By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 October 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Members of the Albion Police Department are wearing pink pins with silver angel wings on their uniforms this month in honor of Breast cancer Awareness Month.
“Breast cancer has in some way affected everyone in our community,” said Police Chief Roland Nenni. “The Albion Police Department hopes that by aiding in awareness we can help in a small way to find a cure.”
Pink ribbons are also being displayed on all police patrol vehicles.
“The more we can raise awareness as professionals and public servants, it may prompt women to be checked or someone to make a donation,” Nenni said.
Sgt. Gary Van Wycke, a member of the Albion PD for 21 ½ years, stands by a patrol car that has a pink ribbon on the door.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 October 2015 at 12:00 am
Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run has raised more than $250K
Photos by Tom Rivers
EAST SHELBY – There were about 200 people out walking and running the 3.1-mile course on a chilly Saturday morning for the 27th Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run.
The course starts near the East Shelby Fire Hall on East Shelby Road.
The Knights and Kaderli families have raised more than $250,000 with the event in 27 years. The money is put in a fund and given to help families with expenses while battling cancer.
John Bertrand of Clarence has a big burst of energy at the start of the race. He finished third overall with a time of 23:51. John is the grandson of the late Richard Knights.
Mr. Knights died from cancer in 1984. Five years later Sue Scharping Kaderli died from the disease.
The two families work together with fund-raisers for the Knights-Kaderli Fund. Other families also help, including the family of the late Dave Millis of Albion. Together they are able to distribute about $50,000 annually to help about 50 families battling cancer.
John Kaderli, the son of the late Sue Kaderli, sells raffle tickets on Saturday. There were about 100 gift baskets available during Saturday’s event. Kaderli thanked the community for supporting the cause for so many years.
“It’s a fabulous fund,” he said. “We’ve been able to help a lot of people.”
Staff Reports Posted 25 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Karen Watt is pictured with the orchard train used to take people on trips at Watt Farms Country Market in Albion.
ALBION – A local farmer who has spearheaded several community efforts, including raising more than $300,000 for breast cancer research, has been named the 2015 Pullman Memorial Humanitarian Award winner.
Karen Watt runs a local fruit farm and farm market with her husband Chris. She has been involved in numerous community and state organizations. She is currently the chairwoman of the Oak Orchard Health board of directors.
She has served as president of Orleans County Farm Bureau, and also represented the region on the state board of directors for Farm Bureau.
Mrs. Watt, a retired math professor at Brockport State College, will be presented with the humanitarian award on Oct. 25 in a special program at Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, 10 East Park St. The award ceremony and reception to follow are free and open to the public.
A breast cancer survivor, Watt organizes the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Orchard Walk at Watt Farms each fall. In over a decade, the event has raised over $325,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Karen Watt addresses a crowd of about 1,000 people last October before the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Orchard Walk at Watt Farms.
The Humanitarian Award will be presented to Watt the day after this year’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk at Watt Farms.
Watt has travelled the world sharing her expertise in direct marketing and value-added retail. She was president of the North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association, which put her in its “Hall of Fame.” She has visited rural African villages in three countries to help farm families brainstorm ways to increase their revenues.
In addition to her advocacy for migrant farm worker health as a board member of Oak Orchard Health, Watt has served on the National Advisory Council on Migrant Health, including a year as its chairwoman.
She is currently secretary of the board of the National Center of Farmworker Health and received the 2013 Outstanding Migrant Health Center Board Member Award from the National Association of Community Health Centers.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – John Given of Elba runs at Mount Albion Cemetery with the Fit in 50 group on Thursday evening. Given has been a regular each week with the program. He has lost 100 pounds in the past three years, including about 15 since January.
ALBION – A community exercise program that started on a blustery Saturday morning back in January has continued each week with participants getting together for a run or a walk.
The “Fit in 50” program through the Albion Running Club has had 117 people join for a walk or jog at least once during 2015. A core group of about 15 show up each week. (The weekly runs shifted to 6 p.m. Thursdays at Mount Albion Cemetery, and will likely move back to Saturdays on Oct. 17.)
“It’s the consistency that gives you the best reward,” said Joe McPhatter of Albion.
He has brought his infant son, Jai Li, on many of the runs, pushing him in a jogger stroller.
