O ctober 5, 1994 • T he P ortland O bserver
P \ ge A6
Flu Vaccine Arrives In Portland Area
Immunization Clinics Are Scheduled At Neighborhood Sites
Multnomah County has sched­
uled special Flu Im m unization
C lin ic s at n e ig h b o rh o o d sites
throughout the county between
O ct. 10th and Oct. 28th.
Dr. Gary L. Oxm an, M ult­
nom ah C ounty H ealth O fficer,
recom m ends that the follow ing
individuals be im m unized against
influenza before the flu season
starts which is usually D ecem ­
ber:
Senior citizens over age 65;
county residents o f any age with
chronic health problem s which
require m edical follow -up such
as heart disease, kidney disease,
d ia b e te s , b re a th in g p ro b le m s,
and im m unosuppressive condi-
tions including HIV/AIDS infec­
tion; children re ceiv in g lo n g ­
term aspirin therapy who may be
at risk of developing R eye’s Syn­
drome; medical personnel who
have contact with high risk pa­
tients; individuals who provide
care to high risk persons in the
home setting; and nursing home
staff.
Influenza is a viral infection
of the bronchial tubes and lungs
that can make a person ill at any
age.
Most people are sick with
the flu only a few days, but some
people—especially the high risk
groups—may become seriously ill
and even require hospitalization.
Flu shots are therefore now
begin recom m ended also for any
person who wishes to avoid com ­
ing down with the flu.
“This y ear’s flu vaccine in­
cludes protection from A/Texas/
36/91, A/Shangdong/9/93, and B/
Panam a/45/90 which is projected
as being the causes of flu occur­
ring this w inter in O regon” ex ­
p la in e d P eg g y Lou H illm an ,
Multnomah C ounty’s Im m uniza­
tion C oordinator.
“ We do re co m m en d th at
people check with their doctor
before taking the vaccine, but
most people have no side effects
from the flu shot, other than some
soreness in the arm that received
the injection,” she said.
The vaccine will begin to
p ro v id e p ro te c tiv e im m u n ity
within two weeks after vaccina­
tion.
Although this y ear’s vaccine
im munizes for three strains of
viruses, the flu shot cannot p ro ­
tect people from all the different
strains of viruses which may o c­
cur. Flu shots are formulated to
cover the m ajor virus strains that
are expected to hit during this
year’s flu season.
Usually the flu season O r­
egon runs from N ovem ber to
April with the largest num ber of
cases beginning in December and
declining in February.
Pneum ococcal vaccine will
also be offered this year for the
first time. Pneumococcal infec­
tion causes serious illness includ­
ing pneum onia and m eningitis.
Anyone can get pneum ococ­
cal disease, but persons over 65
years of age and persons o f any
age who have alcoholism , heart
or lung disease, kidney failure,
diabetes or certain types of can­
cer have the greatest risk and age
who have alcoholism , heart or
lung disease, kidney failure, dia­
betes or certain types o f cancer
have the greatest risk and are
encouraged to get the vaccine.
One dose of the vaccine (be­
tween 1997 and 1983) or who
Mental Health Help Offered
At any given time, 17 million
Americans suffer from depression,
yet less than one-third of these indi­
viduals seek help. Sadly, despite the
fact that treatment is available and
recovery likely, 15 percent of those
individuals commit suicide.
In an effort to broaden public
awareness, depression will be the
focus of a mental health screening to
be offered at free at Providence Medi­
cal Center, Mental Health and Chemi­
cal Dependency Programs, and across
the country on National Depression
Screening Day as part of Mental Ill­
ness Awareness Week.
The depression screenings which
are not a substitute for a complete
examination will include a psychia­
trist led depression education ses­
sion; anonymous completion of a
depression check list; a brief, indi­
vidualized review of the completed
check list with a mental health pro­
fessional; print and video informa­
tion about depression; and the op-
portunity to leant about referral op­
tions.
A ccording to Dr. Magnus
Lakovics, Regional Executive Di­
rector of the Mental Health and
Chemical Dependency Program for
the Providence Health System, ben­
efits of taking part in the screening
and educational session include early
detection of depression, a better un­
derstanding of depression, its signs
and symptoms, insight into available
treatments and information about
received the current vaccine (1983 to
present) 6 or more years ago.
No appointm ents are needed
at any of the following special
Flu/Pneumococcal Immunization
Clinics conducted by Multnomah
County Health Department.
There is no charge for flu or
pneumococcal immunizations for
persons 65 and older or on M edi­
care. People on Medicare must
bring their cards with them.
Som e a p p o in tm e n ts are
available at regular Multnomah
County Health Clinics.
There is a charge for the flu and
pneumococcal immunization. For
more information, call Multnomah
County Information, 248-3816.
I M ade I t !
resources in the community.
Depression screenings areavail-
able Thursday, Oct. 6, 6:00 p.m., in
the hospital’s amphitheater, 4805
N.E. Glisan. The information num­
ber for depression screening at Provi­
dence Medical Center is 230-6009.
West side screenings will be held
from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 a.m. to
7 p.m. at the Tualatin Valley Mental
Health Center, 14600 N.W. Cornell
Road in Portland. The center’s num­
ber is 645-3581.
