Monday, October 31, 2016

November is Hospice Month



MYTH: If I accept a referral to Hospice, I have given up.

FACT: Accepting a referral to Hospice simply means you have chosen to focus on the quality of life for however much time you have left. The goal of Hospice care is to reduce physical pain, create emotional well-being and enhance spiritual peace.

November is National Hospice Month; a time to share the message of what Hospice really means.

Each year more than 1.6 million people with a life-limiting illness receive care from Hospice providers. Most Hospice is provided in the home, allowing people to be with their loved ones and be in comfortable surroundings.

Hospice provides a special kind of care and support; helping patients and their families with decision making, meeting life goals, enhancing family relationships and promoting comfort.

There are 6 reminders about Hospice that can help one to understand this type of care.

  1. Hospice care is usually in the home or wherever the patient calls home
  2. Hospice cares for people with any kind of life-limiting illness
  3. Hospice is covered by Medicare, Medi-cal, private insurance and donations
  4. Hospice support is available 24/7
  5. Hospice is not "giving up", it is a focus on caring - not curing
  6. Anyone can contact Hospice to learn if it is right for your loved one
Intermountain Hospice at Mayers Memorial Hospital is fully staffed to care for the needs of residents within the district.

Always Caring...Always Here

Thursday, October 27, 2016

It is PT Month!


It is Physical Therapy Month!

Mayers Memorial Hospital is proud of our great Physical Therapy Department staffed with skilled, dedicated employees. We thank them for their dedication!

 Why should you consider Physical Therapy as an option for your situation?

Physical Therapists are experts in improving mobility and motion.  Pain free movement is crucial to quality of life, ability to work and enjoy your favorite activities.

Improve Mobility and Motion
Being able to move freely is essential for life. Being active can prevent obesity and diseases such as heart attack and stroke. Consistent movement is important to maintaining good balance, which is important in preventing falls and injuries.

Physical Therapists work with patients of all ages and ability levels to restore, expand and maintain a good range of motion.

Avoid Surgery and Prescriptions
Many patients come to a physical therapist following an injuring. There are many times the rehabilitation can "do the trick" and prevent potential surgery and eliminate the use of pain prescriptions.

After surgery, Physical Therapy is an important part of recovery and regaining mobility.

Be an Active Participant in You Recovery
Patients are a part of developing their goals in order to meet individual needs and challenges. Participating in your own recovery is rewarding.

Each patient responds different to treatment. People have different types of bodies, ailments, habits and lifestyles. The beauty of Physical Therapy is that it is designed to meet individual needs.

At MMHD, Physical Therapists work collaboratively to provide quality care to their patients.  After a referral is received, a full evaluation is scheduled to determine the course of treatment that is best for the patient.

Together, the staff at MMHD is ready to help you meet your goals of rehabilitation.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Meet Our Respiratory Therapists

Edward Wright and Adam Dendauw



It is Respiratory Care Week and it is Lung Health Day. At MMHD, we are proud to serve you with a QUALITY Respiratory Therapy Department.  

Meet our Respiratory Therapists:

Adam Dendauw-Respiratory Manager: Registered Respiratory Therapist, with Asthma Educator certification, 10 years of experience with all aspects of respiratory care, from floor care & ICU ventilator management to pulmonary function testing and neonatal resuscitation. I have worked in the acute setting, clinical proctoring/teaching for Oregon Institute of Technology and now the critical access setting. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Mayers and the unique patient care experience the hospital


Edward Wright-Respiratory Care Practitioner: Ed came to use from Colusa Regional Medical Center, unfortunately after 18 years of service there, the facility shut down. Mayers was fortunate to add Ed to our team as he brings a great deal of experience to the respiratory department. Ed is well versed in many aspects of respiratory care, ventilator management, neonatal resuscitation, arterial blood gas punctures and now pulmonary function testing. Ed also brings a very personable attitude to the facility, which has allowed him to connect with our patients and staff quickly. 

Monday, October 24, 2016

Respiratory Care Week






HAPPY RESPIRATORY WEEK
People often ask what a Respiratory Therapist is, so here you go. A respiratory therapist or “RT” provides many services to patients. The services may be outpatient which include performing pulmonary function testing to see how well ones lung function is. A Pulmonary function test is the only true way to diagnose COPD. RT’s also provide pulmonary rehabilitation services to help patients with lung diseases to help them be able to perform daily activities more easily through exercise training, education, smoking cessation, and breathing exercises. RT’s can also perform diagnostic sleep studies to help diagnose and treat sleep apnea.

