Pulse on Health by Jeff Hansel

Rochester volunteers safe despite Ecuador turmoil...

Volunteers serving with Rochester, Minnesota-based Hands for Humanity are in a safe location, despite civil unrest in the country Thursday, the group's leader says.

Hands for Humanity is a nonprofit that works "to enhance quality of life through medical and surgical exchange programs, local service projects and cultural enrichment opportunities," the group's website says.

Hands for Humanity had planned a relief mission scheduled to start Friday (October 1, 2010).

Executive director Kate Welp said Thursday night that flights were cancelled Thursday for one volunteer from the Twin Cities and four from California after Ecuador's president, Rafael Correa, was physically attacked by police officers in what he called a coupe attempt, according to an article on CNN.com.

Welp said four members of the Hands for Humanity team already arrived in Ecuador, including Rochester-area residents Cindy Benike and Barb Malat, along with Malat's sister Karen Stimart and Boston, Massachusetts resident Chris Hudalla. 

But Welp said the four are relatively safe.

"They haven't been that affected by it," she said.

The decision was made that the rest of the team members will not go to Ecuador for the time being, because the situation was evolving Thursday and "the U.S. embassy is advising no travel." 

Welp, who has traveled throughout Ecuador for many years, noted that events have occurred previously (including civil unrest and changes in government) and that the situation tends to resolve after a period of time.

There might be roadblocks and fires set with burning tires for a while. But Ecuador has historically recovered from such situations. People unfamiliar with the country might find news reports unsettling, she said, but news reports typically make the situation sound worse than it actually is.

"If the airport's open in the morning in Quito (the capital), I will probably still go down there, since we have lived through it and seen it before," said Welp, whose plane ticket for Friday morning was booked before the president was confronted by angry Ecuadorian police officers.

Hands for Humanity volunteers already in Ecuador (who arrived early so they could go sightseeing before the planned relief effort) are "safe. They're at a hotel and they have friends in the city if they need anything." They're due to take a short flight in Ecuador Friday morning to meet up with Welp, but might need to delay until the airport reopens.

If the situation calms down, Welp said, Hands for Humanity will go forward with relief plans, albeit with fewer volunteers this time around.

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

Hunt Drug offers vaccine against flu...

Hunt Drug in Rochester, 1518 N. Broadway, plans to offer vaccinations against influenza:

3 to 6 p.m. on:
• Thursday, October 7, 2010
• Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

Pine Island's FEMA flood visit...

First, I want to offer resources for those affected by floods in southeast Minnesota, and for those who want to help.

To GIVE help: 
If you want to give help, log on to uwolmsted.org and fill out the "give help profile." That profile gets put into a spreadsheet and your skills get matched to the needs people have. You must be registered in order to volunteer (don't just randomly show up).

To GET help: 
A short "get help" survey is available 24 hours a day, which is done over the phone. A response comes within 24 hours. Call United Way 211 ****800-543-7709**** or 211.

I spent time earlier this week observing local, state and federal officials in Pine Island, Minnesota, who made an initial assessment of flood damage.

They met first at the city hall in Pine Island, got a summary from Pine Island's city administrator, Abraham Algadi, and quickly moved to visiting affected homes and businesses.

[Cpt. Kevin Torgerson, Olsted County director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, left; Goodhue County Sheriff Chief Deputy Scott McNurlin; Buffy Gilfoil, reservist public information officer for FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and Lucy Angelis, with Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) meet at the Pine Island city hall. Photo by Jeff Hansel. Copyright.]

[Torgerson talks with Algadi near a damaged home's garage. Wood, plaster and insulation that got wet has had to be removed by homeowners to prevent mold growth and prepare for repair. Photo by Jeff Hansel. Copyright.]

[McNurlin points to the water level reached inside a home. Please click to enlarge. Photo by Jeff Hansel. Copyright.]

[The flood has produced lots of waste, all of which homeowners are having to collect. Photo by Jeff Hansel. Copyright.]

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

Anti-flu shots area-wide...

Flu shots against seasonal and H1N1 influenza are available in a variety of local Weber & Judd pharmacies for 2010:

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., October 4, Chatfield

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., October 5, Spring Valley

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., October 6, Kasson

• 1 to 4 p.m., October 7, Stewartville

• 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., October 8, Zumbrota

• 1 to 4 p.m., October 8, Plainview

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

Belly up for a chili fest...

The Boys & Girls Club of Rochester, Minnesota plans its Second Annual Chili Challenge.

There will be plenty of entertainment for the entire family, including chili tasting, live music by Everett Smithson Band, a beer garden, minnow races, a pitching game, cash 'Truck' game, hay mazes, pumpkin painting (hey, I wasn't kidding about fun for the whole family!), little Dudes-n-Divas Salon, massages, photo opportunities and an inflatable bouncing house.

Chili gets judged by a panel in the categories of:

• The Real Deal (any meat or combination of meats cooked with chili peppers, various other spices and other ingredients with the exception of items such as beans or spaghetti — which are strictly forbidden).

• Anything Goes — the name says it all.

• Vegetarian - this child is made without any meat products.

Get tickets:

- Cumulus Radio, 122 4th Street S.W through October 8, 2010

- Boys & Girls Club of Rochester, 1026 East Center Street, through October 8, 2010

- At the door

Location: Graham Arena 1, Olmsted County Fairgrounds along 16th Street S.E. (south of the giant ear-of-corn water tower)

Time: 3 to 6 p.m.

Date: Saturday, October 9, 2010

Cost: Tickets are $10, $5 for kids under 12, free for kids under 5.

Questions: Call the Boys & Girls Club at 287-2300.

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

Zumbro Falls flood recovery and resources...

