A message from Marlene Freeman, NICU/Pediatric Nurse Manager.

The Birthing Center has set yet another new record for number of births in a single month.  Despite H1N1 and maternity leaves hitting our own staff and providers, we were able to be a part of 134 births in October and did it with grace and style!  We expect November to be very busy as well, so we will keep our running shoes on.

This breaks the previous record of 130 births set back in September of 2008.

Interestingly enough, from 2001 to 2008, we only “broke 100″ 7 times in those 8 years, so it was a fairly rare event.  So far in 2009, we have hit 100+ births in 8 out of the past 10 months!  Our monthly birth average now sits at a hefty 108 babies a month!

Help our community make progress in preventing premature birth. Please join moms across North Dakota and America by visiting www.marchofdimes.com/fightforpreemies and getting involved. Just taking the time to learn more and express your support can begin to make a difference.

This is not an Innovis Health sanctioned clinic. This is being run by Fargo Cass Public Health.

H1N1 FluMist Vaccination Clinic

• Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
• Time: 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Location: St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church, 601 15th Avenue North, Moorhead
• Who: 2 to 4 years of age, without chronic health conditions; parents/care providers of infants under 6 months of age; healthcare providers who provide direct patient care to ill patients; Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel who provide direct patient care

FluMist is only available for people 2-49 years of age without chronic health conditions.

Limited H1N1 Vaccine Injections By Appointment Only

• Start Date: Friday, November 6, 2009
• Time: Appointment only – NO WALK INS
• Phone: 218.299.5220
• Location: Clay County Public Health Clinic, 715 11th Street North, Suite #105

Available until limited supply is exhausted.

This is not an Innovis Health sanctioned clinic. This is being run by Fargo Cass Public Health.

Fargo Cass Public Health has scheduled a free H1N1 vaccination clinic for pregnant women only on Monday, November 9th from 2-6 p.m. or until vaccine is gone, whichever comes first.  The clinic will be held at Atonement Lutheran Church at 4601 University Drive South in Fargo.

There will be about 1000 doses of injectable vaccine available for pregnant women at this clinic.

Dr. Jan Bexell-Gierke, OB/GYN for Innovis Health, states “It is important for pregnant women to be vaccinated against H1N1. This illness can cause high complications during pregnancy and, ultimately, can lead to an increase three times the normal rate for hospitalization as well as an increase in the death rate for pregnant women.”

A reminder that a H1N1 vaccination clinic will also be held this Saturday, November 7th for all infants and children ages 6 months through 4 years; and children ages 5 through 18 years of age who have a chronic medical condition (asthma, cystic fibrosis, immune deficiency, etc.). The clinic will be held at the West Fargo High School at 801 9th Street East, West Fargo, from 9a.m. to 1p.m., or until vaccine runs out, whichever comes first.

There will be about 650 doses of injectable vaccine available at this clinic.

FCPH offers the following tips when attending an H1N1 clinic:

• Forecasters are calling for cold temperatures. Wear appropriate clothing in case you have to stand in line outside.
• Wear comfortable shoes, appropriate for the weather.
• When receiving the shot, come prepared by wearing appropriate clothing under jackets, such as a short sleeve shirt or removable sweater.

More clinics will be scheduled as vaccine arrives. Follow the clinics on the Twitter account: FCPH.

For more general flu information, contact the North Dakota Department of Health at 1-866-207-2880 or go to www.fighttheflu.net

Join the Bethesda Family for a benefit pancake breakfast (pancakes, sausage, fruit cups and juice) in honor of the VanRaden family this coming Sunday, November 8, from 9:15 – 11:30 a.m. at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Moorhead.

This summer, James VanRaden suffered a broken neck that prohibited him from being able to work for many weeks. Bethesda Youth, Bethesda Lutheran Church and Thrivent Financial are supporting an effort to raise funds to help pay for medical costs and to make up lost wages during James’ recovery.

If you are unable to attend but would like to contribute, please send your check made out to: Bethesda Lutheran 401 40th Ave. S. Moorhead, MN 56560 with “VanRaden” in the memo.

*Sponsored by Bethesda Youth and supported by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

This is not an Innovis Health sanctioned clinic. This is being run by Fargo Cass Public Health.

Fargo Cass Public Health has scheduled its next free H1N1 vaccination clinic for this Saturday, November 7th at West Fargo High School at 801 9th Street East, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., or until vaccine runs out, whichever comes first.

The target group for vaccination at this clinic will be all infants and children ages 6 months through 4 years; and children ages 5 through 18 years of age who have a chronic medical condition (asthma, cystic fibrosis, immune deficiency, etc.).

