Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) has been accepted and registered as a participating site in Mayo Clinic’s Expanded Access Protocol for Convalescent Plasma Program for treatment of patients with COVID-19.
Researchers believe that convalescent plasma (CP), which refers to blood plasma collected from people who have recovered from COVID-19, may help patients with advanced illness from COVID-19.
The antibodies in the plasma may have the ability to help patients fight the virus and recover more quickly.
Dr. Carl W. Hoagstrom, 79, died Monday May 18, 2020 at his home in Bluffton. He was born in Holdrege, Nebraska, on Aug. 24, 1940, to the late Elmer and Leona (Shaffer) Hoagstrom. On June 5, 1965, he married Maureen (Goertzen) Hoagstrom and she survives in Bluffton.
Bluffton council may soon address an animal zoning ordinance.
Council’s ordinance committee, meeting on April 29, discussed criteria for an ordinance proposed by Mitch Kingsley, according to the committee’s minutes of the meeting.
The minutes were part of the recent council agenda, and the council voted to go forward with an ordinance, although one is not yet ready for council’s action.
Bluffton University has named Robert Richardson as its head men’s soccer coach.
Richardson had been the men’s soccer coach at Emory & Henry College in Emory, Va., for the last seven years.
“I want to thank President Jane Wood and Athletic Director Phill Talavinia for giving me the opportunity to become the next men’s soccer coach at Bluffton University,” said Richardson.
“I look forward to growing the program with a strong and stable team in the present while preparing for success in the future.”
Bluffton Hospital has initiated COVID-19 testing for all patients coming to the hospital for scheduled surgeries and procedures.
This is a change from the previous practice of testing only those exhibiting symptoms of the disease and referred by their primary care physicians.
The hours of operation for pre-surgery and procedure swabbing at Bluffton Hospital follows:
• Mondays through Fridays – 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Weekends – 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Persons need to contact their physician to schedule a pre-surgery or procedure swabbing.
Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) is now offering antibody testing for COVID-19.
Patients who would like to know if they have had COVID-19 should contact their primary care provider who will then order a test through the BVHS outpatient laboratory.
Unlike the nasal swabs that test for active COVID-19 infections, the antibody test is taken through a blood draw. The antibodies will typically show-up about one to two weeks after someone has been infected with COVID-19.
Wil Dailey, Bluffton first grader, created this drawing of his teacher, Mrs. Steinmetz.
Teacher Appreciation Week was May 4-8. In cooperation with the Bluffton PTO, the Icon is posting drawings of elementary teachers created by elementary students.
The Icon invites all elementary students to submit a drawing of a teacher. Send to: [email protected].
