Sports Physicals Proceeds to Benefit Area Schools’ Athletic Departments

sports physical examination at HSHS The HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital Prevea Oconto Falls Health Center, located at 853 S. Main St., is now scheduling appointments for sports physical examinations for athletes wanting to participate in a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) sport.
Sports physicals are performed by Prevea Health providers and licensed athletic trainers. “We are examining everything from heart issues to musculoskeletal issues,” said Mike LaMere, Prevea Sports Medicine Outreach Manager. “We want to make sure athletes are healthy and ready to compete.”
Sports physical examinations cost $20 and all proceeds will be donated to the athletic department of the school the athlete/patient plays for. Athletes/patients can also request their payment be donated to their sport club. Please see below for available appointment dates and times.

Sports Physicals at HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital Prevea Oconto Falls Health Center

  • Tuesday, July 10, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Tuesday, July 31, 1 to 5 p.m.
  • Call (920) 846-8187 to make an appointment

For more information, visit: www.prevea.com/wiaa-physicals
Downloadable physical forms are available at: http://www.wiaawi.org/

Nurse’s Nook Receives $30,000 Grant from Bond Foundation

Money will help hospital program boost aid to local children in need

HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital is pleased to announce the Leon H. and Clymene M. Bond Foundation, Inc., has awarded a $30,000 grant to the Nurse’s Nook program.

Nurse’s Nook provides aid to children in need in the Gillett, Suring and Oconto Falls school districts. Aid provided includes basic needs items, non-perishable food, personal hygiene products, winter clothing and boots, medical supplies/devices and vouchers for transportation to medical appointments. These items are kept stocked within each of the school districts throughout the year and given to students free-of-charge on an as-needed basis. School nurses, guidance counselors and secretaries work as a team to identify the students in need.

The Bond Foundation grant will allow the Nurse’s Nook program to expand into the Lena and Oconto school districts in the 2018-2019 school year, and will allow for the purchase of more supplies to be provided to children in need.

Nurse's NookNurse’s Nook informally began in 2014 when Nuala Nowicki, a Prevea Health school nurse for the Gillett School District, recognized that poverty in the region was negatively impacting students’ abilities to learn and succeed in school. She expanded the program to the Suring School District in 2015. In 2017, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital joined Nuala in her efforts and assisted in expanding Nurse’s Nook to the Oconto Falls school district. Today, Nurse’s Nook operates as a collaborative effort between HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital, Prevea Health, Nuala, local school districts and countless volunteers and donors who dedicate time and effort to collecting supplies, operating the program and helping children in need.

“We are immensely grateful to the Bond Foundation for this generous donation, which will greatly enhance our abilities to serve more children throughout Oconto County,” says Nuala. “It is our mission with Nurse’s Nook to provide local youth increased opportunities to learn and succeed in school, and become healthy, contributing members of the community.”

The Nurse’s Nook program relies solely on support and donations from the community to operate. Anyone who would like to learn more information or donate to Nurse’s Nook should contact Nuala Nowicki at thenursesnook@gmail.com or (920) 272-3415.

Prevea, Hospitals Launch Mobile 3-D Mammography Unit

Now taking appointments in communities throughout Northeast Wisconsin
HSHS 3-D Mammography Mobile
Green Bay – Prevea Health and Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) – Eastern Wisconsin Division are pleased to announce the launch of a 3-D and digital, mobile mammography unit to provide residents in rural areas greater access to breast health screenings.

The mobile mammography unit is now traveling on a regular basis to Prevea Health centers in Kewaunee, Luxemburg, Manitowoc, Shawano, Pulaski, Seymour, Oconto, Marinette, Gillett, Mountain and Lena – with additional locations to be added in the future. Appointments can be made now by calling (888) 277-3832.

“High-quality health care, especially preventive health services and screenings should never be difficult for anyone to find,” said Dr. Ashok Rai, President and CEO of Prevea Health. “It should be readily available and close to home when you need it – and that is why we’re here. This is state-of-the-art technology on wheels that, with just some gas in the tank, can provide life-saving care to communities all across Northeast Wisconsin.”

The mobile mammography unit is equipped with mammography technology that has the capability to provide 3-D and/or digital images. It also features two changing rooms and a waiting room, and is staffed by a registered mammography technologist.

“Mammograms provide us an X-ray image of the breast, which can help us detect any tumors or other abnormalities,” said Brittany Demeuse, certified mammographer at Prevea Health who cares for patients in the mobile mammography unit. “They play a key role in the detection of breast cancer, a disease in which an estimated 266,120 women have already been diagnosed with this year alone, according to the National Cancer Institute. If we can catch cancer early with a mammogram, it is likely more treatable. Mammograms can even help us detect some forms of cancer before they develop.”

