Horn Gives Direction on “Obamacare”

Beginning October 1, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) opened the state health insurance exchanges for business. Popularly known as “Obamacare,” the requirements of the act include an individual mandate to purchase health insurance if insurance is not available through an employer or other private purchase options.

 To help people comply with Obamacare, Horn Memorial Hospital has been approved as a Certified Application Counselor (CAC) organization. Katrina Utterback is Horn’s Certified Application Counselor who will assist patients and their families in exploring options for coverage through the insurance exchange. If you would like to arrange an appointment with Katrina, please call 712.364.3311.

 “What Obamacare and the new insurance exchange means can be confusing to people, even to those who work in healthcare. As the area’s hospital we know that the public will look to us to have answers to their questions. Because of that, we’ve done what we can to educate ourselves on what it all means, and thankfully we have a knowledgeable Certified Application Counselor on site to can field questions and help people navigate through all the new options,” said Chris Nichols CEO of Horn Memorial Hospital.

 A number of factors – such as pre-existing conditions, health status, claims history, duration of coverage, gender, occupation, and small employer size and industry – will no longer be considered for those seeking health insurance through the exchange.

 “We want to reassure Medicare beneficiaries that they are already covered, their benefits aren’t changing, and the insurance exchange doesn’t require them to do anything different,” says Julie Bataille, spokeswoman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicare open enrollment starts October 15 and closes December 7, while enrollment for the new state exchanges for people 65 and under launches October 1 and runs through March.

 “Horn Memorial Hospital does not sell insurance. Our Certified Application Counselor is simply here to guide you through the insurance exchange and to help you understand how tax credits can help cover the costs of insurance premiums,” Nichols stated.

Horn Hospice Prepares for 19th Annual Tree of Lights

Sports Medicine Clinic Added to Specialty Clinic Listing at Horn

Horn Memorial Hospital (HMH) is pleased to welcome Dr. Benjamin Bissell to our community.  Dr. Bissell is a board certified and fellowship trained orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon.  He comes to HMH from CNOS and is proud to join Dr. Meyer in providing expert care to the people of Ida Grove and the surrounding communities.

Dr. Bissell will practice sports medicine and general orthopaedics, focusing on the shoulder, knee, and hip. His expertise includes hip arthroscopy, complex shoulder arthroscopy, knee stabilization including ACL reconstruction, shoulder and knee arthroplasty, and general orthopaedic trauma.

Prior to joining CNOS, Dr. Bissell worked with various athletic teams and at sporting events to treat injured athletes, including the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, the University of Vermont, the Sugerbush Ski Injury Clinic and the Big 10 Wrestling Tournament.

Dr. Bissell will see patients at Horn Memorial Hospital on Monday afternoons.  To schedule your appointment with Dr. Bissell, call 605.217.2667.

Dermatology Services Return to HMH

Wanda Freese, ARNP, joins Horn Physicians Clinic

Horn offers a FREE "Welcome to Medicare" Seminar

How to Respond to an Active Shooter

An active shooter is a person actively engaged in attempting to kill people, often without a pattern or method to their selection of victims.  September is National Preparedness Month.  This week, Patti Andrews, Public Health Nurse and Unit Leader of the Ida County MRC, shares important practices for dealing with an active shooter situation.

“Active shooter situations are unpredictable and develop quickly,” states Patti. “Individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with these circumstances. Just as knowing ‘Stop, Drop, Roll’ is an important part of fire safety, ‘Run, Hide, Fight’ helps people cope with an active shooter situation.

Patti shared some good practices for coping with an active shooter. 1) Quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life. 2) Run – If there is a safe escape path, evacuate the building.  3) Hide – If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide.  It should be out of the shooter’s view and provide protection if shots are fired in your direction.  Remember to lock the door and blockade it with heavy furniture.  Silence your cell phone and remain quiet. 4) Fight – As a last resort, and only if your life is in imminent danger, work with others to attempt to incapacitate the shooter by improvising weapons and acting as aggressively as possible against him/her. 

