Features - Los Alamos Daily Post

Getting Ahead Of Next Pandemic: Is The World Ready?

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 3, 2017

Is the world ready for the next pandemic? Courtesy photo

CDC News:

When a deadly mystery illness was detected in Liberia in April 2017, first responders were on the ground within 24 hours. Through the Ministry of Health’s quick action and collaboration with global partners, the cause of the outbreak was identified as meningococcal disease and contained with only 31 cases and 13 deaths.

In stark contrast, when Ebola struck Liberia just three years ago, it took the country months to mount an effective response; thousands of lives were lost as responders raced to control the growing epidemic.

The Read More

Massage Like You’ve Never Felt It

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 2, 2017

Windgate Healing Arts owner Bethany Bundy at 2101 Suite T Trinity Dr. Photo by Bonnie Gordon/ladailypost.com

By BONNIE GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post

bjgordon@ladailypost.com

Bethany Bundy, owner of Windgate Healing Arts, offers body work techniques that may be new to Los Alamos, but have thousands of years of history behind them.

Bundy opened Windgate Healing Arts at 2101 Suite T Trinity Dr., about two months ago. Located near the Los Alamos Public Schools Administration Building, Windgate presents a calm, beautiful atmosphere.

A massage therapist for 20 years, Bundy was drawn to Read More

Hiking The Grand Canyon Nov. 8

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 1, 2017

Fifteen New Mexico Hospitals To Receive New Leapfrog Safety Grades

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 1, 2017

SSG News:

When you check into the hospital, are you aware of whether the doctors wash their hands? Do you consider the potential risk for infection and what your hospital’s success rate has been in preventing these?

Chances are no, but having access to this information could be the difference between life and death. In fact, more than 440,000 people die each year from preventable errors, making medical errors the third leading cause of death in the U.S.

Fifteen New Mexico hospitals will receive new Hospital Safety Scores Oct. 31, from The

AG Balderas Expands Massive Generic Drug Price-Fixing Investigation And Lawsuit

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 31, 2017

Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE ― Attorney General Hector Balderas and 45 other state attorneys general taking part in a wide-ranging multistate antitrust investigation of the generic drug industry today asked a federal court for permission to file a new complaint in the states’ pending lawsuit that increases the number of generic drug manufacturer defendants in the suit from six to 18 and the number of drugs at issue in the litigation from two to 15.

For the first time, the states are also suing senior executives at two generic drug companies

LARSO: From Our Kitchen To Your Door – Home Delivered Meals For Seniors

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 30, 2017

Grilled tuna and vegetables can be delivered hot and ready to eat to the homes of seniors who may not be able to cook for themselves. Courtesy/LARSO

LARSO News:

Many locals know that delicious lunches are served at both the Betty Ehart and White Rock senior centers every weekday, but fewer folks know that those same meals can be delivered hot and ready to eat to the homes of seniors who may not be able to cook for themselves.

Sometimes, a senior has been hospitalized or sustained an injury or illness that has them feeling weak, unable to stand at the stove or just not feeling like eating.

Good nutrition Read More

Balderas: $18.5 Million Presbyterian Settlement

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 30, 2017

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office of Attorney General Hector Balderas:

Balderas’ recovery exceeds the audit amount identified by nearly $4 million

ALBUQUERQUE – This afternoon, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced he has reached an $18.5 million settlement with Presbyterian Healthcare regarding the failure to pay Medicaid premium taxes by the corporation.

The settlement exceeds the amount identified, $14.6 million, in the recently released Examination Resources audit by nearly four million dollars. The $18.5 million dollar recovery only Read More

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 28, 2017

Courtesy/DEA

NMDOH News:

The New Mexico Department of Health has issued details about the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28.

The DEA’s annual Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans Read More

U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham Introduces Health Care Choice And Affordability Act

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 27, 2017

U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham introduced the Health Care Choice and Affordability Act, which would create a Medicaid buy-in option for individuals in counties with few or no options in the insurance marketplace.

Rep. Lujan Grisham’s legislation would address immediate concerns about access to coverage in the ACA marketplace. While more than 20 million additional Americans have access to health insurance under the ACA, many communities do not have the option to choose between competing insurance

Udall Urges Bipartisan Action To Fund CHIP And Health Programs Critical To New Mexico

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 26, 2017

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wednesday, in a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall urged Republicans to work with Democrats to fund critical health programs that benefit thousands of N.M. children, low-income families, and Native Americans.

Udall also voiced his support for bipartisan efforts in the Senate to stabilize the individual health insurance markets and protect against President Trump’s efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Last month, while Republicans were

Judge Orders Settlement Conference In Case Against Los Alamos Medical Center

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 25, 2017

LAMC CEO John Whiteside

By MAIRE O’NEILL

Los Alamos Daily Post

maire@ladailypost.com

First Judicial District Judge Francis J. Mathew has given the parties in a lawsuit filed by Carrie Adair against Los Alamos Medical Center and Barbara Van Eeckhout, M.D. until January to engage in a settlement conference and report back to the Court.

