P age B4
O ctober 2 6 , 19 9 4 • T he P ortland O bserver
É Ü si Ä
New Mammography Guidelines Issued
re cord keeping and re p o rtin g and
fo r m am m ography, ra d io lo g ists and
fessor o f ra d io lo g y and c h ie f o f the
m am m ography should be performed
other fa c ility staff.
d iv is io n o f ra d io lo g ica l sciences at
o nly w ith h ig h-quality, m odem ,dedi­
cated x-ray equipm ent and w ith film
released by P ublic H ealth S ervices’
w ho w ill d e live r the results.
“ Such errors are unacceptable,”
A g e n cy fo r H ealth Care P o lic y and
she said. “ T hey can cause a w om an
requires fa c ilitie s to be c e rtifie d by
the Food and D ru g A d m in is tra tio n .”
R esearch (A H C P R ) re c o m m e n d
needless anxiety over a m am m ogram
A ccording to A H C P R A d m in is­
Lawrence W . Bassett, M .D ., the
Iris C antor professor o f breast im ag­
the U n iv e rs ity o f C olorado Health
Sciences C enter in D enver, said,
w a y s to im p ro v e the q u a lity o f
m a m m o g ra p h y and its p o te n tia l fo r
th a t is p e rfe ctly n o rm a l, o r w orse
trator C lifto n R. Gaus, Sc. D „ one goal
o f his agency is to increase customers’
ing at the U C L A School o f M e d icin e ’ s
department o f radiological sciences,
“ W om en should schedule screening
a b ility to make sound choices in health
was co-chair o f the private-sec tor panel
o f health experts and consumers that
developed the guidelines, said, “ Pain­
R e fe rrin g Providers: Q u ic k R efer­
P h ilip R. Lee, M .D . H H S assis­
care. He said, “ W om en can and should
in flu e n c e th e q u a lit y o f th e ir
are least tender and a vo id using p o w ­
ders, lo tio n s o r deodorants the day o f
th e ir test, because they can a ffe c t the
ence G u id e fo r C lin ic ia n s ” and
tant secretary fo r health and d ire c to r
o f the P u b lic H ealth Service said,
mammograms. Some ways a wom an
can do this are b y m aking sure the
fu l breast compression can be a prob­
lem. Even one bad experience w ith
q u a lity o f m am m ogram s.”
“ T h in g s to K n o w A b o u t Q u a lity
M am m ogram s: A W o m a n ’ s G u id e ”
fa c ility is F D A -ce rtifie d , asking when
mam mography can dissuade a woman
H e a lth and H u m a n S e rvice s
“ The g u id elin e s w ill strengthen the
a b ility o f w om en to interact w ith
she’ 11 get the results, and w ritin g dow n
fro m having future screenings.”
(H H S ) secretary Donna E. Shalala
th e ir p ro v id e r, fu lly aware o f the
the name o f w hom she should call i f
A cco rd in g to D r. Bassett, the
g u id e lin e panel to o k a broad vie w o f
N ew c lin ic a l practice g u id elin e s
re d u cin g deaths fro m breast cancer.
The g u id e lin e s c le a rly o u tlin e the
roles and re sp o n s ib ilitie s o f each
h e a lth
w o rk e r in v o lv e d
in
th e
m a m m o g ra p h y process and o f the
w o m a n undergoing m a m m o g ra p h y.
ye t, can result in treatm ent delays o r
o th e r consequences fo r a w om an
whose m am m ogram is a b n o rm a l.”
said, “ A key recom m endation is that
typ e and le ve l o f service to w h ic h
she doesn’t. N ever assume that no
m a m m o g ra p h y fa c ilitie s g iv e the
th e y are entitle d . These g u id e lin e s
w ill also strengthen the e ffe c tiv e ­
news is good news.”
