Oak Ridge Today

Free Affordable Health Care Act seminar on Wednesday

Posted at
By 3 Comments

On Wednesday, May 22, the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, in partnership with the Strategic Consulting Solutions, LeGacy Resource Corp., Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, and the University of Tennessee, will offer a free workshop for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want a better understanding of the Affordable Care Act.

The speaker will be Jeff Ginsburg, director of human resources of LeGacy Resource Corp. The workshop will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. [Read more…]

Registration for Wilderness First Responder begins

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Roane State Community College’s Continuing Healthcare Education Department is accepting sign-ups for its Wilderness First Responder course May 13-20.

The Wilderness First Responder, held at Camp Wesley Woods in Townsend, provides extensive training in handling medical emergencies in the wilderness. The class is designed for those who operate extensively in the outdoors, such as outdoors enthusiasts, wilderness guides, environmental educators, and missionaries.

[Read more…]

Belk gives free mammograms in Oak Ridge on Friday, Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Free mammogram screenings are available at the Belk store in Oak Ridge today and Saturday.

They are offered by the BelkGives on the Go Mobile Mammography Center, a 39-foot-long screening center on wheels, a press release said. Women age 40 and over with no breast concerns, who have not had a mammogram in the last 12 months, and who have a primary care physician are eligible by calling (855) 655-BMMC (2662) to schedule an appointment. [Read more…]

Drop off unused medication on Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

There are currently few safe and convenient ways for consumers to dispose of unused prescription drugs, but on Saturday at the Earth Day Festival, the community will be able to drop off unused prescription medication, a press release said.

Nearly all unused pharmaceuticals enter either our solid waste system or sewage system. Neither disposal method is environmentally sound. These medications, when flushed down the toilet, pass through our sewage treatment plants, which are generally not designed to screen for these chemicals, the press release said. Pharmaceuticals discarded in landfills can seep into the surrounding groundwater table. [Read more…]

Harvard psychologist to discuss dreams, innovation at Education Foundation program

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Deirdre Barrett

Deirdre Barrett, a psychologist on the Harvard Medical School faculty, will discuss dreams and innovation as the featured speaker during an April 26 program hosted by the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation that will honor teachers who have received the Foundation’s 2013 grant awards. (Submitted photo)

Deirdre Barrett, a psychologist on the Harvard Medical School faculty known for her research on dreams and hypnosis, will return to her hometown to speak on “Dreams and Innovation” on Friday, April 26, in Oak Ridge.

Barrett is the featured speaker at the “Dreams and Innovation” program hosted by the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation to honor teachers who have received the Foundation’s 2013 grant awards, beginning at 5 p.m. at New Hope Center.

The free event is open to the public, and no reservations are required.

Barrett is an Oak Ridge High School graduate, and she will describe how dreams contribute to innovation and problem solving, relating research from her book, “The Committee of Sleep.” The book is subtitled “How Artists, Scientists, and Athletes Use Dreams for Creative Problem-Solving—How You Can Too.” [Read more…]

Medicare changes after Affordable Care Act discussed Wednesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

David Holden

David Holden

Submitted

David Holden, a manager at the Knoxville–Knox County Office on Aging, will speak on “How Changes in Medicare Regulations Will Affect You” at noon Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church.

The Health Luncheon program in the church’s Activities Building, Room 102, is free and open to the community. The lunch costs $5. Call (865) 483-1318 to make reservations and indicate whether you wish to buy lunch. [Read more…]

ORPD hosts mid-April seminar on preventing tragedy

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

James T. Akagi

James T. Akagi

The Oak Ridge Police Department will host a mid-April seminar on preventing tragedies. The seminar is scheduled four months after the December massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

“The recent tragedy in Newtown, Conn., has stimulated a broad nationwide discussion aimed at preventing future such events,” a city press release said. “This seminar is designed to make citizens aware of possible warning signs of violent behavior and a plan for how to alert the proper agency. Topics of discussion will be mental and emotional health, precautions, and solutions.”

The release said residents, employers, and employees are encouraged to attend. The seminar is titled “Preventing Tragedy: A Community United.” It’s scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 15, at New Hope Center at the Y-12 National Security Complex. [Read more…]

Haslam unveils health care reform plan, says ‘no’ to Medicaid expansion

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Governor Bill Haslam

Bill Haslam

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam on Wednesday said he will not expand TennCare rolls under the Affordable Care Act.

Instead, the governor said, he wants to use federal dollars as part of a plan to purchase private health insurance for Tennesseans who would not otherwise have access to coverage.

In a Wednesday press release, Haslam called his plan “real health care reform.” [Read more…]

MMC Health Night: When minutes matter—behind the scenes of a heart attack

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Milan Sheth

Milan Sheth

Nathan Sweet

Nathan Sweet

When you’re having a health emergency like a heart attack, every minute matters. Methodist Medical Center and the Anderson County Emergency Medical Services work together to make sure patients get the treatment they need as quickly as possible.

Methodist’s emergency heart team includes interventional cardiologists, emergency room doctors, nurses, technicians, and EMS personnel. Each one is trained and ready 24 hours a day, every day of the year. It’s their mission to open blocked arteries—as quickly as possible—and they do it 25 minutes faster than the national benchmark. [Read more…]

Second annual Parkinson’s Walk in Oak Ridge on April 13

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Parkinson's Walk

Parkinson’s Walk 2012
(Submitted photo)

On Saturday, April 13, the Parkinson’s Disease Support Group of East Tennessee, PK Hope Is Alive, will host its second annual walk at at A.K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge. The local walk will be in conjunction with the 19th annual Parkinson’s Unity Walk in New York City.

Registration starts at 9 a.m., and the walk, which will help raise funds for Parkinson’s Disease research, will take place between 10 a.m. and noon. Last year, PK Hope Is Alive raised more than $17,000 and was the No. 8 fundraising organization in the country. [Read more…]

Guest column: Anderson County Dental Clinic helps those in need

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Anderson County Dental Clinic

Pictured above, from left, are Anderson County Commissioner Robin Biloski, Dental Assistant Nancy Hamilton, and Dr. Tim Bible. (Submitted photo)

The Anderson County Dental Clinic has been held monthly in Oak Ridge for 30 years and is operated solely by volunteers. This necessary outreach was started by Jeanie Bertram.

“The waiting list has held a constant number of 150 to 200 names for our free services.  Last year we treated 232 patients, with 101 of them being brand-new,” said Bertram. “We extracted 661 teeth last year for a production value for $97,484. Last year we did receive some patient fees and donations from the public totaling $10,000, and we put that right back into our services.”

Dr. Tim Bible, a longtime volunteer dentist, said: “This is so important; these individuals simply have no means to pay for dental care, which is desperately needed. Our clinic currently has five general dentists, two oral surgeons, the University of Tennessee General Dentistry Department volunteers, 12 registered dental assistants, three clinic support staff, and five front office staff who rotate through the clinic in any given year. We are so proud of this wonderful service we provide to our residents.” [Read more…]

Telephone service, suicide prevention hotline has Saturday fundraiser

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A telephone service and suicide prevention hotline is having an annual Flea Market fundraiser on Saturday, and the organization is accepting donations through Thursday.

The CONTACT Care Line Flea Market is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Oak Ridge.

[Read more…]