Submitted By: 

Lisa Jorgenson RN, BSN

During the first week of November we celebrate the health information profession with Health Information and Technology week, November 2-8, 2008.  On Rasmussen campuses with HIT programs, students and program directors are coordinating events to highlight this profession. 

 Why should we take time out of our busy schedules to get involved in these events?  For several reasons:

·         To engage student involvement in their future profession and to develop leadership skills

·         To increase awareness of a somewhat obscurely-titled profession by creating a forum to articulate what health information technicians do

·         To invite professionals in the field to visit our campus to celebrate and partner with us

·         To include residential and online HIT students in activities that help them get to know each other

·         To encourage student membership in our professional organization, AHIMA

·         To answer questions about the HIT profession and ask others to consider the HIT profession

·         To lighten up and have fun!

 On the Green Bay campus, students are coordinating a HIT week potluck and membership drive as a way to get to know each other.  We hope the other Rasmussen campuses are having as much fun as we are.  If you see a HIT student or faculty member November 2-8, give them a word of congratulations for a job well done.

~Susan Johnson, RHIA, CCS

   HIT Program Director

   Green Bay campus

 Since today is my 44^th birthday, the only thing I can think of to write about is getting old.  In my mind and my heart I still feel like I am 30, but I must admit that my body sometimes tells me otherwise.  I have a nagging lower back ache that tells me when I have done too much, my knees just aren’t the same, and I have been trying to lose the same 10 pounds for about a million years.  So I keep on trying to eat healthy meals and walk 3 miles a day and add in an occasional hike, 15-mile bike ride, and game of golf to stay young and have fun. 

 We all know what we are supposed to do to stay healthy and fit and young, but we often forget about our health in the course of our busy lives.  This will just be a quick reminder of the things you should be doing to treat that wonderful, amazing, complex body of yours in the best way that you can!

 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Much of the illness, disability, and death associated with chronic disease is avoidable through known prevention measures. Key measures include practicing a healthy lifestyle (e.g., regular physical activity, healthy eating, and avoiding tobacco use) and the use of early detection practices (e.g., screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, diabetes and its complications, and depression).” 

 This week I challenge you to think about how well you are participating in your own disease prevention and healthy lifestyle.  Pick one thing this week to improve upon, whether it be diet, exercise, making an appointment for a physical, or doing something to relieve stress.  Set some new goals.  Feel great knowing that you have done something to stay young and healthy.  And we can’t forget that often healthy body equals healthy mind!  When we feel good physically, we feel better mentally as well. 

Have a great week!  Be healthy, and do something to make you feel like a kid again.  I am going to carve a pumpkin, and try really hard not to eat all of the candy I bought for the trick-or-treater’s!

October 19-25 is the Annual National Massage Awareness Week sponsored by American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA).  The purpose of Massage Therapy Awareness Week is to draw attention to the benefits of massage therapy and offer opportunities for the public to learn more about what massage therapy can do for them. In the early 1800’s, rubbing, friction and percussion were the mainstays of manual soft tissue manulipation treatment.  By the end of the 19^th century, massage had developed into a more sophisticated form of manual therapy, including sliding techniques call effleurage.  Numerous studies show therapeutic massage is beneficial to people at all phases of their lives (i.e. infant, child, teen, young adult, adult, seniors) and is an important component to a healthy lifestyle.  The following are some ways people in different age groups may benefit from massage therapy: 

• Infants – for colic, sleep difficulties, faster weight gain for preemies, fostering connection between parent(s) and child
• Children – stress relief, sleep difficulties, learning disabilities
• Teens/Young adults – student stress relief, pre and post sporting events, injury recovery
• Adults – stress relief, injury recovery, pregnancy relief, workplace stress, TMJ, Carpal tunnel syndrome, boosting immune function, speeding recovery from illness/surgery
• Seniors – stress relief, injury recovery, boosting immune function, speeding recovery from illness/surgery, arthritis, compassionate touch for hospices care

