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The perfect holiday gift comes right from the heart
‘Tis the season and everyone is searching for gift ideas that don’t break the bank. Despite the half-off or early bird sales, many people struggle to find the perfect gift.
“What if, for just one day, you forget the sales and choose to help save a life instead?” asks Bonnie Meridieth, Donor Recruitment Director for the Western Lake Erie Region of the American Red Cross. “Donating blood or platelets can help save lives and only costs about an hour or two of your time.”
Red Cross officials say that if just 10 percent of Americans gave blood this holiday season, 34.2 million lives might be saved. That’s a deal everyone can appreciate.
Every day, regardless of the season, hospital patients need blood or platelets for the treatment of serious diseases like cancer, for lifesaving surgeries, or for emergency care related to accidents or trauma. In fact, one out of 10 patients entering the hospital needs blood.
“Your donation this holiday season is the perfect gift. It’s the gift that saves the day,” says Meridieth. “Donate blood or platelets and give the gift of life. Your heart and countless hospital patients across the country thank you.”
More details on giving that perfect gift through the American Red Cross is available at redcrossblood.org/theperfectgift.
Tai Chi classes offered
Tai Chi for Health, Taoist Tai Chi Beginner Classes, will be offered Jan 3 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Walbridge Senior Center, 705 N. Mai St.; and Jan 4 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Lutheran Home of Toledo community room, 131 N. Wheeling St., Toledo.
All adults are welcome. The classes consist of slow movements that use gentle turns and graceful stretches to improve balance, flexibility, circulation and strength.
For more information, call 419-537-0131.
Mercy St. Charles Mercy lauded for cleanliness
Mercy St. Charles Hospital has won an Excellence in Patient Care award given by the Studer Group®. The hospital was presented the award at the 8th annual ‘What’s Right in Health CareSM’ conference for its exemplary “cleanliness” ratings on the HCAHPS patient survey.
HCAHPS – Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems – is a national standardized survey tool used to measure adult inpatient perception of the quality of care they receive at a given acute care hospital.
‘We take the patient experience very seriously. From the clinical departments and dietary to our facility management, each St. Charles employee does their part to make our patient’s time in our hospital as comfortable and pleasant as possible,’ said Kent Meyers, Regional Director of Facilities Services at Mercy. ‘This award is a true testament to our facilities services employees and their dedication to our patients.’
‘We are extremely proud of receiving this award,’ said Mike Fischer, Metro Manager of Environmental Services The 27-question survey was created in 2002 by the combined efforts of The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Scores are publicly posted four times a year at www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov.
Top 12 percent
Cardiothoracic Surgeons for Northwest Ohio and The Toledo Hospital have been rated in the nation’s top 12 percent of hospitals for heart surgery. This is according to a three-star comprehensive rating system, developed by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), which compares the quality of heart surgery in hospitals across the country. A three-star rating is the highest designation that a hospital can attain for quality and clinical excellence. Cardiothoracic Surgeons for Northwest Ohio was compared to more than 1,000 surgical groups.
Hospitals are scored on performance in the following four categories – patient survival, absence of surgical complications, recommended medications, and optimal surgical technique. The ratings reflect results from isolated heart-bypass operations called coronary artery bypass grafting to newer techniques, which include minimally invasive bypass and other complex cardiac procedures.
Consumers can easily see how surgical groups compare with national benchmarks for survival, complications and other measures by visiting www.consumerhealthreports.org.
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