Category Archives: Preventative Medicine

The phrase it takes a village is particularly true with respect to Flagler Countys Covid response.

Last week, the Florida Department of Health in Flagler County closed its drive-through operation at the Flagler County Fairgrounds, a site it had staffed for testing and vaccinations several days a week since the middle of 2020. Starting last Jan. 2, the vaccination drive-through required a staff of 50, split between employees and volunteers, resulting in 5,113 volunteer hours logged as part of this local pandemic response.

There is tremendous historical significance to the pandemic. Years from now, everyone involved with the pandemic response will have quite a story to share with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The Flagler Health Department is grateful to all the volunteers who have donated their time and effort in reducing Covid infections and encouraging vaccinations in Flagler County. With any luck, these volunteers wont reflect upon the polarized opinions about mask wearing or political divisiveness.

Instead, they will remember the role they played getting people through a global pandemic. Theyll remember the camaraderie of working through rain, cold, and heat, regulating traffic, answering questions, encouraging a smile, calming nerves, and celebrating a first dose of vaccine. Theyll remember doing something important and something that felt right helping the community get past Covid and onto whatever our post-Covid world would be.

To share additional insight of what it meant to be part of the local Covid response from a volunteer perspective, we offer you three interviews: one from Flagler Volunteer Services Judy Mazzella, another from Moya Thompson, and a third from Dr. Stephen Playe, a retired emergency physician.

Meet Judy Mazzella

Two key players in this herculean volunteer effort have been Suzy Gamblain and Judy Mazzella of Flagler Volunteer Services. This team has orchestrated the boots on the ground for more than a year now, coordinating, screening, and scheduling a revolving crew of approximately 110 volunteers to help. At first it was all about community testing for Covid. It then expanded to large-scale vaccination events at the Flagler County Fairgrounds several days a week.

Reflecting over the past nine-plus months, Judy Mazzella describes it as an amazing experience for her agency and the volunteers involved.

Its really been a labor of love to keep our community safe, said Mazzella. Early on, it was about getting people get tested. We spent hundreds of hours working with the health department and Flagler Countys Department of Emergency Management at the first large-scale testing site at Daytona State Colleges Palm Coast campus. In January 2021, we transitioned to a new home at the Flagler County Fairgrounds and other locations throughout the county to help people get vaccinated. On any given day I could expect 20 to 24 volunteers to help with clerical and traffic duty. It took a lot of scheduling and coordination, but the volunteers came back day after day and week after week. Its apparent they really enjoyed being part of the effort and knowing how much they are appreciated.

At its peak, the operation at the fairgrounds could vaccinate about 200 people per hour, an impressive rate reflecting an efficient operation.

In Judys opinion, the camaraderie and friendships that blossomed between volunteers over time encouraged them to come back. Some met through Facebook, interacting online, sharing testing and vaccination information, dispelling myths, supporting the health departments efforts and ultimately signing up to volunteer. Husbands recruited wives, wives recruited husbands. Couples recruited other couples, building an extended family, forming new friendships and making the entire experience more rewarding.

Responding to a global pandemic is serious work. But Flaglers volunteers found ingenious ways to add levity to make the vaccination site a friendly place to work and visit. Crazy hat days, costumes, cardboard cutouts and dancing while on traffic detail added a sense of relief and hope for the guests. And yes, there was food, everything from home baked cookies and snacks, to donated lunches. The volunteers took good care of each other.

Judy shared a story about a volunteer named Valerie, who became a well-known character in the drive through at the Fairgrounds. Many days Valerie brought her own radio with her, an old school boom box, which she positioned on her car, allowing her to have her own 1990s dance party while directing traffic.

One day Valerie came up to me and she said Judy, did you have breakfast? And I said, No, Valerie, I didnt. Valerie responded with a big smile and says Good, because I made you a breakfast sandwich. This is just one example of how weve gone from being strangers to becoming a family of people who look out for one other.

This operation encouraged a lot of couples to volunteer. They just they love it and have befriended other couples, said Mazzella. So many of them missed socializing because of COVID, volunteering gave them something to look forward to that was both productive and meaningful. We all worked so well together and could count on one another to jump in whenever and wherever necessary. So, its been a wonderful experience in so many ways. Knowing that they are making a difference brought them back day after day.

Meet Moya Thompson

When Covid first hit, volunteer opportunities for Moya and her husband came to a standstill. After spending weeks in lockdown, retirees like Moya grew restless, looking for a way to help.

Originally from the Washington, D.C., area, Moya retired from 36 years of government service and moved to Flagler County in 2012. She started working with Flagler Volunteer Services in the countys call center after Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and volunteered for other events as well.

She saw an opportunity to help at the Daytona State College testing site and became a traffic volunteer. In this role, she made sure that cars kept moving and that people knew where they were going. In her opinion, it was a pretty important role.

