News from Other Departments
Services available at SHHS are listed in a file on the I-drive, along with many other resources.
Services provided at SHHS
Hospitalists
The level of care for hospitalizations - Level I, II, III - is set by the ER doc and the Hospitalist. The admission orders should include this (i.e. be sure to check this on the order sheet according to what the Hospitalist orders. (FYI - this is not the Inpatient or Observation Status) Criteria for the level of care are set forth in the SCU Structure Standards.
Laboratory
HgbA1C - as with most consumer purchases, the lab had to make compromises in the capability of the chemistry machine it purchased last year. Along with the improved speed and reliability came a reduced ability to measure HgbA1c at high levels. Below the line on the graph the machine can provide useful information, above line the specimen must be sent out. For providers this is very helpful because on the uncommon occasions when we order this test we can at least know the level is above a certain point, based on the known Hgb level. You can check with Dr. Makande, Dr. Bleil or Kim Kibby if you have any other questions. (4/8/2012)
Troponin I - The new range will be: negative for any value < 0.19 (12/18/2011)
Lab cannot process stool for blood if done on any brand card except Hemocult.
In particular the cannot run the test if it is on a Hemo-Screen - the developer is not available. (10/1/2011)
Nutrition Services
Honey is being stocked in the ER now for patient use (in with the peanut butter). Warm tea with honey is an effective cough reliever
(not for < 1 year old). 1/24/2012
www.mayoclinic.com/health/honey/AN01799 or http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-738-HONEY.aspx?activeIngredientId=738&activeIngredientName=HONEY
Pharmacy
Policies are all on line. Go into the icon folder and go on SHCH Policies (on your desktop or \\support\vbapps$\Policies\Policies.exe ),
then go down to the Pharmacy Icon. (10/28/2011)
The most recent drug shortage information can be found at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugShortages/ucm050792.htm (1/8/12)
Lidocaine for wound management has been replaced with a 5 mL single dose glass ampul (in place of the 30 mL multidose vials). Be sure to use a filtered needle when drawing up the fluid. (1/18/12)
OB
Radiology - see also Policies online (\\support\vbapps$\Policies\Policies.exe)
Contacting Radiologist after normal hours
If you happen to have a case you would like to discuss with a radiologist or even have a specific question after normal hours or on
weekends. Please follow these steps in order to contact the radiologist that is on call.
Option 1 Call the Bronson radiology file room @ 269-341-6381 and ask to speak with the radiologist or the radiologist
that is on call depending on the time. A radiologist is in house until midnight.
Option 2 Call our radiology dept @2222 or have the technologist paged by the switchboard. The tech can provide you with
the file room number at Bronson in order to contact the radiologist.
Radiology tech pagers and hours (follow link)
Hydrating patients for contrast
Ultrasound Call Guidelines - During normal radiology hours call 2229 and they will page the tech. The Ultrasound department is open M-F 0730-1700.
After hours please call switchboard, operator will be called based on posted schedule, Tech will call nurse caring for patient to
verify prep.
Sonographer has up to one-hour to respond after being notified. After hours the technologists will respond to all exams
requested outside of these hours and be considered emergency.
Proper prep guidelines should always be followed to ensure a good diagnostic results.
All pregnant patients require beta hCG results. Please consider consulting with an OB/GYN provider prior to calling the
technologist
All exams ordered as emergent shall go through a review process to ensure the quality of each exam add to ensure that the
technologist is only being called in for truly emergent exams.
Surgery
Dr. Mark Warner does not cover Dr. Postma’s orthopedic call any longer. When Dr. Postma is out of town
Dr. Warner is not an option for after hours calls. (1/30/12)
Plant Operations
1/7/2012 The doors to the Disaster Storage/ED Provider’s Sleep Room have been changed from key locks to numeric code locks. The ED Department code is 6780. That is the number you need to unlock either/both doors to get into the Storage/Sleep Rooms and back into the ED. If you need Disaster Supplies or the other items stored in that room you will need to put in this code!
Administration
3/8/12 Conversation Cafe' are underway. There is a lot of discussion about how the healthcare reform policies and electronic health record will be changing how we work every day. The good news is that we can continue these discussions on this web site. Are there any other things on your mind?
