday at Box Butte General Hospital. Another recent change is Physician Assistant Jerre Mount transitioning from the Family Practice clinic to the GNMSS orthopedic


RHC ADVISORY BOARD FOCUS

RHC Advisory Boards met in October


2101 Box Butte Avenue • Alliance, Nebraska • 308.762.6660 • www.bbgh.org

BOX BUTTEGENERAL HOSPITAL


and urology side. Ms. Mount will continue her Dialysis Unit supervision. “Overall, we are still focused on hiring two physicians to GNMSS Family Medicine,” Ms. Mazanec said. “We added a Physician Recruiting Specialist at the end of June. Shelby Andersen’s primary focus is to go out and visit residency programs, attend career fairs, and visit with students and residents who are interested in getting their professions started.” So far two students going into their residency have expressed interest, but those are still a few years out before they obtain their license to practice. Other prospects include a site visit by a resident from the Panhandle area, who will complete her residency in August 2018. Another prospect is a tenured physician from the Mullen area who is looking into a part-time practice to finish his career in medicine.

Ms. Sautter presented changes in nurse staffing as pertained to each individual clinic.

In the review of services, Ms. Mazanec went over the clinic hours of operation in Hemingford, Alliance and Hyannis. A review of each clinic’s volumes showed that encounters dropped at all three over the past year: 34 percent in

Hyannis, 13.66 percent in Hemingford, and 13 percent in Alliance. Revenue at each clinic showed corresponding net losses: $64,000 in Hyannis, $88,798 for Hemingford, and $1.3 million for Alliance.

During the Policy Review, Mr. Dailey volunteered to do review the Hyannis Clinic policy; Ms. Novotny to review the Hemingford Clinic policy, and Ms. Schneider to review the Alliance Clinic policy.

At the meetings, Ms. Sautter reviewed a new Transitions of Care Cohort program the hospital is embarking on, partnered with Bryan Health of Lincoln, NE. The program basically improves communication facility wide on patient activity; whether in the ER, PCU, or wherever a patient is seen. She said the improved communication will result in better follow-up contacts with patients by nurses of physician and mid-level practitioners. The short term goal is to improve coordination of care and referrals for patients, with the long term goal to reduce the re-admission rate by five percent; from a current low 8.7 percent (better than other facilities are reporting) to 3.7 percent. Ms. Mazanec added that the program will also help patients better manage their own care.

Also discussed were Chronic Care Management and Accountable Care Organization, focusing on tracking patient care contacts after discharge or appointments with the patient or authorized family members/care givers. Such tracking will be accurately recorded using LightBeam software.

The board meetings ended with comments and suggestions. Comments in Hemingford included a request for information on how the hospital promotes the clinic there, as well as a request to paint the existing building, inside and out. In Alliance, Ms. Schneider shared her personal experience. In reference to having knee replacement surgery, she said, “I couldn’t have asked for better care and services. I tell anybody I can it was an awesome experience. I honestly feel that the treatment I got is given to every other patient here.” Hyannis members mentioned the a new banner flag will be a visual help for when the clinic there is open, and said the new Wednesday of each week schedule was more consistent than the previous schedule.

All three meetings adjourned within an hour.



♦ RHC Advisory Boards met in October...

PULSE IN PICS!

The 2nd Annual Men in Pink Pool Tournament was held at The Gathering Spot on Sat., Oct. 7. There were twenty players who took

part, raising $528 for Jane’s Closet by doing so. The Tourney also had two raffles, one for a 9-Ball Break N Run (which no one won) and

another for an autographed pool que, won by Eric Suiter. Winner of the tournament was Keith Webber (at right), who also happens to be the

founder of the Men in Pink Pool Tourney. Other members of the group include, l-r: Tommy Lacarbo, Paul Yerdon, Co-owner of The Gathering Spot Jen Herbert, and Mr. Webber (not pictured Rodney Taylor). Going forward, the group plans to hold a Men in Pink Pool Tournament the first Saturday of each October. The sign with pink hand silhouette in

the background to “Spread the Hope, Find the Cure!” was made by Kiddie Kampus preschool kids, with the larger silhouettes the mother’s hand and the smaller one on top their son or daughter’s hand.