Ive been doing this for a while, explained Thompson. After being home because of Covid, I just felt that I needed to do something, and this seemed like the perfect way to help.

When the vaccination operation started at the Fairgrounds, Thompson signed up to volunteer there as well.

I started as a traffic volunteer but moved to the area where people fill out consent forms before proceeding to the vaccination tent. Some of these people were elderly. They were a little nervous. They were excited, and they sometimes needed help. So, while we were keeping the cars in line, we took time to talk with the drivers and passengers. We answered questions and tried to make them feel at little more at ease before they made it to the vaccination tent.

Thompson also weighed in on the positive vibe at the Fairgrounds.

The people waiting in line to get their vaccines have been just amazing. Were lucky because we get to see them up close, of course, with our masks on and keeping six feet apart, but we can see the relief on their faces, the excitement, the anticipation of getting the vaccine. Its so rewarding. They talk to you about things that theyre going to do once they get their second dose, and its just a really a feeling of hope, said Thompson. Its a wonderful opportunity to be part of that. As historic as all of this is, its just great to see people looking forward to getting their lives a little bit more back to normal.

Thompson came up with the idea of wearing her collection of crazy hats to the Fairgrounds to make people smile.

On May 24, the final day of vaccinating at the Fairgrounds, Moya posted the following on her Facebook page, along with a few photos:

What a long great trip its been! Since January 2, weve been directing thousands of Flagler County folks toward their Covid-19 vaccinations. Proud to be part of an awesome team (some of whom are featured here) that has helped make Flagler stand out in vaccination rates across Florida. Today was our last day at the Fairgrounds, but vaccines are still widely available across the county. Its been a blast!

Meet Dr. Stephen Playe

Dr. Stephen Playe, a retired Emergency Medicine physician, became part of the Covid-19 vaccination team in January 2021. Hes known Dr. Stephen Bickel, the health departments medical director for 60 years.

A former doctor for Mediquick, Dr. Playe retired in October 2019 and moved to Chicago for several months. Hed remained in touch with Dr. Bickel, but, when he and his wife Ann returned to Flagler, the two Steves became closer, talking most every day by phone, both learning and sharing as much as they could about Covid and its transmission. Dr. Playe described their renewed friendship and joint commitment to understanding more about the virus as an extensive but fascinating learning curve.

We read study after study and spent hours talking about the virus and its connection with biology, politics, economics, sociology, and air flow movements, Playe explained. Right from the beginning, Steve was very excited about working with Bob Snyder and the whole Covid response locally. And, so, it encouraged me to do what I could to help. Early on, most of my role was being a sounding board for a friend who made it his mission to learn as much as he could about this virus. We talked almost every day, and I even helped by writing a letter to the editor of the Palm Coast Observer about mask wearing.

When the vaccination effort started, there was the opportunity to volunteer and be part of it, which I wanted to do. Nearly six months later, its been an excellent experience for me. Part of it is just feeling like youre doing a good thing. Theres something to that. But its been more than that for me because my whole career in medicine has been reactive. When something bad happens to somebody, they come to the emergency department, I try to patch them up or straighten them out or whatever. Its all reactive. This effort, on the other hand, has been preventative. Its a whole different thing and particularly gratifying for me to do something preventative.

Its also been gratifying to interact with people and offer some medical assistance. Ive been one of the four to six medical professionals that would be screening people in cars before they went in to get their vaccination. We wanted to make sure there wasnt some medical contraindication to them getting the vaccine. We determined, from their history, if they should be watched for 15 minutes or 30 minutes after receiving a shot. Sometimes we made mildly complex medical decisions, but most were straightforward. We also answered questions and allayed concerns, and so forth. For the first time in my life, the people that Im interacting with as a doctor are not either miserable, or angry, or both, which is a big part of emergency medicine. This has been a particularly pleasant experience, working with people who are feeling good about what theyre doing. And theyre appreciative of what were doing in return. Thats been nice.

And when I could, I put in a little bit of a plug, especially recently, when we see young people coming through. I tell them how pleased I am they are getting vaccinated, and I thank them for doing something to help themselves and the rest of us. Its about prevention and I ask them to encourage their friends to get vaccinated as well. Again, this is very different from my medical experience. If somebody comes in cardiac arrest and I resuscitate him, I help one person. This vaccine effort has the potential to help many people.

Finally, this large-scale operation reminded me of something I always loved about emergency medicine, working with a whole team. You have your doctors, your residents, your nurses, your techs, your clerks, your orderlies, your police, your EMTs, all these people working together to try to do something good for people. And out there at the fairgrounds, all you have to do is look around and you see that exact same thing. You see volunteers, you see National Guardsmen, you see nurses, doctors, everybody working together to help folks out. Its very much that same kind of sort of magnified joy that you get by doing something with a whole group of people all working together. That was uplifting.

