lanuary 2, 2008
Page A6
H ealth MATTERS
Medical Clinics Expand Care to Needy
ongoing care even when the per
son feels no sym ptom s if th ey ’re to
avoid heart attacks, strokes, kid
ney failure and am putations.
Clinics require a special trip, a
long wait, perhaps a baby sitter,
annoyances for the w ell-to-do but
huge obstacles for som eone who
must take three buses to reach the
doctor or who loses a day o f pay for
the tim e off.
C onsequently, “they only come
when they’re out o f m edicines or
have symptoms. It’s so frustrat
ing,” says Dr. Jim Sanders o f the
Medical C ollege of W isconsin.
So specialists increasingly are
seeking other ways to address glar
ing disparities in U.S. health care,
by taking care directly to where the
people who need it most hang out.
Churches nationw ide are offer
ing blood pressure screening days
and health fairs. Projects in num er
ous states are teaching barbers and
beauticians how to teach their cus
tom ers about stroke sym ptom s or
to encourage a m am m ogram while
giving a haircut.
Baltim ore health officials are
debating expanding the concept,
with a proposal to offer blood pres
sure testing in 1 (X) hair salons and
b a rb e rsh o p s in n eig h b o rh o o d s
with high rates o f heart disease.
In M ilw aukee, C o lu m b ia St.
At food
pantries, other
gathering spots
(A P , - An out-of-w ork David
T hom as w alked into a food pantry
ju s t seeking groceries. T hom as
learned he w as a stroke waiting to
happen and go, blood pressure
m edicine along with his bread.
Food pantries have long aimed
to help heal hunger. A new project
aim s to see how well they can help
heal high blood pressure, diabetes
and other ailm ents, too.
It’s part o f a grow ing movement
to offer m edical care for the poor
and uninsured in the places where
they regularly gather.
“W e’re taking a window of o p
p o rtu n ity a p p ro a c h ,” says Bill
Solberg, director o f com m unity ser
vices forC olum bia St. M ary’s H os
pital in M ilwaukee, Wise, which co-
founded the food pantry project.
"W e know we can see these people
once a m onth.”
D espite an increasing num ber of
free m edical clinics, treatm ent is
hard for the needy to track down.
T h a t’s e s p e c ia lly tru e fo r the
nation’s top health problem s —
high blood pressure, diabetes and
high cholesterol — that require
David Thomas gets his blood pressure checked at a health clinic that works with a food pantry in
Milwaukee, Wise. While there, he learned he was a prime candidate for a stroke. (AP photo)
M ary' s and the medical college aim
to provide scientific evidence that
“chronic disease m anagem ent" —
ongoing wellness care — can sig
nificantly im prove food pantry us
ers’ health in nine months.
T he targets: High blood pres
sure, diabetes, high cholesterol,
obesity and smoking. The plan:
Nurses will screen users o f three
food pantries for those health con
ditions when they com e in for free
groceries. Those with problems can
get treated on the spot, with ongo
ing care as needed.
And because four o f those con
ditions are diet-related, patients also
will get nutrition education: C ook
ing classes in the p an try 's kitchen
and tips to m ake the often carbohy
drate- and salt-heavy food-hank
staples a little healthier. Medical
students will be sent shopping with
patients, helping with things like
label-checking for salt.
Sadly, high-carb and high-fat
foods tend to be a lot cheaper than
fresh produce, and many o f these
families feed four for a month on
$250, Sanders says.
"Try to talk them into a head o f
broccoli. It’s going to be an eye-
opener.”
Thom as, 47, learned his blood
pressure was a sky-high 194 over
124 w hile visiting the project’s ini
tial food pantry clinic. A nurse told
him he was at high risk fo ra stroke,
and he agreed to treatment. Her
w arnings really sank in days later,
when a m eatpacking plant checked
his health as part o f a jo b interview ,
and said h e'd be hired only after his
hypertension was controlled.
Five days after starting pantry-
provided pills, T hom as’ blood pres
sure was dropping fast.