Computers To Improve Medical Service
A new computer system being
introduced at Kaiser Permanente’s
Sunset Medical Office in Washing­
ton County may make magazines in
pharmacy waiting rooms obsolete.
Many patients at the medical office
now find their prescription filled be­
fore they even have a chance to pick
up People or Sports Illustrated.
“This system does seem to speed
things up,” says Aloha resident Karen
Huegel, who has Kaiser Permanente
coverage through her employer, Intel.
“ My prescription was filled right
away and I didn’t have to wait.”
“Our Clinical Information Sys­
tem is fast,” says Kaiser Permanente
pharmacist Kathryn Ring, RPh. She
explains that before the computer
pilot began this summer, members
would be handed a prescription by
their doctor, then carry it down to the
pharmacy and wait for it to be filled.
Now, all 17 primary care doctors at
Sunset have a computer workstation
at their desk and type in the prescrip­
tion. With one keystroke the doctor
sends the prescription instantly to the
pharmacy.
“ At least two-thirds of the time
we will have the medication waiting
before the patient can even get dressed
and walk here from the exam room,”
says Ring. “We hand them their medi­
cine and tell them if they want to
catch up on the magazines they’re
welcome to stay.”
Peggy McClure is helping intro­
duce the Clinical Information Sys­
tem, which she predicts will be used
by all Kaiser Permanente physicians
by 1996. McClure says the HMO is
building on its earlier computeriza­
tion successes. “The system we are
testing gives physicians the further
ability to enter each patient’s diagno­
sis, vital signs and visit notes, as well
as to send orders for X-rays, lab tests,
prescriptions and other services di­
rectly to those departments,” says
McClure. “Physicians can also call
up their appointments for the day and
review specific information about
who they’ll be seeing. Advice nurses
will also be able to assist members
better over the phone by having vital
information about each patient at their
fingertips.”
Family practitioner Michael
Krall, MD, is one of the first physi­
cians to try out the new software. “A
real benefit of this system,” says Dr.
Krall, “is it improves documentation
of patient care. As I type in my notes
and tests I’ve ordered, they automati­
cally become part of the patient’s
electronic medical record.”
Unlike a paper chart, once the
system is fully implemented the elec­
tronic record will be available in
seconds at any Kaiser Permanente
facility a member visits. It will also
enable a Kaiser Permanente doctor
to consult a colleague across town
about a patient and let both see the
medical record at the same time.
Dr. Krall says once the system is
fully in place it will help health pro­
fessionals deliver even better pre­
ventative care. Kaiser Permanente’s
Assistant Regional Medical Director
Homer Chin, MD, who has been
active in developing the Clinical In­
formation System, agrees. He says
the system has the potential to track
immunizations, health maintenance
screenings, and referrals, and gener­
ate consent forms and patient letters.
“Ultimately, the system should cap­
ture enough data to help researchers
learn how all patients receiving cer­
tain treatments have fared. Regula­
tors and employer groups are anx­
ious for this kind of documentation.”
McClure says the system runs
within the popular Microsoft Win­
dows program and was developed by
Epic Systems Corporation of Madi­
son, Wis. At the end of each medical
appointm ent, patients receive a
printed visit summary showing their
vital signs, what took place during
the visit, instructions from the doc­
tor, and any tests they are to take.
Patients have been favorably im­
pressed. “It’s nice to walk out with a
summary that lists my medications
and the amount,” said Huegel.
'How I lost more than 20 pounds with Weight
Watchers and reached my personal goal/
By Kathleen Sullivan
"Life looks beautiful from here. I’m at the weight 1 want to be, and I
feel the way I want to feel. And you know what got me off to such a
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You'll feel great and you will see those pounds drop away.
Examlng
Eating
Disorders
A fo u r-w e e k E d u c a tio n a l
G roup designed for persons who
suffer from (or who suspect they
suffer from) eating disorders is
being offered to community m em ­
bers.
Sponsored by the Eating D is­
o rd ers Program o f the P acific
U niversity Psychological Service
C enter, the Group will be held
from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on four
consecutive W ednesdays begin­
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the Pacific University Psychol­
ogy S ervice C enter, 511 S.W .
10th Ave., Suite 400.
Eating disorders are a seri­
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N e rv o s a ,
an d
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NORTHEAST PORTLAND
NORTH PORTLAND
N orthm inster Presbyterian
2833 N. Portland Blvd.
Fellowship Hall
Tues.
7:00 p.m.
mnatha Church
.2 N.E. 12th
vEnter on Skidmore)
Sat. 9:30 a.m.
Nationwide Insurance
919 N.E. 19th Ave.
Wed. 11:45 a.m.
Tillamook Park Bldg.
2108 N.E. 41st Ave.
Mon.
7:00 p.m.
Tues.
7:00 p.m.
Wed. 9:30 a.m. & 5:00 p.m.
Thurs.
7:00 p.m.
Fri. 9:30 a.m.
University of Portland
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.
! Columbia Hall
(Enter from Portsmouth)
Wed.
4:45 p.m.
Temple Baptist Church
1319 N.E. 7th, Fireside Room
Tues.
12:00 Noon
JOIN ANY MEETING ANYTIME
For Information Call Collect Weekdays
8:30a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (503) 297-1021'
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