News
Sleep Center Opens at Shoals Hospital Campus
Drs. Lynn Ridgeway, Edsel Holden and Felix Morris bring expertise as pulmonologists to the new Sleep Center at Shoals Hospital.
Posted: December 8, 2011
It’s late, well past midnight, and there’s a long day ahead. Instead of sleeping, however, you’re tossing and turning, unable to quiet your mind and get the rest you need.
While one sleepless night might be an isolated event, recurring sleep problems can signal much larger health issues, according to Dr. Lynn Ridgeway, a sleep specialist and medical director of the Shoals Sleep Center, the newest facility designed to help patients find that better night’s sleep.
“Sleep is a vital sign,” he said. “Insufficient sleep weakens our minds, bodies and immune systems. When we average getting less sleep than we need, a sort of ‘debt’ is incurred, which must be paid back, either by getting that restorative sleep or by addressing other health issues that will develop as a result of our sleep ‘debt.’”
Just how badly can sleeplessness affect the body?
Dr. Felix Morris, who is also a sleep specialist and on staff at the Shoals Sleep Center, said high blood pressure, depression, heart rhythm problems and diabetes can result for a lack of sleep.
Seeking help from a physician is often the first step.
“When you notice excessive daytime sleepiness, or if someone tells you that you snore loudly or seem to stop breathing” it’s time to have a conversation with a doctor, Morris said. “Sleepiness while driving is especially an indicator but really just any time that sleepiness is interfering with something that you would otherwise like to do, like watching movies or television.”
Further, Ridgeway said there’s a great deal of truth to the body’s need for six to eight hours of sleep each night.
“Most people cannot get by on an average of less than six hours per night and perform better when that average is closer to eight hours per night,” he said. “These needs do not change as we age, but the way that our sleep is structured does. Naps that we needed when young may become a need as we age so that we may function at our best, for example.”
The Shoals Sleep Center has been designed and equipped with those needs in mind, according to Byron Jamerson, the Shoals and ECM East Sleep Center director. Each of the four rooms at Shoals is large, and the queen-sized beds are outfitted with 400-thread-count sheets and Serta Perfect Sleeper mattresses. Ambient lighting, soft carpeting and window blinds ensure patients will have a restful night.
“Once the patient arrives, they will be ‘hooked up’ with the monitors that will be used,” Jamerson said. “They are then able to relax, watch television and adapt to the new environment prior to bed time.”
What’s more, he said, is that the center adapts to the patient’s regular routine.
“They are allowed to go to bed at their regular sleep time, and we adapt to their schedule,” Jamerson said. “This gives us the most accurate view of their sleep. We have patients who arrive at all times of the day.”
To that end, the Shoals Sleep Center is equipped with blackout windows for daytime recordings on those who work a night shift.
During a typical sleep study, Dr. Edsel Holden said the goal is to “assess the core reason for the sleep disturbance and see how the body responds to that core issue. This lets us address the problem and not just the symptoms that are occurring as a result of the problem.”
Holden, Morris and Ridgeway then discuss the findings with the patient to determine the best treatment.
“This may be as simple as medication or more complex with CPAP therapy,” Ridgeway said. “Either way, follow-up monitoring is necessary to ensure compliance and effectiveness of the therapy.”
Local Teenage Volunteer Honored with State Award
Posted: October 31, 2011
Sierra Storey, a teenage volunteer at Shoals Hospital, was recently honored by the Alabama Hospital Association as its 2011 Outstanding Teenage Volunteer. The award is given to one teenage volunteer each year in the state who has exemplified hard work, leadership and dedication to hospital volunteerism.
“Ms. Storey represents all that is good with our youth,” said J. Michael Horsley, president of the Alabama Hospital Association. “She’s bright, making very high grades in the advanced placement curriculum at Muscle Shoals High School; she’s well rounded, serving in the Color Guard and Winter Guard with her high school band; and she’s known to be a leader, having been selected to represent her school as one of 24 ambassadors. However, our award was given for her compassion for patients and her tremendous assistance to her local hospital and its staff.”
Horsley added that Ms. Storey was selected from a statewide pool of nominations and received her award at the Annual Auxiliary Fall Conference in Birmingham in front of a group of approximately 200 adult volunteers.
“We are pleased and excited that Sierra would be the recipient of such an honor,” said C. Ross Berry, chief executive officer at Shoals Hospital. “While our teen volunteer program is just two years old, Sierra has been a vital part of those years, and we’ll look forward to working with her again next summer. Her compassion and spirit of teamwork makes her not only a good student, but a wonderful volunteer as well.”
The Alabama Council of Hospital Auxiliaries is an affiliate of the Alabama Hospital Association, a state trade organization, which supports hospitals in providing quality health care to their communities.
