Farmers Market Opens at California Hospital

Jun. 3- Jacqueline Bladow, a cardiopulmonary technician at Natividad Medical Center in Salinas, can't always get off work early enough to visit the farmers market near her home in Hollister to buy the fresh produce and flowers she likes.

Now, she won't have to worry about it anymore.

That is because Natividad and Everyone's Harvest set up a certified farmers market just outside the hospital's busy outpatient entrance as part of the hospital's employee health and wellness programs. The market is meant to promote healthy eating habits among hospital patients.

"This is much more convenient," Bladow said, as she browsed through organic produce vendor booths while clutching a bag of strawberries destined to be dipped in chocolate. Bladow was among a few dozen hospital employees and others who wandered through the market during its inaugural session Wednesday.

The market held a low-key grand opening about noon with a ribbon-cutting, comments by Natividad CEO Harry Weis and hospital administrator Andrea Rosenberg, coordinator of the health and wellness program, and a performance by Ke Akua Kiakahi Hula Ohana dance troupe.

The market's hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 27. It will accept electronic benefit transfers and WIC coupons.

But the real stars were the more than half dozen vendors who set up booths bursting with everything from organic eggs, lettuce, chard and nopales (cactus) to strawberries, raspberries and prickly pear, as well as fresh flowers.

Two booths sponsored by the Network for a Healthy California, including one dedicated to a "Latino campaign," offered information about how to eat healthier and quit smoking, as well as healthy recipes.

Weis said the market is a sign of the "serious commitment to health and wellness among all our county employees," especially those who work on the county's Natividad campus, which includes headquarters for the health department, sheriff's department, emergency response, and the jail.

"I think we all need to focus on wellness these days," he said. "This is just a small start."

In addition to county employees, Rosenberg said Natividad serves a "special population," including poor and Latino residents, that often has less access to healthy choices than others. Now, she said, people who visit the hospital won't have to make another trip to a farmers market.

"What a great opportunity to expose our patients and employees to healthy foods," she said.

The market is being operated by Everyone's Harvest, a nonprofit organization that runs the Marina, Pacific Grove and Greenfield farmers markets, and managed by Jessica McKillip.

McKillip said the new venture is based on a concept started by Kaiser Permanente, which set up dozens of markets at hospitals and other medical facilities in four states. This is the first time it has been tried in Monterey County, she said.

"It's an exciting development because this is where such a large amount of the nation's produce is grown, here in the Salinas Valley," she said. "Now people will have more access to (the produce)."

McKillip said the market is subsidized by the hospital in an effort to keep costs affordable.

Efren Avalos, a Salinas resident who totes organic produce from his Hollister-based family farm to markets as far away as Berkeley and the Monterey Peninsula, said he was impressed by the turnout for the Natividad market's first day. Avalos said he was invited to sell at the new market by Everyone's Harvest officials and immediately agreed.

He said another market dedicated to "promoting health in the community and getting employees to eat healthier" is always a good thing.

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To see more of the Monterey County Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.montereyherald.com.

Copyright (c) 2010, The Monterey County Herald, Calif.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.

Farmers Market Opens at California HospitalOriginally from: http://www.nursinglink.monster.com/news/articles/13219-farmers-market-opens-at-california-hospital

View this post on my blog: http://travelnursesuccess.com/farmers-market-opens-at-california-hospital-2

Farmers Market Opens at California Hospital

Jun. 3- Jacqueline Bladow, a cardiopulmonary technician at Natividad Medical Center in Salinas, can't always get off work early enough to visit the farmers market near her home in Hollister to buy the fresh produce and flowers she likes.

Now, she won't have to worry about it anymore.

That is because Natividad and Everyone's Harvest set up a certified farmers market just outside the hospital's busy outpatient entrance as part of the hospital's employee health and wellness programs. The market is meant to promote healthy eating habits among hospital patients.

"This is much more convenient," Bladow said, as she browsed through organic produce vendor booths while clutching a bag of strawberries destined to be dipped in chocolate. Bladow was among a few dozen hospital employees and others who wandered through the market during its inaugural session Wednesday.

The market held a low-key grand opening about noon with a ribbon-cutting, comments by Natividad CEO Harry Weis and hospital administrator Andrea Rosenberg, coordinator of the health and wellness program, and a performance by Ke Akua Kiakahi Hula Ohana dance troupe.

The market's hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 27. It will accept electronic benefit transfers and WIC coupons.

But the real stars were the more than half dozen vendors who set up booths bursting with everything from organic eggs, lettuce, chard and nopales (cactus) to strawberries, raspberries and prickly pear, as well as fresh flowers.

