Valleywide Health News, Oct. 16-22, 2014

NEVADA COMPREHENSIVE PAIN CENTER PLANS COMMUNITY APPRECIATION DAY

The Nevada Comprehensive Pain Center, 7730 W. Cheyenne Suite 107, plans to host its first Community Appreciation Day Oct. 16.

Admission is free, and live entertainment is planned, along with free breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Street Freeze Ice Cream will donate a portion of their sales to Opportunity Village. A raffle is planned, with all proceeds going to Opportunity Village.

Tours are planned beginning at 9 a.m., and participating vendors will be available to answer questions about health-related products and services.

For more information, visit nvcpc.com.

CONSTRUCTION TO START ON WARD 5 HEALTH CARE CENTER

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held Oct. 3 for a new Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada medical center at 1240 N. Martin Luther King Blvd. The city of Las Vegas provided $400,000 in Community Development Block grant funds to the project. The funds were used to purchase the land.

Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada provides access to health care for youths and adults who do not have medical coverage as well as seniors who do not qualify for Medicare. Once fully operational, it is anticipated to serve 30,000 patients annually. Services will include medical, mental, dental and vision care, along with diagnostic testing and free medications.

HEALTHINSIGHT NEVADA HONORS PHYSICIAN OFFICES WITH QUALITY AWARDS

Private nonprofit HealthInsight Nevada has named 18 physician office practices from across the state as recipients of its annual Quality Awards. Practices must incorporate patient engagement tools and strategies, report data regularly and achieve high performance on nationally recognized quality measures to qualify. In the Las Vegas Valley, the office of Dr. Jorge Y. Burgos of North Las Vegas was recognized.

LOU RUVO CENTER ANNOUNCES OCTOBER PROGRAMMING

The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 888 W. Bonneville Ave., has announced its October schedule for caregiver programming.

The interactive Art in the Afternoon program is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month. RSVP to louruvosocialserv@ccf.org or call 702-483-6055.

The Lunch & Learn Educational Series is planned from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdays. Participants can bring their lunch, and drinks and dessert will be provided.

The topic for Oct. 22 is Moving Better with Parkinson’s Disease by UNLV assistant professor Brach Poston, Ph.D. Learn about a new method for improving movement for people with Parkinson’s disease called Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation. This method, which uses brain stimulation, is noninvasive, and its advantages include portability, safety, ease of use and low cost.

The topic for Oct. 29 is Juices & Smoothies for Your Health by Kathy Wilson and Iris Vargas of Rachel’s Kitchen at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Learn how to make nutritious juices and smoothies. The featured fruit will be acai berry.

The Cleveland Museum of Art Series offers conversations about art through videoconferencing. Conversations are scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon. The Oct. 21 topic is El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a yearly special celebration in Mexico that takes place on the Nov. 1 and 2 to remember and honor the departed members of Mexican families.

All educational programs are free. For more information, contact Susan Solorzano at 702-483-6055 or solorzs@ccf.org, or visit keepmemoryalive.org/socialservices.

FUN AFTER 55 HEALTH EXPO PLANNED AT THE SOUTH POINT

The South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South, plans to host a Fun After 55 Health Expo from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 18. A free Four Tops concert is planned for 6 p.m.

Free expo tickets are available at HealthCare Partners primary care and cardiology clinics and at the Humana Guidance Center at 8975 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 100, and 1000 N. Green Valley Parkway, Suite 720. A donation of a bag of gently used clothing is appreciated in exchange for concert tickets, although a donation is not required.

For more information, visit funafter55.com or call 702-331-1350.

FYZICAL TO HOST SEMINAR OCT. 18 AT JW MARRIOTT

Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers, a nationwide network of medical and scientific-based physical therapy and fitness centers, plans to host a national seminar for physical therapists from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 18 at the JW Marriott, 221 N. Rampart Blvd. The seminar is designed to help private practice owners address business challenges and also will discuss Fyzical’s vision to improve its industry.

Admission is free. To sign up, visit theptfuture.com.

SOUTHWEST MEDICAL LIFESTYLE CENTER TO HOST MEDICARE PRESENTATION

A Medicare Made Clear presentation is slated from noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 22 and Nov. 18 at Southwest Medical Lifestyle Center-West, 8670 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 105.

The program will be an informational overview. To RSVP, call 855-861-8277.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS OPEN HOUSE SET FOR OCT. 23

A breast cancer awareness open house with Dr. Carl Allen is planned from noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Southwest Medical Lifestyle Center-West, 8670 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 105.

To RSVP, call 855-606-1425.

FLU SHOTS AVAILABLE

The Southern Nevada Health District is offering flu vaccine clinics. The cost of the shot is $40; the high dose vaccine for people 65 or older is $56.

For more information or locations, visit snhd.info, or contact the immunization clinic at 702-759-0850.

