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We’re all ready to be outside and take advantage of the sunshine and warm temperatures now that summer has arrived. This sun exposure can be good for your mood and energy levels, but too much can cause sun damage to your skin which can be very harmful and result in future health complications.

We’re all ready to be outside and take advantage of the sunshine and warm temperatures now that summer has arrived. This sun exposure can be good for your mood and energy levels, but too much can cause sun damage to your skin which can be very harmful and result in future health complications.

You’ve seen the hashtag, but today we’d like to introduce you to one of the #healthcareheroes we’ve come to depend on. Rick Bain is a respiratory therapist and member of the Acuity family who is on the front line, helping people recover from serious respiratory illness every day. Check out the interview to see what it’s like working in a Long Term Acute Care specialty hospital, what he thinks of the homemade masks, and what lifts his spirits during quarantine.

Sometimes we can’t visit loved ones in a hospital because of the health risk to the patient or to ourselves. For all of us here at the Acuity family, we know how difficult it can be while unable to visit sick and recovering loved ones in person, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still offer hope and connection!

The spring season is a welcome relief for many with warmer weather, longer days, and the coming of summer. But we know many who suffer from chronic lung conditions may experience worsened symptoms.

The Acuity family knows how disruption can affect the mind and body. We’re all keeping our heads up while we fight this respiratory illness on the front lines, and we’d like to share with you some helpful tips for maintaining a sense of normalcy during quarantine.

As the virus continues its spread across the United States, new information regarding this illness is coming to light as we research and learn more about it.

Social distancing is a way to keep people from interacting closely or frequently enough to spread an infectious disease. Schools and other gathering places such as movie theaters may close, and sports events and religious services may be cancelled.

According to the World Health Organization, 235 million people suffer from asthma. But this is just one of the many chronic respiratory diseases out there. That means you most likely know someone who suffers from CRD’s (Chronic Respiratory Diseases) or suffer yourself from related conditions.

The global 2019 Coronavirus pandemic is causing lots of talk all over the world. With instant access to news online, it’s easy for the truth of the virus to be sensationalized and false information to spread. Here is everything you need to know.

Flu season is back in full swing this winter. Read on to learn how you can prevent catching and spreading the illness. When you protect yourself you protect those around you, too!

I didn’t realize it until Facebook reminded me—what did we ever do without Facebook?—that I have been your Infection Control Manager for one year… and what a year it’s been.

My name is Rick Bain and I have been a Registered Respiratory Therapist for 27 years. I have been employed with Acuity Specialty Hospital for the past 13 years. I am an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Navy.

In most companies, at one time or another you hear someone say “Act like you own it”.  What they are really saying is that you should make decisions like you are running the company. 

Memorial Day is a time to honor America’s fallen heroes with family and friends. Whether you’re headed to a parade, a picnic, or a barbecue, it’s important to keep your healthy habits on track. Consider setting yourself up for success!

When Acuity Healthcare hired me, the company explained that I was an employee owner.  At that time, I did not fully understand the magnitude of this benefit.  I do not think many of us really understand employee ownership when we are first introduced to it. 

Whether you are looking to become a vegetarian or vegan, or simply increase your plant-based meals in the New Year, increasing intake of plant-based proteins can improve health.

When a loved one in your life who has a serious medical condition, choosing the appropriate level of care for them can seem overwhelming.  After they are discharged from intensive care units, what at the next steps?

As 2018 is coming to an end, you will hear more and more talk of New Year’s Resolutions and “New Year, New Me” ideas. There are some mixed reviews from people when it comes to resolutions.

Judy is a compassionate and accomplished healthcare leader with over 38 years of experience in all facets of healthcare services, management, supervision, administrative duties, finances, direct patient care and public relations.

I would like to respond to a recent article that criticized long-term acute care hospitals (LTACH). I am a registered nurse with a clinical background working in intensive care units (ICUs) and emergency rooms (ERs).

A registered dietitian (RD or RDN) is a food and nutrition expert who has met specific criteria to earn the RD or RDN credential.  Not to be confused with a nutritionist, a dietitian holds a degree in nutrition as well as having completed a 6-12 month accredited program and passing a national exam.

According to the USDA MyPlate, it is recommended that half of your plate is Fruit & Vegetables. Unfortunately research shows that over 90% of the population does not meet the daily recommendation!

Are you planning a trip outside the US? Did you know that flu season may be active there? Protect yourself, take your flu vaccine at least two weeks before traveling.

It’s almost that time of year again! Back to school time is often a busy time for families, but it’s an important time to ensure that your kids are getting the best nutrition to help support their performance during school hours and after-school activities!

If you are reading this perhaps you or your loved one have experienced trauma. Certainly you did not expect to need an extended hospitalization. You may wonder what exactly happened to you.

Hot weather means outdoor fun! Beach time, pool time or simply sitting outside with friends, heat exhaustion can cause serious issues for anyone, especially the elderly.

Summer! Time for ice cream, summer cocktails, potato salad and hot dogs. It is that time of year when healthy eating can become a challenge. Don’t let the summer parties and BBQs cause you to fall off track of maintaining a healthy diet.

When a loved one suffers a traumatic event that results in the placement of a tracheostomy tube, one of the more frequently overlooked complications is loss of voice and speech.

Carl Bartlett is the IT Operations Manager at the Acuity Service Center and been part of the Acuity team for almost 10 years (September anniversary).  He is a proud veteran serving in the army from 1968-1978.

