Health briefs 04-08-19
Events
n Monongahela Valley Hospital, in conjunction with the Carroll Township Police Department, will participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 27. The event, a convenient and safe way for residents to remove unused drugs from their medicine cabinets, will be held on the hospital campus at the circular driveway area outside of the Anthony M. Lombardi Education Conference Center. Participants can remain in their cars and hand unwanted drugs to the police officers through their windows. Participants should remove any personal information from the bottles or packages of expired, unwanted or unused controlled, non-controlled or over-the-counter medications. Liquid products and creams in their containers will also be accepted. Sharps and syringes will not be accepted due to the potential hazard posed by blood-borne diseases. Donors remain anonymous and police will not request identification. To find other collection sites, search by zip code at deatakeback.com or call 800-882-9539.
n Uniontown Hospital will host a C.O.R.E.Ceremonial Flag Raising at 11 a.m. April 15 in Community Room 1 located in the Main Lobby of the hospital in honor of National Donate Life Month. An actual flag raising will follow at the Main Entrance Flagpole. A reception will be held immediately following the ceremony in Community Room 1. Light refreshments will be served.
n Uniontown Hospital will host the seminar, Weight Loss Surgery for a Healthier You at 4 p.m. April 17 in Community Room 2. The free information session is for those considering bariatric surgery. Information: Vicki Conti, 412-641-3744.
n The Special Olympics of Pennsylvania, Fayette County is sponsoring a free health fair from 5 to 8 p.m. April 16 at the Cove Run Free Methodist Church, 345 Yauger Hollow Road, Lemont Furnace. The health fair is open to all athletes, their caregivers, families and friends. The Around the World theme will take participants to several destinations including: health and education stations, exercise, and yoga. Participants may sample infused water and smoothies. Many door prizes will be available. Plan to join us and learn many simple tips for living a healthier lifestyle.
n Miners from Fayette and surrounding counties can attend a program from Lungs at Work that will include health assessments, pulmonary screenings, pulse oximetry testing, and benefits counseling and assistance with federal Black Lung applications April 25 at the American Legion Post 51, 501 East Main St., Uniontown. Required appointments: 724-941-1650.
n Excela Health is now offering Unplug and Recharge, 15-minute therapeutic sessions at each of the health system’s three hospitals as a way for families visiting a hospitalized loved one to receive care amid stressful circumstances. The sessions are held Tuesdays at Frick Hospital and use a few exercise and yoga techniques, but do not require strenuous physical movement. Sessions are free and open to the public and require no pre-registration. The Unplug and Recharge dates for Frick Hospital are April 16, 23 and 30 in the Fourth Floor Board Room or Conference Room 1. Sessions are held in 15-minute increments between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
n The Monongahela Valley Hospital in conjunction with the American Red Cross will host a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 12 in the education conference center. Free parking is available. Registration: 724-258-1282 or visit redcrosslife.org.
n Excela Health will offer its Wellness Check diagnostic screening in partnership with the Mount Pleasant Rotary, 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. April 13 at Excela Square at Frick. Register for appointments online at www.excelahealth.org/WellnessChecks or contacting the Excela Health Call Center, 877-771-1234. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred to avoid delay. The event, will include a Multiphasic Blood Analysis and participants can choose the Standard blood screening for $45 or request additional blood screenings for thyroid disease (TSH), diabetes (Hemoglobin A1c), Vitamin D deficiency or Hepatitis C or prostate cancer (PSA). A colorectal cancer screening kit is also available.
n Excela Health will offer a free vascular screening and community education program for those whose risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity or family history of heart disease. The event will be held Saturday, April 27, at Excela Square at Frick, 508 South Church, Mount Pleasant, Screenings are offered by appointment beginning at 7:30 a.m., and include an abdominal aortic screening ultrasound, screening carotid duplex, ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) and foot check. Individuals also may choose to receive a Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test for blood sugar levels and the higher risk of diabetes complications. While the remainder of the event is provided free of charge, there is a $5 fee for the blood test. Appointments are limited and required. Registration: 877-771-1234, by April 2.
