| Tanner to Offer H1N1 Vaccines at No Cost Through Regional Vaccination Centers |
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On Thursday, Nov. 19, Tanner Health System announced plans for three dates and locations for H1N1 vaccine distribution. At that time, plans were set to administer the vaccines at a nominal fee, to help cover the costs related to staffing. Tanner Health System has since decided to offer H1N1 vaccines to target populations at no cost at the vaccination centers to ensure that many more area residents who need the vaccine will have access to it. “At this point, we have chosen to absorb the administration costs ourselves,” said Loy Howard, president and CEO of Tanner Health System. “We don’t feel that a fee – even a modest one – should prevent someone in these high-risk groups from having access to this vaccine.” At this time, the H1N1 vaccine will be provided to target populations only – those who are at an increased risk for contracting the H1N1 flu and those who would be most likely to suffer complications were they to come down with the virus. Tanner is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for distributing the H1N1 flu vaccine. Only those in the following groups will be able to receive the vaccine:
Persons with chronic medical conditions that pose a higher risk for influenza-related complications include chronic pulmonary conditions (including asthma); cardiovascular disease (excluding high blood pressure); renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurologic/neuromuscular, hematologic or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus); and immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV). “It is very important that the H1N1 vaccine be given to those who need it most,” said Laura Larson, MD, board-certified in infectious diseases with Infectious Diseases of West Georgia and medical director of infection prevention for Tanner Health System. “At Tanner, we are following the CDC’s guidance for the distribution of H1N1 vaccine, by vaccinating groups who have been hit the hardest by H1N1 infection.” The vaccination centers will be located at: Tanner Occupational Health Center
Tanner Professional Building
Higgins General Hospital
Directional signage and support staff will be available at each location. These locations will not be providing seasonal flu or treatment for people with influenza like symptoms. Those with influenza like symptoms should not go to these vaccination centers. Though doses of the vaccine were provided to Tanner at no cost by the United States Department for Health and Human Services, the system has incurred costs in storing the vaccine, organizing and staffing these centers. The cost of the vaccine would have been covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans, but may have still been prohibitive to many other area residents. “Tanner’s mission is to improve the general health of the community,” said Howard. “To the target populations for whom this vaccine is available, catching the H1N1 flu virus is vitally important. By offering the vaccine at no charge to the community and absorbing the administrative costs of the vaccination centers ourselves, we anticipate that many more people who truly need this vaccine will take advantage of these centers.” Georgia continues to report widespread influenza activity. Since Aug. 30, more than 450 hospitalizations and 34 deaths have been reported in Georgia due to seasonal and H1N1 influenza. More information is online at www.tanner.org/h1n1. |
| Mammography Controversy: Task Force Recommendations Run Into Opposition |
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CARROLLTON (Times-Georgian) - Temple resident Trish Minot is a breast cancer survivor. Diagnosed in 2007 at the age of 56, she went in for a digital mammogram after finding something in a breast self-examination. “If I hadn’t, I would have just been having regular mammograms and my doctor told me it could have been years before it showed up,” Minot said. New recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Task Force to not teach breast self-examination and to delay beginning regular mammography for women until age 50 is causing a controversy among health-care providers and advocates. It’s something Minot thinks is a terrible idea. She was following the guidelines, doing the self-exams and annual mammograms, and she’s sure it saved her life. “I don’t think that the guidelines that were submitted by this group need to change anything women do at this time,” said Dr. Raul Zunzunegui, a board-certified and fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist with the Comprehensive Breast Care Center of West Georgia. “The American Cancer Society, the American Society of Breast Surgeons, the American College of Radiology, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists all have come out with statements against their recommendations.” Continue reading at times-georgian.com > |
| 75-year-old Army Doc Back From Third Tour |
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ATLANTA (MyFOX ATLANTA) - At an age when most soldiers have long retired, Dr. John Burson found himself itching to get back in uniform at 75-years-old. "I felt like I had a debt to my country, and it was an opportunity for me to go back. I had a skill set that fortunately the Army could use, even though I was much older than the usual officer," said Dr. Burson. Dr. Burson, who spent 30 years as an Army Reserve doctor without serving in a combat zone, has pulled three tours in the last four years. Dr. Burson spent two tours in Iraq and one this year in Afghanistan. Continue reading and watch the video > |
| West Georgia Quilting Guild Donates Quilts to Tanner Hospice Care |
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West Georgia Quilting Guild donated 31 quilts to Tanner Medical Foundation, supporting Tanner Hospice Care at their meeting on October 20. The goal of the Guild, which was founded in 1987, is to share the craft, history and love of quilting with the community. The quilts will be provided to patients in their homes as well as to those who have been hospitalized to help give their rooms a feeling of comfort and home. “We hope the quilts will comfort Tanner Hospice Care patients and bring them joy,” said Edmae Bialka, who is serving as chair of this year’s community service project for the West Georgia Quilting Guild. “We put a lot of love and care in making the quilts and want to spread this to people who are experiencing an illness in our community.” Tanner Medical Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the services of Tanner Health System through the philanthropic efforts of the community. To learn more about Tanner Medical Foundation, visit www.tannermedicalfoundation.org. |
| H1N1 Flu: What You Need to Know |
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Tanner Health System has established a set of helpful Web pages to keep residents of the communities Tanner serves informed on preventing the spread of the novel H1N1 flu, when and where to seek treatment and more.
