Fauquier Hospital's Annual Holiday Fair Set for November 22

  

Fauquier Hospital will hold its annual Holiday Fair from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, November 22, in the conference center of the hospital, in the Bistro and outside the Bistro entrance.
   The event is a community favorite and will feature vendors selling everything from homemade holiday crafts and decorations, to paintings and photographs, to jewelry. Area crafters will be well represented, selling specialty soaps, toys and colorfully stitched quilts, scarves and baby blankets.
   It’s a great opportunity to pick up some unique holiday gifts.
   Vendor tables must be reserved by November 8, and may be arranged by calling Brenda Bohon at 540-316-3852 or Nis Russell at 540-316-5900. Spaces are limited.

Hosptialist Dr. Yemisrach Mulugeta Gives Back to Her Native Country Ethiopia

Dr. Yemisrach Mulugeta

   From the early days of Dr. Yemisrach Mulugeta’s medical career -- after leaving her native Ethiopia, working and living in Scotland, then in the U.S., she knew she would one day be in a position to improve the way health care is delivered in Ethiopia. As a physician at a Warrenton, Virginia hospital, she knew the time had come.
     “It was always in the back of my mind,” she said. “I am at a point in my life now where I could look beyond and reach out to others in need.”
    She explained, “Ethiopia is a developing nation and resources are very limited. Maternal and child health is an area that needs a lot of focus and attention. The childhood mortality is high compared to other nations.”
    The 2013 progress report, compiled by the UN Children’s Fund UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Bank Group, showed Ethiopia has reduced child deaths under the age of five by 67% compared with 1990 figures.
   However, an increasing number of the remaining child deaths in Ethiopia are attributed to newborn deaths. The neonatal mortality rate in Ethiopia is 3.9% of babies born alive, compared to .004% of babies in the U.S.
    Dr. Mulugeta, a Fauquier Health hospitalist, was invited to join some of her Ethiopian colleagues living in the U.S. to help form a non-profit organization dedicated to saving infants’ lives born in Ethiopia.
   Horn of Africa Neonatal Services (H.A.N.D.S) was formed with a mission to help existing neonatal facilities in the country by providing basic medical supplies and skilled clinical training to the local hospitals.
  “We organize medical teams consisting of a doctor, a nurse and a respiratory therapist, who volunteer one to two weeks of their time to work with the clinical staff in Ethiopia.”
    Although she is not able to travel back to her homeland herself, Dr. Mulugeta facilitates the efforts by coordinating shipments of donated medical supplies and equipment to Ethiopia, and increasing awareness through social media outlets, quarterly e-Newsletters and fund-raising events.
    The hospitals in Ethiopia are in dire need of basic supplies. Infections that could be prevented by simple hand washing and use of hand sanitizers are widespread. There are times when there is no running water, sanitizing lotion or even gloves in some facilities. Basic medical equipment such as, stethoscopes, diapers, measuring tapes, pulse oximeters, and other monitoring devices are very scarce. Medications, vaccines, IV fluids and infant food are also in short supply. The lives of infants are so often cut short because of lack of medical supplies and equipment. In November of 2012, H.A.N.D.S. shipped 450 pounds of supplies to a hospital in Ethiopia, and in May of this year, and followed that with a 550-pound shipment.
    One respiratory therapist who traveled on a medical mission trip this year described her experience in Ethiopia: “The staff and students there were gracious and eager to learn. They are educated, but lacked the resources and equipment to improve their hospital outcomes.
    “There was no running water for eight of the 14 days we were there. The hospital fills barrels with water when they are able... They heat water for infant baths in an old coffee pot.........Seven infants expired in two weeks. Two would have passed in any country, but the other five were preventable deaths.”
  Dr. Mulugeta said, “I have been so inspired by the clinicians and nursing staff who traveled to Ethiopia on the mission trips. They were able to come up with objective solutions to some of the needs identified. We will continue to make a difference, one infant at a time.”
  For further details, visit the H.A.N.D.S. website (www.handsforbabies.org).
 

Fauquier Hospital’s Bistro Takes Home Cooks on Culinary Visit to Asia

Natalie Ramos, director of Food and Nutrition Services, Fauquier Hospital

Fauquier Health’s Bistro on the Hill will offer its first Cooking Well class on Saturday, October 19.  The hands-on class will be held in the Bistro’s kitchens, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon. Class size will be limited to twelve aspiring chefs.

 
Chef Natalie Ramos, director of Food and Nutrition at Fauquier Hospital, will take participants on a culinary journey to Asia. Together they will explore the different regions of the Far East, experimenting with the aromas and tastes of lemongrass, ginger and coconut milk. Among the dishes that will be prepared by students will be Thai Green Curry Chicken and Vietnamese Summer Rolls.