Two booths sponsored by the Network for a Healthy California, including one dedicated to a "Latino campaign," offered information about how to eat healthier and quit smoking, as well as healthy recipes.

Weis said the market is a sign of the "serious commitment to health and wellness among all our county employees," especially those who work on the county's Natividad campus, which includes headquarters for the health department, sheriff's department, emergency response, and the jail.

"I think we all need to focus on wellness these days," he said. "This is just a small start."

In addition to county employees, Rosenberg said Natividad serves a "special population," including poor and Latino residents, that often has less access to healthy choices than others. Now, she said, people who visit the hospital won't have to make another trip to a farmers market.

"What a great opportunity to expose our patients and employees to healthy foods," she said.

The market is being operated by Everyone's Harvest, a nonprofit organization that runs the Marina, Pacific Grove and Greenfield farmers markets, and managed by Jessica McKillip.

McKillip said the new venture is based on a concept started by Kaiser Permanente, which set up dozens of markets at hospitals and other medical facilities in four states. This is the first time it has been tried in Monterey County, she said.

"It's an exciting development because this is where such a large amount of the nation's produce is grown, here in the Salinas Valley," she said. "Now people will have more access to (the produce)."

McKillip said the market is subsidized by the hospital in an effort to keep costs affordable.

Efren Avalos, a Salinas resident who totes organic produce from his Hollister-based family farm to markets as far away as Berkeley and the Monterey Peninsula, said he was impressed by the turnout for the Natividad market's first day. Avalos said he was invited to sell at the new market by Everyone's Harvest officials and immediately agreed.

He said another market dedicated to "promoting health in the community and getting employees to eat healthier" is always a good thing.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To see more of the Monterey County Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.montereyherald.com.

Copyright (c) 2010, The Monterey County Herald, Calif.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.

Farmers Market Opens at California HospitalOriginally from: http://www.nursinglink.monster.com/news/articles/13219-farmers-market-opens-at-california-hospital

View this post on my blog: http://travelnursesuccess.com/farmers-market-opens-at-california-hospital

The Nurse at His Family’s Bedside

The Nurse at His Family's BedsideOriginally from: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NursingAndCareer/~3/__eOA40lmtQ/BlogPostDetail.aspx

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2010 "America's Best Children's Hospitals" Survey Published

In the new U.S.News & World Report rankings of America's Best Children's Hospitals 2010, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University has again been named one of the nation's best.

In their annual survey online today (3) at usnews.com/childrenshospitals, U.S.News places three of the hospital's specialties in the nation's Top Ten, including heart and heart surgery (#5), kidney disorders (#5), and neonatology (#6). These honors made Packard Children's the only Bay Area children's hospital with programs in the Top Ten. Additionally, these three specialty rankings were the highest among children's hospitals in California, and both the heart and neonatology programs ranked as highest among children's hospitals on the West Coast.

Additionally, six other programs ranked highly on the U.S.News specialty list,including cancer, diabetes/endocrinology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, urology, andneurology/neurosurgery.

Christopher Dawes, president and chief executive officer at Packard Children's, was proud of the news. "We share this success with our entire faculty and staff. They're pioneers in pediatric and obstetric medicine, and it's through their passion and innovation that we have built one of the nation's best children's hospitals," said Dawes. "The new rankings are a testament to this phenomenal work."

The U.S.News honor adds to a growing list of recent highlights for Packard Children's, including:

* A study that showed for the first time that a significant decrease in hospital-wide mortality rates can be associated with implementation of a computerized physician order entry system.

* Opening the new Center for Fetal Health, providing comprehensive, collaborative care for families facing complex fetal problems.

* In a U.S. imaging first, the pediatric radiology team used prenatal MRI to detect a rare genetic disease in a newborn.

* The successful implantation of a high-tech artificial bone in a three-year-old's arm, a surgery never before attempted on a toddler.

* The announcement at Packard Children's by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Apple CEO Steve Jobs of legislation that will make it easier for Californians to affirm their preferred organ donor status.

The specialty rankings of this year's America's Best Children's Hospitals survey were based on a methodology that weighed a blend of reputation, outcome, and care-related measures such as volume, nursing care, advanced technology, credentialing, and other factors. A detailed description of the methodology can be found online at http://health.usnews.com/health-news/best-childrens-hospitals/articles/2010/06/02/behind-the-2010-11-best-childrens-hospitals-rankings.h.

