National Hospital Week Celebrated with Special Community Event |
Cumberland Memorial Hospital is celebrating this year’s National Hospital Week by hosting a special event for the community called Know Your Numbers. Know We Care. On Tuesday or Wednesday, May 8 and 9th, adults living or working in the Cumberland area are invited to come to the hospital between 6am and 9am to have free health screenings, including labs, blood pressure, and waist measurements. The early morning time is offered because several screenings are fasting blood tests that require no eating or drinking for 12 hours before coming in. Health displays, information, prizes, and breakfast refreshments will be available for participants while they wait to discuss results with a nurse. Individuals needing to leave more quickly can have results mailed. The Cumberland Memorial Hospital (CMH) is partnering with Healthier Cumberland Coalition (HCC) in providing this special community health event. Health screening will include known measurable risk factors for heart disease and diabetes such as blood pressure, waist measurement, blood sugar and fats (cholesterol and triglycerides), all related to metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a collection of health risks that, when combined; increase the chance of developing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Knowing your risk will give you “advance notice” and the opportunity to make health and lifestyle changes today that can delay or prevent the development of serious diseases. One of the goals of Know Your Numbers, Know We Care is to help community adults know more about these health numbers and how they can improve their health. In addition to National Hospital Week May 6-12, CMH is recognizing nursing staff in conjunction with National Nurse Week, also celebrated this year May 6-12. Nurses work at Cumberland Memorial Hospital and ECU on medical-surgical, obstetrical, and behavioral health patient-care units, in emergency room, surgery, and long term care. They have many roles – from staff nurse to educator to supervisor- and serve all of them with passion for the profession and caring for the community. Additional health displays featured at CMH during National Hospital Week will include smoking cessation, rehabilitation, Lifeline, bicycle safety, and other hospital care services. Because of caring and commitment to the health of their community, Cumberland Memorial Hospital has worked with the Healthier Cumberland Coalition since it began efforts in 2004. In addition to health screenings, Healthier Cumberland partners will offer healthy lifestyle coaching opportunities and community nutrition and activity challenges in the months to come. The current challenge is to eat more fruits and vegetables and log the number of cups eaten for six weeks. Lifestyle coaching sessions begin in May. For more information on the Know Your Numbers, Know We Care event contact Hilary Butzler or Mary Jean Jergenson at 822-2741. |