Health briefs
Uniontown offers programs The Uniontown Hospital and its home health care agency, Fayette Home Care, will offer the following community education programs in April:
– The Safe Sitter Course offers youth over the age of 11 the opportunity to learn safe babysitting techniques from registered nurses. There are two sessions. Each session is six and a half hours. The dates will be announced. A $10 fee is charged to cover the cost of educational materials. To register, call 724-430-3333.
– Childbirth and Labor Preparation Courses are offered each month at the Uniontown Hospital. Two courses will be offered in a series of four sessions. Choose from the series scheduled for today, April 9, 16 and 23 or Wednesday, April 10, 17 and 24. Each session is held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Family Beginnings Conference Room. Registration is required. Call 724-430-4646.
– Breast Feeding is Best Feeding Support Group will meet on Monday, April 8, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Family Beginnings Conference Room. Bring your baby. The support group is led by lactation consultants who are certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. For more information, call 724-430-5573. Registration is not necessary. Parking is free.
– The Parent Support Group for Pregnancy and Infant Loss will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 11, in the hospital’s Library Conference Room. The group is for parents experiencing a loss through miscarriage, stillbirth, newborn death, ectopic pregnancy or SIDS. Registration is not necessary.
– Outpatient Diabetes Classes will be held on April 29, May 2, 6 and 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. To register, call Fayette Home Care at 724-439-1610.
– “Look Good … Feel Better” is a free, national public service program to help women undergoing cancer treatment learn to cope with the appearance-related side effects of treatment and regain a sense of self-confidence and control over their lives.
The American Cancer Society and the Fayette Regional Cancer Center will sponsor the program quarterly.
The program will be held on Monday, April 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Fayette Regional Cancer Center.
To register for the program, call the American Cancer Society at 1-888-227-5445.
Program offered
APPRISE is a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for older Pennsylvanians. The Pennsylvania Department of Aging created APPRISE to help Pennsylvanians understand their health insurance options and make sound decisions about what is best for them.
For assistance with your Medicare-related health insurance questions, call the Fayette HealthLine at 724-430-3333.
Smoking program set
“For Your Health – Smoking/Tobacco Cessation Program” is a free of charge program sponsored by the Uniontown Hospital. The program will be held in the Heritage Conference Room, which is located on the first floor of the Uniontown Hospital, on the following dates and times:
– Session I, Wednesday, April 17, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
– Session II, Wednesday, April 24, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
– Session III, Wednesday, May 1, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
– Session IV, Wednesday, May 8, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
– Session V, Wednesday, May 15, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
– Session VI, Wednesday, May 22, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
For more information and to register, call the Fayette HealthLine at 724-430-3333. Limited space is available. The registration deadline is Friday, April 12.
Driving program offered
Residents of the region who are 50 or older and want to maintain and improve their skills should circle Tuesday and Wednesday, April 16-17, on their calendars.
That’s when a 55 Alive Mature Driving program will be offered at Brownsville General Hospital. Advance registration is required.
Developed by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), 55 Alive Mature Driving is a classroom driving retraining program designed to help older people improve their driving skills. In Pennsylvania, completion of the program qualifies participants for multi-year auto insurance discounts.
Classes must be taken every three years to insure continued auto premium discounts.
The sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The course is $10 payable to AARP. Additional information and advanced registration is available by calling 724-785-1876.
Veteran program slated
Due to the high volume of appointments, American Legion Post 51, 114 N. Gallatin Ave., Uniontown, will continue to host the VA Pittsburgh Health Care System on the first and third Friday of each month from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The exams are designed to provide veterans, who do not use the VA for their health care, an opportunity to become introduced to VA primary care.
The VA Pittsburgh Health Care System is offering limited primary care exams by a VA physician extender.
During the exams, veterans will be able to ask questions regarding all health services, including the medication benefit.
However, prescriptions will not be provided at this exam. If veterans are interested in receiving medications after the examination, a future appointment will be made for them to receive their medication.
The exam will also enroll veterans into the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.
Veterans will also receive free cholesterol and blood sugar checks.
To take advantage of the limited primary care exam, a veteran must meet the following requirements:
– Is not currently being seen by a VA primary care provider.
– Brings current insurance or Medicare cards.
– Makes an appointment.
Appointment for the limited primary care exams can be made by contacting the VA at 800-309-8398, ext. 3772. Appointments are required.
Brownsville offers programs
Brownsville General Hospital announces the following community programs for April:
– Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., blood pressure screening, National City Bank, downtown Brownsville branch.
– Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., blood pressure screening, National City Bank, Old National Pike Branch.
– Monday, April 8, 1 p.m., “Understanding Stroke,” Beth-Center Senior Center.
– Friday, April 12, 10 a.m. to noon, Diabetes Support Group. For more information, contact 724-785-1887.
– Monday, April 15, 11 a.m., “Understanding Stroke,” Brownsville Crosskeys.
– Tuesday, April 16, 1 p.m., blood pressure screening at Mulligan Manor Apartments and 2 p.m., blood pressure screening at Brownsville House Apartments.
– Tuesday and Wednesday, April 16-17, AARP Driving Course at Brownsville General Hospital. For information or to register, call 724-785-1876.
– Thursday, April 25, 11 a.m., “Understanding Stroke,” Republic Crosskeys.
– Saturday, April 27, 7 to 10 a.m., Brownsville Rotary Multiphasic Screening, Hiller Fire Department. Call 724-785-1999.
– Tuesday, April 30, 1 p.m., Men’s Health Day, Center in the Woods in California. For more information or to register for the screening, contact 724-938-3554.
– The Arthritis Support Group, scheduled for Thursday, was canceled and will resume on May 2.
– The blood sugar and cholesterol screening scheduled for April 11 at the South Brownsville Methodist Church has been rescheduled for May 9.