The trials of the last year and a half have shown us who the real heroes are. Our village stepped up. As we move into our new normal, we can honor the people we lost to this virus and help those still recovering. We will work together to rebuild trust and good will in the community. We must if we are to do more than just survive Covid-19. We can thrive in the aftermath. Lets let that be how history remembers us.

Read more:
Volunteers: The Flagler Health Departments Secret Weapon in an Epic Covid Fight - FlaglerLive.com

TSP design tech earns additional certification

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. Evan Caldwell, design technician at TSP Inc., recently earned additional professional certification. Hes part of our Sioux Falls office, creating digital models and contributing to construction documents in our fully integrated, multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, and planning firm.

Caldwell now is a CDT-certified specialist. The designation means he has completed advanced training and testing in Construction Documents Technology. The comprehensive program encompasses topics such as writing, interpreting, enforcing, and managing construction documents.

The company said it is one more set of skills in Evans toolbox to give TSP clients the highest value and enable them to move forward with confidence in their projects. The CDT curriculum, designed and administered by the Construction Specifications Institute, takes learners on a full tour through a projects life cycle.

Caldwell earned his associate of applied science degree in architectural engineering technology from Southeast Tech. He put that learning to use for a structural firm before joining TSP in September 2019.

Essentia Health recently welcomed several new doctors

FARGO, N.D. Dr. Olayinka David Ajayi has joined the Essentia Health team in Fargo, where he specializes in hyperbaric medicine. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a noninvasive, painless procedure that uses 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber to improve the bodys natural healing process, treat carbon monoxide poisoning and other FDA/UHMS approved medical conditions.

Dr. Ajayi received his medical education at the University of Ibadan College of Medicine, Nigeria. He earned his masters degree in public health and completed a residency in public medicine at Emory University Public Health, Atlanta, Ga. His fellowship in undersea and hyperbaric medicine was completed at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, Minn. Ajayi is board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties in public health and general preventative medicine.

***

Nurse Practitioner Sheila Kinzler, who specializes in behavioral health is now welcoming patients at the Essentia Health-Jamestown Clinic.

Kinzler earned her masters degree in nursing from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minn. She is certified as a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Kinzler grew up in Jamestown and said she is excited to stay in her hometown and help the community.

***

Dr. Bertha Ayi, who specializes in infectious disease is now seeing patients at Essentia Health-32nd Avenue Clinic in Fargo.

Dr. Ayi earned her medical degree at the University of Ghana Medical School in Accra, Ghana. She completed a residency in internal medicine at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore, Md. and a fellowship in infectious disease at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Neb. Ayi is board certified in infectious disease by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

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By Jim Ware| Free Press Correspondent

COVID-19 transformed many of us into work-at-home parents/teachers, virtual students and near prisoners in our own homes as the pandemic wore on.

Along with this transformation came injuries one might expect to see in the gym or on the playing field as many of the homebound turned to exercise to alleviate monotony.

Dr. Dimitri Thomas, a fellowship-trained sports medicine orthopedic surgeon who recently joined UNC Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Lenoir, has some advice for those whove recently taken up running and other activities.

Thomas served nine years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, where he saw soldiers training for fitness runs suffer from preventable injuries.

Everyone was always running to get their time down, but running on hard surfaces like pavement, I always tell people, is pretty bad on your knees, he said. So, if you are going to run do it on softer surfaces like trail running or grass or something like that.

Thomas tells patients that if theyre looking for cardio workouts, they should try elliptical machines, stationary bikes, rowers, or swimming to avoid the significant impact on knees that comes with running.

Those who arent running are jamming state park trails in North Carolina, including hikers with little to no experience and inferior footwear.

What youre most likely to see there are ankle sprains, Thomas said.

Uneven ground could lead to people rolling their ankles, he said.

If people have a history of that, they may want to take some precautions of either getting a lace-up ankle brace or making sure they have a good high-top hiking boot that can secure pretty well, Thomas said.

Injury prevention is in the preparation, he said.

One of the long-term things is making sure all those ankle muscles are strong and theres a good neuro-muscular balance, Thomas said. Thats why for people with ankle sprains we do a lot of physical therapy and rehab.

Before any exercise, warming up and stretching are important, he said.

As people get older, the warm-ups, especially first thing in the morning, are important because things just arent quite as limber as when they were 18 or 19 years old, Thomas said.

Typical injury therapies for pandemic exercisers and weekend warriors are meniscus and rotator cuff repairs and bicep tendonitis treatments, he said.

Those are some of the common things we always try to treat first without surgery and try some physical therapy, Thomas said, because a lot of times people do respond pretty well to that or it can at least delay a surgical intervention until a more convenient time.

Weight loss, while sometimes the goal of exercise, also is good preventative medicine, he said.

