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

FHN Memorial Hospital Awarded ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from Leapfrog

FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport has received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. This national distinction is recognition and celebration of the hospital’s achievements in protecting hospital patients from preventable harm and errors.

“It is a special pleasure to receive notification that we’ve been honored again as we celebrate FHN Week,” said FHN President and CEO Mark Gridley, MBA, FACHE. “Every member of the FHN team can be proud of the quality of care we offer our patients and the work we do together every day to make our communities a healthier place.”

“I am so proud for the FHN team to have received this accolade – but not surprised, because I see the work that each member of our team does every day to continually enhance the quality of care,” Gridley said.

FHN Clinical Quality Director Doreen Timm, MSN, RN, APN/CNS-BC agrees: “This is an excellent grade for everyone at FHN Memorial Hospital. Our Quality team works with every expert across FHN – the person who uses a process every day is the real ‘expert’ in that process – to continually and proactively improve those processes.”

The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization with a 10-year history of assigning letter grades to general hospitals throughout the United States, based on a hospital’s ability to prevent medical errors and harm to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public. Hospital Safety Grade results are based on more than 30 national performance measures and are updated each fall and spring.

“This new update of Hospital Safety Grades shows that, at the national level, we saw deterioration in patient safety with the pandemic,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “But this hospital received an ‘A’ despite those challenges. I congratulate all the leaders, staff, volunteers and clinicians who together made that possible.”

To see FHN Memorial Hospital’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.HospitalSafetyGrade.org.

Freeport Memorial School of Nursing Alumni Scholarships Available

The Freeport Memorial School of Nursing Alumni organization is offering scholarships to help nurses and nursing students further their education.

“The idea was proposed at our annual banquet in 1990 by Phyllis Almberg,” said FHN Community Services Coordinator Jackie Roach, RN. “Three volunteers investigated the idea and in 1991 we voted to establish a scholarship program. We were proud to begin the program by awarding three scholarships in 1993,” Roach said. “Since then, we’ve awarded 83 scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000 each.”

The scholarships are available to help cover the cost of pursuing a career in nursing for those just starting out or for nurses pursuing advanced nursing education. Applications are available through area high school guidance counselors, at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, at SSM Health Monroe Hospital and at the Highland Community College Foundation office.

The organization’s selection committee determines scholarship recipients based on educational and vocational goals, extracurricular and community activities including organizational, civic, or volunteer work and honors, awards or recognition applicants have received. Applicants must be accepted in a nursing program or pursuing advanced nursing education. The deadline for applications is June 1. Scholarship recipients will be announced at the 2023 annual banquet June 10. Scholarship funds are sent to the recipients’ school in their name.

For information on the scholarships or to request an application, contact Marilyn Thoren at 815-789-4707.

The scholarships are funded by donations, gifts, and memorials. Those interested in contributing, please contact Cheryl Schofield at 815-541-9657.

Share Your FHN Pride! Shop Online for Gear and Gifts

Working at FHN means you help people for a living! Show your pride by wearing a logoed shirt, carrying an FHN water bottle, or using logoed golf balls, and share your pride by gifting a special FHN coffee mug, shirt and more.

Log in to the FHN Online Store to find a variety of clothing for men and women, ranging from business attire to workout gear to scrubs, all bearing the FHN logo. You’ll also find sports goods like workout towels and golf balls, fun drinkware and lots of other options for gifts – or for yourself!

“Hard goods” like drinkware and gift items will be delivered FREE via interoffice mail within 3 business days. Apparel and headwear items will be delivered within 10 – 15 business days and shipping charges do apply.

Bookmark the FHN Online Store and keep checking back – we add new items often!

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!

Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion and Worldwide Health

May is …
Arthritis Awareness Month
Better Hearing and Speech Month
Global Employee Health and Fitness Month
Hepatitis Awareness Month
Lupus Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
National Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month
National Celiac Disease Awareness Month
National High Blood Pressure Education Month
National Nurses Month
National Osteoporosis Awareness Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
National Stroke Awareness Month
National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
National Women’s Health Month
Older Americans Month
Preeclampsia Awareness Month
Skin Cancer Prevention and Awareness Month
Healthy Vision Month
Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month

Weeks to Note:
National Physical Education and Sport Week May 1-7
Air Quality Awareness Week May 1-6
National Nurses Week May 6-12
National Hospital Week May 7-13
Food Allergy Awareness Week May 7-13

Days to Note:
World Hand Hygiene Day May 5
International No Diet Day May 6
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day May 7
National Women’s Checkup Day May 8
World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day May 8
National Student Nurses Day May 8
National School Nurse Day May 10

Indigenous peoples across North America celebrate the April – May Iroquois Strawberry Season in April and May. It is a time of thanksgiving and performing the Great Feather Dance.

Canada celebrates Asian Heritage Month in May. The Senate of Canada passed a motion in December 2001 designating May as Asian Heritage Month. Canadians take part in festivities commemorating the legacy of Asian Canadians and their many contributions which have helped Canada become the multicultural and diverse nation it is today.

The United States also celebrates May as Asian Heritage Month. Generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have strengthened the U.S. as a nation. Many ethnic groups worked tirelessly to build a national railroad, paving the way for western expansion. The first Asian/Pacific Heritage Week was celebrated in 1979, in response to little recognition of this population during the 1976 bicentennial. By 1990, the celebration was one month long and then made official in 1992.

May is National Older Peoples Month in the United States. It was established by presidential proclamation in 1963. The entire nation is encouraged to pay tribute in some way to older persons in their communities. It is celebrated across the country through ceremonies and events.

Both Canada and the United States celebrate Jewish Heritage Month in May. The event provides an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the incredible contributions that Jewish people have made to the country and in communities across North America.

May is the time of the May Hopi Kachina Dances for Indigenous people across North America. During late spring and early summer, long lines of Kachina Dancers representing many spirit-powers perform dances in Hopi pueblos.

The people of Israel observe Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) on May 4. The day honors soldiers who died fighting for their country.

May 5 is Kodomo No Hi in Japan. Children’s Day promotes family unity in Japan, celebrating the relationship of parents with their sons and daughters.

The Mexican holiday Cinco De Mayo – May 5 – marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Batalla de Puebla in 1862. Although the Mexican Army was eventually defeated, it came to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. The holiday is celebrated on a much larger scale in the United States.

May 5 is Wesak, the most important Buddhist festival. It celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha as one event. Different cultures observe this day with different customs: Sri Lankans light lanterns, Vietnamese purchase captive animals and release them, and Koreans host a lantern parade.

The Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer is celebrated May 9 as a symbol for the fighting Jewish spirit.

Classified Ads

GARAGE SALE: 303 S. Freedom, Lena - across from Antique Water Tower. Friday, May 12, 8-6, Saturday, May 13, 8-4. Girls' clothes 2-14, boys' clothes infant to 14, womens' all sizes in EXCELLENT condition, men's M-XL. Clothes are 25 cents each - there are a lot! Two desks, holiday decor, bowling balls (free), Barbie house/accessories and dolls, old books, some old games, Halloween costumes and decorations. small Packer items under $5, children's table/chairs, child's wood kitchen cupboard, old quilt, afghan, and the usual items, plus much more. Everything reasonably priced.

Ready for a home remodel? I have left over items for sale: Almost-full 5 Gallon bucket of drywall primer ($30), Used small bathroom cabinet with white sink and silver faucet ($20), 8X40 inch “Weathered Black” floor tile 9 boxes total (5 pieces per box) ($30 per box). Contact Tammy Stadermann at [email protected] or ext 6348.

Do you have something to sell? The Focus accepts classified ads. The cost of each ad is a $2 donation to Partners in Giving. The fee needs to be sent directly to the Foundation. 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.

The Focus is composed of submitted content.
The deadline to submit content to Tammy Edler for each issue
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