A H C P R and F D A are w id e ly
m a m m o g ra p h y se rvice s, sta rtin g
ness o f the M am m ography Q u a lity
d is trib u tin g a consum er version o f
Standards A c t. The act, w h ic h w e n t
the new g u idelines in E n g lish and
Spanish. The professional versions
care p ro v id e r c a lls to schedule
m a m m o g ra p h y and e n d in g w ith
w om an the results o f her test in w r it ­
in g on site o r by m a il, usually w ith in
10 days.” Shalala said m any w om en
never get their m am m ogram results
o r get them late due to co m m u n ica ­
tions breakdowns o r confusion as to
in to e ffe ct O ct. 1, establishes q u a lity
standards fo r m am m ography e q u ip ­
m e n t, pe rso n n e l, ra d ia tio n dose,
w ith the tim e a w om an o r her health
tra ckin g , m o n ito rin g and fo llo w -u p .
are intended fo r fa m ily physicians
P a n e l c o - c h a ir R . E d w a rd
and other providers w h o re fe r w om en
H e n d rick, Ph. D „ an associate pro-
m am m ogram s when th e ir breasts
H e n rick added, “ I t ’ s also very
im p o rta n t to b rin g as m uch in fo rm a ­
processors set up specifically fo r the
mam m ography film being used.
S in g le copies o f “ H ig h -Q u a lity
M a m m o g ra p h y -- In fo rm a tio n fo r
(in Spanish) “ L o que la m u je r debe
tio n as p o s s ib le abo u t p re v io u s
m am m ogram s, along w ith copies o f
saber sobre los mammograms (rayos-
x del seno),” are available free o f
the x-rays when possible, and the
charge fro m the A H C P R Publica­
tio n s C le a rin g h o u s e 1 -8 0 0 -3 5 8 -
name and address o f the providers
w h o o rd ered the tests.” He said
9295, P.O . B o x 8547, S ilv e r S pring,
w om en should fo llo w th e ir health
M d . 20907. These docum ents also
care p ro vid e r’ s recom mendations fo r
are a va ila b le free fro m A H C P R In ­
fo llo w -u p health care and ask any
stant F ax (3 0 1 -5 94 -2 8 0 0 ) 24-hours
questions they have.
a day, seven days a week.
The g u id e lin e s also say that
Latest Smith Ad Accused of Inaccuracy
Business And Health Care Leaders Say Smith Ad Has No Basis In Fact
A ngered by the latest lies and
vices C o m m issio n , “ F o r h im to try to
m isrepresentations o f R epublican
und e rm in e the O regon H ealth Plan
is s im p ly irre sp o n sib le .”
candidate fo r governor Denny Sm ith,
leaders o f the health care co m m u ­
n ity held a press conference today at
Oregon H ealth Sciences U n ive rsity
to demand that S m ith p u ll his untrue
ad o f f the air.
The te levision ad shows black
and w hite footage o f a depression-
era “ g ra vy tra in ” and cla im s that “ a ll
k in d s” o f people w h o have never
liv e d in Oregon o r paid taxes w ill
U.S. Surgeon Joycetyn Elders pitches a strong message against chewing tobacco, while former St.
Louis Cardinals catcher and broadcaster Joe Garagiola fields the hard pitch. Looking on are former
Detroit Tigers outfielder Bill Tuttle Hall of Famer and former Atlanta Brave, Henry “Hank" Aaron; and
Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle.
HMO Oregon Announces Expansion
Of Statewide Pharmacy Network
Z ’
“ » S'
\'r . 1
po in t o f view , we have not seen in flu x
people are flo c k in g to O regon to take
advantage o f the H ealth Plan. “ There
is a ctu a lly a ve ry broad spectrum o f
o f people from out o f state to take
advantage o f the Oregon Health Plan,”
people b e n e fitin g fro m the Oregon
to r o f the Oregon M edical Associa­
Health Plan. M a n y o f them are tw o -
parent fa m ilie s , some people in rural
pening is sim p ly not supported. A
c o m m u n itie s , sin g le w om en w ho
p re vio u sly o n ly received coverage i f
said Bob Demedde, executive direc­
tion . “ T h e suggestions that that’s hap­
recent study by the A d u lt and F am ily
Services Q u a lity C ontrol U n it con­
cluded that o n ly 1.6 percent o f the
the O regon H ealth Plan, increasing
personal incom e taxes by 15 per­
whose c h ild re n re ce ive coverage
cent.
“ There is absolutely no data to
under the H e a lth P lan, also p a rtic i­
there was no indication that those
pated in the press conference. D e­
people moved here specifically to ob­
spite an incom e b e lo w the federal
tain medical coverage."
support ex-C ongressm an S m ith ’ s
assertions. W e ’ re c a llin g on him
today to p u ll the ad,” said D r. Paul
people on the Oregon Health Plan had
recently m oved to Oregon, and that
Chiropractic College Offers
K ir k , chairm an o f the H ealth Ser­
Health Screenings
Available For Seniors
Health Check-Ups For Women
A lo w -c o s t health check-up fo r w om en w ill be g ive n fro m 9 a.m. to 1 p.m .,
S aturday, N o v . 1 2 ,1 9 9 4 , at W estern States C h iro p ra ctic C ollege C lin ic .