Weight loss is even more effective at preventing and stopping knee pain than a knee replacement, Thomas said. Thats the only thing thats essentially been shown to have a 100 percent success rate.

What I tell people is when youre running and jumping, the amount of force thats going through your knee and hip joints is basically eight times your body weight. The more weight you lose, the more youre unloading your joints.

As a person loses weight through exercise, their muscles become more toned and their nerves fire better, he said, meaning he or she is less likely to be injured.

Another aspect of life during COVID is that high school football players are beginning winter workouts in anticipation of a spring season rather than the traditional fall schedule. While players adjust to the new timetable, some conditioning aspects remain the same, Thomas said.

The biggest thing is making sure everyone stays hydrated, he said. Youre not thinking of that as much because its the winter, but you can still become dehydrated. When youre not properly hydrated, thats when you get all these muscle cramps and muscle injuries.

Also on the must-do list for high school athletes are proper warm-ups and cardio conditioning, Thomas said.

One of the common procedures frequently performed in sports medicine is reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a previously career-ending injury for athletes.

There are people getting back to basically full activity, he said. I always tell people surgery gets you back significantly to a much-improved functionality, essentially close to 100 percent. But I always tell them we can never make you the way God made you the first time.

Along those lines, Thomas said he doesnt view treatments for patients as one size fits all.

I like to listen to what people have to say and try to figure out something that works for their particular lifestyle, he said. Sometimes that means continuing with an extended nonoperative course and sometimes it means doing surgery. No two people are the same.

Robert Enders, president and CEO of UNC Lenoir Health Care, said the hospital is fortunate to have a surgeon of Thomas caliber on the medical staff.

This addition to our surgical services line further demonstrates our commitment to provide our region with outstanding healthcare, Enders said.

About Dr. Dimitri Thomas

Completed medical school in 2008 at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School in Dallas.

Completed his orthopedics residency at William Beaumont Army Medical Center/Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, El Paso.

Completed his sports medicine fellowship at the University of Missouri.

Joined UNC Health Care and UNC Physicians Network in 2021 to provide care and treatment of sports-related injuries in Lenoir County and surrounding areas.

Has advanced knowledge of physical conditioning, soft tissue biomechanics, performance and health, and field evaluation.

Will advise injured athletes, help to coordinate medical and sports activity, educate and counsel on injury prevention, and provide general orthopedic care and surgery.

Source: UNC Lenoir Health Care

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Your Health: On the run from COVID? Workout tips to prevent injuries [Sponsored content] - Kinston Free Press

For the past nine years, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County (MHCC) has been hosting a community health and wellness fair and blood draw. This year, MHCC will continue to offer these valuable services, but in a slightly different format.

Last year, we were scheduled to do blood draws and the fair, but we had to cancel two weeks ahead of the fair and cut the blood draws short, said Stephanie Hinkle, marketing, communications, and foundation director for MHCC. Not everyone in the community was able to take advantage of the yearly service.

For this years event, MHCC sent out a survey to the community asking input on what the most valuable pieces of the event were. The overwhelming response was that the discounted labs and provider consultations were the most valuable services. Given this feedback, MHCC will be accommodating these services in a pandemic-safe way.

In the past, people would walk into the hospital for their blood draws. This year, people will need to call the MHCC Visiting Specialists Clinic to schedule an appointment ahead of time, said Hinkle. This allows MHCC to control how many people enter the building at any given time, and allows them to implement public safety measures to keep clients safe during their blood draw. Masks are required, and there will be a staff member performing temperature and wellness screenings as people enter the clinic.

Lab results will be sent directly to participants, usually within the same week of the draw. Upon receiving lab results, people can call the MHCC Family Practice Clinic to schedule a telehealth consult with a MHCC provider to discuss their results and receive feedback. Hinkle explained that the telehealth consults will be kept very simple. Staff will help people get scheduled for a phone conference with a provider, so it will be simpler than a video call.

These are really useful panels that are frequently requested from providers, said Hinkle. She explained that providing this service is crucial to MHCCs mission of providing preventative medicine and education to the Carbon County community.

Typically, the event sees about 1,500 participants. MHCC has planned for the same volume of people for this years event. They have also made accommodations for businesses who wish to do employee health screenings.

For businesses, we have historically gone on-sight for blood draws. This year, were requesting that businesses come to us, and call ahead to reserve a time, said Hinkle. Special days have been reserved for business draws. These dates are March 24, 25, 26 from 5-10 a.m., and April 28, 29, 30, and May 1 from 5-10 a.m.

WHEN

Community health and wellness blood draws will go from March 3 March 31, 2021, and April 1 May 1, 2021. They will occur on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 5-10 a.m. MHCC will also offer these services during two Saturdays: March 27 and May 1 from 5-10 a.m. Telehealth consults with providers will be scheduled from March 12- May 21st.