McPhatter said his blood pressure is down and he has lost 5 pounds since January.
Some of the Fit in 50 have opted to be in Run for God programs at the Albion Free Methodist Church or to exercise on their own.
Joe McPhatter pushes his son Jai Li in a jogger stroller while out for a run at Mount Albion this evening.
Through nearly nine months of the program, 17 of the participants have lost 121 pounds this year, with most seeing drops in blood pressure and body mass index. That’s an average loss of 7 pounds per person.
The collective weight loss numbers should grow as the Albion Running Club, organizer of the effort, collects more data from the runners and walkers.
Brian Krieger, one of the leaders of the program for the Albion Running Club, said Fit in 50 has made a difference for the participants, improving their health and connecting them with other runners.
John Given of Elba ran the Strawberry Festival 8-kilometer race in June 2014. The Running Club organizes that race. It sent out a mass email to Strawberry Festival runners, informing them about the “Fit in 50.”
Given received the email and decided to try the Saturday run in January, even when the weather was cold and snowy.
“I thought, ‘This is just what I need to get me going in the winter,'” he said about the group runs.
Given, 57, has lost about 100 pounds the past three years, from a high of 284 pounds. He has been a regular for the Albion runs each week. He had never ran farther than an 8-kilometer race before this year. He set a personal best finishing the 10-mile Metro 10 race in Albion on Aug. 22 and then ran a half marathon for 13.1 miles on Labor Day in Geneseo.
Given comes to Albion for the group run once a week, and tries to get in one or two more runs on his own each week. He enjoys the camraderie in Albion.
“It’s been wonderful with the fitness, meeting new people and making friends,” he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Bonnie Heck, owner of the Herbalty Cottage, stands by the tea bar in her new business at 415 Main St. Heck and her family renovated a former insurance office to create the new space for Herbalty Cottage.
MEDINA – Bonnie Heck and her daughter Lindsay know the power of organic food and all-natural ingredients for better health.
Heck, the owner of the new Herbalty Cottage in downtown Medina, was injured in a car accident about seven years ago. She struggled to get out of bed for weeks.
Visits to chiropractor helped her regain movement and ease pain. Heck said she discovered newfound energy once she ate all-natural foods that were organic with no preservatives and additives.
Her daughter Lindsay, 19, has Fibromyalgia, a syndrome that causes fatigue, sleep problems and chronic muscle pain. Lindsay has managed the condition with a healthy diet and yoga exercises every day.
The mother and daughter are sharing some of their insights and some of the food, teas, and other products they’ve discovered at the new business at 415 Main St. Herbalty Cottage opened on Tuesday following major renovations of a former insurance office.
“Why not be proactive before anything happens?” Mrs. Heck said in urging healthier lifestyles.
Lindsay Heck is pictured with some of oils and vinegars that include the Herbalty Cottage label. Lindsay, 19, is becoming certified in reflexology.
Bonnie Heck describes the business as “a specialty shop with a unique taste.” Herbalty has a tea bar for drinking the many organic teas, and a tasting station where customers can dip freshly made bread into oils and vinegars.
Heck has 38 flavors of oil and vinegar that have the Herbalty logo. She also sells organic pasta, and a variety of syrups, salves and tinctures.
“We don’t have anything like this around here,” she said about the business. “We’re unique. Everything is organic. It’s a different type of product line for downtown.”
Herbalty also sells Himalayan salt lamps to reduce air pollution and stress. Heck also carries a line of all-natural lotions made by Terri Jordan of Carlton, who runs a business called “The Soap Cottage.”
Lindsay Heck, left, and her mother Bonnie opened a new business on Tuesday in downtown Medina.
Lindsay is working on becoming certified in reflexology, where she massages hands, feet, the ears and face. She will have an office at Herbalty to work with her clients.
Her mother also is becoming certified as a herbologist.
The family business also includes Tom Heck, Bonnie’s husband and Lindsay’s father. He is recently retired from the state Department of Transportation. He did many of the renovations, including tearing out the carpet and installing a new vinyl floor. Tom also handles labeling and shipping for the business.