AMTA’s annual survey looked at the growth of massage therapy over 10 years and determined that massage therapy has been a growing trend in American culture, with 39 million American adults – more than one out of every 6 – getting a massage annually.  While relaxation (26%) is still a motive for Americans integrating massage into their routines, using massage therapy for medical purposes (30%) such as injury recovery, pain reduction, headache control, and for their overall health and wellness, is even more prevalent.  More people are discussing massage options with their doctors and healthcare providers, and more healthcare professionals are recommending massage therapy as part of patient’s overall health.  The survey also stated that almost twice as many doctors recommended massage to their patients this year than five years ago.  While physicians led the way for recommending massage therapy when asked (59%), nearly half of all chiropractors (48%) and physical therapist (47%) also recommended massage when patients inquired.  Whether Americans are getting massage therapy at a spa, as part of their chiropractic visits, at their health club, or even at work, the use of massage therapy has increased form 10 years ago.  The number of both men and women who received a massage in the last year has doubled since 1979 but, at 23 percent, women still get the most massages.  Gentlemen you don’t know what you’re missing!!!  One of the reasons massage therapy’s popularity is on the rise is its use by Americans ages 18 to 34 (Generations X and Y). The surveys points out the acceptance and use of massage as someone ages, and considering the younger generations’ views and use of massage it will likely surpass previous generations as they rely on massage for therapeutic reasons and stress relief.  Only 28 percent of Gen Y (18 to 24 year olds) agree that massage is just a luxury, compared to 94 percent that agree it can be beneficial to their health.  Gen X agree:  92 percent believe massage can be beneficial to their health.  Massage therapy was three times more popular as a form of pain relief among 18 to 24 year olds than medication (34 percent for massage versus 10 percent for medication).  Ninety-eight percent of Gen X respondents believe massage can be an effective way to relieve pain and 37 percent have already had a massage to relieve pain, while 48 percent of Gen Y have used massage to relieve pain. 

I read there are an estimated 250 different massage/bodywork techniques available.  I encourage you to seek out a therapist and get a massage.  Join those who believe that massage is the most natural way to heal.  While you’re at it refer a loved one and/or friends to one of Rasmussen’s massage clinics.  It would be a nice way to help them discover the benefits of massage at a great price…

Celebrating National Medical Assistants Recognition Week for  2008

 Submitted by Pam Christianson, MA Program Coordinator

The celebration week is October 20-24th.  The recognition day is October, 22, 2008.  This is a week to celebrate Medical Assistants and their accomplishments in the clinical setting.  Medical Assistants are a multiskilled allied health professional who can perform a wide range of tasks with skill, dedication, and loyalty in a clinic setting.  Medical Assistants have successfully become the mediator between the doctors and their patients, which makes them a vital importance in the health care field.  This week is an opportunity for clinics to recognize the importance of Medical Assistants and to award them for all the hard work they do.  The AAMA website is promoting Medical Assistant week as “Medical Assistants are the heart of health care.”

What is a Medical Assistant and Why Do Employers Hire Certified Medical Assistants?

A Certified Medical Assistant, according to the State of Minnesota, “performs routine administrative and clinical type tasks to keep health care delivery settings running smoothly and reports to a licensed health care practitioner.  Work is performed according to established rules and procedures with day-to-day supervision by a licensed medical professional on duty.”  Under the Allocations Consideration paragraph in the Class Specifications of a Certified Medical Assistant by the State of Minnesota it states the difference between an LPN and a Certified Medical Assistant.    The LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurses) work primarily in hospitals and nursing centers where as the CMA customarily work in clinics.  A Certified Medical Assistant is trained to work in all aspects of a clinic setting.  Some examples of their duties are phlebotomy, run CLIA waived lab tests, minor x-rays, take vitals, obtain medical histories, prepare and administer medications/immunizations as directed, call in prescription refills, prepare and assist the doctor with minor procedures, administrative duties such as coding, billing, answering phones, scheduling appointments, and greeting patients.  The AAMA reports that 60% of CMAs are working in a clinic setting, 14% are in hospital setting, and 10% work in other offices such as chiropractors. 

So why do clinics hire CMAs?  The AAMA website has an article called “Why more employers are hiring CMAs” by Donald A. Balasa, JD, MBA, AAMA Executive Director and Legal Counsel.  In his article, he talks about the importance of why doctors want their MAs to be certified, his reply was because of the increase in malpractice suits. Having a CMA on board will decrease the challenges that the patient may have on the quality of care they are getting, by knowing that the facility has licensed staff.  Another issue is health care costs, having a CMA on board can reduce costs by limiting unnecessary staff, since CMAs are trained in all aspects of a clinical setting.  Employers feel that a CMA shows competence and is also favored by organizations such as OSHA, CLIA, JCAHO, NCQA to have the professional credentials.  

 Submitted by:  Susan Finneman, BS  MT(ASCP), MLT Program Coordinator, Rasmussen College-Moorhead, MN Campus

I am one of “those people” who swear that everything happens for a reason, nothing is impossible, and what goes around comes around.  When an opportunity lands squarely in my lap to do something positive and make a difference in someone’s life, I’m drawn to it like a horse to water.I’ve been in the medical world for my entire adult life following college. 

