Friday, 29 March 2024

Health

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the final rule implementing the part of the health care law that delivers higher payments to primary care physicians serving Medicaid beneficiaries.  

The new rule raises rates to ensure doctors are paid the same for treating Medicare and Medicaid patients and does not raise costs for states.

“The health care law will help physicians serve millions of Americans across the country,” Secretary Sebelius said.  “By improving payments for primary care services, we are helping Medicaid patients get the care they need to stay healthy and treat small health problems before they become big ones.”

The final rule implements the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that Medicaid pay physicians practicing in family medicine, general internal medicine, pediatric medicine, and related subspecialists at Medicare levels in Calendar Years 2013 and 2014.

This payment increase goes into effect in January of 2013.

In addition to payment improvements, the health care law includes numerous initiatives designed to bolster primary care and strengthen the primary care workforce, including an expansion of medical residency positions for primary care physicians, new investments in physician assistant and nurse practitioner training, and an unprecedented expansion of the National Health Service Corps, which provides scholarships and loan repayments to primary care providers who practice in underserved areas.

For more information about the final rule visit http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/fact_sheets.asp .

To view a copy of the final rule visit www.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Harvest your health and well being by discovering the health benefits of yoga.

The Lakeport Senior Center will host senior yoga classes taught by Michelle Marie beginning Nov. 7.

Yoga builds strength and flexibility, reduces pain, inflammation and discomfort. It also helps you manage stress, anxiety and depression.

Classes will be held every Wednesday – except holidays – from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the center, Lakeport Senior Activity Center, 527 Konocti Blvd.

The fee for classes is donation based.

For more information and to sign up for classes call Michelle Marie at 707-772-7552.

sutterlakesideflushots

LAKEPORT, Calif. – As part of the kick-off of the Influenza Prevention Program at Sutter Lakeside Hospital, nurses administered 132 flu shots to employees during an annual clinical Skills Fair last week.

“We have a responsibility as health care workers not only to help our patients heal, but to protect them from communicable diseases like the flu,” said Tammy Carter, employee health supervisor at Sutter Lakeside. “We give our employees the opportunity to receive the flu vaccination each year and we’re pleased that they understand the role that this simple step plays in keeping patients safe.”

A roaming nurse will visit nonclinical areas of the hospital to administer the flu vaccine to Sutter Lakeside employees and the vaccine will be offered at the Family Medicine Clinic for all employees through November.

Dr. Karen Tait, Health Officer with the Lake County Health Services Department added, “Sutter Lakeside is to be commended for its efforts to vaccinate health care workers as a priority, which serves to protect patients who are otherwise at risk for the most severe consequences of influenza. The Center for Disease Control recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu vaccination each year.”

The CDC also recommends the following ways that health care providers can protect staff and patients from the flu:

  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away after you use it.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Hand hygiene after touching high-use items like cell phones, door handles, and computer keyboards is particularly important.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
  • If you are sick with flu-like illness (see symptoms below), the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care. Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.
  • While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to avoid passing along the infection.

These recommendations apply to the general public, as well.  

Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. People may be infected with the flu and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.  

To learn what to do if you are sick with the flu, or if you are taking care of someone who has the flu, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/takingcare.htm .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Have you ever wondered if you could really help someone in your own community? Could you be a companion to a local mother and baby? If so, then please consider joining the Mother-Wise team.

Mother-Wise will hold its next volunteer training seminar Saturday, Nov. 3, at Lake Family Resource Center in Lakeport, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with breakfast and lunch provided.

Mother-Wise connects local mothers with extra support and resources to help prevent or cope with a perinatal mood disorder, because one in five mothers struggles with painful emotions that go beyond the baby blues.

Postpartum depression can be devastating, but with the genuine support of a Mother-Wise volunteer, brighter days are ahead for Lake County mothers and their babies.

This is your chance to be involved with a great group of people and one of the most rewarding volunteer programs in Lake County.

Mother-Wise training seminars teach and build listening techniques that can enhance all of your relationships.

If you can help, please call Kati at 707-349-2248 or Jaclyn at 707-349-1210 for more information.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – In 2013, St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake will open its doors to an expanded and remodeled emergency department.

The new facility – more than double its current size – will feature 12 private treatment rooms and be furnished with a spacious waiting and reception area, separate ambulance and walk-in entrances, and many other state-of-the-art upgrades in medical equipment and monitoring methods.