n Monongahela Valley Hospital, The Orthopedic Group and the Center for Fitness and Health are providing an information series on orthopedics. The series continues at noon Apr. 11, with orthopedic surgeon, Eric Nabors, M.D., discussing “Disc Replacement.” At noon May 23 Anthony Cuneo, M.D., Ph.D., will present “Cryoneurolysis: Freeze Your Knee Pain Away.” The series concludes at noon June 13 with Mark Hofbauer, D.P.M., presenting “Achilles Tendon Injuries: Modern Diagnosis and Treatment.” All sessions are held in suite 120 of the Monongahela Valley Hospital HealthPlex. Each session is expected to last approximately one hour. Light refreshments will be provided at the free sessions, but registration is required. Registration: 724-379-5100.
Support groups
n Breaking Addiction, HEAL Group for Men. This small group meeting for men is designed to help those who have a desire to overcome addictions and find a new direction in life. All sessions give instruction for practical life skills through Biblical Principles found in God’s Word. Discussion and interaction are encouraged at each group meeting. They are scheduled at 7 p.m. the first, second and fourth Thursdays of the month at Eagle Ranch Ministries Inc., 1579 Pleasant Valley Road, Mount Pleasant. Registration: 724-542-7243.
n Breaking Addiction, HEAL Group for Women. This small group meeting for women is designed to help those who have a desire to overcome addictions and find a new direction in life. All sessions give instruction for practical life skills through Biblical Principles found in God’s Word. Discussion and interaction are encouraged at each group meeting. The meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. every Tuesday at Eagle Ranch Ministries Inc., 1579 Pleasant Valley Road, Mount Pleasant. Registration: 724-244-5261 or 412-969-8520.
n Excela Health offers a monthly grief support group for men only, which meets 1 to 2:30 p.m. April 10 at Bud Murphy’s, 718 McCormick Avenue, Connellsville. These social support groups are presented in a relaxed setting. Individuals are welcome to purchase lunch and enjoy with others who have been through similar situations.
n Excela Health offers Compassionate Friends, a support group intended for those who have experienced the death of a child. It meets 7 to 9 p.m. April 8, Conference Room 4B, floor, Excela Square at Frick, 508 South Church Street, Mount Pleasant.
n Caregiver support group, 6:30-8:30 p.m., the fourth Wednesday of the month at Lafayette Manor. Classes meet in the new physical therapy department. Light refreshments are provided.
Monongahela Valley Hospital will offer an Ostomy Support Group from 2 to 3:30 p.m. April 18 in the education conference center. This support group is free and open to all persons with ostomies and their families and friends. The group meets the third Thursday of each month. Information: 724-258-1773.
n A cancer grief group offered by Excela Health meets 2:30-4 p.m. every Thursday at Our Clubhouse, 4893 Route 30 East, Greensburg, for family and friends who have lost a loved one to cancer. Registration: www.excelahealth.org or 877-771-1234.
n Grief support group, 6-8 p.m. first Tuesday of every month, at the St. John the Evangelist Church on West Crawford Avenue in Connellsville. The group is a collaborative effort for those facing grief due to the loss of a loved one from addiction. Information: 724-628-6840.
n Al-Anon Family Groups, 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Trinity Church parlor, Fayette and Morgantown streets, Uniontown. Please enter at the handicapped ramp entrance. A second is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Christian Church, Pittsburgh Street, Connellsville. These meetings are for anyone who has been affected by or is having problems from someone else’s drinking. Information: al-anon.alateen.org or pa-al-anon.org.
n Survivors of Incest Anonymous group, 6:30-8 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month, excluding holidays. This 12-step recovery program is meant for men and women aged 18 or older who were sexually abused by a trusted person as a child. The group meets at the Mount Macrina Retreat Center. A similar group, Healing Friends, is from 6:30-7:30 p.m., East Liberty Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Information: peopleofcourage@gmail.com siawso.org, or healingfriends8@gmail.com.