In the inpatient setting RT’s have many roles and see patients in all areas of the hospital. RT’s provide bronchodilator therapy via aerosol treatments, provide mucous clearing adjuncts, and provide education and smoking cessation. We are also able to assess our patients and treat them with certain therapies according to their respiratory state. Arterial blood gases are a type of lab that respiratory draws. This is different from a normal blood draw due to the fact that we are drawing it from an artery and not a vein. An artery carries oxygenated blood and gives us insight to the patient’s respiratory and metabolic state.

Respiratory therapists treat patients of all ages ranging from newborn to end of life. RT’s also play a key role when it comes to life saving measures. We manage and run all ventilators while the patient requires support. RT’s can also perform intubations. Once ready patients can be “weaned” from the ventilator and the breathing tube removed to allow for a patient to breathe on their own. During births RT is on standby and attends all c-sections to help manage the baby if it is unable to maintain its own airway.

The job of the RT is often misunderstood and often underappreciated but continues to grow and make progress. As an RT it is wonderful to see how much progress a patient can make when you least expect it. Each day at work has something new and is never the same as the next but brings joy knowing you are part of a healthcare team that has one goal in mind, providing care to those in need.

Friday, October 21, 2016

MMHD Staff Supports PINK


The color PINK was out in full force for THINK PINK DAY, Thursday, October 20th. MMHD staff showed their support of Breast Cancer Awareness by distributing Nor Cal THINK PINK bags and wearing pink.

Thank you to our staff that decorated, participated and coordinated this great effort!

Burney Annex Staff



Fall River Staff

Goody Bags!

Monday, October 17, 2016

Infection Prevention Week



Break the Chain of Infection! is this year's theme for Infection Prevention Week. It is important to spread the word about how the public and healthcare professionals can contribute to the goal of infection prevention.

There is the possibility of many different germs inside and outside of the healthcare setting. Germs can spread between persons, therefore breaking the chain of infection is vital. No matter what the germ is, there are six points at which the chain can be broken and the germ can be stopped from infecting another person. 


  • Infectious Agent - the germ that caused the disease
  • Reservoir - places the pathogen lives (people, animals, insects, equipment, soil and water)
  • Portal of Exit - the way the infectious agent leaves the reservoir (open wounds, aerosols, and body fluids - coughing, sneezing and saliva)
  • Means of Transmission - the ways infectious agents can be passed on (direct contact, ingestion, inhalation)
  • Portal of Entry - the way an infectious agent can enter a new host (broken skin, respiratory tract, and mucous membranes)
  • Susceptible Host - any person, the most vulnerable being those receiving healthcare or those that are immune compromised.
The way to stop germs from spreading is interrupting this chain at any link. These practices can effectively break the chain...
  • Hand Hygiene
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • First Aide
  • Food Safety
  • Cleaning, Disinfection, Liberalization
  • Waste Disposal
  • Respiratory Etiquette
  • Isolation




Friday, October 14, 2016

Meet Our Imaging Team

Manager, CT Tech, Alan Northington; Lead CT Tech, Tyson Wilson; CT Tech, Shauna Davis; Ultrasound Tech, Catarina Medina


Mayers Memorial Hospital District would like to introduce you to our Imaging Department Team. We are staffed with three CT Technicians; Alan Northington, Manager, Tyson Wilson, Lead, and Shauna Davis.  Our Ultrasound Technician is Catarina Medina.

The MMHD Imaging Department is open Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 5:30 pm at the Fall River Campus.  Additionally, the department is available for emergency calls after hours and on weekends. 

MMHD's Imaging Department provides X-Ray, CT, Ultrasound and Fluoroscopy.

With the facility expansion at MMHD, Imaging will have a new space in the facility when construction is completed.  This will provide many new opportunities and options for new imaging equipment. 

For more information contact (530)336-5511.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

National Pharmacist Month





It is National Pharmacist Month - Meet Mayers Memorial Hospital District's Pharmacist Keith Earnest.

He is one of our “grow-your-own” prodigies. He was born in the hospital where he has been dedicated and loyal since his hire date May 1, 1999. He was hired as Mayers’ pharmacist and was promoted to a senior-level position in January of 2008. His position as the Chief Clinical Officer includes many clinical and leadership functions within the general acute care (CAH) facility and skilled nursing facility, including hospice.


