Health briefs

Life Line Screenings to be offered July 17
        Residents living in and around Oak Harbor can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and other chronic, serious conditions with Life Line Screenings, which will be offered Wednesday, July 17, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 122 W. Ottawa St., Oak Harbor. Free parking is available.
        Screenings can check for:
        • The level of plaque buildup in arteries, related to risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and overall vascular health.
        • HDL and LDL cholesterol levels.
        • Diabetes risk.
        • Kidney and thyroid function, and more.
        Package pricing starts at $159, but consultants will work with clients to create a package that is right for them based on age and risk factors. Pre-registration is required. Call 1-877-237-1287 or visit lifelinescreening.com  for more information.
 
MS support group
        The Multiple Sclerosis Support Group meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Magruder Hospital Conference Center, 615 Fulton St., Port Clinton.
        The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 11, when the Magruder dietitian will discuss the Mediterranean Diet.
        For more information, call 419-607-6021.
 
Ask the Expert
        Mercy Health’s monthly Ask the Expert series continues in June with a discussion about staying on track with health goals – both physical and mental.
        The program will be presented virtually on Thursday, June 20, at 12:30 p.m. by Mercy Health psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Halloran.
        The one-hour, monthly Ask the Expert sessions are held the third Thursday of every month from 12:30-1:30 p.m. via Zoom. To join, participants can call 646-931-3860 or zoom meeting ID: 975 5220 8436. There is no need to pre-register.
        Ask the Expert is the result of Mercy Health’s efforts to address factors that influence the health and wellbeing of the community. In particular, Mercy Health has focused efforts to build the overall health of area residents in the ZIP codes surrounding central city Toledo.
 
Mobile mammograms
        Mercy Health’s mobile mammography unit has visits scheduled throughout the region in June.
        Customized for patient convenience, the unit delivers mammograms to women age 40 and older. It is equipped with 3D technology and offers patients the option of self-compression, meaning she will have the ability to control the compression once she is in position.
        Scheduled stops include:
        • Tuesday, June 11, Genoa Retirement Village, 300 Cherry St., Genoa.
        • Wednesday, June 12, Old West End Community Health Center,  2244 Collingwood Boulevard, Toledo.
        • Wednesday, June 19, Mercy Health – St. Luke’s Campus, 5757 Monclova Rd., Maumee.
        • Thursday, June 20, Mercy Health – Perrysburg Primary Care, 1103 Village Square, Perrysburg.
        • Tuesday, June 25, Magna Team Systems, 1800 Nathan St., Toledo.
        • Wednesday, June 26, Mercy Health – Maumee Primary Care, 1657 Holland Rd., Maumee.
        • Friday, June 28, Mercy Health – Pointe Shoreland Family Practice, 2755 Shoreland Ave, Toledo.
        To view the full list of dates and locations, visit mercy.com/toledomobilemamm.
        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 carrier. Financial assistance programs are available for patients who are uninsured or underinsured (have high deductibles). Call 1-800-929-6626 for more information.
        Mobile mammogram screenings are by appointment only. Call 833-MAMM-VAN to schedule.
        Certified radiologists read all mammograms and because a second look can mean a second chance, all mammograms are double-checked with a computer-aided detection system that detects more breast cancer than mammography alone. The patient and her physician receive a copy of the results.
 
Blood, platelet donors needed
        The American Red Cross critically needs blood and platelet donors following a concerning trend over the past month – fewer donors rolling up a sleeve to give lifesaving blood.
        About 20,000 fewer blood donations were collected over the past month than needed to maintain the Red Cross national blood supply, according Christy Peters, regional communications manager, American Red Cross
        To make an appointment to donate, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
        Severe weather and historic travel in May contributed to fewer blood donations. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), five of the busiest travel days ever happened in May and more record-breaking travel is expected all season long – a busy time when many regular donors may be unable to give.
        Additionally, as the U.S. approaches what AAA calls the “100 deadliest days” of summer for auto accidents, it’s critical hospitals have lifesaving blood products on hand for all trauma and accident victims who count on transfusions when there is no time to waste. In some of the most dire situations, medical teams may need to use hundreds of blood products to save a life.
 
Hospice of NW Ohio Community Program
        Hospice of Northwest Ohio invites community members to a free educational program, “Busting the Myths of Hospice and Palliative Care,” on Thursday, June 13, from 10-11a.m. at Kingston Residence of Perrysburg, 333 East Boundary St.
        Sara Chambers, BSN, RN, CHPN, community educator for Hospice of Northwest Ohio will discuss what hospice care is, what services hospice can provide and the difference between palliative care and hospice care.
        RSVPs are requested by contacting Matthew McCauley, Memory Care Program Manager, Kingston Residence of Perrysburg, at 419-872-6200, ext. 14318. Light refreshments will be served.
        For more information about advance care planning or Hospice of Northwest Ohio, contact Chambers at 419-931-5423 or schambers@hospicenwo.org.
 
Mercy Health introduces telehealth at Put-in-Bay
        Mercy Health is now providing telehealth services to the Put-in-Bay community.
        The Mercy Health Telehealth Clinic will fill a gap in health care options by providing services to those suffering from minor illness.
        Currently, those suffering from minor illnesses must leave the island for diagnosis and to be prescribed medications. The goal of Mercy Health Telehealth Clinic is to allow patients to remain on the island while receiving this type of primary care.
        Patients in need of care will be triaged by the EMS team on Put-in-Bay to determine if the patient is appropriate for telehealth services. If so, the patient will be connected via a secure telehealth channel to a Mercy Health provider. If the complaint is determined to be emergent, the on-site paramedic and/or EMT will treat the patient within their scope of training.
        Mercy Health has also worked with mainland pharmacies which will transport by ferry those prescriptions called in by the telehealth providers for patients on the island. Additionally, on-site testing during clinic hours will be available for COVID, flu, RSV and urinalysis.
        The Mercy Health Telehealth Clinic is available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and will be located at the Put-In-Bay EMS Station, 528 Catawba Ave.
       
Health department receives accreditation
        The Ottawa County Health Department has been awarded national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).
        Established in 2007, PHAB is the non-profit organization that administers the national accreditation program, which aims to advance and transform public health practice by championing performance improvement, strong infrastructure, and innovation.
        “We are so pleased to be recognized by PHAB for achieving national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement,” said Health Commissioner Gerald W. Bingham, Jr., MPH, REHS. “We hope this announcement will reassure our community, partners, and our elected officials that the services we provide are as responsive as possible and are meeting the foundational needs of our community.”
        The national accreditation program, which receives support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sets standards against which the nation’s governmental public health departments can continuously improve the quality of their services and performance.
        “The value of becoming nationally accredited through PHAB extends far beyond the walls of the health department,” said PHAB president and CEO Paul Kuehnert, DNP, RN, FAAN. “People living and working in communities served by these health departments can be assured that their health department is strong and has the capacity to protect and promote their health. Going through the accreditation process itself helps health departments pinpoint the areas that are critical to improving the work they do for their communities.”
        Often called the “backbone” of the public health system, public health departments are on the front lines of communities’ efforts to protect and promote health and prevent disease and injury. Across the nation, health departments provide services aimed at promoting healthy behaviors; preventing diseases and injuries; ensuring access to safe food, water, clean air, and life-saving immunizations and preparing for and responding to public health emergencies.