The $20 e xa m in a tio n fee w ill co ve r the cost o f a p e lv ic exam w ith pap
o f additional pharmacies was carefully
tio n (H M O ) O re g o n su bscribers
th ro u g h o u t the state n o w have the
matched with H M O Oregon’s member­
Legacy V is itin g Nurse A sso­
ship in communities across the state.
In a d d itio n , the pharm acies ac­
c ia tio n is o ffe rin g d u rin g N o ve m ­
ber, H ealth Screenings fo r adults 55
• N o ve m b e r 17; Sherwood Senior
and older.
The free screenings may include
C enter; 855 N . S herw ood B lv d .;
tions fille d . A b o u t 60 new indepen­
cepted in to the n e tw o rk had to meet
objective perform ance standards that
dent pharm acies have been added to
in clu d e d th e ir o p e ra tin g hours, drug
general p h ysica l assessment, n u tri­
L egacy V N A ’ s Senior H ealth
the n e tw o rk, plus a ll O regon phar­
counseling fo r customers, emergency
tio n testing, b lo o d pressure check,
S cre e n in g p ro g ra m co n d u cts 25
N E 132nd A ve .
m a cie s lo c a te d in F re d M e y e r,
d e liv e ry services and m u lti-lin g u a l
fo o t care e va lu atio n , m edication re­
screenings a year at senior and com -
E stablished in 1904 and accredited b y the N o rth w e st A ssociation o f
A lb e rts o n ’ s and Safeway stores.
The pharm acy n e tw o rk already
capabilities.
H ealth M ain te n a n ce O rg a n iza ­
v ie w , p u lm o n a ry functions, cancer
m u n ity centers located th roughout
S chools and C olleges, W estern States C h iro p ra c tic C o lle g e grants a fo u r-
education,and vision,glaucom a,and
the P o rtla n d m e tropolitan area. The
year d o c to r o f ch iro p ra ctic degree.
hearing tests. B lo o d tests are o p ­
tio n a l at a $5 fee.
nurses, re sp ira to ry therapists, po­
A ppointm ents are necessary and
d ia tr is ts , d e n tis ts , p h a rm a c is ts ,
choice o f m a n y m ore p a rtic ip a tin g
pharm acies to have th e ir p re scrip ­
tions emphasize health, wellness and
C enter; 1820 N .E. 40th A ve .; 288-
8 3 0 3 ;9am to noon
6 2 5 -5 6 4 4 ; 9am to noon
D ru g and B i- M a rt stores. The a d d i­
tio n o f the new lo ca tio ns b rin g s the
necessary p h y s ic ia n and hospital
m ay be made b y c a llin g the fo llo w ­
m e d ica l la b o ra to ry technologists,
total num ber o f H M O O regon p h a r­
services. T h e y c o n tro l costs by coor­
d in a tin g care th ro u g h a m em ber’ s
ing screening sites:
o p h th a lm o lo g ists and d ietitians.
F o r m ore in fo rm a tio n about the
m acy outlets to m ore than 350.
• N o ve m b e r 3; T ig a rd S enior C en­
The pharmacies were added in or­
der to assure convenient access for all
P rim a ry Care P hysician, and by es­
ter; 8815 S .W . O ’ M ara S t; 620-
S e n io r H e a lth Screening program
ta b lis h in g p a rtic ip a tin g netw orks o f
46 1 3 ; 9am to noon
H M O Oregon subscribers. The number
m edical service p ro vid e rs.
and dates and locations o f future
screenings, ca ll 225-6300.
• N ovem ber 11; H o lly w o o d Senior
Continued from Metro
▲
Consumers designed and creat­
ed the project under the supervision
of artist Lorenzo Guel (pronounced
Gwell). Guel worked on the project
through the City of Portland's Arts-
In-Education program.
The consumer mural is twelve-
feet by eight-feet with rich, warm
colors and depicts a sense of commu­
nity. It will be mounted on the out­
side south wall of the Garlington
adult building and will be visible to
those walking or driving north on
Martin Luther King Boulevard.
The mural project was used as a
form of therapy for consumers who
participate in Garlington’s Rehabili­
tation Day Treatment Program. Men­
tal health therapists have found that
incorporating art therapy into the
overall treatment can be both healthy
and productive for consumers.
