Check this column regularly for health events of interest to San Joaquin County residents. New events are being added all the time. You never know what you could read here.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Mobile Mammography Unit to be at area Safeways

Feb. 22 (Tuesday) in West Sacramento; Feb. 23 (Wednesday) in Turlock from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Mammograms for breast cancer screening are provided by St. Joseph’s Medical Center through an innovative program that brings mammography services to patients who may not otherwise have access to these resources. Low-cost mammograms will be available for $80 on Feb. 22 at West Sacramento Safeway, 1298 W. Capitol Ave., and Feb. 23 at Turlock Safeway, 3051 Countryside Road. Women enrolled in certain medical programs may be eligible for a mammogram at no cost. The screenings are available by appointment to any woman with a physician’s referral by calling (866) 430-8222. St. Joseph’s Mobile Mammography Unit (MMU) is a full-service, self-contained mammography clinic on wheels featuring state-of-the-art digital mammography technology and service. The MMU is sponsored by such partners as the Safeway Foundation, Avon and Susan G. Komen Foundation. The MMU, housed in an 18-wheel tractor-trailer, is licensed by the state of California and accredited by the American College of Radiology and the Food and Drug Administration. It meets all requirements for performing screening mammography. The digital images from all screenings are read by licensed radiologists, with results sent to patients and their physicians within two to three weeks of their exams.

Photography for Cancer Survivors, Caregivers

Feb. 23 (Wednesday) 6 p.m.: Cancer Services of Memorial Medical Center is accepting reservations for the “Talking Photographs Program” art series open to cancer survivors and their family members or caregivers. Participants will learn how to use photography as a form of expression and have the opportunity to tell a story with pictures. Classes will continue on Wednesdays at 719 W. Roseburg Ave., Modesto. No previous photography experience is needed, and participants need to bring their own camera. Seating is limited and reservations are required. For information or to register, contact Cancer Services at (209) 569-7789.

Learn About Becoming a Hospice Volunteer

Feb. 24 (Thursday) 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.: Hospice of San Joaquin is holding a one-hour informational meeting for those interested in training to become a hospice volunteer. The volunteer training program offers participants an opportunity to learn about the history of hospice care, including philosophy, the team concept in end-of-life care, and understanding grief as a result of the loss of a loved one. The informational meeting will be held in the administration building at Hospice of San Joaquin, 3888 Pacific Ave., Stockton. For information and to register for the meeting, contact volunteer coordinator Becky Freeman at (209) 957-3888.

How to Eat Healthy

Feb. 24 (Thursday) 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.: Sutter Gould Medical Foundation’s free Ask-A-Doctor Lecture Series features Dr. Priya Swamy, who will answer your questions on making smart food choices to improve your health. Covered will be: how to read a food label; saturated fats vs. trans fats; are all fats bad?; carbohydrates – simple vs. complex; how to get started on healthy eating; and why pay attention to what you eat. The free session will be held at Sutter Gould’s Stockton Medical Plaza I, 2505 W. Hammer Lane, in the third-floor classroom. Seating is limited, so registration is required by calling (209) 548-7860, then press option #2.

Community Diabetes Summit

Feb. 26 (Saturday) 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; free diabetes screening begins at 9 a.m.: The San Joaquin County Obesity and Chronic Disease Prevention Taskforce will sponsor the Community Diabetes Summit at the Lexington Plaza Waterfront Hotel, 110 W. Fremont St., Stockton. Diabetes is a major concern for San Joaquin County; it is ranked No. 6 out of 10 for leading causes of death in San Joaquin County. Our county also has ranked last (worst) in terms of diabetes deaths in California. The theme for this summit is, “Connecting the Community to Combat Diabetes.” The goal is to link and increase community resources, services and strategies in order to reduce new cases of diabetes, reduce deaths from diabetes, and address social and environmental factors that increase diabetes risks. This community event will be educational and fun for all ages. The task force is inviting you to help spread the word. There are two major components to the 2011 Community Summit: 1) individuals, families and organizations will be recognized for implementing strategies to decrease risks for diabetes, and 2) youth will participate in a variety of art contests. Activities include healthy food and physical activity demonstrations. The task force is seeking your collaboration and participation in making this event a huge success. For additional information, please contact Shené Bowie at (209) 468-3649 or sbowie@sjcphs.org; or Ingrid Glenn at (209) 468-3868 or iaglenn@sjcphs.org. Registration, click here. Deadline to register was Feb. 11.

