Health briefs: Public invited to free weather safety seminar at Lake Twp.

        The public is invited to attend a free weather safety seminar sponsored by the Lake Township Police Department, in conjunction with their Neighborhood Watch program.
        The event will be held Tuesday, May 9 at 7 p.m. at the Lake Township Hall, 27975 Cummings Rd., Millbury, located on the northwest corner of the intersection of SR 795 and Cummings Road.
        WTVG’s chief meteorologist, Jay Berschback, will present the hourlong program and answer questions after the program, which has become an annual event.
        “Ever since we initiated the Neighborhood Watch program, we have offered this training in the springtime,” said township police Chief Mark Hummer. “Things have changed over the last 13 years since the deadly tornado struck the township in June 2010, and we want our area residents to have the most up-to-date information on tornado and severe storm safety.”
        The June 2010 EF4 tornado killed seven people in Lake Township and caused heavy property damage from one end of the township to the other. That tornado touched down first in Moline before touching down again in Millbury. Along the way, it destroyed the township police department building and the Lake High School building.
        “People who lived in this area at that time are keenly aware of how dangerous storms can be,” Hummer said. “We want our residents to be as safe as they can be, so we offer this seminar before the peak of the storm season.”
        Pre-registration is not required. For more information, contact Ron Craig, the police department’s community policing officer and crime prevention officer, at 419-481-6354.
 
Ottawa County Community Day
        The Ottawa County Health Department will present Ottawa County Community Day, which will be held Friday, May 12, from noon-6 p.m. at the Joyful Connections building, 8200 W. SR 163, Oak Harbor.
        More than 40 local agencies will be on hand offering information regarding resources about local services. The event will also include activities centered around the eight dimensions of health, guest speakers sharing experiences of mental health and recovery stories and experts will be available to answer questions about services available in Ottawa County. In addition, there will be giveaways and raffle prizes.
        Parking will be available onsite and at the adjacent Job and Family Services building. OCTA public transportation will extend its schedule that day to accommodate attendees. Call 419-898-7433 to schedule a ride.
 
Health Fair set
        St. John’s United Church of Christ, 1213 Washington St., Genoa, will host a health fair Saturday, May 6 from 9 a.m.-noon.
        The event will feature basic health screenings for those who are 18 and older. Tests include hearing, bone density, and skin cancer.
        A number of organizations will be on hand to answer questions about their services including PT Services, Hospice of NWO, Be the Match – Bone Marrow Donor Registry, Ottawa County Extension Office (healthy recipes), Ottawa County Health Department, Mental Health Board, Ottawa County Senior Resources, Kroeger & Peters (estate planning), Genoa Fire Department (AED and CPR) plus the Family Advocacy Center.
        In addition, attendees can talk with a bicycle expert and experience chair yoga.
 
Monthly lab screenings
        Magruder’s Hospital’s next monthly community lab screening will be Thursday, May 11 between 8 and 11:30 a.m. in the Magruder Community Clinic 730 Jefferson St., Port Clinton.
        The main lab test includes a CBC, CMP and lipid profile, which includes liver and kidney function, fasting blood sugar, cholesterol, HDL/LDL, triglycerides and a complete blood count (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood) for $50.
        Add-on testing is also available including:
        • Lipid profile: $20.
        • Hemoglobin A1C: $20.
        • PSA (prostate specific antigen): $30.
        • TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone): $25.
        • Vitamin D: $35.
        Lab screenings are held on the second Thursday of each month. Appointments are required and may be made by calling 419-301-4304. Participants are asked to fast for 12 hours prior to their appointment time but can have water. No insurance is accepted – payment may be made by cash, check or credit card (no American Express).
 
Mercy Mobile Mammograms
        Mercy Health announced the May schedule for its mobile mammography unit, which delivers 3D mammograms to women age 40 and older.
        In addition to the latest technology, the unit offers patients the option of self-compression, meaning the patient will have the ability to control the compression once she is in position.
        Upcoming visits include:
        • Friday, May 12: Jefferson Family Medicine, 2200 Jefferson Ave., Toledo.
        • Monday, May 15: Mercy Health – Perrysburg Primary Care & Walk-in, 1103 Village Square, Perrysburg.
        • Wednesday, May 17: Old West End Community Health Center, 2244 Collingwood Boulevard, Toledo.
        • Friday, May 19: Mercy Health - Waterville Primary Care, 1222 Pray Boulevard.
        • Tuesday, May 23: Mayores Senior Center, 2 Aurora L Gonzalez Drive, Toledo.
        • Wednesday, May 24: Franklin Douglas Center – YWCA Event, 1001 Indiana Ave., Toledo.
        • Tuesday, May 30: Toledo Public Library – South Branch, 1736 Broadway St., Toledo.
        • Wednesday, May 31: Starbright Primary Care, 28555 Starbright Boulevard, Perrysburg.
        Certified radiologists read all mammograms and, because a second look can mean a second chance, mammograms are double-checked with a computer-aided detection system that detects more breast cancer than mammography alone.
        While mammogram screenings may be covered by insurance, for best coverage, patients should verify if Mercy Health – St. Charles Hospital is an in-network provider with their insurance carriers. Financial need-based assistance programs are available for those who are uninsured or underinsured (have high deductibles). Call 419-696-5839 for more information.
        Screenings at the Mercy Health Mobile Mammography unit are by appointment only. Call 833-MAMM-VAN to schedule.
        To view the full list of dates and locations, visit mercy.com/toledomobilemamm.
 
