Public Health News Nov-Dec 2007

Individuals have three more opportunities to get a flu shot from San Juan Basin Health. On Tuesday, November 6^th, there will be a clinic at Mercy Hospital from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Use the lower level entrance near the cafeteria and follow the signs. There will be two more Friday Flu Clinics from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. November 9^th and November 16th. The Friday clinics are held at San Juan Basin Health (281 Sawyer Drive, Bodo Park) in the Larkspur Room by the lower level parking lot. Flu shots are $25 or free for those who have Medicare, Part B or Rocky Mountain Health Plan. Please bring your insurance cards. For more information, call 247-5702 or visit www.sjbhd.org. Top Ten Flu FAQs: http://www.sjbhd.org/en/top-flu-faqs

San Juan Basin Health’s Sponsored Children’s Clinics

The Children's Hospital Clinic with Dr. Dennis Matthews, Rehab specialist is in Durango Friday, November 2.  Matthews visits Durango twice a year to see children from the Southwest region. Neuro clinic with Dr. Tom Reiley will be held November 14th in Pagosa Springs, November 15^th in Cortez and November 16^th in Durango.   Wheel chair clinic is at San Juan Basin Health on Friday, November 9th. A genetics clinic (a Children's Hospital Clinic) with Dr. David Manchester will also take place at San Juan Basin Health on November 28 and 29^th . The next one will be in May, 2008. These are not walk-in clinics. For more info, call Eileen at 247-5702, ext. 208.

Another eight week session of Girls Circle (open ages 12-16) will be starting soon. Sponsored by the DRAGON Youth Project, this free group provides a safe place for girls to talk about issues that are unique to them. The next session will take place on Tuesdays from 4-5:30 at Durango Joe’s community room. Participants are encouraged to commit to the full eight week session. Contact Kendra kendra@sjbhd.org or 247-5702, ext. 225. The DRAGON Youth Project is a program of San Juan Basin Health.

Promoviendo La Salud Offers Evening Clinic

Beginning Thursday, November 8^th Promoviendo La Salud will offer evening clinics twice a month for chronic disease management including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Clinic services will be by appointment only, for clients who have already attended a Promoviendo La Salud screening and are not established with another provider. Individuals with urgent or general primary care needs will be referred to appropriate providers. 

A program of San Juan Basin Health, Promoviendo La Salud’s mission is to reduce chronic disease disparities among Latino adults in La Plata and Archuleta Counties. Funding to support clinic services comes from The Colorado Health Foundation. For more information about the clinic or screenings, please call Karen at 247-5702, ext. 207.

Radon Workshop at Bayfield Public Library ~ Wednesday, November 14^th

A Radon Community Workshop will take place on Wednesday, November 14^th at the Bayfield Public Library at 4 p.m. Free test kits will be available. The workshop is sponsored by La Plata County CSU Cooperative Extension and San Juan Basin Health Department.

Radon is a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. Its presence in your home can pose a danger to your family's health. This community workshop is a great opportunity to take action toward reducing individual’s and families’ risk of lung cancer from radon. For more information about radon, see www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/rad/radon/index.htm

Break the Glass: Life or Meth? Premieres at Abbey Theater November 17

A locally produced documentary on methamphetamine abuse and addiction in rural Southwest Colorado will premier at the Abbey Theater on Saturday, November 17 at 2 p.m.  Break the Glass: Life or Meth? is told though the real-life stories of recovering addicts. The content of the stories can be graphic, somewhat disturbing, and includes some profanity. Therefore, the intended viewing audience is 11th grade on up. Methamphetamine use/abuse has become an increasingly important issue throughout the Southwest. Meth has long-lasting effects on the user as well as collateral effects on family, friends, schools, the legal system, and criminal behavior.

DVD copies are available for $35 locally and include a study guide with talking points and available resources. All proceeds go to support the La Plata Community Meth Forum. Please contact, Scot Davis, if you would like more information, to purchase a DVD, or to schedule a presentation at sdavis@breaktheglass.info or 946-8979.

Scholarship Received to Health Teen Network Conference

San Juan Basin Health Department’s Kendra Gallegos Reichle received a scholarship to attend the Healthy Teen Network Conference in Baltimore November 14-17^th. She is one of just five public health recipients nationally.

WIC Changes Formula Provider – Serves 22,000 in Colorado
Starting January 2008, the Colorado WIC (Women, Infants & Children) program will implement a new infant formula rebate contract with Mead Johnson Nutritionals. Instead of providing Similac infant formula, Enfamil products will be substituted. In addition, Colorado WIC will no longer provide standard infant formulas manufactured by companies other than Mead Johnson. 

Having an infant formula rebate enables Colorado WIC to provide WIC benefits to over 22,000 additional participants each month. Although infant formula is available for clients, WIC’s first priority is always to promote breastfeeding as the ideal infant feeding choice.

Program Receives Technical Assistance and Training for Pregnancy Prevention

DRAGON Youth Project’s coordinator, Kendra Gallegos Reichle, recently received notification that her program will get technical assistance and training funding from The Colorado Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting and Prevention (COAPP). The organization will assist in finding appropriate curricula for our community and design a complete strategy plan. Gallegos Reichle will be partnering with other San Juan Basin Health staff members involved with youth pregnancy prevention efforts. She views this as a great opportunity to work more with schools and community. Additionally, this will aid in helping our area to comply with the recently passed state law which requires schools to provide comprehensive sex education.

The Colorado Health Report Card - Available Online

The following information is taken from the Colorado Health Report Card website. Most Coloradans believe we are one of the healthiest states, based on studies that point to our low obesity rates and active lifestyle. The fact is that Colorado rates only average or below average on a number of critical health indicators used to measure overall health. The 2007 Colorado Health Report Card, along with information contained within this site, show how we are doing on a wide range of health measures and what we need to do to become the healthiest state in the nation. http://www.coloradohealthreportcard.org/welcome/

State Health Department Offers Free Email Subscriber Service

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has announced a free, automated e-mail subscription service for the general public. This Web-based service allows subscribers to receive timely updates, at both an e-mail address and on a text-enabled device, about such topics as pandemic influenza and natural disasters. At no charge, subscribers may choose from several different categories of information about the state's emergency preparedness and response activities. Other topics include news and events, success stories, recent disease outbreaks and biological incidents, severe weather and more. This free service is accessible from the department's website at www.cdphe.state.co.us/epr .

Due to the recent rash of toy recalls, we are providing the following U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website resource: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html

There are no current job openings at this time. Please check our website www.sjbhd.org for up to date opportunities.

Jane Looney, Communications; jlooney@sjbhd.org

San Juan Basin Health Department; 247-5702 x1605