NEWS-Line Q&A with TIMOTHY M. KENNEDY, Independent Consultant Occupational Therapist, Erie County Legislator

Timothy M. Kennedy, MS, OTR-L, graduated with a BS as well as an MS in Occupational Therapy from D’Youville College in Buffalo, New York. Tim fell into a pediatric clinical in college and loved it. He has been working with the pediatric population ever since. He was also appointed to the Erie County Legislature in 2004, and elected to the Erie County Legislature in 2005. Tim works as an Erie County legislator focusing on economic development, public safety, job creation, and quality of life issues in the community. Currently, Tim works as an occupational therapist at Bornhava, a specialized early childhood center for children with disabilities in Amherst, New York, and has been there since 2000. He announced his candidacy for New York State Senate on January 8, 2010. This election will be determined in November.

Read More in Colleagues…

Family Toasts ‘Last Man Standing’

This isn’t healthcare news, but I found the story touching and worthy of being shared.  Cheers to Mr. Fillman. ~JMB

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

By Brandie Kessler, bkessler@pottsmerc.com

Robert Z. Fillman

POTTSTOWN, PA — Back in 1947, neither Robert Z. Fillman nor any of his several dozen childhood friends who created The Last Men Standing Club would have dreamed they would be the last man standing.

The club, created in jest, by a group of boys who had grown into men, and experienced grownup things like war, marriage and parenthood, was a way to hold onto the past while looking into the future.

In June 2009, Fillman, of Pottstown, and Joseph Cain, of Royersford, both living into their 80s, became the official namesakes of the club. They were featured in The Mercury, and shared some memories of growing up in Pottstown, spending time at the Ellis Drug Store on Charlotte and Walnut streets, and playing ball, as well as their time in the military and going off to war.

Although reaching the milestone, and taking ownership of the bottle of Crown Royal that was purchased back in 1947 to be shared by the last two men alive, was something both men were proud of, it was bittersweet. It meant that they had seen all their friends go before them.

Read More…

Go Red for Women: National Wear Red Day is Friday, February 5, 2010

Mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts — everyday women are dying at the rate of almost one per minute. Speak up. Make a difference. Show your support for the fight against heart disease in women by wearing red. It’s an easy, powerful way to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Lead the Way and Plan a Wear Red Day

National Wear Red Day is coming February 5, 2010. But it takes just one person to start Wear Red Day on any day of the year. Let that person be you! Consider organizing a Wear Red Day at your workplace, with your faith-based organization, at your community center or even in your own home. Speak up. Inspire your friends, neighbors, coworkers and family members to show their support for the fight against heart disease!

How to Celebrate

The American Heart Association has made it simple with free, downloadable tools. Just sign up as a Wear Red Day Coordinator and you’ll be able to use the tools anytime of the year to host your own Wear Red Day event.

You can also celebrate Wear Red Day by:

• Getting your coworkers to join you in wearing red to work
• Asking the man in your life to wear something red
• Promoting healthy hearts with a heart-healthy meal for your friends and family
• Using the American Heart Association’s Wear Red Day fundraising tool to reach out to friends and family and donating proceeds to Go Red For Women.

The threat of heart disease in women is real. But this silent killer can be beaten. So sign up, download the tools and start speaking up for yourself and others with a Wear Red Day!

Source: American Heart Association

Statement from the American Pharmacists Association Regarding the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Budget Remarks

In comments made yesterday [Feb. 1, 2010] addressing President Obama’s 2011 Health and Human Services (HHS) budget, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius highlighted critical investments in the budget that will protect the health and safety of America’s families including investments in fighting health care fraud, strengthening public health infrastructure and getting serious about health and wellness.

“The American Pharmacists Association applauds the Secretary’s commitment to addressing these essential issues to protect the health and safety of Americans,” said APhA Executive Vice President and CEO Tom Menighan. “Pharmacists are uniquely qualified to assist in addressing many of the areas highlighted by the Secretary including reducing the burden of chronic disease, advancing patient-centered health research, enhancing Health Information Technology (HIT) and protecting against pandemic influenza and other preventable illnesses. APhA’s top priority is to enhance health care service delivery and utilization by fully optimizing the clinical skills and medication expertise of pharmacists. We look forward to continuing work focused on improving medication use and advancing patient care.”

By working collaboratively with physicians and other health care providers as part of patients’ care team, pharmacists help patients better understand their medications, access prevention services like immunizations, and get the full benefit of their medication therapy. Pharmacists are the key to solving our nation’s medication use crisis and demonstrated significant value to improving the health and wellness of our nation during the recent influenza pandemic.

