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CHI St. Alexius Health Shines Bright
CHI St. Alexius Health is excited to be recognized by the Midwest Division for a healthier future for all - inspired by faith, driven by innovation, and powered by our humanity.
The Midwest Division award winners for the first annual CommonSpirit Health Physician Enterprise Vision Awards accepted nominations in four categories: Inspiration, Compassion, Innovation and Academic. These awards are truly one of the highest honors - with peers taking a moment to recognize their colleagues.
DeSmidt Receives Benedictine Spirit Award
CHI St. Alexius Health is proud to present the 2022 Benedictine Spirit Award to Jeffrey DeSmidt, MD. The Benedictine Spirit Award is presented annually to a physician who provides distinguished service to patients and upholds the mission and values of CHI St. Alexius Health in the spirit of the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery.
Dr. DeSmidt demonstrates distinguished service to patients by having an incredible passion to provide care to the people of our community though his work in the emergency department and beyond. He has a commitment to the mission and values of St. Alexius. As an emergency department physician, he truly upholds “Let all be received as Christ.” Dr. DeSmidt is a mentor and positive role model to the medical students, residents, PA students and NP students. His experience in emergency medicine and his involvement on multiple committees, along with his dedication to service as vice president of the medical staff, are emblematic of his commitment to the St. Alexius community.
45 is the New 50 for Colon Cancer Screening
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. The good news is that in many cases, it is preventable or curable when detected early.
During Colon Cancer Awareness month, CHI St. Alexius Health is sharing the importance of colon cancer screening. The American Cancer Society recommends healthy adults begin regular screening at age 45. Two common screening tests are the FIT test and the colonoscopy.
Join the CHI St. Alexius Bismarck Cystic Fibrosis Team!
Great Strides Walk - Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter
April 30, 2022
M.B. Johnson Large Shelter - 3601 11th St N, Moorhead, MN 56560
Check-in at 10:00 a.m. | Walk at 11:00 a.m.
The 2022 Great Strides Walk will be in Fargo-Moorhead this year. This is a major fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation with the goal of finding a cure.
Patient + Provider = Perfect Number for Heart Health
Age may be just a number, but unlike age, when it comes to your ticker, numbers count.
“Knowing your four key numbers can, to a certain extent, help monitor your risk for cardiovascular disease like angina, heart attack, stroke and peripheral artery disease,” said Peerawut Deeprasertkul, MD, CHI St. Alexius Health Cardiologist.
Team Up: Let’s Beat Diabetes Together
Alarming numbers: about one in 10 Americans is diabetic, one in three is prediabetic. It’s important to watch for symptoms.
“Diabetes is definitely known to increase the risk of dementia, gum disease, dental disease and hearing loss,” said Michael Page, MD, CHI St. Alexius Health Primary Care Provider. “It has also been linked to a modest increase in certain cancer risks.”
Brain Attack: Prevention and Detection
Every four minutes, someone dies from a “brain attack” commonly known as a stroke. When blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die.
“We use the saying ‘time is brain.’ If treated with clot-busting medication within three hours of onset, we can significantly reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke,” said Syed Shiraz Hyder, MD, CHI St. Alexius Health Neurologist. “That’s why it’s incredibly important for everyone to know the signs of a stroke and to call 9-1-1 immediately. “Things to look for include sudden numbness, weakness, confusion, trouble speaking, understanding or seeing, loss of balance or coordination and/or severe headache with no known cause,” said Dr. Hyder.
Mental Health: It’s Really a Disease
While some forms of depression can be linked to stress, trauma, loss and other life events, research has found differences - like lower serotonin levels - in the brains of those with clinical depression.
“Though we exist in the age of information, mental illness remains a stigmatized and misunderstood group of diagnoses,” said Vanna Binning, MD, CHI St. Alexius Health Primary Care Provider.
