2011 in Review

Much has been accomplished this year and our contributors deserve all of the credit. None of this would happen without them. St. Luke's Hospital, Crosby Clinic, and St. Luke's Community Foundation would like to take a look back at the year and shed light on all you, our donors, have helped us accomplish.
The Crosby Clinic has moved from their downtown location to a new facility located on the St. Luke's Medical Complex. This facility has been a blessing to all who work or come to St. Luke's Medical Complex. It has been beneficial to the ease of access to care that is so important in today's healthcare, as well as make St. Luke's Hospital and Clinics more efficient and patient-friendly. Along with the Crosby Clinic moving to the medical complex, St. Luke's Hospital underwent major renovations that are almost completed! With the renovations came a new layout to improve the quality of care we give our patients.

St. Luke's Hospital has also added a new emergency center with an ambulance garage attached. This was in major part to a donation given by Continental Resources and their affiliates. The Torgeson Family Learning Center is now open and operational in the basement of the facility. This room is beautiful and spacious and can be used for meetings, dinners, training, and anything else you can imagine! A therapy pool designed for aquatic therapy has been installed and is awaiting completion early in the 2012 year, we are very excited about the possibilities and new therapy we will be able to give our patients.

The Foundation Board has been working tirelessly to add an additional six units to Northern Lights Villa under the management of Jean Nygaard and Jean Sedo. The units have helped make senior housing more available in a shrinking housing market, while being able to provide more services to elderly popluation. The board has also sold the Crosby Clinic building to Maisey Dental and the Foundation's "Dr. House" is now occupied by a new physician!

St. Luke's is here to meet your needs 24/7/365 and it only takes a moment to step back and envision a community without St. Luke's to realize the importance that it plays in our daily lives. Not only as a healthcare service, but as an employer, friend and family. We want the community of Burke-Divide to enjoy quality healthcare services from a facility they can trust for many years to come!

Celebration of Lights

   Our Celebration of Lights program provides an opportunity for you to remember and honor loved ones and friends this holiday season.  For each individual you remember or honor, a light will be placed on our special outdoor tree at St. Luke’s Hospital.  On Friday, November 25, 2011, the lights on the tree will be turned on and display all those you wish to pay tribute to those remembered and honored throughout our community and afar. To be a part of this special occasion contact Erin Johnson or Karla Schwanz at St. Luke's Community Foundation. We would love to answer all of your questions or help you to honor and commemorate your loved ones. All Celebration of Light forms need to be turned in by November 21st.

Therapy Pool: Work in Progress

Aquatic therapy or pool therapy consists of an exercise program that is performed in the water. It is a beneficial form of therapy that is useful for a variety of medical conditions. Aquatic therapy uses the physical properties of water to assist in patient healing and exercise performance.

One benefit of aquatic therapy is the buoyancy provided by the water. While submerged in water, buoyancy assists in supporting the weight of the patient. This decreases the amount of weight bearing which reduces the force of stress placed on the joints. This aspect of aquatic therapy is especially useful for patients with arthritis, healing fractured bones, or who are overweight. By decreasing the amount of joint stress it is easier and less painful to perform exercises.

The viscosity of water provides an excellent source of resistance that can be easily incorporated into an aquatic therapy exercise program. This resistance allows for muscle strengthening without the need of weights. Using resistance coupled with the water’s buoyancy allows a person to strengthen muscle groups with decreased joint stress that can not be experienced on land.

Aquatic therapy also utilizes hydrostatic pressure to decrease swelling and improve joint position awareness. The hydrostatic pressure produces forces perpendicular to the body’s surface. This pressure provides joint positional awareness to the patient. As a result, patient proprioception is improved. This is important for patients who have experienced joint sprains, as when ligaments are torn, our proprioception becomes decreased. The hydrostatic pressure also assists in decreasing joint and soft tissue swelling that results after injury or with arthritic disorders.

Lastly, the warmth of the water experience during aquatic therapy assists in relaxing muscles and vasodilates vessels, increasing blood flow to injured areas. Patients with muscle spasms, back pain, and fibromyalgia find this aspect of aquatic therapy especially therapeutic.

It is important to know however, that aquatic therapy is not for everyone. People with cardiac disease should not participate in aquatic therapy. Those who have fevers, infections, or bowel/bladder incontinence are also not candidates for aquatic therapy. Always discuss this with your physician before beginning an aquatic therapy program.

