Ambulance
The Wheaton Ambulance Service provides quality pre-hospital care to the residents in our primary service area. We hold mutual aid agreements with the surrounding ambulance services stating that we will provide mutual aid if needed.

The Wheaton Ambulance Service is staffed by EMT’s and paramedics who volunteer their services to the community.

Other services provided by the Wheaton Ambulance Service include:

• Provide community education for First Aid and CPR
• Provide scholarships to graduating seniors 
• Attend home football games to provide medical coverage. 
• Attend Parenting Fairs, Youth Fairs, Work Truck Day at Pearson School and Senior Health Fairs
• Provide basic medical coverage for all fair and grandstand activities at the Traverse County Fair

Cardiac Rehabilitation
What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehabilitation includes exercise training, education, counseling and behavioral interventions. The program is designed to limit adverse physiologic and psychological effects of cardiac illness, reduce risk of sudden death, or reoccurring coronary episodes, control cardiac symptoms, stabilize or reverse the atherosclerotic status.

Who is a Candidate for Cardiac Rehab?

Anyone with a history of myocardial infarction (heart attack), stable angina pectoris, coronary artery bypass graft surgery or angioplasty, stint implantation, as well as some other heart related problems may be a candidate for the program.

What are the Benefits of Cardiac Rehab?

1. Guidelines on how to exercise
2. Improvement in exercise tolerance
3. Close observation and monitoring of patient
4. Work closely with patient's Health Care Provider
5. Reductions in cigarette smoking
6. Improved cholesterol control
7. Improved blood pressure control
8. Improved psycho-social well-being, decrease in stress, help with emotional aspects of Coronary Heart Disease
9. Healthy eating guidelines
10. Consultation available for education on nutrition and medications
11. Assistance with life style changes
12. Reduction in mortality

When/Where/How Long?

The Cardiac Rehab Program meets three times a week for about one hour each time. Each session is adapted to the individual's needs. Usual sessions are up to 12 weeks (36 exercise sessions) a maintenance program is also available for those who complete a Cardiac Rehab Phase II Program.
A referral from your healthcare provider is required. Those interested in the program may request a referral from their physician to enroll in the program. Medicare and most private insurance companies reimburse for Cardiac Rehab. Your insurance policy or agent can provide specific details.

For further information regarding our program, please call (320) 563-8226. Ask for the Director of Cardiac Rehab, JoAnn Foltz or Ashley Arneson.

Phase III or Maintenance Exercise Program
This is a program of exercise for persons who have completed the Phase II Exercise Program described above or who have qualifying health problems. It consists of individual programs of exercise designed to fit each person's ability and needs. There is also regular monitoring of weight and vital signs with adjustments in the exercise programs.
Who qualifies for this program?
The program is open to cardiac, pulmonary, diabetic and hypertensive patients. Their spouse is also welcome to join them on the program.

What are the benefits of the program?

1. Guidance on "how to" exercise
2. Improvement in exercise/activity tolerance
3. Close observation and monitoring of patient
4. Staff has close access to Healthcare Providers
5. Reduction in elevated blood pressure
6. Assistance in smoking cessation
7. Reduction in stress levels
8. Feel better/more energy
9. Weight reduction
10. Reduction in mortality
11. Support of others in like situations

Exercise options include: treadmill, air dyne bike, recumbent bike, nustep, ergometer, steps, weights and strengthening exercises
Sessions are held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. There is an early morning session and an early afternoon session. Sessions are held in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Room at Wheaton Community Hospital.

This program is not covered by insurance. Cost is minimal yet affordable. Contact Cardiac Rehabilitation personnel at the Wheaton Community Hospital at 320-563-8226 or your Healthcare Provider. After an initial assessment, an exercise program will be sent to your provider for approval.

Clinic
Our healthcare providers are medical specialists who provide primary healthcare to all members of you family including infants, children, adults and the elderly. The healthcare professionals who practice here specialize in the treatment of a variety of conditions, provide preventive care, diagnosis and expert care for your well-being. Patients have easy access to all medical services available in the clinic and hospital including lab, x-ray and special diagnostics.

Clinic services are available Monday - Friday from 9:00 - 5:00 pm.

The Wheaton Community Medical Center is staffed by:

• Dr. George Kuzma, MD Family Practice
• Kathi Kremer, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
• Michelle Rinke, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

 



The Wheaton Community Health Center (affiliated with Fergus Falls Medical Group) is staffed by:

• Dr. Stanley Gallagher, DO
• Brad Gallagher, PA-C

Home Health
Home Care Services are now under a new partnership called Pheasant Country Home Care, a service provided by both Wheaton Community Hospital and Traverse Care Center. There office is located off the clinic at Wheaton Community Hospital. Home Care provides a team of professionals including registered nurses, home health aides, homemakers and volunteers to meet the needs of the clients. They care for recovering, disabled, or chronically ill people who need medical treatment or assistance with activities of daily living.

Referrals are available by calling 320-563-0078 or by contacting your health care provider.

Hospital
As a progressive healthcare organization, we recognize community needs and grow with them. Wheaton Community Hospital provides a large range of services that goes beyond traditional medical care to meet our community's healthcare needs.

Wheaton Community Hospital focuses on one important goal - that patients may receive the very best in medical treatment while staying close to their home and loved ones.

Hospital Services Include:

• 24-hour Acute Care
• 24-hour Emergency Care
• Inpatient and same-day surgery
• 24-hour laboratory and x-ray
• Swingbed Care
• Mobile Imaging Services
• In-house Imaging - CT scan, EKG, ultrasound
• Outpatient Services
• Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Home Health and Hospice Care
• Diet Instruction by a Registered Dietitian
• Cancer Support Group

Laboratory
The Wheaton Community Hospital Laboratory is under the medical direction of a board certified pathologist and is accredited by the Minnesota State Department of Health for CLIA Certification. Wheaton Community Hospital's laboratory is staffed with experienced professionally certified technicians and technologists providing service 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The staff routinely analyzes blood and body fluid samples providing healthcare providers with the information they need to diagnose and treat disease and injuries.

