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KU Hospital will open blood, marrow transplant program’s dedicated …

admin — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:47:43 +0000

in Westwood will open a 7,500-square-foot dedicated space Monday for its Blood and Marrow Transplant program.
The space’s renovation started in the fall and cost $2 million, KU Hospital spokesman Dennis Minich said Wednesday. The project was paid for by Annette Bloch’s $20 million donation in the fall, Minich said.
The Blood and Marrow Transplant program had been in shared space in the cancer pavilion, he said.
The program had three years of significant growth, necessitating the dedicated space, the hospital said in a release. The program was established in 1977 and has pioneered advancements in bone marrow and stem cell transplantation in the Kansas City area.
In July 2007, the hospital teamed with the
to create the region’s largest BMT program. The program grew by 94 percent in 2007 and another 52 percent in 2008, making space an issue even though the facilities at the Westwood campus were only 18 months old, the release said.
designation.

Reach Out and Read program introduced at Family Health Medical …

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:33:43 +0000

MAYVILLE – Getting books from the doctor will soon be a routine part of well-child visits at Family Health Medical Services, as doctors and nurses welcome the Reach Out and Read program to the practice. Family Health Medical Services joins more than 3,797 programs nationally that are working to make books part of a healthy childhood.
Reach Out and Read is a simple, yet highly effective concept. The program targets children growing up in poverty and without books and features three key elements:
Volunteers read with children in pediatric clinic waiting areas.
Pediatricians educate parents about the importance of reading with their children every day.
Every child from the age of six months to five years receives a new book to take home and keep when they come in for a well-child checkup.
“Giving a book to a young child, along with age-appropriate advice about sharing books for the parents, may be the only concrete activity a pediatrician can routinely do to promote child development,” commented Barry S. Zuckerman, MD ROR co-founder, and chief of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine.
Medical research supports the claim, showing that literacy-promoting interventions by the pediatrician have a significant effect on parental behaviors, beliefs and attitudes toward reading aloud. For more than a decade, studies have indicated that parents who get books and literacy counseling from their doctors and nurses are more likely to read to their young children, read to them more often, and provide more books in the home. In addition, several studies have also shown improvements in the language scores of young children receiving Reach Out and Read.
“Reading with your child is an invitation to conversation,” said Dr. Robert Berke, MD ROR Medical Director at Family Health Services.
For more information about Reach Out and Read at Family Health Medical Services, or if you would like to donate funds or volunteer as a reader, please call 753-7107.
Reach Out and Read is a national, non-profit program that is working to make literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric primary care, so that children grow up with books and a love of reading. ROR trains doctors and nurses about the importance of reading aloud and to give books to children at pediatric check-ups from six months to five years of age, with a special focus on children growing up in poverty. This year, Reach Out and Read will provide more than 4.1 million books to more than 2.5 million children, at over 3,797 programs throughout the country.

Kennesaw may link health premiums to wellness program

admin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:45:49 +0000

Kennesaw’s city employees identified as high-risk for health complications may pay more for medical benefits unless they participate in a city-sponsored wellness program.
The council is scheduled to discuss the proposed policy today at a 7 p.m. meeting. The policy would affect known tobacco users, some overweight employees and others identified by the company’s wellness consultant as being at high risk of health complications, Mayor Mark Mathews said Sunday.
That could double their premiums, which would go from $25 a pay period to $50.
“It’s just a good incentive to help the members and owners of the plan to save money,” Mathews said.
Kennesaw dropped traditional health insurance coverage about four years ago and went with a self-funded model in which premiums go toward paying claims and establishing a catastrophic health care fund from which large expenses are paid. At the time, the city created a wellness program designed to help lower claims, Mathews said.
The higher premiums for employees who don’t want to participate in the wellness program were proposed by an employee benefits committee, Mathews said. He said he has not heard from any employees concerned about the proposal.