 
The Bistro on the Hill is located at Fauquier Hosptial, a Northern Virginia hospital. The cost for the class is $45. Register by calling 540-316-3588 or by going online at www.fauquierhealth.org.

Fauquier Hospital's Bistro on the Hill Begins Healthy Initiatives

In a move that supports its mission to “restore, promote and maintain the health of our community,” Fauquier Health’s Bistro on the Hill has put in place several new nutritional initiatives. The Bistro is located at Fauquier Hospital, a Northern Virginia hospital.

At each dining station in the Bistro (Mongolian grill, homestyle, salad bar, sandwiches and pizza, for instance), there will be an “Oh So Good” (OSG) item, representing a healthier choice. Nutrition and portion control information for this item will be available through smartphones via a QR code. Natalie Ramos, director of Food and Nutrition Services for Fauquier Hospital, said, “Many of our customers want detailed nutrition information, but since all of our choices are prepared fresh from scratch, we don’t have those details available every day. We hope this plan will provide a level of comfort to our patrons about the health benefits of the OSG offerings.”

A new Asian noodle station will offer more healthy choices as well. The chefs at the station will prepare Asian rice noodles served with two types of lean meats and vegetable broth. A condiment section will include jalapeno peppers, bean sprouts, limes, mint, basil, red chilis, scallions, mushrooms, bok choy and snap peas.

Healthy Holiday Meals – To Go

The Bistro also will strive to make the holidays a little less stressful by offering a Thanksgiving Meal To Go. The meal, complete with a 3 ½ pound turkey breast, turkey gravy, homemade cranberry chutney, apple sage dressing, mashed potatoes and green beans almandine, sweet potatoes or macaroni and cheese, 12 homemade dinner rolls and a pie, serves six to eight people and will cost $92 plus tax.

Customers may begin to order holiday pies beginning November 4. Choices include: caramel apple, chocolate pecan, sweet potato and chocolate cream pie.

To order, or for more information about Fauquier Hospital’s Bistro, call Natalie Ramos at 540-316-4402.

Fauquier Health Offers Free Classes on Women’s Health Issues

Kristen Pierce, physical therapist

Fauquier Health will offer two presentations in October that focus on women’s health. On October 2, physical therapist Kristen Pierce will speak on Conquering Urinary Frequency and Urgency. On October 16, she will discuss the benefits of physical therapy for breast cancer patients. Both lectures will be held at 7 p.m. in the Sycamore Room at Fauquier Hospital in Northern Virginia.

Although no one likes to talk about urinary incontinence, anyone who is a sufferer knows it can be difficult. Fortunately, it can often be treated with conservative measures. Physical therapy may include: education on food and drinks that may irritate the bladder; exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles; ways to decrease urinary urge and frequency, as well as biofeedback.

Among the many physical and emotional traumas of breast cancer, upper extremity pain and stiffness are common following surgery. Women who have had breast cancer surgery may experience ongoing problems with shoulder and/or arm function, chest wall pain and weakness -- making everyday activities like driving, dressing, washing hair and sleeping difficult. Physical therapists with specialized training in breast cancer rehabilitation can address these musculoskeletal problems and help breast cancer survivors achieve a pain-free and fully functional lifestyle.

Registration for both presentations is required at 540-316-3588.

Staying Fit Is Not Just for the Young

Fauquier Health will offer a free, interactive event called “Staying Fit and Strong at any Age,” on Wednesday, November 13. The presentation will start at 6:15 p.m. at the Fauquier Health Rehabilitation & Nursing Center.

A representative from the Fauquier Health Wellness Center will offer strategies to stay healthy as we age.

Participants will be given an opportunity to participate in some exercises, so attendees should wear comfortable clothing. Register by calling 540-316-5500. Those who pre-register and attend the session will be eligible for a $100 gift card drawing.

Dr. Kristin Williams Presents Lecture on Stroke

Dr. Kristin Williams, neurologist

 Fauquier Health will host a lecture on Stroke and TIA (transient ischemic attack) by neurologist Kristin Williams, M.D., of Fauquier Health Neurology. The presentation will be held at 7 p.m., on Thursday, October 10, in the Sycamore Room at Fauquier Hospital.

Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death and the number-one cause of long-term disability in the U.S. During this presentation, Dr. Williams will explain the difference between a TIA and stroke, and the signs and symptoms of both. In addition, she will discuss the latest diagnostic tools and treatment options available and how to determine if someone is having a stroke or a TIA.

Dr. Williams explains the intricacies of these serious medical conditions in laymen’s terms and uses clear visuals during her lectures. She will take questions from the audience before closing.

ing a TIA or stroke.

Registration for Dr. Williams’ talk can be arranged by calling 540-316-3588.