Health Archives - Oak Ridge Today

Owner of Pierce Physical Therapy to teach class at ORICL

Posted at 8:17 pm February 4, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Ray Pierce, owner and clinic director of Pierce Physical Therapy of Oak Ridge, will be teaching a class at ORICL (Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning) starting Thursday.

Pierce will be teaching Anatomy and Health of the Musculoskeletal System, a press release said.

“We will review the anatomy of the musculoskeletal system with recommendations for health maintenance,” the press release said. “As a added bonus in one designated class session, we will review the recommendations for maintaining a healthy gut and digestive tract.” [Read more…]

(For members) Y-12 class could be added to worker compensation program based on thorium, Pu-241 exposure

Posted at 6:33 pm December 28, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A new class of Y-12 employees could be added to a federal worker compensation program based on exposure to radiation from thorium metal parts and plutonium-241 isotopes between 1958 and 1976, health officials said.

The worker compensation program involves certain illnesses and work at sites like Y-12 that are affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy.

The program is a result of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, which was enacted in October 2000. The act includes what is known as the Special Exposure Cohort. The new class of Y-12 employees could be part of that Special Exposure Cohort.

That designation would allow eligible claimants to be compensated without the complete reconstruction of a radiation dose or a determination of the probable cause. A covered employee would have to have at least one of 22 specified cancers.

The class of employees being evaluated now would have worked at Y-12 between January 1, 1958, through December 31, 1976, when Y-12 was manufacturing nuclear weapons components during the Cold War. The employees would have had an aggregate total of at least 250 work days, according to a notice published in the Federal Register this month. The class could change, however, based upon the evaluation.

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New class of Y-12 employees being evaluated for worker compensation program

Posted at 12:53 pm December 14, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge is pictured above in June 2012. (Photo courtesy NNSA)

A new class of employees at the Y-12 National Security Complex is being evaluated for possible inclusion in a worker compensation program that involves certain illnesses and work at sites affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy.

The class of employees being evaluated now would have worked at Y-12 between January 1, 1958, through December 31, 1976, and they would have had an aggregate total of at least 250 work days, according to a notice published in the Federal Register on Friday. The class could change, however, based upon the evaluation.

The decision to evaluate the petition for the Y-12 employees was announced by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

It’s not clear when the petition was filed, who filed it, or how long the evaluation might take. Oak Ridge Today has requested more information from the CDC. [Read more…]

ASAP partners with Oak Ridge, Clinton police for Drug Take Back Day

Posted at 11:04 am October 25, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Naloxone training offered at Drug Take Back Day, which is this Saturday

Anderson County is participating in a Drug Take Back Day on Saturday.

It’s the 15th Annual DEA Rx Drug Take Back Day on October 27. The DEA is the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Community members can bring their expired or unused medicines to one of the Anderson County ‘take back’ locations anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, a press release said. Collection sites will be located at the police departments listed below. Each department will be set up outside in their respective parking lots to receive the expired or unused medicines, the release said. [Read more…]

Free child car seat checkpoints scheduled for Oct. 23-24

Posted at 11:44 am October 23, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

There is a free child passenger seat checkpoint in Oak Ridge on Saturday, May 12, 2018. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

There is a free child passenger seat checkpoint in Oak Ridge on Tuesday, Oct. 23, and Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Police Department and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital are teaming up to host child passenger seat checkpoints on Tuesday, October 23, and Wednesday, October 24. The events are free and open to the public.

The checkpoints will be held in the parking lot across the street from Oak Ridge Preschool, located at 304 New York Avenue. Parents and caregivers are invited to stop by anytime between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. either day with no need to pre-register, a press release said.

During the event, car seats will be checked for manufacturer recalls and examined for proper installation by certified technicians. Crews will also distribute educational materials about car seats. Attendees should follow the directional signage when arriving at the checkpoint, the press release said. [Read more…]

Medicare Informational Session at Oak Ridge Senior Center on Oct. 22

Posted at 3:39 pm October 19, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Enrolling in or changing your Medicare program can be a daunting task. For those seeking more information, be sure to join the Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at the Oak Ridge Senior Center on Monday, October 22, at 10 a.m.

The SHIP program offers free and objective assistance for Medicare participants. Counselors will begin with a presentation on basic Medicare benefits, including Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Part D drug plans, and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies, a press release said.

If you need more individualized counseling after the presentation, SHIP counselors will be available to review your current coverage with the 2019 information and make sure you are on the best plan for your needs, the press release said.

Additional questions about the program can be directed to the Oak Ridge Senior Center at (865) 425-3999.

ORFD hosts ‘Stop the Bleed’ class on Oct. 24

Posted at 2:02 pm October 2, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Fire Department will host a “Stop the Bleed” course on Wednesday, October 24, at 6 p.m. Participation is limited to 20 people, and there is no cost involved in taking the course, a press release said.

Stop the Bleed is a national awareness campaign and call to action, the press release said. Stop the Bleed is intended to cultivate grassroots efforts that encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives, the release said. [Read more…]

Pull For Our Veterans Skeet and Trap Fun Shoot is Friday, Saturday

Posted at 1:37 pm October 2, 2018
By Tim Vane Leave a Comment

Pull For Our Veterans, a nonprofit organization in Oak Ridge dedicated to supporting veterans and their families, is sponsoring its Seventh Annual Skeet and Trap Fun Shoot on Friday and Saturday.