The folks in Zumbro Falls are in the middle of a Herculean cleanup task.

If you're  a Zumbro Falls residents, I extend my encouragement and wish you well in the days ahead.

The work being done to recover from the floods from the Zumbro River is exhaustive. Residents are cleaning, carrying, dumping, carting, throwing, overturning and dragging everything from lumber to carpet to beds and refrigerators.

It seems as if the whole community is in a sort of frozen state of being that I am certain seems insurmountable right now.

But little by little these folks are going to wipe away the mud, scoop away the sand and rid themselves of their flood-related burdens — with a little help from people who care about them from across the flood-affected region.

To GIVE help:
If you want to give help, log on to uwolmsted.org and fill out the "give help profile." That profile then gets put into a spreadsheet and it gets matched to the needs that people have. You must be registered in order to volunteer (don't just randomly show up).

To GET help:
A short "get help" survey is available 24 hours a day, which is done over the person. A response comes within 24 hours. Call United Way 211 ****800-543-7709**** or 211.

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

Gardeners be wary after flooding...

Olmsted County Public Services has issued an alert for gardeners in Olmsted County and it would not be a stretch to imagine that this advice is something that might be useful regardless of where you live in southeast Minnesota.

Basically, the advice is that if you've had flooding in your area, you should be cautious about eating produce from your garden.

"Flood or surface water runoff that enters garden areas often contains harmful bacteria, viruses, chemicals, or sewage. To eliminate all risk, the most conservative course of action would be to discard all produce that has been potentially contaminated by flood waters," says a notice on Olmsted County's website.

If you eat produce from a floodwater-affected garden, the county offers this advice:
• Wash all produce thoroughly before consumption.
• Fully cook all produce to 165°F. Cooking produce will kill harmful bacteria or microbes that may be present.
• Root crops (carrots, potatoes, parsnips, etc) can be washed, peeled, and cooked.
• Leafy produce such as spinach or cabbage should be eaten only after they have been cooked.
• Leafy produce that will not be cooked, such as lettuce, spinach or other salad greens, should be discarded because washing may not remove possible contamination.
• Produce that has been punctured or damaged or will not be cooked before eating, should be discarded.
• When preparing produce, do not let the produce remain at room temperature for an extended period of time.
• Refrigerate all leftover cooked foods promptly and maintain refrigerator temperature at 40°F or less.
• It is important to wash your hands thoroughly after working in your garden, cleaning up flood debris, and before eating, drinking or preparing food items.
Follow these simple steps for proper handwashing:
1. Wet hands with warm, running water (if available).
2. Add soap.
3. Rub hands vigorously for 20 seconds.
Wash all surfaces including backs of hands, wrists, between fingers, tips of fingers, thumbs, under fingernails (it's best to use a nailbrush)
4. Rinse.
5. Keep fingers pointing down
6. Dry vigorously with paper or clean cloth towel.
7. Turn off faucet with towel and open door with towel.
• Produce that grows after the flood waters subside should be safe to consume.

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

New CEO at Cannon Falls Medical Center...

Dr. Tom Witt has been named president and CEO of Cannon Falls Medical Center-Mayo Health System.

Witt was already CEO of Lake City Medical Center and will now take on the dual role of oversight at both Lake City and Cannon Falls.

Witt is a family physician who has practiced in the Goodhue County area for more than a dozen years, according to an announcement from Mayo Health System.

"Cannon Falls Medical Center and Lake City Medical Center have developed a collaborative working relationship over the past five years and having Dr. Witt as CEO for both organizations will help foster that relationship," Dr. Robert Nesse, Mayo Health System CEO, was quoted as saying.

Witt takes on the duties of Dr. Greig Glover, who is credited in the announcement for helping "the medical center become financially stable." Glover was expected last week to step down from his role immediately.

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

Temporary Rochesterite returns to Iowa...

It's often surprising how many people become temporary residents here in Rochester, Minnesota while they're awaiting treatment, diagnosis, tests and transplants.

Many even become permanent residents after a while, making the decision to move here so they'll be close to medical care they've come to rely upon.

Dan Pischke of Iowa is someone who became a temporary resident in Rochester while undergoing heart-disease treatment and recovery.

On July 6, he received a heart transplant at Mayo Clinic's Saint Marys Hospital.

[Saint Marys Hospital. Photo by Jeff Hansel. Copyright.]

Pischke returned to his Hawkeye, Iowa home Sept. 19. 

People who got to know Pischke and his wife Diane are invited to a fundraiser scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16 in Hawkeye, Iowa that includes dinner, a silent auction and a live auction.

According to his mother, donations for the Dan Pischke Benefit (to help pay for medical care, travel and lodging expenses) may also be mailed to Citizens Savings Bank, 133 Main St., P.O. Box 6, Hawkeye, Iowa 52147.

Pischke himself, according to his local newspaper "The Fayette Leader" struggles to believe that he no longer has chest pain after living with that pain for so long. My best wishes to Pischke and his family. 

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel

Mayo Clinic distinguished alumnus has died...

Dr. John A. Washington, a recipient of the Mayo Clinic Distinguished Alumnus Award, has died. Washington was a direct descendant Samuel Washington, brother of the nation's first president, George Washington.

He served at Mayo in Rochester starting in 1968 as Director of the Bacteriology Laboratory, his obituary notes. He was appointed head of Mayo's Section of Clinical Microbiology in 1972. 

In 1986 he joined the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio and retired there as head of the Section of Clinical Microbiology and Chairman of the Department of Clinical Pathology. He retired in 2001.

I extend my sorrow to his loved ones. 

Pulse on Health
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904 
Twitter Hansel's Pulse: @Jeff Hansel