Please visit www.tanner.org/h1n1 for the latest information from Tanner Health System and links to other helpful resources.
Georgia’s public health services have also established a toll-free hotline to answer questions on H1N1 flu. For more information on swine flu in Georgia, call 1.888.899.9788.
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| Tanner Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Accepting Patients |
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David M. Rubin, DDS, has joined the staff of Tanner Health System and established a new practice, Tanner Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Dr. Rubin is board-certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery. He earned his dental degree from the University of Toronto Dental School and completed an internship at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto and a residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine's Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, NY. Tanner Medical Group offers a wide range of primary care and specialty practices serving communities throughout west Georgia, each backed with all the resources of Tanner Health System for a full continuum of care. Trust Tanner Medical Group when you want not only the expertise, but also the resources to provide the highest possible level of patient care.
Tanner Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery |
| Wal-Mart in Villa Rica Supports Willowbrooke at Tanner |
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Wal-Mart in Villa Rica recently presented a check to Tanner Medical Foundation, supporting a patient care fund for Willowbrooke at Tanner. Willowbrooke at Tanner is Tanner Health System's new 52-bed behavioral health facility located on the Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica campus. The donation will assist in purchasing personal care items for patients receiving behavioral health treatment. “Each quarter our store gives grants to deserving community organizations and we decide who will benefit the most from the donation. We felt like a donation to help support patients of Willowbrooke at Tanner would be a very worthwhile cause,” said John Kilgore, store manager for Wal-Mart in Villa Rica. Tanner Medical Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the services of Tanner Health System through the philanthropic efforts of the community. To learn more about Tanner Medical Foundation, visit www.tannermedicalfoundation.org. |
| Tanner Hospice Care Hosting Annual Holiday Food Sale Nov. 21 |
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Tanner Hospice Care, the area’s only community-based, not-for-profit hospice service, is bringing together some great cooks for a great cause.
On Saturday, Nov. 21, Tanner Hospice Care will host its 19th annual Tanner Hospice Care Holiday Food Sale at the First Baptist Church in Carrollton, at 102 Dixie Street. The sale will begin at 9 a.m. and will conclude when the last of the items are sold. The annual holiday food sale to benefit Tanner Hospice Care has become a local holiday tradition. Area residents turn out to donate their own dishes to be sold and to stock their freezers with seasonal fare to share throughout the holidays. Sale items will include a variety of homemade foods, including pumpkin and pecan pies, cakes, smoked turkeys, dressing, casseroles, breads and more. All items are packaged, labeled and refrigerated to ensure freshness. Donations of food items to be sold to benefit Tanner Hospice Care may be delivered to the fellowship hall at First Baptist Church on Friday, Nov. 20 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tanner Hospice Care has never billed any patient for medication or other medical supplies. Contributions from the community enable Tanner Hospice Care to offer its services regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.
For more information, call Tanner Hospice Care at 770.214.2355. Tanner Hospice Care is part of Tanner Health System.
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| Tanner Tells 'My Story' |
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Tanner has touched the lives of many patients in the communities our hospitals serve. Experience the compelling stories of 19 patients who describe how Tanner Health System has made a difference in their lives. Read the stories of patients like Carolyn Maze, who battled lung cancer and won, Richard "Tim" Jones, who knew about Tanner's cardiac services but never expected to need them, and Susan Greer, who delivered twin girls at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton. |
