Hospital earns INspire recognition

IU Health Jay picked up a statewide honor.

Indiana Hospital Association, in partnership with Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and state health commissioner Kris Box, honored the hospital for its commitment to infant and maternal health during its inaugural INspire Hospital of Distinction program last week.

IU health Jay was honored as a “hospital of distinction” for implementing best practices for infant safe sleep, breastfeeding, tobacco prevention and cessation, perinatal substance use and obstetric hemorrhage. INspire is a new program that was developed to implement best practices for Hoosier moms and babies and recognize hospitals for excellence in those areas.

“Our team at IU Health Jay has worked hard to combat the infant mortality rate,” said IU Health Jay president Jon Vanator in a press release. “The Healthy Beginnings Initiative was created to address these issues and we have seen great success in reaching new and expectant mothers. I am proud of our team and all of their hard work.”

IU Health Jay in June made the shift to no longer deliver babies at the facility, instead focusing on a new maternal and infant care services program led by manager Julie Teeter along with a certified nurse midwife and nurse navigators.



Dietician honored

A Mercer Health dietician was recently named 2020 Ohio Diabetes Care and Education Specialist of the Year.

The award goes to a certified diabetes care and education specialist who has “made a significant contribution to diabetes care and education through dedication and innovation in the daily practice of patient care.”

Karen Homan is Mercer Health’s lead diabetes educator, providing information and support to those with Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes. In 2019, she developed a free caregiver support class for those caring for someone diagnosed with diabetes.

She has been with Mercer Health since 2004.



Fear expands

Fear Powersports of Berne announced this week that it is now a Can-Am Off-Road dealership.

Can-Am produces a variety of off-road vehicles. The dealership will be doubling its size as part of a renovation and expansion project.

“We are excited to officially become a Can-Am Off-Road dealership,” Fear owner and general manager Shawn Fear said in a press release. “We look forward to being able to serve an expanded range of consumers with their off-road vehicles. The building project has broken ground and we cannot wait to welcome customers to the new showroom.”



Closing for holidays

Adams Memorial Hospital announced this week that its COVID-19 testing site at 815 High St. in Decatur will be closed for several upcoming holidays.

Closure dates are Veterans Day (Nov. 11), Thanksgiving (Nov. 27), Christmas Eve and Christmas, New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The clinic’s regular hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.



Seeking proposals

Indiana Michigan Power announced Thursday that it is requesting proposals for emission-free generation technology.

The company is asking for proposals about an additional 450 megawatts from solar and wind resources, as well as possible battery storage technology resources. Bids are expected to be received in January.

Indiana Michigan Power’s plans call for selected bidders to be presented to state regulatory commissioners with a goal of serving customers by the end of 2023.

“The people of I&M are dedicated to serving our customers reliably and in a manner that is cost-effective, while using state-of-the-art technology and increasing our emission-free resources,” said president and chief operating officer Toby Thomas in a press release.



Hosting remembrance

State of the Heart Care will be holding its “A Time of Remembrance” in a modified form this year.

In addition to honoring State of the Heart patients who have died, the hospice service will also honor those who died from COVID-19 during a drive-thru event Nov. 18. It will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at State of the Heart’s 1350 N. Broadway St., Greenville, Ohio, location. Participants will follow a lighted path in their vehicles.

For more information, visit stateoftheheartcare.org.



Reid honored

Reid Health of Richmond announced this week that it received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award.

The award recognizes a hospital’s commitment to providing treatment to stroke patients.

“Reid Health is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients by implementing the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines-Stroke initiative,” said Reid vice president and chief nursing officers Misti Foust-Cofield in a press release. “The tools and resources provided help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes.”



Ardagh launches

Ardagh Group announced Thursday that it has launched its online, interactive 3D glass packaging catalog.

The new feature is designed to showcase the Ardagh’s packaging in a digital, interactive format. The company operates glass manufacturing plants in Dunkirk and Winchester.

“As a leader in glass packaging, Ardagh’s online stock container catalog gives customers the ability to interact with nearly 300 distinctive glass bottle and jar designs in a variety of colors and finishes, and sizes ranging from 4oz to 4L,” said Ardagh vice president of marketing, communications and new product development Gina Behrman in a press release.