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Northwest Health Launching Women's Health Week Series

Northwest Health is launching a Women's Health Week Series next month.

It will aim to educate women about their health through a series of informative emails.

"In May, Northwest Health wants to help women be the picture of health through 'Keep Your Selfie Healthy: A Women's Health Week Challenge email series'," Northwest Health said in a news release. "Starting May 13, Northwest Health will provide seven daily emails about women's health issues, including menopause, heart disease and the prevalence of autoimmune, pelvic floor and sleep disorders. The series is intended to help women focus on 'their selfies.'"

Northwest Health will give away prizes every day, such as an at-home spa package, a Fitbit Versa 2 and a Kindle Paperwhite.

The hope is to encourage women to to take care of their health, such as by prioritizing screenings so they can live longer and fuller lives.

"According to physicians of Northwest Medical Group, studies show that 50% of women skipped preventative health care last year, but those screenings are crucial," Northwest Health said in the news release. "Through proactive health care, providers can better diagnose conditions early, when they're the most treatable. Women have to remember that some conditions are asymptomatic or are often chalked up to being a 'part of getting older,' but your provider can help you navigate and treat those disorders."

Women's Health Week has been observed nationally for decades. The goal is to raise awareness about what preventative steps women can take to safeguard their health and wellness over the long term.

"After the Women's Health Movement in the 1960s and 1970s, renowned medical institutions and healthcare systems began focusing more on women's health. However, it wasn't until 2000 that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched National Women's Health Week, which starts each year on Mother's Day," Northwest Health said in news release. "This observance stemmed from disparities in care for women and women's tendency to prioritize family and career, even if their health fell by the wayside. However, it's important that women be proactive about their health."

Bird Flu In Cattle Stressing Northwest Dairy Operators

Some Northwest dairy farmers have experienced low milk prices, belly-high flooding, extreme heat, extreme cold events and fires in the past couple of years. Now, the challenge is highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, in cattle.

One dairy operator, said to lose production or see animals suffer would be awful, said Karen Steensma, a professor of biology and environmental studies at Trinity Western University in British Columbia and a co-owner of Steensma Dairy & Creamery outside of Lynden, Washington.

"Even if you don't have to slaughter as they did in the poultry industry, you're still looking at a very stressful situation, to see these animals suffer," Steensma said.

Background

So far, there are nearly 30 dairy herds throughout eight states, including Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Michigan, Idaho, South Dakota, North Carolina and Ohio, have been infected with bird flu. So far, there are no reported cases in Washington or Oregon.

Dairy in Washington state is the second most valuable commodity at about $1.68 billion farmgate annually, said Steve Seppi, executive director of the Dairy Farmers of Washington.

Dairy products in Oregon are the fourth most valuable commodity, $557 million farmgate annually, he said.

Dairies across the Northwest have decreased in numbers, for example there were 800 dairy farms in Washington in 2007, and now there are about 280. Although the number of cattle has stayed about the same, each surviving dairy has gotten bigger, Seppi said.

(Credit: Steensma Family Dairy & Creamery)

Barley, a Jersey cow, celebrating the first day on pasture last spring at Steensma Dairy & Creamery outside of Lynden, Washington.

Biosecurity and birds

Steensma said Northwest farmers are tightening their biosecurity and trying to make their farms less attractive to birds, such as waterfowl, starlings, blackbirds, and pigeons, to avoid the disease in cattle.

Keeping birds off farms is really complicated. That is not great news for dairy operators who are trying to keep cattle safe from the bird flu that could grow worse with avian spring migration. On some farms, farmers have employed inflatable, flailing wind socks

Some farmers started using falconers, but they are very expensive, and farmers have to use them a lot of the time for it to be effective, Steensma said. Dairy operators also tried to use drones, but cattle don't like the sound of drones because it sounds like a big swarm of biting flies, and the cows run away, she said.

Safety measures

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Food and Drug Administration, and state agriculture officials maintain milk is safe to consume. Dairy farmers remove sick cows from the milking string and destroy their milk. Moreover, pasteurization in commercial milk kills bacteria and viruses in the cooking process.

Still, bird flu in cattle is just one more daunting hurdle for dairy farmers who are already on the edge.

Amber Itle, Washington's Department of Agriculture veterinarian, said she worries about the mental health of dairy farmers under so much stress.

"Something like this, that has that uncertainty, can be enough to push someone over the edge," Itle said. "We know there is high risk of suicide for people who go through a response, but also the producers that have these businesses."

Steensma said: "A lot of diaries have gone out, even in the last month. It's just setting up the way for — for pavement."

Northwest Health–LaPorte And Starke Hospitals Name New Chief Nursing Officer

Northwest Health–LaPorte and Starke hospitals named Jenica Sutherland the new chief nursing officer, dropping her interim title and giving her the executive role full-time.

Northwest Health–LaPorte and Starke CEO Simon Ratliff appointed her to oversee all nursing operations at the hospitals in LaPorte and Knox. She's tasked with maintaining the highest standards of care and providing patients with the utmost attention and support.

"We are pleased to welcome Jenica to this role. Throughout her nursing career, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, spearheading initiatives that enhance patient outcomes and improve operational efficiency," said Ratliff. "With her proven track record of engaging nurse leaders and staff through process improvement initiatives to improve patient safety and quality outcomes, she will be a valuable asset to our hospitals as we continue to strive for excellence in healthcare delivery."

She has earned an associate degree in nursing from Purdue University Northwest, a bachelor of science in nursing and masters of business administration from Indiana University Northwest and a masters in health administration from Valparaiso University.

Sutherland has worked as a nurse for 23 years and served in leadership roles at Northwest Health for the last decade.

She joined the healthcare system in 2018 and has served as director of physician practice management, director of emergency department/critical care and director of nursing. Last year, she became interim chief nursing officer role for both hospitals.

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