Category: SCIENCE/MEDICAL NEWS

The Rite Aid Foundation Welcomes 2020 KidCents Charities Award

Awards more than $2.4 million in grant funding to 481 nonprofits

CAMP HILL, Pa.–(

BUSINESS WIRE

)–The Rite Aid Foundation welcomed 481 nonprofits to its 2020 KidCents class – it’s largest ever – and awarded more than $2.4 million to support the charities that advance the health and wellbeing of children in communities that Rite Aid serves.

The number of KidCents charities has more than doubled since the program’s inception in 2014, when 204 nonprofits comprised the inaugural class. Over seven years, The Rite Aid Foundation has contributed a total of more than $34 million to KidCents charities across the country, thanks to members of Rite Aid’s loyalty program,

wellness+ rewards

, rounding up their in-store or online purchases to donate to KidCents.

“More than 3 million Rite Aid customers actively choose to make meaningful contributions to help children in their communities through KidCents. The program’s growth is a testament to their generosity and commitment to building safer, stronger and more supportive communities for youth across the country,” said Jessica Kazmaier, president of The Rite Aid Foundation and Rite Aid chief human resources officer. “The 2020 KidCents class has the opportunity to prove that change adds up exponentially, and we look forward to helping them achieve their goal of giving kids better lives and brighter futures.”

Each KidCents nonprofit will receive a $5,000 grant to start 2020. The funding will help organizations like The Children’s Developmental Center in Richland, Washington, provide programs – like autism evaluations, occupational therapy and speech language therapy – that help children reach their potential.

“The Children’s Developmental Center has been providing early intervention services to young children with developmental delays and their families since 1977. We support, educate and empower families to assist children in reaching their fullest potential,” said Cathryn Tames, executive director of The Children’s Developmental Center and a past recipient of The Rite Aid Foundation’s KIDCHAMP Award. “The support of The Rite Aid Foundation allows us to do what we do best – make a positive difference in the lives of our communities’ youngest children and their families.”

Examples of longstanding impacted nonprofits include:

Speech and Language Development Center, Buena Park, California:

The nonprofit school and therapy center serves children and young adults with special needs in language learning and/or behavior. More than 200 staff members provide programs and services for about 300 students.

Inspiring Minds, Warren, Ohio:

Founded in 2006, Inspiring Minds focuses on five key areas: education, college and career readiness, exposure to new experiences, health and wellness, and personal development. The nonprofit offers free after-school and summer enrichment programs to under-represented youth.

Mighty Writers, Philadelphia:

Mighty Writers teaches kids to write through four-day-a-week writing academies at six neighborhood locations in Philadelphia and the surrounding area. All programs are free for the children the nonprofit serves.

In addition to having 92 original charities among this year’s ranks, The Rite Aid Foundation also welcomed 69 new KidCents charities to the program in 2020. New participants include:

Girls on the Run, Dayton, Ohio:

A council of Girls on the Run International, Girls on the Run of Dayton inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that integrates running. The organization serves four counties and has inspired more than 5,000 participants over nine years.

ABC House, Albany, Oregon:

Established in 1997, this Child Abuse Intervention Center works with children, youth and families to overcome the crisis of abuse and neglect. Services include: child abuse assessment, treatment, support services, post-trauma counseling, and educational programming.

Fresh Youth Initiatives, New York:

Launched in 1993, Fresh Youth Initiatives (FYI) works with low-income immigrant and first-generation youth, with goals to help children succeed in school, navigate life transitions, pursue college and a career, and give back to their community. Through summer camps, afterschool programs and more, FYI works with 1,500 children and teens.

“Girls on the Run of Dayton is incredibly honored to join The Rite Aid Foundation’s 2020 KidCents charities. This $5,000 grant alone will allow us to offer over 60 additional scholarships this year,” said Kayleigh Clark, executive director of Girls on the Run of Dayton. “As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary, we remain dedicated to serving every girl across the Miami Valley. We believe every girl is inherently full of power and potential. As a KidCents charity, we look forward to building confidence and inspiration in our community and are grateful to The Rite Aid Foundation for its continued support.”

For a full list of KidCents charities and to learn more about how Rite Aid’s

wellness+ rewards

members can support charities in their own communities, please visit

www.kidcents.com

.

About The Rite Aid Foundation

Since its inception in 2001, The Rite Aid Foundation has awarded more than $68 million to nonprofit organizations. Additionally, Rite Aid, through the efforts of its customers, supplier partners and associates, has also raised more than $92 million for Children\’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the country since 1994.

