Trempealeau County health rankings now available on new website

Trempealeau County's health rankings are now listed on a website that collects data from every county in the United States. The website explains its work this way:

"We know that much of what influences our health happens outside of the doctor’s office—in our schools, workplaces and neighborhoods. The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program helps communities create solutions that make it easier for people to be healthy in their own communities, focusing on specific factors that we known affect health, such as education and income.

"Having health insurance and quality health care are important to our health, but we need leadership and action beyond health care.

"Ranking the health of nearly every county in the nation, the County Health Rankings illustrate what we know when it comes to what’s making people sick or healthy. TheCounty Health Roadmaps show what we can do to create healthier places to live, learn, work and play."

For more information, contact Kris Benusa or call 715.538.4361, ext. 1037.

Smartest Loser 3X coming to a close; final weigh-in April 9-10

Congratulations to everyone who participated in our Smartest Loser 3X Nutrition and Activity Challenge. Time to tally your results. See below for time, dates and location to check in. Questions? Please contact Registered Dietitian Kris Benusa at 715.538.4361, ext. 1037.

Healthy Bites for Less - Baked Chicken, Carrot Soup and Asparagus

As March and National Nutrition Month wind down, we'd like to stress the importance of eating well all the time, not just in this special month!

Earlier in March, Registered Dietitian Kris Benusa showed you how to make a delicious, simple and cost-conscious meal of shrimp with penne pasta.

In this post, Gretchen Wiese shows you how to make a three-course meal of baked chicken, carrot soup and asparagus.

Gretchen makes it look very, very easy -- that's true. She's a pro in the kitchen. But she also offers the #1 secret how to do it: Sequence. Watch and find out what she's talking about.

You can watch the video here on YouTube, or find us on Facebook and click the link there. On Tri-County Memorial's Facebook page, you'll also see our continuing, lively conversation about the many things we're doing to improve community health.

As Gretchen says at the end of her segment: "Enjoy!"

Healthy Bites for Less - Shrimp with Penne Pasta

March is National Nutrition Month, and Tri-County Memorial Registered Dietitian Kris Benusa has taped a segment we've posted on YouTube and our Facebook page.

In Healthy Bites for Less, Kris is sharing a recipe for Shrimp with Penne Pasta. She explains that the meal -- which includes a side of vegetables and fresh fruit -- is simple, healthy and affordable.

Kris' segment will be one of two we post this month; Gretchen Wiesse, a Viterbo University student studying to become a registered dietitian and training at Tri-County Memorial, shares a wonderful meal of oven-baked chicken, carrot soup and asparagus.

That meal, too, is simple, healthy and affordable.

Both segments are part of a continuing effort by the Trempealeau County Healthy Weight Coalition, which pairs several community health and school organizations to improve the health of all citizens.

You can watch the video here on YouTube, or find us on Facebook and link to it there. On Tri-County Memorial's Facebook page, you'll also see our continuing, lively conversation about the many things we're doing to improve community health.

As Kris says at the end of her segment: "Bon Appetit!"

A Gathering of Hope

Tri-County Memorial Hospital's Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation program does remarkable things with people who sometimes have lost hope.

Respiratory Therapist Steve Ellison and Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist Ashley Krzoska work with people who struggle to breathe because of aging, illness or life-long conditions.

Some have lost hope that they can continue to do the things they enjoy. Some isolate themselves. Some eventually can barely move about their homes.

Then, they meet Steve and Ashley. Along with all the clinical expertise and experience the duo brings to treat COPD, heart conditions and more, they also treat with hope.

Feb. 23, Steve and Ashley invited current and past participants in the program to Tri-County to talk about their challenges and share their achievements.

Dr. Jennifer Mattingley of Gundersen Lutheran, an internal-medicine physician who specializes in pulmonary diseases and conditions, visited to talk to participants.

Dr. Mattingley thanked them for their efforts and congratulated them on having the courage to participate in a program that challenges them to believe they can improve, have goals and reach them, and see results.

Such a program is "the best bang for your buck," Mattingley said with a smile.

We took photos during the gathering and have posted them on Tri-County Memorial's Facebook page. Tri-County Memorial Hospital always does its utmost to protect patient confidentiality, but participants agreed to have their pictures taken.

They felt it was important to share the experience with others, and encourage those with breathing conditions to talk to their doctor. No one should lose hope, they said.

You can see the photos on our Facebook page here.