Men in Pink Pool Tourney raised $528 for Jane’s Closet

9th Annual Because I Can Run/Walk raised $1,000 for APS Save the TrackThe 9th Annual Because I Can Run/Walk event held Sat., Oct 7 at Laing Lake in Alliance raised $1,000 for the Alliance Public Schools (APS) Save the Track fund. A total of 42 people participated in the event, from ages 6 to 72. The event was sponsored by Box Butte General Hospital’s Rehab & Wellness Center and Alliance Physical Therapy. Attending the check presentation Oct. 12 to APS representatives were, l-r: Rehab & Wellness Center’s (RWC) Abby Grosse-Rhode, PT; Mike Stevens, PTA; Alliance Physical Therapy’s Brittany McClary, PT; RWC’s Ryan Ackerman PTA; Jen Foster, PTA; APS Superintendent Dr. Troy Unzicker; AHS Math Teacher and Cross Country Coach Nate Lanik; AHS Principal George Clear; RWC’s Andrew Leider, PT; and RWC’s Coordinator Tim Devlin, PT.


YOU ARE WHAT YOU

EAT!MY FAVORITE session at the recent Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference in Chicago was presented by physiologist and researcher Dr. Luc Van Loon of Maastricht University Medical Centre in the Netherlands.

“Take a look at your arm,” Van Loon began. “Your muscle tissues are constantly breaking down and building up. In fact, every 2 to 3 months, you have a new arm from new muscle tissue.”

Throughout our lives, he explained, we are either making new muscle or we are losing it. And muscles need two things to grow—food (especially protein) and physical activity. Protein not only provides the building material (amino acids) for new muscle; it signals the body to get busy and start putting those tissues together.

In just 3 to 4 hours after eating, protein from your meal is now you, says Van Loon. In terms of muscle growth, we truly are what we just ate.

How much protein converts to muscle

depends on several factors, including the source. Whey protein derived from milk, for example, stimulates a higher rate of muscle growth than casein, another milk protein. And research shows that protein from animal sources generally has a bigger muscle building response than plant proteins. Vegetarians can easily compensate by eating more of a wide variety of plant proteins including soy, beans, grains and nuts to get the best mix of muscle building amino acids.

For most of us, about 20 grams of protein (the amount in 3-ounces of meat, poultry or fish) at every meal is enough to maximize muscle synthesis after meals. Older folks and athletes may need a bit more.

Timing is important as well. Studies have found that three protein-containing meals a day stimulate more muscle building than just one or two protein meals a day.

And this was interesting. “Chewing has a huge effect on anabolic response (the ability of the body to make muscle from protein),” our speaker reported. Well-chewed food, he explained, is better digested and available for building muscle.

We can’t just eat protein and expect

to form strong muscles, however. Exercise and food are both essential in the muscle building process. If we do not stay active, we are less than what we just ate, say Van Loon.

Physical activity, especially before we eat, increases the body’s ability to turn protein from our meal into muscle. And that includes those of us a bit over the hill. As long as older folks eat adequate amounts of protein and stay physically active, we can build muscle. And with physical activity, says Van Loon, we become more than what we just ate.

Quinn-Essential Nutritionby Barbara Quinn, MS, RDN, CDE,Box Butte General Hospital Dietitian

• Heather Conyers• Leah Delsing• Dawn Deveny• Jerome Dopheide• Ramona Foster• Elizabeth Gerlach• Kaleb Hudson• Kimberly Jespersen• Ashley Johnson• James Kayras• Brian Kuhn

• Megan Meggison• Amy Nielson• Jerri Nyffler• Audrey Ridenour• Amber Smith• Madison Smith• Stephen Van Noy• Brooke Shelmadine• Deborah Wegehoft• Richard Yebra

TO OUR NOVEMBER EMPLOYEES!

Our billboard for most of November features our Medical Staff at Greater Nebraska Medical & Surgical Services Family Medicine: Nurse Practitioner Sally Bryner, Dr. Jessica Ott, Nurse Practitioners Kristin Ferguson & Abby Vogel, and Physician Assistant Brittney Bauer.


I’d like to recognize Tim Devlin, Kaitlyn Stabnow, and Matt Pinneo for graduating from the NHA Leadership Institute and

Amber Smith for her Caring Kind Award through the NHA. You are Awesome people!

