Subject: December Newsletter: Merry Christmas & Health New Year

Winter Walking Tips for Fall Prevention

Winter weather has arrived! While “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” sounds like a lovely seasonal experience, it's important to remember that winter's snowy and icy conditions underfoot can quickly result in a tumble.

Spencer Hospital Safety Director Laura Manwarren and Employee Health Nurse Tatum Geerdes team up to share the importance to walking safely during the winter in their latest blog.

Winter Walking Blog

Prevention & Protection of Respiratory Illnesses

Prevention and protection are key to your good health! We are in the midst of respiratory illness season with numerous cases of influenza, Covid and RSV. It's not too late to get a Covid booster, now available for anyone six-months-old and older, or to get your influenza vaccination. Check with your local clinic or pharmacy for flu shots and Covid boosters, or schedule your Covid booster shot with Clay County Public Health.

Clay County Public Health

Manage Your Health Online with AveraChart

Spencer Hospital offers an easy way to access your healthcare information through a secure, online patient portal. Teaming up with Avera Health, Spencer Hospital’s patient information is available through AveraChart, right at your fingertips whenever you need it.

Your AveraChart access provides a common patient portal for healthcare services obtained at Spencer Hospital and other locations, including:

Northwest Iowa Ear, Nose & Throat
Avera Medical Group Spencer
Hartley Family Care
Milford Family Care
Sioux Rapids Family Care
Avera McKennan
Other Avera specialty clinics and facilities

Our portal options allow you to access a variety of information, including:

View test results and health information from your recent hospital stays
Request and manage upcoming appointments
Access discharge instructions and doctor’s notes
Update your personal health information and manage your medical history
Provide secure access of your medical record to family members.

To create your AveraChart patient portal, please follow these steps:

Email us at myhealthrecord@spencerhospital.org or call us at (712) 264-8650 to start the process to activate your portal.
In your email to us, please include: your full name, date of birth, and a phone number.
Once your account has been set-up, you will receive an email notification with instructions on how to finalize the registration process.

View My Records

Radiation Oncologist Dr. Nguyen Finds Perfect Fit at Abben Cancer Center

How did a young man go from being a Vietnamese refugee to become an Ivy League educated and trained physician to serving as radiation oncologist and medical director of radiation oncology at Abben Cancer Center of Spencer Hospital? The answers originate in the pages of a children's book.

To hear Dr. Nguyen's story, please follow the link below to our Fall 2022 Health Connections article.

Dr. Nguyen's Story

Nurse Honor Guard Provides "Final Call of Duty" for Caregivers

A candleholder lantern has become an international symbol of nursing, an image associated with pioneer nurse Florence Nightingale. Just as a spark from such a candle can ignite a flame, one idea can blossom into a flourishing plan.

When long-time Spencer Hospital nurse Colette Rossiter shared information she had seen regarding Nurse Honor Guards with the hospital’s Shared Governance Nursing Image Council, the council researched the program to learn more. With program details in hand, council members then engaged seasoned nurses Linda O’Clair of Avera Medical Group Spencer and retired Spencer Hospital nurse Donna Krogman who embraced developing and providing coordination for a local Nightingale’s Nurse Honor Guard.

Krogman explained the program: “When a nursing professional who has dedicated his or her life to caring for others passes away, the Nightingale’s Nurse Honor Guard is available to provide a special tribute to that dedicated nurse.”

Nurse Honor Guard

Spencer Hospital's Shared Governance Image Council Host Book Drive for Hospital & Community

Reading can boost your health and well-being by reducing stress, aiding in the development of young minds, and helping slow cognitive decline in aging readers. Spencer Hospital’s Shared Governance Nurse Image Council recently hosted a book drive to provide reading materials to various areas of the hospital, local care facilities, the Spencer Activity Center and Spencer Library. Our nurses enjoy supporting the health and wellness of community members both within the hospital and throughout the community!

Book Drive

Spencer Hospital Purchases New Rider Floor Scrubber

While our patients and visitors expect high-tech equipment in our treatment areas, they may be surprised to also encounter sophisticated technology in our hallways. Spencer Hospital’s environmental services team recently purchased a new rider automatic floor scrubber, providing the floor care team with a fleet of two high-tech carpet and hard surface cleaners. The total carpet care system is a multi-purpose rider that offers versatility, from everyday carpet maintenance to deep restorative extraction.

With miles of hallways to clean and a commitment to top-notch cleanliness, the floor cleaning team appreciates the speed and ease of use this carpet care technology provides.

New Rider

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