Local News

Keely Ptach has been named the Employee of the Month for April. Ptach has worked for McLaren Port Huron for 14 years and is currently a nurse in the Miriam F. Acheson Family Birth Place.  Ptach was nominated by her peers because she exemplifies customer service, always taking tremendous pride in providing great care for patients. She always finds ways to ensure patients feel comfortable and cared for, and creates the best patient experience possible. Ptach also chairs the Unit Practice Council. She uses this position to look for ways to deliver the best and safest care possible. She is almost always recognized by patients for her care. Her skills and professionalism are evident. She has a can-do attitude, always assists her peers, and practices the hospital values every day.  This employee recognition is given to individuals who consistently live the values, mission and performance standards of McLaren Port Huron. Honorees are nominated by a co-worker, physician, volunteer, and/or customer.  To learn more about McLaren Port Huron, visit www.mclaren.org/porthuron.

Memorial Day is almost here, unofficially kicking off the boating season in Michigan.  Boaters, this season especially, are being asked to be extremely mindful of the no wake zones on the waterways of St. Clair County.  “The high water levels have the potential to cause a lot of damage to property, if boaters aren’t following the rules,” said St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon. “Our Marine Patrol Deputies will be strictly enforcing the no-wake laws throughout the county.”  According to the U.S. Army Corps of engineers, water levels on Lake Huron are expected to be the highest since 1986 and near record levels. The St. Clair River is currently near flooding levels, especially in southern St. Clair County. Other rivers in St. Clair County are also experiencing much higher than normal levels.  No wake zone maps for both the Port Huron area and southern St. Clair County are attached to this news story.  Anyone who would like a PDF copy of the maps can e-mail Deputy Steve Campau at scampau@stclaircounty.org.

In a letter to school district parents posted to social media on Wednesday by the Marysville Public School Superintendent Shawn Wightman, the Marysville Police Department is investigating an incident in which a student allegedly made a comment concerning shooting up Washington Elementary School.  The comment was allegedly made by a fifth grade student during a choir concert Tuesday night and was brought to building-level administrative staff and the student was removed from school Wednesday by the parents, according to the letter. The student is not to return to school or be in the vicinity of school campuses until further notice.    Wightman stated in the letter  that they are thankful a student stepped up to report in the incident as the student’s safety is something everyone must work together to protect.

WGRT talked with St. Clair County Administrator Controller Karry Hepting this week and she mentioned that the emergency operation center has been partially active in the Emergency Management Office, monitoring the water levels and the flooding.  Hepting says they are  advising residents to start to prepare to protect their property and their areas, and have sandbags available as the water is expected to continue to rise through June and July.  She says water levels could potentially reach our historic highs.  Hepting says Clay and Ira township residents should contact their local unit of governments who should have the sandbags, and she says the best thing residents can do is sign up for the WINS alert, which you can find at the WGRT website, and information can be received through phone calls, texts or emails to keep you up to date on emergency issues in your specific area.

Lake Huron Medical Center was awarded an ‘A’ from The Leapfrog Group’s Spring 2019 Hospital Safety Grade. The designation recognizes Lake Huron Medical’s efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards in the United States.  The Leapfrog Group is a national organization committed to improving health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. The Safety Grade assigns an A, B, C, D or F grade to hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, infections and other harms among patients in their care.  “This recognition is made possible through a culture of teamwork and a relentless pursuit of excellence in care and outcomes,” said Jay de los Reyes, Chief Executive Officer, Lake Huron Medical Center. “We are particularly pleased with these recent grades, not just for the hospital, but also for patients. It reinforces the strides we are making in patient care.”  “To be recognized nationally as an ‘A’ hospital is an accomplishment the whole community should take pride in,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “Hospitals that earn an ‘A’ grade are making it a priority to protect patients from preventable medical harm and error. We congratulate hospital leaders, board members, staff, volunteers and clinicians who work so hard to earn this A.”   Developed under the guidance of a National Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.  Lake Huron Medical Center was one of 855 across the United States awarded an A in the Fall 2018 update of grades. To see Lake Huron Medical Center’s full grade details, and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org.  For more information on the programs and events at Lake Huron Medical Center, please visit  www.mylakehuron.com.

The American Red Cross has a critical shortage of type O blood and urges eligible donors to give now to help patients facing trauma and other life-threatening situations. As a thank-you for helping replenish the blood supply, all donors who come to give blood or platelets now through June 10 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email.  Right now, the Red Cross has less than a two-day supply of type O blood available for emergency rooms, where it can be most critical. That means just six units of type O blood are available for every 100,000 people, but at least 14 are needed every day. While just 7% of the U.S. population has type O negative blood, it can be transfused to patients with any blood type and is what hospital staff reach for during emergencies when there isn’t time to determine a patient’s blood type. Type O positive blood is the most transfused blood type and is also critical in trauma situations.  “All blood types are urgently needed, but we’re facing a critical shortage of type O blood – the blood group most needed by hospitals,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “Because it’s vitally important for hospitals to have type O blood available when every second counts, type O donors are urged to donate now and make a point to donate often.”  The Red Cross collected approximately 11,500 fewer type O blood donations than needed to sustain a sufficient blood supply. Spring break schedules are known to decrease blood donations, and schools, including high schools and colleges, begin to host fewer blood drives in late spring as school years end. Because these drives account for about 20% of blood donations during the school year, less drives can also greatly affect the blood supply.

Donations needed now 

Donors of all blood types, especially type O, are urged to urged to make an appointment to donate using the Blood Donor App, at RedCrossBlood.orgor by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Eligible donors with type O blood are encouraged to make a whole blood or Power Red donation, where available. During a Power Red donation, donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact.  In thanks, all those who come to donate blood or platelets with the Red Cross May 1 through June 10, 2019, will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. (Restrictions apply; see amazon.com/gc-legal. More information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.) Additionally, those who come to give May 24-28 will receive an exclusive Red Cross-branded T-shirt, while supplies last.

How blood shortages affect hospitals

Blood shortages are not uncommon and can have a direct impact on patient care. Dr. Atif Shafqat, an oncologist and hematologist at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, says that hospitals face consistent shortages of blood products year-round, even causing some surgeons to delay elective procedures because of individual shortages. “When I ask our blood bank director the toughest part of her job, she always tells me it is these shortages and how to deal with them,” he said.  Despite these challenges, hospitals and the Red Cross work to ensure patients have the blood products they need, but that can only happen when a volunteer donor rolls up a sleeve to give. “This is all possible thanks to the volunteers and the blood donors who are giving this generous gift,” said Shafqat.

How to help

Eligible donors can find a blood or platelet donation opportunity and schedule an appointment to donate by using the free Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass® are encouraged to help speed up the donation process. RapidPass lets donors complete the pre-donation reading and answer the health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, from the convenience of a mobile device or computer, or through the Blood Donor App.  Those interested in hosting a blood drive can learn more and sign up to sponsor a drive this summer by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.