Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services | Gibson gets it! | Spring/Summer 2020

Gibson gets it! 15 Baby Central gets $5,000 scholarship The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) selected Gibson Area Hospital’s obstetrics department as a recipient for the 2019 Every Woman, Every Baby Perinatal Orientation and Education Program, Fourth Edition (POEP4), scholarship. Kristin Salyards, MSN, RNC-OB, Director of OB and Women, Infants, and Children’s Services, who applied for the $5,000 scholarship, is excited about this new learning opportunity for her department, which will provide consistent, evidence-based, clinical education to perinatal nurses. “We were one of five hospitals nationwide to receive this scholarship,” she says. “These modules will be a great asset to our staff as we strive to provide the best care for our Baby Central families.” Optimal care for moms and babies Team members from Baby Central attended the annual conference for the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative last November, where they were recognized for their contributions to current quality initiatives in obstetric care. They also received education and feedback and were given strategies and instruction for 2020 goals, which include decreasing cesarean section rates and promoting birth equity. By engaging in these strategies, the obstetrics staff aims to provide optimal patient care for moms and babies in East Central Illinois! 4 steps to having a better mammogram The hardest part of preparing for a mammogram may be picking up the phone and making the appointment. But once you accomplish that task, there are four things you need to do to help ensure that the process goes smoothly and that you get the most accurate results: If you still menstruate, schedule the mammogram for about a week after your period, when your breasts are less tender. If you’ve had mammograms at another facility, have the records transferred so that they can be compared to the new mammogram. Don’t wear talcum powder, deodorant or lotion on your underarms or breasts the day of your mammogram. They can show up as white spots on the image. Be sure to tell the technologist about any breast changes or symptoms you have. Source: American Cancer Society 1 2 3 4 Don’t wait until October to think about your breast health! Talk to your primary care provider about scheduling your mammogram. Need a provider? Visit www.gibsonhospital.org for a complete list of providers in your area.