February 6, 2011 (El Cajon)--For the past four years, El Cajon Fire Department has been involved in studies for cardiac arrest patients. According to medical officials over-seeing this study, survival rates for these patients increased 1.6% to 9%--a survival rate rivaling some of the top performers in the nation, despite a high rate of elderly persons in the population with multiple health problems.

February 6, 2011 (Washington D.C.)—The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has ordered recalls of several hazardous products including cribs that have caused multiple infant deaths, air compressors that have caught fire and damaged properties, and irons that overheat and catch on fire.

Get details and links to more information below:

Hikers Urged to be Cautious and Use Insect Repellent When Hiking

February 4, 2011 (Penasqitos)--Just as we usher in the Chinese year of the rabbit, rabbit fever has been found in Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve.  County Vector Control announced this week that a Pacific Coast tick found on Feb. 1, near the Preserve during routine monitoring has tested positive for Tularemia, also known as rabbit fever.

By: Jeremy Los

February 3, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- The recent mistreatment of 93-year-old Pearl Harbor veteran Max Bauer in El Cajon has left a black eye on the profession of care giving. His caregiver is accused of leaving Bauer to wallow in filth, also allegedly robbing him. His case is among hundreds of elder abuse cases documented each year in San Diego.

Baby Boomers are quickly reaching the age where they, or their parents, may need assistance with daily tasks. But how do you find a qualified and compassionate caregiver—and avoid nightmare scenarios such as Max Bauer’s?

Decision conflicts with some other rulings; measure likely to be decided by Supreme Court
 

By Miriam Raftery
 

January 31, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – U.S. District Court Roger Vinson in Florida today ruled that it is unconstitutional to require people to have healthcare insurance by 2014 or pay fines. His is the fourth ruling on the insurance mandate provision; two have found it constitutional, while a Virginia judge found it unconstitutional. (All four cases are being appealed.) But Judge Vinson’s decision goes further than the Virginia ruling.
 

“Because the individual mandate is unconstitutional and not severable, the entire Act must be declared void,” Vinson wrote in a decision that promptly sparked both praise and criticism.

January 30, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is seeking nominations for its 2011 Healthcare Hero Awards, an annual awards program that honors East County residents whose volunteer efforts help advance the delivery of quality healthcare in the East County region.

Shocking numbers could be even higher if veterans were included

January 25, 2011 – Results of a new study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry have found that 93 percent of soldiers contemplated suicide when they went without aggressive mental counseling in a controlled group.

Results of the study, conducted by the Army on 20,000 soldiers in Iraq, shows that 54 percent fewer soldiers contemplated suicide and the number of soldiers who needed to be sent home with mental health problems dropped by nearly 70 percent with more aggressive counseling in the field.

January 23, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)—Cleaning for a Reason, a nationwide organization, is offering free housecleaning service for women undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

The service is available once a month for four months during treatment. To sign up, just have the patient’s doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service.

Senate leaders vow to block repeal--but a Virginia judge declares mandate to buy health insurance unconstitutional

By: Jeremy Los

January 20, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- House Republicans have stuck to their campaign promises and passed a measure to repeal the newly established health care bill. In what was a strictly symbolic vote, since the repeal will most likely die in the Democrat-controlled Senate and would not be signed by President Obama, the House Republicans have sent a strong message to the nation that they mean business.

Local Republican representatives Brian Bilbray, Darrell Issa, and Duncan D. Hunter fell in line with conservative cohorts, as every House Republican voted to pass the repeal. On the other side of the aisle local Democratic representatives Bob Filner and Susan Davis voted against the repeal.

County Urges Residents to Use Caution When Cleaning Up Rodent Droppings;

Video Provides Tips for Homeowners

January 20, 2011 (Alpine) -- A wild deer mouse trapped in Alpine during routine monitoring has tested positive for the potentially deadly hantavirus, San Diego County vector control officials said today.

“The cause for concern is that this mouse was found in a vacant lot near homes,” said Jack Miller, director of the Department of Environmental Health. “Infected mice rarely pose a health threat to people if they remain in the wild, but the disease can become dangerous if infected rodents get indoors and people come into contact with their droppings.”

January 17, 2011 (La Mesa)--Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is continuing its support of Communities Against Substance Abuse (CASA), East County's oldest, community-based, non-profit organization dedicated solely to substance abuse prevention. The GHD board of directors recently voted unanimously to approve a grant of $49,000 to help fund CASA’s Students Together Against Alcohol ‘N Drugs (STAAND), a youth advocacy program.

Health Officials Urge Parents to Vaccinate Their Children

January 7, 2010 (Santee)--Five students at Hill Creek Elementary School in the Santee School District have been diagnosed with chickenpox (varicella), according to San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) officials.

January 5, 2011 (La Mesa) -- A volunteer citizens group monitoring construction projects financed by voter-approved public bonds at Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa is looking for a new member to replace former member Robert “Bob” Ayres, who was recently appointed to the Grossmont Healthcare District board of directors.

January 1, 2011 (Washington D.C.) - The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has announced recalls on several products that have caused injury to consumers, including heaters sold at Wal-Mart, portable butane stoves, children's hooded jackets, Fagor refrigerators, and pacing loudspeakers. Below are details. 

