Free prediabetes education available
People with prediabetes are invited to attend a free class taught by Sheena Carswell and Marge Morris from 9 to 11 a.m. March 4 in Suite 140 of the medical office building at Mercy Regional Medical Center.
Attendees will learn how to manage prediabetes and how to prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
People diagnosed with prediabetes are at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Effectively managing prediabetes can help prevent diabetes.
To register, call 764-3415.
Prostate cancer support group to meet
The Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on the second floor of the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.
Anyone with prostate issues is welcome.
For more information, call 247 1292.
Science fair to feature da Vinci surgical robot
Mercy Regional Medical Center will provide a demonstration of the da Vinci surgical robot at the San Juan Basin Regional Science Fair on Thursday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.
The da Vinci robot and simulator demonstration will give students and visitors a unique, hands-on opportunity to experience state-of-the-art technology used in surgeries at Mercy.
Mercy surgeons will guide demonstrations, answer questions and talk about the convergence of robotics and medicine.
The demonstration will be open to the general public.
Depression panel and presentation
A panel of experts will give a presentation called “Depression … Share the Secret” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 15 in the Sunlight and Windom rooms at the Durango Community Recreation Center, 2700 Main Ave.
A light dinner will be provided at 5:15 p.m. This is a free event with no advance registration required.
Topics include reducing the stigma and recognizing the symptoms of depression, lifestyle approaches to treat depression and local resources to support wellness.
Questions will be answered by the professionals: Dr. Mark Fallon-Cyr, who specializes in child, adolescent and adult psychiatry; Stephanie Allred, senior clinical director at Axis Health System; Nicola St. Mary, board-certified naturopathic doctor; and Jenny Treanor, profile employee assistance program coordinator at Centura Health.
The presentation is sponsored by the Community Health Action Coalition, Mercy Regional Medical Center and the League of Women Voters of La Plata County.
For more information or to donate, visit www.chaclaplata.org, email pattie@chaclaplata.org or call 799-0218.
Medical practice wins award for data leadership
Mercy Family Medicine’s participation in a federal grant called the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative was instrumental in Centura Health winning the Nicholas E. Davies Enterprise Award of Excellence from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.
The practice, part of the Centura Health Physician Group, used its grant money to hire two nurse care coordinators and a social worker, professionals not normally found in a local doctor’s office.
By carefully tracking patients’ care-management needs with a risk-stratification tool that the practice built, Mercy Family Medicine was able to demonstrate health improvements resulting in $1 million in savings to taxpayers annually.
Herald Staff