One consumer expressed enthu­
siasm at being a participant in the
project and hope to break down ste-
reotypes regarding mental illness. “I
want to express that mental illness
doesn't inhibit one from being a part
of the human race,” said the consum­
er.
Garlington Center Community
Mental Healthcare serves children,
families and adults with mental ill­
ness.
Social Security: Questions And Answers
Q u e s tio n : I h e a rd th a t S o c ia l
earnings and benefit estimate state­
Security d is a b ility benefits. I f I ’ m e li­
age and cu rre n tly unm arried, you w ill
S e cu rity is g o in g to s ta rt sending a
ment from Social Security every year.
gible, when w ill my benefits begin?
be e lig ib le to receive divorced w ife ’ s
statem ent th a t shows the e a rn in g s
yo u wave cre d ite d to y o u r S o c ia l
S e cu rity a cco u n t a n d estim ates o f
In the m eantim e, i f y o u ’d lik e a
A n s w e r: I f social S ecurity de­
benefits based on his Social Security
b e n e fit estimate statem ent, you can
term ines that you are disabled, your
m o n th ly benefits w ill begin w ith the
w o rk record. I f your ex-husband is at
least 62, you can receive divorced
Q u e s tio n : / a lw a ys thought that
the re tire m e n t age f o r S o cia l Secu­
sixth fu ll m onth o f yo u r d is a b ility .
Q u e s tio n : / am 5 0 ye a rs o ld an
w ife ’s benefits even i f he is s till w o rk ­
in g and not yet draw ing his o w n So­
r ity was 65 ye a rs o ld b u t a fr ie n d o f
I receive S o cia l S e cu rity d is a b ility
c ia l S ecurity retirem ent b e n e fit i f
m ine sa id that a p e rso n has to be 67
years o ld to re tire . W ho’ s co rre ct?
benefits. When w ill I be e lig ib le f o r
yo u ’ ve been divorced from him at
M e d ica re ? D o ! need to contact
least tw o years.
Q u e s tio n : A re m y S o cia l Secu­
s o c ia l S e cu rity benefits. Is th is tru e ?
A n s w e r It’s true that Social Secu­
rity is sending out a statement next year
called a “ Personal Earnings and Benefit
EstimatcStatcmenL’ Itw illnotbem ailcd
to everyone, but to approximately 6.7
m illio n people who arc 60 o r okler and
not receiving Social Security benefits
based on their ow n earnings. This state­
ment shows how much a person earned
request it by c a llin g social S e c u rity .
pressure check. T he check-ups are adm inistered b y fo u rth -ye a r interns
under the sup e rvisio n o f ch iro p ra ctic physicians.
W o m e n are encouraged to c a ll e a rly fo r appointm ents at 255-6771 as
openings are lim ite d . The c lin ic is in the P arkrose area o f P ortland at 2900
Stopping Tobacco
Sales To Minors
In cre a sin g ly com m on across O regon, store clerks arc responding to new
e n fo rce m e n t o f state la w p ro h ib itin g the sale o f cigarettes and other
tobacco products to m inors.
The law is being enforced when a teenager w ho is (and looks) no older than 16,
accompanied by a plain-clothes retired state police officer, attempts to buy tobacco
from Oregon retailers. These unannounced visits w ill occur during the next 12
months in each o f Oregon’ s 36 counties.
I f the c le rk declines to sell to the m in o r, he o r she w ill receive a c e rtifica te
o f a p p re cia tio n ; i f the sale is made, the c le rk w ill be cited. T he penalty is
a fin e o f up to $500.
A lre a d y , stores and cle rks are responding. S igns are g o in g up in stores
a le rtin g m in o rs that they w ill be asked fo r ID . C le rk s at some stores are
w earing buttons that read “ N o ID , N o Sale, N o W a y .” A n d PayLess D ru g
stores w ill aw ard a $5 g if t ce rtific a te to every c le rk w h o refuses to sell
tobacco to m in o rs, even to cle rks at o th e r stores.
Enforcement has begun in response to new federal law that says any statp. failing
to enforce its ban on tobacco sales to minors w ill lose a share o f federal dollars to
fight alcohol and other drug use, potentially m illions o f dollars. M any people are
surprised that tobacco-caused deaths outn umber the combined deaths from alcohol,
drugs, A ID S , fires, auto accidents, homicides and suicides.