About the KidCents Program

Through the KidCents program, which is The Rite Aid Foundation\’s charitable giving program dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of children living in the communities Rite Aid services, members of Rite Aid\’s loyalty program,

wellness+ rewards

,

can round up their in-store or online purchases to the nearest dollar and donate their change to KidCents. Members can also choose to direct their change to a specific KidCents charity by visiting

www.kidcents.com

. For more information, visit

www.kidcents.com

.

About Rite Aid Corporation

Rite Aid Corporation is on the front lines of delivering health care services and retail products to over 1.6 million Americans daily. Our pharmacists are uniquely positioned to engage with customers and improve their health outcomes. We provide an array of whole being health products and services for the entire family through over 2,400 retail pharmacy locations across 18 states. Through EnvisionRxOptions, we also deliver pharmacy benefit management to approximately 1,900 clients and 3.4 million members. For more information, visit

www.riteaid.com

.

CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), Wuhan, China (Updated)

Updated January 24, 2020

Situation Summary

CDC is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (termed “2019-nCoV”) that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and which continues to expand. Chinese health officials have reported hundreds of infections with 2019-nCoV in China, including outside of

Hubei Province. Infections with 2019-nCoV also are being reported in a growing number of countries internationally, including the United States, where the

first

and

second

2019-nCoV infections were reported on January 21 and January 24, 2020, respectively, both in travelers returning from Wuhan.

Chinese health authorities were the first to post the full genome of the 2019-nCoV in

GenBank

external icon

, the NIH genetic sequence database, and in the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (

GISAID

external icon

) portal, an action which has facilitated detection of this virus. On January 24, 2020, CDC posted in GenBank the full genome of the 2019-nCoV virus detected in the first U.S. patient from Washington state. The virus genetic sequence from the patient in Washington is nearly identical to the sequences posted from China. The available sequences suggest a likely single, recent emergence from a virus related to bat coronaviruses and SARS-CoV. The available sequence information does not provide any information about severity of associated illness or transmissibility of the virus.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people such as has been seen with

MERS

and

SARS

.

When person-to-person spread has occurred with MERS and SARS, it is thought to have happened via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread. Spread of MERS and SARS between people has generally occurred between close contacts. Past MERS and SARS outbreaks have been complex, requiring comprehensive public health responses.

Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak in Wuhan, China reportedly had some link to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. However, a growing number of patients reportedly have not had exposure to animal markets, suggesting person-to-person spread is occurring. At this time, it’s unclear how easily or sustainably this virus is spreading between people.

Both MERS and SARS have been known to cause severe illness in people. The situation with regard to 2019-nCoV is still unclear. While severe illness, including illness resulting in a number of deaths has been reported in China, other patients have had milder illness and been discharged.

There are ongoing investigations to learn more. This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available.

On This Page

Situation Summary

Risk Assessment

What to Expect

CDC Response

Other Available Resources

Risk Assessment

Outbreaks of novel virus infections among people are always of public health concern. The risk from these outbreaks depends on characteristics of the virus, including whether and how well it spreads between people, the severity of resulting illness, and the medical or other measures available to control the impact of the virus (for example, vaccine or treatment medications).

Investigations are ongoing to learn more, but person-to-person spread of 2019-nCoV is occurring. It’s important to note that person-to-person spread can happen on a continuum. Some viruses are highly contagious (like measles), while other viruses are less so. It’s not clear yet how easily 2019-nCoV spreads from person-to-person. It’s important to know this in order to better assess the risk posed by this virus. While CDC considers this is a very serious public health threat, based on current information, the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV to the general American public is considered low at this time. Nevertheless, CDC is taking proactive preparedness precautions.

What to Expect

More cases are likely to be identified in the coming days, including more cases in the United States. Given what has occurred previously with MERS and SARS, it’s likely that person-to-person spread will continue to occur.

CDC Response

CDC is closely monitoring this situation and is working with WHO.

CDC established a 2019-nCoV Incident Management Structure on January 7, 2020. On January 21, 2020, CDC activated its Emergency Response System to better provide ongoing support to the 2019-nCoV response.

On January 23, 2020, CDC again raised its travel alert for the coronavirus outbreak. The travel notice for Wuhan City was raised from Level 2: Practice Enhanced Precautions to

Level 3: Avoid Nonessential Travel

. CDC also issued a

Level 1: Practice Usual Precautions

for the rest of China.

