Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 110
Polk County's Health and Human Services Division is hosting "Shaping the Future of Opioid Abatement in Polk County" in collaboration with Polk Vision and the Crescendo Consulting Group. An abatement plan was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is now the intent of the division to revisit the work previously advised through a community prioritization event. While the event is open to the public, it is intended to bring community stakeholders together to discuss the...
(NAPSI)-One of the greatest joys-but potentially biggest challenges-for many grandparents is time spent with the grandkids. Whether yours are toddlers or teens, keeping them entertained requires a level of fitness that might include everything from lifting a child to chasing them at the playground to competing in a round of golf. For grandparents seeking an enriching and active experience with their grandkids, it's important to engage in everyday fitness routines that can...
Like many people, you likely work hard to help keep yourself and your loved ones healthy. To help, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) reminds everyone that stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. About 800,000 people in the country have a stroke each year. The good news is, when treated quickly, survival is possible and damage can be greatly reduced. That's why understanding your risk for stroke, knowing signs...
Eye disease affects more than your ability to see the world clearly. People with impaired vision face an increased risk of falls, fractures, injuries, depression, anxiety, cognitive deficits and social isolation. One of the best ways to protect yourself against vision loss from eye disease is to get regular eye exams. Ophthalmologists-physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care-have more tools than ever before to diagnose eye diseases earlier, and to treat them...
Some low-income Polk County residents may soon find themselves at a healthcare coverage crossroad due to Medicaid changes, and the Polk HealthCare Plan may be able to help those who no longer qualify for Medicaid. Since the beginning of the COVID 19-related public health emergency, Florida has provided continuous Medicaid coverage and has not disenrolled ineligible recipients. Medicaid eligibility is again being determined through normal processing. Florida will have up to 12...
(NAPSI)-Oral health is linked to whole-body health, which means that not caring for teeth and gums can contribute to other health issues such as heart disease, stroke, and more. To help improve health, March is National Nutrition Month, spotlighting nutrition education and focusing attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. On World Oral Health Day, March 20, the world unites to help reduce the burden...
Many people celebrate the promise and new beginnings of the New Year by making resolutions-often focused on health goals like losing weight, eating healthier, and working out. Getting healthy through small actions-baby steps-can be a sustainable way to make changes for a healthy new year. Feeling and seeing a small positive change can encourage you to make more changes. Consider the following baby steps to help make 2023 your best year yet: •Sleep. Sleep is a neces...
(NAPSI)-The ball, the confetti and the 2022 wall calendars have all come down, and our attention turns to the annual tradition of making New Year's resolutions. This can include health goals, such as deciding to have 2023 be the year to finally quit tobacco successfully. Most adult smokers in our state tried to do so at least once in the past year, reports the Florida Department of Health. Quitting for good may take several attempts. With the resolution to quit, every year...
AdventHealth Lake Wales has received an "A" in patient safety from the prestigious Leapfrog Group, a national patient safety watchdog group that delivers grades based on quality metrics such as a hospital's performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. Out of 3,000 hospitals evaluated nationwide, only 30% received this top grade and 115 are awarded as a Top Hospital. The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization that uses their...
(NAPSI)-Have you heard the saying, "Movement is medicine?" Countless studies have shown that physical activity can help reduce the risks of serious health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, back and neck pain, some types of cancer, and even falls. That's why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults aged 65 and older participate in 150 minutes of physical activity a week. This includes aerobic, strength, and balance activities. If you're...
As Breast Cancer Awareness month is observed in October it draws attention to a treatable disease that remains one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States. Facing a diagnosis of cancer and the effects of treatment is a challenge for thousands of Florida residents, including many in the Lake Wales area. The challenge of maintaining a home while undergoing treatment is overwhelming for many, especially for those who live alone, but there is n affordable source...
(NAPSI)-A dedicated group of moms has deployed across the country to help families with children of all ages figure out how to make important decisions around mitigating the risk of COVID and help answer questions that parents have on vaccination. City Mom Collective, a partner of the We Can Do This Campaign, is working with moms to collect questions from parents in their communities and then set up video interviews that aired on social media with local pediatricians and...
AdventHealth Lake Wales has achieved a "B" patient safety grade by the prestigious Leapfrog Group. The safety grade is awarded based on a hospital's performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections, and other harms to patients in their care. The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an "A," "B," "C," "D," or "F" grade to general hospitals across the country. AdventHealth implemented and enhanced several division-wide pr...