Herbalty is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 September 2015 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – Runners are pictured at the start of last year’s Brown’s Berry Patch 5-kilometer Cross Country Run and Memory Walk. This year’s race will be Oct. 10 and will feature a new course and a new starting time at noon.
CARLTON – The race and memory walk will go on at Brown family farm this year. It will be the 20th 5-kilometer cross country walk and run at Brown’s.
The Brown family has raised $35,000 for Hospice of Orleans through the event. This year’s walk and run will start at noon on Oct. 10. Participants should gather at the former retail site for Brown’s Berry Patch on Route 18.
The Brown family retired from the retail side of the business – the gift shop, ice cream, bakery and playground – this year after more than 30 years.
Margy Brown, the race director, decided to keep the 5K event going to raise funds for Hospice and provide some motivation to exercise in the fall.
This year’s event will be in memory of Joyce Harris, an active member of the Carlton community who died from cancer at age 65 on April 24.
Brown wanted to honor the memory of Harris, who was her neighbor.
Harris was a member of the Carlton Town Board for 11 years. She enjoyed promoting the community and getting things done on the Town Board, said her husband of 47 years, Will.
“She liked to get involved and see if she could get something accomplished,” her husband said.
Joyce Harris
He will be at the Brown’s 5K with the couple’s two grown daughters, and other family, friends and colleagues.
Mrs. Harris worked as a secretary/bookkeeper for her family’s farming operation and then for Torrey Farms before retiring with Shelby Stone.
Mr. Harris grew up in the Village of Albion and started dating his wife in high school. They moved out to rural Carlton.
“We liked the country atmosphere,” he said. “It was a great place to raise kids.”
For more information on the Brown’s 5K, including registration information, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Sue Gagne, director of the newly merged Mental Health Association of Genesee and Orleans, addresses the Albion Rotary Club last Thursday. She said the merged agency will offer more services to the two counties.
ALBION Two agencies that promote mental wellness through education, advocacy and support have merged.
The mental health associations in Orleans and Genesee counties officially joined on Sept. 1. Each county will continue to have its own drop-in center. The Orleans County location is at 20 North Main St., the former Cornell Cooperative Extension building next to the Post Office in Albion.
“I believe coming together with this transition will be absolutely wonderful for Orleans County,” said Shirley Pudney-Eilers, wellness director for the MHA in Orleans County.
Sue Gagne is the director of the new combined agency. The board of directors is expected to soon approve the name for the association.
Pudney-Eilers and Gagne both addressed the Albion Rotary Club last Thursday. They said the community will see a more active MHA. In November, for example, the MHA will offer First Aid training with a focus on how to respond to people in a mental health crisis.
The MHA also has a grant to promote workplace wellness, and will offer an upcoming workshop on relaxation on Oct. 20 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Albion location. It also is working with the Suicide Prevention Coalition for a workshop on Nov. 21.
“We still have a long way to go with stigma for people with mental health disorders,” Pudney-Eilers said. “The more we work together, the more we can get things done.”
She said Orleans County has a big geographic area and there are a lot of people with unmet mental health needs. The MHA wants to bolster services for residents with more community-based services “as time goes on,” she said.
The MHA differs from the county mental health departments that provide therapy through counselors and services with caseworkers. The MHA is community-based with a focus to help people live more independently, Gagne said.
“With the drop-in centers people can come in and get peer support,” she said. “We complement their therapy.”
The MHA also provides a 24-7 “warm line” 813-0072 for people to reach out for support in non-emergency situations.
For more information on the MHA, contact the Albion office at (585) 589-1158 or in Batavia at (585) 344-2611.
ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will once again sponsor a household pharmaceuticals collection event next weekend.
Sheriff Scott Hess and Jail Superintendent Scott Wilson are pleased to announce that the Sheriff’s Office will again participate in this semi-annual undertaking, which will take place on Sept. 26 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
This is a collaborative effort with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, the Orleans County Health Department, and the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse.
This is a great opportunity for the public to surrender unwanted and/or expired medications and drug paraphernalia for safe and proper disposal. Events such as these have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, as well as increasing awareness of this critical public health issue. Similar collection events held in the past have been touted by all involved as having been highly successful.
There are three collection locations:
Orleans County Public Safety Building, 13925 State Route 31, Albion;
Holley Fire Department, 7 Thomas St., Holley;
Medina Fire Department, 600 Main St., Medina.
