Health

Cardiologists use nation’s first alternative access point for heart device to save a veteran

By CaliNews 2 days ago

In a first of its kind in the United States, cardiologists at Loma Linda University International Heart Institute have performed a pioneering coronary intervention with an Impella heart assist device and stent placement through single access from the axillary artery in the shoulder. The new procedure offers surgeons another option to help save the lives of people suffering from severely calcified coronary heart disease, which kills more than 370,000 Americans every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seventy-year-old Vietnam veteran David Quiett presented at Loma Linda University Medical Center with a heart attack. Physicians quickly learned that he had severely calcified coronary artery disease in his major arteries. He was in need of stents and a heart-saving pumping device. But surgeons were unable to insert both interventions in separate vascular entry points because of the patient’s calcification. The pumping device is usually inserted through the femoral artery near the groin, and stents are placed through a separate artery. Due to the patient’s condition, there were no viable traditional arterial access points. With no options left, Loma Linda University Heart Institute interventional…

Loma Linda University Health nurse honored for donating 113 gallons of blood, inducted into national Donation Hall of Fame

By CaliNews 4 days ago

Dexter Emoto, RN, a post-anesthesia care unit and recovery room nurse at Loma Linda University Health, has been inducted into the national Fresenius Kabi Donation Hall of Fame for his blood donations. Emoto started donating his blood 45 years ago while he was attending Pacific Union College (PUC) in California’s Napa Valley. “I’ve always had a passion for helping people, and at the time, I simply hoped someone could benefit from my donation,” he said. Emoto has donated more than 113 gallons, making him one of the highest blood donors in the western United States. That blood has helped nearly 1,500 individuals, estimates Lifestream. Representatives from Fresenius Kabi, an organization that specializes in lifesaving medicines and technologies, inducted Emoto into its national Donation Hall of Fame Wednesday for his contributions. Emoto began routinely donating blood at Lifestream in San Bernardino, California, in 1982 after transferring from PUC to Loma Linda University School of Nursing. “I realized I could benefit the patients in my local hospital by donating,” Emoto said. “Almost all of my donations have come to the Loma Linda University Medical Center, where it goes to…

Hazel Health provides on-site virtual health care to San Bernardino City schools

By CaliNews 4 days ago

Students K-12 in the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) have easy and immediate access to health care with the implementation of Hazel Health at the onset of the 2018-2019 school year at nine school sites. Hazel Health, based in San Francisco, is an innovative model that offers students a virtual health clinic through an iPad that connects them to health care providers who assess them in a matter of minutes – regardless of insurance or immigration status. According to Hazel Health CEO Josh Golomb, 90% of students return to class, contributing to a 40% drop in health related absenteeism. Dr. Lorraine Perez, SBCUSD assistant superintendent of Student Services, noted that Muscoy Elementary and Sierra High schools in particular have seen significant improvement in attendance as a result of the program’s implementation. “Working with Hazel is part of our commitment to provide access to services,” Perez said, and added that the program is intended to assist school nurses. “This is not to undermine or replace school nurses, but provide support to school nurses.” Sharon Lip, school nurse at Muscoy Elementary and three other school…

Redlands Community Hospital honors Emergency Department Founder, the late Dr. Stephen Lazarus

By CaliNews 5 days ago

More than 50 colleagues, family and community members gathered at Redlands Community Hospital this week for a plaque dedication ceremony to honor the memory of Dr. Stephen Lazarus, who founded the Redlands Community Hospital emergency department. Dr. Lazarus was the department’s director for more than 20 years. He passed away in January of this year. “Dr. Lazarus was a leader and an innovative healer who recognized the value of an emergency department and its impact on the community,” says Jim Holmes, president and CEO of Redlands Community Hospital. “His contributions to the hospital and community will continue to be remembered on honored.” Lazarus established the emergency department at Redlands Community Hospital in 1973 after a non-traditional path to medicine. Originally admitted to the University of Michigan to study nuclear physics, Lazarus lost interest and headed west where he dealt blackjack, craps, and roulette at 14 different casinos in Las Vegas before being drafted to serve in the military. After completing his service in the military, Lazarus enrolled in the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV). Upon graduation, he was accepted to the University of Oregon Medical…

Aguilar announces $720,000 to establish new Tribal Health Program for I.E.

