Tobacco treatment center receives hefty grant

November 23, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN — Humility of Mary Health Partners’ (HMHP) Regional Tobacco Treatment Center has received a $250,000 competitive grant to implement tobacco use prevention and cessation programs in the area. The money, received through the Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program at the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), will be used to provide evidence-based tobacco treatment for adults, which includes behavioral counseling and the medication component, at no final cost to the participant,” said Terri Grimmett, HMHP program director.

“We also plan to work closely with our county health departments and the health commissioners, Matt Stefank in Mahoning County and Dr. James Enyeart in Trumbull County, to broaden the base of community support for tobacco control efforts through a community led coalition. These efforts will also include strategies to counter the tobacco industry’s influence in our communities,” Grimmett said.

The announcement comes during the Great American Smokeout, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, which urges smokers to quit for at least one day.

Smokers who want to quit can call (800) 784-8669 for assistance. Tobacco counselors are available to assist callers from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Service is available in 150 languages and TTY service is available for the deaf and hard of hearing at (888) 229-2182.

Home care award

HM Home Health Services and Alliance Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, a department of Alliance Community Hospital, are among 500 Medicare-certified home health care providers in the United States to receive the 2008 HomeCare Elite Award presented by the National Association for Home Care and Hospice. The 2008 HomeCare Elite is the result of an annual review that identified the Top 500 agencies as determined by quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance. The 2008 HomeCare Elite also indicates those providers who are included in the Top 25 percent and Top 100 of providers nationwide.

Metabolic program

FARRELL, Pa. — UPMC Horizon and the Primary Health Network are offering a metabolic program through Primary Health Network’s Complementary and Integrative Medicine Center at 2120 Likens Lane. The multidisciplinary program, under the medical direction of Dr. Robert Multari, is designed to treat patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders including diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Metabolic syndrome is a collection of risk factors that make a patient more susceptible to heart disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes.

Bariatric certification

GREENVILLE, Pa. — UPMC Horizon’s Bariatric Surgery Center has been recertified as a Center of Excellence within Health America/Health Assurance’s network of hospital providers in Pennsylvania and Ohio through the end of 2009. The hospital has held this certification since 2004. Anyone interested in attending a free, informative session on the bariatric surgery program at UPMC Horizon should call (724) 589-6642.

Fertility services

HERMITAGE, Pa. — UPMC Horizon, in cooperation with Magee-Womens Hospital, is offering fertility and reproductive endocrinology services through the Magee Center for Fertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, under the medical direction of Dr. Joseph S. Sanfilippo. The center offers assisted reproductive techniques, including in-vitro fertilization, and treats conditions associated with fertility issues, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, premature menopause, stress-induced infertility, and endometriosis. The Womancare Center is located at 875 N. Hermitage Road.

Consumer award

YOUNGSTOWN — Humility of Mary Health Partners’ St. Elizabeth Health Center has been recognized by the National Research Corporation (NRC) the 2008/09 Consumer Choice Award winner in the Youngstown market. The is the fourth consecutive year that St. Elizabeth has been so recognized. The NRC award identifies hospitals that health care consumers have chosen as having the highest quality and image in markets throughout the United States, said Robert Shroder, HMHP president and chief executive officer. “Our priority has always been to provide the best care possible to our patients, and this recognition is a credit to our employees and physicians. It exemplifies their dedication and hard work,” he said.

New board terms at Help Hotline

YOUNGSTOWN — The following people have been elected to three-year terms on the Help Hotline Crisis Center board of directors: Dr. Sharon Stringer of Youngstown, Atty. Theresa Taylor Tolson of Beloit, Wayna Hightower of Youngstown, the Rev. Melvin Trent of Canfield, Gary Marinelli of Boardman, and Atty. Brian Macala of Campbell. Dan Popovich of Youngstown was appointed to a one-year term on the board.

How is your Medicare?

YOUNGSTOWN — The Ohio Department of Insurance is offering a free Medicare Check-Up Day event from 10 a.. to 2 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Senior Center of Mahoning County, 1110 Fifth Ave. The Check-Up Day coincides with Medicare’s annual open enrollment, which started Nov. 15 and ends Dec. 31. Medicare coverage secured through open enrollment begins Jan. 1, 2009. Eligible people can choose Original Medicare for their health coverage and pair it with a stand-alone Pard plan to get their prescription drug coverage, or than can select a Medicare Advantage Plan, which provides comprehensive health benefits, including drug coverage; or they may decide their existing coverage already meets their health insurance needs.

