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February 7, 2007

Health Matters: A day in the life of a hospital

Jan Chait

What goes on inside the walls of a hospital? If today is a typical Thursday at Union Hospital, Kristi Roshel, its marketing and public relations manager, says the following will happen:

• 140 people will visit the emergency room.

• There will be 40 surgeries.

• 70 people will undergo radiation therapy treatment in the Hux Cancer Center.

• Families will welcome five newborns.

• There will be 15 cardiac catheterizations performed.

• 65 inpatients will receive physical therapy.

• Pediatric therapy will be given to 30 children.

• 10 people will have endoscopies.

• 2,158 employees will receive their paychecks.

• 500 people will visit the 18 physicians who are directly employed by the Union Hospital Health Group.

• 14 patients will receive e-cards that have been sent to them via Union Hospital’s Web site at www.uhhg.org and hand-delivered to their rooms.



Meningococcal meningitis is rare — there were only 23 cases in Indiana in 2006, up from 18 in 2005.

But it can be deadly. And college students are particularly vulnerable because of crowded situations such as dormitory living, going to bars, smoking and irregular sleeping habits. Most cases occur in the winter and early spring.

According to the National Meningitis Foundation, “the disease is spread through air droplets and direct contact with someone who’s infected” including coughing, kissing, and sharing anything that comes in contact with the mouth of an infected person, from utensils to lip balm. The disease can either cause swelling of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord or, in its more deadly form, can result in an infection of the blood.

Symptoms include high fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion, nausea, vomiting and exhaustion. Up to 20 percent of those who survive have long-term disabilities, including brain damage, hearing loss and limb amputation.

But there is a vaccine that can prevent four of the five types of bacteria responsible for meningococcal meningitis.

“Its low occurrence rate is one of the reasons why many schools do not require the vaccine, only strongly suggest that college students get the shot,” says Aimee Einfeld, health educator and media coordinator for the Vigo County Health Department. “Students who are first time college students planning to live in the residence halls should get the vaccine. If they meet the criteria, they can come to the Health Department to receive the vaccine. The total cost for the vaccine at the Health Department is $89.”

I I I

Do you use a third-generation birth control pill that contains desogestrel? If so, Public Citizen says your risk of getting life-threatening blood clots are twice as likely to occur than if you use an oral contraceptive that doesn’t contain that ingredient. The public-interest watchdog group, formed by Ralph Nader in 1971, has petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban the third-generation oral contraceptives that contain desogestrel.

Oral contraceptives that contain the ingredient are Desogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol, Kariva, Desogen, Mircette, Velivet, Apri-28, Ortho-Cept, Reclipsen and Cyclessa, according to Public Citizen’s www.notmypill.org Web site.

Public Citizen says the incidence of blood clots is 30 per 100,000 users, as opposed to 15 per 100,000 users for the older, but just as effective, oral contraceptive.

I I I

Physical exercise such as walking or jogging won’t protect you from developing osteoarthritis of the knees, but it won’t increase your risk, ei-ther. Osteoarthritis is a degeneration of the cartilage in the joints.

Boston University’s David Felson, M.D., and colleagues reported their findings in the February issue of “Arthritis Care and Research.” Findings were based on a study to evaluate the effects of long-term recreational exercise on the knees of more than 1,200 participants in the Framingham Offspring study. Length of time from the beginning to the end of the study was about nine years.

Physical activity didn’t even contribute to osteoarthritis in overweight people, who are at higher risk for the condition, the authors said.

Reviewers said the study had many strengths, including the large number of subjects and the review of specific activities, but was limited by the absence of an MRI at the beginning of the study and the low number of runners and joggers to evaluate the effects of running on osteoarthritis.

Remember, however, that physical activity is beneficial for your overall good health and can contribute to lowered risk of such conditions as heart disease and diabetes.

Jan Chait is a freelance writer. E-mail chaitjc@verizon.net

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