Retired Rumford Hospital nurse Peg Blouin, left, presents Luke Mason with the Peg Blouin Nursing Scholarship in the amount of $1,250. Mason is a nursing student at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. The Peg Blouin Nursing Scholarship was established in 2009 upon Blouin’s retirement from Rumford Hospital after 42 years as a Registered Nurse. Having been a recipient of the Auxiliary Scholarship, which enabled her to earn her nursing degree, Blouin expressed a wish to give back to the community.
Rumford Hospital
Rumford Walk with a Doc Series Gets Community Moving
Central Maine Healthcare will be holding a Walk with a Doc series at Hosmer Field in Rumford starting Wednesday, September 6. The walk is open to the public and begins at 5:30 p.m.
The Walk with a Doc program brings together communities and local healthcare providers. The walks feature a short health education presentation and time for the attendees to talk with the hosting provider during the walk. The goal of the program is to counteract our sedentary lifestyles and get moving in nature. Each participant can walk at their own pace and desired distance. This year’s participating providers are Stephanie Sinclair, M.D.; Anne Johnson, M.D.; Dieter Kreckel, M.D.; Sarah Kelley-Spearing, D.O.; Kathryn McLellan, M.D.; James Flannery, M.D.; and Jennifer Hanson, M.D. The walk will take place every Wednesday through October 18.
Get out and enjoy the sights of fall in the River Valley with Rumford’s Walk with a Doc series.
When: Wednesday, September 6 through October 18 – 5:30 p.m.
Where: Hosmer Field, Rumford
What: Walk with a Doc – Central Maine Healthcare providers will lead a walk and short health presentation
Registration: Open to the public
How to Avoid Tick Bites and What to do if You Get Bitten
Imagine that after the best hike of your life you arrive home to find that a bug has latched onto you and burrowed its head deep into your body.
You start to feel stiff, a headache comes on, a rash starts developing and you might also experience nausea and muscle pain. This isn’t just any bug — you’ve been bitten by a tick.
Ticks are dangerous and can easily go unseen due to their small, almost imperceptible bites. They carry various diseases and can cause serious health issues if left unchecked for long. April to September is the worst times for ticks, especially in heavily wooded areas, so now is a prime time to refresh your knowledge of these sneaky insects.
find a hiding tick is to bathe or shower immediately after your hike or trip. Because ticks are small, they can easily crawl down shirts, pants, socks and so on in search of a secluded dark space to call home. Don’t be shy about using a mirror to check everywhere possible. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean a tick isn’t there.
Don’t forget about your gear. It is common for ticks to fall in or on tents, backpacks or other items, and then crawl out in a car or trailer and latch onto you later. Check your gear as soon as possible, and wash it thoroughly. If you brought a pet with you, check your pet for ticks as well. Ticks love to hide in human and animal hair and are easy to miss on quick examination.
One last tip for killing ticks is to wash your gear in hot water, and tumble dry on the high heat setting.
What to do if you have been bitten
If you find a tick that has latched on, do not panic. Most ticks, when found promptly, are not a great risk and are you need to see a doctor right away. Ticks carry a host of diseases, like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, so the earlier a tick is discovered and removed, the better.
Rumford Hospital Emergency Department Clothing Drive
Patients who come into our Emergency Department sometimes arrive in tattered clothes or need their clothing cut away. Too many are left wearing only a flimsy hospital gown. At Rumford Hospital, we see this as a great need to help our patients heal, mend, and to feel whole again. It’s not just a matter of keeping people dressed – we want them to leave with dignity and focus on healing.
If you would like to donate, please drop off NEW clothing from July 10 through July 21 in the Rumford Hospital Main Lobby located at 420 Franklin Street in Rumford.
Make sure to spread the word on social media by using #RHClothesforaCause.
Due to policy, we can only accept new items. Thank you!
Lacroix Receives National Recognition for Leadership at Rumford Community Home
Rumford Community Home (RCH) Administrator Jeffrey Lacroix, LNHA received the 2017 New Administrator Award from the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA). Lacroix was presented the award at the ACHCA’s Annual Convocation and Exposition in St. Louis, MO.
The New Administrator award recognizes an ACHCA member who has been a practicing administrator for five years or less, and who has demonstrated exceptional commitment and potential as a leader, innovator, and motivator in long-term care and in the ACHCA.
According to ACHCA, “Lacroix accepts any challenge or task presented to him and promotes excellent performance. He sets an outstanding example for Administrators in long-term care and is highly deserving of this honor.”
As a child, Lacroix spent a significant amount of time with his grandparents, which helped him develop a connection with the elderly and determined his career path.
Lacroix entered the long-term care industry as an Activity Assistant and quickly noticed the organized chaotic nature of the industry.
“I wanted the challenge of balancing cultural change to benefit the residents while also meeting and exceeding state and federal expectations,” Lacroix said of his decision to become an administrator.
After a year and a half as an Activity Assistant, Lacroix entered into an Administrator in Training program and was assigned to lead Rumford Community Home. He views the facility as, “surrounded by multiple small communities, forming one common community. As a result, staff are caring for their own community members, which engages staff to a higher degree. Staff can approach leadership with questions or concerns to ensure voices are heard.”
Lacroix, President of Maine’s ACHCA chapter, is honored to be selected as ACHCA’s 2017 New Administrator. He characterized the recognition as, “There are a significant number of individuals who could be recognized with this award, it is an honor to receive acknowledgement for the time spent in orchestrating a positive environment for our residents. This award is primarily a recognition of what a team of individuals can accomplish when working together.”
As Maine’s population continues to age, Lacroix understands the importance of long-term care facilities and hopes to continue providing quality care for the River Valley at Rumford Community Home.
Lifestyle Change Program at Elsemore Dixfield Family Medicine
Elsemore Dixfield Family Medicine will offer a free Lifestyle Change Program starting July 12.
The PreventT2 curriculum, approved for the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), features multiple sessions over 12 months covering healthy, long-term changes to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Any adults with a pre-diabetes diagnosis or at high risk for pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes are welcome to join the program.
Participants meet in a small group led by a trained lifestyle coach. The program begins with weekly one-hour meetings for eight weeks. After the initial meetings the group will meet bi-weekly for eight sessions and end with monthly meetings for six months as participants move toward a lifetime of healthy living.
To register for the program please contact, Karen Swan at 207-369-1151, Louise Ingraham at 207-330-7769 or e-mail, preventdiabetes@cmhc.org. To learn more about the program visit the Central Maine Health DPP website at www.cmmc.org/diabetes-prevention. Please register by July 3, 2017.
When: Begins on July 12, 2017 (24-26 sessions over 12 months)
Where: Elsemore Dixfield Family Medicine, 146 Weld St., Dixfield
What: Lifestyle Change Program to Prevent/Delay Type 2 Diabetes
Registration: Karen Swan, 207-369-1151, swanka@cmhc.org or Louise Ingraham, 207-330-7769, preventdiabetes@cmhc.org