This Flu Season, It’s More Important Than Ever to Get Vaccinated

"As doctors and nurses around the country continue caring for COVID-19 patients, public health experts are advising people to prepare for another respiratory illness: influenza, more commonly known as flu, which impacts us every year. Getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to protect yourself during flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting vaccinated as early as September since it can take about two weeks for the shot to be fully effective. Amid the pandemic, most doctors’ offices, pharmacies, and other locations are taking precautions in order to safely provide vaccines as well as other necessary health care services.

Anyone 6 months or older should get a flu vaccine. Groups who are at higher risk of flu-related complications include adults over 65, toddlers, pregnant women, nursing home residents, and individuals with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, heart disease, liver disorders, and weakened immune systems. Essential workers should also make sure to get vaccinated...."

Read More Here!

Fulfilling your mission: The role of an on-site pharmacy in your health center’s strategy

An on-site pharmacy can be a great way to achieve your mission by enabling your Community Health Center to generate savings, improve patient care and expand services within your community. 

For example, Mountain Laurel Medical Center leveraged its pharmacy to drive savings to improve the quality of care for patients and to expand services to reach even more people in their community. To read Mountain Laurel Medical Center’s full story, click here. 

Cardinal Health offers a variety of Pharmacy Service Models - from opening assistance and consultation to managing the day to day pharmacy operations, our team of experts can walk with you every step of the way. 

Our process is centered around what’s best for your Health Center. We’ll start by understanding your specific needs, then work with you to evaluate the opportunity and design a pharmacy solution that is tailored to fulfilling your mission. 

Ready to get started? Click here to connect or contact Kelly Truong at kelly.truong@cardinalhealth.com.

 

Other Links: 

• Cardinal Health Pharmacy Services
• Cardinal Health Pharmacy Service Models
• Cardinal Health Community Health Center Solutions
• Mountain Laurel Medical Center Testimonial 

Paramount Helps Ohio Health Center Address Food Insecurity

Driven by the vision of Cliff Edwards, CEO, and their mission to improve the health of the community beyond the walls of the health center, Center Street Health Center wanted to help address the ongoing issue of food insecurity in Marion, Ohio. They made the commitment to eliminate a downtown Marion food desert.

Over two years ago, Tim Petee, director of regional operations for Paramount Advantage, learned of Cliff’s aspirations to open a grocery store and quickly jumped on the opportunity to help. Center Street Health Center had already purchased property across the street in downtown Marion. Paramount Advantage helped to identify this area as a food desert, which allowed Center Street Health Center to secure funding for establishing their food market. In addition, Paramount Advantage connected Center Street Health Center with ProMedica’s Market on the Green.

ProMedica, Paramount’s parent organization, opened their Market on the Green grocery store in UpTown Toledo in 2015. After years of work addressing food insecurity in the community and patient-care settings, ProMedica identified a need to fill a void in the UpTown Toledo neighborhood, a disadvantaged community with poor health outcomes which lacked access to a grocery store for years.

During planning of the Marion grocery store, Center Street Community Health Center leadership and board members visited ProMedica’s Market on the Green to get ideas for their store. The visit led to a consulting engagement with ProMedica to provide support for the opening of Center Street’s store. Over the course of 12 months, ProMedica provided advisory support on the project which included business plan and operating model development, store layout, vendor selection, merchandising, and staff training.

Through this effort, Paramount Advantage was honored to cover all Market on the Green consultative expenses incurred by Center Street Community Health Center.

Center Street Corner Market opened to serve the Marion community on November 6, 2020 offering fresh produce, meat, dairy, grocery and a variety of basic household items.

Read the complete story by visiting ProMedica’s newsroom.

Toy Safety

The holiday shopping season is among us! When shopping for gifts for children, it is important to recognize whether or not the item is age-appropriate, if the item is safe and what other things you may need to include with the item to ensure its functionality. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 220,000 toy-related injuries were treated in emergency departments in 2019. These injuries were due to ingestions, broken bones, cuts, and more. Prevent Child Injury has put together a great list of things to keep in mind when purchasing gifts. Learn more below!

• Avoid magnet sets
• Make sure button batteries are secure 
• Buy a helmet if purchasing a bike, hoverboard, scooter, or something similar
• Read the label 
• Listen for loud noise: Loud noises can be frightening to a child and they can permanently damage a child’s hearing. 

Helpful Links:

• Prevent Child Injury Toy Safety Toolkit
• Nationwide Childrens' Hospital Toy Safety Tips
• Consumer Product Safety Commission: Toy Safety Info

World AIDS Day

Every December 1st is recognized as World AIDS Day. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS is the advanced stage of the infection caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV. Over 1 million people nationwide have HIV or AIDS and 1 in 4 do not know they are living with it. There is currently no cure for AIDS however there are more ways to live a long full life with disease management. Using antiretrovirals can help prevent the spread of HIV by preventing the replication of the HIV cycle in your system if you have HIV.

World AIDS Day was started in 1988 to help increase awareness and knowledge about the disease. Check out the resources below to help share information for the whole month of December. 

Helpful Resources:

• CDC HIV Prevention
• HIV.gov - World AIDS Day
• HIV Treatment
• HIV/AIDS: The Basics Information

Diabetes & COVID-19

There are 2 types of diabetes that affect more than 34 million Americans currently. This illness can be caused by hereditary issues and or by poor health conditions. 1 in 5 people don't know that they have diabetes and 88 million adults have prediabetes. These statistics seem alarming but with today's advances in technology, and by living a healthy lifestyle, more and more people are able to keep their diabetes under control.

As the pandemic continues to permeate throughout the world, people with diabetes may be at a higher of developing complications due to COVID-19 or other ailments due to the upcoming flu season. There is still very limited information about COVID-19 however the best way to keep yourself safe and healthy is to keep your diabetes under control. The first step to doing this is to consult your primary care physician. Also, learn the symptoms of COVID-19 and learn more about whether you are at risk of having diabetes or another underlying medical condition that could leave you immunocompromised. 

Helpful Links:

• Diabetes and COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions
• Diabetes and COVID-19: Clinical Considerations and Recommendations
• COVID-19: Risky Business for People With Diabetes?
• People with Certain Medical Conditions
• Diabetes Fast Facts

Breathe Easy

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and now more than ever, it is important to take care of your lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in the US and the second most diagnosed cancer in both men and women. Smoking cigarettes is the main cause of lung cancer however the lung cancer rates have been decreasing as smoking rates have been going down. 

People at the highest risk for getting lung cancer are those who smoke, those who get second-hand smoke, people exposed to radon and other toxic substances, and those who may have a family history of lung cancer. 

So what can you do to fight lung cancer? First off, take control of your life! Make sure you are living a healthy lifestyle and support those around you as well to do the same. Quitting smoking and refraining from being around smoke is just one step in being healthy. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regimen is also important in taking care of yourself as well. As this is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, spreading awareness for those battling lung cancer is important too. Learn More about Lung Cancer, healthy habits, and spreading awareness below.

Helpful Links:

• Basic Information about Lung Cancer
• Lung Cancer Awareness Month
• What Can I Do to Reduce My Risk of Lung Cancer?
• COVID-19 & Lung Health