FREE DIABETIC FOOT SCREENINGS PLANNED AT SMITH’S

Smith’s, the Las Vegas Summerlin Lions Club and the nonprofit Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention (LEAP) Alliance have teamed up to offer free foot screenings, which are simple and painless, to help prevent diabetes-related foot amputation.

The preventative screening program is being offered at two Smith’s locations: 2211 N. Rampart Blvd. and 8555 W. Sahara Ave. To make an appointment, call 702-765-5793.

BEREAVEMENT GROUP TO MEET AT TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM

A bereavement group plans to meet at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 29 and Nov. 12 and 26 at Temple Beth Sholom, 10700 Havenwood Lane.

The meetings are open to the community, and coffee is served.

For more information, email vegasrita1@aol.com or call 702-596-4321.

PROGRAM TO EXPLORE SELF MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASES

A Chronic Diseases Self-Management program is scheduled from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays through Nov. 14 at the Centennial Hills Active Adult Center, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive.

The workshops cover chronic illnesses such as diabetes, arthritis and heart disease. Admission is free but requires advance registration and is open to members of the center who have paid the $2 yearly membership fee.

To sign up, call 702-229-1702.

WEEKLY CLASSES TO TEACH PARENTS AND CHILDREN ABOUT HEALTHY EATING

University Medical Center plans a free parenting education workshop series for children ages 3-5 and their parents at the Family Resource Center, 1120 Shadow Lane.

The goal of the seven-week Little Books/Little Cooks program is to teach healthy eating and nutrition. Sessions are set for 1:30 to 3 p.m. Mondays through Oct. 27.

For more information, visit umcsn.com or call 702-383-2000.

MARCH OF DIMES PLANS WOMEN’S HEALTH SYMPOSIUM NOV. 8

The March of Dimes: 2014 Women’s Health Symposium is planned for 8 a.m. Nov. 8 at The Innevation Center, 6795 Edmond St. It aims to educate healthcare providers and community leaders on identifying women who are at risk for preterm birth, manage women at risk for preterm birth and decrease the adverse outcomes associated with preterm birth.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/n8hvdyd.

LOU RUVO CENTER OFFERS SUPPORT GROUPS, SERVICES

Free multiple sclerosis counseling services are offered at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 888 W. Bonneville Ave. Individual, couple and family therapy are available to address a range of issues related to mood, adjustment to diagnosis, relationships and care giving. Also, a multiple sclerosis support group is scheduled to meet from noon to 1 p.m. the first Thursday of every month for adult family members of individuals with MS. For more information, call 702-483-6006 or email fairchj@ccf.org.

A Huntington’s disease support group is scheduled to meet from noon to 1 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of every month. The group is for gene positive individuals (asymptomatic and early stage) and adult family members. For more information, call 702-483-6035 or email municd@ccf.org.

A memory loss caregiver support group is scheduled to meet from 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. Wednesdays. The group is for adult family members who provide care and/or support for loved ones with memory loss and is facilitated by Dr. Donna Munic-Miller. For more information, call 702-483-6035 or email municd@ccf.org.

A Parkinson’s disease support group is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month. The group is for early-stage individuals and adult family members who provide care and/or support for loved ones with Parkinson’s disease. Separate groups meet at the same time. Phone screening for new early-stage participants is required. For more information, call 702-483-6054 or email cliffoj@ccf.org.

For more information on programs and services, visit keepmemoryalive.org/socialservices.

FIBROMYALGIA FRIENDS SUPPORT GROUP ANNOUNCES TEEN PROGRAM

The Fibromyalgia Friends Support Group of Southern Nevada, a nonprofit based in Henderson, has announced the initiation of a teen program to educate and provide support for middle, high school and college-age teenagers with fibromyalgia.

The program will take place monthly via Google Hangouts from 7 to 8 p.m. the second Thursday of each month. Ten people will be able to join each meeting each month. For instructions about how to participate, visit fmfriends.org. and click on “Teen Meetings.”

WALK WITH A DOC PLANNED FOR THIRD THURSDAYS AT LORENZI PARK

University Medical Center plans to host free Walk With A Doc events at 7 a.m. the third Thursday of each month at Lorenzi Park, 3333 W. Washington Ave. Participants are asked to meet at the tennis courts.

The program emphasizes 150 minutes of exercise as a way to become healthier and for people to be better informed about their health. Each walk will open with a three- to five-minute health talk followed by a 30- to 45-minute walk. During the walk, a physician who is the featured speaker will answer general health questions.

For more information, umcsn.com.

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP HOSTS WEEKLY MEETINGS

GriefShare, a national program for those dealing with loss, meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Canyon Ridge Christian Church, 6200 W. Lone Mountain Road. Weekly meetings include showings and discussion. For more information, call the group at 702-481-5833.

SENIOR GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP MEETS BIMONTHLY

A grief support group for seniors is set to meet the second and fourth Fridays of the month at 9 a.m. at the Centennial Hills Active Adult Center, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive.

For more information, call 702-229-1702.