Contact:
Contact: Michelle Eubanks, 256-386-1808 or
Rosemary Blackmon, Alabama Hospital Association, (800) 489-2542
Concussions focus of community outreach program to take place Nov. 10
Posted: October 27, 2011
Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Specialist Dr. Kasey Hill and Certified Athletic Trainer Wes Richardson to discuss signs and symptoms of this invisible injury.
Concussions are known as the invisible injury because it often takes time for the full effects of the injury to manifest in an individual. Soccer and football players are often the most common victims of concussions, but, despite common belief, adults who incur a concussion find the injury much more debilitating.
During football season in Alabama, the focus is all on the big games and the big plays. Often, however, those big plays come at the expense of the players. Tackles, falls and sharp hits sometimes leave more than bruises. Football players are in the top five list of athletes who receive concussions while playing their sport; with rugby and soccer taking the top two spots. While the helmet helps, medical experts agree that there is no piece of protective equipment on the market that can stop the force of the blow that can lead to what has come to be known as the invisible injury.
Dr. Kasey Hill, a Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Specialist at the North Alabama Bone and Joint Clinic in Florence, along with Wes Richardson, a certified athletic trainer, will discuss the signs and symptoms of concussions as part of a free community outreach program to take place at 6 p.m. at Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at Shoals Hospital in Muscle Shoals.
A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control reveals that, since 2001, cases of concussions are on the rise. Just 10 years ago, there were an estimated 153,375 traumatic brain injuries among people from birth to age 19. This number rose to 248,418 in 2009. And these injuries aren’t just in children. Adults, including those who play recreations sports, can get concussions. For older individuals, the risks are even greater.
While it’s unclear why more concussions are being diagnosed, medical experts say that simply being more aware of the signs can lead to a faster response and better treatment. The signs of a concussion may include: Confusion, loss of consciousness (even briefly), memory problems, headaches, pressure in the head, nausea and vomiting, balance problems or dizziness, double or blurry vision, sensitivity to light or noise and inattentiveness.
Make plans to attend this program, especially if you or your child plays a sport. Registration for the event is requested by calling 256-386-1808. A light meal will be served.
Contact:
Michelle Rupe Eubanks, director of community relations
Shoals Hospital
256-386-1808
ECM and Shoals Hospitals Welcomes New Physicians
Posted: October, 2010
We’re in the top 10% of the Nation according to Joint Commission S3™
Posted: August 3, 2010
RegionalCare Announces Leadership Structure for Eliza Coffee medical Center and Shoals Hospital
June 21, 2010
Capital Investments for facilities to total $33 million over next four years
Officials at RegionalCare Hospital Partners announced today a new leadership structure for Eliza Coffee Medical Center and Shoals Hospital. Following the anticipated June 30, 2010 closing, both facilities will have their own board of directors and chief executive officer. The historic leadership structure for the facilities had one leadership team and board overseeing both hospitals. RegionalCare Hospital Partners also announced that as part of their agreement to purchase the hospitals, they have committed to making capital investment of at least $33 million in the existing facilities over the next 48 months.
The $33 million for capital investments is above and beyond the $250 million committed for a replacement hospital in Lauderdale County which, pending needed regulatory approvals, will serve as a replacement for both current facilities.
According to John Rutledge, president and chief operating officer of RegionalCare Hospital Partners, “We think t is very important that both hospitals have a CEO and their own board of directors. There is incredible opportunity for both facilities and we feel that it is imperative that each of hospitals have the leadership and connection to the community to help them be best prepared to meet the needs of their neighbors. In the next several weeks we will begin putting together the boards for each hospital. Both boards will be made up of 50% physicians, 50% community leaders. We feel like physicians are our partners in meeting the healthcare needs of the community and that we can all best work together, especially as it relates to identifying priorities for capital investment, when we have a good representation of doctors on the two boards.”
Rutledge added, “We are also currently interviewing candidates for the two CEO positions. Sonny Boggus, who has been at the hospitals for the past several weeks as part of the RegionalCare Hospital Partners team, will serve as the interim CEO until the permanent CEO is named. We expect to have the CEO positions filled in the next 30 days.”
RegionalCare Hospital Partners also outlined some of the initial investments to be made in the facilities. Some of the first investments include:
- Replacement of the electrical switch at Eliza Coffee Medical Center
- Operating Room technology updates and renovations at Shoals Hospital
Rutledge said, “The replacement of the electrical switch at Eliza Coffee Medical Center is not something that any of our patients will see, but it is a vital maintenance replacement for the facility. We have heard from many physicians at Shoals Hospital of the need to make the improvements to the operating rooms to help them be more efficient.”
RegionalCare Hospital Partners is headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn.
