Health briefs 02-11-19
Events
n A prostate cancer screening and education program hosted by the Monongahela Valley Hospital will be held 6 p.m. Feb. 13 in the education conference center. The prostate cancer screening and education program is free. At the screening, men will be offered a digital rectal exam (DRE), the standard test for prostate cancer; a hemocult test and a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test. The screening and education program will be conducted by staff from the MVH Medical Staff and Regional Cancer Center. Registration: 724-258-1333.
n Monongahela Valley Hospital will host a blood drive in conjunction with the American Red Cross, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 15 in the education conference center. The blood drive will benefit local patients. Free parking is available. Registration: 724-258-1282 or visit redcrosslife.org.
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 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.
n A Stroke Support Group offered by Uniontown Hospital will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 19 in Community Room 1. Stroke survivors, caregivers, loved ones and anyone interested in learning more about stroke are welcome. There will be a guest speaker, blood pressure readings, medication review and any other requested information. Light refreshments will be served. Information: Andrea Lint, stroke coordinator, 724-430-5341.
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 Monongahela Valley Hospital will host an Alzheimer’s Support Group from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 12 in the education conference center. This free support group meets once a month. 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 Monongahela Valley Hospital will host a Suicide Bereavement Support Group 1-2:30 p.m. Feb. 25 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: 724-678-3601.
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 be hosting an Ostomy Support Group 2-3:30 p.m. Feb. 21 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 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 will begin 7-9 p.m. March 4. 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.
Courses
n Monongahela Valley hospital is hosting the course, Innovations in Medicine: “Rediscovering the Knee” at 6 p.m. Feb. 26 in the education conference center. This education program is designed to educate you about rediscovering the knee. Allan Tissenbaum, M.D., will discuss new advancements, symptoms and treatments of the knee. Registration: 724-258-1333.
n Monongahela Valley Hospital will be hosting “Managing Your Diabetes” 9-11 a.m. Feb. 12 and 19 and 6-8 p.m. Feb 13 and 20 in the education conference center. This program is designed to help you with diabetes self-management. Topics include the importance of controlling your blood sugars, diabetes medications, lifestyle changes, meal planning and methods to reduce your risk of complications. The program is three consecutive days. Registration is required at least one week prior to the start date of class by calling 724-258-1483.
n Monongahela Valley Hospital will be hosting “Advanced Carbohydrate Counting” 6-8 p.m. Feb. 14, 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 is required at least one week prior to the start of class by calling 724-258-1483.
n The Monongahela Valley Hospital is hosting an “American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR/AED” course 4-8 p.m. Feb. 19 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 9-11 a.m. Feb. 19 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.