New CDC Report on Health Behaviors

The Center for Disease Control has just published the Surveillance for Certain Halth Behaviors Among States & Selected Local Areas--United States, 2008. (MMWR Surveillance Summaries Dec 10, 2010 59(SS10);1-221)  The report gives statistics for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area on things like teeth extractions, medical screening, smoking, drinking, leisure time, weight, and some specific diseases (asthma, coronary artery disease, stroke). The report is over 200 pages long and takes a while to load. 

 Health Info NEPA has links to information on many of these local public health issues. 

Look Good...Feel Better

The American Cancer Society, Wyoming Valley Unit, offers free workshops for women who are in cancer treatment to help them deal with temporary changes in their appearance from radiation or chemotherapy treatment. The workshop is facilitated by trained cosmetologists who teach women with cancer how to understand and care for changes in skin and hair that may occur during treatment. The programs are offered in partnership with the National Cosmetology Association and the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association Foundation.


Participants receive a makeup demonstration and a complimentary makeup kit. Each session lasts about 2 hours. Registration is free, but required! Call 1-888-227-5445, option 1 to register.


Local Schedule for 2011


Wyoming Valley Healthcare System @ Wilkes-Barre General Hospital

575 N. River St.
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Sessions are held in the Radiation Oncology Department at 4:00 p.m.


Wednesday, April 27
Wednesday, June 1





Candy's Place
190 Welles St., Suite 120
Forty Fort, PA
Sessions begin at 5:00 p.m.


Monday, January 24
Monday, March 28
Monday, June 27
Monday, August 22
Monday, September 26


Geisinger Henry Cancer Center
1000 E. Mountain Blvd.
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Sessions start at 10:30 a.m.


Thursday, March 10
Thursday, April 7
Thursday, May 19
Thursday, July 14
Thursday, September 15
Thursday, October 20
Thursday, November 17

NIH News in Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) produces a monthly health newsletter for consumers called NIH News in Health. The October issue features articles on menopause and prostate problems. Past issues have covered topics like Alzheimer's Disease, depression, stroke, and diet. There is a button to sign up for email updates when a new issue is published.

Family Health History

The National Human Genome Research Institute and the office of the Surgeon General have developed on online tool for creating a family health history—a written record of a family's health. The history contains information about a family's medical conditions, lifestyle habits (for example, whether anyone in the family has smoked), and where and how family members grew up. It's like a family tree for health.

Use it to see if you, your children, or your grandchildren might face an increased risk of developing serious health problems, the role of genetics and ways to promote the health of your family members. 

http://nihseniorhealth.gov//creatingafamilyhealthhistory/toc.html

Flu Vaccine Schedules Are Available

Local hospitals are already reporting positive cultures for Influenza A and Influenza B. This year's vaccine also contains the H1N1 strain, so only one dose is required.

The City of Wilkes-Barre has posted its flu vaccine schedule. It can be found at:

http://www.wilkes-barre.pa.us/forms/flu_sch.pdf.

The Department of Veterans Affairs in Wilkes-Barre has its flu vaccine schedule posted at:

http://www.wilkes-barre.va.gov/news/flushots.asp


Other places to check are local stand-alone pharmacies and pharmacies in grocery or department stores. Appointments may be necessary.

Get Ready for Flu Season

Although the peak of the flu season is still a few months away, it's not too soon to start thinking about protecting yourself and loved ones against this potentially deadly disease.  Vaccination is the best protection against contracting the flu and everyone 6 months of age and older should be immunized as soon as the 2010-2011 season vaccine is available. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently came out with its recommendations for protecting children and teens during the upcoming season.

For more information about the disease, its prevention, and treatment, visit Flu.gov

Connecting Those at Risk to Care

Health Info NEPA lists free medical and dental clinics under Local Health Organizations. Those concerned with the healthcare needs of "at risk" persons in their communities may find this AHRQ publication very helpful because it provides a step-by-step guide for setting-up an infrastructure to:

• Find: Identify those at greatest risk
• Treat: Ensure that they receive needed evidence-based health and social services
• Measure: Document and evaluate benchmarks and final outcomes.

This infrastructure, termed Community "HUB,"promotes "... a system of collaboration, accountability, and improved outcomes."

Community Care Coordination Learning Network. Connecting those at risk to care: a guide to building a community "HUB" to promote a system of collaboration, accountability, and improved outcomes. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ); September 2010. AHRQ Publication No.09(10)-0088.