Health
- Details
- Written by: Editor
SACRAMENTO – California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director Dr. Karen Smith warned consumers today not to eat certain batch codes of Santa Barbara Smokehouse’s cold-smoked salmon because these products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, which can lead to severe illness or death.
CDPH and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are currently investigating Santa Barbara Smokehouse in Santa Barbara, California, due to bacteriologic contamination found in the processing facility and in a packaged sample of smoked salmon.
Santa Barbara Smokehouse has initiated a voluntary recall of all cold-smoked salmon manufactured at its Santa Barbara facility between March 1, 2015 and April 8, 2015, after learning about Listeria monocytogenes contamination in a product surveillance sample and environmental samples collected at the processing facility. No illnesses have been associated with the recalled products at this time.
Santa Barbara Smokehouse’s recalled cold-smoked salmon was packed under the Cambridge House, Channel Islands, Coastal Harbor, Santa Barbara, North Shore, S.F. Specialty, and Harbor Point brand names. The recalled products were vacuum-packed and distributed as both fresh and frozen products.
The CDPH Web site, www.cdph.ca.gov , has a list of the specific product names and batch codes affected by this recall. Example photos of the affected products can be seen here.
CDPH recommends not eating any cold-smoked salmon manufactured by Santa Barbara Smokehouse with the affected batch numbers. CDPH also recommends that anyone in possession of these recalled products return them to the place of purchase for a refund or dispose of the product into a garbage bag and put it in the trash.
The brands of smoked salmon identified above were likely distributed to wholesale food distributors, airline catering companies, and foodservice distributors. Subsequent product distribution may have resulted in retail sales to consumers.
Santa Barbara Smokehouse continues to work with CDPH and FDA to address any potential sources of contamination in the processing environment. CDPH continues to work with Santa Barbara Smokehouse to determine the distribution of potentially affected products.
Symptoms of Listeria infection may include high fever, headache and neck stiffness. Infants, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are at highest risk for severe illness and death. Listeria infection in pregnant women can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery or infection of the newborn baby. The CDPH Web site has more information about Listeria infection.
CDPH recommends that consumers who feel sick after eating cold-smoked salmon products should consult their health care provider.
Consumers that see smoked salmon with the affected batch numbers manufactured by Santa Barbara Smokehouse being sold are encouraged to report the activity to the CDPH toll-free complaint line at 800-495-3232.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Dave Reichert (R-WA) introduced the bipartisan Medicare Secondary Payer and Workers’ Compensation Settlement Agreement Act, H.R. 2649, along with the Senate version introduced by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Bill Nelson (D-FL).
The legislation is intended to protect injured workers whose compensation claims overlap with Medicare coverage.
Unfortunately, these claims are frequently subjected to lengthy and roundabout reviews by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to determine appropriate set-aside amounts to pay for future medical costs in which Medicare may have an interest.
These delays unfairly affect the injured worker making the claim.
“Bureaucratic red-tape shouldn’t keep hardworking Americans from getting the money they need to cover their costs following a work-related injury,” said Thompson. “Injured Workers deserve peace of mind and the system needs to work quickly and seamlessly. I look forward to working with Congressman Reichert to pass our legislation and help make this happen.”
“Hard-working Americans should not be jeopardized by inefficient, unnecessary bureaucratic procedures,” said Reichert. “Instead, injured workers should have confidence that the system is working to protect them and that their claims will be reviewed and processed fairly and quickly. I thank Congressman Thompson for joining me in introducing this bill that would ensure the system serves the American worker and their family rather than the other way around.”
“Too often, workers who are injured are forced to deal with bureaucratic red tape,” Portman stated. “This commonsense bill will help those suffering from a work-related injury get the care they need and get back on their feet sooner.”
The Medicare Secondary Payer and Workers’ Compensation Settlement Agreements Act establishes clear and consistent standards for an administrative process that provides reasonable protections for injured workers and Medicare.
It would benefit injured workers, employers and insurers by creating a system of certainty, and allows the settlement process to move forward while eliminating millions of dollars in administrative costs that harm workers, employers and insurers.
The legislation has widespread support from groups such as the American Insurance Association, the American Bar Association, the National Council of Self-Insurers, Property Casualty, Insurers Association of America, UWC-Strategic Services and the Workers Injury Law and Advocacy Group (WILG).
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
- Details
- Written by: Arian Dasmalchi
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Beginning June 1, qualified Sutter Lakeside Hospital patients will have a new transportation option for nonemergency medical transportation.
Sutter is partnering with the Lake County bus agency, Lake Transit, to provide supplemental transportation services for patients otherwise unable to get to Sutter Lakeside clinics.
Curb-to-curb transportation will be offered during regular clinic hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Residents of Kelseyville, Upper Lake, Lucerne, Lakeport, Nice and Finley are eligible to apply for the transportation service.
The program’s purpose is to provide transportation to nonemergency medical appointments for certified individuals who have no other means of transportation.
The service will only be available after a patient application form is returned, processed and approved.
“This is part of our commitment to deliver care to our patients with transportation challenges,” said Leeann Hadgis, director of ambulatory clinics for Sutter Lakeside. “We want to help patients get to our clinics for a full range of care.”
Lake Transit currently provides more than 600 nonemergency medical transports each month, so patients will receive an experienced, professional service.
“We’re excited to partner with Sutter Lakeside to provide this important service to our community,” said Mark Wall, general manager, Lake Transit Authority. “We’ve been meeting Lake County’s transportation needs for more than 18 years, and are pleased to be part of a program that will have a positive influence on the health and well-being of people in our community.”
As Lake County’s insured population grows, this new transportation option is one of several ways Sutter Lakeside is working to provide more primary care services to more patients than ever before.
“Our partnership with Lake Transit will help us better meet patients’ needs,” said Sutter Lakeside Chief Administrative Officer Siri Nelson. “This is a great example of how we’re constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of our community,”
Patients should call Sutter Lakeside’s Family Medicine Clinic at 707-262-5088 or Sutter Lakeside Community Clinic at 707-263-6885 to arrange transportation.
- Details
- Written by: Arian Dasmalchi
LAKEPORT, Calif. – There’s no better time than now, during National Nurses Week from May 6 to12, to recognize a group of individuals who help put the heart in our community’s health care.
“At Sutter Lakeside Hospital, our nursing staff plays a crucial role in patient outcomes and experience,” said Sutter Lakeside Chief Administrative Officer Siri Nelson. “Our thanks go out to our nurses this week and every week for their dedication and hard work to provide outstanding care to patients.”
Every day, Sutter Lakeside Hospital nurses perform a wide variety of duties that directly benefit patients and promote and advocate for their rights, health and safety.
The hospital recently hospital recently introduced new royal blue scrubs to make it easy for patients to recognize registered nurses.
“Our nurses deliver high-quality care with compassion and professionalism,” says Sutter Lakeside Chief Nursing Executive Teresa Campbell. “I’m very proud to lead this team of wonderful people and outstanding health care providers.”
National Nurses Day ends on May 12 because that’s the birthday of Florence Nightingale, known as the founder of professional nursing for her pioneering work during the Crimean War from 1853 to 1856.
Because of her habit of making night rounds, she became known as “The Lady with the Lamp.”
To learn more about Sutter Lakeside, visit www.sutterlakeside.org/ .