Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Patients Now In Private Rooms

We are thrilled to announce that our patients are all snug in their brand new private rooms!

If you come to visit a patient, you can access the new floor by using the elevators or stairs in the Main Lobby.
Our new patient rooms are on the second floor. Visitors will no longer need to use the elevators near the Cafeteria.

Those who are visiting patients in the ICU can access the unit by coming in the Main Entrance, turning right past Registration, and going to the end of that hallway. The elevator will be on your left. To access the ICU, take the elevator to the first floor, and the doors will open into the ICU waiting room. 
 
If you have any questions about your loved one's new room number, please feel free to call us at (814) 788-8000.


ATTENTION VISITORS: Please note that Elk Regional Health Center and the Maternity Unit are still under visitation restrictions due to the flu outbreak. To read about those restrictions, please click here.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Elk Regional Requests No Visitors as Patients Move to New Unit

On Wednesday, Jan. 30, Elk Regional Health Center’s clinical care team will be relocating all of the patients on the Health Center’s medical, surgical, and pediatric unit to the newly constructed unit.

During the transition, which will take place on Wednesday morning and afternoon, Health Center officials have asked that family members and friends refrain from visiting patients in order to ensure a smooth transition to the new unit.

Visitors will be welcomed to the new unit beginning Thursday morning, January 31. Questions about a patient’s new room number can be answered by Health Center personnel at the Registration desk or by nursing staff on the new unit.

To access the new medical, surgical, and pediatric unit on Thursday morning, visitors should take the elevator in the main lobby to the second floor.

For more information about the transition, please call the Health Center’s Public Relations Department at (814) 788-8532 or (814) 788-8832.


About The New Medical, Surgical, Pediatric Unit
The Health Center’s new medical, surgical, and pediatric unit includes 42 private patient rooms, each with its own bathroom and shower. Each room has a large window that floods the room with natural light. In addition to the latest technology for bedside documentation, the new unit features a virtually noiseless, state-of-the-art nurse call system that enhances the unit’s serene, healing environment. The unit is anchored by two modern nurse work stations and includes a large space for inpatient physical therapy.

Friday, January 25, 2013

New Unit Passes Final Inspection

We are thrilled to announce that our beautiful new medical, surgical, and pediatric unit passed its final inspection from the PA Department of Health Division of Acute & Ambulatory Care! This means we'll be able to move patients into the new unit. Our clinical care team is busy finalizing those details.

What a GREAT way to kick off 2013! Thank you to all of you for your support! :)

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Flu Update

UPDATED 9:45 A.M. ON JANUARY 21. The number of new flu cases is remaining consistent. By the end of the month, our Infection Control team will revisit the visitation restrictions that are currently in place at both Elk Regional Health Center and Pinecrest Manor.

We've listed the current restrictions below. Thank you to everyone for respecting our visitation restrictions and helping us keep our patients and residents safe!

Current Visitation Restrictions:
  • Only immediate adult family members may visit patients at the Health Center or residents at Pinecrest Manor. No children under the age of 18 will be permitted to visit.
  • Visitation to the Health Center's Maternity Unit is restricted to parents and grandparents ONLY. This means that no other family members, including children, regardless of their relationship to the patient, may visit.

These restrictions are in place until further notice. If you have any questions, please call the Public Relations Department at (814) 788-8532 or (814) 788-8832.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Elk Regional Restricts Visitation Due To Flu Outbreak

UPDATED 1:15 P.M. ON JANUARY 14.

Levels of influenza in the local area have reached a high enough level that Elk Regional Health Center officials have restricted visitation for patients and residents. But while the level of influenza being seen is high, officials say it’s not cause for alarm.

As of January 11, the Health Center officials have restricted visitation for patients of the Health Center and residents of Pinecrest Manor, Elk Regional’s long-term care facility, to immediate adult family members only. No children under the age of 18 will be permitted to visit any patient or resident until further notice.

In addition, visitation to the Health Center's Maternity Unit is now restricted to ONLY parents and grandparents. No other adult family members, and no children, regardless of their relationship to the patient, may visit the Maternity Unit until further notice.

“This is simply a precautionary measure,” said Joe Fleming, the Infection Control Officer at Elk Regional Health Center. “This is a standard response to the high levels of influenza we are currently experiencing.”
Mr. Fleming said the strain of influenza that is the most prevalent, both locally and nationally, is the H3N2 strain. This strain was included in this year’s batch of influenza vaccinations.

“Four or five new positive flu cultures come through our Laboratory every day from patients in both inpatient and outpatient care,” Mr. Fleming said. “A very small percentage of these patients require hospitalization. While we haven’t seen levels this high in about a decade, the situation is not cause for alarm. We are monitoring the situation very closely. If it worsens, we have plans in place to adapt.”

Elk Regional Health Center has taken a proactive approach to the flu season. Last year, prior to the start of flu season, the Health Center held a successful vaccination program for its employees. In addition, face masks and hand sanitizer are available to visitors who come to the Health Center or Pinecrest Manor.

Influenza, or the “flu,” is a contagious respiratory illness that is caused by the influenza virus. When people with the flu cough, sneeze, or talk, droplets of moisture from these actions can be inhaled and can infect people up to six feet away.

Unlike the common cold, the flu can come on abruptly.  Flu symptoms include a high fever of up to 104 degrees and extreme fatigue. An individual may also suffer from a sore throat, nasal congestion, headache, muscle aches and a cough. Some children may exhibit vomiting and diarrhea.

Most individuals who get the flu will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, but some individuals will develop complications as a result of the flu. Pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus and ear infections are three examples of complications from the flu.

“We very strongly recommend that people who have not gotten flu shot should do so,” Mr. Fleming said. “Even now, the vaccine would still be effective.”

Mr. Fleming said that the flu vaccination is appropriate for anyone who is six months of age or older and who is not allergic to egg proteins and does not have a history of Guillian-Barre Syndrome.

Since the start of flu season, Elk Regional Health Center has vaccinated approximately 700 individuals. To check the availability of influenza vaccinations, residents can contact their family physician or a local pharmacy.

In addition to the flu vaccine, hand washing also plays a very important role in prevention of the flu. Individuals should wash their hands frequently for at least 20 seconds using soap and warm water. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.     

In the event that you contract influenza, get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids. If symptoms prevail, consult your family physician or visit the Med Express Center at Elk Regional’s Ridgway campus or Q Care on the first floor of the Medical Office Building at our St. Marys campus. The Med Express Center is open from 9 am until 7 p.m., seven days a week and Q Care is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.  

Friday, January 11, 2013

New Floor Widely Featured by Local Media

We are proud to announce that the new third floor at Elk Regional Health Center has been widely featured by the local media! If you missed any of the local coverage, use the links below!


The Daily Press article
(Full version available in Jan. 10 print edition)

The Ridgway Record article
(Full version available in Jan. 10 print edition)

The Bradford Era article
(online subscription required)

WTAJ Channel 10 News Broadcast

WJAC Channel 6 News Broadcast

The River 98.9 FM Coverage