Tag Archive for southwest georgia

ICYMI: Phoebe receives HPV award

Posted on January 24, 2019 by

From L-R:  Angie Barber, Director, Phoebe Network of Trust School Health Program; Sherri Davis, LPN, Phoebe School Nurse & Asthma Educator; Tina Halverson, Director, Phoebe Physician Group Physician Operations/Quality/Clinical Services; Elena Roman, Executive Director, Phoebe Oncology; Jessica Davis, Senior Manager for Hospital Systems, American Cancer Society; Lori Nurmi, RN, Clinical Director, Phoebe Cancer Center.
(Photo courtesy of Phoebe Putney Health System)

Press Release courtesy of Phoebe Putney Health System

Albany, Ga. – The American Cancer Society presented Phoebe with the 2019 HPV Award which includes a $2,500 grant to help educate families and physicians about the need to vaccinate children against human papillomavirus (HPV).

“The American Cancer Society is determined to protect the future of every boy and girl by preventing six types of cancer with the HPV vaccine. The American Cancer Society recommends that the 2-shot HPV vaccine series is best given to boys and girls at ages 11 or 12. HPV vaccination prevents an estimated 90% of HPV cancers when given at the recommended age, but cancer protection decreases as age at vaccination increases. It is important that you talk to your family doctor and your child’s pediatrician about on-time vaccination,” said Jessica Davis, American Cancer Society Senior Manager for Hospital Systems.

HPV vaccination is covered by most insurance plans, and there is often no cost to get vaccinated.  Phoebe is already tracking HPV vaccinations at its clinics and is working to increase vaccination rates.  Phoebe’s Network of Trust will educate students about the need to be vaccinated before becoming sexually active, and the grant will help provide Continuing Medical Education about HPV prevention for area physicians.

“The Phoebe Cancer Center truly provides world-class care.  We have great success at treating many types of cancer, but we consider it an equally great success when we can help southwest Georgians prevent cancer,” said Elena Roman, Phoebe Executive Director of Oncology.  “We are pleased to partner with the American Cancer Society on multiple prevention efforts, and we look forward to the outstanding results we are confident will come from this HPV Award.”

In 2018, Phoebe received a Colorectal Cancer Partnership Award from the American Cancer Society in recognition of Phoebe’s colorectal cancer screening efforts.

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ICYMI: Public Health raises increased awareness of measles

Posted on January 24, 2019 by

Press Release courtesy of the Southwest Georgia Public Health District

ALBANY-Following two confirmed cases of measles in the Atlanta area, Public Health officials are urging healthcare providers to maintain heightened awareness for patients with measles. Both residents with the diseases are now out of the infectious stage, but the Georgia Department of Public Health is notifying others who may have been exposed between Jan. 7-14.

Public Health officials say the risk of becoming ill is low. However, anyone who becomes sick with measles symptoms or thinks they have been exposed to measles should:

*  Contact their healthcare provider immediately and let him or her know you may have been exposed to measles. If you don’t have a doctor, you should contact your county health department.

*  DO NOT go to the doctor’s office, hospital or public health office without FIRST calling to let them know about your possible contact with measles. Your healthcare provider or public health nurse will advise you about what to do.

  *  If you think you might have measles, stay at home and avoid contact with others especially babies less than one year of age or people with weakened immune systems.

  *  Healthcare providers who suspect measles should notify Public Health immediately.

Measles (Rubeola) Fact Sheet

What is measles?
Measles (rubeola) is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable disease caused by a virus.

How is measles spread?
Measles is spread by air-borne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

What are symptoms of measles?

Measles typically begins with a fever, followed by cough, runny nose, and/or red, watery eye. After two to three days, the fever peaks and a rash appears at the hairline and spreads progressively downward covering the face, neck, trunk and extremities.

What kind of vaccine is given to prevent measles?

The MMR vaccine prevents measles and two other viral diseases—mumps and rubella. More than 95% of the people who receive a single dose of MMR will develop immunity to all three viruses. A second dose boosts immunity, typically enhancing protection to 98%.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all persons be routinely vaccinated between 12 and 18 months of age and receive a booster between four and six years of age.

Who is at increased risk of becoming infected with measles?

  *  Infants who are too young to have been vaccinated (less than one year of age)
  *  Persons who have never been vaccinated
  *  Immunocompromised persons (these include persons undergoing cancer chemotherapy or other immune-suppressive treatments, transplant recipients or those with diseases that affect the immune system such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Who is at high risk for complications from a measles infection?

  *  Infants and children less than five years of age
  *  Adults greater than 20 years old
  *  Pregnant women
  *  People with compromised immune systems

What about older persons?

Persons born before 1957 are generally considered immune because they probably had the disease when they were younger.

