Valley Frontiersman
6 P
Health Center Report Shows Life-saving
Health-giving Progress In VaUey
Hidden under professional ethics, an amazing report of savings in lives and health has been filed by
Miss Marjorie Myren. public health nurse, Matanuska Valley Health Center. It was filed as a factual
statistical annual 1950 report. Quoted as written there are scores of human interest stories behind
the lines.
Here is the report for each reader to interpret:
The Palmer nurse’s area in- «
eludes in addition to Palmer, the <
Anchorage hi-way as far as Ek- I
lutna, the Glen hi-way as far as
Chickaloon, Wasilla, and Knik
and the areas in between. We try
to give all the areas the same ser- '
vice, immunizations, blood typing, *
etc. 1
Tuberculosis Program
During 1950 we admitted one *
patient from this area to the san
itorium. Several other patients 1
still are waiting for hospitaliza- 1
tion. Under the T.B. program pa- *
tients who have been discharged 1
from the sanitorium are followed
up by routine X-rays, sputum
tests and examinations at the
chest clinic. X-rays and sputums
.also are done on patients who are
suspects, contacts, or who have
healed tuberculosis.
In March, 1950, the railroad unit
visited in Wasilla and persons in
that area were given X-ray exam
inations and BCG vaccinations.
The Alaska Tuberculosis asso
ciation has been helpful in pro
viding money for transportation,
nedications and in some cases ad
litional food for tuberculosis pa
ients.
Maternity and Infant
Two series of prenatal classes
vere taught during the year,
iome visits are made to as many
>rospective mothers as possible,
vho live in outlying areas and
ire unable to get in for classes.
Visits are made to new mothers,
specially if it is the first baby,
;o demonstrate baths, feedings,
;tc. After the infant is six weeks
>ld the mother is invited to bring
nim to well-baby conferences,
which are held three times
nonthly, and here the child can
ne weighed, measured, examined
md immunized. Babies with ab
normalities, are referred to an
M. D.
Communicable Disease
During 1950 the Palmer area
was fortunate in escaping the po
lio and typhoid that affected An
chorage. There was one case of
polio from Eklutna which was
sent to Anchorage as soon as ex
amination indicated he might
have polio. Over 1,000 persons
were immunized against typhoid.
Whooping cough started so all
the elementary school children
were given booster shots.
One outbreak of bacillary dys
entery was confined to one of the
children’s homes. This was pos
sibly spread by a carrier. The
disease was diagnosed by stool
specimens, and treated by a local
doctor.
Throughout the year immuniza
tions against diptheria, tetanus,
whooping cough, smallpox, ty
phoid were given, and immune
globulin for measles when neces
sary.
Crippled and Chronically-Ill
Children
About 15 crippled children are
under observation. The children
attend orthopedic clinic. They
were visited by the polio foun
dation physiotherapist and the
nurse to demonstrate exercises to
the patients, check shoes and
braces.
Palmer is the first area to send
a spastic child outside for treat
ment and to attend school.
Several children were admitted
to St. Anne’s chronic disease unit
for such diseases as rheumatic
fever, chronic skin diseases, heart
trouble, etc.
Several children are in ortho
pedic hospital.
EENT
Sixty-five children attended
the clinic—most of them several
times. Thirty-seven received eye
glasses, 12 had tonsillectomies,
two strabotomies, one mastoid
ectomy.
School Health
One hour was spent at Palmer
school daily for help with school
physicals, recheck eyes, examine
children referred by teachers.
Letters were sent to parents re
garding physical defects.
Special Program
Blood typing, 721.
Dental care—all welfare and
children’s home children.
Water samples.
Welfare
No welfare worker in Palmer,
so nurse often has to help place
children, get them clothes and
food.
During year we had several vis
itors who made visits with nurse
such as the nutritionist, epidemi
ologist and pediatrician.
During the summer visits are
made to King’s Lake camp. Last
year helped screen the children
for communicable diseases; show
ed a couple of movies and tested
the water.
There will be no clinics or in
noculations at the Health Council
office from June 1 to July 10,
while Miss Marjorie Myren, the
health nurse, is on vacation.
The office will be open from 9r
a.m. to 12 noon, with Mrs. Eileen
Branton in attendance.
(Signed)
MARJORIE MYREN
Public Health Nurse.
r. . ■ ■
OFFICE EQUIPMENT
ACCOUNTING FORMS
OFFICE SUPPLIES
Everything
for the Office
Expert Office
Machine Repairs
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