CDC also is conducting entry screening of passengers

on direct and connecting flights from Wuhan, China to five major airports: Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles, (LAX) New York city (JFK), and San Francisco (SFO).

CDC issued an

updated interim Health Alert Notice (HAN) Advisory

to inform state and local health departments and health care providers about this outbreak on January 17, 2020.

CDC teams have been deployed to support the ongoing investigation in Washington and Illinois to support the ongoing investigations of the two cases in the United States.

CDC has developed a real time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) test that can diagnose 2019-nCoV in respiratory and serum samples from clinical specimens. On January 24, 2020, CDC

publicly posted the assay protocol

for this test. Currently, testing for this virus must take place at CDC, but in the coming days and weeks, CDC will share these tests with domestic and international partners through the agency’s

International Reagent Resource

external icon

.

CDC uploaded the entire genome of the virus from the first reported case in the United States to GenBank.

CDC also is growing the virus in cell culture, which is necessary for further studies, including for additional genetic characterization.

Other Available Resources

The following resources are available with information on 2019-nCoV

CDC Travelers’ Health: Novel Coronavirus in China

CDC  Health Alert Network Advisory Update and Interim Guidance on Outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China

CDC Health Alert Network Advisory information for state and local health departments and health care providers

CDC Information on Coronaviruses

World Health Organization, Coronavirus

external icon

Content source:

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)

,

Division of Viral Diseases

Few Cancer Patients Enroll in Potentially Life-Extending Clinical Trials

Newswise — Patient enrollment in clinical trials as the first course of treatment after

cancer diagnosis is low, despite the fact that enrollment may increase life expectancy, according to researchers at Penn State. They also found that white males with private health insurance and metastatic cancers treated at academic medical centers are more likely than other groups to enroll in clinical trials.

Dr. Nicholas G. Zaorsky, an assistant professor of radiation oncology at Penn State College of Medicine, led a team of Penn State Cancer Institute researchers who analyzed data from more than 12 million patients with 46 different types of cancer between 2004 and 2015 in the National Cancer Database. They found that only 11,576 (0.1%) of those patients were enrolled in clinical trials as their first course of therapy following diagnosis.

According to Dr. Niraj J. Gusani, professor of surgery at the College of Medicine and senior author of the study published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the low enrollment is troubling because clinical trials may be beneficial for patients.

“Major advances in cancer treatment have been supported by clinical trials,” Gusani said. “By volunteering to participate in a trial, patients may help further the field of research and gain access to new treatments.”

Zaorsky, Gusani and their team found that patients with cancer treated in clinical trials, when matched and compared to similar patients not treated on trials, lived longer. They report that patients with cancer in clinical trials at the first course of therapy had a median survival of seven and half months more than those not enrolled in a trial.

According to Zaorsky, previous evaluations of whether clinical trials improved survival compared patients who were enrolled in trials against those not enrolled in trials —  but didn’t account for factors like age, race, gender and cancer type.

The researchers performed a stratified analysis in which they matched each patient who participated in a clinical trial with another patient who was not enrolled in a trial that had ten similar characteristics —  including cancer type, age, race, insurance type, disease stage, and whether or not surgery or chemotherapy were part of the treatment plan.

“If you’re going to evaluate whether clinical trial enrollment is beneficial for patients, you have to try and match each patient to someone who has a similar cancer and sociodemographic profile,” Zaorsky said. “Otherwise, it is like comparing apples to oranges.”

While the survival trend was evident across cancer types, the researchers said that this may not necessarily be true for the general population. In their analysis, they determined that the patients who enrolled in clinical trials at first course of therapy tended to be white males with private insurance, metastatic disease, who had no other chronic medical conditions and were treated at academic medical centers.

“If clinical trials are going to be used to determine standards of care for the general population, then the study participants need to be representative of the general population — and this study shows that often this isn’t the case,” Gusani said.

According to Zaorsky, increasing patient enrollment in clinical trials cannot happen without first improving the infrastructure of clinical trial design and management. Patients may not live close to locations where clinical trials are offered. Even if they are in close proximity to a center offering clinical trials, the trials may not be for their type or stage of cancer.

Gusani suggests that the biggest barrier to clinical trial enrollment is the stigma around them. Patients may feel they are ‘guinea pigs’ in experiments and that they are receiving substandard care. In reality, trials emphasize patient safety at every stage and are carefully regulated and monitored by institutional review boards.