Is it okay to go to public places (i.e., grocery store, work, day care, school etc.) if I have been exposed to measles and develop symptoms?
No, if you have been exposed and you become ill with symptoms of measles you should avoid public places and contact your healthcare provider immediately. DO NOT go to the doctor’s office, the hospital or a Public Health clinic without FIRST calling to let them know about your possible exposure to measles. Your healthcare provider or Public Health nurse will advise you about what you should do.

In the past 10 years, there have been seven confirmed cases of measles in Georgia, including one imported from another country.

For more information about measles, go to https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html.

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High School Football Round-Up Podcast: Week 4 Review/Week 5 Preview/Florence Update

Posted on September 12, 2018 by

Here’s what you’ll hear on this week’s installment of the High School Football Round-Up Podcast on the Southwest Georgia Network:

-Lee County remains unbeaten.

-Dougherty County teams struggle.

-Quick recap & preview of this week’s games.

-Plus, an even quicker update on Hurricane Florence.

Related Posts:

High School Football: Week 4 Scoreboard

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High School Football Round-Up Podcast: Week 2 Review, and Week 3 Preview

Posted on August 27, 2018 by

On this installment of the “High School Football Round-Up Podcast”, you’ll hear a look back on Lee County’s convincing win over Dr. Phillips of Orlando in the Georgia-Florida State Champions Challenge, Monroe’s double-digit win over Terrell County to go to 2-0, plus a preview of Week 3 action, and a whole lot more.

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

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High School Football Round-Up Podcast: Week 1 Review, and Week 2 Preview

Posted on August 21, 2018 by

A quick look back at Week 1 action, including Lee County’s easy win over Dougherty in the Hamp Smith Classic, as well as a quick look ahead to Week 2 action, on this week’s episode of the High School Football Round-Up, only on the Southwest Georgia Network.

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

 

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Podcast: Phoebe Putney Health System approves new budget

Posted on August 8, 2018 by

(File Photo: Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital Logo and Tower-by Walter L. Johnson II)

In this latest installment of the Southwest Georgia Network, Phoebe Putney Health System Chief Financial Officer Brian Church explains the new budget for the fiscal year 2019, as well as the importance of managing increasing costs, while also trying to recruit and retain new and current employees.

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Hear the news as it’s happening at southwestgeorgianetwork.com, Southwest Georgia’s only true radio news report, offline or online.

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Phoebe Family Medicine Residency program focuses on recruiting new residents

Posted on July 11, 2018 by

Left Photo: Phoebe Putney Health System Family Medicine Residency Program Director George Fredrick, M.D (left).

Right Photo: Tarah Henderson, D.O. (left)

(Photos by Walter L. Johnson II)

At its monthly board of directors meeting at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany Wednesday, Family Medicine Residency Program Director George Fredrick addressed members regarding the state of the program. He says that he and his team have made significant strides towards recruiting new physicians to Southwest Georgia.

“It shows progress, it shows that we’re growing, and how important developing medical education is to developing good healthcare in an area such as Southwest Georgia, which is a difficult area to recruit physicians into,” Fredrick said. “By getting them here to train, and by increasing our numbers, I think that it shows that there is growth, and I think it shows that there is interest in the younger physicians, in coming to (rural) areas instead of just staying in municipal areas or big cities.”

As a member of the largest class to be enrolled in the 25-year history of the program, Tarah Henderson agreed with Fredrick on the progress the program has made in recruiting new residents during that span.

“It was great just to see the ins and outs of the hospital, and seeing of Phoebe Putney,” Henderson said, adding that being a part of eight member Class of 2021 has been a tremendous learning experience thus far.

“It’s been really great, everyone has been helpful,” she said. “The attendees have really been attentive, and they’re really trying to teach you.”

Many factors and strategies go into the selection of residents to the Family Medicine Residency program, including ties to Georgia, whether it comes via family or non-family, Fredrick explained.

“Probably the most effective (strategy to recruit potential residents) is students who have done their training in Georgia,” he said, “because they have some connection with Georgia. We then look at people that have some connection to Georgia, it may that they were born here, it may be that they be that spent some time in Georgia, it may be that they have a spouse or significant other that will be moving to Georgia and getting a job. So we look for those factors through the application process, to try to concentrate on those individuals.”

But sometimes there are students with little or no ties to Georgia who find their way into the residency program, dependent upon what’s found in their background information, as well as expressing a strong interest in practicing medicine in rural areas like Southwest Georgia, Fredrick added.

“Then, you look at people who may have no connection with Georgia, and you look at their personal statement,” Fredrick explained, “and I’ll see that perhaps they have a high interest in rural medicine, or serving different demographics of the population. I think those are the kind of people (that) we want to key on.”

“People that have had that kind of activity will find an interest in (rural medicine) and stay.”

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

COMING SOON: Hear the news as it’s happening at southwestgeorgianetwork.com, Southwest Georgia’s only true radio news report, offline or online.

 

 

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