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Welcome to Oakes Community Hospital

For more news from the Oakes Community Hospital please visit our News Page.

Sue McLean 5K Fun Walk/Run

Saturday, June 9, 2012

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Paint The Town Pink! Girls Night Out!

Friday May 4th
5 pm to 7 pm
Oakes Golf Club

Guest speaker Margaret Barnes, MD

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Hot or Cold?

Cold is used to constrict blood vessels, decreasing the amount of active bleeding and reducing swelling in the case of an acute injury (i.e. any type of sprain/strain, surgical intervention, bruise etc) inside of the first 72 hours of occurrence. Whenever tissues have been disrupted, there is a period of bleeding within the tissues which results in what we see as a bruise when it reaches the surface of the skin. Even if there is no physical appearance of discoloration, there is still bleeding deep within the tissues, not visible to the eye. Ice also interrupts the pain receptors in the area, creating the “numbing sensation”, in turn relieving pain as well. An ice massage to the affected area is a great way to settle down pain in addition to the benefits of decreasing swelling.

Heat, on the other hand, is used to dilate (or open) blood vessels to increase blood flow. When blood vessels become strangulated by tight tissues (i.e. muscle spasms, persistent swelling more than 72 hours, formation of scar tissue etc.) blood flow slows. Heat will increase the ability of the vascular system to move swelling out of the area, allowing oxygen and necessary nutrients for healing to flood the sore area. In addition to the increased blood flow, much like heating metal before you can bend it, heat restores the flexibility to the tissues as well. This will allow you to be able to move without as much pain. Heat also interrupts the pain receptors in much the same fashion as ice, allowing the tissues to relax.

Hot and cold used in combination with one another is a very effective way to care for severe cases of pain and swelling inside of the first two weeks of an injury. Using ice and heat in a combined treatment is very effective in treating severe sprains and muscle spasms. This process is called “contrast treatment”. This is used to open and close the blood vessels, creating a “pumping” effect to rid the area of bleeding and swelling. The process is a 20 minute treatment always started and finished with ice. The sequence is as follows:

5 minutes of ice
2 minutes of heat
2 minutes of ice
2 minutes of heat
2 minutes of ice
2 minutes of heat
5 minutes of ice

Remember that if you are ever in doubt of which option is best, contact your physician or physical therapist to help see you down the correct path to recovery.

After you have seen your Specialist...

Did you know that you can have local care for you and your condition at Oakes Community Hospital?

Having an illness or condition that requires you to receive highly specific and specialized medicine doesn’t have to be a sentence to travelling far away to get the care that makes you feel better.

Oakes Community Hospital’s Infusion Therapy Department is staffed by nurses knowledgeable and experienced in delivering many types of intravenous and injectable medications. We have worked with specialists in treating patients with varied conditions including Rheumatoid Arthritis, Crohn’s Disease, Cancers, Post-Transplant Care, Chronic Renal Failure, Muscular disorders, and other long-term illnesses. Patients requiring care for short term treatments such as osteoporosis, anemia, and infections can also be treated in this outpatient setting. If you have an implanted port that needs regular care to keep it functioning, we can help you with that as well.

When you have established a plan of care, you can request that your doctor or nurse call Oakes Community Hospital to find out if your care can be safely given here close to home. We will work with them to provide the same level of expertise and quality you expect right here in our local setting. Medications are ordered and administered specific to your needs.

We are able to coordinate with other departments for any additional services your physician may require, such as X-ray or lab, and work to ensure that results and reports are conveyed so that your care is kept on track. Time saved, less worry about travel conditions, the convenience of being closer to home, family and friends being close by, are all factors that add up to giving you the best healthcare experience possible.

Three nurses are currently certified in our Infusion Therapy Department and have a minimum of eight years experience up to twenty five years of experience. Our patients are treated in an area designated for them that is bright, cheery, easily accessible, with comfortable recliners and a relaxing view. We are really proud of our setting that makes our patients feel at home and cared for. An additional benefit is our location includes a team of experienced personnel that are available if any concern or emergency should arise during your care.

Oakes Community Hospital’s Infusion Therapy Department is here when you or a family member needs these types of services. We look forward to serving you!

You can have your imaging done right here in Oakes, close to home!

Traveling out of town in the winter can be a frightening challenge. You can see the provider or doctor of your choice and still choose to have your tests done close to home at your hospital.

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Radiology Team 53 years combined experience.
Nicole Cline, RaeAnn Ruff, Kathy Baumann, and Amanda Behr