WHERE

All blood draws will occur at the MHCC Visiting Specialists Clinic at 2012 W. Elm St. in Rawlins. Blood draws are available by appointment only. Call 307-324-8247 to schedule an appointment. Provider consultations will occur via teleconference.

AVAILABLE SCREENINGS

Core Health Fair Panel (includes CMP, CBC, Lipid Panel & Iron) $40

Discounted Mens Package $250

Discounted Womens Package $230

A1C $20

Vitamin B12 $20

Vitamin D $40

Folate $20

Hepatitis C $35

Thyroid $45

Testosterone $50

PSA $20

Prior to screening, clients must fast for 10-12 hours. Diabetic clients should fast only six hours ahead of time. Pregnant women should consult with their physicians. Drink plenty of water while fasting.

MHCC will not bill health insurance during the blood draws, which allows them to keep their prices down. Individuals can pay with cash, credit, debit, or check.

BLOOD DRAWS SCHEDULED IN HANNA

MHCC will also provide community wellness blood draws in their family practice clinic in Hanna. These will occur March 1st, 15th, and 29th from 6-9 a.m. at the MHCC Family Practice Clinic in Hanna located at 1008 Feldspar Court. Blood draws in Hanna will also be available by appointment only, and can be scheduled ahead of time by calling 307-325-6569. They will offer the same panel of screenings and telehealth consultations as the location in Rawlins.

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Community wellness screenings by appointment only | News | wyomingnews.com - Wyoming Tribune

Across the world, around 1.7 million people became newly infected with HIV in 2019. This number does not include the cases that are never registered or documented. The HIV epidemic continues insidiously, despite the existence of medicines that can save lives.

As COVID-19 highlights healthcare inequalities via who is getting the vaccine first, and who the virus is killing in disproportionate numbers, it is difficult not to think back to the peak of the HIV epidemic and make comparisons about the transmissibility, the grief, the lost lives.

The series, Its a Sin, explores the UK atmosphere of fear in the eighties. Europe are currently pushing for faster testing, as early diagnosis can make or break a persons life.

But it is crucial to remember two things that the LGBTQ community faced a devastating lack of policy intervention from their Governments, and that the the HIV epidemic continues to this day.

In low-to-middle-income countries, girls and women are most at risk of contracting HIV. A separate study explores that ongoing problem, noting that 50 adolescent girls die everyday from AIDS-related illnesses, because they are forced to use their bodies as currency for food and medicines.

In the report published in The Lancet today (19 February), several experts working across the US to fight the HIV epidemic discuss their policy suggestions and findings.

Scientific advances have transformed the course of HIV in individuals. To transform the course of the epidemic, we need to expand care and prevention strategically to those who need it most, explained Nora D Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

That means taking a hard look at who has been excluded from services and take immediate steps to overcome systemic barriers like stigma, structural racism, and other forms of discrimination to connect hardly reached people such as individuals with substance use disorders with HIV testing, prevention, and treatment.

One of the key findings across their data analysis is that age, race, and ethnicity draws a dividing line between outcomes. In addition, sex and gender identity also contribute to healthcare disparities when it comes to HIV.

While Black people make up 13% of the US population, they are 43% of HIV-related deaths in 2018.

The team of researchers feel that culturally sensitive, community-based interventions could help communities to access healthcare.

In San Francisco, the Latinx community is being hit hard by COVID-19 right now. A community-initiative led by local organisers helped 14,000 frontline workers to be tested for COVID, and then continued to tackle the potential of medical misinformation surrounding vaccines.

This kind of initiative for HIV would also have to tackle a heavy stigma, but it could have instant impact.

We have incredible tools to prevent and treat HIV, but people may not fully utilize them if they are facing personal or structural issues that pose more immediate hardship like substance use and mental health disorders, said Chris Beyrer, MPH, investigator at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, and a lead author on the series.

You may struggle to take a daily medication if you are facing food insecurity or cannot find affordable treatment for your substance use disorder.

Unequal access to Medicaid harms 40% of people living with HIV, who depend on it to get access to healthcare. Economic barriers are particularly pronounced in areas like Appalachia.

There, the existence of a double-epidemic for opioids and HIV is very much real. People who inject drugs are catching HIV, with reduced access to healthcare. There are nowhere near enough harm-reduction programmes, like syringe exchanges, overdose education, naloxone distribution and addiction treatment programmes.

The team highly recommend expanding uninsured safety net programmes, such as the Ryan White HIV/AIDS programme which provides 82% of uninsured people with HIV with access to healthcare. They also propose mental health counselling, better testing, more available treatment,pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and syringe services programs.

They also suggest that despite the large body of work they drew their information from, there are gaps in research that continue to exist and must be filled. More preventative drug development would also be a strategy to help vulnerable communities.