Health Fair at Ironstone Vineyards, Plus Fun Run/Walk

Feb. 26 (Saturday) 7 a.m. to noon: Mark Twain St. Joseph’s Hospital will be hosting its second annual Spring Health Fair at Ironstone Vineyards, 1894 Six Mile Road, Murphys, in the Music Room. Dozens of community health groups will be participating. Free and discounted health screenings by the hospital will include flu shots (free), pneumonia vaccinations ($45), blood analysis ($45), bone density screenings ($10), senior health services information, nutrition and fitness information, plus food, music and fun. Information: (209) 754-2603. A 5K Fun Run/Walk will also be held beginning at 8:30 a.m. Meet at the main entrance prior to the start of the race. Registration and bracelet proceeds benefit the Lupus Foundation of America.  For race information, call (209) 754-2604. Booth spaces are also available for health-related community organizations and businesses interested in sharing information with the public. Contact Nicki Stevens at (209) 754-2603.

Multicultural Health Fair

Feb. 27 (Sunday) 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Join University of the Pacific’s Phi Delta Chi at the second annual Multicultural Health Fair. Free health screenings include blood pressure, blood sugar and bone density. Presentations on health information including stroke prevention, cancer prevention, arthritis and more. The free, public event will be at Calvary Presbyterian Church, 2343 Country Club Blvd., Stockton. Information: Frank Sasaki at f_sasaki@u.pacific.edu or (209) 609-5106.

Open enrollment for kids with pre-existing medical conditions

March 1 (Tuesday) deadline: Here is a public service announcement audio file of Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones offering tips for parents regarding open enrollment for children with pre-existing conditions. Here’s what he says:

This is Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. The president’s health-care reform package now allows children with pre-existing conditions to obtain health-care insurance at a lower cost during open enrollment that ends on March 1. For assistance, call the California Department of Insurance at 1-800-927-HELP. That’s 800-927-HELP.

Jones offered the following tips for parents as they seek to protect their children:

• Immediately seek coverage for their children
• Act fast, before the March 1 deadline
• After March 1 know that coverage is still available, but the premiums will be higher

Parents can obtain enrollment information for their children during and after the open enrollment period by going to the California Department of Insurance (CDI) website at www.insurance.ca.gov or by contacting CDI’s consumer hotline at (800) 927-HELP.  Additionally, parents can go to http://finder.healthcare.gov/, a website created to assist consumers in navigating their options under the Affordable Care Act.

Build Your Teen Toolbox

March 2 (Wednesday) 7 p.m.: Free six-week session for teens 13 through 18 years old. Offered by Healthy Connections Community Health Resource Center, a program of Sutter Tracy Community Hospital. Click here for all the details.

4th Annual VN CARES Pacific Family Health Fair

March 6 (Sunday) 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: The Pacific Vietnamese Cancer Awareness, Research and Education Society (VN CARES) will be hosting the fourth annual Pacific Family Health Fair. Take advantage of free health screenings and services including cholesterol, blood sugar screenings, medical screening, medication consultations and more. In addition to ear, eye and dental exams, games and activities will be available for children. This event is free and open to the public at St. Luke’s Catholic Church Gymnasium, 3847 Sutter St., Stockton. The event is sponsored by Rite Aid Pharmacy, Flowers Heritage Foundation and Health Plan of San Joaquin. Information: (209) 55-EVENT or PacificFamilyHealthFair@gmail.com.