He has been on the Board of Directors for the Mayers Intermountain Healthcare Foundation since 2000—with the majority of his tenure serving as President. He works with Intermountain Hospice, Good News Rescue Mission, youth ministries and various other community organizations. He is a graduate of Fall River High School and completed his secondary education and Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of the Pacific. Earnest completed his residency at Huntsville Hospital in Alabama.

Monday, October 10, 2016

National Case Management Week


National Case Management Week October 9 - 15

This week is an opportunity to recognize the dedication, compassion and quality patient care outcomes achieved by case managers across the health care continuum. The theme for this year is Case Management: We Listen. We Care. We Lead.
Case managers provide collaborative clinical assessment, care coordination, patient education, counseling, case monitoring/clinical pathway management, discharge planning, resource management and patient advocacy. ACMA is the first case management association specifically designed to address the needs and concerns of health care delivery system case management and transitions of care professionals.
         Mayers Memorial Hospital District (MMHD) would like recognize the significant contributions of our case manager’s impact on our ability to provide the best patient care possible, positively affecting the patient experience while promoting best practices and cost-effective outcomes.

          MMHD’s Case Manager BJ Burks says, “I consider it a privilege to be able to serve our community and staff in the role of case management.  Case management offers me the opportunity to integrate healing and growth for both staff and patients along with our residents.  Besides the normal expectations of placement and safe environment, I have the opportunity to work with insurance companies, develop resources and utilize educational opportunities to benefit all levels of care.  To be able to help create a support network system for the success of the discharging person is very rewarding. Being a part of Team Mayers in the growing, developing health care field has been so fulfilling when I can apply these concepts to a successful discharge for a person.” 

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

October is Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month


October is Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month. The goal of the observance is to increase the public's awareness and knowledge about medical ultrasound.  Ultrasound has many uses in healthcare. Although much of the general public is familiar with ultrasound during pregnancy, many people are unaware that ultrasound can be used throughout all stages of life and for various medical indications. 

Medical Ultrasound, also known as sonography, is a diagnostic imaging technique based on the application of ultrasound.  It is used to see internal body structures such as tendons, muscles, joints, vessels and internal organs. Unlike x-ray, there is no ionizing radiation exposure associated with ultrasound. 

In an ultrasound exam, a transducer is placed directly on the skin.  A thin layer of gel is applied to the skin so that the ultrasound waves are transmitted from the transducer through the gel into the body. 

Common uses of ultrasound include:

  • Abdominal
  • Bone sonometry
  • Breast ultrasound
  • Doppler fetal heart rate monitors
  • Doppler Ultrasound
  • Echocardiogram
  • Fetal Ultrasound
  • Ultra-sound guided biopsies
  • Ophthalmic ultrasound
  • Ultrasound guided needle placement
MMHD would like to welcome our new Ultrasound Technician, Catarina Medina.



For more information on MMHD's ultrasound services, visit our website. Or call (530)336-5511 Ext. 1142



Tuesday, October 4, 2016

CNA Class Coming in January



CNA Class is coming in January

Mayers Memorial Hospital District is once again collaborating with Shasta College to offer a Certified Nursing Assistant’s (CNA) class.  The class will begin in January.  Classroom theory will be Mondays and Tuesdays at Shasta College in Redding and Clinical time will be Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Burney Annex.

There will be financial assistance available through the SMART program. Transportation to Redding may also be provided.

For more information or to pick up an application from the Human Resources Department at MMHD in Fall River Mills or at the Burney Annex. Call (530)336-5511 Ext. #1206 for details

What is a CNA?


Reporting to the on-duty Charge Nurse, the CNA is responsible for performing patient care activities within their scope of practice for an assigned group of patients and/or residents on a daily basis and documents care that is given.  CNA’s provide direct patient/resident care to both acute and long-term care patients under the supervision of licensed nurses.



Monday, October 3, 2016

THINK PINK






October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. One of the best forms of prevention is education. Millions of women are surviving the disease thanks in part to early detection and improvements in treatment. Efforts to educate and promote awareness are making a difference.

What can you do? Take care of yourself. A breast self-exam should be a part of your routine. There are many resources available to provide tips for self-exams. Five steps of a self-exam is a great place to start.

If you are over 40 or at a high risk for the disease, you should also have an annual mammogram and physical exam by a doctor. The earlier breast cancer is found and diagnosed, the better chance you have of beating it.

There are many risk factors that can increase your chance of developing  breast cancer. Many are beyond your control, but there are many you can control such as weight, physical activity and alcohol consumption.

There are steps every person can take to help the body stay as healthy as possible, such as a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, limiting alcohol and getting enough exercise. More Tips.