November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Posted: 11/01/2018

Did you know that 84 million Americans have prediabetes?

Take this test to find out if you may have prediabetes and follow us on Facebook for more information and healthy tips all throughout November.

Protect Yourself from West Nile Virus

Posted: 10/02/2018

West Nile Virus (WNV) cases in Iowa have hit the second highest number since 2003. There have been three deaths in Iowa in 2018 associated with WNV. West Nile Virus is transmitted by mosquitos. Mosquitos will remain active until the first hard frost of the season.

Most people infected with WNV do not develop symptoms. About one in five infected people develop a fever and symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea and a rash.
The best way to prevent West Nile Virus is to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Remember “COVER and DRAIN:”

COVER yourself and your home
• wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves when outdoors
• apply mosquito repellent with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, to bare skin and clothing; read label directions
• cover doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house; repair holes in screens

DRAIN standing water around your home because that’s where mosquitoes lay eggs
• empty standing water from flowerpots, garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, plastic swimming pools, birdbaths, pet water dishes, or any other container where water has collected

Avoid outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when mosquitos are most active.

For more information about West Nile virus, visit: idph.iowa.gov/cade/disease-information/west-nile-virus.

Flu Shots Available Now

Posted: 09/17/2018

Who will you protect by getting your flu shot?

Protect your family from influenza by getting a flu shot for everyone in your home. Community Health Partners is offering two flu clinics on October 2 from 10:30am to 12:30pm and October 4 from 3:00 to 5:00pm.

Community Health Partners also has flu shots available at our monthly immunization clinics for children ages 6 months to 18 years who are on Medicaid and those who are uninsured or underinsured.

Please print and fill out this form if you are able and bring it with you to clinic, as it will save time during the check-in process. For more info on immunizations and the clinic schedule, click here.

Most area medical clinics also offer flu shots. If you have any questions about where you can get a flu shot, call Community Health Partners at 712-737-2971 or your medical provider. Click here for a list of local medical clinics and centers offering immunizations.

Take a Step: Prevent Diabetes Northwest Iowa

Posted: 08/01/2018

Prevent Diabetes Northwest Iowa / Prevent T2 will meet this summer beginning Thursday, August 30 from 5-6 p.m.

Guided by trained lifestyle coaches, participants will learn the skills they need to make lifelong changes.

Participants learn

• to eat healthy

• to add physical activity to their routine

• to manage stress

• to stay motivated

• to solve problems that can get in the way of healthy changes

PreventT2 groups meet for a year — weekly for the first 6 months, then once a month for the second 6 months to maintain healthy lifestyle changes.

The local program will meet at the Orange City Area Health System Downtown Campus from 5-6 pm, on Thursday nights beginning August 30, and costs $175.00 with the potential to earn back $75.00 based on group attendance.

The program is offered by Community Health Partners, Hawarden Regional Healthcare, Hegg Health Center, Orange City Area Health System and Sioux Center Health.

PreventT2 is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To participate in the PreventT2 program, call 712.737.2971 or email [email protected]. Click here for our registration form.

People are more likely to have prediabetes and type 2 diabetes if they:

• Are 45 years of age or older

• Are overweight

• Have a family history of type 2 diabetes

• Are physically active fewer than three times per week OR

• Have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy or gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds

To be eligible for referral, patients must meet the following requirements:

Be at least 18 years old and
Be overweight (body mass index ≥25; ≥23 if Asian) and
Have no previous diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes and
- Have a blood test result in the prediabetes range within the past year:Hemoglobin A1C: 5.7%–6.4% or
- Fasting plasma glucose: 100–125 mg/dL or
- Two-hour plasma glucose (after a 75 gm glucose load): 140–199 mg/dL or
Be previously diagnosed with gestational diabetes

Prediabetes can be diagnosed via oral glucose tolerance tests, fasting blood glucose tests, or an A1C test. Blood-based testing is the most accurate way to determine if a patient has prediabetes.

If you’re interested in this program, please click here to register.

Let’s Go Sioux County! Find out more.

Posted: 03/12/2018

Are you someone who is interested in healthy living? Do you want to make your community a healthier place to live, learn, work, and play? Then you’ve found the right community of people in Sioux County!

Where can I find out about meetings?

Basic details about meeting times are found on the community pages. If you have specific questions, contact [email protected]. You can also attend a county Coalition for a Healthy Sioux County meeting which is held at Community Health Partners quarterly on the 1st Wednesday of the quarter at noon.

What if I don’t want to come to a meeting but want to be involved somehow?

Our latest activities are shared on www.facebook.com/letsgosiouxcounty or you can ask to be added to the mailing list to get agendas and meeting minutes for your community. We are looking for volunteers who want to participate in MANY different ways and welcome your interest in what we are doing!

Who is a part of this group?

There are some of us who are professionals working in health fields, some who are parents of kids, some who are interested community members. In other words, anyone and everyone. If you are interested in improving the health of your community, you belong here!

I have an idea for my community. What can I do?

We love new ideas! Feel free to attend a meeting or e-mail your idea. We can’t do everything, of course, but we know that people working together can do a lot more than anyone working alone!

Let’s Go Sioux County! PLAY!

Posted: 03/12/2018

Participate in Let’s Go summer programs. Follow our Facebook page for the latest info on summer programs in your area.

And check out this:

Wags and Whiskers! POSTPONED!

Bring your dog, cat, parakeet or hedgehog to the Orange City Bark Park! And bring your family! It’s Wags and Whiskers, sponsored by Community Health Partners, Healthy Orange City, Orange City Area Health System and Fareway. Wags & Whiskers was originally scheduled for April 14 — it has been postponed to Saturday April 21 at 2:00 pm.

Join community members for a short presentation by the Sheriff’s Department K9 Unit, and meet one of the dogs that assists local law enforcement officers. The trained canines help in drug investigations, traffic stops, search warrants, criminal tracking, missing person investigations and officer protection.

The Saturday afternoon event, according to Angela Kroeze-Visser of Community Health Partners, includes taking a short walk around Veteran’s Park, having fun with your family and pet, and possibly winning a door prize. “It’s a great opportunity to get outside and meet one of the amazing sheriff’s department dogs,” she said.

Meet at the Bark Park on Iowa Avenue SW in Orange City at 2:00pm Saturday, April 21. In case of inclement weather, check for updates on the Let’s Go Sioux County Facebook page. And help promote the event by posting a photo of you and your pet on that Facebook page… and compete for a door prize. No pet? No problem. Come anyway! Or bring a picture of one of your favorite animals.

Organizers of the event include Cheryl Buntsma, Amanda Keller, Dee Meerdink, Joy Poppema and Visser. Keller is pictured above with Eliza and Beckett, and their friends Sam and Bailey Van Ginkel’s dog Ollie. For more information, contact Visser at 737-2971.