By CaliNews 1 week ago

Rep. Pete Aguilar joined Riverside-San Bernardino County Indian Health, Inc. (RSBCIHI) to announce $720,000 in federal funding to establish a services program for victims of crime on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The funding will allow RSBCIHI to hire a Victim Services Project Director, a Victim Services Support Specialist and a full-time Mental Health Clinician to establish a victims’ services program within the organization. The program will help members of tribal communities within the Inland Empire area connect with necessary mental and physical health services. RSBCIHI provides high-quality health services to tribal communities throughout Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, including the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. “Too often, our tribal communities aren’t granted the resources they need to access high-quality medical care, including mental health care. The establishment of a victims’ services program through RSBCIHI will allow more Inland Empire residents to access the care they need in the wake of traumatic events,” said Aguilar. “The $720,000 in Federal Funding would provide a severely needed resource to the San Bernardino Native community and to Native American Victims of crime. The funding would assist in hiring a…

Loma Linda University Health performs Inland Empire’s first spinal ablation surgery to treat tumors

By CaliNews 2 weeks ago

A new, innovative and minimally invasive procedure called Spinal Tumor Ablation with Radiofrequency was successfully performed last month at Loma Linda University Health, the first such procedure in the Inland Empire. The procedure involves making small incisions in the back at each bone level to insert a probe directly into the tumor. The probe emits heat generated by the radiofrequency to kill the tumor cells. Once the tumor has been ablated, surgeons then stabilize the weakened bone by performing kyphoplasty — a procedure in which the surgeon uses a balloon-like device to inject cement into the spine. Spinal Tumor Ablation can be performed in as little as a few hours and allows patients to return to activities more quickly than traditional surgeries. “This is a great minimally invasive therapy for patients with metastatic disease or primary tumor of bone because it provides patients another option for better quality of life and control of their tumor disease without exposing them to the risk of traditional surgeries,” said Namath Hussain, MD, a neurosurgeon who performed the procedure. Hussain said traditional surgeries to remove a spinal tumor often involve opening the…

Redlands Community Hospital Volunteer Program honored by Northside Impact Committee

By CaliNews 2 weeks ago

The Northside Impact Committee honored the volunteer program at Redlands Community Hospital (RCH) during its “28 Years of Making a Difference” Recognition and Scholarships Awards at the Orton Center at University of Redlands. Redlands Community Hospital has more than 275 volunteers who lend their time and talent to support the patients, physicians, nurses, and staff of the hospital. The committee unanimously decided to recognize the entire team for their dedication to the hospital and community. “As a patient at the hospital, I have personally experienced the kindness and generosity of the volunteers,” said Ed Flores, chairman of the Northside Impact Committee. “Every member of the committee has been impressed with the work ethic and continual support the volunteers provide to the hospital and members of our community.” Among scholarship recipients was Shreya Guryanathen, junior volunteer at RCH in the Maternal Child unit and a student at Citrus Valley High School. An exceptional student, she maintains impressive grades while being involved in extracurricular activities at school, church, in the community. Shreya plans to major in biology in college. James H. Stellar, a longtime volunteer at RCH,…

Governor Newsom’s ‘Statewide Expert’ on homelessness visits San Bernardino County

