February 13, 2013 (La Mesa)--The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is seeking nominations for its 2013 Healthcare Hero Awards, the annual program honoring residents whose volunteer efforts help advance the delivery of quality healthcare in the East County region. Nomination forms are attached or available at www.grossmonthealthcare.org. Deadline for submission of entries is 3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, at the GHD offices, 9001 Wakarusa St., in La Mesa.

Alcohol Policy Panel of San Diego County working to reduce youth access to alcohol

February 13, 2013 (San Diego) – Girls and young women throughout San Diego County share common drinking habits with their counterparts elsewhere in the country. About one in five high school girls in San Diego County reported binge drinking on the latest California Healthy Kids Survey, mirroring national statistics on binge drinking released recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

February 9, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--In the spirit of Valentine's Day, the San Miguel District Fire Stations will be offering free blood pressure screenings, February 14th from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at any San Miguel District Fire Station. Come get your blood pressure checked. Take the first step towards heart health.  Read more for locations.

January 29, 2013 (San Diego)--The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved three new related products for use with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes: Nesina (alogliptin) tablets, Kazano (alogliptin and metformin hydrochloride) tablets, and Oseni (alogliptin and pioglitazone) tablets.

January 26, 2013 (La Mesa) -- The board of directors of the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) has elected its board officers for 2013. Elected for one-year terms were Dr. Michael T. Long as president, Robert “Bob” Ayres as vice president and Gloria Chadwick as secretary. Long also appointed board member Michael Emerson as treasurer. Also serving on the five-member board is Betty Stieringer.

It’s Not Too Late to Vaccinate; Plenty of Flu Vaccine Available

January 15, 2013 (San Diego)--Another four county residents have died from influenza, bringing the number of deaths reported this flu season to six, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

The number of people sick with influenza is also on the rise in the region. In the week ending Jan. 12, a total of 311 local flu cases were reported, more than double the number of cases reported the prior week, which had 143 cases. A total of 670 flu cases have been reported so far this season. Emergency departments are also seeing more patients with flu-like illnesses. They make up six percent of all visits, which is the expected level during the flu season but still an increase of a two-to-three percent from prior weeks.

By Miriam Raftery

January 10, 2013 (San Diego)-- Mayor Bob Filner today announced that he has asked the Neighborhood Code Compliance Department and the Police Department to temporarily halt all prosecutions of city zoning code violations when it comes to medical marijuana dispensaries  (letters attached), pending development of new regulations.

"As I made very clear during my campaign for Mayor, I support the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes and am committed to ensuring the people who legitimately need it for relief of pain are not kept from accessing it," Mayor Filner said. "I also want to assure the residents of San Diego that there will be the utmost safeguards surrounding these dispensaries.  They will not be near schools, playgrounds or any areas where children might gather.  Nor will they be allowed to infringe on the quality of life in any neighborhood."

Renowned Doctor’s Simple Tips To Help Turn the Toxic Tide   

January 9, 2013 (San Diego)--Dr. Paul Thompson is a nationally renowned surgeon and age management practitioner with the Cenegenics Medical Institute. He has helped patients around the country reverse diabetes, combat obesity, fight off genetic health risks, and has guided them to living longer and healthier lives. Dr. Thompson’s Tips (www.drthompsonstips.com / Twitter:  @drthompsonstips) have been featured by media outlets nationally, including national media outlets.

January 1, 2013 (La Mesa) --The San Diego Blood Bank reports that 250 plush penguins were recently delivered as gifts to patients admitted to Sharp Grossmont Hospital in December during the weeks leading up to the holiday season. The gift delivery was part of the Blood Bank’s annual “Winter Wishes” program sponsored by the Grossmont Healthcare District, a public agency that supports health-related community programs and serves as landlord of the hospital on behalf of East County taxpayers.

December 30, 2012 (La Mesa)--The Grossmont Hospital Foundation recently appointed three new members – Harry Ellison, M.D., Lew Silverberg and Philip Szold, M.D. – to its 2013 Board of Governors. Each appointee serves a three-year term, which began October 1, 2012.

The Grossmont Hospital Foundation Board of Governors mission is to establish policy for the Foundation, determine its fundraising priorities, and support Sharp Grossmont Hospital in developing high-quality, accessible and affordable inpatient and outpatient services to the residents of San Diego’s East County community.

An SDSU professor uses Hollywood technology to research facial movements and speech-language development in children with cerebral palsy.

December 20, 2012 (San Diego)--In a speech, language and hearing sciences research lab at San Diego State University, children with cerebral palsy and those who are typically developing are experiencing a certain kind of fame. 

Speech language professor Ignatius Nip is researching and analyzing the interaction between facial movements and speech-language development in these children using the same motion capture technology that transfers actor's expressions to computer-generated film characters. 

Anyone exposed should seek medical treatment; vaccine is available to prevent potentially deadly  infectious disease

December 13, 2012 (San Diego) – Marco Fagoada, a 30-year-old Chula Vista resident enrolled as a graduate student in San Diego State University’s Latin American Studies program, died Monday night from meningococcal disease caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitides, County Health and Human Services reports.

According to the Medical Examiner, Fagoada became ill on Sunday, December 9 and went to a clinc on December 10 with shortness of breath and a high fever. He was transported to Scripps Mercy Chula Vista emergency room, where is suffered cardiorespiratory arrest.  Despite aggressive medical intervention, he was pronounced dead soon after.

December 6, 2012  (Campo)--A mouse trapped in Campo during routine monitoring has tested positive for the potentially deadly hantavirus, officials from the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health said Thursday.

County officials said it was normal to find rodents carrying hantavirus in San Diego County, but that they rarely posed a threat to people if they remained in the wild. However, they said people should protect themselves whenever cleaning up after rodents if they found them in their homes or on their properties.

December 1, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--Heartland Fire & Rescue and Rady Children’s Hospital offer the following advice to keep you and your family safe this holiday season.

Burns: The typical burn injury seen during the holidays is a scald.  When adults enjoy hot liquids during colder weather, a small child may reach up for your cup and spill hot liquid, such as hot chocolate, coffee or soup. Spilling this scalding hot liquid onto their face, neck, hands and arms. Scald burns are the second leading cause of all burns according to the National Fire Protection Association(NFPA). 

Grief experts provide tips on coping with the holidays after the loss of a loved one

November 25, 2012 (San Diego) -- Signs of the approaching holiday season have descended upon the general public through vibrant store displays, jingling television and radio commercials, and a rush of decorative party invitations from employers, friends and family.