The Go Red Event

April 28 (Thursday) 10 a.m. to noon Beauty, Wine and Health Expo; noon to 1:30 p.m. Luncheon: Stockton’s annual Go Red for Women fund-raising event supporting the American Heart Association at the Hilton Stockton, 2323 Grand Canal Blvd. For sponsorship information or to attend the luncheon, contact Julie Whitehouse at (209) 477-2683 or julie.whitehouse@heart.org.

Kids’ Health Calendar Bay Area

Check out KidsCal for a calendar of children’s health events (click here) sponsored by nonprofit organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, posted by Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health.

NEWS

Winning Flu-Fighting Videos and Posters

California Department of Public Health announced the winners of the department’s Flu-Fighting Video and Poster Contest. The contest challenged Californians to create a short video or poster in English or Spanish that highlighted steps to preventing the flu. Californians served as the judges. They were invited to go online and choose their favorite video and poster, and their votes determined the winners. “It has been very exciting for me to see how passionate Californians are about fighting the flu,” department Director Dr. Mark Horton said. “I am proud of our winners, and of all of the participants who submitted projects that communicated the simple but effective methods of flu prevention – get vaccinated, wash your hands, cover your cough and stay home when sick.” The announcement of the winners coincides with Preteen Vaccine Week Feb. 13-19. Preteen Vaccine Week is an opportunity to remind everyone about the importance of ensuring children are up-to-date on their immunizations, and that they are protected against dangerous viruses and bacteria, including the flu. Four winners were selected. Each will be awarded a $250 gift card from the California Immunization Coalition. Winning the English-language video award is Gabrielle Gutierrez, 18, a student at Southwest High School in San Diego. Regarding her video “Quick and Easy Tips” she said, “The video is made more to visually attract the viewers, then to eventually take the viewers through an adventure.” Max Jeffrey won the Spanish-language category with his video “Stay Home if You’re Sick.” He is 16 and attends Marysville Charter Academy of Arts in Marysville. Jeffrey said his inspiration for the video was what impact the flu would have if it affected a member of a family.  “My teacher is a director and he helped me script it out – we thought it would be fun to do something like this,” he added. Taking the top prize for an English-language poster was Mai Nguyen, a 19-year-old student from Fremont.  Of her poster, “Stop that Flu,” she said she took inspiration from the retro 1950s design. “I thought it was a really great eye-catching way to get people to want to get vaccinated.” Rounding out the contest was Jason Boyte, 38, of Berkeley who won the Spanish-language poster prize with “A Birdie Told Me.” He said he was doodling and came across the shape of a bird and got the idea to create a health message for his poster. “I hope people see my poster and take its advice because there are a lot of diseases that can be prevented if people just get vaccinated.”

Assess Young Child’s Development

Now available: Sutter Healthy Connections Resource Center, 35 E. 10^th St., Tracy, is making available the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) in English or Spanish provided for free from First 5 of California. The ASQ is an assessment tool that allows parents to evaluate their children, ages 0 to 5 years, on age-appropriate development. Once completed, the resource center staff will review the information and offer parents additional assistance as needed to help children reach their full potential. For a free ASQ, phone (209) 833-2420 or visit one of the following groups at the resource center:

• Tuesdays noon to 2 p.m. Mommy & Me – a free group for moms and infants 0 to 2 years.
• Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. to noon Parent & Me Playgroups – a free group for parent(s) and children 0 to 5 years.
• Wednesdays 5:30 p.m. Mommy & Me – a free group for moms and infants 0 to 2 years.

