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Health Links | Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Cardiopulmonary

Q. How long do I have to walk on the treadmill for a stress test?
A. The average is 6-10 minutes total. The range is 30 seconds to a maximum of 21 minutes.

Q. Are there stress tests that do not require walking on a treadmill?
A. Yes. For individuals that have difficulty walking, there is a stress test that can be done with the patient lying down and given medications through an IV to achieve the desired results.

Q. How long do I have to hold my inhalers or nebulizer treatment before having my breathing test (Pulmonary Function Test)?
A. This varies with the bronchodilating medication, but minimally 4 hours prior to the test and longer if you can tolerate it.

Q. Why do I need an EKG prior to surgery for a procedure that has nothing to do with my heart?
A. Before an anesthetic can be administered, a 12 lead EKG must be recorded and interpreted. This is an essential piece of information for the anesthesiologist because it tells a great deal about your heart. It can tell if you have had a silent heart attack in the past, if the normal pacemaker and conduction system is intact, if you have any extra beats or skipped beats, if your heart is enlarged or is straining, etc. An EKG takes about 5 minutes and does not hurt at all.

Lab

Q. Do I have to have a doctor's order?
A. Yes. It is required by law that the lab perform testing only with a doctor's order.

Q.Do I need to make an appointment?
A. No. The lab does not make appointments for testing except for truck drivers getting drug screenings. The best time to go to the lab is between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M.

Q. Why are you drawing my blood? What will you do with it?
A. The doctor has ordered tests(s) to be done on your blood either to help with a diagnosis or to follow a therapy you are on. The lab will process the tests on your blood and report the results back to your doctor.

Q. Will the lab let me know the results of my tests(s)?
A. No. You will get the results of your test(s) form your doctor. In special circumstances the doctor my give the lab permission to give you the results.

Obstetrics

Q. What are your visiting hours?
A. Flexible - no set hours. Please refrain from visiting if you have any illnesses.

Q.Do you have epidurals available?
A. Not routinely. We use intrathecal medication.

Q. How long will I have to stay in the hospital?
A. Average LOS for vaginal birth = 1-2 days; c-section = 3 days.

Occupational Therapy

Q. What is OT (Occupational Therapy)?
A. Occupational Therapy is a rehabilitation profession. Occupational therapists help people be as independent as possible in their "occupations": work/school, play/leisure, and activities of daily living (things like dressing, eating, bathing). Therapists work with people of all ages who eed assistance to lead independent and satisfying lives, but have difficulty because of physical, developmental, social or emotional problems. Occupational therapists can work with people in various places (hospitals, schools, nursing homes, Birth to Three Programs) and with various problems that effect their ability to be independent (burns, spinal cord injuries, birth injuries, arthritis, hand/wrist problems, stroke, work- related injuries). Things a therapist may do are: evaluate home/job environments and recommend modifications, train in use of adaptive equipment, train person to increase arm strength, coordination and flexibility.

Q. What is the difference between Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy?
A. There is a lot of overlap between the 2 professions. Physical therapists, in general, are trained in how to strengthen muscles and retrain them to work correctly after trauma, injury, illness, or developmental problems. Physical therapists will help people improve walking, balance, strength and coordination. Occupational Therapists are trained to help people live as independently as possible by evaluating how they function and then recommending products and training them in how to use the products to help them.

Chequamegon Area Support Groups:

Q. What are some of the Support Groups in the area and contact persons?

Alzheimers Caregivers' Support Group
Contacts: Mary Jean O'Bey or Leslie Fraiser
Phone: 682-3468

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) group
Contact: Nancy Dufek
Phone: 682-8081

Living with Arthritis
Contact: Carol Evans
Phone: 685-5451

Bay Area Heart Club
Contact: Cyndi Belanger or Cheryl Reinerio
Phone: 685-5380

Brain Injury Support Group
Contact: Stewart Holman
Phone: 682-5676

Living with Cancer
Contact: Pat Strand or Deb Ollanketo
Phone: 685-5177

Compassionate Friends
Group for Bereaved parents
Contact: Mary Ann Olson, 373-2734
Kent Seldal: 685-5498

Living with Diabetes
Contact: Deb Ollanketo
Phone: 685-5177

Domestic Violence Support Groups
Contact: Dori Engholm
Phone: 682-9565

Native American Talking Circle
Contact: Midge Montano
Phone: 682-9565

Sexual Assault Support Group
Sexual Assault Therapy Group
Contact: Jenn Senick
Phone: 682-9565

Teen Group
Contact: Shelia Sveda or Jenn Senick
Phone: 682-9565

Creative Families
Contact: Shelia Sveda
Phone: 682-9565

Fibromyalgia Support Group
Contact: Linda Larson
Phone: 682-9688
Contact: Lori Lizak
Phone: 682-9012

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill-Chequamegon Bay Chapter
A support group for families of the mentally ill
Contacts: Sue Sederholm
Phone: 274-8403
Contacts: Sandy Pratt Phone: 779-3139

Reach to Recovery -American Cancer Society program
Early Support and Post-Mastectomy visitation program
Contact: Debra Ollanketo
Phone: 685-5177

Stroke Support Group
Contacts: Karen Eaton or Terry Barningham
Phone: 682-8172

Quit Smoking

Q. What help is available for Quitting Smoking?
A. MMC offers a formal smoking cessation program two to three times each year Freedom from Smoking is a seven week program. There is a charge for the program. Classes are typically offered in January, April, and November.
Contact person: Debra Ollanketo, 685-5177.
Free materials on quitting are available from the American Cancer Society, 1-800-ACS-2345 or online at www.cancer.org

Cancer

Q. Where can I find out about cancer information and any help for cancer patients?
A. A support group for cancer patients meets monthly in Ashland. (See support groups)

The Ashland County Health Department has a loan closet which does have commodes, slide boards, etc and some personal care items that are free to cancer patients.

The American Cancer Society toll-free number is 1-800-ACS-2345
The web address is http://www.cancer.org
The National Cancer Institute toll-free number is 1-800-4-CANCER
Web address is http://www.nci.nih.gov

Diabetes

Q.What is available for diabetes education?
A.Memorial Medical Center has individual and group classes for persons with diabetes. The fee for the class is often covered by insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. A physician referral is needed.

Contact: Debra Ollanketo, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator, 685-5177
Rebecca Crumb-Johnson, RD, Certified Diabetes Educator 685-5463

A free diabetes support group is offered monthly from September-May.

CPR Instruction

Q. Where can I take a CPR or First Aid Class?
A.The Community Training Center for CPR and First Aid classes is Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in Ashland, WI. Call 682-4591 for information about classes.