Important to know the symptoms

In the wake of recent measles, mumps and chickenpox outbreaks, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) wants the public to become familiar with the hallmark signs of these classic diseases.  

Osteopathic pediatrician Stanley E. Grogg, DO, professor emeritus of pediatrics at Oklahoma State UniversityCenter for Health Sciences in Tulsa, developed a simple reference to help patients quickly recognize the hallmark symptoms of outbreak illnesses.  Those with symptoms of these illnesses are strongly urged to isolate themselves until they are evaluated by a physician.

Dr. Grogg, who is the AOA's liaison to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), also recommends that medical office staff isolate patients with these classic symptoms by showing them directly to an exam room rather than seating them in public waiting areas.

"These highly contagious illnesses are particularly challenging because most Americans under 50 have never seen measles, mumps or even chickenpox because of the historically high levels of vaccination in the U.S.," Dr. Grogg said. "I frequently consult with younger physicians looking to confirm diagnoses because they've only seen these illnesses in a textbook."

Some key diagnostic signs:

• Measles: Rash that starts on the face, red eyes and bad cough
• Mumps: Swelling above the jaw, plus aches, fever and other flu-like symptoms
• Rubella: Rash on face lasting two to three days
• Chickenpox:  Itchy red bumps that appear in clusters, plus flu-like symptoms
• Pertussis: Intense coughing with a distinctive 'whoop' sound

These illnesses are making a comeback due to international travel and the growing number of unvaccinated people, according to the CDC. Measles, declared eradicated by the CDC in 2000, hit a 20-year high in 2014. Vaccination is only about 88 percent effective against mumps, according to the CDC, so even those who have vaccinated may be vulnerable to the illness.

People who believe they've been exposed to these illnesses should consult their physician, who may be able to help prevent the disease from developing.  

"People who haven't been vaccinated can protect themselves from measles by getting the MMR vaccine within 72 hours of exposure. With mumps, a third dose of the vaccine seems to be helpful and is particularly important for males of reproductive age, who can become sterile if the mumps virus settles in the testicles," Dr. Grogg said.

About the AOA
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) represents more than 110,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs) and osteopathic medical students; promotes public health; encourages scientific research; serves as the primary certifying body for DOs; is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical schools; and has federal authority to accredit hospitals and other health care facilities. More information on DOs/osteopathic medicine can be found at www.osteopathic.org.

As weekend storm looms, warming centers are available in Peoria

The Peoria Fire Department on Friday issued a reminder that there are several warming centers available to residents if the need should arise this weekend, when heavy snow and falling temperatures are forecast.

City of Peoria fire stations serve as warming centers for those who may find themselves without heat. Warming centers provide safe locations during extreme cold temperatures. This service is provided 24 hours a day. A map and list of Peoria fire stations can be found at www.peoriagov.org, or by calling the Peoria Fire Department at 494-8700.

The lobby of the Peoria Police Department at 600 SW Adams St. is also available. Additionally, the lobby of the Peoria Civic Center is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

According to the National Weather Center in Lincoln, rain on Saturday afternoon will change to snow throughout the evening. Temperatures will drop and there will be significant snow accumulation with snow continuing to fall into Sunday.

Travelers are advised to take caution as there is also the potential for wind and blowing drifting snow. 

Gertie says we have six more weeks of winter

Monday morning was bright and beautiful. But considering the weather we had on the weekend, the last thing most of us wanted to hear was that more winter was in store.

That’s what Gertie the groundhog revealed on Monday, Groundhog Day, at Wildlife Prairie Park. That bright Sunday meant it was likely Gertie would see her shadow, which would mean six more weeks of winter instead of an early spring.

Indeed, park officials said, that was the prognostication Gertie delivered to park naturalist Sara Tate and to the honorary mayor for the event, Maddie Heidenreich, the morning weathercaster at WEEK-TV. “Gertie has some bad news for us. With no clouds in the sky and winter already here, Gertie, unfortunately, says there are six more weeks of winter. So, she says to bundle up,” Heidenreich announced to the crowd who gathered for the prediction.

That prediction was like that from the country’s most famous Groundhog Day prognosticator Punxsutawney Phil. He saw his shadow despite overcast skies in Pennsylvania and said there’d be six more weeks of winter.

Last year, Gertie predicted an early spring. We all know how well that forecast turned out: Central Illinois has record snowfall last winter, including more than 7 inches of the white stuff in March and nearly a half-inch on April 14.  

By the calendar, of course, there are always basically six weeks of winter to come after Groundhog Day. The spring equinox is March 20.

OSF HealthCare joins task force to transform health care

OSF HealthCare has joined the Health Care Transformation Task Force, a group of health systems, health insurers, purchasers, employers and patients who will work together to transform national health care over the next five years.

For OSF it is a continuing commitment “to bring value to our patients and this industry. OSF HealthCare has been a national leader in that arena for the past several years,” OSF said in a news release.

OSF HealthCare was chosen to be one of 32 Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations in 2012, helping to pilot a new model of care that emphasizes higher quality and lower costs and penalizes systems that do not deliver both.

“We accepted that risk because we understood the health care industry must find ways to provide better value and better patient outcomes. Though our Pioneer ACO comprises patients on Medicare, our approach and commitment is to improve care for all of our patients. Just 19 of the 32 Pioneer ACOs remain, and the OSF HealthCare quality scores for 2013, the most recent year for which data is available, put us in the top five among that group,” the company said.

Kevin Schoeplein, OSF HealthCare CEO, said participation in health care innovation projects such as these has not resulted in “ever losing sight of our Mission to serve our patients with the greatest care and love. Our participation in the Health Care Transformation Task Force is recognition that we are truly leaders in the national efforts to continuously improve our health care system in this country. What makes that work worthwhile is when we see the results in better care for our patients.”

The mission of the Health Care Transformation Task Force is to bring together patients, payers, providers and purchasers to align private and public sector efforts to clear the way for a sweeping transformation of the U.S. health care system.

“We seek to provide a critical mass of business, operational and policy expertise from the private sector that, when combined with the efforts of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other public and private sector stakeholders, can accelerate the pace of delivery system transformation,” according to the Task Force mission statement.

The organization said “there is a vital need for the industry to work cooperatively to accelerate health care transformation and position it for success. We need to overcome doubts about the certainty and pace of the transition and improve our knowledge about how to best produce the Triple Aim of better health, better care and lower costs. We need to make individuals and families aware of and involve them in health system redesign. If we want providers and payers to commit to this transformation, we must offer certainty that the nation will stay the course. Finally, we must ensure that the transition does not decrease competition across the industry.”

The Task Force aims to have 75 percent of the industry under value-based contracts to deliver the Triple Aim by 2020. To date, there are 28 organizations – health care delivery companies such as OSF Healthcare, insurance payers and purchasers and family groups involved in the Task Force.

For more information on the Health Care Transformation Task Force, visit www.hcttf.org.