$3 Million Grant to Study Fragile X at UCD

UC Davis MIND Institute, Sacramento: Three internationally respected UC Davis researchers — two expert in fragile X syndrome and one in epilepsy — have joined forces to test the efficacy of an innovative new approach to treating children with fragile X, through a $3 million grant from the U.S. Congress. The researchers will explore the safety and effectiveness of a synthetic neuroactive steroid drug, ganaxolone, for treating the anxiety that is common in children with fragile X, a condition that is the leading cause worldwide of inherited intellectual disability and the most common single-gene cause of autism. The collaboration includes Randi Hagerman, an international authority on fragile X-related disorders; Michael Rogawski, known worldwide for his epilepsy research; and David Hessl, an expert in psychophysiologic studies. For the study, the researchers will enroll 60 children between the ages of 6 and 17 years over a four-year period. Participants initially will receive either ganaxolone or a placebo and then after six weeks will receive the opposite medication, ganaxolone or a placebo. The effects will be studied through a variety of tests and outcome measures, including eye-tracking to determine children’s ability to make eye contact and levels of hyperactivity. The drug will be provided by Marinus Pharmaceuticals. Funding for the study is provided by the Department of Defense Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.

Medicare Does Not Require “Improvement” for Coverage

The Center for Medicare Advocacy has launched a campaign to end this unfair standard. We need your stories! If you or someone you know has been denied Medicare coverage because the person’s condition is not showing improvement, Medicare coverage is being unfairly denied. If Medicare coverage is denied because “your underlying condition will not improve,” “you have plateaued,” “you are not likely to improve,” “you are chronic and stable” or “you need maintenance services only,” share your story now or contact the Center for Medicare Advocacy at (860) 456-7790 or improvement@medicareadvocacy.org

Get Help With Your Health Plan

The California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) is working harder than ever to promote its services and enhance its efforts to reach Californians with important messages about their health coverage. The DMHC has developed a blog to help raise awareness of important issues and to ensure that Californians are taking advantage of its services. Call the DMHC Help Center at (888) 466-2219 or click here. Its latest blog topic is “New rules making California the first state in the nation to shorten the waiting time for an appointment take effect.” You can find the blog here.

New Assistance Finding a Medicare Provider

Now available: Medicare beneficiaries have a new online tool at www.medicare.gov/find-a-doctor that provides information about physicians and other health-care workers in their communities and the services those professionals provide. The new feature, called Physician Compare, expands and updates Medicare’s Healthcare Provider Directory, which has helped millions of beneficiaries find Medicare-participating doctors online for more than a decade. The new online feature with information on physicians and other health-care workers joins existing Medicare tools providing information on hospitals, nursing homes, home-health agencies and health-and-drug plans, all accessible at www.medicare.gov. The new site which was required by the Affordable Care Act of 2010 contains information about physicians enrolled in the Medicare program, which include doctors of medicine, osteopathy, optometry, podiatric medicine and chiropractic. The site also contains information about other types of health professionals who routinely care for Medicare beneficiaries, including nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, registered dietitians, physical therapists, physician assistants and occupational therapists.

Questions About New Health Reform Law?

• How are small businesses affected by health reform?
• Will everyone have to buy health insurance?
• How will the new provision allowing young adults to remain on a parent’s insurance work?

The FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) section of the Kaiser Family Foundation’s new Health Reform Source provides concise answers to common questions about the health reform law. You can search for your question or submit a new question if yours is not addressed. http://healthreform.kff.org/faq.aspx. Additional questions addressing the affordability of health insurance, how programs like Medicare and Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) will be financed under health reform and others are addressed in a series of Video Explainer clips featuring foundation experts answering specific questions about the law on a variety of health policy topics. http://healthreform.kff.org/video-explainers.aspx. Kaiser’s Health Reform Source, http://healthreform.kff.org, an online gateway providing easy access to new and comprehensive resources on the health reform law, provides these and other new features and tools including an interactive timeline showing when health-reform provisions take effect, all the latest polling data, links to other information resources, and the latest health-reform headlines from Kaiser Health News.