Examples of lab testing provided by WCH lab includes:

Diagnostic testing:

• Bacteria cultures
• Cardiac monitoring
• Organ function tests

Disease treatment:

• Antibiotic sensitivity testing
• Blood transfusion
• Monitoring coumadin therapy
• Therapeutic drug testing

Health and wellness screening:

• Cardiac risk assessment
• Drugs of abuse testing
• Glucose and HgbA/C for diabetes
• Lipid screening
• PSA for prostatic cancer

Nutrition Counseling
Nutrition Counseling is available at the Wheaton Community Hospital to patients with nutritional needs. A Registered Dietitian will help patients who deal with cardiac, diabetic, renal, GI, cancer, pregnancy, weight gain or weight loss, celiac, allergy or PKU concerns, wound care and infant or child nutrition. The dietitian teaches classes on weight loss, cardiac care and diabetes and can offer education on other topics when requested.

Nutrition services may be ordered by your healthcare provideror this service may be accessed by calling:
Donna Anderson, Registered Licensed Dietitian
320-563-8226
 

Radiology                                                                                                                                           
MRI  and MRA

Available weekly by appointment.  MRI uses a strong magnet and computers to generate images for physician review.  Please inform your provider or the MRI technologist if you have a pacemaker or have done metal grinding or welding.  The exam will take about 45 minutes to complete and no prep is required, so you may eat and take any medications.  For some exams an IV may be necessary.

CT scans

Available everyday including emergency exams with 24 hour reporting. The Wheaton Community Hospital has the latest 3D scan technology  for digital image reconstruction.

Echo Cardiogram 

Echo cardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart.  Minneapolis Heart Institute preforms the exam in Wheaton and a cardiologist in Minneapolis reads the exam and sends a report back to your provider.  You may eat, drink and take any medications necessary. The exam will take about 1 hour to complete and is painless.

Dexascans
New to our facility is osteoporosis screening.  Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and fracture susceptibility.  Risk factors for osteoporosis include:  menopause, small frame body type, alcohol use, cigarette smoking,corticorsteroid use and some genetic factors.  Your exam will take about 15 min to complete and no preparation is needed.

Ultrasound

Computerized Radiography

New to our facility is digital processing and archiving of x-ray exams. Each imaged can be retrieved quickly for review and manipulation with this system.

Mammography

Wheaton Community Hospital mammography technologists are all registered by the American Registry of Radiology Technologist with advanced training and registry specifically for Mammography. We also provide the “softer mammogram” for a very comfortable exam. We also participate in the Sage Program for low income patients to receive a  free mammogram.

Holter and Event  Monitoring

Nuclear Medicine

EEG's 
We offer the latest 21 channel digital exam that is interpeted by the neurology staff at Meritcare Hospital in Fargo.  An eeg can offer diagnois of many conditions including epilepsy, narcolepsy, seizure activity, headaches, loss of consciousness, dementia and especially CVAs
 
Are you going for a consult or referral?

A written order from your provider is all that is required

to facilitate having services completed close to home.

Call the Wheaton Community Hospital (320) 563-8226

Sleep Studies
Not getting a full night of restful sleep affects your disposition, your ability to concentrate and can severely affect your health. Chronic lack of sleep increases your risk for auto crashes, work-related accidents and has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, depression, stroke and increased risk of diabetes in adults.

More than one out of four people experience a sleep disorder at some time in their lives. Indicators of sleep disturbance range from excessive sleepiness during the day, to insomnia, snoring and breathing irregularities during sleep. And now, snoring, sleep apnea, restless limbs, daytime drowsiness and other sleep disorders can be treated.

Common sleep disorders include obstructive sleep apnea, excessive daytime sleepiness, and restless leg syndrome. Often times the symptoms of a sleep disorder are fatigue and sleepiness during the day, morning headaches and loud snoring or spells where you stop breathing at night.

Sleep Studies are conducted at Wheaton Community Hospital by Winmar.

For more information on Sleep Studies, contact us at Wheaton Community Hospital. 320-563-8226.

Swing Bed
The Swing Bed Program is a Medicare funded program that enables a patient to benefit from extended care in a hospital setting. Swing beds typically fill the gap between acute care and a patient’s discharge to home.

The Swing Bed program is a federally approved program for small rural hospitals. It is designed to be short term with discharge options being explored as an ongoing process by your family healthcare provider and the staff at Wheaton Community Hospital and Medical Center.

You must have a current 3 day acute care stay and require daily skilled care on a short-term basis, or may qualify for a skilled swing bed under the Medicare program. Examples of skilled care that qualify for skilled swing bed payment under the Medicare program include: rehabilitation on a daily basis – physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy.

Therapies
Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology are offered at the Wheaton Community Hospital by Big Stone Therapies, Inc.

Physical Therapy

• outpatient orthopedics, 
• arthritis management,
• hip, shoulder, knee and ankle rehabilitation,
• joint and muscle pain,
• back and neck disorders,
• sports related injuries,
• stroke rehabilitation,
• cardiac rehabilitation
• walking and balance disorders.
• manual therapy

Occupational Therapy

• hand therapy,
• home safety assessments,
• activities of daily living retraining,
• adaptive equipment recommendations
• worksite evaluations
• pediatric outpatient services.

Speech-Language Pathology

• speech, language and swallowing disorders for people of all ages