Children between the ages of 6 months through 9 years will need a 2nd dose, at least 21 days after receiving their first dose of H1N1 vaccine.

There will be about 650 doses of injectable vaccine available at this clinic.

FCPH offers the following tips when attending an H1N1 clinic:

• Forecasters are calling for cold temperatures. Wear appropriate clothing in case you have to stand in line outside.
• Wear comfortable shoes, appropriate for the weather.
• When receiving the shot, come prepared by wearing appropriate clothing under jackets, such as a short sleeve shirt or removable sweater.
• Children must be with an adult when entering through clinic doors.
• No identification is required.

More clinics will be scheduled as vaccine arrives. Follow the clinics on the Twitter account: FCPH.

Each week, we are going to share news and updates with you about what our providers have been seeing and treating over the past week in their ER/Urgent Care. These updates come from Tony Hamilton, DO, Chief of Emergency Department and Urgent Care.

This weekend continued to see a few Influenza cases.  However, there appears to be a lull in the flow of true Influenza.
We continue to see high numbers of patients, but the concerns run more toward the common problems we typically see this time of year.  These presenting concerns include the typical cough and cold complaints that Fall brings with it.

We urge people to continue using standard precautions of washing hands, cleaning contact surfaces, covering the mouth when sneezing or coughing, and limiting contact as much as possible when sick.

This weekend did see an impressive number of persons presenting with alcohol related illness.  Re-hydration, electrolyte replacement, and rest helps overcome this type of malady.

This weekend shows the Holiday Season has officially started.  Keep yourself healthy with standard health precautions, regular exercise, adequate hydration and rest, healthy diet, and moderation in Holiday activities.

It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day hustle and bustle around our clinics, so it is always nice to receive a thank you note from someone whose life we’ve made better. Here’s a note we recently received:

“I wanted to let you and your staff know how impressed my mom was with the organization of the flu blitz on Friday.  She arrived about 12:15 and was done before 1:00.  When she first arrived and saw the line she was afraid it was going to take forever to get through.  She commented on how friendly and knowledge  the staff  was in letting people know where to go and kept a very steady pace so there was a continuos flow.  My mom has told many people what a good experience it was.  Please feel free to share with any other depts. as I know there were many involved.  Thanks”

Core drilling in section 1 will be completed this week. The area over the two sterile procedure rooms will be completed over this weekend, Oct. 31 – Nov. 1.

The location of ports on the headwall have been okayed by staff that will be using them. Location of the computer hook-ups is still under discussion. A decision must be made as to a location that will provide the best work flow.

Plumbers are working on some of the waste system and showers.

Duct work is following along, doing what they can. No duct work can be done in an area until the walls are topped off and fire stopped.

The pneumatic tube modifications will begin Nov. 2. No shut down is required for this first step in the process.

Dates for the pneumatic tube shut down have been set. On Thursday, November 12, the pneumatic tube system will be shut down at 5:30 p.m. It will be down until Sunday, November 15 at 11 p.m.

Most of  this information can also be found on our H1N1 page:

Due to delay in shipment, we are out of seasonal flu vaccine injections for adults. We do have Flu Mist available for those persons who are eligible for the mist – please contact your primary care provider to schedule a vaccination appointment. Further information will be made available as soon as possible.

The H1N1 vaccination is still currently unavailable for our priority group patients.

We do not have any H1N1 vaccines available for pregnant OB patients and are not allowing walk in appointments. OB patients will receive the vaccine at their scheduled OB appointments once the vaccine is made available and we are also compiling a list of High Risk patients. As the vaccine volume increases, we will be calling those patients to come in for the vaccine.

For pediatric patients, we currently do not have H1N1 vaccine available.
For pediatric patients who qualify for state supplied seasonal vaccine, we are currently not scheduling any vaccinations. For patients who qualify for privately supplied vaccine, such as those with private insurance, we currently have the

Seasonal Flu shot under 3 years of age available for scheduling starting October 29 thru November 2
Seasonal Nasal Flumist 2 years of age and older available for scheduling starting October 29 thru November 2

For pediatric public blitzes:

Clay County (MN residents only) – Thursday, October 29th from 5-7pm at Nemzek Fieldhouse at MSU-Moorhead Campus
Flu Mist will only be available and will be given to children ages 2 yrs – 10 yrs with no underlying conditions and to caregivers of infants under 6 months of age on a first come, first serve basis.

Cass County (ND residents only) – Saturday, October 31st from 9am-3pm at Fargo North High School
Both injectible and flu mist will be available and will be given to infants ages 6 mths-9 yrs on a first come, first serve basis.

For more information, please call the ND Flu Hotline at 866-207-2880 or the MN Flu Hotline at 866-259-4665.