Dr Errol Fields, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said: Policy, public health, clinician, and community stakeholders must prioritise strategies that attend to the social inequities at the intersection of race, gender, class, age, and sexuality that compound the impacts of HIV and COVID-19 in Black communities.

The racial disparities that so rapidly emerged with COVID-19 are a reminder that until these inequities are addressed, disparities in HIV and COVID-19 outcomes will persist and ending the HIV epidemic will remain elusive.

The full report published with The Lancet can be read here.

Editor's Recommended Articles

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Science needs to overcome "structural racism" to end the HIV epidemic - Open Access Government

Photo: Austin Schmid on Unsplash

Thank you, Castanet, for giving me a platform to share my passion for preventative medicine.

As my year with the publication draws to a close, Id like to look back on past articles and offer a roundup of my advice to live happy and healthy.

Throughout the last year, Ive written my Spotlight Series, a series of articles that focus on common and preventable diseases. From heart disease to dementia, diabetes to arthritis, these articles look at the aetiology and pathology of the disease, as well as the signs and symptoms.

Most important, the articles explore what we can do to help prevent these conditions from even starting.

There is a common thread that runs through every article:

Eating well means vegetables, fruit, fibre lets focus on what we can eat, not what we cant. We are incredibly lucky to live in the Okanagan, with fruit stands around every corner; it couldnt be easier to eat local, fresh produce.

Exercising is different for everyone, but again I marvel at how many wonderful opportunities we have to exercise in the Okanagan.

Whether you want to bike, run, ski, hike, swim, paddle board, go to the gym or enjoy yoga, its all on our doorstep. Weve had to get creative since COVID-19; traditional gym classes are out, so weve entered the age of Zoom dance lessons and socially distanced yoga.

Whatever you enjoy doing, do it. Raise your heart rate and get your body moving; your heart, lungs and joints will love you for it.

Ive also written about COVID-19, and how it has affected our community. From rounding up the latest information about vaccines to encouraging everyone to wear masks, socially distance and follow guidelines, it has been the dominating health news story and a prominent feature in my column.

However, our health shouldnt be dominated by conversations around COVID-19. In April last year, I encouraged you to think about your other health concerns, and make sure they didnt get ignored during the pandemic.

That sentiment stands more than ever; if youre due for an appointment, blood work or a physical, please get it booked.

Lastly, Ive continually written about the importance of mental health. From mental health first aid, to lowering stress in aid of heart disease and the impacts of COVID-19 on our mental health, Ive discussed how crucial it is to check in with ourselves and our loved ones.

If you think youre experiencing mental health issues, I urge you to please see your family doctor, or at least speak to someone about how youre feeling.

Even if youre not concerned about your mental health, please remember to be kind to yourself. It has been an incredibly challenging year for so many reasons, and its taken its toll on us all. Give yourself some slack.

Be kind to others and be kind to yourself. Eat well, exercise, and look after your mental health.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and all my articles; it has been a pleasure to write for you.

More:
Health, happiness forever - Health and Happiness - Castanet.net

We are excited to introduce these advanced therapies to help optimize and improve patient wellness in a safe, comfortable and well-monitored setting, says Dr. James Petros, founder and CEO of Allied Pain & Spine Institute.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (PRWEB) February 16, 2021

Allied Pain & Spine Institute proudly introduces their newest clinical enterprise, NexGen Health. Already recognized as Silicon Valleys leader in compassionate, multidisciplinary pain, spine and musculoskeletal care, Allied Pain & Spine Institute is once again changing lives with a new and cutting-edge alternative to pain, health, anti-aging, and all-around wellness. IV (intravenous) cellular therapy is rapidly becoming a highly sought-after treatment for preventative medicine, overall health, wellness, acute illness, and numerous chronic health conditions. IV therapy is used to help delay and reverse the effects of aging, reduce symptoms of illness, boost immunity, and replenish vitamins and minerals required by the body to perform at its optimal level of function. Any products that contain HCG are physician-prescribed. NexGen Healths team of talented physicians is proud to offer customized IV therapies for any lifestyle.

Whether patients want to boost a sluggish metabolism, slow the aging process, improve immunity, or increase energy levels, NexGen Health has IV therapy, drips, and vitamins to help meet your health goals. The correct levels of minerals, amino acids and other nutrients are needed for optimum wellness. NexGen Health offers nutritional and vitamin deficiency analysis to give patients information about their current health status and can create a customized plan to improve it. These plans may include IV drip therapy, boosters, and maintenance supplements. In less than an hour, patients can become revitalized with targeted IV drip therapies and booster injections at this innovative clinic in San Jose, CA.

We are excited to introduce these advanced therapies to help optimize and improve patient wellness in a safe, comfortable and well-monitored setting, says Dr. James Petros, founder and CEO of Allied Pain & Spine Institute. Dr. Parish Vaidya, Chief Medical Officer of Allied Pain & Spine Institute, adds The menu of NexGen Health services represents the next evolution in targeted health and wellness therapy.

