FamilyHealth Clinics | Northfield Hospital & Clinics

Northfield Hospital’s Breast Care Center is offering a “mini-spa experience” with every mammogram scheduled on10 dedicated days in October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Those scheduling mammograms October 3 & 4, 11 & 12, 18–20, or 26–28 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. will be treated to a mini-massage, complimentary specialty beverages and treats, and a parting gift. Evening appointments are available on Thursday, Oct. 27, but the massage will not be available.

Sandy Mulford, director of Diagnostic Imaging at Northfield Hospital, said the “spa event” is an effort to encourage women to have an annual exam. Early detection can save lives and increase treatment options, she said.

The Breast Care Center features a direct-digital mammogram unit with a mammo pad for extra comfort. The direct digital system provides a clearer image and more detail. This leads to more accurate diagnoses and the ability to detect cancers at an earlier stage.

“The goal of screening exams is to find cancer before symptoms are expressed,” Mulford said. “Early detection saves many thousands of lives each year. Following the American Cancer Society’s guidelines for screenings improves the chances that breast cancer can be diagnosed at an early stage and treated successfully.”

The American Cancer Society guidelines recommend annual screening beginning at age 40, or earlier for women with certain risk factors. More information on screening guidelines is available here.

To make your appointment, call 507-646-1143.

          Patricia Richardson, MSW, LICSW, LMFT, a Northfield clinical social worker and family therapist, will be the featured speaker at a bereavement informational meeting sponsored by Northfield Hospice Wednesday, Sept. 14, 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Northfield Hospital Conference Center.

           Richardson has been in private practice in Northfield for more than 30 years. She will draw upon a wide range of experience working with grief and loss issues for her talk, titled “Weaving in the Threads of Loss.”

The presentation will serve as a prelude to an optional six-week bereavement support group offered by Northfield Hospice. The group, facilitated by Katie Jacobi, MSW, a Northfield Hospice social worker, will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the hospital’s Board Room and then will meet every Wednesday through October 26. Both the presentation and the group are free and open to the public.

You need not have had a family member in hospice to join the group. The group will be closed after the second week. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. For more information about the group, or to register contact: Katie Jacobi, (507) 646-1037 or jacobik@northfieldhospital.org. People may also register the night of the event.

   Ben Flannery, MD, has joined the pediatric practice at FamilyHealth Medical Clinic in Northfield.
   Dr. Flannery sees a full range of pediatric patients from infants to 21-year olds. His areas of professional interest include childhood immunizations, diagnosis and management of children with attention deficit or hyperactivity disorders and parental counsel for the normal development and growth of children. His physician services are provided by Mayo Clinic Health System.
   Dr. Flannery received his medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and an undergraduate degree from Saint John’s University. He recently completed his residency at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa.
    Dr. Flannery and his wife, Ali, have one son and live in Northfield.
    For an appointment with Dr. Flannery, call FamilyHealth Medical Clinic at 507-646-1494.

Northfield Home Care, a service of Northfield Hospital & Clinics, is offering a practical class for caregivers Tuesday, July 12, 2 to 4 p.m. at the Northfield Senior Center, 1561 Jefferson Parkway.

Sue Josephson, RN, and Charlotte Feely, RN, both home care nurses, will draw on some 30 years of experience to teach others how to provide hands-on care. The class will cover caregiver body mechanics, helping with transfers and walking, turning and positioning, medication management, fall prevention and home safety and much more. They will also talk about resources in the community that can lighten the load of a caregiver.

“We know many people are thrust into a caregiver’s role without a lot of training,” said Josephson. “This one-time class will to teach people how to provide safe, practical care for their loved ones.”

The class is free of charge, but people are encouraged to register by calling 507-646-1457.

For more information, contact Sue Josephson at that same number.

    Seal coating of roadways and parking areas at the Northfield Hospital campus will limit hospital access over the next couple of days. Patients and visitors are advised to pay close attention to directional signage.

    The entrance to the Long Term Care Center will not be available Saturday, June 4. The hospital’s main entrance will not tbe unavailable Sunday, June 5..

  By Mark Henke,

  President and CEO of Northfield Hospital & Clinics

   Events like Healthcare Week (May 8-14) give us an opportunity to pause and reflect on where we have been and where we are going.

     Last year was a year of celebration for Northfield Hospital & Clinics. We celebrated 100 years of service to the Northfield community with a series of events and activities. We also celebrated the long and faithful service of retiring administrators Ken Bank and Roger Stapek and retiring board members John Lundblad and Curt Swenson. This foursome was instrumental in shaping the positive spirit and trajectory of Northfield Hospital & Clinics.

     It is clear that Northfield Hospital & Clinics is well positioned for the future as we grow into our vision of becoming a regional medical destination.  Our strategic geographic location and our wide range of quality medical services have made us an attractive partner to a number of healthcare organizations.

     That was underscored last fall when Mayo Clinic chose to locate a new radiation oncology center less than a mile from our hospital campus. Come July, patients will no longer have to leave town for this important therapy. It will be available right here in Northfield.

     This development has added momentum to our plans to expand the clinical space for Infusion Services/Chemotherapy and Sleep Medicine. Our proposed clinical expansion project is one of our focal points for 2011. This important project will provide an economical way for us to continue to expand our outpatient services, while making great use of an underutilized building in Northfield. Most importantly, area patients will soon have access to state-of-the-art facilities for both radiation and chemotherapy treatments close to home.

