Health briefs 03-25-19
Events
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 date for Frick Hospital is March 26 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 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 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 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 Weight Control and Wellness Support Group at 6 p.m. March 25 in the education conference center. The bariatric support group activities are designed to reinforce key principles of success and help participants learn concepts that are sometimes difficult to grasp after bariatric surgery. Professionals such as dietitians, psychologists and fitness instructors may be invited to speak. The ultimate purpose of the support group is to help participants achieve and maintain their goal weights in a way that is as physically and mentally healthy as possible. Registration: 724-258-1333.
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.
Courses
n Monongahela Valley hospital is hosting the course, Innovations in Medicine: “Advances in Foot and Ankle Treatment” at 6 p.m. March 26 in the education conference center. This education program is designed to educate you about Rediscovering the Knee. Mark Hofbauer, D.P.M., will discuss new advancements, symptoms and treatments of the foot. Registration: 724-258-1333.
n The Monongahela Valley Hospital is hosting an “American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR/AED” course 8 a.m. to noon March 26 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 4 to 6 p.m. March 26 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.