Health-coverage guides available
Open enrollment for health insurance from Connect for Health Colorado will last until Feb. 15.
San Juan Basin Health Department has health-coverage guides in its Durango and Pagosa Springs offices who provide free consultations for community members.
They can provide one-on-one assistance with navigating the new health-care laws, including individual and family options, opportunities and obligations. Discounts for insurance are available to many Coloradans, even people with pre-existing conditions.
The public is invited to attend one of these upcoming presentations at the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.: Tuesday, Dec. 16, Jan. 6, Jan. 20 and Feb. 3.
These meetings will consist of a presentation covering how the Affordable Care Act affects people in Colorado and how it can benefit individuals and families. A question-and-answer period will follow the formal presentations.
For more information, call Renee Burch in Archuleta County at 264-2409, ext. 203, or Kevin O’Connor in La Plata County at 335-2021.
Diabetes awareness raised in November
November is American Diabetes Month.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects more than 2,500 people in La Plata and Archuleta counties.
Risk factors for diabetes include: family history, obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
San Juan Basin Health has programs and services available to residents to help them learn if they are at risk for diabetes and to help them navigate the illness.
The Community Care Team/Nurse Navigators can answer questions or help provide information and resources to assist clients with diabetes and other related illnesses.
For more information, call 335-2002.
The Promotora program provides free services to the Hispanic/Latino communities in La Plata and Archuleta counties, including health screenings, referrals, and coaching.
For more information, call 335-2062.
Nominations sought for luminary awards
The Southwestern Colorado Area Health Education Center is accepting nominations for the 2015 Nightingale Luminary Awards.
The award recognizes outstanding nurses in the Four Corners during an awards ceremony in March 2015.
Nominations can be made for registered nurses in two categories: clinical practice or non-traditional roles. In each of the two categories, nominees will be judged in the areas of advocacy, leadership or innovation.
Up to six regional “Nightingale Luminaries” will be selected with the possibility of advancement to a statewide award contest. The statewide Nightingale Awards event will take place in Denver in May 2015.
For more information or applications, visit www.swcahec.org or call 375-3250.
Nominations are due no later than Jan. 15.
Mercy named top performer
Mercy Regional Medical Center announced it has been recognized as a 2013 Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health-care organizations in the U.S.
Mercy was recognized as part of The Joint Commission’s 2014 annual report “America’s Hospitals: Improving Quality and Safety” for surgical, heart attack and pneumonia care.
This is the second consecutive year Mercy has been recognized as a Top Performer. Mercy was recognized last year for its 2012 performance on accountability measure data for surgical care as well as heart attack and pneumonia care.
For more information, visit www.jointcommission.org/accreditation/top_performers.aspx.
Herald Staff
