Health Briefs

Wood Co. Committee on Aging offering caregiver support groups
        The Wood County Committee on Aging, Inc. (WCCOA) is offering monthly Caregiver Support Groups at two locations.
        The Wood County Senior Center support group will meet the second Monday of every month beginning Jan. 10 at 2:30 p.m. at the center, located at 140 S. Grove St. Bowling Green.
        The Perrysburg Area Senior Center support group will meet the fourth Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. beginning Jan. 27 at the center, 140 W. Indiana Ave.
        The groups are for anyone providing caregiving assistance to individuals throughout Wood County. They provide resources, advice on managing caregiver stress, recommendations, and an outlet for caregivers to connect with one another.
        Contact Jessica Ricker, LSW in the WCCOA Social Services Department, at 419-353-5661for more information or to register. Pre-registration is required for this support group and space is limited. Respite care is provided at the Wood County Senior Center group for care recipients and should be requested upon registering.
        Learn more about additional WCCOA programs and services by calling the above number or visit wccoa.net.
 
Patrol releases holiday report
        Provisional statistics released Dec. 27 showed fewer motorists were killed on Ohio’s roadways during the Christmas holiday, as compared to the three previous years.
        During the four-day reporting period, from Dec. 23 at 12 a.m. until Dec. 26, at 11:59 p.m., seven people were killed in seven fatal crashes. Three of those killed were not wearing an available safety belt.
        Troopers removed 162 impaired drivers from Ohio’s roads during the holiday, which is an increase of nearly 12 percent compared to last year.
        Motorists are reminded to plan ahead and designate a sober driver or make other arrangements to ensure everyone arrives safely to their destination whenever they are drinking alcoholic beverages.
        Nine people were killed in 2020, which ran from Dec. 24-27. In 2019, there were 12 people killed, which ran from Dec. 24-25.
        The public is encouraged to continue using #677 to report dangerous or impaired drivers, as well as drug activity. A statistical analysis of the Patrol’s enforcement activity over the holiday is available online at statepatrol.ohio.gov/doc/christmasholidayreport2021.pdf.
 
Life Line Screenings
        Residents living in the Oak Harbor area can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and other chronic, serious conditions with affordable screenings by Life Line Screening.
        St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 122 W. Ottawa St., Oak Harbor, will host the screening event on Jan. 25, 2022.
        Screenings can check for:
        • The level of plaque buildup in arteries, related to risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and overall vascular health.
        • HDL and LDL cholesterol levels.
        • Diabetes risk.
        • Bone density, as a risk for possible osteoporosis.
        • Kidney and thyroid function, and more.
        Special package pricing starts at $149, however, consultants will help create a package based on your age and risk factors.
        Call 1-877-237-1287 or visit lifelinescreening.com. Pre-registration is required.
 
Magruder Hospital receives award
        Magruder Hospital was recently named a 2021 Guardian of Excellence Award winner by Press Ganey, a national leader in healthcare consumer and workforce engagement.
        Press Ganey recognized Magruder Hospital as a top-performing healthcare organization, achieving the 95th percentile or above for performance in patient experience in the Emergency Department.
        “Press Ganey is honored to recognize Magruder Hospital as one of the nation’s leaders in patient experience,” said Patrick T. Ryan, chair and chief executive officer, Press Ganey. “This award reflects an unwavering commitment to earn the trust and loyalty of patients throughout unimaginable challenges. We are humbled by Magruder Hospital’s incredible efforts, and their ability to adapt to imperatives of COVID-19 on top of the increasing demand for consumerism in healthcare.”
        Magruder cited its Patient Satisfaction Council as one of the keys to continuously focusing on and improving hospital quality, safety, outcomes and patient experience.
        “This award is an incredible honor and demonstrates Magruder’s continuing commitment to a great patient experience as shown in all areas of our hospital where patients receive care. This is a collaborative effort supported by a strong team culture that believes our patients always come first,” said Nick Marsico, Magruder’s President and CEO.
 
Mercy BSN program
offering forgivable loans
        In partnership with the Mercy Health Foundation - Greater Toledo, Mercy College will offer a limited number of forgivable loans to incoming Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students who are direct from high school. Incoming students can now apply for the Mercy Health BSN Nursing Forgivable Loan that will begin the fall semester of 2022.
        While the selected students are enrolled in the BSN program, their loans will be deferred and upon graduation and becoming successfully employed at Mercy Health, their loans will be forgiven over a four-year period.
        “This is a great opportunity for students to finance their education, so we are very happy to have more forgivable loans available for incoming students,” said Susan Wajert, PhD, president of Mercy College.
        Visit mercycollege.edu/forgive for details and to learn about the application process for the Mercy Health BSN Nursing Forgivable Loan. Information about the array of educational options available at Mercy College is available at mercycollege.edu/nursing.
 
CDC expands booster eligibility
        On Jan. 5, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control endorsed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation to expand eligibility of booster doses to those 12 to 15 years old.
        CDC now recommends that adolescents ages 12-17 years old should receive a booster shot five months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series.
        Data show that COVID-19 boosters help broaden and strengthen protection against Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants. ACIP reviewed the available safety data following the administration of over 25 million vaccine doses in adolescents; COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
        At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for adolescents aged 12-17.
        “It is critical that we protect our children and teens from COVID-19 infection and the complications of severe disease,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. “We now recommend that all adolescents aged 12-17 years should receive a booster shot five months after their primary series. This booster dose will provide optimized protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. I encourage all parents to keep their children up to date with CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.”