A heart attack can occur when blood clots block the blood vessels that feed oxygen to the heart.

“By chewing an aspirin as soon as the symptoms of a heart attack start,” said Quad-City cardiologist Dr. Stephen Alldredge, “a person may help reduce the severity of the attack. Any type of early intervention, including the use of aspirin, is important, because time is muscle when you’re dealing with hearts.”

“After a heart attack, continuing to use aspirin can lower the risk of a future heart attack,” said Quad-City cardiologist Dr. Stephen Alldredge. “However, there are side effects with the continued use of this particular medication, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about using it on a regular basis.”

Pneumonia can lower the oxygen in your blood because the lungs are swollen from infection and the air spaces in your lungs are filled with fluid. When this happens, the oxygen you breathe does not get into your bloodstream.

“It is, therefore, important we measure the amount of oxygen in the blood as we take the patient’s vital signs,” said Quad-City pulmonologist Dr. Felipe Enriquez. “This tells us if the patient needs oxygen therapy.”

The pneumococcal vaccine is helpful because it can help either prevent or reduce the possibility of complications of pneumonia caused by bacteria. It also can assist in preventing infections in the future.

“When we saw that our numbers definitely were not in the area we wanted them to be,” said Sue Beswick, Director of Emergency Services, “we took proactive action to create change in the way we work with our incoming patients.

“In the time since we initially saw this data, we have developed a special assessment sheet so we can screen all patients for whether or not they have already received their vaccination prior to seeing us. We also have a standing order for the vaccination in place, so we don’t have to wait for a doctor to write an order. Thanks to the changes we’ve made, our scores are now in the 80 percent area.”

“Heart failure is an ongoing condition,” said Carol Dwyer, Vice President of Hospital Operations and Chief Nurse Executive. “That is why it is so important that, before a patient goes home, the hospital staff provides information about symptom management.”

Discharge information should include:
• information on what activities they should or shouldn’t engage in
• instructions on what is appropriate to eat or drink
• medication instructions
• a follow-up appointment
• contact information if symptoms reoccur or worsen

Trinity – the Quad-Cities' fourth largest employer

The largest employers in the Quad-City area:

1. John Deere – 6,739
2. Rock Island Arsenal – 6,400
3. Genesis Health System – 5,000
4. Trinity Regional Health System – 2,818
5. Davenport Community School District – 2,482

2004 financial overview – total community benefits 

Charity care* – $5,523,000
Cost of uncompensated Medicaid – $7,284,000
Cost of uncompensated Medicare – $9,742,000
Bad debt** – $4, 510,000
Property taxes – $382,000
Community benefits programs – $2,973,000
TOTAL – $30,414,000

* Care Trinity provides to patients who, due to meeting certain income requirements, are eligible to receive charitable assistance.
** Money owed by patients who have not paid their bills.

2004 financial overview – operating revenue

Net patient revenue – $232,749,000
Other operating revenue* – $14,913,000 
TOTAL – $247,662,000

* Including food service, grants and rental income

2004 financial overview – operating expenses

Salaries and benefits – $118,795,000 (48.0%)
Supplies – $50,506,000 (20.4%)
Other expenses – $49,478,000 (20.0%)
Depreciation and amortization – $13,521,000 (5.5%)
Interest – $7,050,000 (2.8%)
Bad debt – $8,172,000 (3.3%)
TOTAL – $247,522,000