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6-North’s completion starts new chapter
In March, Saint Agnes Medi-
cal Center officially began
a new chapter in its 82-year
healing ministry with the
opening of a brand-new pa-
tient care floor on the sixth
story of the hospital’s North
Wing.
Home to 28 more pri-
vate patient rooms and an
eight-bed critical care unit,
the $16.8 million 6-North
project gives postsurgical patients private rooms to ensure the speediest possible
recovery, while also providing critical-care beds for patients who require the most
specialized care.
Nearly 60 paintings and photographs from 17 artists and photographers, all
connected to the greater Fresno area, help to create a healing environment for this
new space. The vast majority of these pieces were kindly donated to the Medical
Center from the artists themselves or local donors.
These latest additions carry on a tradition first started when the North Wing was
built in 2005 – when hundreds of local pieces of art became a permanent part of
the newly opened wing.
Medicine safety –
A simple disposal plan
Taking prescription medications can be a safe and effective
way to treat many kinds of health problems. But if some-
one else takes your medicine – accidentally or not – it can
be very dangerous.
“Some medicines can be particularly dangerous if
they’re taken without the approval of a physician,” says
Satoshi Sasaki, PharmD, director of Saint Agnes Pharmacy.
“Side effects can include difficulty breathing, heart issues
or other serious conditions.”
In some cases, even a single dose can be fatal, accord-
ing to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
That’s why the FDA says these types of drugs, when
they’re no longer needed, require a special – though very
simple – disposal plan: Flush them down the toilet or sink.
That way no one, including children, will be able to take them.
Flushing isn’t recommended for the vast majority of old
or unused medicines, which should be tossed in the trash
along with something unappealing, such as cat litter or
coffee grounds. (That way there’s less chance someone will
find them and want to try them.)
You can find a list of medicines that should be
disposed of by flushing at www.fda.gov. Search for
“safe disposal.” Then click on “Safe Disposal of Medicines”
and select “Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You
Should Know.”
You can also ask your pharmacist about how to get rid of
unneeded medicine.
AFETY
HEALING
See 6-North for yourself!
Get a virtual 360° tour of the new patient care floor by visiting
www.samc.com/6-North. Or scan this code with your smartphone.
Summer 2012