All women should talk with their health care provider about the appropriate timing for screening mammograms, especially women who are age 40 or at high-risk. A schedule will be based upon an individual’s health. At age 40, any woman may wish to begin regular screening mammograms. By age 45, women should have a screening mammogram and continue to have one at least every other year.

The mobile mammography unit was purchased with funds that were donated by private donors to HSHS St. Vincent/St. Mary’s Foundation – the philanthropic, charitable arm of HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay. HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center are part of HSHS – Eastern Wisconsin Division, which also includes HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan and HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls.

“As a not-for-profit health care system, we rely on donations to help us enhance the care that we provide – whether it be through the addition of new services or the purchase of new technology and equipment, such as the mobile mammography unit,” said Therese Pandl, President and CEO of HSHS-Eastern Wisconsin Division. “We are immensely grateful to the donors who made the purchase of this unit possible and are honored to partner with Prevea to deploy it into communities throughout Northeast Wisconsin.”

To learn more about the mobile mammography unit, visit: www.prevea.com/mammo

Dr. Stacee Goedtel Birr Now Seeing Patients in Gillett

Dr. Stacee Goedtel Birr

HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital and Prevea Health are pleased to announce that Dr. Stacee Goedtel Birr, a board-certified family medicine physician, is now seeing patients at the HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital Prevea Gillett Health Center, located at 340 N. Green Bay Ave. in Gillett.

Dr. Goedtel Birr also continues to see patients at the HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital Prevea Oconto Falls Health Center, located at 835 S. Main St. in Oconto Falls.

Dr. Goedtel Birr specializes in the following:

• Routine care for children, adults and elderly
• Preventive medicine and health maintenance
• Osteopathic medicine and manipulative treatment
• Women’s care
• Pregnancy care up to 28 weeks
• Dermatology
• Minor skin procedures
• Minor psychiatric illness

Dr. Goedtel Birr, originally from Lena, Wis., completed medical school at Des Moines University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, and residency at Fox Valley Family Medicine Residency in Appleton.

“My approach to providing quality patient care includes getting to know the patient and involving them in choosing a treatment plan that works best for them,” said Dr. Goedtel Birr. “I believe we must agree on a course of action that is simple and cost-effective, yet complex enough to accomplish all our goals.”

Appointments with Dr. Goedtel Birr in Gillett can be made by calling (920) 855-2823, and appointments in Oconto Falls can be made by calling (920) 846-8187.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month

Stroke Be Fast
“BE FAST” in recognizing signs, symptoms of stroke

Stroke, a disease that affects arteries leading to and within the brain, is the fifth-leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States, according to the American Stroke Association. A stroke can happen to anyone at any age – men and women of all ages and races.

HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls encourages everyone to become familiar with the signs and symptoms of stroke, as early recognition and treatment of stroke are crucial to preventing disability and death. Signs and symptoms of stroke can include: sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance; and sudden severe headache without a known reason.

An easier way to remember stroke signs and symptoms is to think of the phrase/acronym, BE FAST:

B – Balance difficulty
E – Eye changes

F – Face drooping
A – Arm weakness
S – Speech slurred
T – Time to call 911

There are numerous risk factors for stroke including age, genetics, gender and race, which cannot be controlled. However, there are several factors that increase the risk the stroke and can be controlled, including:

  • Smoking
  • High blood pressure
  • Alcohol consumption and illegal drug use
  • Stress
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Inactivity
  • Unhealthy diet
  • Abnormal cholesterol

The stroke team at HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital provides rapid access to stroke care with specialty expertise and written care protocols to provide individualized attention for patients. Click here to learn more.

HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital Recognizes Hospital Volunteers During National Volunteer Week

Oconto Falls – In honor of National Volunteer Week, April 15 – 21, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital recognizes the hard work, dedication and compassion of its volunteers.
In 2017, 39 volunteers put in a total of 4,705 volunteer hours for HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital. They also coordinated eight fundraising projects and events to raise money to enhance services offered at the hospital. This included $10,000 for the purchase of new visitor chairs to be placed in patient rooms.
“We are incredibly blessed to have dedicated volunteers that partner with us to bring health, healing and hope to our patients at HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital,” said Mary Ann Brunette, volunteer services manager for HSHS-Eastern Wisconsin Division. “Volunteers bring joy to our patients and to all of us daily!”
Those interested in becoming a volunteer at HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital should contact Regina Boettcher, volunteer services facilitator, at (920) 838-6348 or regina.boettcher@hshs.org.

About HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital
HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital serves Oconto Falls and the surrounding communities as a federally-designated critical access hospital with a 24-hour emergency department, urgent care, general, vascular and orthopedic surgical services, inpatient and outpatient surgical and diagnostic services, rehabilitation, oncology outpatient clinic and women’s care. HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital, in affiliation with Prevea Health, has six regional health center locations in Gillett, Lena, Mountain, Oconto, Oconto Falls and Suring. HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital Pharmacies are located in Gillett and Oconto Falls. Founded in 1921 as Community Memorial Hospital, in 2014, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital became the fourteenth hospital in Hospital Sisters Health System. As an affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System, we draw on the history of St. Francis of Assisi as we move to continue serving the health care needs of our area in Christ’s healing ministry, caring for all people. For more information about St. Clare, visit www.stclarememorial.org.

About Hospital Sisters Health System
Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our 15 Local Systems and physician practices in Illinois (Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, O’Fallon, Shelbyville and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org. For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org.

New Weight Loss Program Now Available in Oconto Falls

Prevea Health

 

Oconto Falls – Prevea Health is pleased to now offer Ideal Weigh at the Prevea Oconto Falls Health Center – Medical Services Building, located on the campus of HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls.
Ideal Weigh is a medically-supervised weight loss program that includes a diet low in carbohydrates and rich in healthy proteins. The Ideal Weigh program:
Uses Ideal Protein products, which promote fat loss while maintaining muscle mass.
Includes weekly weight checks, blood pressure, BMI and body measurement analysis.
Provides education to help you maintain your results.
Offers one-on-one personalized weight loss coaching.

“With the Ideal Weigh program, you also learn how to make better food choices for lifelong health, while also maintaining an optimal weight,” said Kari Jossart, APNP for the Ideal Weigh program. “I encourage those who are interested in learning about Ideal Weigh to attend one of our free workshops.”

Free, Ideal Weigh Workshops
April 16 and 23 at 1:00 p.m.
April 19 and 26 at 5:30 p.m.
HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital – Assisi Room, 855 Main St., Oconto Falls
Register by calling (920) 431-1880

Learn more about Ideal Weigh by clicking here.

About Prevea Health
Prevea Health’s mission is to care for people with passion, pride, and respect. Founded in 1996, Prevea Health partners with HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay, HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls, HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls, to provide access to more than 200 physicians in more than 60 specialty areas. Prevea has more than 80 locations throughout Northeast Wisconsin and Western Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley region. For more information, visit www.prevea.com.

HSHS Hospitals Announce “Nurse of the Year”

Paula Bake, BSN, RN at HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls

Paula Bake, BSN, RN - Nurse of the yearHospital Sisters Health System (HSHS)-Eastern Wisconsin Division is pleased to announce Paula Bake, BSN, RN, who works in the Emergency Department at HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls, as the 2017 Nurse of the Year.

HSHS-Eastern Wisconsin Division hospitals include: HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay; HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan; and HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls. Each year, one nurse is chosen from within the Division as Nurse of the Year. Nurses nominate a nursing colleague from their unit, and those nominations are then reviewed by nursing leadership and HSHS-Eastern Wisconsin Division’s Professional Nurse Practice Council.

“Paula was chosen as the 2017 Nurse of the Year for the exceptional passion, quality and excellence she delivers in her nursing practice,” said Paula Hafeman, Chief Nursing Executive for HSHS-Eastern Wisconsin Division. “She goes above and beyond in demonstrating our organization’s core values of respect, care, competence and joy in her interactions with patients and their families.”

Paula Bake’s time with HSHS-Eastern Wisconsin Division began in 2000 working in the cardiac care unit at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital. She began working at HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in 2006, known then as Community Memorial Hospital, and has been there since. “When working in a rural hospital, you get to know the patients in a more personal way, which helps to create a deeper level of respect for one another,” said Paula. “I love coming to work and serving this community.”

In addition to her nursing duties, Paula serves on various committees within HSHS-Eastern Wisconsin Division that aim to enhance patient care, safety and experience. She is also an active member of the Emergency Nursing Association, Regional Trauma Advisory Council and the State Trauma Advisory Council.

Paula is also significantly involved in community outreach on a professional and personal level. She offers monthly blood pressure screenings at her local parish; organizes clothing drives to replenish the St. Clare Closet at HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital for patients in need; serves as a medical volunteer at the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon; is Chair for the Oconto County Annual Community Health and Safety Fair; and, volunteers for the Feed My Starving Children organization.

