Alpena News editorial
For the second evaluation in a row, MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena has received an A report card for safety from Washington-based watchdog group Leapfrog.
In the spring 2021 Leapfrog rankings, The News reported recently, the Alpena hospital scored above-average in its efforts to prevent most common infections, most common surgical mishaps, all categories on general safety practices such as handwashing and communicating with patients about medications, and most categories in staff management.
It scored below-average in a handful of categories, including preventing serious breathing problems and dangerous blood clots after surgery, preventing patient falls and injuries, and putting specially trained doctors in care of intensive care unit patients.
jriddle@thealpenanews.com
Courtesy Image
An illustration of the coronavirus provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
ALPENA State health officials this week updated COVID-19 guidance to allow fully vaccinated and symptom-free people to attend indoor and outdoor residential gatherings without a mask.
State health officials no longer require routine testing for fully vaccinated organized sports participants, and participants may remove masks outdoors during practice and competition for non-contact sports, according to local health officials.
Call 800-221-0294 for information about walk-in or by-appointment clinics on May 13 and 27 at the District Health Department No. 4 office in Alpena.
Things are normal until they’re not.
Normal can slip away before we know it, leaving an abnormality of which we are unaware. It’s best to check your normal from time to time to make sure it’s still active.
I’m about to have my normal checked.
When Gertrude Stein said “there is no there, there,” she was referring to Oakland, California.
In my situation, there is a there. I just want to make sure it’s normal.
As for Oakland, I don’t know if Gertrude is correct or not I’ve never been there.
In my case, the determination of normal will begin with an examination of a descending portion. From there, the examination’s scope will be guided into and through the transverse section, after which it will descend into that portion that ascends.
Vignettes
When you enter MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena’s far east entrance and take the elevator to the third floor, you step into a long corridor leading to the Bay Athletic Club.
All along this hallway through the Rehabilitation Services Department notices are posted: “Please refrain from running”
These requests are aimed at youth tempted by a long hall’s intrinsic freedom not at seniors like me.
But a funny thing is occurring. The more I walk that hall, the more I read those signs, the greater my exposure to the hall’s inherent invitation the more I feel compelled to run.
ALPENA A topping-out ceremony was held Tuesday at MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena, where hospital staff and board members watched as the last beam was plac