Health
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- Written by: Editor
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – REACH Air Medical Services’ new base at Mather Airport in Sacramento is now operating 24/7 and has completed its first flight.
“We are very excited to provide 24/7 life‐saving emergency medical services to our hospital and EMS partners throughout the greater Sacramento area,” said Eric Polan, program manager at the base.
The base will be staffed 24/7 with nationally certified Flight Nurses and Paramedics along with highly skilled aviation staff and dedicated maintenance support to maintain the highest availability possible to support the region.
“REACH has been providing emergency air medical transports to Northern California patients for more than 27 years. We are pleased to expand our services with a new helicopter at this base,” said Sean Russell, president of REACH.
“REACH has provided patient transport services to the Sacramento region for many years using an airplane, but we now offer the expanded capabilities of a new EC135 helicopter. This allows us to better serve our EMS and hospital partners within the Sacramento region augmenting our Stockton, Marysville and Redding bases. The EC135 helicopter was chosen to serve the area because it has a larger capacity to carry patients and crew,” Russell said.
This aircraft is capable of airspeeds of up to 150 miles per hour, and is equipped with night vision goggles to enhance safety of nighttime operations.
REACH is part of the AirMedCare Network – the nation’s largest air medical transport membership program – which covers out-of-pocket expenses in the event of an emergency air transport by REACH or another AirMedCare Network provider.
For a low-cost annual fee, individuals and companies may join more than 1.5 million members who receive coverage from more than 200 air transport locations in 27 states coast to coast.
REACH also has a base at Lampson Airport in Lakeport.
For more information, visit www.REACHair.com .
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sutter Lakeside Hospital recently donated $5,000 to the Lake County Fire Protection District to purchase three automatic early defibrillators, or AEDs.
These devices, used to quickly diagnose and treat sudden cardiac arrest, play an important role in a cardiac program for student athletes in the Konocti Unified School District.
The topic of sudden cardiac arrest in the student population hits a raw nerve in Lake County, according to Fire Chief/Paramedic Willie Sapeta, Lake County Fire Protection District.
In the past decade two local student athletes experienced cardiac arrest events. One student survived and the other didn’t.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), about 250,000 Americans die of sudden cardiac arrest away from hospitals.
Up to 7,000 of these victims are children – and evidence suggests the risk is higher during or immediately following vigorous exercise.
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that nearly one out of every 50,000 student athletes runs the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
“We implemented a school district program nearly three years ago to help prevent potentially fatal heart events in student athletes,” Sapeta said. “So far we’ve prescreened nearly 200 students for heart irregularities using 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) technology. The AEDs funded by Sutter Lakeside add another essential element to the program – immediate response to sudden cardiac arrest at sporting events.”
One AED will be kept at the Lower Lake High School gymnasium for elementary and high school home athletic events, and the other two will travel with teams to away games.
Athletic program directors will be trained to use the devices and respond to any cardiac arrest event while awaiting the arrival of emergency medical services (EMS) first responders. This will contribute to the safety of student athletes as well as spectators.
“We thank Sutter Lakeside for this generous contribution that makes a real difference to our local schools,” Sapeta said. “The AEDs are a critical part of our program to keep kids safe, although I’m hoping we never have to use them.”
To learn more about Sutter Lakeside, visit www.sutterlakeside.org/ .
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- Written by: Editor
UKIAH, Calif. – From diagnosis to treatment cancer patients are often facing a difficult time in their lives.
Traditionally, treatment has only focused on treatment of the disease or the physical symptoms. But is there more that can be done?
This is a question that President and Chief Executive Officer of Ukiah Valley Medical Center Gwen Matthews asked her team to think about during the planning and construction phase of the new Cancer Treatment and Infusion Center.
“I posed a challenge to our team,” shared Matthews, “to think beyond normal medical treatment and incorporate the healing arts. Take a village approach by getting the community, family, friends, and especially others who have been on this journey involved. Think of ways to incorporate professionals from the healing arts – artists, musicians, journaling coaches, and movement therapists seep into places that cannot be touched by medications and other traditional cancer treatment.”
This challenge was met head-on by Allyne Brown, director of philanthropy, Tiffany Gibson, director of volunteer services and Angle Slater, Cancer Nurse Navigator.
