Health briefs

Magruder Auxiliary trunk show fundraiser
        The Magruder Hospital Auxiliary will host a trunk show fundraiser at the Port Clinton Yacht Club Sunday, Sept. 18 from 1:30-4 p.m.
        Enjoy shopping with a wide variety of vendors, a silent auction, door prizes, hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and more.
        Proceeds will benefit auxiliary projects that support the hospital and the community.
        Tickets are $30 per person and can be purchased at Mary’s Blossom Shoppe or online at magruderhospitalauxiliary.eventbrite.com. Tickets are also available at the Magruder Gift Shop Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
 
Mercy mobile mammograms
        Mercy Health’s mobile mammography unit will visit several locations throughout September.
        The mobile mammography unit delivers 3D mammograms to women age 40 and older. The van offers the option of self-compression, meaning the patient will have the ability to control the compression once she is in position.
        The schedule includes:
        • Tuesday, Sept. 13, Mercy Health - Oregon Clinic/Bay Meadows Family Medicine, 3851 Navarre Ave., Oregon.
        • Wednesday, Sept. 14, Old West End Community Health Center, 2244 Collingwood Boulevard, Toledo.
        • Friday, Sept. 16, Mercy Health - Waterville Primary Care, 1222 Pray Boulevard.
        • Wednesday, Sept. 21, Mercy Health – Franklin Family Medicine, 2213 Franklin Ave., Toledo.
        • Wednesday, Sept. 22, Starbright Primary Care, 28555 Starbright Boulevard, Perrysburg.
        • Sunday, Sept. 25, North Saint Clair St., Toledo.
        While mammogram screenings may be covered by insurance, for best coverage, patients should verify if Mercy Health – St. Charles Hospital is an in-network provider with their insurance carriers. Financial need-based assistance programs are available to assist eligible uninsured or underinsured patients. Call 419-696-5839 for more information.   
            Screenings at the Mercy Health Mobile Mammography unit are by appointment only. Call 833-MAMM-VAN to schedule an appointment.
        To view the full list of dates and locations, visit mercy.com/toledomobilemamm.
        Certified radiologists read all mammograms and because a second look can mean a second chance, all mammograms are double-checked with a computer-aided detection system that detects more breast cancer than mammography alone.
 
Life Line screenings
        Residents living in and around the Northwood area can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and other chronic, serious conditions with screenings by Life Line Screening.
        The Red Willow Event Center, 5805 Woodville Rd., will host a community screening event on Thursday, Oct. 13.
        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.
        • Kidney and thyroid function, and more.
        Free parking is available.
        Special package pricing starts at $159, however consultants will work with clients to create a package that is right for them based on age and risk factors.
        Call 1-877-237-1287 or visit lifelinescreening.com. Pre-registration is required.
 
Magruder offers diabetes get-togethers
        Magruder Hospital will offer monthly Diabetes Get-Togethers on the first Thursday of the month October through May 2023, except December, at 11 a.m. in the conference center.
        The free hourlong get-togethers are for anyone dealing with diabetes or pre-diabetes, including family and friends. There will be a different topic each month. The schedule includes:
        • Oct. 6: Healthy Sleep & Diabetes.
        • Nov. 3: Stay on Track During the Holidays.
        • Jan. 5: Strategies for Managing Stress.
        • Feb. 2: Diabetes & Foot Health.
        • March 2: Dining Out with Diabetes.
        • April 6: Diabetes & Dental Health.
        • May 4: Travel & Diabetes.
        Certified diabetes care and education specialists lead discussions.
        No RSVP is necessary. For more information, call 419-732-4027 or email tstadler@magruderhospital.com.
 
Flu clinics announced
        Sandusky County Public Health has announced its 2022 seasonal flu clinics.
        Clinics will be offered at the health department, 2000 Countryside Dr., Fremont on the following Mondays:
        • Oct. 3: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
        • Oct. 17: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
        • Oct. 24: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
        • Oct. 31: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
        Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every season. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at high risk of serious complications from the flu, including older adults, pregnant women, young children, and those with chronic medical conditions.
        It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October.
        Sandusky County Public Health accepts Medicare and Medicaid; cards need to be brought to vaccine appointments. Some private insurances are also accepted including Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medical Mutual, Paramount, Summa Care, Aetna, Health Scope, United Health Care, and Cigna.
        For more information and to get updated information about the flu locally throughout the season, visit scpublichealth.com or find Sandusky County Public Health on Facebook.
 