Share Your Story

Are you volunteering in Haiti?  Leading a medical mission in Liberia?  Working in a clinic in an underserved area here in the US?

Consider being a Guest Blogger on NEWS-Line for… and share your experiences with your colleagues.

Feel free to contact me at jmbuck0@gmail.com or jbuck@news-line.com and I can help you share your story.

~JMB

Health Volunteers Overseas Needs OT and PT to Help in Haiti

Fifteen  Physical and Occupational Therapists are being sought  by Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) to provide direct care for people injured and disabled in Haiti’s devastating earthquake.  Therapists are needed in hospital settings to help people recover from their injuries, avoid secondary complications, and prevent or mitigate long-term disability.  Some therapists will provide services in displaced persons camps and other community-based settings.

Direct care positions require a commitment of at least 6 weeks.  Project Managers need to commit to at least 8 months in Haiti.

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least 3 years professional experience as licensed PT or OT
• Must have a current license
• Must have experience working internationally in low income countries, preferably in emergency/disaster relief
• French and/or Creole language skills preferred
• Willingness to work 12 hour days under extremely stressful conditions
• Willingness to live in a tent, and survive on rationed food and water
• Must have a valid passport

These are paid positions – living expenses and stipend of approximately $3,400 per month.

If you are a retired PT or OT , HVO recommends you apply only if you have a current license, you are in excellent health, and able to deal with REALLY harsh living conditions (Health coverage and emergency medical evacuation coverage is provided).

Interested applicants should send HVO the following documents electronically to info@hvousa.org

A cover letter outlining relevant experience and qualifications

• A CV, if available, and
• Contact information including work, home, and cell telephone numbers
• HVO will forward information on the qualified applicants to their partner organization for final decision about placement.  Please note, HVO is unable to place students for these assignments.

For more information about HVO and other opportunities for therapy volunteers, please visit http://www.hvousa.org

U-M Nursing Students’ Trip to Rural Liberia ‘Really an Eye-opener’

A University of Michigan School of Nursing researcher and three graduate students will spend three weeks working in rural Liberian hospitals and clinics next month. The students will be challenged to hone their midwife and nursing skills in an impoverished country still recovering from years of civil war.  Includes slide show of Nursing students in Liberia.  Read More on Colleagues page.

Your Thoughts…

What is your opinion?  Should the Dems force healthcare reform through even if it is watered down?  Is the GOP correct in blocking reform at all costs?  Or are they both wrong and just perpetuating political agendas that are not in the best interest of the American people?

Feel free to comment on the Discussion/Opinion page.

~JMB

Elizabeth Georges Joins The North American Menopause Society as Director of Strategic Initiatives

The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) is pleased to name Elizabeth A. Georges Director of Strategic Initiatives for its Central Office in Mayfield Heights, Ohio…. Read More

NCPA Responds to President Obamas State of the Union Address by Reiterating Priorities to Strengthen the Role of Pharmacists in Healthcare

Last night [Jan. 27, 2010], President Barack Obama gave his State of the Union Address to Congress, followed by a response from Governor Bob McDonnell (R-VA). Both elected leaders discussed the issue of healthcare reform. In response, Bruce T. Roberts, RPh, National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) executive vice president and CEO, issued the following statement:

“While the future and composition of health care reform this year is still an open question, both President Barack Obama and Governor Bob McDonnell reiterated in their speeches the need to find solutions that work for the American people. Community pharmacists have been engaged in this reform process from the beginning because, if properly utilized, we have been shown to help improve health outcomes and reduce costs. Whatever is decided by politicians in Washington in the coming days or weeks, community pharmacists remain eager to work constructively with both parties to find legislative remedies that improve health care in this country.

“Four of our most pressing concerns were addressed in the health care reform bills that passed by the House and Senate. It’s still imperative that Congress:

• Create a fair reimbursement system for Medicaid generic prescription drug reimbursement;
• Exempt pharmacists from unnecessary accreditation requirements for the selling of medical supplies to seniors;
• Bring transparency to certain aspects of how the costly administrators of prescription drug plans, pharmacy benefit managers, operate so that plan sponsors, patients and pharmacists can make more informed decisions; and
• Continue to strengthen programs like medication therapy management that have already proven their benefits to patients.

Those are the right prescriptions to ensure pharmacists are contributing to our health system in a robust and sustainable fashion.”
The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) represents America’s community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 22,700 independent community pharmacies, pharmacy franchises, and chains. Together they represent an $88 billion healthcare marketplace, employ over 65,000 pharmacists, and dispense over 40% of all retail prescriptions. To learn more go to www.ncpanet.org or read NCPAs blog, The Dose, at http://ncpanet.wordpress.com.