The Skeet and Trap Fun Shoot is scheduled from 1:30-6 p.m. Friday, October 5, and from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, October 6. It will be held at the Oak Ridge Sportsmen’s Association facilities, which are located at 2625 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Smoky Mountain Service Dogs, a press release said. The entry fee for shooters is $100, and other visitors are free. [Read more…]

Free Medical Clinic one of five organizations to receive total of $10,000 in grants

Posted at 4:35 pm September 25, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge was one of five local organizations to receive a total of $10,000 in grant funding on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. Pictured above, Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon officials present the grants to the organizations at Cool Sports in Farragut. Provided through the race event’s Community Contribution Program, the grant funds will support healthy living in East Tennessee. Pictured from left are David Black of Knoxville Track Club, Lana Burl of Bike Elf, Isabell Senft-Daniel of PJ Parkinson’s Support Group of Blount County, Jason Altman of Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon, Jackie Clay DuBose of Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge, and (front) Carly Pearson of Knoxville Sled Bears. (Not pictured: Girls on the Run of Greater Knoxville). (Submitted photo)

The Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge was one of five local organizations to receive a total of $10,000 in grant funding on Friday.

The five grants were presented by Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon through its Community Contribution Program, a press release said. The grants support healthy living in East Tennessee, the press release said.

Besides Free Medical Clinic, grant recipients include Girls on the Run of Greater Knoxville, Knoxville Sled Bears, Bike Elf, and PJ Parkinson’s.

“These five programs make a difference in the community’s overall health and well-being” Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Race Director Jason Altman said. “Reinvesting in our community is part of the mission of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon, and we applaud these groups for the work they do every day to encourage a better quality of life.” [Read more…]

Roane State to screen suicide prevention film ‘The S Word’ on Thursday

Posted at 1:28 pm September 19, 2018
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

Roane State Community College is participating in Suicide Prevention Awareness Month with a variety of events, including the screening of a highly acclaimed documentary titled “The ‘S’ Word.”

“Unfortunately, right now you hear so much about suicide,” Roane State Dean of Students Brenda Rector said. “We lose some 1,000 Tennesseans each year to suicide, and that’s just not acceptable.”

“The ‘S’ Word” will be screened at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 20, at the Princess Theatre, which is at 421 North Roane Street in Harriman, and it is free, a press release said.

The public is invited to view the 90-minute documentary, featuring interviews with four people who tried to kill themselves, but survived, the press release said. [Read more…]

Exclusive: Federal judge dismisses lawsuit against CNS

Posted at 11:35 am September 13, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The sign at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex is pictured above on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that was filed three years ago after Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC began managing and operating the Y-12 National Security Complex and made changes to health care benefits.

The changes in benefits led to protests, mostly by retirees, near Y-12 and the U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office just before they took effect January 1, 2015.

Y-12 retirees Betty Hatmaker and Charlene Edwards, who had been among the protesters, filed the lawsuit that summer. The 31-page civil complaint was filed August 12, 2015, in U.S. District Court in Knoxville. Hatmaker and Edwards sought to make their lawsuit a class action complaint, meaning they could have represented other plaintiffs, possibly including several thousand former Y-12 workers who retired between 1975 and 2015.

A trial had been scheduled for June 25, but the case was dismissed by Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan on May 30.

The rest of this story, which you will find only on Oak Ridge Today, is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or recent contributor to Oak Ridge Today.

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Anderson County EMS, ‘Ambus’ respond to help with hurricane in South Carolina

Posted at 4:03 pm September 11, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Anderson County EMS and Knoxville Fire Department representing State of Tennessee EMS (Emergency Management Services) Region 2 and headed to Charleston, S.C., on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, to help with Hurricane Florence. Pictured above Scott Prosise and Bobbi Jo Henderson of Anderson County EMS, and Brian Buchanan of KFD. (Photo by Anderson County EMS)

Anderson County EMS and Knoxville Fire Department representing State of Tennessee EMS Region 2 and headed to Charleston, S.C., on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, to help with Hurricane Florence. Pictured above are Scott Prosise and Bobbi Jo Henderson of Anderson County EMS, and Brian Buchanan of KFD. (Photo by Anderson County EMS)

Anderson County Emergency Medical Services has responded to a deployment request from the state of South Carolina to aid in evacuations ahead of the anticipated landfall of Hurricane Florence.

Anderson County EMS is part of the Region II EMS Directors Association, which is comprised of 30 ambulance, fire, rescue, aeromedical, and hospital agencies located in 16 counties throughout East Tennessee.

The Anderson County team responded to South Carolina’s call for help with the “Ambus,” a regional asset from Region II EMS Directors Association, that is housed, maintained, and operated by Anderson County EMS, a press release said.

The Ambus is designed to accommodate 20 or more low-acuity patients from one location, the press release said. It is not designed for the most critical patients, although the unit can adapt to any situation that is encountered. The transport kit was provided by the state and installed into a school bus donated by Morgan County Schools. [Read more…]