By CaliNews 2 weeks ago

Darrell Steinberg, Sacramento’s mayor, co-chair of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Homeless and Supportive Housing Advisory Task Force, and co-author of the seminal Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), visited San Bernardino County this week to hear from residents and experience first-hand how San Bernardino County Behavioral Health’s (DBH) MHSA-funded programs and services have lifted people out of homelessness, poverty and addiction. Steinberg’s visit was part of his plan to tour different counties around the state to observe best practices and strategies relating to homelessness and behavioral health prevention, diversion, and intervention. Steinberg will use the information, coupled with input received from local governments and constituents, to inform the state’s work on homelessness and its mental health system. Just hours prior to Steinberg’s visit to the county, the Department of Health Care Services announced a new framework for Medi-Cal reform through CalAIM (CA Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal), a program seeking to leverage Medicaid to help address the challenges facing California’s most vulnerable residents, such as homelessness and behavioral health care access. While here, Steinberg toured an MHSA-funded recreational vehicle transformed into a mobile health clinic providing physical and…

Loma Linda University Cancer Center launches breast pain clinic that combines medical and psychologic treatment

By CaliNews 3 weeks ago

Loma Linda University Cancer Center has created a breast pain clinic that combines medical and psychological interventions to treat the common condition experienced by women — the first in the nation to create a multidisciplinary approach to breast pain management. The clinic incorporates the use of a medical treatment plan to treat physical pain while using one-on-one and group therapy sessions with stress management tools that can unearth underlying stressors causing breast pain. The clinic also educates attendees on the definition, causes and remedies of the condition. Some 70% of women experience breast pain in their lifetime, yet only 7% of women with breast cancer have breast pain as their first symptom, according to the breast pain clinic co-director and director of Loma Linda University Cancer Center Breast Health Center, Sharon S. Lum, MD. Yet many women believe their pain is due to cancer and end up in an oncologist’s office. To save women time and offer them the resources they need, Lum partnered with clinical oncology therapist Gabriela E. Gutierrez, PhD, LMFT, to launch this clinic. “When someone gets stressed, they can get headaches or even stomach aches,…

Escape the Vape event provides information, discussion, resources on youth vaping epidemic

By CaliNews 3 weeks ago

MHS Central Valley Prevention Program and Community Coalitions for CHANGE hosted the first annual 2019 Escape the Vape event on Monday, Oct. 21 . Community members from Bloomington, Colton, Grand Terrace, Rialto, Muscoy, and San Bernardino gathered at the San Bernardino Valley College Business Center to attend the event held in response to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order to Confront the Youth Vaping Epidemic. The executive order states that the Department of Public Health (CDPH) is to launch a $20 million statewide digital and social media public awareness campaign to educate youth and parents about the risks associated with vaping nicotine and cannabis products. CDPH will also be developing media that discusses those risks, specifically where these products are being sold as well as on any smoking product advertisements. According to the office of CA Governor Newsom, “Vaping devices are the most commonly used tobacco product in California and more than 80% of high-school teens who consume tobacco use a vaping device. Of the California teens who consume tobacco products, 86.4% report using a flavored tobacco product. There are over 15,500 e-liquid flavors, some…

Escape the Vape event provided information, discussion, resources on youth vaping epidemic

By CaliNews 3 weeks ago

Dignity Health Inland Empire hospitals receive Clinical Recognition for Neurosciences and Orthopedics from Healthgrades

By CaliNews 3 weeks ago

Community Hospital of San Bernardino (CHSB) and Dignity Health – St. Bernardine Medical Center (SBMC) have received multiple recognitions for Neurosciences and Orthopedics procedures by Healthgrades, a leading health care ratings company. Every year, Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 34 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions.* Specifically, CHSB is a Five-Star Recipient for Hip Fracture Treatment for three years in a row (2017-2020). “It is rewarding to know we are achieving our mission and ensuring we continue to meet the needs of our patients while providing excellent care to all,” states June Collison, CHSB Hospital President. SBMC has been Named Among the Top 5% in the Nation for Cranial Neurosurgery for 3 Years in a Row (2018-2020); and achieved a Five-Star Recipient for Cranial Neurosurgery for 4 Years in a Row (2017-2020). In the Orthopedics category, SBMC is a Five-Star Recipient for Hip Fracture Treatment for 8 Years in a Row (2013-2020), and a Five-Star Recipient for Spinal Fusion Surgery for 4 Years in a Row (2017-2020). A Five-Star rating indicates that our clinical outcomes are statistically significantly…