Program takes parenting, fitness in stride

admin — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 05:33:18 +0000

Program takes parenting, fitness in stride
10:00 PM PST on Friday, January 2, 2009
Fitness has always been important to Canyon Lake resident Michele Sapp. Starting a family didn't change that, but it did make it harder.
Expanding the national fitness program, Stroller Strides, to the Temecula Valley was a way to combine her two passions: parenting and fitness. When her friend and founder of the program, Lisa Druxman, called five years ago to see if Sapp was interested, she jumped on it. Druxman opened the first franchise about eight years ago in San Diego.
At the time Sapp's boys, Blake and Brandon, were 18 months and 3 years old. Her sons were part of the workout, since the stroller is considered part of the fitness equipment. Resistance bands are also used to tone for a full-body workout.
“A lot of people are surprised by how tough it is,” Sapp said. “We want the moms to sweat. It's a fun social hour, but it's definitely a calorie fat burner.”
It can be a struggle for new moms to get back in shape. There are a lot of changes going on in their bodies. Many feel isolated because they don't get out much or they're overworked trying to balance a family with a career.
“This is a fun way to get fit again … and it also keeps the moms mentally fit, which can be the most important thing,” Sapp said. “And, they become great role models for their children.”
The children not only see their moms exercising and working to be healthy, they are active as well.
“I've always been a gym rat and there's nothing wrong with that, but at the gym, children don't see what mommy's doing,” Sapp said. “Stroller Stride moms tell me they see their 3, 4 or 5 year olds doing squats and stretches in front of the mirror at home.”
Sapp's children are too big for strollers now, but they stay active and she is still passionate about the program.
“I think every mother of young children should try it,” she said.
The Temecula Valley Stroller Strides has 17 classes and meets five days a week. There are locations at Creekside Park in Lake Elsinore, Wheatfield Park in Menifee, Cold Canyon Park in Murrieta and two locations in Temecula, Harveston Park and Patricia Birdsall Sports Park.
Reach Jennifer Dean at 951-368-9336,
or http://blogs.pe.com/moms

Raleigh fitness program helping children shape up

admin — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:15:53 +0000

Raleigh, N.C. —
Childhood obesity is a growing problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 percent of children are overweight or obese. The new
is trying to beat those odds.
“At Hi 5, we work very hard on basically getting them active, that means anything that is moving,” said Susan Caldwell, with Hi 5 Fitness.
The children in the program are from 5-years-old to 18-years-old, and are taught about living healthy, through exercise and eating right. When WRAL News visited the class on Monday, the children were making their own pizzas with brocolli, spinach and tomatoes.
“I can’t believe my children are eating that (pizza) to be honest with you. There aren’t any big slices of pepperoni. I can’t believe it,” mother Karen Phelps said.
Caldwell, 34, founded the fitness program but she hasn’t always been a fitness guru.
“It is hard to believe that I used to weigh 300 pounds,” she said.
Caldwell says she started gaining weight in college and was in the worst shape of her life in 2006. Inspired by a woman in People Magazine who lost a lot of weight, Caldwell began watching what she ate and working out.
Caldwell lost 123 pounds and dropped 14 dress sizes. Last year, she graced the pages of People Magazine’s “Half Their Size” issue.
She is now trying to inspire a younger generation to get fit. Caldwell says she called the program “Hi 5″ because she wants to encourage children to eat from the five basic food groups and have five days of physical activity every week.

Health education and fitness program at Greater New Bethel AME

admin — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:39:01 +0000

January 23, 2009 09:04 am
Greater New Bethel AME Church will be sponsoring a health education and fitness program focusing on weight loss and spiritual growth for a prosperous new year. The orientation meeting will be held Saturday, Jan. 24 at 9 a.m. in the church fellowship hall. All ages, male and female, are welcome. Doctors Tommy and Athena Randolph will be coordinating. The church is located at the corner of Glass and Lisle Avenue in Live Oak. For more information please call 386-362-6707.