Special Thanks to the Holley and Medina Fire Departments for providing space in their facilities for this event.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Kwandrans tries to make a wish come true
Photo by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Garett Smith stretches during a class at Kwandrans Tae Kwon-do in Medina on Monday. Garett, 12, takes Tae Kwon-do classes twice a week.
He said the classes help him feel better and healthier. He has cystic fibrosis. Tae Kwon-do helps move the mucus in his lungs, keeping them clear.
Garett started taking Tae Kwon-do a year ago.
“They work very well with him,” said his mother Melody. “They’re very accommodating to his needs.”
Photo by Tom Rivers
Garett, a Middleport resident, is a seventh-grader at Roy-Hart. He said he likes to move during his Tae Kwon-do classes.
In May, Garett attended Disney World in Florida for a week with his family, including four brothers. Garett and his family were picked for the trip through Make-A-Wish Western New York.
The family was treated like royalty, given a ride to the airport in a limo.
His classmates and instructors at Kwandrans were happy Garett went on the week-long excursion. The group at Kwandrans decided to raise $8,500 so another kid in Western New York could go on a Make-A-Wsh trip.
Provided photo – Garett is pictured with his brothers at the Jurassic Park display at Disney World. The brothers include, from left: Hayden (14) , Bradley (9), Logan (8), Garett (12), and Grant (3).
Kwandrans has already put on several fund-raisers, including a kick-a-thon, car wash, bake sale and candy bar sales. The Tae Kwon-do students and instructors have raised $4,000, a little less than half of the goal.
“Garett told us all about it after he went to Disney in May,” said Debbie Farfaglia, manager and instructor at Kwandrans. “It inspired us to want to do that for a family.”
Provided Photo – Garett jumps into a pool on the trip to Disney World.
The group is pushing more upcoming fund-raisers to reach the $8,500 goal, including a chicken barbecue on Sept. 26 at Medina United Methodist Church from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
There will be a 5K run/walk on Oct. 31 in Albion. Participants are urged to dress up in Halloween costumes and then complete the course.
A spaghetti dinner and basket raffle is scheduled for Nov. 21 at the Medina United Methodist Church from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
For more on Make-A-Wish Western New York, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Janna Stirk gives her son, Brody, a hug during a stop today at Bullard Park in Albion. Janna has raised the most money, $1,380 as of Monday evening, in a Sept. 20 walk to benefit autism awareness and services for the Rochester/Finger Lakes region.
ALBION – When he was 18 months old, Brody Stirk started getting services to help with his speech. He continues to receive speech and occupational therapy at Rainbow Preschool.
His mother, Janna Stirk, believes those services and an early diagnosis of autism have helped Brody be highly functioning.
“When he was first diagnosed, it was overwhelming,” Stirk said about her son. “But now we celebrate it.”
Brody is 3 1/2 and is in Rainbow Preschool. His mother said the program provides many services to help Brody with his verbal skills and to understand and use his sensory skills.
Janna and her husband Morgan Stirk used many services and information from Autism Speaks, a leading autism science and advovacy organization. When Mrs. Stirk saw the Rochester/Finger Lakes region was having a beneft walk on Sept. 20 for Autism Speaks, she and many of Brody’s family and friends signed up for the walk at Monroe Community College’s Brighton Campus.
Stirk also had been good at asking for donations for the cause. In fact, the $1,380 she has raised by herself is the most of anyone in the Rochester/Finger Lakes. Click here to visit the Autism Speaks website.
Stirk is also part of “Team Brody,” which is up to $1,745 in donations. The team has a $2,000 fund-raising goal.
Stirk has used Facebook and other social media to rally support for the cause.
She would like to try another walk in the spring, but this time would like the proceeds to stay in Orleans County and help Rainbow Preschool.
“The services for Brody have made a big difference,” she said. “He’s really come a long way.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Provided photo
BATAVIA – Two cheerleaders at the Albion-Batavia youth football games on Saturday were the focus of an effort to raise awareness for childhood cancer.
Emma Harris, left, of Batavia and Madison Muckle, 7, of Albion have been diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Madison has endured chemotherapy and is cancer-free.
