QUINCY, IL
Blessing Hospital is expanding a nationally known physical therapy program for Parkinson's disease patients.
The LSVT BIG program has been available to Blessing Home Care patients for two years, but effective July 27 the therapy program will also be available to any outpatient with a Parkinson's diagnosis and an order from their physician.
"This is great news for Parkinson's patients," said Cathy Hilgenbrinck, RN and director of Blessing Home Care. "LSVT BIG is ideal for someone newly diagnosed, to learn what to do to maintain their mobility, flexibility, balance, and range of motion for the long term, and at the same time preserve their quality of life."
LSVT BIG training takes place four times a week for four weeks, with maintenance visits following completion of the program.
LSVT stands for Lee Silverman Voice Treatment. Silverman, a nationally known therapist, invented two programs for Parkinson's patients: LSVT LOUD for speech disorders and LSVT BIG for mobility issues.
Parkinson's disease is a chronic and progressive disorder involving the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells in the brain, called neurons. This causes a disconnection in the brain between vision and feeling, perception and reality leading to miscalculated movements.
LSVT BIG teaches Parkinson's patients to compensate for their mobility challenges by making bigger, longer and stronger movements, in other words, "BIG" movements.
For more information, contact Blessing Home Care at 217-223-8400, ext. 4901.
Reaccreditation
The Blessing Cancer Center's Radiation Oncology Department was reaccredited by the American College of Radiation Oncology. The Radiation Oncology Department undergoes the reaccreditation process every three years. The Blessing Radiation Oncology Department has been accredited since 2001.
ACRO strives to ensure the highest quality care for radiation therapy patients and promote success in the practice of radiation oncology. Accreditation is a voluntary process in which professional peers identify standards indicative of a quality practice, and an audit is conducted to assure that the standards are followed.
The hospital's radiation department is led by two full-time board-certified radiation oncologists, assisted by a team that includes a medical physicist, two dosimetrists, radiation therapists and nurses.
Nursing scholarship/established
Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences students have established a scholarship in the name of the late Virgil E. Kendrick.
Born July 16, 1948, in Beardstown, Kendrick farmed in Brown County until he passed when he was 32 in 1981. An anonymous donor established the memorial scholarship to provide a student meeting the qualifications with a gift card to purchase food from the Blessing Hospital Cafeteria, Tea Room or Blessing Health Center Snack Shop.
The scholarship will benefit one student annually, with preference given to students who live in the Illinois counties of Brown, Schuyler, Morgan or Scott. As the scholarship fund earnings increase, more recipients may be designated annually.
Anyone interested in donating to the Virgil E. Kendrick Scholarship may do so through the Blessing Foundation, 1121 Broadway, Quincy, IL 62301. A secure online donation may be made at BlessingHealthSystem.org, then selecting the "Blessing Foundation" and "Donate Now."
For further information or to ask questions, call 217-223-8400, ext. 4800, or email ann.dickson@blessinghealthsystem.org.
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