Healthy council scheduled to meet at 8 a.m. Friday
The nonprofit Citizens Health Advisory Council will meet from 8 to 10 a.m. Friday at Durango Community Recreation Center in the Eolus Room, 2700 Main Ave.
The council is an open coalition of interested residents and organizations that advocates for community health and wellness in La Plata County by serving as a central point for communication and collaboration.
This meeting is the council’s annual planning meeting to review goals and set objectives for 2014. People are invited to attend to advocate for items they feel are important for the council to address.
For more information, visit www.chaclaplata.org.
Two blood drives to be held at hospital
Mercy Regional Medical Center has scheduled two blood drives in December.
A bloodmobile will park near the healing garden at the center in Grandview on Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There are 36 slots available.
On Dec. 18, blood donors are asked to report to Conference Room A near the cafeteria from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Eighteen slots are available.
Appointments can be made by calling Kathy Kane, the medical center’s blood drive coordinator, at 764-1170. Kane also can field questions about the blood drives.
All donors will receive a $5 gift certificate for the Merciful Mug coffee/sandwich bar at the medical center.
After the second drive, a gift certificate valued at $55 for a comprehensive blood test will be raffled among all donors.
In the past, Mercy blood drives counted on mainly employees, Kane said. The recent closure of the United Blood Services office in Durango prompted Mercy to open its blood drives to the public, she said.
Mercy named top performer by national health-care group
Mercy Regional Medical Center was named Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health-care organizations in America.
Mercy was recognized by the commission for exemplary performance in using evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to improve care for certain conditions.
The clinical processes focus on care for heart attack, pneumonia, surgery, children’s asthma, stroke and venous thromboembolism, as well as inpatient psychiatric services. New this year is a category for immunization for pneumonia and influenza.
Mercy was recognized for its achievements in heart attack, pneumonia and surgical care.
Mercy will be recognized on the Joint Commission’s Quality Check website at www.qualitycheck.org.
The Top Performer Program will be featured in the December issues of The Joint Commission Perspectives and The Source.
Acupuncture clinic available free of charge to veterans
A Durango Veterans Acupuncture Clinic will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays and from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays at 635 East Fifth Ave.
This is a free, community-style acupuncture clinic for veterans and their families. The clinic is sponsored by The Durango Acupuncture Alliance.
For more information, call Vanessa Morgan at 403-4150.
Sinusitis, food allergies slated to be discussed
Caleb Gates, licensed acupuncturist, will give a talk called “Resolving Chronic Sinusitis and Food Allergies” using Advanced Allergy Therapeutics, which are safe, noninvasive treatments that use gentle pressure to de-stress organ systems, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Room 2 of Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.
For more information, visit Advanced Allergy Relief Center of the Southwest at 1199 Main Ave., Suite 230, call 259-9488 or visit www.allergyreliefbeyondbelief.com.
Southwestern education center to offer webinar
The Southwestern Colorado Area Health Education Center and The Colorado Trust will host a webinar called “Solutions for Tackling Social Determinants of Health” at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 15 at the Keller Williams Building, 700 Main Ave.
Dr. Anthony Iton, senior vice president of The California Endowment, and Dr. Winston Wong, medical director of Kaiser Permanente, will speak.
This free webinar is the final of a four-part series presented in partnership with the health education center and The Colorado Trust.
The Health Equity Learning Series aims to build knowledge and awareness of health equity through presentations about factors that increase disparities and possible solutions that advance health equity.
To register by Nov. 13, visit swcahec.org/2013-registration or call 375-3250. Complimentary lunch will be served to advance RSVPs only.
Herald Staff
