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Blanchard Valley Health System

Weekend doctor: The rise of spring allergies: Fact or fiction?

Posted by Anne Pannabecke... on Saturday, May 23, 2020

By Maria Slack, MD, MMSc

This spring allergy season could be the worst yet, or at least that is what you might hear or be feeling. Every year is particularly bad for allergy sufferers, but are spring allergies this year really worse?

While it’s true that allergies are on the rise and affecting more Americans than ever, each spring isn’t necessarily worse than the last. The prevalence of allergies is surging upward, with as many as 30 percent of adults and up to 40 percent of children having at least one allergy.

There are many events that can help predict how bothersome the spring allergy season will be and why allergies are increasing:

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BVHS joins Mayo Clinic in convalescent plasma transfusion

For treatment of patients with COVID-19
Posted by Anne Pannabecke... on Thursday, May 21, 2020

Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) has been accepted and registered as a participating site in Mayo Clinic’s Expanded Access Protocol for Convalescent Plasma Program for treatment of patients with COVID-19.

Researchers believe that convalescent plasma (CP), which refers to blood plasma collected from people who have recovered from COVID-19, may help patients with advanced illness from COVID-19. The antibodies in the plasma may have the ability to help patients fight the virus and recover more quickly.

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Bluffton Hospital will test all patients coming for scheduled surgeries, procedures

Change from previous practice
Posted by Fred Steiner on Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Bluffton Hospital has initiated COVID-19 testing for all patients coming to the hospital for scheduled surgeries and procedures. 

This is a change from the previous practice of testing only those exhibiting symptoms of the disease and referred by their primary care physicians.

The hours of operation for pre-surgery and procedure swabbing at Bluffton Hospital follows:
• Mondays through Fridays – 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Weekends – 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Persons need to contact their physician to schedule a pre-surgery or procedure swabbing.

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Weekend doctor: What is Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)?

The patient has difficulty with solid foods and may feel like food gets “stuck” in the throat or chest
Posted by Anne Pannabecke... on Saturday, May 16, 2020

By Brenda Keller, APRN-CNP, Certified Nurse Practitioner
Gastroenterology Associates of Northwest Ohio

Eosinophilic esophagitis, or “EoE” for short, is a condition that affects the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. In cases of EoE, the esophagus has cells called eosinophils.

Eosinophils are not normally found in the esophagus. They are cells associated with allergies. The exact cause of EoE is unknown but thought to be related to food allergies.

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Mid-week doctor: What is a D.O.?

When you go to see your doctor you may notice some letters following the name, but have you ever wondered what they mean?
Posted by Anne Pannabecke... on Thursday, May 7, 2020

By Dr. Robert Puckett, DO
Family Medicine, Carey Medical Center

What is a DO?

When you go to see your doctor you may notice some letters following their name, but have you ever wondered what they mean? Physicians in the United States receive one of two degrees upon completion of medical school, either an MD or a DO. So, what is the difference?

Most people are familiar with a MD or Medical Doctor, but would you be surprised to know that nearly 1 in 4 current medical students is working toward their DO rather than an MD.

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State of Our Organization: COVID-19 Response and Plan Part III

Blanchard Valley Health System - on Facebook Live 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30
Posted by Fred Steiner on Thursday, April 30, 2020

Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) will hold a “State of Our Organization: COVID-19 Response and Plan Part III” through Facebook Live to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, the response plan for BVHS and answer questions from the community.

President and CEO Scott Malaney and Dr. William Kose, vice president of special projects, will speak to the community for a third time on the pandemic and updates on the health system’s response from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30.

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