“Remember events like this are unpredictable and may evolve quickly.  Always be aware of your environment and any possible dangers.  Take note of the nearest exists.  Preparing now for an active shooter event greatly increases your chance for survival,” reminds Patti.

Helpful Tips to Prepare for Severe Weather

If you’ve seen the news lately, you know that emergencies can happen unexpectedly in communities just like yours, to people just like you.  September is National Preparedness Month.  This week, Reverend Kevin Freese, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Battle Creek and MRC volunteer, shares important steps you can take to prepare for severe weather.

Kevin reminds community members: 1) Understand the types of hazardous weather that can affect where you live and work.  2) Prepare and plan in the event you must go for three days without electricity, water service, and access to a supermarket or other local services. 3)  Build an Emergency Supply Kit which includes non-perishable food, water, first aid supplies, medications, flashlights and a battery powered radio.  4)  Make a Family Emergency Plan.  Your family may not be together when disaster strikes; a Family Emergency Plan would address how to contact each other, how you will get back together, and what you will do in case of an emergency.  

             

“By taking a few simple actions now, you can make your family safer during severe weather,” Kevin reminds the community.

Helpful Tips to Prepare for a Power Outage

We may not notice it when the power is on, but our dependence on it is clear when it goes out.  September is National Preparedness Month. This week Sherry Reiling, Administrative Assistant for Horn Memorial Community Health and an Ida County Medical Reserve Corps volunteer, shares helpful tips for dealing with a power outage.

“Any number of things can cause a power outage,” states Sherry.  “Most likely it is weather-related.  The outage could be localized or wide-spread and last anywhere from a few hours to a few days.  Preparing now for an outage will help keep your family safe.”

Sherry shared some important tips when dealing with a power outage.  1) Know your electric company’s phone number so you can report an outage.  2) Check your flashlights and battery-powered radios to ensure they are working and make sure to have extra batteries.  Purchasing hand-cranked flashlights helps eliminate the need for batteries.  3) Unplug some of your major appliances.  When the power comes back on, all of those appliances can create a drain or power surge.  This can harm sensitive equipment.  To avoid damage in the event of a power surge, you should also turn off computers, TVs, stereos and other unnecessary electronic equipment at the power source.  4) Leave a light on so you know when the power is restored.  5) Do not use kerosene heaters, BBQs, or any outdoor type heater inside the home; such devices create poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide.  6) If you have to go outside, be extra cautious. Down or hanging electrical wires could be live; never attempt to touch or move them.  7) Check on your elderly neighbors.

If power is out over a widespread area, it may take longer to restore power to all of the areas.  Sometimes it can be out for days.  “Take this time to enjoy family time without electricity, computers, electronics, TV and other distractions.  Pass the time by playing games, reading or sharing stories,” says Sherry.  “Preparing now for an outage will make life easier if it happens.”

Horn Memorial to Host “Mammo Parties” in October

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women in the United States, second only to heart disease.  However, great strides in early detection and breast cancer treatments have decreased deaths.  Mammography and self breast exams play a key role in early detection of breast cancer.

Horn Memorial is taking a new angle in promoting mammography testing and breast cancer awareness in the month of October.  Three out of the five Wednesdays in October, Horn Memorial’s Radiology staff will be hosting “Mammo Parties”.  This special event will give ladies an opportunity to pamper themselves with massages, manicures, pedicures, food and more when they schedule their annual mammogram in the evening on October 2, 16 or 30 between the hours of 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

“We have a lovely state-of-the art Women’s Health Suite that offers both digital mammography and bone densitometry to our community.  We’re hoping that during these three evening sessions, women will encourage their friends to get that overdue mammogram, or encourage the women who are due for their first mammogram to take the time to get it done during this special event.  There is often some anxiety that goes along with getting a mammogram; by bringing a friend and having the extra ‘pampering’ opportunity, we’re hoping to alleviate the stress and anxiety,” comments Kristin Treinen, Radiology Director. 

Schedule your appointment today by calling 712.364.7239!  Please note that most insurances will pay for one mammogram per calendar year.