June 12, 2011 (La Mesa) James Hartwell's big wish when he started physical therapy at the Challenge Center in La Mesa was to walk across the stage to be handed his diploma at his high school graduation at Mt. Carmel High School. For most seniors, this would be a done deal.  But for Hartwell, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a motocross accident, and had to spen most of the last two years in a wheelchair, it seemed it might take a miracle.

 Luckily, he found that miracle in a little white building in La Mesa that holds the Challenege Center.

June 8, 2011 (La Mesa)--East County’s largest annual free health fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, at the Grossmont Center mall in La Mesa, near the movie theaters.

June 7, 2011 (FDA) -- The U.S. FDA has been in routine contact with the European Union and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor the current outbreak of E. coli O104 and to track any illnesses in the U.S. that may be related to the outbreak.  A deadly new strain of E-coli in Europe has led to deaths of 23 people.  Cases have been reported in several European countries and the U.S. So far, 2200 cases have been reported in 13 countries.

Updated June 3, 2011

June 2, 2011 (Sacramento) – Car insurance and homeowner insurance companies have long been required to get state approval before raising rates. But not health insurers. Some have hiked up rates multiple times a year; Blue Cross sought to jack up rates 59% with three increases in six months.

Gouging consumers with unjustifiable rate hikes will no longer be allowed if AB 52 becomes law. The bill would require health insurers to provide justification and get permission from state regulators before imposing increased costs for health care premiums, copayments, or deductibles on consumers.

County urges vaccinations for children

June 2, 2011 (San Diego County) --Five new pertussis cases where others may have been exposed to the disease increased the local case total to 212 this year, the SAn Diego County Health and HUman Services said in Late May. The new confirmed cases occured in schools across the region, including Ramona, Poway, and San Diego schools. In 2010 , pertussis, also known as whooping cough, reached a record 1,144 cases for the county, including two infant deaths.

June 1, 2011 (La Mesa) --Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s Senior Resource Center 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. For more information, call 619-740-4214. For other programs, call 1-800-827-4277 or visit the web site at www.sharp.com.

By Jeremy Los

“This bill is an unprecedented assault on women’s health care. For the first time, restrictions would be placed on how women with private insurance can spend their own dollars in purchasing health insurance.” – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego)

May 31, 2011- Women’s rights are under siege as Republicans in control of the House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 3. The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act would sharply restrict access to abortion.

Championed by Rep. Christopher Smith (R- NJ), the bill passed  the House with 251 "aye" votes, of which 235 were Republicans--including San Diego Republicans Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa. (Brian Bilbray (R-San Diego) abstained from voting, while local Democratic representatives Susan Davis and Bob Filner voted "no.")

May 26, 2011 (Washington D.C.) - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Walmart, has announced a voluntary recall of 255,000 food General Electric food processors.  The USCPS has received dozens of complaints that the units began smoking and in some cases, resulted in fires or injuries to hands. 

May 26, 2011 (Washington D.C.) - Summer officially kicks off this weekend and millions of Americans will celebrate with a cookout. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges consumers to check their grills and "fire it up safely" to prevent fires and carbon monoxide poisoning--and also make sure your grill hasn't been recalled.

Program Expands Coverage for Uninsured, Thanks to Federal Funds

May 24, 2011 (San Diego)--Today the County Board of Supervisors approved implementation of the Low Income Health Program (LIHP). The program will expand the successful Coverage Initiative program which the County's Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) has been operating since 2007.

The expanded program will provide access to primary care and mental health benefits to low-income, uninsured adults. The program will help improve health outcomes and decrease healthcare costs in the region. LIHP will serve single, medically indigent individuals at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, and provide them with a patient-centered medical home.

Product sold nationwide as thickener to mix with formula, breast milk

May 21, 2011 (Washington D.C.) -- The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is warning parents and caregivers to not feed SimplyThick to premature infants younger than 37 weeks. The product, a thickening agent for swallowing disorders, has been found to cause necrotizing enterocolitis, a life-threatening condition characterized by inflammation and death of intestinal tissue. At least two infants have died as a result, the FDA reports.

Parents, caregivers and health care providers should immediately stop administering the product to premature infants.

29 cases confirmed in U.S. including 13 in CA

Local horse shows cancelled, state quarantines imposed to stop spread

May 19, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Horses from across the West were exposed to a deadly new form of Equine Herpes Virus at a Utah horse show. There is no vaccine for Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), which is caused by Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1). The disease, which results in neuorological symptoms, is highly contagious and often fatal. 

So far, the virus has not been reported in San Diego. But local horse experts are concerned—and horse owners are advised to take precautions.

May 17, 2011 (San Diego) -- La Maestra Community Health Centers celebrated 21 years of providing quality, culturally and linguistically appropriate health, and well-being services through its Circle of Care.

To begin the 22nd year a generous donation from Kaiser Permanente will help provide more of the sonographic imaging services that have been helping those in need. 

May 5, 2011 (El Cajon) -- The public is invited to an open house for the new East Region Public Health Center in El Cajon at 460 North Magnolia Avenue, Suite 110  in El Cajon on Friday May 6 from 10:30 a.m. untill noon.

“The new health center location will provide an improved environment for the community to obtain the health services they need,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob, San Diego County Board of Supervisors.