Hospitals and Healthcare

Hello DPT Community,

As I was gearing up for class this summer, I came across an article at cnn.com about how health care dollars are shrinking, but this was unusual. It was unusual in the sense that these dollars are shrinking because of the failing US economy in terms of the stock market. Organizations like the Shriners Hospital for Children make it possible for many children to receive superlative healthcare at no cost to their families. Their website says they are "one of a kind" and indeed in our healthcare system they are. Read why this national treasure is in trouble!

slesh

Spectacular Catch... Horrific Collision

DPT Community,

Last night I sat in horror watching the evening news as Rick Ankiel, former phemon pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals turned major league outfielder, collided head first into the center field wall making a spectacular catch. Watch the clip and you can see the mechanism of injury for cervical spine injuries that lead to catastrophic injuries for athletes. As of this morning, the radiographic evidence supports that Rick has not suffered a fracture and the early signs are positive that he will recover. Keep Rick in your thoughts and prayers.

I have spent many hours on the sidelines of sporting events. I have witnessed many injuries and led the triage of many injured athletes. From fracture wrists in soccer matches to neck injuries from collisions in football. I have managed athletes with concussions and severe knee injuries. I have evaluated fractured clavicles under shoulder pads. I have cleansed countless wounds and stopped blood from flowing from open lacerations. As I reflect upon the last 20 years of dealing with athletic injuries during competition, the one constant is how time stands still for me. When the event is happening, my training goes into effect and the world seems to slow down for me. I have stabilized many cervical spines with the goal to minimize further damage, and I have hoped and prayed that the injury that I am managing is not catastrophic for the athlete. For those of you wanting to further your careers in the sports realm, emergency preparedness is a must!

slesh

Taking One for the Team

Hello DPT Bloggers,
I was asked a few weeks back by Dr. Jenkins if I would enter a charity event to help raise money for a project the students were doing. The email went something like this... "The Physical Therapy team is planning to do a fund raiser for the American Heart Association Heart Walk (Springfield, MO) and we need your help!!! We are planning on a doing a coin drive with 5 faculty members ... The students will bring in change and place it in the container of the person they would like to see get a pie to the face. The person with the most money in their container will be the "winner" of the pie in the face. However, if you are the "winner" and you would rather not take the pie, you will have the option to match the money that was raised and get out of the pie situation. It would then default to the next highest money raiser, and so on."

Well the grand finale was held on April 8 at noon. The pie was bought (Chocolate, my favorite), and I seemed destined to take one for the team. The team was selling chili and cornbread and even selling deserts as well as raffling the chance to through the pie. I think they would have auctioned off the neuro-lab if I would have let them! Soon, after the festive eating was winding down, Dr. Jenkins, after some mild dramatics, announced the "winner!" It became evident that there was no way around it. The pie was handed to the winner of the raffle and after some documentary photographs, the students had their fun as I took a pie in the face.

All in all, the pie toss and chili earned the group about $300 to go to a worthy cause. I wish them the best in their continued efforts to raise funds for their big walk. If you wish to "take one for the team" and help support them, please contact Dr. Tena Jenkins or Dr. Amber Fleer.