As the 4th of July quickly approaches, I am reminded of years past spent on a beach, at a barbeque, swimming, fireworks, and of course, the usual patriotic red, white and blue.

Lots of people hear the term “speech therapist” and instantly think of someone who helps kids speak more clearly. So what are they doing in a hospital? How do they help with adults?

Create a plan of action to prepare against the hot and humid weather by checking the forecast.

Hydration is important every day of the year, but staying properly hydrated becomes even harder during the hot summer months. Each and every day we breathe, sweat, and go to the bathroom and these are some of the ways we lose water and fluids from our body.

How we perceive and respond to an event is a significant factor in how we adjust and cope with it. The stress you feel is not only the result of your caregiving situation but also the result of your perception of it—whether you see the glass as half-full or half-empty.

Madison is a 13-year-old who had a bad stomachache in November 2017. The stomachache turned out to be a bowel blockage. She had to have a colostomy.

When I started working at Acuity Healthcare, I was excited to be hired as the Vice President of Communications. My new position included all the traditional responsibilities, such as social and media relations, press releases, and newsletters.

Being new, I’m able to observe the team here at Acuity Specialty Hospital of Southern New Jersey fulfill the spirit of patient safety. 

James Gyorko knew that something was wrong. He started to complain of shortness of breath, and was diagnosed with pneumonia at a local hospital. He ended up on a ventilator at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

Melvin Jones walked into the emergency room of a community hospital just four days after Christmas in 2017 and 14 days before he turned 47. This visit was one of multiple visits he had taken to an ER, so he wasn’t unduly alarmed from what he saw.

Leadership and other management qualities are often compared to sports. A great passion of mine is football, specifically Philadelphia Eagles football.

When your loved one needs further treatment, a long-term acute care hospital might be the best clinical setting for them.

Really big snow storms  – and even every day, run-of-the-mill snowfalls – create a risk by shoveling. Pushing a heavy snow blower also can cause injury. And, there’s the cold factor.

Winter dangers, such as broken bones from falls on ice, or breathing problems caused by cold air, can be worrisome, especially for older adults.

There’s no place like home for the holidays. But sometimes, we find that a loved one will be spending the holiday season at the hospital.

Before Christopher Johnson, 65, became sick 18 months ago, he was unfamiliar with the idea of a long-term specialty hospital, until a friend made what Christopher and his wife Jennifer Johnson now say was a life-changing suggestion.

After spending 79 days in the hospital, John Davidson of Wheeling, West Virginia, is happy he can walk and cut his own grass again.

On March 24, 2017 Patricia Weese’s life changed forever when she suffered a major heart attack. Pat is one of those people that always makes you smile. She has had a rough life.

I have been employed with Acuity Specialty Hospital since February 2010, initially as respiratory therapist. In February of 2016, I started my position as a clinical liaison.

Employee ownership may seem like a strange model for the healthcare industry, but a small number of companies have made the switch – and they say it’s helping to improve their recruitment and retention.

Long-term care hospitals around the country are hopeful the Trump administration will permanently abolish a proposed policy that would dramatically reduce their Medicare reimbursement.

I am often asked by friends that also work in accounting why I continue to work in the AP department? My answer is always the same, I believe what we do in AP is important.

When I was in my early teens, I decided to become a candy striper, a volunteer at a local community hospital, to see if I was cut out to be a nurse. I was considering several different career paths, and I was excited explore a career in nursing.

When we are faced with the troubles of illness and hospitalizations it becomes harder for us and our family members to keep track of what medications we are supposed to be taking.

The right thing for the right reason, that when put into play promotes the accomplishment of a common goal. Acuity Specialty Hospital was started with that moral compass as the guide to our team.

As Mr. William “Bill” Allen began his day on July 5th, he had no idea how his life would be forever changed in an instant.  It was an average day; but, it included an appointment for an outpatient radiology visit.

Have you ever wondered about the meaning of all those signs that you see at the doorway when you come to visit a friend or family member in the hospital?

Elizabeth Jones was in high school when she met her sweetheart, Willie. They dated for a few months then lost contact with each other for 20 years. Then, sometime later, she was able to reconnect with him on Facebook and they started to renew their relationship

My name is Leah Gross and when I was growing up I watched my mother who had been a nurse for years as she polished her shoes daily and washed her nursing cap

My name is Rick Bain RRT, BS and I am proud to say that I have been a part of #TeamAcuity since April of 2006. I work out of Acuity Specialty Hospital Ohio Valley as a Clinical Liaison.

Lourdes Specialty Hospital of Southern New Jersey recently introduced its new name – Acuity Specialty Hospital of Southern New Jersey. The change is to reflect the company’s brand and mission throughout the region and showcase its commitment to excellence.

My name is Jenn Trallo Schreiber and I have been with #TeamAcuity since 2009. I serve Acuity Healthcare as our Corporate CMS Quality Analyst and also Acuity Specialty Hospital of NJ as our Chief Quality, Safety, and Risk Officer.

Without breath, there is no life. That is the reason respiratory therapists are among the first clinicians at the bedside during emergency health situations.

I am often asked why I am always so excited about my job.  It’s easy –I am fortunate that I get to impact people in so many ways.

We are dedicated to providing useful health and medical information to our community. It’s our goal to blog about topics that are relevant and helpful for you and your family.