Third Annual CSUSB Run Like A Mother 5K Run/Walk to benefit Time for Change Foundation

By CaliNews 4 weeks ago

Time for Change Foundation (TFCF) is honored to announce that they are the beneficiaries for the 3rd annual Run Like a Mother 5K Walk/Run presented by CSUSB. The event is hosted by CSUSB students in the Eta Sigma Gamma National Health Education Honorary Society and students in Health Science 404: Women’s Health. The Annual CSUSB Run Like a Mother 5K is public health in action. It is a prime example of bringing the community together, all while raising consciousness on the pressing concerns that local communities face and celebrating those community organizations that strive to address these concerns. Tickets are $15 for non-students and $10 for students. You can register using this link: https://bit.ly/mother5k All proceeds from the event will be donated to Time for Change Foundation’s mission to provide housing programs and self-sufficiency services to homeless women and children. You only have a few weeks left to register, and we look forward to seeing you there! Location & Event Information Saturday, November 2, 2019 at 9AMCSUSB5500 University Parkway San Bernardino, California 92407 Learn more and get your tickets here The post Third Annual CSUSB Run Like A…

Parents in Action taking back unwanted prescription drugs October 26 at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School

By CaliNews 4 weeks ago

On Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. San Bernardino School District Police Department, San Bernardino Parents in Action, MHS Central Valley Prevention Program and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School at 1250 Medical Center Dr, San Bernardino, CA 92411. (Sites cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Last fall Americans turned in nearly 469 tons (more than 937,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 6,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 5,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 17 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in more than 11.8 million pounds— approximately 5,900 tons—of pills. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription…

Community Hospital of San Bernardino hosts historic event honoring decades of service with dedication of ‘The Physicians’ Corridor’

By CaliNews 1 month ago

Dignity Health – Community Hospital of San Bernardino (CHSB) announced the unveiling of the Physicians’ Corridor, a beautifully designed space dedicated to all 50 former Medical Staff Presidents, a dozen of whom attended a celebratory event in their honor. According to current Chief of Staff, Dr. Johnny Negusse, “This dedication is to show the hospital’s appreciation for the high quality medical care our physicians have provided and continue to provide the San Bernardino community since 1956. It is an honor to be surrounded by such compassionate and caring providers and to welcome back former medical staff presidents.” Attendance included the second president of the medical staff from 1957, along with others who served in the 1970s and 1980s. Dr. Negusse shared, “By remembering, honoring and inducting these presidents into our new “Physicians’ Corridor” we are also honoring all of the physicians who served alongside them.” CHSB Hospital President, June Collison stated, “Our physicians are important members of our care team. They each embrace the mission of Dignity Health every day as they serve and advocate for our sisters and brothers who are poor and disenfranchised. It is…

How to find a great mental health counselor

By CaliNews 1 month ago

Many people have a difficult time in finding an effective mental health counselor. Just like everything in life, you have your good counselors and you have your not so great counselors. The key is to find someone that will help you solve your current mental health problems. Here are a few suggestions on how to find a good mental health counselor for your mental health recovery. 1. Talk to your doctor or primary care physician. Your medical or family doctor is a great source in finding a good counselor. Explain to your doctor your problems and he or she can put you in the right direction in seeking the proper help. 2. Go to your local hospital. Your local hospital is another source you can use to find a good counselor. A hospital is also a good source of finding many different mental health programs in your area. Hospitals know a lot of good counselors and programs in your area and they can lead you in the right direction. 3. Ask your friends and relatives for advice. Use your network of friends and relatives to see if any…