Grants Available for Children’s Medical Expenses

No deadline: UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation is seeking grant applications from families in need of financial assistance to pay for their child’s health-care treatments, services or equipment not covered by their commercial health-insurance plans. Qualifying families could receive up to $5,000 to help pay for medical services and equipment such as physical and occupational therapy, prescriptions, wheelchairs, orthotics, eyeglasses and hearing aids. Grants are also provided in cases where insurance may cover only a portion of the expenses. To be eligible for grants, children must be 16 years of age or younger. Families must meet economic guidelines, reside in the United States and have a commercial health-insurance plan. Parents and legal guardians may apply for grants online at www.uhccf.org. The Web site includes additional grant application criteria, video clips, stories about recently helped children, and a new “live chat” feature that enables visitors to speak directly with a UHCCF representative. Visitors can also make tax-deductible donations directly online. “The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation is dedicated to facilitating greater access to medical-related services that can help improve children’s health and quality of life,” UHCCF President Matt Peterson said. “We recognize some families experience gaps in coverage for certain medical treatments and equipment, and we are committed to helping fill this void.  Since expanding our grant program nationwide in 2007, we have provided more than 1,500 grants to families in need of financial assistance.” Last year, UHCCF awarded grants to more than 450 families for treatments associated with medical conditions such as speech and developmental delays, hearing loss, autism, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.

HOSPITALS and MEDICAL GROUPS

Community Medical Centers

Click here for Community Medical Centers (Channel Medical Clinic, San Joaquin Valley Dental Group, etc.) website.

Dameron Hospital Events

Click here for Dameron Hospital’s Event Calendar.

Doctors Hospital of Manteca Events

Click here for Doctors Hospital of Manteca Events finder.

Hill Physicians

Click here for Hill Physicians website.

Kaiser Permanente Central Valley

Click here for Kaiser Central Valley News and Events

Lodi Memorial Hospital Educational Opportunities

Click here for Lodi Memorial Hospital Event Calendar.

Mark Twain St. Joseph’s Hospital Classes and Events

Click here for Mark Twain St. Joseph’s Hospital Classes and Events.

San Joaquin General Hospital

Click here for San Joaquin General Hospital website.

St. Joseph’s Medical Center Classes and Events

Click here for St. Joseph’s Medical Center’s Classes and Events.

Sutter Gould Medical Foundation

Click here for Sutter Gould news. Click here for Sutter Gould calendar of events.

Sutter Tracy Community Hospital Education and Support

Click here for Sutter Tracy Community Hospital events, classes and support groups.

PUBLIC HEALTH

60,000 S.J. Kids Need Whooping Cough Vaccine

Deadline July 1: A new state law passed Sept. 29 changes California vaccination requirements for students entering public and private schools in grades 7-12 this year. All students entering grades 7-12 will need proof of a Tdap booster shot for pertussis, better known as whooping cough, before starting school for the 2011-12 school year. This requirement:

• Begins July 1, 2011.
• Will be met by receiving a dose of Tdap vaccine on or after the student’s 7th birthday.
• Applies to all public and private schools.
• Does not affect students enrolled in summer school.
• Beginning July 1, 2012 and beyond, all students entering the seventh grade will need proof of a Tdap booster shot before starting school.

In a joint statement, San Joaquin County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Furst and San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools Mick Founts urged parents to make appointments with their health-care providers to get vaccinated today against pertussis. “Immunity from pertussis vaccine wears off, so anyone 7 years and older who is not fully immunized should be vaccinated,” Furst said. If you do not know if your child’s pertussis vaccine is up to date or you need vaccination verification, it is important to contact your health-care provider, Furst said. Students must provide proof of a Tdap booster shot prior to entering grades 7-12 for the 2011-12 school year. In San Joaquin County, there are approximately 73,630 children ages 12 through 17, and about 60,000 of them still need their Tdap booster shot, according to the statement. The new law is partly in response to the ongoing outbreak of pertussis across California. Nearly 7,300 cases have been reported so far this year, which is more than any year since 1947. San Joaquin County has recorded nearly 70 cases to date. Getting a booster shot now will protect your child against the ongoing threat of pertussis and meet this new school requirement, the statement said. Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a widespread and highly contagious bacterial infection of the respiratory system that can cause severe coughing.  Signs and symptoms of pertussis are coldlike symptoms including mild fever, runny nose and cough that progressively gets worse and lasts for weeks or months. Spasms of severe coughing often occur which may be accompanied by a “whooping” sound or be followed by vomiting. Infants may gag, gasp or stop breathing for a period of time. Mortality is highest in infants younger than 6 months old. Pertussis is spread through coughing or sneezing so it is important to encourage people to cover their coughs and wash their hands. The cost of the Tdap vaccine is covered by most private and public insurance.

