April 18, 2013 (San Diego) – Alvarado Hospital, as part of Prime Healthcare Services, was recognized in April among the “Top 15 Top Health Systems” in the nation by Truven Health Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters) based on quality of care, efficiency and patient satisfaction.  This is the third time in five years that Prime Healthcare has earned the national distinction and includes South Bay-based Paradise Valley Hospital.

April 3, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights brings you cutting edge news each week that could impact your health and our future.

• As Arctic Ice Melts, It's A Free-For-All For Oil ... And Tusks (NPR)
• Weather: Key ingredient to never-ending fire season  (FEMA)
• World’s first successful uterus transplant patient is pregnant via in-vitro fertilization (Raw Story)
• Heart drug linked to cancer (Ivanhoe Newswire)
• A Mile-High Hack: An App That Could Remotely Hijack Planes (NPR)
• Businesses Seek Out 'Culture Of Health' Areas (NPR)
• High levels of lead found in US rice (BBC)
• How 'green' are electric cars? (BBC)
• Supreme Court Asks: Can Human Genes Be Patented? (NPR)
• Rural electric co-ops go green (Christian Science Monitor)

Click read more and scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

California woman shocked in shower by voltage from substation wins landmark case;

Stray voltage complaints, health concerns mount in East County

By Miriam Raftery

April 16, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – A toddler living near the Kumeyaay Wind facility in Campo has had a tumor the size of a potato chip bag removed from her abdomen, Boulevard Planning Group Chair revealed  last night at an Activist San Diego event on energy issues last night. 

Other people living near wind turbines and an electric substation in the vicinity have developed brain, stomach and kidney cancers—symptoms linked to exposure to electricity and stray voltage, as ECM has reported.

April 11, 2013 (Spring Valley)-- The County of San Diego invites you to "go play, get fit, be healthy!"  The 8th annual "It's How We Live" community festival will be held this Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Spring Valley County Park, 8735 Jamacha Boulevard in Spring Valley.

The event is free to the public and includes games, activiites, healthy food samples, free health and dental screenings, a bounce house, live entertainment, information booths, prizes and giveaways.

In wake of disaster, children on the west coast of U.S. almost one-third more likely to suffer from thyroid abnormalities; 39% in California

Originally published on April 2, 2013 at Common Dreams

By Lauren McCauley, staff writer

Infants on the West Coast of the United States are showing increased incidents of thyroid abnormalities, which researchers are attributing to radiation released following the March 2011 meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

According to a new study (.pdf) published in the Open Journal of Pediatrics, children born in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington between one week and 16 weeks after the meltdown began are an average of 28 percent more likely to suffer from congenital hypothyroidism (CH) than were kids born in those states during the same period one year earlier. In California, the number is a staggering 39 percent.

CH results from a build up of radioactive iodine in our thyroids and can result in stunted growth, lowered intelligence, deafness, and neurological abnormalities—though can be treated if detected early.

By Miriam Raftery

March 29, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The Centers for Disease Control yesterday issued a press release warning that cases of Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis), a fungal respiratory disease, have risen sharply across the southwest including California.  Cases rose nearly ten-fold from 2,265 in 1998 to over 22,000 in 2011 in southwestern states.

California now accounts for 25% all cases, trailing only Arizona, which has 70% of cases.   The fungus occurs naturally in dry soils of the southwest and is spread through the air when people inhale the spores. Outbreaks have occurred following wildfires and those in occupations exposed to dust are at higher risk, such as construction workers, archaeologists, farm workers and Border Patrol agents.

March 25, 2013 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host a free senior discussion group on “Reiki:  How It Can Help You” from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 27.  The public is invited to attend, and RSVP is not required.  The speaker will be Lucy Olivier, a master teacher and practitioner in Usui Reiki and Karuna Reiki natural healing systems since 1998.

March 19, 2013 (Sacramento) – California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Director Will Lightbourne and California Department of Health Care Services Director Toby Douglas have announced an agreement with In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) beneficiaries and labor organizations to resolve several class action lawsuits involving the IHSS Program. The agreement resolves the dispute between the State and plaintiffs in the Oster v. Lightbourne and Dominguez v. Schwarzenegger lawsuits.

“This is an example of all sides coming together for the good of the people we serve,” said CDSS Director Will Lightbourne.

March 14, 2013 (San Diego)--Three additional deaths were reported for this flu season, including the first child’s death, the County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) announced yesterday.

A 10-month old child who had underlying health conditions died in February and was referred to the medical examiner to determine the cause of death. In past flu seasons, San Diego has reported zero or one pediatric death each year due to influenza. Last year there was one pediatric death.  The total number of overall deaths for this flu season is 51.

March 12, 2013 (San Diego) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA) and Rep. Filemon Vela (D-TX) introduced legislation to prevent diabetes in seniors and rein in health care costs. The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Act (H.R. 962) would extend the proven benefits of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to seniors under Medicare.

“With thoughtful, responsible action we can get growing healthcare costs under control and make our country healthier at the same time,” said Davis. “In fact with targeted prevention initiatives, like the National Diabetes Prevention Program, Congress can achieve cost savings by preventing diabetes and its complications, meeting our goals of improving health and reining in spending.”

March 8, 2013 (San Diego)--The Department of Environmental Health has issued a General Advisory for coastal waters of San Diego County due to recent rainfall. Swimmers, surfers, and other ocean users are warned that levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, especially near storm drains, creeks, rivers, and lagoon outlets that discharge urban runoff. Urban runoff may contain large amounts of bacteria from a variety of sources such as animal waste, soil, and decomposing vegetation.

While many coastal storm drains within San Diego County are permanently posted with white metal warning signs, additional temporary warning signs are not posted for General Advisories. Activities such as swimming, surfing and diving should be avoided in all coastal waters for 72 hours following rain.

March 8, 2013 (San Diego)- Bumble Bee Foods, LLC, has issued a voluntary recall on specific codes of 5-ounce Chunk White Albacore and Chunk Light Tuna products. The recall has been issued because the products do not meet the company’s standards for seal tightness.

Loose seals or seams could result in product contamination by spoilage organisms or pathogens and lead to illness if consumed.

March 6, 2013 (San Diego) – Patients and families affected by brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease, as well as the general public interested in brain health, are invited to register for free now to attend the Brain Health Fair, Saturday, March 16, 2013, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel in San Diego.  Free registration is open at http://www.BrainHealthFair.com.

The Brain Health Fair is a free, daylong family event connecting thousands of patients, families, and caregivers affected by a brain disease with important resources to win the battle against these diseases, which affect one in six people in California. The Brain Health Fair is hosted by the American Brain Foundation, the foundation for the American Academy of Neurology, which is bringing more than 10,000 neurologists to San Diego for its Annual Meeting.

March 2, 2013 (Spring Valley) – Spring Into Healthy Living, a health and wellness fair featuring free health screenings and healthy living information from seniors and community service providers in the East County, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, March 20 at the McGrath Family YMCA, 12006 Campo Road, Spring Valley. Admission is free, and continental breakfast will be served.



Health screenings will check blood glucose, blood pressure, body mass index, hearing and stroke risk. Information will be available on nutrition, volunteer opportunities, disaster preparedness and various diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and diabetes. Demonstrations of tai chi and zumba, along with tours of the YMCA, will be held. Health officials will accept unused prescription medications.

February 28, 2013 (Ramona) – Construction is now complete on Palomar Health’s Ramona Ambulatory Care Center, a new $4.5 million satellite clinic in Ramona.  When open to the community in March 2013, the 7,600-square-foot, single-story outpatient medical clinic built on approximately an acre of land will expand the healthcare services for the Ramona community.