Health
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SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Office of Problem Gambling’s (OPG) fifth annual training summit will focus on innovative treatment methods for this disease and educating the public about its warning signs.
“Educating and Effectuating Change,” set for March 3-4, at the DoubleTree Berkeley-Marina Hotel, will kick off National Problem Gambling Awareness Month, as designated by the National Council on Problem Gambling.
It’s estimated that one of every 30 people in California is affected by problem gambling.
This no-cost event is open to the public. It brings together nationally known experts in mental health and recovery.
Also attending will be representatives from health care, government, nonprofit organizations, law enforcement and the gambling industry.
Special guests include a woman who spent time behind bars because of her gambling addiction, and a former attorney who lost his license as a result of problem gambling.
Keynote speakers include Dr. Timothy Fong, co-director and associate clinical professor of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, who will review the clinical and research issues related to the common occurrence of nicotine dependence and gambling disorder.
Dr. Rory Reid, also of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program will talk about assessing and treating gamblers with Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Dr. Jim Kooler, administrator of the California Friday Night Live Partnership, will talk about a youth-led and youth-driven prevention program, “Betting on our Future.”
Additional information is available on the summit brochure, http://problemgambling.securespsites.com/ccpgwebsite/PDF/summit-brochure.pdf .
March also is known for the NCAA basketball tournament, the second largest annual sports betting event. In 2012, nearly 4,300 people called the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline for gambling addiction.
While betting on sports is an illegal activity in California, more than 100 callers to the helpline said their primary gambling preference was sports betting.
The CDPH Office of Problem Gambling is responsible for developing prevention and treatment programs to reduce the prevalence of problem and pathological gambling among California residents. Funding for this program comes from the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund.
If you or someone you know needs help with problem gambling call 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) or visit OPG’s Web site to view a self-help workbook and other information about responsible gambling.
The Web site, http://problemgambling.securespsites.com/ccpgwebsite/for-gamblers/gambler-self-assessment.aspx , includes a short quiz to help you identify problem-gambling behavior.
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UKIAH, Calif. – Mendocino Community Health Clinic (MCHC) recently completed its annual Smiles Program, providing free oral health education, dental screening, fluoride varnishing to more than 2,350 local preschool and elementary school students in Ukiah, Willits and Lakeport.
MCHC targets schools with at least half of the student population on free or reduced lunch programs to stay in line with the health center’s mission of serving the most vulnerable populations.
Nationally, about half of children ages 6-15 are affected by dental disease (decayed or missing teeth).
MCHC HealthCorps member Tom Fuchs spearheaded the 2013-14 Smiles Program. He provided age-appropriate education, modifying his approach for each grade level.
For young children, Fuchs helped decrease fear of the dentist with the aid of a dinosaur puppet featuring a full set of friendly, human-looking teeth, and by putting on all the garb a dentist wears, including gloves, a headlamp, a mask, and a smock.
“What’s this?” Fuchs asks kindergarteners as he holds up the smock.
“A dress,” they replied.
“Right,” he said.
“And even the boy dentists wear these dresses,” he continues without missing a beat.
Kindergarteners look at each other quizzically and laugh as Fuchs dons the smock.
“Dentists wear protective clothing that may look funny, but dentists aren’t scary,” he assures them.
For older students, Fuchs educates them about how much sugar is in soda and the chemical process that occurs when sugar remains on the teeth. He encourages students to take responsibility for brushing their teeth regularly.
As someone who plans to become a research physician in neuroscience, Fuchs has a passion for science education and is able to reach students regardless of their age.
About a week after Fuchs visits each classroom, MCHC dental staff visit the same classrooms to provide dental screenings and flouride varnishing.
The screening can alert parents to potential dental problems and the varnish provides a protective coating to help prevent cavities.
Children with healthy teeth can be spared the pain and developmental setbacks that dental disease can bring, so MCHC reaches out to local schools through the Smiles Program each year.
MCHC also provides dental care to children at its three health centers: Hillside Health Center in Ukiah, Little Lake Health Center in Willits, and Lakeside Health Center in Lakeport.
For more information, visit www.mchcinc.org or call 707-468-1010.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sutter Lakeside Hospital is pleased to announce the arrival of Tiffany Ortega, MHA as the hospital’s new Assistant Administrator of Allied Services.
In this role, Ortega will oversee the imaging, respiratory therapy, dietary and physical therapy departments at Sutter Lakeside.
Ortega was most recently the director of Laboratory, Environment Services and Transportation at Sutter Roseville Medical Center.
She completed an administrative fellowship program with Sutter Roseville Medical Center in 2011. This experience allowed her to serve as a member of the executive management team under the direction of the medical center’s chief administrative officer, giving Ortega an exclusive look, and hands-on experience, at running a hospital.
Ortega has a long personal history with health care. “My aunt runs a camp that helps children and adults with disabilities and I volunteered there every summer since I was 12. I’ve worked in healthcare in some capacity ever since, but I wanted to do more than I could do with my own two hands. Ultimately, I’m interested in learning how to improve healthcare environments on every level.”
“To have an administrative fellow on board is such a positive for Sutter’s patients,” said Siri Nelson, Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s chief administrative officer. “Tiffany brings a level of energy and professionalism to Sutter Lakeside that will help us to see things in new ways.”
Ortega earned her bachelor in economics and media studies at Willamette University in Salem, Ore., and her master of health care administration at the University of Southern California.
She is looking forward to the opportunity to work for a Critical Access Hospital. “Sutter Roseville has 328 beds. I’m eager to dig in and discover the unique challenges that face 25-bed rural community hospitals.”
During the moments she gets away from her desk, Ortega likes to cycle, swim, and row, all opportunities that intrigued her about living in Lake County. She also loves to travel. To date, she has been to Thailand and China and is planning her next adventure.
Nelson added, “We encourage everyone who meets Tiffany Ortega to make her feel welcome and to show her that while we might be a small place, we are a big community.”
Mendocino Community Health Clinic provides free dental health to children on 'Give Kids a Smile Day'
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UKIAH, Calif. – February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and Mendocino Community Health Clinic (MCHC) continued its annual tradition of caring for the most vulnerable people in our community by participating in “Give Kids a Smile Day.”
On the first Saturday of February, dental employees from all three sites – in Ukiah, Willits and Lakeport – volunteered to provide thousands of dollars worth of free dental care to children who could not otherwise afford it.
“'Give Kids a Smile Day' is a great event,” said Dental Manager Becky Driscoll. “This year we provided more than $15,000 worth of free dental care to 41 pediatric patients.”
The event requires preparation in identifying qualified patients, setting up appointments, preparing equipment and supplies, and cleaning and sterilizing everything after the patients leave.
Dental Director Dr. Doug Lewis thanked the dentists and then made a special point to recognize the employees who support the event, saying, “The real heroes are the staff: the patient service representatives, dental assistants, sterile techs, and HealthCorps members. They organize it, they arrange the patients, they set up the rooms, and then they shut everything down at the end.”
Give Kids a Smile Day is a national event in which thousands of dentists and their teams provide free oral health care services to children from low-income families.
In February and throughout the year, MCHC provides dental care to children.
For more information, call 707-468-1010.