—Lori Mazanec

Tim Kaitlyn Matt Amber

I was recently in an ER in a different state and I just want to say – our ER is awesome!

— Julie Sheldon

A recent Press Ganey survey listed surgery in the 90s in all but two areas! That is just plain Awesome!

—Kaitlyn Stabnow:

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Trunk or Treat. It was a great community service to provide safe tricks and

treating for the kids. Awesome work everyone!— Carolyn Jones

I’d like to put out a huge thank you to everyone for their hard work in fixing the findings from the Joint Commission survey.

People were putting in long hours & weekends. I appreciate it very much. Awesome effort everyone!

— Gail Burke

I would like to recognize the Physical Therapists for their amazing work with the high school athletic programs. They

work tirelessly traveling to provide a BBGH face and their expertise at nearly every sporting event. They are truly

promoting BBGH’s commitment to community health! Great job at being Awesome!

—Jim Bargen

Abby

Abby Grosse-Rhode is our department coordinator for clinical education for

physical therapy and occupational therapy graduate students. She is a certified clinical

instructor and she recently finished 6 weeks of clinical instruction with Ben who was a

second year student from Regis University in Denver, Colorado as well as maintaining her demanding clinic caseload. Thanks Abby for

your commitment to this program!—Tim Devlin

Brigette

Brigette White CNA on PCU is always willing to assist patients to the Wound Care

Clinic. She is kind to the patients, prompt and helpful and much appreciated by staff in

Wound Care!!—Sue Martin

Heidi

would like to recognize Heidi Merrihew for all her work organizing Trunk or Treat!

The event is well organized and we have an abundance of candy. Having a safe

Halloween opportunity for our community children is a great community service event.

Awesome job Heidi!—Carolyn Jones

Kim

A couple of weeks ago there were some guests who needed help to get to their

destination, wound care and infusion. Kim Stuart was so helpful and kind to these two guests as she assisted them to their

destination. Kudos to you Kim! You’re Awesome!

—Dede DeVeny

Janelle

Leah

Janelle Trickler received her BSN, Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Also, Leah Delsing received her MSN, Master of Science in

Nursing Education. That’s Awesome—Jenni Johnston

Kristi Ellstrom won the “Bright Idea 2017” award from the Nebraska Healthcare Marketers during the Nebraska Hospital

Association Fall Conference held October 25-27 in Omaha. She won the award for developing a marketing intern plan three

years ago. Way to go Kristi. You’re Awesome!—Bridget Miller

Kristi


PULSE IN PICS!Oct. 28 Drug Take Back captured over 100 lbs. of medications

The Box Butte County Sheriff Department (BBCSD), with the help of the Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) Pharmacy Department, took in 114.6 lbs. of medications and filled three five gallon sharps containers between 10am and 2pm Saturday, October 28 at the Medical Arts Plaza in Alliance. Sponsored twice a year by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the program provides area residents a safe and responsible way to dispose of their unwanted or outdated medications from narcotics to over the counter medications. The program in Alliance also allows residents to dispose of used syringes and other biohazard items such as disposable scalpels and blades, commonly known as sharps. Above are BBCSD Deputy Preston Walls and BBGH Pharmacist Matt Pinneo putting drugs and sharps in their proper containers for shipment to a certified waste disposal facility.

The annual BBGH Trunk or Treat was fun for all, though it was a bit on the cool side. Thanks to everyone who took part. The kids (we’ll let you figure out which ones) had a great time.


NOVEMBER

CALENDAR

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

BBGH Board of Trustees meeting 12:00 Noon - Alliance Room

Auxiliary Meeting - 12:00pm - 1:00pm Alliance Room

Stroke and Brain Injury Support Group - 3:00-5:00pm - Alliance Room

Bariatric Surgery Support Group - 7-8pm - Newberry Room

Survivor of Suicide Day - 2:00pm-5:00pm - Alliance Room

Health Professions Club - 6:30am to 7:30am - Alliance Room

Immunization Clinic - 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Medical Arts Plaza Suite 300

Immunization Clinic - 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Medical Arts Plaza Suite 300

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30

The reatest placeto receive care,to work,to practice medicine.G

308.762.6660 Alliance, NE www.bbgh.org

BOX BUTTEGENERAL HOSPITAL

Great things are Happening Here!

Documents

BBH PUSE - Box Butte General Hospital