“She is doing wonderful,” said Madison’s mother, Jaime Allport. “We’ve been very lucky. There hasn’t been any side effects.”
Emma was recently diagnosed with ALL.
More than 60 coaches and parents from both communities wore gold-colored shirts to highlight childhood cancer during youth football games on Saturday. The effort was part of a national push where September is “Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.”
Photo by Tom Rivers
Geno Allport, coach for the Albion JV team in the youth football program, wears one of the gold shirts while addressing the team after a 34-0 victory over Batavia. He is the uncle of Madison Muckle, who battled cancer for 2 1/2 years and is now free of the disease.
Madison was diagnosed when she was 3. She is now entering second grade and participates in dance, baseball, cheerleading and Girl Scouts. Her family and friends have put on the “Madisonation Golf Tournament” the past five years. Visit madisonation.org for more on the golf tournament.
The benefit on Aug. 23 at Hickory Ridge Gold Course raised $6,110, with some of the proceeds given to Emma Harris’s family to help them while they fight the disease.
Madison’s mother said few research dollars or public awareness is directed to childhood cancer, even though there are about 13,500 children diagnosed with cancer in the United States annually.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Michael Hodgins is grateful for chance to raise family
Photos by Tom Rivers – Michael Hodgins, 53, had a heart transplant when he was 28. He is pictured at the Shelby waterfalls near his home on Thursday. He is wearing the “Cardiac Rehabilitation” T-shirt from Medina Memorial Hospital, a shirt he has had for a quarter century.
SHELBY – Michael Hodgins was 28, married with three young children when he got a new heart.
The Shelby resident was waiting for a transplant for 15 months when he was rushed to Buffalo General on Sept. 13, 1990. The transplant has been a tremendous success, giving Hodgins newfound energy and a longer lease on life.
“I’m very grateful to God for bringing me through it,” Hodgins said at his home in Shelby on Thursday. “I just thank God for life and being able to see my kids grow up and spend time with my grandkids.”
Hodgins and his wife Kathy have three grown children: Alisha Duffina, 32; Greg, 31; and Ryan, 28. The three grown children all live in the Medina area and all have their own children – six grandkids in all for Michael and Kathy.
Hodgins had a failing heart at age 27. He was born a preemie, just over 2 pounds and had a a hole in his heart. He had heart surgery at age 9, and seemed to be doing OK until he was 27.
His enlarged heart struggled to pump blood. He was sluggish and short of breath.
Doctors made him a candidate for a heart transplant. Three times he hurried to the hospital for the surgery, only to have it called off, until Sept. 13, 1990.
Hodgins said he remembers feeling so much better after the surgery, with newfound energy.
“Once it was done, it was like night and day,” he said. “It was like being a new person.”
Michael and Kathy Hodgins hold a heart-shaped pillow given to them 25 years ago after Michael had a heart transplant.
Hodgins started working in bakeries when he was a teen-ager. After a brief recovery after the transplant, he felt well enough to return to work, including the physically demanding tasks of lugging heavy bags of ingredients.
Hodgins hasn’t slowed down on the job. After more than 20 years with the Jubilee in Medina, he needed to get a new job when the store closed in 2006. Hodgins joined Medina Memorial Hospital nine years ago and supervises the dietary department at the hospital.
“God’s given me the hands to work and the life to work,” he said. “So I’m going to keep working.”
He frequently takes walks, and used to play a lot of racquetball before he had a hip replaced in 2004. He also battled Non-Hodgin Lymphoma in 2007.
His wife of 33 years marvels at her husband’s strength through the physical challenges.
“Our faith has helped get us through,” said Mrs. Hodgins, who works as director of treatment services for GCASA in Albion.
Now that their children are grown, the couple has been taking more time together. They have visited Aruba and the Dominican Republic.
“We’re taking vacations and enjoying life,” Mrs. Hodgins said.
The couple attends the Oak Orchard Assembly of God at 12111 Ridge Rd., Medina. This Sunday, on the 25th anniversary of the transplant, the Hodgins family and their church will celebrate during the 10:30 a.m. service at Oak Orchard.
The Rev. Dan Thurber, the church pastor, will preach about the successful transplant. Hodgins also will sing during the service with some of his friends.