Proper disposal of vape products urged
        Vape pens and other vape products have been in the market for more than 25 years. Now that many of those vape products are at their end of use, landfills and the Ottawa Sandusky Seneca Solid Waste District are facing a new issue of improper disposal of these items.
        Vape pens, electronic cigarettes, and other vape products have two key items that pose a threat to the environment when thrown in the trash – lithium-ion batteries and nicotine.
        Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in vape products are one of the leading causes of recycling-truck fires. Specialized recycling is needed for rechargeable batteries for that reason.
        Liquid nicotine inside e-cigarettes can release toxins that can pose a threat to human health and to the environment if they are not disposed of properly.
        E-cigarette and e-liquid waste should not be thrown in the trash or flushed down a sink. Instead, these items should be taken safely to the Ottawa Sandusky Seneca Solid Waste District’s Household Hazardous Waste collection this fall.
        Do not remove the batteries from the pens or e-cigarettes prior to recycling instead, bring the entire vape product to the collection for proper recycling of all contents.
        Registration is open for this event online at RecycleOSS.org or by calling 419-334-7222.
 
Sandusky Co. health surveys
        The Sandusky County Health Partners recently began its survey of Sandusky County residents as part of a community health assessment process.
        The Sandusky County Health Partners are working closely with the Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio and researchers at the University of Toledo to conduct the survey. This month, 2,000 Sandusky County residents 19 years and older will be randomly selected to participate in a survey. Residents who are selected are urged to complete and return the survey.
        The anonymous survey asks participants to answer questions about general health, risk and protective health factors, and access to health care. These answers will create a snapshot of the health of Sandusky County. The results will guide many public and private agencies in their program planning over the next several years by identifying key health problems.
        The final community health assessment report will be published in spring of 2023, at which time the results will be used to prioritize needs and create a community health improvement plan.
 
Wood Co. Hospital among America’s Best Employers
        Wood County Hospital was named among the 2022 Best Employers by State as announced by Forbes on Aug. 24.
        The survey conducted to develop this list was conducted through a collaboration with the market research company Statista, which surveyed 70,000 employees.
        Statista evaluated the employees’ experience based on factors such as working conditions, salary, potential for growth, and diversity to decide on the top 101 employers per state. They also asked respondents how likely they’d be to recommend their employer to others. The number of businesses ranked in each state was dependent on two factors – the number of qualifying employers and the size of the state’s workforce.
        Wood County Hospital was the only community hospital and one of only 17 hospitals & healthcare recognized.
        The Forbes article cited, “Employers that are at this level of recognition have realized that their brands and their values have to resonate at a local level to attract the kind of talent to get things done.”
        “We’re thrilled to be recognized as the only community hospital in Ohio to be recognized in the Forbes America’s Best Employers List,” said Stan Korducki, CEO and president of Wood County Hospital. “The culture at Wood County Hospital is one of collaboration and collegiality, which we support and nurture.
         “We have an amazing group of employees that are dedicated to their patients 365 days a year,” he said. “Our workforce has created an environment that new people want to join and work at Wood County Hospital because they’ll be supported by their colleagues and then they stay.”
 
Program to address elder scams and fraud
        Rachel Fall, chair of Ottawa County’s Task Force on Aging, announced that Thursday, Sept. 15 will be a day dedicated to helping the county’s senior citizens and their families combat elder scams and fraud.
        “Our Task Force is hosting an event which will bring to our area experts in their fields which identify identity theft, elder abuse scams and what our families can do to fight back,” Fall said in a released statement.
        The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Camp Perry, 1000 N. Lawrence Dr., Port Clinton. It will feature local, state and federal speakers including the Ohio Attorney General’s office, the United States Attorney’s office, the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Postal Service. Light refreshments will be provided.
        “Our families and local professionals will hear from the people on the frontline who are fighting for our senior citizens who are targeted by scams and fraud,” said Judge Frederick (Fritz) Hany II, judge of the Ottawa County Common Pleas Court, Probate and Juvenile Divisions.
        Hany, who is slated to speak at the event, added, “Criminals believe the elderly are vulnerable. Our parents are often embarrassed that they got swindled. It’s so important that we assure them that they are victims of a crime and are not alone. There is help.”
        Anyone interested in attending the program may register online at https://forms.gle/VnRbdxeor6jMwrkP9, by calling the Ottawa County Task Force on Aging at 567-262-3174, or by emailing ottawacoaging@gmail.com.