The overall goal of the new emergency department is to reduce wait times, alleviate overcrowding, and assure privacy for all visitors while providing the best possible, life-saving care for all patients.

The price tag of the project is $12.1 million. Adventist Health, the nonprofit parent company behind St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, offered $9 million to get started on the project, with the challenge to the local hospital that they seek funding for the remainder of the cost from the community.

Philanthropy is a popular funding source for most hospitals across the country, yet St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake until recently has not sought philanthropic community support for major capital investments.

Thanks to local champions such as the Clearlake Rotary Club, Clearlake Grocery Outlet, Wells Fargo, St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake doctors, employees and volunteers, as well as generous Lake County businesses and residents, the amount remaining to complete the emergency department is just over $1.7 million.  

In order to give everyone in Lake County a chance to participate in this life-saving project, the hospital is introducing the “Brick-by-Brick” fundraising program.

For $500 to $1,500, two different sized bricks will be offered, permanently etched with a family or business name and/or logo, and placed in a special area adjacent to the new emergency department.

Businesses are encouraged to use this as a community-minded advertising opportunity. Families that would like to honor a loved one or memorialize a relative will be able to do so. Several parties may join together to buy a brick.

St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake encourages Lake County residents to purchase a brick as a way to show their thanks or love in time for the upcoming holidays.

For more information on the Brick-by-Brick program at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, please contact Lee Loban, development associate, at 707-995-5678 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or visit www.newERforyou.com .

Always look on the bright side of life. Thanks to a new study from Concordia University, this catchy refrain offers a prescription for staying healthy during one’s golden years.

Research has shown that lonely older adults are at greater risk of developing health problems but a new study by Carsten Wrosch, a professor in Concordia’s Department of Psychology and member of the Centre for Research in Human Development, offers hope.

In a forthcoming article in Psychosomatic Medicine, Wrosch proves that older adults who approach life with a positive outlook can reverse the negative health issues associated with a lonely life.

“Our aim was to see whether using self-protective strategies, such as thinking positively and avoiding self-blame in the context of common age-related threats could prevent lonely older adults from exhibiting increases in stress hormones and inflammatory biomarkers,” explained Wrosch, who co-authored the article with Concordia’s PhD graduate, Rebecca Rueggeberg, and colleagues Gregory Miller from the University of British Columbia and Thomas McDade from Northwestern University in Illinois.

To test this, the research team followed 122 senior citizens over a six-year period.

They measured self-protective strategies with a questionnaire where participants were asked to rate statements such as, “Even if my health is in very difficult condition, I can find something positive in life,” or “When I find it impossible to overcome a health problem, I try not to blame myself.”

The research team also measured loneliness by asking participants to what extent they felt lonely or isolated during a typical day.

Wrosch and his colleagues also used saliva and blood samples to measure how much cortisol and C-reactive protein (CRP) the participants produced.

These two biological markers were chosen because cortisol is responsible for stress-related changes in the body; and people with elevated CRP are at increased risk of inflammatory illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Their findings showed that, among lonely older adults, the use of positive thinking helped protect against an increase in cortisol secretion.

Four years down the road, further tests showed the participants’ CRP levels had improved. In essence, lonely older adults who reframe problematic health circumstances positively and do not blame themselves for negative health issues can decrease health threats associated with stress and inflammation.

For those older adults who did not report feelings of loneliness, this type of thinking had no effect – supposedly because their social networks may help them deal with age-related problems.

Overall, these findings could contribute to successful aging. “It’s my hope that our research may improve clinical treatment of lonely older adults,” said Wrosch. “Older adults can be taught through counseling or therapy to engage in self-protective thoughts like staying positive when it comes to their own health. That means a better quality of life, both physically and mentally – something we all want at any age.”

Upcoming Calendar

30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Lakeport Community Cleanup Day
30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Second annual Bunny Brunch
30Mar
03.30.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Lake County poet laureate inauguration
31Mar
03.31.2024
Easter Sunday
31Mar
03.31.2024 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Lakeport Rotary Club Easter Egg Hunt
1Apr
04.01.2024
Easter Monday
1Apr
10Apr
15Apr
04.15.2024
Tax Day

Mini Calendar

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