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Anderson County EMS to start Academy for employees

Posted at 12:45 pm May 29, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Anderson County EMS

By Nathaniel D. Sweet

The development of an Academy for Anderson County Emergency Medical Services is phase one of a three-phase plan to improve how we can find the best professionals to provide the best care to achieve the best outcomes for every patient. This plan will add to what is already considered one of the most thorough hiring processes for an ambulance service in Tennessee. Currently, we conduct an initial assessment center that is comprised of a 100-question written test, a driving test, medical scenario, a timed physical agility test, and a panel interview.

Passing candidates are scored and placed in order for a job offer, and once a job offer is accepted, the candidate then must go through a fingerprint background check, DMV record check, and physician-performed physical with urinalysis. In the past, once this was all concluded, the candidate would go through two office training days and a month of orientation on the ambulance with a field training officer before being cleared to perform their duties unassisted. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Education, Front Page News, Health, Police and Fire Tagged With: Anderson County EMS, Nathaniel D. Sweet

Drug Awareness Day at Oak Ridge Pool on Saturday, June 6

Posted at 10:08 am May 29, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Drug Awareness Day at the Oak Ridge Pool

The Third Annual Drug Awareness Day is at the Oak Ridge Municipal Pool on Saturday, June 6.

It’s hosted by the Oak Ridge Chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. The pool is located at 172 Providence Road, near Oak Ridge High School.

Drug Awareness demonstrations will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. June 6 inside the pool area. Hundreds of prizes will be given away to those participating in a drug awareness activity, a press release said. Some of the prizes include T-shirts, coloring books, and Frisbees.

This event is a partnership with Anderson County Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Oak Ridge City Recreation and Parks Department, Roane County Anti-Drug Coalition, and the Tennessee Meth and Pharmaceutical Task Force. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Clubs, Community, Front Page News, Government, Health, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Roane County, Tennessee, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, Drug Awareness Day, Oak Ridge Municipal Pool, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department, Roane County Anti-Drug Coalition, Tennessee Meth and Pharmaceutical Task Force

Covenant Health hospitals earn ‘A’ grades for patient safety

Posted at 2:01 pm May 23, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Methodist Medical Center Main Entrance

Methodist Medical Center, Fort Loudoun Medical Center, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System, and Parkwest Medical Center have been recognized for their dedication to patient safety by being awarded an “A” grade in the Spring 2015 Hospital Safety Score, a press release said.

The Safety Score rates how well hospitals protect patients from preventable medical errors, injuries, and infections within the hospital.

In addition to receiving As for the spring quarter, both Methodist Medical Center and Parkwest Medical Center received “Straight A” recognition, signifying that the hospitals have never received a grade lower than “A” from the Hospital Safety Score since the Score first launched in June 2012, the press release said. They are among 182 hospitals to receive the recognition. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: Covenant Health, Fort Loudoun Medical Center, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, Hospital Safety Score, Jim VanderSteeg, Journal of Patient Safety, Leah Binder, Methodist Medical Center, Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System, Parkwest Medical Center, patient safety, The Leapfrog Group

Stroke symptoms, rehab to be discussed during Tuesday night lecture

Posted at 1:30 pm May 23, 2015
By Methodist Medical Center Leave a Comment

Arthur Moore

Arthur Moore

Strokes are the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. and affect more than 795,000 Americans each year. It’s important to recognize the signs of a stroke, know what actions to take, and get on the road to recovery.

Join Methodist Medical Center for Health Night on the Town as Arthur Moore, MD, medical director of Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center’s Comprehensive Stroke Center, and Mary Dillon, MD, medical director of Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center, discuss the many aspects of a stroke, from signs and symptoms to rehabilitation. The program will take place on Tuesday, May 26, at 7 p.m. in the Ridge Conference Room of Methodist Medical Center at 990 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Covenant Health, parent company of Methodist Medical Center, is the only stroke hospital network in East Tennessee, which means no matter where you live, stroke care is always nearby. When patients need a higher level of stroke care, they are transported to Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, the leader of Covenant’s stroke network and the region’s first comprehensive stroke center, a press release said.

Mary Dillon

Mary Dillon

Health Night on the Town is a medical lecture series presented by physicians and other health professionals. Programs are held in the hospital’s Ridge Conference Room at 7 p.m. on the last Tuesday of every month except June, July, November, and December. Health Night is free and open to the public. For more information about Health Night on the Town, please call (865) 835-4662.

