$3.5 million for local children's health and wellness network
Monday, 09 November 2009 10:25
A community-university health partnership received one of 12 grants awarded nationally to promote the health and wellness of children 8 years old and younger. The local funding will benefit more than 11,000 children living in Athens, Hocking, Vinton and Meigs Counties, according to a news release.
In recent years, more and more people have embraced organic products as a part of their daily diet. Whereas a decade ago grocery stores may not have had any organic products, nowadays most grocery stores offer an abundance of organic items – and not just those in the produce section. Organic dairy products have increased in popularity, and many stores now even sell organic frozen pizzas.
OU-COM researchers: Acromegaly drug shown to stop cancer growth
Monday, 09 November 2009 10:20
A drug developed by an Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-COM) faculty member has the potential to treat cancer of the breast, prostate and colon, as well as some brain cancers, according to a news release.
In 1989, a team of researchers led by John Kopchick, Ph.D., Goll-Ohio Eminent Scholar and professor of molecular and cellular biology, found a compound that inhibits growth hormone (GH) action. They discovered that it could treat acromegaly, a chronic disease that causes swelling of facial features and/or internal organs, and they also suspected its potential to stop, prevent or even reverse the growth of tumors, according to a press release.
OU-COM's Area Health Education Center to award grants for women
Monday, 09 November 2009 10:16
Community organizations and agencies in 21 southeast Ohio counties are eligible to receive between $500 and $1,300 to plan and conduct conferences, workshops, health fairs and other events to promote the second annual Ohio Women’s Health Week, scheduled for May 1-15, 2010.
This year, the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) at the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-COM) will award at least four grants, each between $500 and $1,300, according to a news release.
Athens hospital system goes tobacco-free Thursday, Nov. 19
Monday, 09 November 2009 10:13
In order to protect patients, visitors and associates from the effects of tobacco use, all campuses of the O’Bleness Health System will become tobacco free beginning Monday, Nov. 16. The week also coincides with the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, which is Thursday, Nov. 19.
The decision to become tobacco-free was recommended by O’Bleness’ medical staff and approved by O’Bleness’ board of directors early in 2009, a news release from the hospital reported.
College is an ideal time to perfect healthy eating habits
Written by Emily Mullin
Monday, 09 November 2009 10:04
College is a time for changes, some of which are good. And some of which are, well, not so good (like the decision to drink those eight beers last night).
One habit that should change for the better, though, is your diet. This is an ideal time to develop a healthy eating regimen to follow through college and beyond.
Former insurance exec: Why insurance companies deny health care
Monday, 05 October 2009 09:21
As President Barack Obama addressed the nation on health care, the California Nurses Association revealed that health insurers have rejected about one-fifth of all medical claims in the state over the past seven years.
Using data culled from California's Department of Managed Care’s Web site, the CNA said it found that the state's five largest insurers rejected 31.2 million claims for care from 2002 through June of this year. According to the nurses’ union, PacificCare denied the largest percentage of claims (40 percent), followed by Cigna (33 percent), HealthNet (30 percent) and Kaiser (29 percent).
Tobacco cessation mobile lab will be a feature at HEALTHfest
Monday, 05 October 2009 09:19
Research geared toward improving treatments for teenage smokers will be a feature at HEALTHfest, which will be held at O’Bleness Memorial Hospital, Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A mobile research laboratory from the Center for Biobehavioral Health in the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital will be present at HEALTHfest.
OU-COM offers series of free and low-cost screenings for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Written by Athens NEWS Staff
Monday, 05 October 2009 09:17
In an effort to raise awareness of breast and cervical cancer, the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-COM) is providing free and reduced-cost screenings throughout southeast Ohio in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
This effort is part of an ongoing series of screenings provided by the OU-COM Community Health Programs and the Area Health Education Center.
The first H1N1 diagnosis at Ohio University was officially announced Thursday, and as anxieties about the flu spread across campus this week, many students are unclear about what is even covered on their student health insurance plan.
About 3,600 students were covered by the OU student health insurance plan in the 2008-2009 school year, said Jacqueline Legg, interim director of the Student Health and Counseling Services at OU. At $367 per quarter for yearlong insurance coverage, Legg said that OU student insurance costs an average of $90 per month.
Student volunteers make big contributions to hospital over the summer
Monday, 14 September 2009 09:23
Many college students spent their summers working or taking classes to get ahead in their academic careers. These busy schedules lead to less free time for lying by the pool and hanging out with friends. However, some students spent their extra time giving back to the Athens community.
Four Ohio University College of Communication students — Kaleigh Harger, Devin Hughes, Kelly Masterson and Carolyn Miller — one Honors Tutorial College student — Mary Dolan — and one dietitian student from the University of Pittsburgh — Tracie Rohal — donated their free time this summer as volunteers in the community-relations department at O’Bleness Memorial Hospital.
Student hopes to continue research in nanotechnology after graduation
When he's not riding his Harley, climbing mountains or riding bicycles with his mentor, Ohio University graduate student Adam Jacoby is working toward a lifetime goal of curing neurodegenerative diseases.
Local hospital gets state-of-the-art 'cat' scanner
Monday, 14 September 2009 09:16
A mobile Computed Tomography (CT) scanner that was docked at the rear entrance of O’Bleness Memorial Hospital’s radiology department is now gone and the latest addition to the hospital’s digital diagnostic imaging capabilities – a 64-slice CT scanner – is up and running.
The temporary mobile unit was used this summer while the hospital’s previous CT scanner was removed and the new 64-slice CT scanner installed, according to a news release.
Intro by Jaine Schmidt Wyatt with special thanks to Kristin Miller
September is ALS Awareness Month. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease,” is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. These nerve cells control muscles throughout the body, and as they degenerate, patients progressively lose voluntary control of their muscles until they can no longer speak, swallow or breath on their own.
New health-care broadband network paves way for local economic development (Aug. 09)
Written by Athens NEWS Staff
Monday, 03 August 2009 09:06
The Southern Ohio Health Care Network (SOHCN) recently announced the award of an $18 million FCC-funded contract to Horizon Telcom for construction of a state-of-the-art fiber optic network across 13 counties in southern Ohio.
The project will connect 120-plus health-care facilities, large and small, to a robust fiber-optic network, according to a news release. The connectivity will allow area providers to participate in telemedicine initiatives, progressive community health record projects and the regional health information organization. Likewise, use of the network will enhance sustainability of rural medical practices, develop deeper collaboration among health-care providers and enhance emergency communications, the release said.
&lscript>