I graduated with a degree in Medical Technology and have loved this field since the day that I put on my first white lab coat. I’ve been fortunate enough to have rotated through all the departments, as a generalist, and then I chose my favorite area to call my own.  It is Microbiology, the study of microbes aka “bugs”.  FYI: I actually despise (and fear) bugs, in general, but those are the ones you can see with the naked eye!  Those bugs either get scotch-taped to the wall or imprisoned under a piece of Tupperware until my husband gets home to kill them or set them free!  The bugs in Micro, though, are seen under the microscope and don’t frighten me in the least.

That being said, let me get to the part about “paying it forward”:

I met and married my husband, Gene, and moved to North Dakota in 1999.  I had previously enjoyed a lovely career of working in Microbiology and then teaching in a small college in Ohio.  All medical, once again.  I was there for 10+ years before leaving to marry Gene and move to North Dakota.

I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do in North Dakota, but I knew that I wanted to do something so that I could make some friends and participate in the community. Actually, we opened a fine dining restaurant and I put on yet another white coat. This time, I was a white- coated Pastry Chef! I loved working in my own restaurant.  I found that my math skills were put to great use in the baking world where everything is “based on a formula”.  It’s a creative blast to be able to dream up concoctions that people really pay for!

But, one day my reason d’être became quite clear. My step daughter, Cherie, became sick with Pulmonary Fibrosis. She was born with a hole between the ventricles of her heart and had it patched when she was only 6 months old.  By the age of 3, she needed open heart surgery to fix the problem.  The problem was, though, that the lungs are pretty unforgiving and remembered when they were denied enough oxygen when she was small.  Cherie’s lungs became unable to supply enough oxygen for her, which lead her heart to become enlarged and to eventually spring dangerous leaks.  The bottom line was that the esteemed doctors at the Mayo Clinic decided she needed a heart and lung transplant and she needed it soon.  We went back and forth to Rochester, MN for 10 months: doctoring, medicating, oxygenating, waiting and praying.  In the meanwhile, in order to be placed on the transplant list, Cherie needed a “caregiver”.  This chosen person promises to be with the patient the entire time that they wait for their “call”: through surgery, and through all the months of recovery.  This person signs a contract that they will be with the patient, essentially, for the rest of their life: close enough to watch out for their well-being, and correcting them when they need it. A very popular position to be in?  No, surely not.  Cherie asked me to be her “care giver”.  I was honored and touched and humbled.  I accepted immediately, and our journey began.  This was my chance to “pay it forward”.

We were sent to Mayo/Jacksonville, Florida to await “the call”.  We moved there on June 2, 2004 and moved into a residential hotel near the hospital.  The visits to the doctors and support staff began and so did our daily routine.  It’s very easy to get discouraged, afraid, lonely, bored, and angry.  It was my job to make sure none of these feelings lasted too long. Cherie missed her son and I missed my husband, but we both knew why we were there and hung on tight to each other!  Every medical thing I ever learned was tested during those times and I am so glad that I had the education that I did have!

Cherie’s “call;” came on August 4th.  This was no “dry run”. This was the real thing and the surgery was a “go”.  After many hours, Cherie received the gift of life from a 16 year old girl who died in an automobile accident.  She received her heart and the two lungs.  Essentially, the entire upper half of Cherie’s anatomy was replaced. We had many rough times ahead, several bumps in the road, a few minor bouts of rejection (which were fixable), and three (3) months of intensive recovery.  I was with her the entire time, except for a short break, and it changed my life.

First, let me just say that I am very humbled that Cherie asked me to be with her through this ordeal.  To me it meant that she trusted me to do the best for her, and of course, that is exactly what I did.  Everything that I ever learned about laboratory testing, results and normal or abnormal values helped me to understand whatever the physicians were saying.  It also helped me to translate all the medical mumbo jumbo to my husband’s family so they would know exactly what was happening.  I created a daily news letter and sent it to about 25 close people: our friends and Cherie’s friends and co-workers. I was absolutely shocked when someone told me that this letter was sent to over 250 people every single day…forwarded and forwarded again.  So many people cared to know how Cherie was doing and I was able to let them be part of the journey in an understandable way. 

After three (3) months in Jacksonville: through the wait, the surgery, the recovery, the HOT Florida summer, and 4 hurricanes, we came home to North Dakota.

It’s been four (4) years, and we are still on the journey.  Fortunately, Cherie is doing well and following “most” of my recommendations.  She is taking care of herself and her son and I know, that deep in her heart, she remembers what it took to get her here.  I’m proud of her and I’m very proud that she wanted me with her.  I won’t forget, either.