The first full week of October is observed as National Midwifery Week. This year, midwives across the country will be recognized and celebrated October 3-9.
National Midwifery Week was created by the American College of Nurse-Midwives to celebrate and recognize midwives and midwife-led care, and DHEC is participating in the observance. The agency licenses midwives in South Carolina.
There are currently 38 Licensed Midwives and nine Midwife Apprentices in the state, and they can be located using DHEC’s Find a Facility or Service map.
This year’s theme for National Midwifery Week is Midwives for Every Community.
During the week of September 19-25, Adult Day Care (ADCs) facilities are celebrated and recognized for National Adult Day Services Week. There are currently 94 licensed ADCs in the state and they can be found by searching DHEC’s Find a Facility map.
ADCs work to provide community-based day care services for those adults in need of a supportive setting, thereby preventing unnecessary institutionalization. ADCs provide a minimum of four and a maximum of 14 hours of operation a day.
National Skilled Nursing Care Week is May 9-15, and this year’s theme is “Through the Seasons.” The number of hours and self-sacrifice skilled nurses have contributed to long-term care is nothing short of heroic, and DHEC cannot thank them enough for their dedication to South Carolina’s communities.
As the regulatory oversight of skilled nursing facilities, DHEC is proud of the continued flexibility and professionalism that South Carolina’s skilled nurses have displayed throughout the ever-evolving response to the pandemic. COVID-19 has certainly presented challenges that our skilled nurses could not expect. However, it was with their knowledge and experience, that they rose to the challenge and overcame obstacles.
Established by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) in 1967, this observance is used to celebrate and recognize skilled nurses and their crucial role in healthcare, providing care for one of America’s most vulnerable populations. The week is the perfect opportunity to thank a skilled nurse for their unwavering dedication to the career and the community’s elderly.
Please join DHEC in celebrating the devotion and compassion these valuable healthcare professionals have exemplified throughout the past year and “Through the Seasons.”
March is National Kidney Month. DHEC recognizes everyone living with kidney disease, healthcare professionals striving for treatment advancements and cures, and the renal dialysis facilities across South Carolina that continue to provide care to patients in need.
This year’s focus is self-sufficiency and helping people take charge of their health by educating themselves on the many factors that go into managing kidney disease.
Kidneys are vital to our health. While each is only about the size of a computer mouse, they filter all blood in your body every 30 minutes in order to remove waste, toxins, and excess fluids. They also help control blood pressure, stimulate production of red blood cells, and keep your bones healthy. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more kidney-friendly tips and related information.
Follow these healthy lifestyle tips to take charge of your kidney health:
Meet regularly with your health care team. Staying connected with your doctor, whether in-person or using telehealth via phone or computer, can help you maintain your kidney health.
Manage blood pressure and monitor blood glucose levels. Work with your health care team to develop a plan to meet your blood pressure goals and check your blood glucose level regularly if you have diabetes.
Take medicine as prescribed and avoid NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen. Your pharmacist and doctor need to know about all the medicines you take.
Aim for a healthy weight. Create a healthy meal plan and consider working with your doctor to develop a weight-loss plan that works for you.
Reduce stress and make physical activity part of your routine. Consider healthy stress-reducing activities and get at least 30 minutes or more of physical activity each day.
Make time for sleep. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night.
Quit smoking. If you smoke, take steps to quit.
It may seem difficult, but small changes can go a long way to keeping your kidneys and you healthier for longer!
For those currently afflicted with CKD and are looking for assistance in finding the right treatment plan or dialysis options, DHEC’s Healthcare Quality team strongly encourages those individuals to locate renal dialysis facilities near them by using our Find A Facility application. Contact information, licensing details, and a myriad of other data are available when searching through the GIS map.
Regulation 61-97, Standards for Licensing Renal Dialysis Facilities, was updated last year and its amendments became legally effective in the summer of 2020. The changes made to the regulation have allowed patients, families, renal dialysis facility staff, and our community to benefit from the improvements specified in the regulation. DHEC encourages the public to read the regulation to learn more about state-approved dialysis management, facility licensure requirements, current provider language, and a variety of useful information regarding our state-licensed renal dialysis facilities.
Live Healthy S.C. 