They set up a program supported by a volunteer who has a special interest in the Cancer Treatment and Infusion Center.
This gifted volunteer makes herself available to talk with patients undergoing cancer treatment and helps care for some of their basic needs such as coordinating medical appointments.
Likewise, as Matthews continued, “Allyne, along with Angle spearheaded a program that focused on providing alternative healing modalities and therapies to patients such as art and music therapy. This program is now called Focus on Healing.”
In addition, the team worked with the physical therapy and rehabilitation department to implement massage therapy. “We are working toward having a comprehensive alternative therapy program for cancer patients throughout Mendocino County regardless if they are receiving care in our system or elsewhere,” said Brown.
In October music was added to the Focus on Healing program. Patients were graced with the sounds of local musicians who are eager to give of their time and talent to help boost the spirits of patients and their families.
Chris Gibson, one of the musicians who came to play on a Thursday afternoon, said, “I like playing here. I haven’t ever played in an environment like this before and didn’t know quite know what to expect. The staff and patients are so welcoming, appreciative and accommodating. I think it was just as rewarding for me as it was for them.”
Fritz Edmons of Willits, a patient receiving treatment who happened to be there on that Thursday was really impressed by the music.
“This was my third time at the Center to receive treatment,” said Edmons, as she sat in her chair reading a book while overlooking the Mayacamas mountain range and enjoying Gibson’s guitar solo. “Chris’s music really took me to another world and helped me really put things into perspective. Music is good for people. This is a really great place for Mendocino County,” concluded Edmons referring to the Center.
The Focus on Healing program also hosted a free concert at UVMC featuring the inspirational sounds of Margie Salcedo Rice, a nationally recognized vocalist and violinist who is local.
The program was open to anyone in the community with cancer, regardless if they are receiving care at the Cancer Treatment and Infusion Center.
Rice thought it was an honor to share her music with patients. "It was an honor and privilege to sing and play for the patients and their families. They are so inspiring. If I helped ease their pain and give them a message of hope through music, I am humbled and blessed to do so."
The Cancer Treatment and Infusion Center is located at the Ukiah Valley Rural Health Center, 260 Hospital Drive, Suite 207, in Ukiah.
To find out more about the Focus on Healing program call 707-463-7627.
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SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has achieved national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), according to by Dr. Ron Chapman, CDPH director and state health officer.
California, with its more than 38 million residents, is the largest state to have its public health department achieve such an accomplishment.
“Since California is the most populous state in the United States, the accreditation of the California Department of Public Health is a significant achievement for the citizens of that state and for the country as a whole,” said PHAB President and CEO Kaye Bender.
“Accreditation means that more than 38 million people are assured that their state health department is committed to assessing their performance against national standards and improving their services accordingly,” said Bender. “The leadership of the department and the commitment of the staff to achieving this milestone are to be commended. We were impressed by the Site Visitors’ observation that many programs and strategies of the California Department of Public Health can serve as national models and that the Department has a culture of quality, professionalism, and service that is evident throughout the Department.”
“This is an important achievement and recognition that highlights the state of California’s ongoing commitment to health and wellness on the part of all of our residents,” said Dr. Chapman. “I am proud to serve among the scientists, staff and other professionals at CDPH who provide exceptional services to our communities and populations. It is an honor to be recognized nationally for meeting very high standards of excellence.”
The national accreditation program, jointly supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, sets standards against which the nation's more than 3,000 governmental public health departments can continuously improve the quality of their services and performance.
To receive accreditation, a health department must undergo a peer-reviewed rigorous, meticulous and multi-faceted assessment process to ensure it meets or exceeds a set of quality standards and measures.
Accreditation is maintained for five years.
“This recognition is a great tribute to the women and men of the state Department of Public Health and our partners throughout California’s county and community public health programs,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley. “California has the nation’s second-oldest state health department in the country, and since 1870, it has been delivering measurable benefits in health status for all Californians.”
“CDPH is committed to quality performance, transparency, and accountability,” Dr. Chapman said. “We will continue to improve as we maintain accreditation over time. This will help us reach our goal to make California the healthiest state in the country.”