Magruder to offer  youth
speech summer groups
        The Magruder Speech Therapy Department is offering speech therapy summer groups for preschool age children (4-6 years old) to help with speech, language and social skills.
        The groups will meet on Tuesday mornings between June 13 and July 25. There are two sessions to choose from – 9-10:15 a.m. or 10:30-11:45 a.m. Magruder speech-language pathologists Brianna Missler and Katie Brink will lead the sessions, which will be held at the Magruder Hospital Lake Erie Sports Medicine Department.
        Reservations and a physician referral are required. Call the Lake Erie Sports Medicine Department at 419-732-4033 to secure a spot. An individual evaluation will be completed prior to the sessions to discuss goals and answer billing and benefits questions.
 
ProMedica lauded among 2023 Best Employers for Diversity
        ProMedica has been recognized on the Forbes list of the Best Employers for Diversity 2023. The award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., a leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider.
        The Best Employers for Diversity were selected based on surveys from approximately 45,000 U.S. employees working for companies with a minimum of 1,000 employees. The evaluation was based on four different criteria:
        • Direct recommendations: Employees were asked to give their opinions on a series of statements regarding age, gender, ethnicity, disability, LGBTQA+ and general diversity in their current workplace. The recommendations of women, elders, and ethnic minorities were weighted higher than the non-minority groups.
        • Indirect recommendations: Participants were also given the chance to evaluate other employers in their respective industries that stand out either positively or negatively with regard to diversity. Only the recommendations of minority groups were considered.
        • Extensive research was carried out to evaluate how companies fared across a range of diversity-related best-practices. These included things like the presence of resource groups within the company, the publication of diversity data, and the share of women in board and executive positions.
        “At ProMedica, diversity, equity and inclusion enables us to be a better employer and improve care and service for our communities,” said Greg Braylock, Jr., ProMedica’s Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer. “We are on a journey of excellence and are honored to be recognized among the most inclusive and equitable companies across the country.”
 
Ability Center seeking wheelchairs
      The Ability Center seeks wheelchairs and transport chairs to assist people in need. Donations of gently used or financial contributions are welcomed. Help empower individuals with mobility challenges today! To donate, drop off 5605 Monroe Street or call ahead 419-885-5733.
 
ProMedica Stroke Network
voted as “local hero”
        The ProMedica Toledo Stroke Network was among six local heroes from across the country recognized by the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, for their resiliency and dedication to rise up against stroke.
        Approximately 800,000 Americans have a stroke each year– a leading cause of disability in the U.S., and one in four survivors will have another one.
        The American Stroke Association’s annual Stroke Hero Awards honors stroke survivors, health care professionals and family caregivers. The Association, devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, celebrates these heroes in May –American Stroke Month –and advocates for stroke survivors year-round.
        Recovering from a stroke is a complicated and unique journey, different for every person. The following Stroke Heroes are being recognized for outstanding efforts in educating, inspiring and raising awareness about stroke.
        The ProMedica Toledo Stroke Network, honored as the Voters’ Choice Hero, takes a holistic approach to stroke prevention and care. It raises awareness and money to support stroke patients with limited financial means through its BE FAST 5K Run/Walk. It led to the implementation of a countywide EMS protocol that gets acute stroke patients to the hospital faster — and then successfully advocated for a statewide rollout. And, it has sent team members as far away as Pakistan to teach interventionalists how to perform neuroendovascular procedures.
        The Voters’ Choice Award was selected via an online popular vote.
        For more information, visit Stroke.org/HeroAwards.
 
Volunteers recognized
        On April 21, the Magruder Hospital Auxiliary hosted its Celebratory Meeting and Volunteer Recognition.
        The 62 attendees were served a lunch prepared by the Fulton Street Café and served by Magruder staff members. Forty-four volunteers were presented with recognition pins for their cumulative hours of service ranging from 100 hours to 4,000 hours. In 2022, the volunteers at Magruder gave a total 8,623 hours of service.
        In addition, the Auxiliary announced a $12,000 donation to the hospital as well as $12,000 to be awarded for healthcare scholarships this year.
        To learn more about volunteering at Magruder, call Kathy at 419-734-3131, ext. 3256.