A d d to that cost the m e dical expense (fo r cancer, heart and lu n g disease)
associated w ith tobacco, a p rice borne by insurance ratepayers and
taxpayers. O re g o n ’ s m ost recent survey shows that 24 percent o f Oregon
11 th graders re p o rt h a vin g sm oked in the past m onth. T h is is greater than
the percentage o f adults w h o sm oke re g u la rly.
M oreover, tobacco is w hat is called a “ gateway drug” : M ost people w ho use
A n s w e r: Itd e p c n d s ~ if you were
bom before January 2,1938, you w ill
S o cia l S e cu rity to apply?
be elig ib le fo ry o u r fu ll Social Security
benefit at the age o f 65. However,
fo r M edicare a fte r you receive dis­
a b ility benefits fo r 24 m onths. Y o u
because o f longer life expectancies,
w ill get in fo rm a tio n about medicare
e fits are calculated o n total earnings
“ W h y w o rry about a little teenage sm o kin g ? ” some people asks. I t ’s a fact
that m ost people w ho sm oke re g u la rly as adults started as teenagers; few
d u rin g a life tim e o f w o rk under the
S ocial S ecurity system, ye a rso f high
people take up sm o kin g as adults.
A n s w e r: Y o u w ill be e lig ib le
r ity re tire m e n t benefits fig u re d on
m y la s t fiv e years o f earnings?
A n s w e r: N o. R etirem ent ben­
over his working life, the taxes paid, and
the fu ll retirem ent age w ill be in ­
several months before y o u r M e d i­
estimates o f the benefits fo r which a
creased in gradual steps u n til itrcaches
worker and his or her fam ily might
age 67 by 2027. T h is change starts in
care coverage starts.
Q u e s tio n : I ’ m d ivo rce d . W ill I
quality.
In each year from 1996 through
the year 2000 and affects people bom
be e lig ib le f o r a n y s o c ia l S ecurity
the b e n e fit, b u t no group o f years
in 1938 and later. N o m atter w hat
benefits on my ex-husband’ s S o cia l
counts m ore than another group.
1999, Social Security w ill send state­
ments to individuals as they reach age
your “ fu ll” retirem ent age is, you may
S ecurity record.
60. B eginning in the year 1999, m ost
benefit as early as 62.
Am erican workers w ill receive an
smear, breast exam w ith in stru ctio n s on s e lf e xa m ination and spinal
e va lu atio n . T he health screen also includes a u rin a ry lab test and a blood
screening team includes registered
disease p re ve n tio n , in a d d itio n to
p ro v id in g insurance coverage fo r
New Multi Ethnic Mural At Garlington Center
•V
D r. K ir k also to o k issue w ith the
a d ’ s im p lic a tio n s th a t hom eless
H ealth M a intenance O rg a n iz a ­
in clu d e d m any oth e r independent
pharm ac ies plus a ll Pay Less, T h rifty
.. I
M e d ica id coverage because she had
a p a rt-tim e jo b .
“ F rom the practicing physician’s
they had c h ild re n ,” said K ir k .
M a rin a A n tilla , sin g le m o th e r
flo c k to the state to take advantage o f
e
' i •’ 1
p o ve rty level, her fa m ily was denied
start receiving a reduced retirem ent
Question: / a p p lie d f o r Social
earnings w ill increase the am ount o f
A n s w e r: i f you and your ex-
For Social Security or Supplemen­
tal Security Income Assistance, call 1-
husband were m arried fo r at least 10
800-772-1213. For speech & hearing
years and i f you are at least 62 years o f
impaircdassi.stancc,call 1 -800-325-0778.
m arijuana, heroine o r cocaine get their start w ith cigarettes. Y e t surveys by
Oregon Research Institute have shown that, at least u n til now , m inors were
able to buy tobacco 60 percent o f the time.
The state O ffic e o f A lc o h o l and D ru g Abuse Program s has attem pted to
p ro vid e a ll tobacco vendors w ith in fo rm a tio n about the inspection visits,
in fo rm a tio n fo r th e ir em ployees, signs to post fo r custom ers and o ther
m aterials. In m a kin g these unannounced inspections, th e ir goal is not to
catch c le rks s e llin g tobacco to m inors. T h e ir goal is to catch clerks not
se llin g . T he results w ill be a va ila b le to O regonians, a large m a jo rity o f
w hom w a n t this la w to be enforced.