n Missing Piece of My Heart support group, 6-8 p.m. the last Thursday of each month at the Crime Victim’s Center conference room in the Oliver Square Plaza. The group is for families who have lost a child to a violent crime. Information: 724-438-1470.
n The Monongahela Valley Hospital will offer a Suicide Bereavement Support Group from 1 to 2:30 p.m. April 8 and 22 in the education conference center. This support group is a four-month program that meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month. This program is led by a licensed psychologist and is free and open to all those touched by suicide. Registration is required. Registration: 724-678-3601.
n Silver Generation Support Program, 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, East End United Community Center, Uniontown. The program is for ages 55 and older. Information: 724-437-1660.
n The spring program for Stepping Stones Bereavement support is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. Mondays. It meets at the Fayette County Health Center, 100 New Salem Road, Uniontown. The program runs for 10 weeks with different topics being presented weekly. Anyone who is newly bereaved or is still having problems dealing with grief is invited to attend. There is no cost to participate. Information: 724-439-1683.
n Monongahela Valley Hospital will host an Alzheimer’s Support Group from 6 to 8 p.m. April 9 in the education conference center. It is designed to help the families, friends and caregivers of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Discussion topics include the challenges of coping with this disorder as well as techniques for managing stress and methods of encouraging social engagement. Reservations are requested by calling 724-258-1333.
n Uniontown Hospital will host a Stroke Support Group at 6 p.m. March 19 in Community Room 1 located in the Main Lobby of the hospital. Everyone is welcome! Monthly meetings will include a guest speaker, blood pressure readings, medication review and any other information requested. This month’s meeting will focus on nutrition and light refreshments will be provided. Information: Andrea Lint, 724-430-5341.
Courses
n Monongahela Valley Hospital will host “Innovations in Medicine: ‘Peripheral Arterial Disease Recognition and Therapy'” at 6 p.m. April 10 in the Education Conference Center. The program is designed to educate individuals about Peripheral Arterial Disease Recognition and Therapy. Luke Marone, M.D., will discuss peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is the narrowing of arteries leading from the heart to the outer regions of the body. Attendees will learn the signs and symptoms of the disease and how it is diagnosed as well as the risks associated with PAD and the treatments to manage it and improve quality of life. Registration: 724-258-1333.
n Monongahela Valley Hospital will be hosting “Healthy and Fit Series: ‘Disc Replacement'” at noon April 12 in the HealthPlex. This education program is the second of a four part series. Eric Nabors, M.D., will discuss disc replacement. Registration: 724-379-5100.
n Monongahela Valley Hospital is hosting the program “Managing Your Diabetes” 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays April 9, 16 and 23 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays 10, 17 and 22 in the education conference center. This education program is designed to help you with diabetes self-management. It is three consecutive weeks. Registration is required at least one week prior to the start date of class by calling 724-258-1483.
n The Monongahela Valley Hospital will be offering “Advanced Carbohydrate Counting” from 6 to 8 p.m. April 11 in the Education Conference Center. This program is a diabetes self-management class designed to educate you on how to count carbohydrate content in food to improve blood sugar control. Topics include how to track effects of carbohydrates and blood sugar, glycemic index and how to read food nutrition labels. Registration: 724-258-1483.
n The Monongahela Valley Hospital is hosting an “American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR/AED” course 4 to 8 p.m. April 30 in the education conference center. Adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR/AED) classes are offered by Monongahela Valley Hospital. Cost is $50. Registration: 724-258-1333.
n Monongahela Valley Hospital will host the “American Heart Association Family and Friends CPR/AED” program 9 to 11 a.m. April 30 in the education conference center. This course is designed for the layperson that has little or no medical training, and is taught by a certified instructor. This course is for people who do not need a certification card for a job. Content includes an orientation to CPR for adult, child, infants, choking and use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Cost of this course is $35 to cover the cost of the book, which includes a class participation card.
n Exercise classes, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Center in the Woods, 130 Woodland Court, Brownsville. Classes include chair dancing at 9:30 a.m. followed by healthy steps at 11 a.m. Information: 724-938-3554.