Women's Health Series Continues

A Women's Health Series, sponsored by Women's Health Center of Northfield Hospital, resumes this evening, Thursday, Oct. 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. at FamilyHealth Medical Clinic–Northfield.

Jose Fulco, MD, a surgeon at Northfield Hospital, will present at an event called Take Charge of Your Breast Health: What Every Woman Should Know About Breast Care. The evening will include remarks by Dr. Fulco; conversation with Mayo Clinic medical oncologist Robert Dalton, MD; educational displays; opportunities for experiential learning; and a chance to complete your own breast cancer risk assessment. Refreshments will be served.

The series continues into December. Remaining presentations in the series are:

• Why Is My Pap Smear Abnormal? Human Papilloma Virus and the New HPV Vaccine. The speaker will be Christine Braun, MD, an OB/GYN specialist at Women’s Health Center who also sees patients at FamilyHealth–Farmington: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m., Northfield Hospital Conference Center
• Urinary Incontinence. The speaker will be Ann Friedmann, MD, an OB/GYN specialist at Women’s Health Center: Monday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m., Northfield Hospital Conference Center
• Infertility. The speaker will be Justine Politz, WHNP, a women's health nurse practitioner at Women’s Health Center: Thursday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m., Northfield Hospital Conference Center.

All sessions are free and open to the public. If you have any questions about these opportunities, please call 507-646-1035. Directions to Northfield Hospital and FamilyHealth–Northfield are available here.

Infants Vulnerable to RSV

Older children and most adults handle RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) like a common cold, but it can develop into a serious lower respiratory infection in infants.

According to Mary Wild Crea, MD, a pediatrician at FamilyHealth Medical Clinic–Farmington, bronchiolitis is the most common lower respiratory infection found in infants, and it is most often due to RSV. It infects the small airways of the lungs or "bronchioles" which leads to an increase in mucus production and swelling of the airways, making it difficult for young children to breathe.

Signs of bronchiolitis include a congested cough, a runny nose, rapid breathing, noisy breathing or wheezing, low grade fever, and trouble eating or sleeping. The best treatment is to keep nasal passages clear, encourage fluids and allow for plenty of rest.

"Antibiotics do not help RSV, since it is a virus," Dr. Wild Crea says. "Some children with a lot of wheezing may respond to a breathing treatment or nebulizer. In rare cases, children will need hospitalization for oxygen therapy or intravenous fluids."

When should you worry? Dr. Wild Crea says if your child is having trouble breathing, is not taking fluids well, has a fever that extends beyond 24 hours, looks very sick, has severe coughing or gagging spells, or is hard to console, see your physician.

Dr. Mary Wild Crea's physician services are provided by Cannon Valley Clinic–Mayo Health System.

Parent Fair Offers Advice You Can Use

Dealing with parental peer pressure, managing difficult behavior in children, avoiding fights over food and developing strategies for parenting teens – does this sound like your life?

These and other topics will be the focus of the fifth annual Farmington/ Lakeville Community Parent Fair, Saturday, Nov. 15, 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Century Middle School, 18610 Ipava Avenue, Lakeville. There is no charge to attend.

"Everybody needs a little help sometimes," says Judy Johnson, prevention specialist for Lakeville School District. "The parent fair will be a great source of advice, inspiration and practical tips that parents can put in play as soon as they go home."

Corwin Kronenberg, a well-known parent educator noted for his enthusiasm, drama and humor, will be the keynote speaker. He will address issues of self-concept and discipline. Dr. William Doherty, a highly regarded counselor, author and family advocate, will present twice during the morning. He will talk about how to keep your balance in the face of parental peer pressure and about the value of eating together as a family.

In addition, authors Paul Bernabei and Tom Cody will speak about being a "top twenty person," and Mary Wild Crea, MD, a pediatrician with FamilyHealth Medical Clinic, will address how to avoid fighting with your children over food. There will also be advice on raising children with autism or attention deficit disorder, managing family stress, teen driving and more. A complete list of workshops is available here.

A continental breakfast will be provided, and there will be resource tables to visit. CEUs are available the day of the event for a $10 fee. Limited childcare will be available for children ages 1-10, but parents must register by November 7 for this service. There is a charge of $10 per child. To register, go to www.ce.isd194.k12.mn.us.

The parent fair is sponsored by Lakeville/Farmington Early Childhood Family Education, Lakeville/Farmington Community Education, Lakeville Area Public Schools, Farmington Public Schools and FamilyHealth Medical Clinic. For more information, contact Marianne Feely at 651-460-3207 or Judy Johnson at 952-232-2355.

Auxiliary Commits $100,000 to Breast Center

The Northfield Hospital Auxiliary has committed $100,000 over three years to help the hospital expand its Breast Care Center into a center of excellence.

The auxiliary donation provides momentum for the development of an integrated service that blends state-of-the-art technology with critical information and counsel that help patients better understand their diagnosis and treatment options.

Jose Fulco, MD, a general surgeon at Northfield Hospital, said the expanded center will allow for more timely diagnoses and will streamline the decision-making process in a personalized, patient-centered setting.

"One out of eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lifetime," he said. "What we are trying to avoid is the delayed diagnosis and the anxiety that goes with it."

Jane Gelle, co-president of the Northfield Hospital Auxiliary, said this project is a great fit for her organization.

"This is a service our members can embrace and promote," she said. "Our hope is that our financial commitment will accelerate the development of this center and make these services more accessible and more convenient to the community."

With the auxiliary's commitment, the hospital will create dedicated space where patients' privacy needs can be honored as they access information on best practices and referrals. It will also contribute to future technology needs and the collection of important educational material, referral information and treatment protocols.

Kathleen Meier, Division Administrator for Ancillary Services, said she is thrilled the auxiliary is adopting this project as a major focus of its fundraising over the next few years.

"This donation allows us to expand the services available through our Breast Care Center sooner than we thought possible," she said. "Now we are quickly moving from simply having a vision to providing services we know will make a difference in the lives of patients."