‘Hearing Loss’ luncheon

CROOKSTON — The May RiverView Health Luncheon will feature Marie Johnstad, MS CCC-SLP, COHO, from the RiverView Speech Department. The title of her talk will be “What Did You Say? Preserving and Protecting Your Hearing.” The number of adults with hearing loss is increasing dramatically in the United States. Another alarming issue is the increase in the severity of hearing loss at a younger age. Predictions are that this current generation will have a higher prevalence of hearing loss than any previous generation. Understanding of hearing, hearing loss and how to save your hearing will be the topic of RiverView’s Health Luncheon.

Johnstad has been employed by RiverView for 17 years and is currently the Coordinator of the Speech Language Pathology Department. Marie received her undergraduate degree and her master’s degree from Moorhead State University. She has been the facilitator of the RiverView Stroke Support Group for over 10 years and is also responsible for performing OSHA hearing screenings for area employers as well as providing education as to the effects of noise on hearing.

The luncheon is being held at RiverView in Meeting Room No. 1 May 27 and May 28, beginning at noon. Meeting Room No. 1 is located near the new RiverView Clinic entrance on the north side of the hospital and across from the elevators on first floor.

The luncheon series is in its eleventh year of sponsorship by RiverView Health and invites all men and women interested in improving their health to attend. Each starts a few minutes past noon and luncheons are kept under one hour so those needing to return to work can attend. The presentations are free and attendees can bring their own lunches or purchase a bag lunch for $3. Pre-registration is required. Call (218) 281-9405 or toll free (800) 743-6551, extension 405, for additional information and to pre-register.

Literacy Camp

CROOKSTON — RiverView Health in Crookston is again offering a summer program for all children ages 4-7 called Learning, Language and Literacy Camp. The camp is designed to enhance pre-reading and language comprehension skills, and enrich children’s vocabularies in a fun filled environment. Learning, Language and Literacy Camp will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. starting June 9 and running through July 2. The camp will be staffed by RiverView Speech Language Pathologists.

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month

CROOKSTON — In recognition of Better Hearing and Speech Month, RiverView Rehab Services in Crookston will offer free speech-language screenings. Parents and caregivers with questions or concerns should call (218) 281-9747 for more information or to schedule an appointment for a screening. The free screenings are available year round.

Since 1927, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has celebrated Better Hearing and Speech Month each May to raise public awareness of speech and language disorders that affect 14 million Americans.

Speech and language disorders can take many forms and can limit academic achievement, social adjustment, and career advancement. An individual may be born with a speech or language disorder, or it may be caused by accidental injury or illness.

“Fortunately, most people with speech and language problems can be helped,” said Marie Johnstad, RiverView Speech-Language Coordinator. “Even if the problem cannot be eliminated, we can teach people with speech and language problems strategies to help them cope. People may not fully regain their capacity to speak and understand, but a speech-language pathologist can help them live more independently.”

Speech-language pathologists are the professionals who treat all types of speech, language, and related disorders. They hold at least a master’s degree, are licensed by the state of Minnesota, and are certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Speech-language pathologists work in schools, private practice, hospitals, clinics, and other health and education settings.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, or ASHA, is the national professional, scientific and credentialing association for more than 127,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists and speech, language, and hearing scientists.

For more information about Better Speech and Hearing Month, or to schedule a free speech-language and hearing screening for a child, call the RiverView Speech Language Pathology Department at (218) 281-9438.

Pre-registration is required by June 5, as space is limited. Cost for all eight sessions is $100. Scholarships are also available. For more information, or to register for the Learning, Language and Literacy Camp, please call (218) 281-9747 or (800) 743-6551 and ask for the Speech Language Pathology Department.

Robotic surgery

Dr. Jon Dangerfield, obstetrician and gynecologist, recently performed North Dakota's first robotic hysterectomy using the da Vinci Surgical System. MeritCare is the only facility in the state offering this minimally invasive, state-of-the-art robot-assisted procedure.

"This gives women facing the prospect of a complete hysterectomy another option that is less-invasive and offers faster recovery time and less scarring," said Dangerfield.

Surgeons perform 600,000 hysterectomies each year in the United States; it's the second most frequently performed surgery for women. 65 percent of those performed are total abdominal hysterectomies, which utilizes a large incision and requires two-three days of hospitalization following the procedure. The average length of hospitalization following a robotic hysterectomy is one day.

An alternative to the traditional surgical approach is robot-assisted surgery. Using the da Vinici Surgical System, the surgeon operates while seated at a console a few feet away from the patient. Using a high-powered camera, the surgeon is able to view a 3D image of the surgical field. The surgeon grasps the master controls and guides the arms of the robot that holds surgical tools which are inserted into the patient through small, keyhole-sized incisions. da Vinci seamlessly translates the surgeon's hand, wrist and finger movements into precise, real-time movements of surgical instruments inside the patient.

"The patient benefits of this technique are significant, including a markedly shortened hospital stay, shortened recovery time, less blood loss and reduced rates of infection," said Dangerfield. "And patients report less pain and scarring than with traditional hysterectomy."

Other options for hysterectomy at MeritCare that are less invasive than traditional hysterectomy include laparoscopic hysterectomy and vaginal hysterectomy.

Since April 2001, when MeritCare became one of the first hospitals in the U.S. to offer advanced robotic technology, surgeons have used it for cardiac procedures.

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