“It’s going to be a huge celebration of life,” Mrs. Hodgins said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Kimberly Scott, left, started on Aug. 11 as the new director at the Care Net Pregnancy and Family Center of Greater Orleans.
She is pictured with staff members, from left in back: Jocelyn Wilson, the client services manager; Sharon Sugar, office manager; and Sara Moore, the nurse manager.
The center in Albion provides free ultra-sounds, pregnancy tests, sexually transmitted infection testing and resources to families in crisis, incuding parenting classes and some material aid.
The center has a 26-year history in Orleans County. It is located across from McDonalds on Route 31 in the former Lipton’s building.
“I want the ministry to grow and to raise awareness of what we do,” Scott said.
She has volunteered the past 4 ½ years as a peer counselor at the center. She also is the church secretary and co-leader of the youth program with her husband Raul at Our Light of Victory Church on Brown Street in Albion.
Scott and her husband moved from Lockport to Albion five years ago to help with the ministry at Light of Victory. Mrs. Scott soon started volunteering at Care Net.
“It’s a cause that has always been firmly in my heart,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to share the love of Christ.”
Care Net is funded with donations from the community. That long-term commitment from churches and residents inspires Scott.
“We have so many people who donate year after year,” she said. “That says something that they find what we do is important. We’re very thankful for that.”
The center has its annual “Walk for Life” at 10 a.m. on Sept. 19 at Mount Albion Cemetery, which includes a fund-raising walk, as well as a café and scavenger hunt for children.
For more information on the center in Albion, click here.
MEDINA – Medina Memorial Hospital, which was recently highlighted in a report by The Buffalo News for a high rate of hospital-acquired infections, has significantly reduced those health care-associated infections, hospital officials said today.
“I am proud of our staff efforts and the very significant 71.4 percent decrease in infections,” said Wendy Jacobson, President/CEO of Orleans Community Health, parent organization of Medina Memorial. “We work diligently every day to provide the best possible patient experience in all aspects of their stay with us.”
A national ranking by Consumer Reports of acquired infections at hospitals put Medina Memorial Hospital far below average in preventing five infections, based on data from October 2013 through September 2014.
The Buffalo News reported on that data, and said Medina’s infection rate was the highest of 13 hospitals in Western New York.
The data generated an intensive performance improvement review to identify the source of the high numbers, Medina Memorial officials said.
One key finding was that patients entering the hospital with an existing infection did not have blood tests ordered on the day of admission but on the second or third day. This resulted in the infections being reported as a hospital acquired infections, even though they were not, Medina Memorial said in a news release today.
The hospital’s infection control protocol was reviewed. This includes the use of standardized protocols, performing blood cultures on admission to identify and begin treatment of exiting infections, following correct hand-washing procedures, cleaning of equipment such as blood pressure cuffs etc. between patients, the types of disinfectant being used, staff and patient education, and ongoing monitoring.
“We have taken an aggressive approach to infection control,” says Karrie Mikits, registered nurse and infection control manager. “It has resulted in a very significant 71.4 percent decrease in hospital acquired infections. We changed our approach to doing blood cultures on admission, changed to a more effective type of disinfectant being used to clean equipment, improved communication with staff and physicians, and increased staff education and accountability. I also communicate with the wonderful staff at the Orleans County Health Department as needed.”
MEDINA – Medina Memorial Hospital officials say they have reduced MRSA and C. Diff infections by 71.4 percent this year compared to data in 2013-14, when Consumer Reports says Medina Memorial had the highest rate of infections for Western New York hospitals.
Officials at Orleans Community Health, the parent organization of Medina Memorial, say they believe in the transparency of reporting of quality measures.
“However, we are concerned with the Consumer Reports methodology, which according to their technical specifications states that ‘although extremely serious, these infections are relatively infrequent, which makes the infection rates volatile, as the occurrence of one or two infections can have a large impact on reported rates …'” according to a statement from the hospital today.
Medina Memorial staff have made changes to cleaning processes, skin preparation prior to certain procedures and education for staff ordering and obtaining blood cultures to accurately reflect a community acquired or a hospital acquired infection, hospital officials said in a statement.
“We will continue to implement best practice measures in our hospital to continue to provide quality care close to home,” Medina Memorial officials said.
