FHN Focus

February 16, 2023

Next Week's Calendar
of Events:

February 16

Blood Pressure Screening
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
New Jerusalem Soup Kitchen, 4 E. Iroquois Street, Freeport
Open to the public; no cost or registration required.

Free Vein Screening (by appointment)
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
FHN Memorial Hospital, 1045 W. Stephenson Street, Freeport
Achy, tired legs can be a symptom of venous disease. Schedule a free screening at the FHN Vein Center to see if our experts can help. Non-cosmetic treatment options are covered by most insurance carriers, including Medicaid. For an appointment, call 815-599-VEIN (8346).

February 21

The First Steps Grief Support Group
10 - 11:30 a.m.
FHN Memorial Hospital cafeteria meeting rooms - Lower Level
No charge; registration not required. For more information, call FHN Pastoral Care at 815-599-6160.

Blood Pressure Screening
2:45 - 5 p.m.
Joseph’s Pantry, 406 S. Adams, Freeport
Open to the public; no cost or registration required.

FHN Family Fun: Virtual BINGO
6:30 p.m.
Online event
Join us online for virtual BINGO family fun with a chance to win prizes! No charge, but you must register your family by Sunday, Feb. 19 at fhn.org/virtualbingo.

February 22

Caregiver Support Group
2 - 3:30 p.m.
FHN Memorial Hospital Deaconess Room (lower level), 1045 W. Stephenson Street, Freeport
Free group for those who provide care to a family member, friend, or member of the community. Open-forum discussion and a chance to ask questions and share resources. RSVP is requested but not required - contact Sean Huguenin at 815-599-6160 for more information or to RSVP.

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View past issues of the Focus

Welcome

Coming up in this week's issue of The Focus you'll find:

FHN Celebrating Heart Month with Special Price on Cardiac Tests
FHN Employee Discounts
Help Spread the News: We’re Here, For You!
Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion and Worldwide Health
Our Sympathy
Classified Ads

FHN Celebrating Heart Month with Special Price on Cardiac Tests

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. FHN is celebrating American Heart Month in February with special pricing on two heart health tests. Call 815-599-6860 by Tuesday, Feb. 28 to schedule a Standard Walking Treadmill Stress Test or Calcium Scoring CT Heart Scan and pay just $124 for the test.

“The treadmill stress test is a screening test for determining a patient’s heart health when they are able to walk and have no history of heart trouble,” said FHN Director of Imaging and Cardiac Services Katie Alvarado, MBA, RT(R)(N), CNMT. “The patient walks on a treadmill while a specially trained registered nurse monitors how his or her heart is working with an electrocardiogram. This test helps determine your exercise capacity and the circulation to the heart, which is helpful in determining the cause of unexplained fatigue, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats during exercise or existing or borderline high blood pressure.”

“Another simple screening test that FHN offers is a CT scan to detect plaque in the arteries,” Alvarado said. “The test is non-invasive and is used to predict the probability of future heart problems. Like the treadmill test, it doesn’t take long to complete.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 815-599-6860. Tests must be scheduled by Tuesday, Feb. 28 and performed by Friday, May 26, 2023 to qualify for the special rate.

These tests do not replace consultations with your healthcare provider. If you do not have a primary healthcare provider, FHN will work with you to determine how to handle your test results when they are communicated to you. Payment for the tests is due (cash, checks and credit cards accepted) at the time of service.

FHN Employee Discounts

Vizient Employee Discounts

To register for a free account with Abenity, enter “FHN” in the organization name field, and you’ll be directed to the Abenity dashboard. Navigate to the employee discount/perk that you’re looking for using the website’s menu system or search bar. You can also download the free, convenient Abenity app via the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Then follow the steps provided to access the discount.

• At the bottom of the main Abenity dashboard page, there are ways to look up categories of products, how-to videos, etc. Clicking on “New” or “Popular” will give you the list of products that people often ask about (rental cars, electronics, etc.)
• Abenity has discounts for zoos, amusement parks, museums, etc. in IL and elsewhere
• Neither Vizient nor FHN can guarantee that these employee discounts are the best deals available. You may be able to shop around for better deals via Groupon or other programs.

Example: Cellphone Discounts

Verizon Wireless
• Existing Verizon customers should look for the heading: “Already have a Verizon Wireless account?” and click the small arrow ( > ) underneath. Sign into your Verizon mobile account and follow the steps provided. For assistance, call the Verizon wireless employee validation center at 800-890-8007.
• New Verizon customers should go to a Verizon store to create an account and choose a plan or call the new account hotline at 800-922-0204.

AT&T Wireless
• Existing AT&T customers should log into their account and follow the steps provided. For assistance, call the AT&T wireless business division at 800-331-0500.
• New AT&T customers should go to an AT&T store to create an account and choose a plan (or call the new account hotline at 866-945-8251.) (NOTE: There is an option to print a coupon to bring to an AT&T store, but this will not work in Illinois, Wisconsin, or Iowa)
You will need to provide them with Foundation Account Number (FAN #): 02562984.