The level of care for hospitalizations - Level I, II, III - is set by the ER doc and the Hospitalist. The admission orders should include this (i.e. be sure to check this on the order sheet according to what the Hospitalist orders. (FYI - this is not the Inpatient or Observation Status) Criteria for the level of care are set forth in the SCU Structure Standards.
Laboratory
HgbA1C - as with most consumer purchases, the lab had to make compromises in the capability of the chemistry machine it purchased last year. Along with the improved speed and reliability came a reduced ability to measure HgbA1c at high levels. Below the line on the graph the machine can provide useful information, above line the specimen must be sent out. For providers this is very helpful because on the uncommon occasions when we order this test we can at least know the level is above a certain point, based on the known Hgb level. You can check with Dr. Makande, Dr. Bleil or Kim Kibby if you have any other questions. (4/8/2012)
Troponin I - The new range will be: negative for any value < 0.19 (12/18/2011)
Lab cannot process stool for blood if done on any brand card except Hemocult.
In particular the cannot run the test if it is on a Hemo-Screen - the developer is not available. (10/1/2011)
Nutrition Services
Honey is being stocked in the ER now for patient use (in with the peanut butter). Warm tea with honey is an effective cough reliever
(not for < 1 year old). 1/24/2012
www.mayoclinic.com/health/honey/AN01799 or http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-738-HONEY.aspx?activeIngredientId=738&activeIngredientName=HONEY
Pharmacy
Policies are all on line. Go into the icon folder and go on SHCH Policies (on your desktop or \\support\vbapps$\Policies\Policies.exe ),
then go down to the Pharmacy Icon. (10/28/2011)
The most recent drug shortage information can be found at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugShortages/ucm050792.htm (1/8/12)
Lidocaine for wound management has been replaced with a 5 mL single dose glass ampul (in place of the 30 mL multidose vials). Be sure to use a filtered needle when drawing up the fluid. (1/18/12)
OB
Radiology - see also Policies online (\\support\vbapps$\Policies\Policies.exe)
Contacting Radiologist after normal hours
If you happen to have a case you would like to discuss with a radiologist or even have a specific question after normal hours or on
weekends. Please follow these steps in order to contact the radiologist that is on call.
Option 1 Call the Bronson radiology file room @ 269-341-6381 and ask to speak with the radiologist or the radiologist
that is on call depending on the time. A radiologist is in house until midnight.
Option 2 Call our radiology dept @2222 or have the technologist paged by the switchboard. The tech can provide you with
the file room number at Bronson in order to contact the radiologist.
Radiology tech pagers and hours (follow link)
Hydrating patients for contrast
Ultrasound Call Guidelines - During normal radiology hours call 2229 and they will page the tech. The Ultrasound department is open M-F 0730-1700.
After hours please call switchboard, operator will be called based on posted schedule, Tech will call nurse caring for patient to
verify prep.
Sonographer has up to one-hour to respond after being notified. After hours the technologists will respond to all exams
requested outside of these hours and be considered emergency.
Proper prep guidelines should always be followed to ensure a good diagnostic results.
All pregnant patients require beta hCG results. Please consider consulting with an OB/GYN provider prior to calling the
technologist
All exams ordered as emergent shall go through a review process to ensure the quality of each exam add to ensure that the
technologist is only being called in for truly emergent exams.
Surgery
Dr. Mark Warner does not cover Dr. Postma’s orthopedic call any longer. When Dr. Postma is out of town
Dr. Warner is not an option for after hours calls. (1/30/12)
Plant Operations
1/7/2012 The doors to the Disaster Storage/ED Provider’s Sleep Room have been changed from key locks to numeric code locks. The ED Department code is 6780. That is the number you need to unlock either/both doors to get into the Storage/Sleep Rooms and back into the ED. If you need Disaster Supplies or the other items stored in that room you will need to put in this code!
Administration
3/8/12 Conversation Cafe' are underway. There is a lot of discussion about how the healthcare reform policies and electronic health record will be changing how we work every day. The good news is that we can continue these discussions on this web site. Are there any other things on your mind?