Hospital Renovation - August 2011

The Crosby Clinic opened their doors at the hospital complex in July, and once this happened the renovation on the Hospital went in to full swing. From removing asbestos to changing around doorways and demolishing wall to expand rooms, changes have been happening every day. Most of the changes have been happening around the central hub, the Nursing Station.

Demolition of the wall to create the Nursing
Report Room located near the Nursing
Station.

Looking towards the Nursing Station from
the Swing Bed hallway while they remove
the asbestos in the ceiling.

Half of the Chapel, which will be located
in the former Lab & X-ray area.

A view of where the former Nursing Station was; which
is now under construction for the new station.

Looking out from the partial nursing station
that has been constructed near ER.

Looking through the plastic towards the
nursing station while the construction
was being done in the ceiling.

Adding the Final Touches

Now that the clinic and hospital parking lot is done, we can finally start focusing on the final touches before the opening of the clinic!

The chairs that will be in the shared lobby
between the Hospital and Clinic.

Exam Tables in the patient rooms of the
clinic.

Exam table in the clinic procedure room.

Assisted Living to Open Mid-July

Final touches are being added to Northern Lights Villa, as we prepare for the opening in mid-July. We have many residents who are anxious to get in, and have been waiting for the weather to cooperate with us! Finally, we are getting the work done and are happy to be on the final stretch!

Transition to the garage area from the carpeting

Fridge and sink in the kitchen

Stove and microwave in every unit as well

Private dining/Multi-purpose room open for resident use

Hospital & Clinic Flooring

As we have seen in the last few posts the flooring has started to go be laid in both the clinic and the hospital setting. The additions that have been made in the last week include the carpet in the shared lobby and office, and the first flooring in the hospital with the hallway leading to the Emergency Room.  Here are a few pictures to show the updates.  We are hoping that we will be able to start working on the parking lot as it is dry enough to get working on it. With this hopefully working out, Crosby Clinic and ancillary departments of the Hospital will be able to move in to their new areas in the middle of July.

Hallway leading from the shared lobby in to Lab/X-Ray
& Emergency Room Services

Looking in to the shared lobby from the Hospital

Office in the new Clinic

Final touches being added to patient rooms
in the clinic

Looking out in to the Lobby from behind
the clinic registration and business office

Lab & X-Ray Flooring

The finishing touches are starting to take place in the new addition as the laboratory and x-ray floor has just been installed early on this week.

Looking in to X-Ray from the hallway

X-Ray from the storage area

Looking in to Laboratory from the hallway

Assisted Living Carpeting

View of the living room looking out on to the soon-to-be porch.

Kitchen cabinetry and counter tops.
The microwave will be placed above the stove.

Looking in to the master bedroom.



Looking in to the spare bedroom.



The master bedroom's walk-in closet, one is able to put in a
personal washer and dryer if they so choose.

Hospital Construction Update 06/10/2011

As summer comes around the hospital and clinic are working on some finishing touches inside. While the parking lot is another matter due to the recent weather, we are able to keep progressing inside. Here's a look at what we've been able to do recently. We are hoping if the weather cooperates to be moving in to the newly constructed areas by mid-July.

The Therapy Pool area for the Hospital's Physical Therapy
and Rehab department.

Clinic Room Tile has been added as well as the built-in
cabinetry.

The flooring that will be used in all Clinic hallways.

Clinic Nursing Station and ceiling tile that has been
completed through the clinic and part of the hospital.

The newly constructed Lab that is now located next
to the emergency department for better patient access.

Painting the Assisted Living

The countertops are finally in place in the Assisted Living, and we have begun to paint the private dining and entertainment room in the new addition.  Here are a few pictures to show you what we've done!

Stress Management

With summer arriving here are some basic tips for stress relief, help yourself enjoy the nice weather by practicing some relaxation techniques brought to you by Mayo Clinic!

Stress basics, relief and relaxation techniques
By Mayo Clinic Staff

Stress Basics

Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the ever increasing demands of life. Surveys show that most Americans experience challenges with stress at some point during the year. In looking at the causes of stress, remember that your brain comes hard-wired with an alarm system for your protection. When your brain perceives a threat, it signals your body to release a burst of hormones to fuel your capacity for a response. This has been labeled the "fight-or-flight" response. Once the threat is gone, your body is meant to return to a normal relaxed state. Unfortunately, the nonstop stress of modern life means that your alarm system rarely shuts off.

That's why stress management is so important. Stress management gives you a range of tools to reset your alarm system. Without stress management, all too often your body is always on high alert. Over time, high levels of stress lead to serious health problems. Don't wait until stress has a negative impact on your health, relationships or quality of life. Start practicing a range of stress management techniques today.