Filed Under: Front Page, Health, Meetings and Events Tagged With: Arthur Moore, Comprehensive Stroke Center, Covenant Health, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, Health Night on the Town, Mary Dillon, Methodist Medical Center, Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center, stroke

New Lifestar air medical base in Rockwood will serve Roane County

Posted at 10:31 am May 22, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

UT Lifestar Helicopter

A UT Lifestar helicopter (N135UT), pictured in the forefront, will be servicing Roane County. (Photo by University of Tennessee Medical Center)

 

A new Lifestar air medical base in Rockwood will serve Roane County, the University of Tennessee Medical Center announced Friday.

UT Lifestar Aeromedical Services plans to open the base later in the summer at the Rockwood Municipal Airport.

Last month, Lifestar reached an agreement with Air Evac EMS Inc. to assume responsibility for medical operations of the Air Evac Lifeteam located in Etowah, Tennessee, a press release said. Lifestar also operates a facility in Sweetwater. The Rockwood base will be staffed by one of the teams from the Etowah/Sweetwater facilities. Services in the Etowah/Sweetwater area remain in operation as usual, the release said.

“Lifestar is pleased to have the opportunity to move to the Roane County region,” said Jeff Gregory, Lifestar director. “Being located in this area will allow us to provide faster aeromedical services to the citizens and visitors in this region.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Health, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Air Evac EMS Inc., Air Evac Lifeteam, Jeff Gregory, Lifestar, Med Trans Corporation, Roane County, Rockwood Municipal Airport, University of Tennessee Medical Center, UT Lifestar, UT Lifestar Aeromedical Services, UT Medical Center

Fight against cancer: Relay for Life in Oak Ridge on Saturday

Posted at 10:08 am May 15, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

American Cancer Society Relay for Life

The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Oak Ridge is on Saturday, May 16, at Oak Ridge High School Track. The Relay is scheduled from 3 to 10 p.m.

Organizers are asking you to turn out and “help finish the fight against cancer.”

“This event celebrates cancer survivors, remembers those we have lost, and provides the community with an opportunity to unite and fight back against this disease,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Health, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits Tagged With: American Cancer Society, cancer, cancer survivors, fight against cancer, Lauren Wey, Oak Ridge High School, Relay For Life

Free Medical Clinic celebrates five years with open house Friday

Posted at 11:47 am May 10, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Teresa Brittain

Teresa Brittain

The Free Medical Clinic will celebrate its fifth anniversary with an open house on Friday, May 15. The community is invited to drop by between 4 and 7 p.m. for refreshments and a tour of the clinic, a press release said.

FMC is located at 116 East Division Road (behind Zaxby’s) in Oak Ridge.

“While receiving accolades from patients is not the driving force for FMC volunteers, most would agree that the cards and letters they receive from grateful patients make all of their efforts worthwhile,” said FMC Executive Director Teresa Brittain. “However, while one side of the gratefulness coin is being thanked, the other side is having an opportunity to express thanks. We plan to do just that at our open house. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Health, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: FMC, Free Medical Clinic, insurance, open house, primary care, Teresa Brittain

Free Medical Clinic’s FMC Bash: Auctions, dinner, dance contest

Posted at 12:34 pm May 4, 2015
By Carolyn Krause Leave a Comment

Michael Burns and Sumner Byrne

Michael Burns and Sumner Byrne placed first in the dance contest at the Free Medical Clinic fundraiser last year, bringing in the most money for this crowd-pleasing event. (Submitted photo)

Save the date: Volunteers and staff at the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge will present their annual “fun” fundraiser, the FMC Bash, on Saturday, August 8.

You can wear a neon T-shirt and jeans—dress is casual. An excellent dinner will be provided by Morrison Catering.

You can hear and dance to Second Opinion, the band of a few rockin’ doctors associated with Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.

You can “vote” on the amazing and amusing Oak Ridge couples as they compete in the Celebrity Dance Contest.

And you can bid on hand-crafted items and services in the silent auction. At the live auction, Bear Stephenson, member of the FMCOR board, will auction dinners, a vacation cabin, and services such as interior decorating advice and computer repairs. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Health, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: auction, Bear Stephenson, Celebrity Dance Contest, dance contest, dinner, FMC Bash, FMCOR, Free Medical Clinic, Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge, fundraiser, Healing Hands Society, Second Opinion, St. Mary's Church

North Boundary Hike on Saturday, May 16

Posted at 11:54 pm April 28, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

North Boundary Hike 2015

The North Boundary Hike is from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 16. It’s a six-mile hike of the North Boundary Trail.

Hikers will leave the West End Guard Shack parking area at 9 a.m. May 16. They will follow the Quarry trail, make a right onto Hunley, a right onto North Boundary, and down the Big Oak Ridge connector that will take them back to the West End Guard Shack.