“The increased level of quality control in clinical trials may be beneficial for patients,” Zaorsky said. “Patients who go onto a clinical trial must be treated

per protocol

, meaning that there are many quality measures that must be met, and that there are many other health care providers looking over the patient’s care.”

Pennsylvania: Suicide Prevention Task Force Calls for Removing Stigma and Barriers to Care

HARRISBURG, PA (January 2020)–Governor Tom Wolf today announced the initial report of Pennsylvania’s

Suicide Prevention Task Force

based on the statewide listening sessions held throughout fall 2019. The work of the Suicide Prevention Task Force is a complement to the goals and strategies surrounding the governor’s Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters initiative

announced

earlier this month and his Executive Order to protect

vulnerable populations

signed last year.

“My administration is committed to developing a comprehensive suicide prevention plan that will save precious lives, support people in crisis, and help loved ones of attempt survivors and those we’ve lost,” Gov. Wolf said. “We’ve taken a giant first step toward that goal by opening this dialogue with Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth, and I want to thank the members of the Suicide Prevention Task Force for their hard work and all who shared their stories, insights, and experiences at a listening session last year.”

Informed by the testimonies and suggestions of people affected by suicide, mental health professionals, and other stakeholders from across the commonwealth, the report will be used to develop a comprehensive, long-term strategy of significantly reducing the number of suicides in Pennsylvania.

In August, the task force announced a series of 10 public listening sessions to be hosted throughout Pennsylvania. Over the next several months, Pennsylvanians gathered to talk about how suicide has affected their lives and to help inform the task force’s draft prevention plan and work to reduce stigma around discussing topics such as mental health and suicide. More than 800 people – community members, state and local officials, representatives from county suicide prevention organizations, and stakeholders from other sectors of government – attended the sessions.

As a direct result of these listening sessions, the Pennsylvania Suicide Prevention Task Force has identified the following key themes to inform the commonwealth’s four-year suicide prevention strategy:

Stigma associated with mental health, suicide and suicide attempts can affect the likelihood of individuals seeking help or continuing treatment, and how policymakers make decisions that affect mental health systems.

Resources needed to elevate mental health as a public health issue, incentivize the integration of physical and behavioral health, and improve suicide prevention resources at the local level.

Barriers to treatment such as cost and insurance gaps.

Access to more detailed suicide and suicide-attempt data to help policymakers make effective, meaningful decisions.

Issues within the mental-health workforce, such as pay and barriers to entry, to improve quality of care.

With proper resources, Pennsylvania’s schools and educators are uniquely positioned to save lives with suicide prevention strategies and resources.

The Legislature could take direct action to prevent suicides through the passage of a Red Flag law (to provide a means to remove firearms from someone at risk for suicide) or safe storage requirements for firearms.

“On behalf of the entire task force, we are grateful to everyone who took time to share their stories, experiences, recommendations, or even just showed up to listen and learn themselves. The themes and recommendations outlined in this report give us a clear path forward for actionable ways to support and enhance suicide prevention efforts across the commonwealth,” said Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller. “I truly believe elevating this issue and utilizing this meaningful, collective approach to prevention efforts will save lives across Pennsylvania.”

According to a 2018 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. In 2017, more than 47,000 individuals died by suicide nationwide. In Pennsylvania alone, 2,023 individuals died by suicide that year.

Gov. Wolf announced the first-of-its-kind statewide task force in

May 2019

with the goal of developing a four-year plan to reduce suicide in Pennsylvania. The Task Force is made up of leadership and staff from multiple state agencies, members of the General Assembly, and Prevent Suicide PA. State agencies include the departments of Human Services (DHS), Health (DOH), Corrections (DOC), Aging (PDA), Education (PDE), Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), Transportation (PennDOT), Agriculture (PDA), Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). Task Force members brought forth a wide array of knowledge of constituencies they represent or serve professionally, from their own lived experiences as loss survivors or attempt survivors of suicide, or as individuals who experience or support someone facing mental-health challenges.

The task force anticipates releasing a comprehensive four-year statewide suicide prevention plan in the first quarter of 2020 that will be available for a public comment period. Following updates based on public comment, the task force will publish the final 2020-2024 Pennsylvania statewide suicide prevention plan, which will include:

The landscape and gap analysis of detailed suicide statistics nationwide and in Pennsylvania.

Guiding principles for suicide prevention in Pennsylvania.

Goals and objectives to reduce suicide and suicide attempts in Pennsylvania, including reducing stigma associated with suicide, suicide attempts, and mental health challenges.

Recommendations for local and state policymakers, including public and elected officials, as well as cross-sector partners.