January 1, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces it will launch a publicly available consumer database for reporting product safety problems—and looking up products’ safety records. The database will be available at the website www.saferproducts.gov starting in March. Already, the website has info online on current recalls (such as currently posted warnings on children’s toys, chain saws, snow blowers and more).

Some toys can be worse than annoying, causing hearing loss

December 21, 2010 (San Diego) -- Toys with all the gizmos that produce lights and sounds might keep children interested and occupied.  But along with theentertainment could come hearing loss if toys children are playing with are extremely loud. Yesterday, San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency and First 5 San Diego officials warned parents about dangerously loud toys and how they could damage children’s hearing, as well as their physical and psychological health.

December 16, 2010 (La Mesa)-- The Senior Resource Center at Sharp Grossmont Hospital offers free or low-cost educational programs and health screenings each month. The Senior Resource Center also provides information and assistance for health information and community resources. Below are classes offered for January on a wide range of topics of interest to seniors.

"The passage today of the National Alzheimer's Project Act is a momentous legislative victory for the millions of American families profoundly affected by this devastating disease, and the millions more who will be in the future."-- Maria Shriver, California’s First Lady.

December 15, 2010 (Washington D.C.) – The National Alzheimer’s Act has been approved by Congress and now goes to President Barack Obama for signature. The National Alzheimer's Project Act would create the National Alzheimer's Project, which would coordinate government efforts to prevent and treat the disease and create a national strategy for defeating Alzheimer's disease.

December 9, 2010 (San Diego)--With the cold weather and chilly nighttime temperatures, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is reminding customers that safety should be a top priority in cold-weather heating.

Breast cancer rehab center can now receive tax-deductible donations

December 7, 2010 (Alpine)--Just in time for the holiday giving season, Dream Rider Equestrian Therapy received approval this month from the IRS to operate as a non-profit. Newly established last summer, Dream Rider seeks donations to improve facilities and to provide therapy to more breast cancer patients and survivors. Those diagnosed with cancer often lose their ability to work and therefore, cannot afford the rehabilitation they sorely need.

Each week, 50 children are backed over by vehicles, resulting in serious injuries and deaths
 

By Miriam Raftery

December 5, 2010 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Department of Transportation this week proposed a new safety regulation to help eliminate blind zones behind vehicles.

“There hasn’t been an announcement this big since seatbelts and airbags were added to vehicles. We will no longer be backing up blindly,” Janette E. Fennell, founder and president of KidsAndCars.org, said of the new safety standards proposed.

Babies Are at Higher Risk For Complications from Whooping Cough

December 5, 2010 (San Diego)00The pertussis epidemic has resulted in 41 hospitalizations, most of them infants, San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced on December 1st. . The total number of whooping cough cases jumped to 960, including two infants who died.

By Miriam Raftery
December 3, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – The tragic death of Santee resident Bryson Lukacik points up the importance of knowing the danger signs following a head injury--and when to get treatment. 

Lukacik suffered a head injury while snowboarding but didn’t tell family members at first. He became disoriented and had a lump on his head before disappearing from a cabin in Big Bear where he and his family were vacationing. His body was found in the snow this morning.
 

If you or someone you know suffers a head injury, here are guidelines on what to watch for—and when to seek medical help.

Dec. 3, 2010 (La Mesa)– Executive Chef Bernard Guillas and Chef de Cuisine Ron Oliver of the Marine Room team up with Sharp HealthCare’s Registered Dietitian Candy Cumming for a live cooking demonstration in La Mesa--along with a discussion on how carbohydrate content of foods can affect your blood sugar. The famed chefs will share cooking techniques, healthy recipes and information about fresh seasonal ingredients.

November 26, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) --Before you pull out a ladder to put up holiday decorations or clean the attack, please read these holiday decorating and clean-up safety tips from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

November 24, 2010 (La Mesa) — Sharp Grossmont Hospital has been awarded the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s "Get With The Guidelines® Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award" for applying evidence-based guidelines in providing the best possible care to stroke patients.

Proceeds from Grossmont Hospital Foundation gala supports heart and vascular center

November 22, 2010 (San Diego) — Grossmont Hospital Foundation celebrated its 25th Anniversary Gala, themed “Step to the Beat”, on Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina to raise money for Sharp Grossmont Hospital. The event netted $250,000, which will support the hospital’s Heart and Vascular Center.

Company is under federal and state investigation for allegations of fraud, high rates of life-threatening infections

By Miriam Raftery

November 18, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Prime Healthcare Services, Inc. has acquired Alvarado Hospital, a 306-bed facility east of San Diego State University, from Plymouth Health. But the buyer's troubled trackrecord raises concerns about the quality of patient care and more.

Youth Learn Agricultural Business; Teach County Employees to Eat Healthy

November 12, 2010 (San Diego)--With Thanksgiving right around the corner, several San Pasqual Academy foster youth made their bimonthly delivery today of certified, organic produce to County employees to encourage them to eat healthier for the holidays, which is part of County’s year-round Build Better Health plan.

November 6, 2010 (San Diego) -- Are you wondering what provisions of the health reform law are now in effect? Do you know what the Health Exchange is or how it works? Do you have questions about how families can take advantage of these new provisions?

Find out November 13th from special guest Herb Schultz, Region IX Director, U.S. Health and Human Services Agency, as well as local panelists.