More about NexGen Health: The team at NexGen Health includes board certified physicians and other medical professionals that are dedicated to improving wellness for patients. They offer nutrient deficiency testing and analysis to determine the best individual supplementation plan to achieve improved health. In-office IV drip therapies for hydration and nutrient delivery, as well as booster injections and oral supplements for maintenance, are among the services provided. If you want to improve your energy, health, and overall well-being, consider the benefits of targeted IV infusion, hydration therapy and boosters to deliver these essential nutrients directly to your bloodstream from the experts at NexGen Health. NexGen Health serves patients from their clinic located in the San Jose area, near Los Gatos. To schedule a consultation to discuss IV therapy please visit http://www.mynexgenhealth.com or call 408-400-2967.

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As entrepreneurs and large companies alike look to modernize how healthcare is distributed in the wake of COVID, one Atlanta-based startup is bringing back the old fashion house call.

Ascend Medical, a membership-based mobile clinic, primary care, and telemedicine startup, focuses on providing key preventative care measures and tests to metro area residents. CEO Jason Madsen told Hypepotamus that the company is the only virtual primary care company that makes in-home/in-office visits for point of care testing, diagnostics, vaccines, x-rays, ultrasounds, and EKGs.

This includes same-day Rapid Antigen Testing, PCR Testing, and Antibody Testing for COVID-19.

This is important as more state-wide testing sites flip to vaccination centers, many residents are struggling to find rapid testing sites for work or travel needs.

Not only does the startup believe that virtual and mobile primary care is more convenient for patients; it also removes the stress of finding appointments or spending hours in a traditional doctors waiting room.

Primary care is ripe for disruption and the pandemic has exposed the lag, said Dr. Kristina Bogar, the teams chief medical officer. People want to get quality care when they need it, without going to a doctors office or testing facility. They also dont want to wait weeks for an appointment or spend hours in a waiting room, or in their car. This is the new way of delivering medicine for primary care services and routine testing.

The idea of bringing diagnostic services to someones house adds another level of care to the growing telehealth boom.

Madsen said that Ascends popups and mobile fleet currently serves 1,500 patients a week between COVID testing and other primary care services. There are currently 45 doctors, nurses, and clinical support staff in the system, and the team plans to scale to over 200 providers over the course of 2021.

Members pay $199 yearly or $24.99 a month to access 24/7 on-call services and additional telehealth services. While this is on top of insurance, the virtual and mobile capabilities provide additional ease of service for individuals and families looking to keep up with routine healthcare needs.

Madsen told Hypepotamus that the startup has an affiliation with Piedmont Health.

The lab on wheels mobile clinics have rolled out in neighborhoods, community centers, and office parks for COVID testing and flu vaccinations. Companies or groups can also request a mobile testing event.

Ascend Medical says it will expand its services outside of Atlanta to Detroit and Houston by mid-2021.

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Virtual HealthTech Team Ascend Medical Rolls Out Pop Up Testing For COVID, Other Primary Care Services - hypepotamus.com

CENTREVILLE - The COVID-19 pandemic has had a direct impact on all of our lives over the past year. Now, with the development of COVID vaccines, we have a brighter future to look forward to.

There have been many pre-cautionary methods used to slow the spread of this deadly virus, such as wearing a mask, practicing safe social distancing, and washing our hands often. However, these vaccines will be vital tools to help reduce the risk of becoming infected, as well as reducing fatalities if contracted.

The vaccine is our most important preventative step to protect ourselves, co-workers, friends, and loved ones from COVID-19, says Dr. Theodore Ross, Chief Medical Officer & Internal Medicine Physician at SIHF Healthcare.

As with any new vaccine, there are usually many questions and concerns to follow.

The vaccine is safe numerous studies on tens of thousands of people, and millions have already received it without adverse reactions states Dr. Ross.

What we know:

The More You Know: Fact or Fiction

While the timeline from the start of the pandemic to the approval of the vaccine has been faster than any other vaccine, the technology has been in development for many years. When mRNA vaccines were developed (the technology behind Pfizer and Modernas vaccines) the technology was touted as a quick and efficient method to produce vaccines at unprecedented speed, and this proved true for COVID-19. Pfizer and Moderna have been working in this space for many years, and it was because of their strong foundation in this technology that they were able to generate a vaccine in less than a year.

The COVID-19 vaccines, like all drugs that are approved for human use, undergo significant scrutiny from various independent evaluators to ensure efficacy and safety during the clinical trials, and then by the FDA for approval. After FDA approval, safety and efficacy continue to be monitored for adverse events. Some of the COVID-19 vaccines being tested in clinical trials were halted because of a serious illness in a few subjects, however, the illnesses were not associated with the vaccine.