A structure for the implementation and evaluation of Pennsylvania’s statewide suicide prevention plan.

The task force is represented on the Governor’s Special Council to Reduce Gun Violence and the Reducing Suicide by Firearm workgroup and will continue to provide input on the recommendations included in the Council’s report.

“This is just the beginning, and we will deliberately continue on this path of reducing stigma around mental-health issues and encouraging Pennsylvanians in crisis to seek help when they need it,” Gov. Wolf said. “Everyone’s life has value, and things can and will get better.”

To read the task force’s initial report,

click here

.

STUDY: Is It Safe For People With Heart Disease To Use Marijuana?

Newswise — Marijuana use is on the rise as more states legalize it for medicinal and recreational purposes, and physicians are fielding more questions about its safety.

Although smoking tobacco is responsible for approximately one in four deaths from cardiovascular disease, the effects of smoking marijuana on the heart are not fully understood. Some studies suggest that marijuana can trigger heart attacks and strokes in some users.

Ersilia DeFilippis, MD, a second-year cardiology fellow at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian, first became interested in marijuana’s effect on the heart a few years ago when studying heart attacks in people under 50. “We noted that 10% of patients in a registry of young heart attack patients had used marijuana and/or cocaine,” she says.

DeFilippis and colleagues recently reviewed the medical literature to find out what’s known about marijuana’s effect on the heart and what’s still unknown. Their full report was published Jan. 20 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Here are five highlights from the review:

2 Million People with Heart Disease Have Used Marijuana

Marijuana is the most commonly used drug of abuse. It’s estimated that approximately 90 million American adults have used the drug at least once in their life, and more than 39 million have used the drug in the past year.

Based on responses to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016, DeFilippis and her colleagues estimate that about 2 million adults in the United States who have cardiovascular disease currently use marijuana or have used the drug in the past.

“In addition to the 2 million marijuana users with diagnosed cardiovascular disease, many more may be at risk,” DeFilippis says. “With many adolescents and young adults turning to marijuana, it is important to understand the cardiovascular implications they may face years down the line.”

Marijuana’s Potency Today Is Higher

The potency of marijuana—the percentage of THC contained in the plant—has steadily increased over the past 30 years, from about 4% in the mid-1990s to 12% in 2014. However, most scientific studies of cannabis tested products with THC levels between 1.5% and 4%.

“Higher potency may translate into greater effects on the conduction system, the vasculature, and the muscle of the heart,” DeFilippis says. “It also highlights the need for real-world data given the variety of marijuana products and formulations available for purchase.”

THC is the most psychoactive chemical in marijuana, but marijuana also contains more than 100 compounds, called cannabinoids, that are chemically related to THC.

Receptors for cannabinoids are highly concentrated in the nervous system but also can be found in blood cells, muscle cells, and other tissues and organs.

Cannabinoids Can Interact with Drugs Used to Treat Heart Disease

Cannabinoids inhibit certain enzymes in the body, which affects the metabolism of many drugs for heart disease, including antiarrhythmics, statins, calcium-channel blockers, beta blockers, and warfarin.

Researchers believe that cannabinoids may increase the activity of these prescribed drugs in the body, though limited data are available to guide physicians in adjusting dose to compensate for marijuana use.

Marijuana May Be Linked to Heart Attacks and Strokes

Studies have identified marijuana smoking as a potential trigger of heart attacks, and marijuana use is not infrequently detected in adults who have experienced heart attacks at an early age (under 50).

A small experimental study found that smoking marijuana can bring on angina (chest pain) more quickly in patients with coronary heart disease compared with smoking a placebo.

Though current evidence for a link between marijuana and heart attacks is modest, it’s thought that smoking marijuana may increase cellular stress and inflammation, which are known to be precipitating factors for coronary artery disease and heart attacks.

Cerebrovascular events, including strokes, also have been associated with marijuana use. It’s thought that marijuana may induce changes in the inner lining of blood vessels or alter blood flow.

Physicians Should Screen for Marijuana Use

“Although we need more data, the evidence we do have indicates that marijuana use has been associated with coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, and more,” DeFilippis says.

“Therefore, asking patients about marijuana use may help in risk assessment. In addition, we know that marijuana use affects the metabolism of many common cardiac drugs. In order to make sure patients are getting therapeutic doses without untoward side effects, it is important for cardiologists to talk to their patients about marijuana use.

