George James

Lake Huron Medical Center Gets “A” Grade for Safety

Port Huron, MI — Lake Huron Medical Center has recently received the highest possible grade recognizing its efforts to maintain a safe environment for patients. The hospital received a 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade of “A”. They have consistently received “A” grades since 2018.

Jose Kottoor, Lake Huron Medical Center Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are extremely proud to have earned straight ‘A’ grades for hospital safety since fall of 2018 because it reflects the commitment that Lake Huron Medical Center, our physicians, staff and nurses make – every day – when caring for patients.” He went on to say, “We have a safety culture at LHMC and process in place to earn the A grade consistently for the last several years. Our dedicated staff remains committed to providing the highest quality of care, even in times of crisis, to our community.”

Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, said, “This ‘A’ is a testament to the care and commitment of those who work for Lake Huron Medical Center. With the current pandemic exposing existing flaws within the U.S. health care system, we appreciate you putting patient safety first. Lives depend on it.”

Safety grades can be found at hospitalsafetygrade.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Sheriff Warns Against Gift Card Scams

St. Clair County Sheriff Mat King is warning that scammers are hitting close to home this holiday season, with bad guys posing as representatives of the St. Clair County Health Department and the St. Clair County Intervention Academy. There are also scams going around involving jury duty and the IRS.

The criminals are sending emails asking for gift card activation codes. This is a common scam to which people continue to fall victim, even though gift cards are never a legal payment for a legitimate agency or charity.

Sheriff King said, “Unfortunately, there are always criminals looking to prey on good-hearted citizens. If you receive an email or phone call soliciting donations, it is always best to double check to make sure the request is legitimate.”

Tips for avoiding scams include not answering phone calls from unfamiliar numbers, or saying “Remove us from your calling list” and then hanging up. Being wary of emails from unrecognized sources is also advised. Misspelled words are a red flag that should raise suspicion. Do not click on links within suspicious emails.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Fort Gratiot Fire Department Hosts “Shop with a Hero”

Members of the Fort Gratiot Fire Department are used to doing what needs to be done in an emergency. When the emergency was local kids going without toys and essentials for Christmas, they stepped up to solve the problem.

This is the second year that Fort Gratiot Township received a grant from the Walmart Foundation to fund “Shop with a Hero”. This year’s effort helped 27 students who attend the township elementary schools: Keewahdin and Thomas Edison.

In a normal year, the students would have gathered with the firefighters at the Fort Gratiot Walmart and shopped alongside them, but this is not a normal year, and a group shopping trip was not an option. Instead, the department got wish lists from the kids’ parents and did the shopping for them.

Some parents picked up the gifts from the Fort Gratiot Township office while some were delivered by the department in a fire truck. Sharon Wilton, Community Development Director for Fort Gratiot, said that they are thankful to Walmart and the Fort Gratiot Fire Department for making a difference during this holiday season.

The Walmart Foundation gives over $1 billion in charitable contributions each year.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Midwest Governors Discourage Holiday Travel

The governors of the Midwest states are usually encouraging travel and tourism, but “usually” doesn’t apply in 2020. This year, the governors of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin are asking residents to stay home for Christmas.

In a video released on Wednesday, the bipartisan coalition of leaders urged their constituents and neighbors to forgo their traditional holiday travel plans to keep the spread of COVID-19 contained.

The governors joined together to deliver the message of mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing. They also asked families to reconsider any plans they have to gather with other households. They said, “We owe it to the brave men and women serving on the front lines of this pandemic to do our part and be smart this holiday season.”  

The governors also encourage shopping local and working together to keep small businesses afloat. The holiday message is similar to one they delivered before Thanksgiving. National reports show that Thanksgiving travel was at the highest levels recorded since the pandemic began.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb4qGXiEGsU&feature=youtu.be

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

McLaren Port Huron Gets an “A” for Safety

Port Huron, MI — McLaren Port Huron Hospital was recently awarded a Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade of “A”. The national distinction recognizes the hospital’s achievements that protect patients from harm and provide safe, compassionate health care.

Records of prevention of medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections, and other harm to patients as well as patient experience factor into the grade.

The Leapfrog score uses safety data to rate more than 2600 hospitals twice each year. The peer-reviewed methodology and transparent results are free to the public. Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, said, “We are extremely grateful to hospital leadership and health care workers who have remained steadfast in prioritizing patient safety as our nation battles COVID-19.”

McLaren Port Huron’s President and CEO Eric Cecava said, “This Leapfrog safety grade is a testament to the care and commitment of those who work at McLaren Port Huron. Given the extraordinary challenges of COVID-19, this grade is even more impressive. Our team never loses sight of the critical need to provide high quality care in a compassionate and safe environment.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

“Mask Up, Mask Right”

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has launched an initiative to stress the importance of wearing a face mask correctly. The “Mask Up, Mask Right” message is being sent out to remind Michiganders that wearing a mask right is the best way to slow down the spread of Covid-19.

MDHHS Director Robert Gordon proclaimed, “The science is now settled: Masks protect others from COVID – and they protect the wearer. It’s important to wear the right mask and wear it the right way. We want all Michiganders to Mask Up, Mask Right as we continue to battle the virus in our state.”

Correct mask wearing means using a three-layered washable cloth face covering, medical-grade disposable masks, or approved KN95 masks. Masks need to be secured over the nose and face and fit tightly with no gaps. Bandanas, gaiters, and other types of masks are not on the list. Face shields without a mask are not considered as effective as masks.

Free masks are available at MDHHS and Community Action Agencies.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland