News Briefs BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Dignity Health offering slew of classes and a fundraiser Dignity Health is offering a slate of East Valley Healthier Living Workshops. To register for a Healthier Living Workshop, call 480-728-2376 or email healthierliving-CRMC@dignityhealth.org. Visit dignityhealth.org/chandlerregional/healthyliving for a complete list of workshops. • Chronic Pain Self-Management, 9:30 a.m. to noon Mondays October 12 to November 16. The class is online via Zoom. • AZ dieticians offer their services for diabetics, 9:30 a.m. to noon Fridays October 16 to November 20. The meetings are in person. More details provided upon registration. • Chronic Disease Self-Management, 9 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays October 20 to November 24. This class is online via Zoom. • Diabetes Classes, 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays October 21 to November 25. This class is online via Zoom. The public can also join the Healthier Living Legends team for the 2020 Heroes in Health Care Community Run on October 24 to support the Healthier Living Program by running their own mile or 5K race in a neighborhood, park, treadmill, bike path, pool, lake or trail. All participants who join the team will receive a swag bag with a commemorative T-shirt, face mask and other goodies. To donate or join, visit bit.ly/healthierlivingheroes or email sherri.eshkibok@ dignityhealth.org.
Local AAUW branch celebrates 40th anniversary AAUW Northwest Valley recently celebrated its 40th anniversary of leadership for women. The American Association of University Women is the nation’s leading voice promoting equity and education for women and girls. Since being founded in 1881, AAUW members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day—education, social, economy and politics.
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AAUW’s mission is to advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy. It provides the opportunity to join a circle of women intent upon breaking through educational and economic barriers to enable women and girls to enjoy success in their professional, community and The AAUW Northwest Valley recently celebrated its 40th anniversary by socially distancing. Here are three of its members: personal lives. Membership is Melva Hull, treasurer; Sharon Lee Astle, president; and Suzanne James, president-elect. (Photo courtesy AAUW Northwest Valley) open to anyone who earned an associate’s, bachelor’s or higher deMountain Vista additionally received individuals, because Medicare offers a gree from a regionally accredited college the Association’s Target: Stroke Honor multitude of plans by varied insurance or university. Roll award. To qualify for the stroke hon- companies,” Luna says. “By combining Info: Linda Styrwoll, 218-259-4437 or roll recognition, hospitals must meet our health care expertise with technolquality measures developed to reduce ogy-powered tools, personalized local Mountain Vista Medical Center the time between the patient’s arrival guidance and support, Connie Health’s gets Stroke Gold Plus award at the hospital and treatment with the advisers will work with our communities’ Mountain Vista Medical Center has re- clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, Medicare beneficiaries to ensure they ceived the American Heart Association/ or tPA, the only drug approved by the make confident, worry-free decisions American Stroke Association’s Get with U.S. Food and Drug Administration to around Medicare plans and coverage.” In addition to providing individuals the Guidelines—Stroke Gold Plus Quality treat ischemic stroke. Achievement Award. The hospital also received the Asso- with guidance on finding the right MediThe award recognizes the hospital’s ciation’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor care coverage for their personal needs, commitment to ensuring stroke patients Roll award. To qualify for this recognition, the local advisers at Connie Health offer receive the most-appropriate treatment hospitals must meet quality measures ongoing support in navigating a range of according to nationally recognized, re- developed with more than 90% of com- health care choices. These services help search-based guidelines based on the pliance for 12 consecutive months for the consumers get the most out of their plan, “Overall Diabetes Cardiovascular Initia- optimize prescription costs and find prolatest scientific evidence. viders in their area. Mountain Vista earned the award by tive Composite Score.” According to the American Heart AsThe service is provided at no cost to meeting specific quality achievement sociation/American Stroke Association, measures for the diagnosis and treatconsumers. As licensed advisers, they ment of stroke patients at a set level for stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a are compensated by the insurance coma designated period. These measures leading cause of adult disability in the panies when someone joins a plan. The include evaluation of the proper use of United States. On average, someone in maximum compensation an insurance medications and other stroke treatments the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds company can provide is regulated by aligned with the most up-to-date, evi- and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid dence-based guidelines with the goal of or recurrent stroke each year. Services (CMS) and is the same for all inspeeding recovery and reducing death surance companies. Therefore, Connie and disability for stroke patients. Before Connie Health launches Health recommends plans solely based on an individual’s needs and not financial discharge, patients should also receive Medicare services Connie Health—a personal Medicare incentives. education on managing their health, get Due to its choice to affiliate with all maa follow-up visit scheduled, as well as advisory service combining Medicare exother care transition interventions pertise and local advisers with data-driv- jor Medicare insurance providers, Connie “As a primary stroke center, we are ded- en insights to help individuals make Health can use its technology to advise icated to improving the quality of care for confident and informed decisions about individuals—either in person from a our stroke patients by implementing the their Medicare options—has launched its safe distance, on a video call, via phone American Heart Association’s Get with services in Maricopa, Pinal and Yavapai or otherwise—about the best options the Guidelines—Stroke initiative,” says counties. based on personal health care needs, lifeKirsten McMillen, Mountain Vista Medical Connie Health was formed in 2019 by style and budget. The team is also able to Center stroke program coordinator. “The Valley resident David Luna and partners identify Medicare providers in the area, tools and resources provided help us Michael Scopa and Oded Eran, all Medi- including those in Medicare Advantage track and measure our success in meeting care experts with decades of experience. HMO or PPO networks. evidenced-based clinical guidelines de“Shopping for Medicare coverage can Medicare’s open enrollment period is veloped to improve patient outcomes.” be complex and overwhelming for many October 15 to December 7. www.LovinLife.com