Lake Wales area residents dealing with foot ailments due to the effects of diabetes should know that it is a serious health problem that demands treatment, according to Dr. Prerna Mall, a podiatrist who specializes in diabetic foot care along with her regular practice. “Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the most common complications in patients who have diabetes which is not well controlled. These ulcers are usually caused by poor sugar control, underlying peripheral n...
Being a hero and helping repair the world may be easier than many people realize. How? Become a blood stem cell or marrow donor, volunteer or a supporter. Every three minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society estimates that 186,400 people will experience this frightening news just this year. While a bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant can serve as a cure for leukemia...
Behavioral health services are easier to access for Polk HealthCare Plan members seeking treatment now that it is a covered benefit. The addition, which was approved by the Citizens HealthCare Oversight Committee, began this month and is one of many enhancements that targets Polk's growing vulnerable population. The committee also has revised the plan's eligibility criteria twice in the last year to mirror the growing minimum wage and make the program more accessible to those...
For decades, medical researchers struggled to solve the mystery of how to reverse paralysis caused by serious spinal cord injuries. Finally, hope appears to be at hand. Five years ago, Codi Darnell, the daughter-in-law of Dr. Harold Punnett, a co-founder of NervGen, fell and became a complete T-11 paraplegic. Dr. Punnett discovered a revolutionary nerve regeneration technology in Dr. Jerry Silver's work at Case Western Reserve University which resulted in the formation of...
Stephanie Bramlett of Winder, Georgia, is one of many in the Southeast region who has experienced the effects of COVID-19 firsthand. Earlier this year, when the entrepreneur and mother of three was told she could get vaccinated, she was hesitant. She eats well, exercises regularly and never gets sick with the flu, so she assumed she'd be fine even if she was exposed to the virus. "I didn't want to be first," Bramlett said. "It felt too new." Then her son attended church camp,...
Fueled by the generosity of Wawa, Healthcare Heroes can enjoy the healing power of nature with complimentary admission for themselves and a guest at Bok Tower Gardens from October 1-31. This offer is being extended in gratitude for the hard work and sacrifices Healthcare Heroes have made to keep our communities safe and healthy. The complimentary admission offer is open to all employees of healthcare providers in the US with an employer-issued photo identification badge. To redeem the offer, healthcare heroes must present...
(NAPSI)-Parents can help their children practically eliminate their chance of getting cavities, often at no cost-yet they don't. Here's a closer look at this conundrum: Be Smart About Sealants Beyond daily brushing and flossing, dental sealants have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of cavities in kids-yet the clear protective coatings, which work by filling the deep grooves where bacteria can accumulate-remain largely underused. The thin, slippery coating applied...
(NAPSI)-More Americans may be looking to retire before age 65, according to several studies. However, they need to understand their financial needs, both long term and before age 65. This includes enrolling in health insurance to cover the gap before they are Medicare-eligible at age 65. "Choosing the right health coverage may seem difficult as many people have never shopped for their own health insurance or worry that they cannot afford it," said Mark Smith, president of...
Polk County Fire Rescue has received the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures to treat patients who suffer severe heart attacks. Each year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack, caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it is critical to restore...
(NAPSI)-Whatever happens with the new phase of the pandemic, and the glimmers of normalcy that bring joy and hope to many, the light at the end of the tunnel is difficult to see for many. This is particularly true of the loved ones of the nearly 4,000 U.S. healthcare workers who have died from COVID-related illness. Not only are these people coping with the death of their loved one, they may have lost the main breadwinner and be overwhelmed with the stress of paying for a...
Sometimes death comes without warning. The most common causes are heart attacks, and accidents. But sometimes, people just die without warning-in their sleep. We are going about our lives and suddenly, with the unexpected loss of a loved one, everything has changed for us. It changes you forever. The news arrives, and time stops. There are few things in life as devastating as the sudden death of a beloved friend or family member. As your world changes forever and you're...
AdventHealth is teaming up with partner Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) and their NASCAR Cup Series drivers Ross Chastain and Kurt Busch to raise money and awareness for mental health and provide fans with a chance to compete against Chastain and Busch on iRacing, the premier online simulation for motorsports. With May marking Mental Health Awareness Month and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 race just around the corner on May 30, the two drivers are taking some time to Play It Forward and en...
