Health news and events around the valley, Dec. 24-30, 2015

Nevada health rankings: The 2015 America's Health Rankings annual report found that Nevada ranks 38th among all U.S. states in overall health. Highlights from the report include: Nevada ranks well in infant mortality rates, percentage of the population that smokes, and preventable hospitalizations, but scores poorly in per capita health funding, percentage of insured population, and high school graduation rate. Visit americashealthrankings.org.

Hospital pharmacies open: Ribbon cuttings to celebrate five new retail pharmacies were held simultaneously Dec. 9 at each Valley Health System hospital. The retail pharmacies at Centennial Hills, Desert Springs, Spring Valley, Summerlin and Valley hospitals are available to patients and the general public. Visit valleyhealthsystemlv.com.

Beauty spa opening: Elizabeth "Betsy" Silbergleid, a Nevada registered nurse and licensed aesthetician, has announced the opening of her new spa, ElSi Skin Phototherapy, at 8975 W. Charleston Blvd. Visit elsiskin.com.

Nurse awards: Twelve staff members from The Valley Health System were honored during the annual March of Dimes Nurse of the Year awards dinner Nov. 21.

The honorees are:

Lynn Belcher, Summerlin Hospital: Runner-up, Nursing Administration

Erin Bradbury, Spring Valley Hospital: Winner, Charge Nurse/Specialty

Suzanne Carpenter, Summerlin Hospital: Runner-up, Women's Health

Krystal Coffman, Spring Valley Hospital: Winner, Advanced Practice

Josie Covel, Centennial Hills Hospital: Runner-up, Specialty Practice

Robel Delos Reyes, Summerlin Hospital: Runner-up, General Medical/Surgical

Ike Christian Go, Valley Hospital: Runner-up, Emergency Services

Joyce Malaskovitz, Desert Springs Hospital: Winner, Nursing Management

Marie Silva, Spring Valley Hospital: Winner, Women's Health

Maria Valentin, Summerlin Hospital: Winner, Pediatric Critical Care

Francine Zimmer, Summerlin Hospital: Winner, Surgical Services

Also honored was Dr. Nakeisha Curry, a hospitalist based at Desert Springs Hospital, for Winner, Nurse's Choice/Administration award.

Sign-Up Saturdays: Nevada Health Link is collaborating with licensed insurance brokers and agents to offer Sign-Up Saturdays enrollment events to help close the gap between insured and uninsured residents. The events occur on select Saturdays during the health insurance open enrollment period, through Jan. 31. Visit nevadahealthlink.com. Many partnering licensed broker agents will also be open on various Tuesdays and Thursdays during the enrollment period. Nevadans are invited to attend a special enrollment event from 4 to 8 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Henderson Convention Center, 200 S. Water St.

Valley Health System residency programs: The Valley Health System is expanding in the Southern Nevada graduate medical education system by adding eight residency programs among four hospitals. The programs include Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopedic Surgery, Psychiatry and the transitional /internship year at Centennial Hills, Desert Springs, Spring Valley and Summerlin hospitals. Visit valleyhealthsystemlv.com.

Healthy holiday challenge: The Southern Nevada Health District's free, web-based program, the Get Healthy Holiday Challenge, is set to run through Jan. 1. The event offers a weekly challenge and tools to track progress during the 12-week period. Each week, an email health challenge will be distributed that provides tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle and tips to navigate the holiday party buffet table. The program also provides recipes and an interactive blog. Contact the Southern Nevada Health District's Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at 702-759-1270 or visit snhd.info or gethealthyclarkcounty.org.

Flu vaccines: The Southern Nevada Health District's flu vaccine clinics began Sept. 21 at all locations where patients can receive the injectable, quadrivalent flu vaccine. The cost of the vaccine is $41, and the trivalent high-dose vaccine for people 65 or older is $59. Contact the health district's immunization clinic at 702-759-0850 or visit snhd.info.

Free STD testing available: Free weekly STD screenings are available at the Gay and Lesbian Center of Southern Nevada and the Richard Steele Boxing Facility. Visit snhd.info/sexual-health-clinic.

