Winona Health certified diabetes educators are offering a four-week program to help people prevent type 2 diabetes. The program meets four consecutive Tuesday evenings, March 6 through 27, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room at Winona Clinic, 859 Mankato Avenue.

Certified diabetes educators, Jill O’Donnell, RN, CDE, and Sue Haug, RD, LD, CDE, will be the program facilitators. The program is intended for people at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Risk factors for diabetes include:

• Abnormal glucose laboratory results

• Diabetes in pregnancy or giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds

• Family history of diabetes

• Excess body weight (especially around the waist)

• Low HDL cholesterol and/or high triglycerides

• High blood pressure

• Low activity level

• Poor diet

Registration is required by Friday, March 2. The cost is $50 per person. For more information or to register, call 507.457.7670.

To improve access to information and make its website even more user friendly, Winona Health recently redesigned the site and added features such as:

• Visitor Information. A new section dedicated to patients and visitors with resources such as online bill pay, tips for hospital or clinic visits, information about building amenities, parking and more.

• Find a Doctor. Find the right doctor for your needs, whether by specialty or location.

• Wait times: Check on the current wait times before you head to Urgent Care.

• Quality and Safety: The new site also provides information about the hospital’s commitment to high quality care, information about performance in established care standards, and comparisons with other healthcare organizations.

Community members interested in exploring the site can take part in an online scavenger hunt with an opportunity to win a massage gift certificate or Winona Health collapsible cooler. Visit winonahealth.org/hunt and participate before Friday, February 10. There will be six winners.

Other information available on the website includes healthcare provider photos and bios; services available and contact information; career opportunities; online nursery; upcoming events; Winona Health Foundation and Volunteer information; and access to Winona Health Online (secure access to individual health records).

“So many people prefer to get their information online, and we want to make sure our web visitors find what they are looking for,” Betsy Midthun, Winona Health chief communication officer. “We combined interactive content with a new, uncluttered layout resulting in simplified navigation to the site’s features and information.”

Midthun also noted the enhanced physician/provider recruitment site. “A lot of thought went into redoing the healthcare professional career options site. It is often difficult to find the right professional for our ongoing community health needs. We designed the section to promote the Winona region’s quality of life as well as Winona Health.”

Midthun said the site will continue to be improved and developed. “It is a continual work in progress.” Each week, there are approximately 4500 visits to the Winona Health website.

Winona Health’s last major website redesign was in spring 2008 when the organization also launched Facebook and Twitter sites. Winona Health’s Facebook and Twitter followers are among the first in the community to know of upcoming events and new healthcare providers. They also receive health tips and healthy recipes.

The new site can be found at www.winonahealth.org. To participate in the scavenger hunt, go to www.winonahealth.org/hunt. Winona Health welcomes comments about the newly designed website. If you’d like to comment, please send a note to info@winonahealth.org.

Winona Health employees are not eligible for these prizes.

The Winona Health Auxiliary will again be hosting the very popular Masquerade $5 Jewelry Sale Wednesday and Thursday, February 8 and 9, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the clinic lobby at Winona Health, 855 Mankato Ave.

Masquerade, a nationally known $5 jewelry company, will be showcasing more than 25,000 pieces of new jewelry. There will be a wide variety of quality jewelry and accessories for men, women and children including rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, jewelry sets, wallets and watches—and everything is $5. Cash, check and credit cards will be accepted. The sale will provide a great opportunity to purchase some extra Valentine gifts for your friends and family.

All proceeds will go toward future Auxiliary projects and healthcare educational scholarships. For more information, please call the Winona Health Volunteer Services Office at 507.474.3328.

Troy Shelton, MD

Troy Shelton, MD, Winona Health’s Women’s Health Center, will give a free presentation covering frequently asked questions about HPV—Human Papillomavirus on Thursday, February 9, from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Women’s Health Center on the third floor of Winona Clinic, 859 Mankato Avenue in Winona.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States. Learn more about HPV including how it is transmitted, the long-term health effects and how you can prevent it—including information about the vaccines available for both females and males as early as age 11. Learn more and bring your questions.

The event begins with light refreshments. Attendees also will meet Emily Zimmerman, Winona Health dietitian, as she shares some nutritional information on the refreshments.

There is no charge for this program, but RSVP is appreciated for refreshment planning and because of space limitations. RSVP by Tuesday, February 7, by calling 507.457.4161 or online at winonahealth.org/women. Walk-ins welcome as space permits.

Sarah Olszewski, a certified physician assistant (PA-C), has joined Winona Health’s Family Practice Department and will see patients of all ages at both Rushford and Winona Clinics in February.

“We’re looking forward to adding to our growing Rushford staff,” said Marti Bollman, administrative leader for Primary Care Clinics. “Sarah is an outstanding addition to our team in Winona and in Rushford, and we’re pleased to have another provider to increase access to healthcare services in our area.”

Sarah is certified by the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants. She completed her Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Midwestern University in Downers Grove Ill. Prior to joining Winona Health, Sarah provided care for patients at healthcare organizations in the greater Chicago area during rotations in family medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, internal medicine, emergency medicine, behavioral medicine, geriatrics and surgery. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Sarah is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. She has a special interest in smoking cessation and has conducted research on treatment options for smoking cessation. She also has participated as a volunteer for a variety of events including blood drives, food drives and Special Olympics.

To schedule an appointment with Sarah Olszewski, PA-C, at Rushford Clinic, call 507.864.7726. For an appointment with her at Winona Clinic, call 507.454.3680.

Lauren Mohan joins Winona Health Foundation board

Laurel Mohan recently joined the Winona Health Foundation board of directors.

Mohan is an attorney with Libera Knapp, P.A. practicing in the areas of estate planning, probate, real estate, contract drafting and non-profit law.

“I am passionate about philanthropy and enjoy being part of an organization that is supported by and benefits our community,” said Mohan. “I love that our major healthcare provider here in Winona is a locally based non-profit, and I’m looking forward to helping the Winona Health Foundation continue to grow and thrive.” Mohan also has an interest in community health and a background in Medical Anthropology and women’s community health.

Mohan grew up in California around the Bay area. She earned her undergraduate degree at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and then went to law school at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. She returned to California and worked in Oakland before moving to Winona in May 2010 to join Libera Knapp, P.A.

Mohan joins Winona Health Foundation board members: Steven Blue, chair; Andy Blomsness; Judith Bodway; Ken Mogren, Tedd Morgan; David Rowekamp, MD; Ellen Smith; Rachelle Schultz, president/CEO; Mike Allen, CFO/treasurer; and Nancy Brown, executive director of development/Foundation board secretary.

The Foundation’s mission is to gather, steward and distribute resources needed to support and advance Winona Health’s mission to improve the health and well-being of the community while remaining an exceptional provider of locally owned, non-profit healthcare.

For more information about the Winona Health Foundation, visit winonahealth.org or call 507.457.4342.

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