Stress Relief

Do you know anyone who isn't at times stressed out these days? The pace of modern life makes stress management a necessary skill for everyone. Many people juggle multiple responsibilities, work, home life, care giving and relationships. Learning to identify problems and implement solutions is the key to successful stress reduction.

The first step in successful stress relief is deciding to make a change in how you manage stress. The next step is identifying your stress triggers. Some causes of stress are obvious — job pressures, relationship problems or financial difficulties. But daily hassles and demands, such as commuting, arranging day care or being overcommitted at work, can also contribute to your stress level. Positive events also can be stressful. If you got married, started a new job and bought a new house in the same year, you could have a high stress level. While negative events in general are more stressful, be sure to also assess positive changes in your life.

Once you've identified your stress triggers, you can start thinking about strategies for dealing with them. Sometimes the solution may be as easy as turning off the TV when the evening news is too distressing. Or, when you can't avoid a stressful situation, try brainstorming ways to reduce the irritation factor. And don't feel like you have to figure it out all on your own. Seek help and support from family and friends. You may want to ask them what stress-relief techniques have worked well for them. And many people benefit from daily practice of stress reduction techniques, such as mindfulness, tai chi, yoga, meditation or being in nature.

Stress won't disappear from your life. And stress management isn't an overnight cure. But with practice, you can learn to manage your stress level and increase your ability to cope with life's challenges.

Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques are an essential part of stress management. If you're an overachiever, you may put relaxation low on your priority list. Don't shortchange yourself. There are active ways of achieving relaxation. Relaxation is invaluable for maintaining your health and well-being, and repairing the toll that stress takes on your mind and body.

Almost everyone can benefit from learning relaxation techniques. Relaxation techniques help to slow your breathing and to focus your attention on the here and now. The concept of enjoying the moment we are living in, rather than being worried about what could happen in the future. Common relaxation techniques include meditation, mindfulness, tai chi and yoga. For a more active approach, walking outdoors or participating in a sporting sports activity can be relaxing.

It doesn't matter which relaxation technique you choose. What matters is that you select a technique that works for you and that you practice achieving relaxation regularly.

Hospital Update

With 70% of the project complete, the clinic and hospital are really starting to take shape.  The latest addition has been the cabinetry added in the hospital lab, radiology, emergency room, and registration.

Part of St. Luke's Hospital Emergency Room.

Laboratory.

Business Office.

Entrance to the shared lobby between the hospital and clinic.

Assisted Living Update

The assisted living phase II is now going to be seeing permanent power put in to place, and the new resident alarm system is being added. We were hoping to be able to start moving new residents in on June 1st, but this is looking difficult as the final stages are coming in to place. With all the rain that has been happening, we do not have a safe road behind the Villa where residents would drive in.  Hopefully we can get this fixed and ready to go so residents will be able to move in when the Villa is completed.

The courtyard only about a month ago.

Elaine's Garden & Courtyard as of May 20, 2011.

Just a few short months ago.

Cabinetry in place and ready for counter tops.

Ways to Give

If you would like to make an investment to continuing quality health care in to the future, there are a variety of ways to make this happen:

Bequest in your will A provision in a will or estate plan that allocates all or part of an individual’s estate to go to St. Luke’s Community Foundation.
1) A certain percent of your estate
2) A certain item or items
3) A set amount of money
4) Remainder of estate after heirs

Gift Annuities You can increase your income by donating money or securities to St. Luke’s Community Foundation.. A gift annuity will provide you with a lifetime income much greater than current interest rate and also offer generous tax benefits.

Charitable Remainder Trusts
An irrevocable trust that pays a specified annual amount to one or more people for a fixed period of years. At the end of the term or the trust, the remaining assets are distributed to the charity.

Charitable Lead Trust
Similar to a charitable remainder trust, but the principal reverts to the donor or designated heirs at the trust term.

Life Insurance 1) You can make St. Luke’s Community Foundation the beneficiary of your life insurance.

2) You can give a Life Insurance policy that is not needed anymore to the foundation.

3) Wealth Replacement – you can give your children a life insurance policy that will not be taxed and you can give St. Luke’s Community Foundation items that would otherwise be taxed if we weren’t a 501(c)3 charity.

Living Tributes You can make a gift and have it be in honor of birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions or just in honor of someone who is special to you.

Memorials

Retirement Plans

Clinic Offices

The clinic has now added doors, desks and storage cabinents into offices and patient rooms.