"This clinic is going to bring jo y
to the w hole neighborhood,” he
said.
The program, which aims to treat
2,500 patients over three years, is
funded by a $450,000 grant from a
charity, but patients are expected
to contribute for m edications if at
all possible. Sanders predicts that
for $4 or $5, a m onth’s supply o f
generic hypertensionorcholesterol
medic i ne wi 11 be adeq uate for m ost.
T he seriously ill will be sent out for
more advanced care, and nurses
will enroll patients w hoqualify into
M edicaid or other health programs.
iMnMIWNMRMMNM
H ealth W atch
Fam ilies L iving W ith M ental Illness — A free 12-
week life changing course designed for the family of
mentally ill family m em bers, teaching coping skills,
how to deal with crisis and relapse and more, begins
Jan. 10, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. T o register, call 503-890-
4805.
S m o k e-F ree S u p p o rt G ro u p - meets M ondays, 7
p.m. to8 p.m. For more information,call 503-256-4000.
V eg etarian S ta r te r K it - Healthy vegetarian eating
made easier with inform ational resources, samples,
coupons and delicious recipes. Kits are $7.50 each
(includes shipping). T o order, call 503-256-4000.
B reastfeeding P re p aratio n -Thursday. Jan. 10, from
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., this class is prepare expectant
p a re n ts on the s tra te g ie s and te c h n iq u e s o f
breastfeeding; $42 fee percouple, to registercall 503-
574-6595.
B a b y sittin g T ra in in g -T h u rsd a y ,Ja n .3 fro m 9 a m.
to 4:30 p.m., the Youth Em ploym ent Institute, 1704
N.E. 26th, will host the first aid training class partici
pants will receive a first aid kit; $40 fee. T o register, call
503-888-2756.
F ree B od y B asics - This physician recom m ended
class is appropriate for all ages and health conditions.
Plan to attend this one-session class and learn the
simple guidelines for safe exercises, including stretch
ing. Call 503-256-4000 to regi ster.
F o r B ig B ro th ers & B ig S ister-T o -B e -- Saturday,
Jan. 19,from 10a.m .to 11 a.m., special sibling class for
children ages 3 to 6 helping to prepare for their role as
an o ld ersib lin g ;$ 2 0 fe e (2 a d u lts, I child), to register
call 503-574-6595.
A d u lt C P R /F irst A id C la ss — Friday, Jan. 4, from 9
M a m m o g r a p h y S c r e e n in g — Early d etectio n is a
C a r d ia c -R e h a b E x e r c ise C la s s e s - A m ed ically
key facto r in the p rev en tio n o f breast can cer. Call
5 0 3 -2 5 1 -6 1 3 7 to sch ed u le y o u r h ig h -tech , soft-
touch m am m ogram .
su p erv ised ex e rcise p rogram fo r peo p le d ealin g
w ith h eart co n d itio n s. For m ore in fo rm atio n , call
5O3-25I-626O.
M a n a g in g C h ron ic H ep atitis C - - T hird W ednesday
o f each month at 5 p.m., the inform ative session led by
a registered nurse to help m anage side effects o f
medications and dosage preparations and adm inis
tration; doctors referral required to registercall 503-
151-6313.
L eg A lert S cree n in g - Check for peripheral arterial
disease with this safe, sim ple screening using ankle
and arm blood pressure. The fee is $40. T o schedule
an appointment, call 503-251-6137.
a.m. to 3:15 p.m., the Youth Em ploym ent Institute,
1704 N.E. 26th Ave., will host the adult training class
participants will receive a first aid kit; $47 fee. To
register.call 503-888-2756.
M a tern ity W ater W ork ou t - Helping new moms
regain muscle tone, strength, and flexibility, all in the
support and freedom o f the water. Call 503-256-4000
for more information.