While one vaccine is a significant achievement, it is critical that multiple vaccines, based on different technologies, are approved for use. There are several reasons for this. The number of doses necessary to immunize the whole U.S. and the entire world is not practical using one vaccine, given the different reagents necessary to produce the vaccines. Approval of multiple effective vaccines will reduce the burden on a single manufacturer to ensure that everyone across the world can have access to a vaccine in a timely manner.

Each of the clinical trials were conducted with more than 30,000 people from around the world, and all subjects are monitored for side effects. Half of the subjects in the clinical trial received placebo and half received the vaccine. In general, subjects reported soreness and swelling at the injection site, as well as fever, chills, tiredness and headache, which should go away after a few days. This is exactly what you want to happen because it means your immune system is active and doing its job.

It is unlikely that COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) will go away on its own. Just like the common cold - which is also a coronavirus - it continues to make us sick every year, but as we age and continue to be exposed, we generate an immune response that prevents us from getting sick. The vaccine helps to accelerate this process to protect us. However, we are only a year into this pandemic, and scientists will continue to monitor how many people are infected each year.

The mRNA vaccine is fantastic technology because it has no way to get into your DNA but can still induce a strong immune response. It does so by causing our cells to generate pieces of the virus for our immune systems to respond to. Once the mRNA is used by our cells, it is destroyed and has no long-term effects on our cells.

At SIHF Healthcare we care about your health and safety, so by becoming more proactive in protecting your health and the health of others we can make life-saving differences during this pandemic together. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine and our services, please click here.

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SIHF Healthcare Wants You to Get In The Know About COVID Vaccines - RiverBender.com

ONE FEATHER EDITORIAL BOARD

There has been much said in America about the federal, state, and municipal rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. The reviews from various communities have been mixed. Many feel that somewhere in the supply chain of the vaccine, the distribution of the much-needed vaccines has not been handled with the care and expediency that could have prevented more illness, suffering, and death.

As you look at the municipalities surrounding the Qualla Boundary, you see slow movement through the age-based phases of inoculation in local populations. Some municipalities are still not through their 65-plus age group with pre-existing conditions. And while all may continue to practice the protection practices that we have all but memorized, washing, waiting, and wearing, most of us understand that the vaccines are the pathway to returning to normal community health through herd immunity from COVID-19.

Our EBCI (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) Public Health and Human Services Division (PHHS) and Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) have been two of the most responsive and engaged health organizations in Indian Country and America. Early in the pandemic, the government of the Tribe ordained these organizations to lead medical decisions and recommend municipal measures to contain and control the pandemic.

They have led by issuing preventative measures and feeding educational materials to the public. They established a Joint Information Council (JIC) that has steadily and consistently provided information to the public. This JIC is comprised of leaders from various departments charged with community services. In addition to CIHA and PHHS, JIC participants include school administrative officers, transportation officers, leaders from the Cherokee Boys Club, emergency services, the police department, the Communications Division, and the Chiefs office.

The CIHA and PHHS have been organizing and leading the way on all aspects of the COVID response since February 2020. Preplanning had taken place well in advance of the inoculation rollout. As the rollout progressed, tribal members reported a well-organized operation, with no long waits, cordial services, and excellent care. The vast majority of those vaccinated have reported mild to no ill effects from the vaccines. The efforts even extended to a day-long vaccination clinic at the Tribal Bingo Hall that netted approximately a thousand more beginning the process to immunity from COVID-19. And there are already signs that things are improving regarding the number of new infections and people needing isolation and quarantine. While health officials at a national level continue to warn that we are not out of the woods quite yet, the efforts of our Tribal health organizations have certainly brought us closer to a return to normalcy.

This is not the time to listen to or participate in gossip and unfounded speculation. All the data and science is pointing us in the direction of widespread vaccination. Our health care professionals were some of the first people to voluntarily take the vaccine. And some of our most treasured tribal members, our elders, were advised by their caretakers and families to take the vaccine. It is illogical to think that our community leaders would recommend a medicine that would be harmful to the community. All are entitled to opinion, but it is dangerous to the community to distort or misrepresent facts.

The Cherokee One Feather applauds the efforts of our medical, public health, and tribal leadership in the measures taken to protect the mental and physical health of our Tribe. We thank all the essential workers throughout the Tribe, including all those in Fire and Emergency Management, Cherokee Police Department, Sanitation, food service institutions, and the many others who provide services to the community. We concur with those entities in the believe that vaccinations are safe and necessary to the health of our Tribe. We join them in urging all who are eligible to schedule an appointment to get vaccinated and when called to keep their appointment. The vaccine is the best hope for protecting ourselves and our community from continued pain and suffering.

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EDITORIAL: COVID response from EBCI should be praised - The Cherokee One Feather - Cherokee One Feather