• If your child has private health insurance, Tdap booster shot is covered; however, insurance co-pay may apply.
• If your child has Healthy Families, Tdap booster shot is covered; however, insurance co-pay may apply if combined with another type of visit.
• If your child has Medi-Cal, Tdap booster shot is covered.
• If your child does not have health insurance, he or she may be eligible for the Child Health and Disability Program Gateway Program (CHDP). Tdap booster shot is covered.

For more information on getting vaccinated against pertussis, contact your health-care provider or Public Health Services. For general information on pertussis, visit San Joaquin County Public Health Services at www.sjcphs.org, the California Department of Public Health at www.cdph.ca.gov, or the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov.

San Joaquin County Public Health Services General Information

Ongoing resources for vaccinations and clinic information are:

1. Public Health Services Influenza website, www.sjcphs.org
2. Recorded message line at (209) 469-8200, extension 2# for English and 3# for Spanish.
3. For further information, individuals may call the following numbers at Public Health Services:

• For general vaccine and clinic questions, call (209) 468-3862;
• For medical questions, call (209) 468-3822.

Health officials continue to recommend these precautionary measures to help protect against acquiring influenza viruses:

1. Wash your hands often with soap and water or use alcohol based sanitizers.
2. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve, when you cough or sneeze.
3. Stay home if you are sick until you are free of a fever for 24 hours.
4. Get vaccinated.

Public Health Services Clinic Schedules (Adults and Children)

Immunization clinic hours are subject to chance depending on volume of patients or staffing. Check the Public Health Services website for additional evening clinics or special clinics at www.sjcphs.org. Clinics with an asterisk (*) require patients to call for an appointment.

Stockton Health Center: 1601 E. Hazelton Ave.; (209) 468-3830.

• Immunizations: Monday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Tuesday 1-4 p.m.; Wednesday 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Thursday 8-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.; Friday 8-11 a.m.
• Travel clinic*: Thursday 8-11 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.
• Health exams*: Tuesday 1-4 p.m.; Wednesday 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Friday 8-11 a.m.
• Sexually transmitted disease clinic: Wednesday 3-6 p.m. and Friday 1-4 p.m., walk-in and by appointment.
• Tuberculosis clinic*: Tuesday; second and fourth Wednesday of the month.
• HIV testing: Tuesday 1-4 p.m.; Thursday 1-4 p.m.

Manteca Health Center: 124 Sycamore Ave.; (209) 823-7104 or (800) 839-4949.

• Immunizations: Monday 8-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.; Wednesday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-6 p.m.
• Tuberculosis clinic*: first and third Wednesday 3-6 p.m.
• HIV testing: first Wednesday 1:30-4 p.m.

Lodi Health Center: 300 W. Oak St.; (209) 331-7303 or (800) 839-4949.

• Immunizations: Monday 8-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.; Friday 8-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
• Tuberculosis clinic*: Friday 8-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
• HIV testing: second and fourth Friday 1:30-4 p.m.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Have a health-oriented event the public in San Joaquin County should know about? Let me know at jgoldeen@recordnet.com and I’ll get it into my Health Calendar. I’m not interested in promoting commercial enterprises here, but I am interested in helping out nonprofit and/or community groups, hospitals, clinics, physicians and other health-care providers. Look for five categories: Community Events, News, Schools, Hospitals and Public Health.

TO THE PUBLIC: I won’t list an item here from a source that I don’t know or trust. So I believe you can count on what you read here. If there is a problem, please don’t hesitate to let me know at (209) 546-8278 or jgoldeen@recordnet.com. Thanks, Joe