National "Wear Red" Day

In an effort to raise awareness and show support for the fight against heart disease, many hospital employees wore "red" attire to work.  Friday, February 5, 2010 was designated by the American Heart Association as National "Wear Red" day.  Shown below are hospital employee's wearing red to raise awareness.

Douglas County Hospital is asking for your help during this cold and flu season  Please do NOT visit hospitalized patients if you have cold and/or flu symptoms.  Influenza symptoms may include any of the following:  fever (above 100 degrees F), cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, and in some cases diarrhea and vomiting.

Influenza can be spread when a person with the flu coughs or sneezes and may be spread one day before influenza symptoms develop and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick.  Influenza is highly contagious.  This means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.  For more information, people with possible flu symptoms can call the toll-free Minnesota FluLine at 1-866-259-4655.  Professionals will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Additional information is available at:

www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/flu/index.html

www.cdc.gov/

Douglas County Hospital Now Designated as Level 3 Trauma Hospital
The Minnesota Department of Health recently designated Douglas County Hospital as a level 3 trauma hospital.  Douglas County Hospital and staff voluntarily participated in the intense designation process to become part of Minnesota’s statewide trauma system.  The process included an outside review of the hospital’s resources and capabilities to care for trauma patients.  Douglas County Hospital met standards of commitment, clinical and equipment  resources and staff training.  The hospital also participates in a continuous performance improvement process. Read the full story...