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.
By Brenda Keller, APRN-CNP, Certified Nurse Practitioner
Gastroenterology Associates of Northwest Ohio
Eosinophilic esophagitis, or “EoE” for short, is a condition that affects the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. In cases of EoE, the esophagus has cells called eosinophils.
Eosinophils are not normally found in the esophagus. They are cells associated with allergies. The exact cause of EoE is unknown but thought to be related to food allergies.
By Dr. Robert Puckett, DO
Family Medicine, Carey Medical Center
What is a DO?
When you go to see your doctor you may notice some letters following their name, but have you ever wondered what they mean? Physicians in the United States receive one of two degrees upon completion of medical school, either an MD or a DO. So, what is the difference?
Most people are familiar with a MD or Medical Doctor, but would you be surprised to know that nearly 1 in 4 current medical students is working toward their DO rather than an MD.
Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) will hold a “State of Our Organization: COVID-19 Response and Plan Part III” through Facebook Live to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, the response plan for BVHS and answer questions from the community.
President and CEO Scott Malaney and Dr. William Kose, vice president of special projects, will speak to the community for a third time on the pandemic and updates on the health system’s response from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30.
By Joshua Ebel, MD Blanchard Valley Urology Associates
The kidneys are vital organs serving many important roles in your body including, filtering your blood and controlling your blood pressure. Unfortunately, they are also prone to developing abnormal cysts and tumors, some of which are cancerous.
Kidney cancer is in the top 10 most common cancers in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that over 70,000 Americans will be diagnosed with kidney cancer this year alone.
