Health
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – It was lunch time on the shore of Clear Lake, another relaxed day.
Without warning, Linda’s husband John slumped over in his chair, his skin a pale gray.
She did the right thing – dialed 911.
Soon they heard the welcome sound of a REACH helicopter landing nearby.
With practiced skill and appropriate speed, John was airlifted to the hospital.
He’s back home now, and John and Linda are enjoying each day together. Because they were insured REACH for Life members, they had no expenses for the REACH air ambulance transport.
In life-threatening emergencies, every minute counts. Rapid care and air transport can mean the difference between life and death.
Linda and John’s story illustrates how unexpected events can catch you off guard–emergencies can happen–at work, at home, or on the road while traveling.
REACH Air Medical Services offers a low-cost air ambulance membership program with a very reasonable annual cost of only $50 for an entire family.
Membership covers the gap between your insurance coverage and the remainder of the bill. Those fees could be thousands of dollars—and you could be responsible for paying them. These unexpected expenses on top of other medical bills can be financially devastating.
If you do not have current health insurance at the time of transport, membership covers 50 percent of the total charges of an emergency air ambulance transport by REACH; you will be responsible for the remainder of the bill.
REACH helicopters are “emergency rooms in the air” flown by experienced pilots, where care is administered by highly-skilled nurses and paramedics. To date, REACH has flown more than 55,000 life-saving missions.
REACH thrives by always doing what is right for patients. Whether they are the smallest of newborns or the frail elderly, whether injured or critically ill and in need of specialized health care at a distant hospital, REACH is standing by.
Protect your loved ones and your assets with a REACH for Life membership today. It’s easy to enroll.
New members can join online or download an application at www.REACHair.com.
If you would like more information about REACH for Life, contact Joyce Gilmore at 866-767-3224 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – D&M Compassion Center, located in Clearlake, won the High Times Medical Cannabis Cup for best hybrid entry at the second annual Medical Cup in San Francisco on Sunday, June 26.
D&M Compassion Center owner Jason Jones said the club won for an exclusive strain it developed from a clone called “OG Kush.”
“It's an all-around strain,” said Jones, explaining that it can be smoked at any time as a pain controller but won't leave patients feeling burned out.
Jones said the dispensary also entered last year with a strain it developed called “Lake County Purple.”
“We didn't win last year but we got a lot of recognition,” he said, adding he thinks that recognition carried over. “A lot of people remembered us when we showed up at the cup this year.”
Lake County Purple is more of a serious pain reliever than OG Kush, he said.
Jones said there is no money attached to the award, “just prestige,” explaining that it lets people know they have the best medicine.
He said the dispensary – one of three operating in the city of Clearlake – has a compassion program in which they give away three pounds of medical marijuana per month to patients who can't afford it.
D&M Compassion Center is located at 14491 Olympic Drive, Clearlake, telephone 707-994-1320 or online, www.dmcompassion.com.
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SACRAMENTO – Attorney General Kamala D. Harris and 37 other attorneys general announced a $40.75 million settlement with GlaxoSmithKline, LLC and SB Pharmco Puerto Rico, Inc. for alleged substandard drug manufacturing processes.
The settlement resolves allegations that GlaxoSmithKline and its subsidiary in Puerto Rico engaged in unfair and deceptive practices when they manufactured and distributed certain lots of drugs, which were adulterated because the manufacturing processes used to produce them were substandard.
"Consumers shouldn't need to wonder if the drugs prescribed by their doctors are safe," said Attorney General Harris. "This settlement resolves an unacceptable and potentially dangerous practice of GlaxoSmithKline and underscores my commitment to protecting the health and well-being of Californians."
The drugs include: Kytril, a sterile drug used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy and radiation therapy; Bactroban, an antibiotic ointment used to treat skin infections; Paxil CR, the controlled release form of Paxil, the popular antidepressant drug; and, Avandamet, a combination Type II diabetes drug.
GlaxoSmithKline and SB Pharmco no longer manufacture drugs at the facility in Puerto Rico, which closed in 2009. Consumers should be aware that there is no current cause for concern regarding the drugs covered by this agreement because the adulterated batches have been recalled for many years and/or the products' expiration dates have passed. If consumers do have concerns, they should contact their health care provider.
As part of the settlement, GlaxoSmithKline and SB Pharmco agreed not to make false, misleading or deceptive claims regarding the manufacturing of all drugs formerly manufactured at the Puerto Rico facility - regardless of where these drugs are now produced. In addition, the companies must not misrepresent the characteristics of those drugs, or describe them in ways likely to cause confusion or misunderstanding about the way in which they are manufactured.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Oregon Attorney General John Kroger led the investigation into GlaxoSmithKline and SB Pharmco's manufacturing practices.
States joining California, Illinois, Oregon and the District of Columbia in today's settlement include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Supervising Deputy Attorney General Daniel Olivas and Deputy Attorney General Judith Fiorentini handled the case for Attorney General Harris' Consumer Law section. California will receive more than $3.3 million from the settlement, the largest share among the states.
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The group is a network of wisdom and experience, shared by caring people from communities around the lake.
They offer real support and solutions to mothers when they need it the most.
Mother-Wise's mission is to help new moms understand, through home visitation, that if they get depressed, they are not alone and effective resources are available to help them.
In their role as saathi, volunteers bring mothers the companionship of a listening ear and a helping hand.
If you have some time and experience to share, please consider joining Mother-Wise. As one volunteer put it, “If we could all help ONE family, it would make such a huge difference.”
Volunteers receive training on home-visiting, values, active listening, and perinatal mood disorders.
The next orientation will be held from Thursday, June 23, and Friday, June 24, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 16140 Main St., Lower Lake.
Refreshments are provided Thursday and Friday, and Saturday includes a light breakfast and lunch.
Attendance of all three days is necessary to become a saathi.
Find Mother-Wise on Facebook or call Jaclyn at 707-349-1210 for more information and to reserve a spot in our next training.
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