The CCH Emergency Department is participating in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life on August 12-13 at the Ithaca High School Track. The ER team is selling CHINESE SKY LANTERNS for $10 in memory of a loved one. You may also make a wish for a loved one who is a survivor. SKY LANTERNS are mini hot air balloons that float for 12 minutes and are 100% bio-degradable. You can release one yourself or we can release it during the Relay. They are available for purchase in the ER. Thank you for your support.

Recently, our Emergency Department received a digital glidescope at no cost to us. This equipment is used to assist in intubating patients in respiratory failure and is very similar to equipment owned by our anesthesia department, occasionally borrowed by the E.D. This new glidescope is a newer, digital version with adult and pediatric attachments. It typically costs about $10,000. Dr. Brinningstool, the Sparrow E.D. Director, helped arrange this acquisition for us through Sparrow and with funds from the Children's Miracle Network. Dr. Brinningstool had the vision to provide these resources so that each of the Sparrow-affiliated E.D.'s can provide consistent E.D. care to all of our patients. "This will be a great resource for us," said Dr. Christopher Herald, CCH Director of Emergency Medicine. "I am very grateful to Dr. Brinningstool, to Sparrow and to the CMN."

Shelly Betancourt, M.S.N., M.H.A, L.N.C. R.N.C.-O.B. was selected as an item writer for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination (nclex®). Shelly was one of 10 nurses from across the nation to be selected for this assignment. She was nominated on the basis of clinical specialty and nursing expertise. She has been selected to serve on the August 2011 item writing panel based on her performance in April. All nurses in the United States and its four U.S. territories must take the NCLEX®. Passing the NCLEX® exam is one of the requirements necessary for attaining a nursing license.

We have had a great turnout at local summer parades so far this year! Be on the look-out for the CCH Parade Brigade at the following upcoming parades: Stanton Old Fashioned Days Parade on Saturday, August 13, in Stanton; Mint Festival Parade on Saturday, August 13, in St. Johns; and the Danish Festival Parade on Saturday, August 20, in Greenville.

Kami Palmer, M.D., has joined the staff at Carson City Hospital. Dr. Palmer is an OB/GYN seeing patients with Dr. Becher, Jan Russell and Dr. LeGrand at Center for Women's Healthcare. Dr. Palmer attended Hope College and earned her doctorate from Michigan State University, completing her residency at Beaumont. To make an appointment, call 989-584-3107.  

Robert I. Boorstein, D.O., FACOS, has joined our staff. Dr. Boorstein is a board-certified surgeon who specializes in the treatment of diseases of the breast, upper gastro-intestinal tract, colon and rectum, GI endoscopy, minimally invasive surgery and laparoscopic surgery. His offices will be located at Carson Surgical Specialties in Carson City and at Ithaca Family Care Center. For an apptmt, call 989-584-6266.