+++

The paper is titled, “Marijuana Use in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease,” and was published Jan. 20 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The other authors are: Navkaranbir S. Bajaj (University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama), Amitoj Singh (University of Arizona), and Rhynn Malloy, Michael M. Givertz, Ron Blankstein, Deepak L. Bhatt, and Muthiah Vaduganathan (Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School).

Ersilia DeFilippis reports no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose. (See paper for information on other authors).

###

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

provides international leadership in basic, preclinical, and clinical research; medical and health sciences education; and patient care. The medical center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, public health professionals, dentists, and nurses at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. Columbia University Irving Medical Center is home to the largest medical research enterprise in New York City and State and one of the largest faculty medical practices in the Northeast. For more information, visit

cuimc.columbia.edu

or

columbiadoctors.org

.

Virtua Health Names Senior VP and Chief Nursing Officer

Marlton, N.J.

— Virtua Health, South Jersey’s largest health system, has promoted Catherine Hughes, MSN, MHA, RN, NEA-BC, to senior vice president and chief nursing officer.

The

West Deptford

resident has been with Virtua for 18 years. She most recently was vice president of nursing integration

and outcomes, while also serving as interim chief nursing officer.

“Cathy has outstanding leadership qualities, which will enable her to work effectively with our nurses and collaborate with our physicians to ensure ongoing advances to Virtua’s care delivery model,” said Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE, president and CEO of Virtua Health.

In her new role, Hughes will lead all aspects of professional and nursing practice, as well as patient care throughout the not-for-profit health system. She will continue to focus on the integration of nursing operations and standards of care across Virtua Health’s continuum of services.

Marlton, N.J.-based

Virtua Health

grew substantially last year, with its acquisition of Lourdes Health System, Pullin noted. Today, Virtua has 14,000 employees working at 280 locations, including five hospitals.

“Cathy will play a key role in aligning our new organization, and in helping us to build an even greater network of care for the people of South Jersey,” he said.

Hughes has held a variety of nursing and senior leadership roles in health care. She joined Virtua in 2002 as vice president for patient care services for Virtua Berlin and Virtua Camden. Previously, she held various leadership roles at Kennedy Health System (now Jefferson Health) in Cherry Hill, Hampton Behavioral Health hospital in Westampton, and Saint Agnes Medical Center in Philadelphia.

Hughes is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Leaders (ONL), an elected board member of the N.J. ONL, and chair of the ONL Mentorship Committee. She belongs to the American Nurses Association and Sigma Theta Tau nursing honor society. A graduate of the Johnson & Johnson Wharton Fellows Program on Management for Nurse Executives, she is board-certified as an advanced nurse executive by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Hughes is also an advisory-board member for the Allied Health Program at Gloucester County Institute of Technology.

Hughes earned a bachelor of science in nursing from Widener University in Chester, Pa., a master of health administration from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, and a master of science in nursing from Thomas Edison University in Trenton.

About Virtua Health:

Virtua Health is committed to helping the people of South Jersey be well, get well, and stay well by providing the complete spectrum of advanced, accessible, and trusted health care services. Virtua’s 14,000 colleagues provide tertiary care, including a renowned cardiology program, complemented by a community-based care portfolio. In addition to five hospitals, two satellite emergency departments, and more than 280 other locations, Virtua brings health services directly into communities through home health, rehabilitation, mobile screenings, and its paramedic program. Virtua has 2,850 affiliated doctors and other clinicians, and its specialties include orthopedics, advanced surgery, and maternity. Virtua is affiliated with Penn Medicine for cancer and neuroscience, and the Children\’s Hospital of Philadelphia for pediatrics. As a not-for-profit, Virtua is committed to the well-being of the community and provides innovative outreach programs that address social challenges affecting health, from addiction and other behavioral issues to lack of nutritious food and stable housing. A Magnet-recognized health system ranked by U.S. News and World Report, Virtua has received many

awards

for quality, safety, and its outstanding work environment. For more information, visit

ThisIsVirtua.org

. To help Virtua make a difference, visit

GiveToVirtua.org

.

Community Members Invited to FREE Weekly Cancer Wellness Programs

at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Washington Township

Sewell, NJ, January 21, 2020

–

People living with a cancer diagnosis are invited to join Jefferson Health cancer experts for FREE one-hour wellness programs held weekly at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Washington Township’s Center for Hope and Healing (900 Medical Center Drive, Suite 207, Sewell).

Nourishing Our Bodies During a Cancer Diagnosis

(Mondays, 3-4 p.m.): Danielle Hall, MS, RD, will discuss healthful guidelines, supplements, and nutrient-dense foods to maximize nutrition during a cancer diagnosis.