Adair initially filed the complaint in January 2016 alleging medical negligence and negligent hiring, credentialing, training and supervision against LAMC and Van Eeckhout following her treatment Aug. 24 and Aug. 25, 2014, at LAMC. A 12-person jury Read More

Udall, Heinrich, Lujan Grisham Join Luján In Introducing Bicameral Legislation To Create Health Care Public Option

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 25, 2017

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) today introduced the State Public Option Act, bicameral legislation to create a Medicaid-based public health care option on the insurance marketplace, which will provide Americans with a new high-quality, low-cost choice when purchasing health insurance.

The bill already has more than 35 cosponsors in both the House and Senate including Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-MN).

“Our goal with

Community Invited To Falls Prevention Talk Nov. 9

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 24, 2017

Rotary: Los Alamos Students Get Pinkies Painted Purple To Eradicate Polio … Tuesday Is World Polio Day

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 23, 2017

Ty Morris of Pinon Elementary School participates in the Purple Pinkie event recently hosted by the Rotary Club of Los Alamos to bring awareness to polio and its eradication. Photo by Oliver Morris

Kaya Loy, right, and a friend show their purple pinkies during a special even hosted by the Rotary Club of Los Alamos to bring awareness to polio eradication. Photo by Laura Loy

Aspen Elementary teacher Stacy Martin and Rotarian Alison Pannell support the eradication of polio through a recent Purple Pinkie event. Photo by Mary Beth Maassen

ROTARY News:

In recognition of World Polio Day, Oct. Read More

PEEC Brings Wilderness First Aid Course To Los Alamos Nature Center Nov. 4-5

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 23, 2017

SOLO’s two-day WFA courses teach participants to care for someone in need of first aid while in the backcountry. Courtesy photo

PEEC News:

Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is hosting a SOLO Wilderness First Aid (WFA) Course at the Los Alamos Nature in early November.

The WFA class meets 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 4-5. Registration is open; visit or call the Los Alamos Nature Center 505.662.0460 to sign up. WFA certification is good for two years.

This intensive, two-day SOLO Wilderness First Aid (WFA)

Guarding The Guardians: The Challenge Of Protecting The Incapacitated

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 21, 2017

By LAUREN JOHNSON

Dabney and Griffith Law Office

Community Internship Collaboration Intern

New Mexico’s Guardianship System provides the statutory framework for guardianship and care to be provided to incapacitated adults deemed to not possess the mental ability to care for themselves and their assets any longer.

Due to the expense of Guardianship proceedings these adults must have sufficient financial resources in order to afford the court proceedings necessary for the appointment of a guardian. They also must have no other form of intervention, such as a power of attorney

HSD’s Proposed Centennial Care 2.0 Redesign Has Few Strengths And Too Many Flaws

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 21, 2017

By BRIAN ETHERIDGE, MD, FAAP

Silver City

New Mexico’s Human Services Department (HSD) wants to make changes to its Medicaid program that would not only hurt our state’s children and families, but would also place financial burdens on its healthcare workforce.

As both a pediatrician and the president of the New Mexico Pediatric Society, I must voice my concerns. The draft plan open for comments until Nov. 6, and which must be approved by the federal government, has some strong points, including pilot projects for Medicaid-funded home visitation, improved coverage

Worried Your Sore Throat May Be Strep?

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 20, 2017

Courtesy photo

CDC News:

Strep throat is a common type of sore throat in children, but it’s not very common in adults. Healthcare professionals can do a quick test to determine if a sore throat is strep throat. If so, antibiotics can help you feel better faster and prevent spreading it to others.

Many things can cause that unpleasant, scratchy, and sometimes painful condition known as a sore throat. Viruses, bacteria, allergens, environmental irritants (such as cigarette smoke), and chronic postnasal drip can all cause a sore throat. While many sore throats will get better without treatment, Read More

Methods To Help Teens Become Safer Drivers

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 20, 2017

Courtesy photo

CDC News:

Learning to drive is often considered a rite of passage for teenagers. But with the reward of being a new driver comes real risk.

Know the Facts

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for US teens.
More than 2,300 teens (ages 16‒19) lost their lives in car crashes in 2015—that’s six teens every day.
Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are nearly three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash.
Driver inexperience is a main cause of fatal crashes for teen drivers.
The number one threat to teens’ safety is driving or riding in a car

Family YMCA Gets New Exercise Equipment

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 19, 2017

Technicians work on essembling new exercise equipment Wednesday at the Los Alamos YMCA including three new treadmills, two AMT machines and two elliptical machines at the Y on Iris Street. Courtesy photo