Better Breathers Club plans meetings: The American Lung Association in Nevada invites those with lung health disease, their loved ones and caregivers to a Better Breathers Club meetings planned at the following locations and times each month:

Second Tuesdays, noon to 1 p.m. in the conference room at Centennial Hills Hospital, 6900 N. Durango Drive; 702-835-9898.

Last Fridays, 3 to 4 p.m. at Prestige Care at Mira Loma, 2520 Wigwam Parkway; 702-431-6348.

First Thursdays, 1 to 2 p.m. at St. Rose Women's Care and Outreach Center, 2651 Paseo Verde Parkway; 702-616-4910.

First Wednesdays, 6 to 7:30 p.m., United in Hope: Lung Cancer Survivors Support Group, at Kindred Hospital Las Vegas, 2250 E. Flamingo Road; at 702-353-2039 or lysa71@cox.net.

Fibromyalgia group meets second, third Thursdays: The Fibromyalgia Friends Support Group of Southern Nevada is scheduled to meet during lunch and evening sessions the second and third Thursday of the month. Lunch meetings are set from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Fiesta Henderson buffet, 777 W. Lake Mead Parkway. Evening meetings are planned from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Barbara Greenspun Women's Care Center, 2651 Paseo Verde Parkway, Suite 180. Visit fmfriends.org.

Breast cancer empowerment group set to meet monthly: A free Breast Cancer Empowerment/Support Group is set to meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, 657 N. Town Center Drive. Topics vary and include guest speakers, resources and open discussion with the goal of helping to empower and support women. RSVP by calling 702-233-7155.

Stroke support group planning monthly meetings: The Stroke Support Group is set to meet at various times monthly:

From 3 to 4 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month at Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, 657 N. Town Center Drive, 702-233-7061.

From 3 to 4 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at Centennial Hills Hospital, 6900 N. Durango Drive, 702-629-1309.

From 10 a.m. to noon the first Saturday of the month at the South Magna Conference Center, south of the Desert Springs Hospital main entrance, 2075 E. Flamingo Road, 702-369-7560. Recommended parking is off Bruce Street. Lunch is provided.

From 10 to 11:30 a.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month on the fourth floor of Valley Hospital, 620 Shadow Lane. Call 702-388-8441 or 702-388-4619. Light refreshments will be served.

Bloodmobile drives planned across valley: UBS Bloodmobile drives are planned at multiple times and locations around the valley. Call 702-233-9620 or visit unitedbloodservices.org and enter the code, if available. The locations include:

From 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 26 at the Galleria at Sunset mall, 1300 W. Sunset Road. Enter code galleriamall.

From 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 27 at Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican Hospital, 3001 St. Rose Parkway. Enter code StRoseSiena.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 27 at Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican Hospital, 8280 W. Warm Springs Road. Enter code StRoseSanMartin.

From noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 27 at TJ Maxx, 7040 N. Durango Drive. Enter code TJMAXXMONTECITO.

From 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 28 at Vegas Auto Care, 3530 S. Jones Blvd. Enter code VEGASAUTOCARE.

From 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 29 at the Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive. Enter code summerlinlibrary.

From 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 29 at Vegas Auto Care, 3530 S. Jones Blvd. Enter code VEGASAUTOCARE.

American Red Cross blood drives scheduled around the valley: The American Red Cross encourages residents to donate. Blood drives are planned continually across the valley. All blood types are needed, especially O negative, A negative and B negative, on a regular basis. To schedule a donation appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. Recently, Red Cross announced a new RapidPass program, which allows donors to complete pre-donation reading and health history questions online on the day of their donation using a computer at home or work, reducing the time spent at blood drives by approximately 15 minutes.

From 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 26 at Smith's, 5564 Camino Al Norte.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 27 at TJ Maxx, 10000 W. Sahara Ave.

From 2 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 28 at Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.

From 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 30 at the Gibson Library, 100 W. Lake Mead Parkway.