Keep Moving: Benefits of Exercise for Patients with a Cancer Diagnosis

(Tuesdays, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.): A Jefferson Health Physical Therapy Assistant will discuss the benefits of a regular exercise routine, and the importance of staying active to optimize physical stamina and mental well-being.

Preparing for Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy

(Wednesdays, 4:15 – 5:15 p.m.): Open to patients and their caregivers, participants learn how chemotherapy and immunotherapy work, as well as tips and tools for managing common side effects.

Coping with Cancer: Strategies for Managing Life After a Cancer Diagnosis

(Fridays, 11 a.m. – Noon): A cancer diagnosis can cause many emotions, including fear, anxiety, and sadness. Social Worker Abigale Hassel, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, will discuss coping strategies and ways to alleviate stress.

To register, or for more information, call

856-218-5324

or visit

JeffersonHealth.org/NJcancer

.

About

Jefferson Health

: Jefferson Health, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, is reimagining health care in the greater Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey. Jefferson’s dedicated team of doctors, nurses, health professionals, and staff provides a range of primary to highly-specialized care through 14 hospitals (seven are Magnet®-designated by the ANCC for nursing excellence), more than 40 outpatient and urgent care locations, the NCI-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Magee Rehabilitation and the JeffConnect® telemedicine program. For 2019-2020, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals is ranked among the nation’s best hospitals in eight specialities by

U.S. News & World Report

. Jefferson Health’s mission is to improve the lives of patients in the communities it is privileged to serve through safe, effective, equitable, compassionate care.

Philadelphia Police Seek Help in Identifying Suspects who Beat and Robbed Teen (Video)

Robbery 300 E Rockland St

PHILADELPHIA PA (January 21, 2020)–The Philadelphia Police released the following video showing a youth walking home from school being attacked by four suspects.

According to police on January 10, 2020, at 3:30 pm, the victim, a 14 year-old male, was walking home from school when an unknown male asked for the time. The suspect along with three other unknown males began to punch the complainant knocking him to the ground and kicking him. While being attacked the victim\’s black in color Samsung Galaxy S7 cell phone was taken from his pocket. The victim was taken to Temple hospital for treatment. If you see these suspects do not approach, contact 911 immediately. To submit a tip via telephone, dial 215.686.TIPS (8477) or text a tip to PPD TIP or 773847. All tips will be confidential. If you have any information about this crime or these suspects, please contact: East Detective Division: 215-686-3243/3244 Det. Fred #764 DC 20-25-002363

source Philadelphia Police

10 Ways You Can Bring Your Family Closer Together

Gloucestercitynews.net(January 20, 2020)–Your family is the cornerstone of your life. It’s a unit that’s always there for you when you’re down, struggling at work, or just in need of some socialization. While it isn’t always true that “blood is thicker than water”, your family is predetermined for you and can’t be changed, so getting along with them is advantageous to you. With that said, being close with your family – and accommodating their foibles – isn’t always easy. Here are ten ways you can become closer to your family.

1. Take some family photos

There’s nothing like a family photoshoot to remind you how much you treasure and cherish your loved ones. This will create brand new memories for you and allow you to see what you all look like together, which isn’t necessarily something you may be able to experience otherwise. We recommend checking out

Pixa Prints

if you’re looking for something to put your family photoshoot on once it’s done; they offer prints on calendars, mugs, and phone cases, amongst other things.

2. Be there for them

It’s not really possible to foster a positive family attitude if you’re never there. Conversely, if there’s a member of the family you need to talk to about absence, it’s a good idea to have that conversation and not let the subject fester. Make time for your family. You might need to clear a space in your schedule, but it’s well worth it to make sure you’re building quality memories with the people you love. This won’t always be easy, but it’s a necessary step.

3. Let arguments happen

When we say arguments here, we’re not referring to the huge, earth-shattering rows we’ve seen some families have. Those aren’t healthy, and

knowing the difference

between healthy arguments and unhealthy, toxic relationships is very important. That said, if something is brewing between you and your family, it’s a good idea to have the conversation. Keep calm and make sure everyone is on the same page, then proceed in a straightforward, emotionally open manner.

4. Do fun things together

What do you love doing? Is there any way you could get your family in on that activity? Sharing your hobbies with people you love is one of life’s many joys, and there’s no reason you can’t extend that philosophy to your family. If your hobby really is a strictly solo racket, then you might want to try taking up a new hobby that can involve your loved ones. Great examples include sports, tabletop gaming, travel (

such as visiting an escape room

) and walking. Doing fun things together will only strengthen your bond!