For a complete list of available Part D coverage and Medicare Advantage plans, visit www.medicare.gov. For those who have Medicare questions or need enrollment assistance, can call the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) at (800) 686-1578 or (800) 633-4227.

Make it your last dip

The National Cancer Institute is offering a free, Web-based self-help quitting program, MyLast Dip.com, for chewer and dippers aged 14-25. More than 6 million Americans use smokeless tobacco products, and more are taking up the habit as restrictions on smoking go into effect. The MyLastDip program addresses the special difficulties faced by young chew and snuff users, according to NCI. For more information, or to enroll in the quitting program, visit MyLastDip.com.

Bureau donation

YOUNGSTOWN — Local legislators have received the “Friend of Agriculture” Award, and Second Harvest Food Bank received a monetary donation and a donation of apples from the 13,500 members of the Mahoning and Trumbull County Farm Bureaus in honor of the legislators who have earned the “Friend of Agriculture” award. The apples were donated from the following family farms in Mahoning County: Gasper’s Garden and Less and Less Farm and Huffman Fruit Farm in Salem; Molnar Farms in Poland, and Haus Cider Mill and White House Fruit Farm in Canfield.

Beatitude gets grant

YOUNGSTOWN — Beatitude House has received a $3,000 grant from Charter One Foundation to finance A House of Blessing, a transitional housing program where homeless women with children can live for up to two years while working to achieve their educational goals. The Charter One Foundation is the charitable contributions vehicle of Charter One Bank.

Sitter training offered

BOARDMAN — The American Red Cross Mahoning Chapter is offering baby sitter training from 2 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6 at the YMCA in Boardman for children age 11-15. The cost is $35. Call (330) 726-6063 to register.

Surgery technique talk

HERMITAGE, Pa. — Dr. Joseph Wizorek, of the Heart, Lung and Esophageal Surgery Institute at UPMC Horizon, offers a presentation on Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery on Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Womancare Center, 875 N. Hermitage Road. To register, call (724) 347-7700.

First aid training

YOUNGSTOWN — The National Safety Council is offering first aid and CPR/AED (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator) courses on Dec. 3 in the Ohio One Building’s second floor auditorium. The cost for each is $32. To register, call (330) 747-8657.

Trauma certification

WARREN — Trumbull Memorial Hospital’s Center for Emergency Medicine received recertification as a Level III Trauma Center from the American College of Surgeons lasting until Sept. 15, 2011. The Center for Emergency Medicine at TMH consists of the Institute for Pre-Hospital Care, the Emergency Department and Trauma Services; and offers neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery and a surgical intensivist and traumologist. Level III trauma centers serve communities that do not have immediate access to Level I or II centers.

Grief workshops planned

CANFIELD — Catholic Charities Regional Agency and The Ursuline Center are offering grief workshops on Dec. 4 and 10 from noon to 1 p.m. at The Ursuline Center, 4280 Shields Road. The workshops will be presented by Sister Pauline Dalpe Marlene Hanisko, LPCC. The $5 donation for each workshop includes soup and salad. For more information and to register, call (330) 744-3320 or (330) 799-4941.

Shoe donations sought

BOARDMAN — Ankle & Foot Care Centers, a group of 15 local podiatric physicians and surgeons, are urging holiday shoppers to help the area’s less fortunate by buying and donating new pairs of shoes to the group’s 2008 shoe drive. The Ankle & Foot Care Centers hope to collect at least 800 pairs of shoes between now and Jan. 9, 2009. Shoe collection stations are at each of the group’s 20 locations throughout the region, all of which are accepting new or nearly new shoes.

Since 1998, the podiatrist practice has helped local shoppers donate thousands of shoes to local needy families. In February, the Salvation Army will distribute the shoes collected this year to individuals throughout Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

Ankle & Foot Care Centers offices are in Alliance, Austintown, Boardman, Campbell, Champion, Columbiana, East Liverpool, East Palestine, Greenville, Pa., Howland, Kinsman, Lake Milton, Liberty, Niles, Poland, Salem, Struthers, Warren and Youngstown. Addresses can on the group’s Web site, at www.ankleandfootcare.com.

Adult CPR classes

BOARDMAN — The American Red Cross Mahoning Chapter is offering adult CPR even classes on Monday and Dec. 1 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.; and first aid classes from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 5. The sessions are at 8392 Tod Ave. For cost information and to register, call (330) 726-6063.