     Our mission compels us to expand the scope of medical services available in our community. We want to minimize the times people have to leave town. And we are deeply committed to continually improving the quality of care we provide. During Healthcare Week we are celebrating the many safety and quality initiatives that give you confidence in our services.

     Recently, we passed state surveys of our Long Term Care Center and our mammography program in Diagnostic Imaging with no deficiencies, a difficult task in the face of rigorous review. In 2010, Minnesota Hospital Association recognized us with awards of excellence for our safety initiatives, such as preventing falls, preventing pressure ulcers in patients, preventing wrong site surgeries, etc. 

     We couldn’t accomplish all of this without the support we receive from our medical provider partners, our volunteers and community partners and the community as a whole. We appreciate your support and the confidence you have in the services we provide.  We continue to be committed to authentic neighbor-to-neighbor care and we look forward to serving you for many years to come.

Gerard O’Halloran, MD, is now providing nonsurgical cosmetic treatments at FamilyHealth Medical Clinic in Lakeville.

       The clinic treatments include Botox and dermal filler injections. Dr. O’Halloran, an otolaryngology specialist with more than 20 years of experience, also performs rhinoplasty at Northfield Hospital in Northfield.

        Botox and dermal filler injections are noninvasive methods of softening facial creases and wrinkles and of restoring volume to the shallow contours of the face. Most patients require a Botox treatment about twice a year after the initial treatment. Derma fillers treatments are usually performed about once a year. Many patients prefer these approaches to a more complex surgical restoration, Dr. O’Halloran said.

        Both the initial consultation and treatments are an out-of-pocket expense not covered by insurance. Rhinoplasty procedures to correct damage done by injury are covered by insurance, but elective rhinoplasty for cosmetic reasons is not covered.

        Dr. O’Halloran sees both adults and children at FamilyHealth Medical Clinic for a wide variety of issues, ranging from nose and sinus problems, recurrent ear infections, and sleep related breathing problems including sleep apnea and snoring.  He specializes in chronic sinus problems and “sinus” headaches.

       A graduate of Mayo Medical School and Mayo Clinic ENT residency, Dr. O’Halloran is certified by the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. He is also trained in noninvasive facial rejuvenation and minimally invasive neck liposuction.

      You can make an appointment with Dr. O’Halloran by calling 952-469-0500.
      FamilyHealth Medical Clinic, a service of Northfield Hospital & Clinics, also offers family medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, orthopedics and general surgery

  The 50^th annual Great Northfield, Minnesota Book Raid, the Northfield Hospital Auxiliary’s annual book sale, will be Tuesday, April 26 to Saturday, April 30, at the Northfield Ice Arena, South Highway 3, Northfield.

  Sale hours will be 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, April 27-April 29; and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 30. Friday is half price day. Saturday morning is “bag day,” four dollars per grocery bag of books.

   The Northfield Hospital Auxiliary’s Book Fair has developed a time-tested formula for success — great books, great prices and a great deal of community pride. After half a century of book fairs, the event has burrowed its way into Northfield’s consciousness and become a seasonal marking point, one of Northfield’s signature events. It is an example of a community acting on its best instincts, promoting literacy, voluntarism, recycling and reuse, all in service to community health improvement.

    Over the years the book fair has raised a half a million dollars. It is used to support projects at Northfield Hospital & Clinics and other community health initiatives. Those funds also support the Northfield Hospital Auxiliary’s health education scholarship program.

   For more information, call 507-646-6262.

       A service of inspiration and renewal for caregivers, featuring music, scripture and guided meditation led by Henry Emmons, MD, will be Tuesday, April 12, 7 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Northfield.

      Called “Restore, Replenish, Renew,” this service is designed for anyone who is providing care or services to persons in need. This includes family caregivers, nurses, physicians, healthcare workers, therapists, clergy and volunteers. The service will include the traditional anointing of the hands and Native American drumming.

     Dr. Emmons, a psychiatrist who uses mind-body and alternative therapies in his clinical work, has been asked to expand the guided meditation session he offered last year. A resident of Northfield, he is the author of The Chemistry of Joy and The Chemistry of Calm.  

   Meg Fearing will provide the Native American drumming, and Julia Uleberg will provide a Tibetan bowl reading. Nancy Baldwin, Trondhjem Lutheran Church; Sherri Bunch Quaas, Barb Holm, Bethel Lutheran Church; and Chaplain Neale Thompson of Northfield Hospital & Clinics will serve as anointers.

     Following the service there will be refreshments and time for fellowship.  Seven local masseuses will provide massage at no charge.

     Northfield Area Interfaith Association, Northfield Retirement Community, Northfield Hospital & Clinics, and Three Links Care Center are sponsoring the service.

Northfield Hospital, in cooperation with its partner, CarTime Auto Service Center, is conducting its monthly Car Seat Safety Clinic on Saturday, March 12, at CarTime’s Auto Center on South Highway 3. A certified technician from Northfield Hospital will check the child safety seat, including boosters, to insure that it is a safe product, fits the child, and is properly installed.

Parents and anyone else who transport children can report between 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. with the child, car seat, and the owner’s manual. Expectant parents also are welcome to check their car seat installation. This free service is offered on the second Saturday of the month. Appointments are preferred but not required. Call Mamie at 507-663-7087.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children in the United States. Most of the injuries can be prevented. The rate of serious and fatal injuries goes down by one-half when children are placed in age-appropriate restraints.

Contact Nancy at Northfield Hospital’s Education Office, 507-646-1035, for more information.