5. Create a set of values

It might sound old-fashioned, but creating a set of family values by which you and your family can live can actually make you feel closer to them. Think about it: you’re establishing an ethos that defines your in-group and makes you feel like you’re really part of the “tribe”, so to speak. Of course, you should make sure your family values are strictly positive; it doesn’t pay to have a combative or aggressive family “mission statement”, so be happy and upbeat.

6. Travel together

Some might say that traveling with your family is a surefire way to fall out with them, but those people are cynics. If you accord your family the space they deserve, traveling with them can be a rewarding, exciting experience that gives you all shared memories to discuss. Pick a destination everyone wants to go to; you don’t want your shared family holiday to turn into one person’s fantasy. Some compromise may be required here, but it’ll be worth it!

7. Set a good example

If you’re the head of the household – no matter who you might be – then it’s incredibly important to set a good example. If you’re trying to foster certain behaviors in your children or you want your significant other to do something, then you don’t demonstrate that behavior yourself, that’s not a very strong incentive. Make sure to lead by example at all times; it might feel exhausting at the time to stick to that strict moral code, but it’ll pay off in the long term.

8. Create a family schedule

Have you ever seen those family planners that include a column for each family member and slots for what those family members are doing? It’s a great idea for you and your family to try using one of those, not least because you can use it as an excuse to schedule some much-needed family time. When you create time for you and your family, you need to stick to it, so having a schedule can be a great incentive to do that. After all, if it’s on the schedule, it must be cast-iron, right?

9. Allow for some freedom

With all that said, it’s still important to give your family space and freedom. Allow them to do what they want with their time and don’t be too offended if, on free days, they’d rather spend their time alone than with you. It doesn’t mean they don’t love you; rather, it simply means they want some space and time to themselves, and you need to respect that. Your family doing their own thing will just make the time you do spend together all the sweeter since you’ll know it’s what they want.

10. Don’t force anything

Some family units are, by nature, closer and more co-dependent (in a good way) than others are. That’s fine; you don’t need to work hard to make your particular family unit resemble another one, nor should you force a particular set of values if they’re not desired. Instead, create an organic, happy family that doesn’t feel forced or artificial, and you’ll quickly realize that you’re closer to them than you are to almost anyone else in the world.

LONELINESS: The Public Health Threat No One Talks About

Too much time alone can be bad for your health but modern technology can help keep you connected.

(NAPSI)—There is a public health threat looming across the United States that’s not visible to most but affects nearly half of all Americans daily: loneliness. Social isolation is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and is twice as harmful as obesity. Worst of all, loneliness is a contributing factor in senior suicides, which are rising in the U.S. While it is not something people like to think about, now more than ever, Americans must remove the stigma around mental health and spread awareness to better combat loneliness.

Many of the 12 million Americans over age 65 who live alone are entering the time of year where that lack of companionship and isolation is almost palpable: winter. Whether physical or travel challenges keep seniors from attending family gatherings or the harsh weather deters them from venturing out for a social event, seniors can suffer from prolonged loneliness that can quickly manifest into more serious issues.

Loneliness does not have to be synonymous with getting older or with aging in place. Here are tips on how to help keep loneliness—and its negative health effects—at bay:

• Intervene early:

Spotting loneliness in yourself or someone you love can be difficult. The most common physical and behavioral signs of loneliness include persistent sadness, impaired cognitive performance, lower self-esteem, or lack of motivation and energy. Early intervention can positively affect one’s quality of life, so it’s important to address these symptoms as soon as possible before they become overwhelming.

• Leverage technology:

Technology can play a key role in reducing loneliness, ensuring seniors are always connected to loved ones and care teams who can monitor and interact with them. For example, Philips Cares is a mobile application that helps connect seniors who are subscribers to Philips Lifeline service with their family and friends, helping to enable these caregivers to be there for their aging loved ones, easing and enriching their aging journey.

• Make a connection:

Connecting with people, purpose, and passions will help eliminate feelings of isolation. Consider organizing a reoccurring social gathering, such as a book club or a group fitness class. Explore local activities organized by a senior community center or find a National Council of Aging program through

www.ncoa.org/ncoa-map

.

Learn More

For further facts about the latest technology to help seniors stay connected with their care circle, visit

https://philips.to/2MGDqLm

or call (855) 223-7395.

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