MSSU tightens its belt; drops soccer program

admin — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 23:59:30 +0000

JOPLIN – The state of the economy dominates nearly every discussion in every corner of American society at this time, and Missouri Southern State University is no different.
Missouri’s new governor, Jay Nixon, Wednesday announced that an agreement was reached with Missouri’s public four-year colleges and universities. In fiscal year 2010, the institutions will receive the same state appropriation they received in fiscal year 2009, according to the agreement that is subject to legislative review. In return, the institutions have pledged not to raise tuition or academic fees during the 2009-2010 school year.
MSSU’s president Bruce Speck today announced several cost-cutting measures the university is implementing. “We are in the process of reviewing responses we have solicited from campus leadership,” Speck stated. “Without increased revenue from a tuition increase, we will have to find a way to meet the continuing increases in costs for providing a quality education. In addition, Southern is still dealing with deficit spending, so the governor’s announcement means that the cuts we will continue to make will not be as deep as we had anticipated. That doesn’t mean, of course, that the cuts will not be significant, but it does mean that students will not be asked to pay more for their education. The focus of internal reallocation of budgets will have a significant impact on some of our programs and all of our faculty and staff.”
Cuts the university has already made include a travel moratorium and a reduction in travel expenses for the basketball teams, among others.
“We have decreased travel costs for our basketball teams by having both the women’s and men’s teams travel in one chartered bus as opposed to two buses they previously used,” the president stated. ” [Southern Athletics Director] Sallie Beard responded to our call to analyze our business operations at all levels and, in response to that call, recommended that we use one bus for our basketball teams.”
The child development center, which currently provides services to about 30 children, will close in May. “The center is heavily subsidized by the university each year,” stated Dr. Glenn Coltharp, dean of the school of education, under which the center is managed. Families who have children in the center, mostly MSSU faculty, staff and students, have been notified to provide ample time to find other services.
“We have been very pleased to use that service as a field experience for our teacher education candidates and those students now will move to Head Start and other similar programs for their field experiences,” Coltharp explained.
Men’s soccer is the only non-conference sport for Missouri Southern, and therefore is forced to schedule matches in places such as New Mexico, Colorado and Texas. After dropping men’s soccer the university will offer 15 varsity teams.
Beard stated,”Even though I recommended that we discontinue men’s soccer after a careful analysis of our athletic programs, it is with great regret that we are announcing that men’s soccer is being cut as a sport at Missouri Southern. We are in unprecedented economic times and we understand that decisions have to be made for the economic health of the department as well as the university. We also understand the frustration that our current team members and soccer alumni will feel. We want them to know that we are grateful for the time, effort, and commitment made by not only the current players and coaches, but also by the soccer players and coaches who have worn the green and gold in the past. We are also thankful for the dedication and work ethic shown by head coach Kiley Cirillo who has been a valued part of the athletics department and who has also been a great teacher and role model for his players.”
Speck emphasized that the university will honor all scholarships the student-athletes on the men’s soccer team are receiving until they graduate. Overall, the child development center and soccer cuts will result in the loss of four full-time and one part-time staff positions.
As announced at the last board of governor’s meeting, the rate of pay for summer classes will be more closely associated with enrollment. In addition to the cost-cutting measures already enacted, the university is reviewing additional methods of reducing expenses, including temporarily adjusting faculty teaching load requirements; adding an employee contribution to health insurance; and an across-the-board pay reduction.

Winter Fitness Program to Begin in January

admin — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:46:37 +0000

    A new 50+ Fitness Program at Bouquet Canyon Seniors Apartment with ACE Certified Fitness Trainer Linda Bennett will commence on Tuesdays and Thursdays January 13th. As the “New Middle Age” active adults know the key to staying young and healthy is exercise.
    On Tuesdays at 8:45 a.m., get your balance and memory in gear; Linda will teach EZ Line Dance, mixed with lots of fun!
    Thursdays at 8:45 a.m., Chair Pilates will be taught in levels of difficulty, and it’s great for people that don’t like to get on the floor. The purpose of the class is “Functional Fitness,” strengthening the core, toning the body, and developing flexibility.
    Come join us at 26705 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, 91350. Classes begin Tuesday January 13th at 8:45 a.m. $5 per class/seniors 60 and over, and $6 non-senior or $35-$45/month. For more information call Linda at 661-993-3969 or the SCV Senior Center at 661-259-9444.
    The SCV Committee on Aging/senior Center is a broad-based charitable nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that serves the needs of over 35,000 seniors and adults in Northern L.A. County. The Center is a multipurpose community resource dedicated to independence, dignity, and quality of life for our seniors, disabled, and everyone on the aging continuum. We provide congregate and home-delivered meals, paratransit services, Handyworker services, support services, and community resource management, as well as a vast array of recreational and educational opportunities for adults 18 and over.

Sheraton partners with Core Performance for health, fitness program

admin — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:38:57 +0000

Sheraton partners with Core Performance for health, fitness program
Sheraton has teamed up with training/lifestyle brand Core Performance to launch a health and fitness program for guests. The “Sheraton Fitness, Programmed by Core Performance” program includes gym and training components, in-room training and healthy food options put together by nutritionists.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008

NutritionQuest's Alive! Program Improves Quality of Life

admin — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:09:31 +0000

The researchers enrolled 787 participants from among non-medical staff of
Kaiser Permanente of Northern California. Participants were randomized to
receive the Alive! program immediately or after an eight-month delay. “It was
quite impressive to see that degree of participation, considering that there
was no monetary incentive and people knew they could be randomized to a group
that would have to wait eight months,” said Barbara Sternfeld, PhD, Senior
Research Scientist at the Division of Research at Kaiser and Principal
Investigator of the study.