US Cellular

FHN employees are eligible for a Partner Employee Discount (PED) through US Cellular. (This offer is not through Vizient or Abenity). The discount is up to 15% off on qualified plans. See a US Cellular associate for more details. If requested, please provide the US Cellular representative with this PED code: PED4551. You will also be asked to verify your employment with FHN, which you can do by showing a paycheck stub or an employee name badge, and show a valid driver’s license or state ID.

Brown's Shoe Fit

FHN employees are eligible for a 15 percent discount on shoes from Brown's Shoe Fit in Freeport when you present your employee name badge. Payroll deduction is also available.

Sherwin Williams

FHN employees are eligible for a 15 percent discount on household paints and stains, as well as brushes and rollers.

Family YMCA of Northwest Illinois

FHN employees get 15 percent off all membership categories with no joiner fee or contract required, a free 7-week group swim session for employee's child, one free personal training consultation and health and wellness orientation, plus free land and water fitness classes. Free childcare available to all YMCA members while working out or swimming.

Butitta Brothers Automotive (Freeport)

FHN employees are eligible for a 10 percent discount on any service over $100, and will do scheduled pickup/delivery of staff vehicles while at work.

Advantage Marketplace

FHN team members have access to thousands of other discounts on the FHN Staff Advantage Marketplace.

Help Spread the News: We’re Here, For You!

We have a lot to be proud of at FHN, from our talented, dedicated staff to the many advanced capabilities we offer our patients. We’re working hard every day to be sure we provide excellent care to our patients.

Each week, look to the Focus for good news to share about FHN in the form of downloadable flyers you can print and post or hand out to patients who may be interested. Also look for links to our most recent radio interviews and past interviews to listen to and recommend to others. Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook! Please encourage patients, friends, and family to also take advantage of these FHN information resources. Thanks for your help in promoting FHN!

Have you heard the latest radio interviews? Catch up on our Radio Broadcasts page!

Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion and Worldwide Health

February is …
American Heart Month
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) / Low Vision Awareness Month
International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
National Cancer Prevention Month
National Children’s Dental Health Month
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

Weeks to note:
Heart Failure Awareness Week February 12 – 18
Sepsis Survivor Week February 12- 18
National Condom Week February 14 – 21
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week February 20 – 26

Days to note:
National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day February 22

The United States celebrates Black History Month in February. Black History Month, and more importantly, the study of Black history, is greatly owed to Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who first launched “Negro History Week” in 1926. Woodson chose February because it marks the birthdays of two men who greatly impacted the American Black population, Abraham Lincoln (president of the United States who freed slaves during the Civil War) and Frederick Douglass (who worked to end slavery) both have birthdays in February. The purpose of this month is to recognize the contributions of Black Americans and develop a better understanding of the Black experience.

February also is Black History Month in Canada. In December, 1995, the Parliament of Canada recognized February as Black History Month following a motion introduced by the first African Canadian woman elected to Parliament, Jean Augustine. The presence of peoples of African descent in Canada dates back further than Samuel de Champlain’s first voyage down the St. Lawrence River.

Buffalo dances are performed in Hopi reserves during the January – February Hopi Holy Cycle. Days vary according to each community.

People of the Hindu faith observe Shivratri on February 18. On Shiva’s night, the Hindu deity Lord Shiva performed the Tandav, the cosmic dance of creation and destructions. A 24-hour fast is kept and devotees make pilgrimages to major shrines for worship.
February 20 is Presidents Day in the United States. It is a US federal holiday that celebrates the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln, born February 12, 1809, and George Washington, born February 22, 1732.

Canada’s Aboriginal population celebrates Louis Riel Day on February 20. He was the famous Metis leader who in 1885 led a rebellion and lost against the Canadian authorities because he feared more Metis land would be taken away by the settlers. Today, his name is a symbol for Native independence.

Buddhists and the people of Tibet celebrate Losar (New Year) for three days beginning February 21. Celebrations include visiting, feasting, and the relaxation of the monastic discipline.

Carnival, a two-day celebration before Ash Wednesday, begins with the Carnival Parade February 21 in Brazil. It is called Mardi Gras in Brazil.

People of the United Kingdom observe Pancake Tuesday on February 21. Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras in French, which means “Fat Tuesday”) is the last day before the beginning of Lent. Strict Christian Lenten rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up families’ supplies of eggs, milk, butter, and other fats. Pancake races are held in many parts of England.

Christians celebrate Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent, on February 21. Taken from the old word shrive, it means forgiveness. Traditionally, it was a time to give up meat and dairy foods.

February 22 brings Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, for Christians. Ash symbolizes sorrow for wrongdoings, and churchgoers’ foreheads are marked with the sign of the cross in ashes as a sign of penitence.

In Egypt, February 22 is the Abu Simbel Festival. Built by Ramses II, his temple is angled so that the inner sanctum lights up twice a year – once on the anniversary of his rise to the throne and on October 22, celebrating his birthday. Crowds pack in the temple before sunrise to watch the shafts of light illuminate the statues of Ramses, Ra, and Amon.

Our Sympathy

We extend our sympathy to ...
Shelly Brown (CBO) on the death of her mother-in-law.
Bobbette Roemer (Med/Surg/Peds) on the death of her mother.

Classified Ads

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The deadline to submit ads for each Focus is 10 a.m. the Thursday before publication. Please submit your classified ad information to Tammy Edler, and send your donation to the Foundation.