The 2018 Nurse of the Year will be announced in early 2019.

Free Men’s Health Event at HSHS St. Clare – June 27

HSHS St. Clare Regional Surgery Center

Men’s Health Month Cookout and Ice Cream Social:
Tuesday, June 27 at HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital

Richard McNutt, MD - HSHS St. Clare Regional Surgery Center.The community is invited to a free event focused on men’s health at HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital, 855 S. Main St. in Oconto Falls on Tuesday, June 27.

The Men’s Health Cookout and June Dairy Month Ice Cream Social will be presented by Richard McNutt, MD, of HSHS St. Clare Regional Surgery Center. The presentation will feature a complimentary meal of healthy grilled food and ice cream in honor of June Dairy Month. Attendees can also register for a chance to win Wisconsin Timber Rattler tickets!

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, June 27
Location: HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital Dining Room
Time: 4:30 to 6 p.m.

  • 4:30 – Complimentary meal
  • 5:15 – Men’s health discussion

Pre-registration for this event is requested by calling (920) 965-7411. Space is limited.


About HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital

HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital serves Oconto Falls and the surrounding communities as a federally-designated critical access hospital with a 24-hour staffed emergency department, urgent care, general, vascular and orthopedic surgical services, inpatient and outpatient surgical and diagnostic services, rehabilitation, oncology outpatient clinic and women’s care. HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital, in affiliation with Prevea Health, has six regional health center locations in Gillett, Lena, Mountain, Oconto, Oconto Falls and Suring. Founded in 1921 as Community Memorial Hospital, in 2014, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital became the fourteenth hospital in Hospital Sisters Health System. As an affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System, we draw on the history of St. Francis of Assisi as we move to continue serving the health care needs of our area in Christ’s healing ministry, caring for all people. For more information about St. Clare, visit www.stclarememorial.org.

About Hospital Sisters Health System

Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our 13 Local Systems and physician practices in Illinois (Belleville, Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Highland, Litchfield, and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org. For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org.

Auxiliary Presents $10,000 Check to HSHS St .Clare Memorial Hospital and Honors Dedicated Volunteers at Annual Luncheon

The Auxiliary of HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital presented a $10,000 donation to the hospital at its annual volunteer luncheon. Pictured from left to right, back row: Dan DeGroot, COO, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital; Matt Astleford, Philanthropy Specialist, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital. Left to right, front row: Anne Buttke, Manager, Volunteer Services, HSHS-EWD; Hope Hrabik, outgoing Auxiliary President; Mary Lemmen, outgoing Auxiliary Treasurer; Bobbi Giles, Director, Philanthropy, HSHS-EWD.

Auxiliary Presents $10,000 Check to HSHS St .Clare Memorial Hospital and Honors Dedicated Volunteers at Annual Luncheon

Oconto Falls – The Auxiliary of HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital held its annual luncheon in Oconto Falls on Monday, May 8 to recognize members who have reached milestones in their volunteer hours and to present the hospital with a generous $10,000 donation.

The Auxiliary of HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital was able to raise $10,000 through various fundraisers, including an annual salad luncheon, Love Basket Silent Auction, Holiday Bake Sale and Raffle, book fairs, uniform and cookie sales and the Christmas Memory Tree. HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital is a not-for-profit hospital.

“HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital is appreciative of the work, dedication and commitment of the Auxiliary,” said Dan DeGroot, Chief Operating Officer, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital. “This money will be used to purchase inpatient visitor chairs that will provide our patients and their families with an enhanced patient care experience.”

The inpatient visitor chairs will be placed in patient rooms on the medical surgical floor for the comfort and convenience of friends and family who come to the hospital to visit patients. Patient interaction with friends and family while hospitalized contributes to their overall well-being and recuperation.

In addition to the check presentation on May 8, the Auxiliary of HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital also presented pins to members who reached milestones in their volunteer hours since joining the Auxiliary:

· Paul Karban, 100 hours
· Becky Schmitt, 100 hours
· Vicki Dobratz, 300 hours
· Kay Pendl, 400 hours
· Nancy Carrico, 900 hours
· Hope Hrabik, 2,000 hours
· Mary Lemmen, 17,000 hours

“People who join the Auxiliary do so because they are giving people by nature,” said Vicki Dobratz, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital Welcome Center Volunteer. “It’s wonderful to see so many people working well together and making sacrifices to help others in the community.”
The Auxiliary of HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital is actively looking for more volunteers. For more information about joining the Auxiliary, contact Regina Boettcher at (920) 848-6348.