March 30, 2009 (Washington D.C.)--The FDA and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) are investigating Salmonella contamination in pistachio products sold by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc, Calif. The company has stopped all distribution of processed pistachios and will issue a voluntary recall involving approximately 1 million pounds of its products. Because the pistachios were used as ingredients in a variety of foods, it is likely this recall will impact many products and consumers are advised to avoid all pistachios.

Home Dialysis Therapies of San Diego offers free seminars and private consultations in March to help educate San Diegans about advanced kidney disease and available treatment options

March 5, 2009 (San Diego) -- Home Dialysis Therapies of San Diego, San Diego's largest home dialysis provider, announces its countywide educational series throughout the month of March to help inform advanced kidney disease patients and their loved ones about the disease and importance of understanding their treatment options, including home dialysis. All individuals who think that they, or a loved one, may be at risk of having advanced kidney disease are also encouraged to take advantage of free educational opportunities in their area.

February 13, 2009 (Washington DC) --“Congressman Duncan Hunter has introduced H.R. 881, which would declare that life begins at conception. The Right to Life Act would establish “personhood of the unborn” by requiring equal protection under the 14th amendment of the Constitution to the “born and unborn” beginning with the moment of fertilization or cloning.

CALIFORNIA HAS MOST CASES IN NATION, CDC REPORTS

Questions Regarding the Tragic Death of Nataline Sarkisyan

By Joel A. Harrison, PhD, MPH

January
6, 2008 — Few people who read about the Nataline Sarkisyan
case last year could have avoided being touched by her tragic death. Recently
her family filed a lawsuit against her insurer, Cigna and is trying to get
criminal charges brought against them as well for refusing to cover a
liver transplant for Nataline, a young leukemia patient. Unfortunately, I
believe media coverage of the story left out a number of crucial points/questions.

December 26, 2008 (La Mesa) — The five-member board of directors for the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that supports health-related community programs and services in San Diego's East County, has elected its board officers for 2009. Elected unanimously were Jim Stieringer as president, Gloria Chadwick as vice president and Deborah McElravy as secretary. Stieringer appointed board member Michael Emerson to serve as treasurer.

(left to right) Lynn Hamilton, current La Mesa Rotary President, Joel Tzinberg and Glenn Kellogg.

December 10, 2008 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa Rotary Club donated $500.00 to the Community Health and Improvements
Partners (CHIP's) organization. CHIP is a collaboration of San Diego health
care systems, hospitals, community clinics, insurers, physicians, universities,
community benefit organizations and the County of San Diego that are dedicated
to a common vision. One of their important services is their free flu vaccine
clinics and a flu hotline at (877) FLU-0202 that provides information about
the influenza virus and the importance of being immunized. Glenn Kellogg a
member of CHIP's, and a member and past president of La Mesa Rotary was happy
to accept the donation.

Book Review by Dennis Moore

Jamie Reno, an award-winning journalist and an 11-year survivor of stage IV non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, has written a book about the resilience of the human spirit. Hope Begins in the Dark chronicles the lives of 50 lymphoma survivors, revealing their exclusive stories. The book speaks of the frailty of our existence as human beings and the lengths that we will go to in order to maintain a certain semblance of a quality of life.

Download PDFs provided by Cal Fire in English and Spanish.

By Miriam Raftery

September 8, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) – A landmark bill to
provide guaranteed universal healthcare coverage for every man, woman and
child in California (including medical, dental, mental health and eye care
coverage) has been approved by the State Legislature.   Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger has until September 30th to sign the measure, SB 840
by Senator Sheila Kuehl, into law.  But the landmark healthcare reform
measure is at risk of becoming a casualty of the state budget impasse; Governor
Schwarzenegger has threatened to veto all bills because the Legislature has
not yet approved a budget.

 September
25, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued
a consumer alert today warning that numerous products have been found to be
contaminated with melamine – the same deadly toxin that killed thousands
of cats and dogs in contaminated pet food last year. 

Grossmont Hospital Investigations Raise Oversight Concernts, Criticisms

By Sara McInerney, staff writer, and editor Miriam Raftery

September 14, 2008 (La Mesa)--Revelations of preventable patient deaths and alleged neglect at Sharp Grossmont Hospital have led some community leaders to demand increased oversight even as new complaints of patient care at Grossmont surface.

Grossmont is one of four hospitals in San Diego County assessed the maximum allowable fine by state health regulators for preventable errors that caused patient deaths, injuries, or were likely to cause serious harm.

Medicare and Medi-Cal are considering cutting their reimbursement for the hospital by October 15.  Federal, state and county regulators are currently investigating the hospital.   The hospital has submitted plans to correct deficiencies, including improving training and communications, and is awaiting a revisit by the California Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).