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Weekend Doctor: Helping those in recovery

Posted by Staff on Sunday, September 15, 2024

By Alissa Ibarra
Peer Recovery Supporter, Behavioral Health Services – Blanchard Valley Health System

My name is Alissa, and I am an addict and alcoholic in recovery. Today, I work as a peer recovery supporter, using my lived experience with addiction to help others find a path toward healing. When I was younger, I believed that people addicted to drugs could quit if they wanted to. That belief changed when I experienced addiction firsthand after a stillbirth at age 28. In my grief and trauma, I turned to drugs to cope.

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The Nile Song: West Nile Virus

Posted by Staff on Thursday, September 12, 2024

By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

In 1969, Pink Floyd released The Nile Song on the album More. You may not have heard the song because it was not released in the United States. Pink Floyd was an English rock band that was a leader in the progressive rock genre.It is probably better known for The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. 

The Nile Song has lyrics about being dragged down by the lady on the Nile. A West Nile infection can drag you down! 

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Weekend Doctor: Understanding sepsis

Posted by Staff on Sunday, September 8, 2024

By Gina Bailey, BSN, RN
Infection Preventionist, Quality/Infection Control, Blanchard Valley Health System

Sepsis is a public health crisis unfamiliar to many people, even though 1.7 million are diagnosed every year, and sepsis is the number one cause of death in U.S. hospitals. Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming response to infection. It leads to over 350,000 adult deaths and almost 7,000 pediatric deaths annually. Sepsis is the number one cost of hospitalization and skilled nursing care at an estimated $62 billion annually. 

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Who’s Next: Fall Vaccines

Posted by Staff on Thursday, September 5, 2024

By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

In 1971, the Who released their album Who’s Next, which deviated from their more traditional rock style. The band formed in London in 1964 with members Pete Townsend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon. The band was influential in the 1960s and 1970s rock era and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. 

What are the recommendations for who is next for the flu and COVID-19 2024 vaccines?

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Weekend Doctor Column: What level of care do I need?

Posted by Staff on Saturday, August 31, 2024

By Glenda Renz 
Director of Primary Care, Blanchard Valley Medical Practices

With so many medical professional options available today, a common question we have all found ourselves asking from time to time is what type of medical professional should I see and when should I go see them? 

Some of the common options are primary care, urgent care and emergency room care. This question arises many times for individuals and families. Here are some tips to help guide you on where to go for care and when. 

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Vitamin D: What is all the fuss about?

Posted by Staff on Thursday, August 29, 2024

By Karen Kier, Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

Christopher Brian Bridges (aka Ludacris) is a famous rap artist who has a 2017 song titled Vitamin D.  One of the lines in his lyrics is “You missing so many key nutrients in your life.” 

What nutrients could we be deficient in and what is the controversy?  

As of April 2023, it is estimated that about 35% of the United States population is deficient in vitamin D.  Vitamin D plays an important role in maintaining bone health, heart health, and reducing the risks of some cancers.  It is a vital nutrient.  

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