The hike is considered moderate in difficulty due to varied elevations and length. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, Government, Health, K-12, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge, Recreation, Sports Tagged With: Cindi Gordon, City of Oak Ridge Wellness Committee, North Boundary Hike, North Boundary Trail, Oak Ridge Coordinated School Health, West End Guard Shack

Benefits of bariatric surgery to be discussed Tuesday

Posted at 8:04 pm April 27, 2015
By Methodist Medical Center Leave a Comment

Mark Colquitt

Mark Colquitt

For many patients, making the decision to undergo a bariatric procedure is a process. Some are driven by health concerns, while others are seeking changes that will enhance their life experiences—playing with their children, traveling comfortably, or enjoying the great outdoors. Patients must weigh the benefits of the surgery with the lifetime changes they will need to make in order to be successful.

Learn about “The Benefits of Bariatric Surgery” as Methodist Medical Center, Fort Sanders Center for Bariatric Surgery, and bariatric surgeon Mark Colquitt, MD, partner to present this month’s Health Night on the Town. The presentation will take place Tuesday, April 28, at 7 p.m. in the Ridge Conference Room of Methodist Medical Center at 990 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Bariatric surgery is an operation on the stomach and/or intestines that helps patients with extreme obesity to lose weight, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland.

Health Night on the Town is a medical lecture series presented by physicians and other health professionals. Programs are held in the hospital’s Ridge Conference Room at 7 p.m. on the last Tuesday of every month except June, July, November, and December. Health Night is free and open to the public. For more information, call (865) 835-4662.

Filed Under: Front Page News, Health, Meetings and Events Tagged With: bariatric procedure, bariatric surgery, benefits of bariatric surgery, Fort Sanders Center for Bariatric Surgery, Health Night on the Town, Mark Colquitt, Methodist Medical Center, surgery

Elementary students in Oak Ridge receive bike helmets as part of safety program

Posted at 6:48 pm April 27, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Michael Swigert and Helmet Fitting

Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Michael Swigert fits a third-grader from Linden Elementary School with a bicycle helmet. (Submitted photo)

 

Every two minutes, a child is treated in an emergency medical department for an unintentional bicycle-related injury. This year, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital is working to change these statistics through partnership with the “Kohl’s Cares” Helmet Safety Program, which promotes safety events in which educational materials and bicycle helmets are provided to local school children.

Approximately 2,000 helmets are distributed through this program in the 16 counties that are serviced by East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. This year, two elementary schools from the City of Oak Ridge were chosen to partner with East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and were the recipients of child bicycle helmets. On March 27, students of the third-grade class at Glenwood Elementary School received 80 helmets, and on April 22, Linden Elementary third-grade students were presented with 150 helmets.

Members of the Oak Ridge Police Department and Oak Ridge Fire Department assisted with the distribution of educational material and provided individualized fittings of each helmet.

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, Health, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: bicycle, bicycle helmets, bike helmet, child bicycle helmets, City of Oak Ridge, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Glenwood Elementary School, Kohl's Cares, Kohl's Cares Helmet Safety Program, Linden Elementary School, Michael Swigert, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Police Department

Children’s mental health film screening in Oak Ridge on May 7

Posted at 2:07 pm April 25, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Sharon Boudreaux "Hear Our Voices" Poster

Sharon Boudreaux, member of the Grace Lutheran Church Mental Health Ministry team, puts up a “Hear Our Voices” poster. (Submitted photo)

 

In observance of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, the award-wining documentary, “Hear Our Voices: Transforming the Children’s Mental Health System,” will be shown at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at the Pollard Auditorium on the Oak Ridge Associated Universities campus at 120 Badger Road. The screening is free and open to the public.

“Hear Our Voices” recounts the journeys of nine children and young people as they fight to overcome mental health issues and reach a place of recovery and wellness. Their stories are framed by comments from leading mental health professionals, who outline the need for change in children’s mental health care, a press release said.

As seen in the film trailer, one story features Naquisha, a 16-year old poet, who, “despite drive and ambition,” is held back by the mental health challenges of bi-polar and post-traumatic stress disorders. Given the opportunity to gather a network of support around herself, she is “taking control of her life and making plans for college and beyond.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Churches, Community, Front Page News, Health, Meetings and Events Tagged With: Ann Carter, Earnhardt Films Inc., Grace Lutheran church, Grace Lutheran Church Mental Health Ministry of Oak Ridge, health care, Hear Our Voices, Hear Our Voices: Transforming the Children’s Mental Health System, mental health, Mental Health Ministry, NAMI-Oak Ridge, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services, Tennessee Department of Mental Health

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