FHN Focus

January 9, 2025

Next Week's Calendar
of Events:

January 9

Blood Pressure Screening
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Salvation Army, 106 W. Exchange Street, Freeport
Open to the public; no cost or registration required.

Prenatal Class (Session 1b)
1 - 3 p.m.
Stephenson County Health Department, 10 W Linden Street, Freeport
The FHN/Stephenson County Health Department series of prenatal classes is offered to all regardless of their number of weeks gestation, however, they do correlate a bit with how a pregnancy progresses. Mothers-to-be and spouses/support persons are encouraged to attend these free sessions together. In session 1, the Stephenson County Health Department staff will cover nutrition, alcohol/drug/tobacco use, comfort measures, intro to the doula program, and community resources. Register for all four classes online at fhn.org/ob or call 815-599-6221 for more information.

Mama Milk Circle Infant Support Group
4 p.m.
Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas Street
Bring your baby and join area moms to share knowledge, build a support system, and gain up-to-date infant support information. This group is open to all moms and free to attend; visit fhn.org/breastfeedingtaskforce for more information.

Parkinson’s Support Group
4–5 p.m.
FHN Memorial Hospital Conference Dining Room - Lower Level
The FHN Parkinson’s Support Group meets monthly to provide a vital space for individuals and families affected by Parkinson’s disease to connect, share experiences, and find comfort in community. We offer a mix of emotional support, practical advice, and education about the disease. We also share tips on coping strategies, medications, and therapies, fostering a collaborative environment. If you have any questions, please call Jackie Roach, RN, FHN Community Services Coordinator at 815-599-7437.

January 13

Living Through Grief
6 p.m.
FHN Memorial Hospital Deaconess Room, 1045 W. Stephenson Street, Freeport
The Living Through Grief Support Group offers a confidential place for those grieving a loss within the last 2 years to talk about your thoughts and feelings. We utilize videos, books, speakers, and discussions to help participants learn about the grief process, share stories of loss, and regain hope. To register or more information, contact FHN Hospice, at 815-599-7240 or visit fhn.org/grief.

January 14

Blood Pressure Screening
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Liberty Estates, 2170 Navajo Dr, Freeport
Open to the public; no cost or registration required.

January 16

Blood Pressure Screening
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Stockton Township Library, 140 W Benton Ave, Stockton
Open to the public; no cost or registration required.

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

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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’s Get Fit Program is Back – and FREE – for 2025
Rx Renewal Available on MyFHN
FHN Career Corner
Help Spread the News: We’re Here, For You!
Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion and Worldwide Health
Classified Ads

FHN’s Get Fit Program is Back – and FREE – for 2025

FHN’s popular wellness program is back to help participants work toward their best health. Get Fit 2025 is heavy on tips, videos, and recipes to help participants build a healthy lifestyle for years to come!

Get Fit 2025 is a FREE 12-week online program beginning and ending with in-person screenings – and participants can join as an individual or as part of a 4-person team.

From Jan. 19 through April 13, 2025, participants will receive special Get Fit 2025 newsletters with healthy lifestyle information including exercise tips and healthy recipes.

Participants will have the ability to report their weekly water intake, number of fruit and vegetable servings, and exercise minutes in order to earn competition points.They also can take advantage of special offers from local fitness partners and participate in fun contests, and of course, win great prizes!

Participants must attend both an initial and ending screening to be eligible for this year’s major prizes. Signup includes the chance to schedule an appointment for a kick-off screening from 3 – 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14 and from 8 – 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18 at FHN Family Healthcare Center – Burchard Hills in Freeport. All participants must have a primary care provider in order to participate in the free health screenings

Signup for FHN’s Get Fit 2025 is open now at www.fhn.org/getfit.

Rx Renewal Available on MyFHN

The MyFHN Patient Portal has become even more convenient!

Patients can now – in addition to calling their pharmacy – request to have their prescription renewed using the MyFHN Patient Portal. It’s easy, just click on the Medications tab, then click on the medication you need refilled, and request renewal. This will notify your provider and they will message you back once the refill has been sent in.

If you don’t already have the MyFHN Patient Portal, enroll online using one of two processes (depending on whether or not you have an email address on file with us and know your medical record number). If you need assistance, please ask the staff, call the MyFHN Coordinator at 1-815-599-6907, or email [email protected].

Register today and let your fingertips keep you on top of everything related to your healthcare! Already signed up for MyFHN? Download the app! Instructions available online.

FHN Career Corner

There are many career opportunities within FHN. If you or someone you know is interested in new challenges go to our Career page, displaying the latest open positions.

FHN Team Members
Friends and Family

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

January is …
Thyroid Awareness Month
National Glaucoma Awareness Month
National Birth Defects Prevention Month
Cervical Health Awareness Month
Stalking Awareness Month
Radon Action Month
National Blood Donor Month

The Iroquois Midwinter Ceremony held each January and February, lasts for eight days and each day is dedicated to an event such as tobacco invocation. The days vary according to community.

January is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender History Month in the United Kingdom. It was initiated by Schools OUT in Britain in February 2005. This is an opportunity for all to learn more about the lives and achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Britain and Northern Ireland.

January 13 is Lohri for people of the Sikh and Hindu faiths. Bonfires are lit to mark the change from the decrease to the increase of the sun. In Finland and Sweden, January 13 is St. Knut’s Day. King Knut, who ruled Sweden from 1080 – 1086, is honored as a saint for his virtue and generosity. He had declared that Christmas should be celebrated for 20 days, officially ending the season on January 13. The days between Christmas and St. Knut’s Day are filled with parties. After this day, trees are taken down to mark the official close of the season.

The people of India and those of the Hindu faith celebrate Maker Sankranti, the transition of the sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn during the winter solstice, on January 14. The days gradually lengthen in the northern hemisphere.

January 15 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States. The day commemorates the leaders of the Civil Rights movement in the US. People of all races and religions have benefited from the sacrifices and accomplishments of MLK Jr. He was a Nobel Prize winner (Peace Prize, 1964), and a prominent advocate of nonviolent protest. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

In India, January 15 is the beginning of Pongol, a three-day rice harvest festival. It is celebrated with a cultural evening of song and dance.

Classified Ads

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.