N ew b o rn C are - Saturday, Jan. 19, from noon to 5
T en d erfo o t C are - Treat your feet with a soak, nail
p.m., expectant parents will learn tips and techniques
for caring for their new born; $45 fee per couple. To
registercall 503-574-6595.
trim, buffing and massage from a licensed nurse al one
o f six clinics or at your home. Call 503-251 -6303 for
more information.
W elco m e to M ed ica re -- M ake inform ed M edicare
choices, attend the free class to explain M edicare
options, Jan. 17, and Feb. 21, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at
the Bruning Center in G resham , 1484N .W . Civic Dr.
For registration inform ation, call 5 0 3 -4 9 1 -7572.
N u tritio n a l S em in a rs - New Seasons M arket is
presenting a series o f nutritional sem inars at various
store locations along with a nutritional help line. For
m o re in f o rm a tio n , e m a il a s k th e n u tr itio n is t
@ new seasonsm arket.com .
O steo p o ro sis S creen in g — An ultrasound bone den
S e n io r A e r o b ic s — A lo w -im p act w orkout geared
sity screening with personalized education; fee $30.
T o schedule an appointm ent, call 503-261 -6 6 11.
specifically tow ard seniors. Call 5 0 3-449-0783 for
cu rren t schedule.
C a n c e r R e so u rce C e n te r - Providence St. V incent
M edical C en ter and the A m erican Red C ro ss have
jo in e d forces to create the first in -h o sp ital re
source cen ter p ro v id in g books, prin ted m aterial,
co m p u ter access and m ore for in d iv id u als and
fam ilies d ealin g w ith cancer. T he ce n te r is c u r
ren tly open M onday through T h u rsd ay , 9 a.m .
to 4 p.m.
EXPRESS^
SPINAÏÇOLUMN
Thanks Portland
Com munity!!!
An ongoing senes of questions and answers about America's natural healing profession
Dr. Billy R. Flowers
Thank you: A Happy and healthy
New Year to our great patients.
Only nature creates and only na
ture can truly heal.
W e look forw ard to continue
se rv in g th o se o f you w h o ’ve
m ade the natural selection: C h i
ropractic. T he only m ajo r health
science w hose only side effects
arc im proved h ealth and g reater
P a r e n tin g C la sse s — N ew borns d o n ’t com e w ith
in stru ctio n m an u als but parents and paren ts-to -
be can learn ab o u t a v ariety o f to p ics from pain and
ch ild b irth to b reastfeed in g to infant CPR and m uch
m ore. For a sch ed u le o f ev en ts, call 503-5 7 4 -6 5 9 5
o r visit: p ro v id en c e.o rg /cla sses.
CANNON’S
____________ THE____________
Now is the season to reflect on
the events o f the past year and
look ahead to al I the New Year has
to offer. This past year has cer
tainly been a happy one for all of
us. W e’ve had so m any kind and
w onderful patients.
T o all o f you, “thank you.” We
appreciate your courtesy and your
zeal to share with friends how
C hiropractic’s natural healing has
helped you. It is really exciting to
have more and more people aware
o f the healing pow er o f nature.
S tro k e A lert S cree n in g - Check your carotid arter
ies with a painless ultrasound to assess your risk; fee
$40. To schedule a screening, call 503-251-6137.
Years on the Corner
sense o f w ell-b ein g . If you ev er
have any q u estio n s ab o u t y o u r
h ealth or about any o f o u r m any
serv ices, w e ’ll alw ays be happy
to help.
A gain, we w ish you co n tin
ued health th ro u g h o u t the co m
ing N ew Year.
Thanks Chuck Hinton
Portland Style BBQ
* Let Us Cater Your Next Event *
Catering & Take-Out
Our Specialty: Real Hickory Smoked Bar-B-Q
Wayne Cannon - Proprietor
Mon.Thu. 11:30 a m. 9:00 p.m. • Frt.-Sat. 11:30 a m.-11:00 p.m.
Sun. 1:00-7:00 p.m.
5410 N.E. 33rd
503-288-3836
Flowers' Chiropractic Office
2124 N.E. Hancock Street, Portland Oregon 97212
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