Health
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County Tribal Health Consortium celebrated the one year anniversary of its pediatrics and obstetrics clinic by giving back to the community.
Tribal Health donated $50,000 to the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Foundation to support the installation of a General Electric SenoClaire 3D Breast Tomosynthesis mammography unit in SLH’s mammography suite.
The GE mammography unit leads the industry in cancer detection by taking 3D images of breast tissue, allowing radiologists to see tissue calcification before it spreads, as well as determine when an image is a false positive.
“Having lost my mother to breast cancer a year ago, I personally know the importance of screening and early detection,” said Ernesto Padilla, executive director, Lake County Tribal Health Consortium. “Tribal Health has made it a priority to screen our female patients for breast cancer since Native American women have a higher cancer mortality rate than women of other ethnicities.
“I am fortunate to work for a progressive and generous Board of Directors who know that Lake County cannot grow as a community without helping our neighbors,” said Padilla. “Our partnership with Sutter Lakeside is an important piece of the puzzle as we strive to build a comprehensive medical home for our patients, providing access to the best primary, specialty, and technologically advanced care without leaving Lake County.”
Cancer rates in Lake County are significantly higher than the state average, while county screening rates are lower.
Breast cancer, which accounts for one in three cancers in women, killed more than 40,000 women in the United States in 2014.
One in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, and it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Early diagnosis and immediate treatment are vital to winning the fight against the disease.
Sutter Lakeside Hospital, which began fundraising for a 3D mammography unit in 2015, will begin construction as soon as possible.
The project is part of a match-grant campaign in conjunction with Sutter Health, which will double the funds raised by the community.
“We are so grateful for Tribal Health’s support,” said Siri Nelson, chief administrative officer, Sutter Lakeside Hospital. “Their incredible generosity allows us to bring 3D mammography to Lake County sooner than planned. It is because of community partners like them that we can fulfill our commitment to excellence in health care.”
In addition, the GE SenoClaire unit will allow for diagnostic biopsy, a service that is currently unavailable.
- Details
- Written by: Morgen Wells
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith today warned the public about the danger of consuming illegally manufactured Mexican-style soft cheeses, often sold by street vendors.
“These cheeses are often made with raw, unpasteurized milk and under unsanitary conditions,” said Dr. Smith. “We are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of reported Salmonella cases, particularly in the Hispanic community.”
Since November 2015, at least 50 patients have been infected with three different strains of Salmonella. No deaths have been reported, but hospitalization has been required in several cases.
The investigation into these cases is ongoing, but several patients have reported consuming potentially unpasteurized Mexican-style cheese purchased from street vendors before they became ill.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection include fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea which may be bloody.
While most individuals recover in four to seven days without medical intervention, some may develop complications that require hospitalization.
Infants, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are at highest risk for more severe illness.
CDPH recommends consumers experiencing any ill effects after consuming soft cheeses should consult their health care provider.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) recommends purchasing cheeses made by licensed manufacturers and kept in refrigerated cases at retail stores.
More safety information is available through CDFA’s, “Illegal Cheese Can Make You Sick!” at www.cdph.ca.gov .
- Details
- Written by: Editor
How to resolve AdBlock issue?