About Lucile Packard Children's Hospital

Perennially ranked as one of the nation'sbest pediatric hospitals by U.S.News & World Report, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford is a 312-bed hospital devoted to the care of children and expectant mothers. Providing pediatric and obstetric medical and surgical services and associated with the Stanford University School of Medicine, Packard Children's offers patients locally, regionally and nationally the full range of health care programs and services, from preventive and routine care to the diagnosis and treatment of serious illness and injury. For more information, visit www.lpch.org.

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2010 "America's Best Children's Hospitals" Survey PublishedOriginally from: http://www.nursinglink.monster.com/news/articles/13223-2010-americas-best-childrens-hospitals-survey-published

View this post on my blog: http://travelnursesuccess.com/2010-americas-best-childrens-hospitals-survey-published

Study Finds Retirees In Mexico Living In Enclaves

Study Finds Retirees In Mexico Living In EnclavesOriginally from: http://mnt.to/f/3Dtk

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Hemodialysis Careers And Other Secret Medical Jobs Revealed

When some consider the medical profession, they usually think Doctors and Nurses. Nonetheless in this era, the quantity of supporting staff aside from the conventional doctor and nurses is growing by big leaps. Here you will find the Top 5 Incognito Professions in the Medical Field.

#5 Hemodialysis roles

These are the people that help patients on dialysis. These technicians are located in both infirmaries and outpatient facilities. In some cases, they even operate out of the patient's houses. To become a hemodialysis technician, one must have a highschool diploma and pass the entrance examination as required by the Dep. of Education. The coaching class that prepares you for the examination lasts about 11 weeks and teaches you the fine details of renal illnesses.

#4 RN travel jobs

These RNs are not your typical nurses. They can be consultants or just nurses in a field that's in heavy demand in another town. Most nurses who are looking for these opportunities go thru recruiters and agencies to find the next big or little town that needs their services. It could be a great opportunity for any nurse not tied down by family or ties to one place. The pay can be great and many places even pay your accommodations.

#3 Cardiology jobs

The Cardiology Technologist is the individual that administers the strain test on the treadmill, among other duties. Additionally, he focuses on invasive procedures so helping prepare patients for open heart surgery. While they sometimes work forty hours a week, some of that work could be on weekends. Most graduate from a two year college with a strong emphasis in biology and anatomy.

#2 Phlebotomy Technician

This clinical technician is a professional vampire. She or he takes blood samples from patients and may also take blood donations. There's a training session that may teach blood collection methodologies and patient interaction methods among other needed information.

#1 Respiratory Treatment Technicians

This technician also has a two year degree usually. He's employed under the watchful eye of the respiration consultants and doctors. This person will treat, appraise and care for patients with cardiopulmonary or breathing anomalies.

So , if you excelled in science but just can't see yourself going to college forever to become a doctor, consider a couple of these other secret concealed professions - like hemodialysis jobs - in the field of medicine. Most require only 2 years of college or less and might be your stepping stone into the medical world.

View this post on my blog: http://travelnursesuccess.com/hemodialysis-careers-and-other-secret-medical-jobs-revealed

Health Care Education - Choose Your Own Path In HealthCare Industry

Specialized medical courses are now being offered by many health schools. These programs provide in-depth knowledge of various medical treatments and subjects.

Nursing university and education nursing center now offer education in the field of occupational and physical therapy, diagnostic medical, pharmacy technician, allied health, nurse education, healthcare management, emergency medical services, and various nursing facilities among others. Various Ultrasound schools offer education in ultrasound and sonography therapy. Students can opt for both full time as well as part time courses. These courses also offer internships, so that the students are able to recover their course fee while studying. Such programs give the students the necessary hands-on experience in their medical fields.

The advent of new health care facilities for the disabled and elderly has widened the vistas of health care education. A student can look for career opportunities in wellness centers and independent living centers. These centers offer them designation like assisted living administrator, in which the person responsible has to manage the whole center and its elderly members. With the steady increase in the number of assisted living centres and adult day care centres, the requirement for trained professional is at an all time high. These centres usually demand a Bachelor's degree in science or health care. Additional professional courses in the field of human physiology, health law, health administration are considered as an added advantage.

Now that we have a number of options available in health care sector, choosing the right course for you can be a daunting task. You got to clearly define your career goals and then find out the details of the courses that fulfil them rightly. If you want start earning quickly and gather some job experience, then you must look forward to diplomas and certificate programs. Likely, there are some courses which take up a few years to get completed but they offer rewarding careers ahead.

If you are interested in this area and are looking for healthcare jobs, there is good news for you. With the recent boom in the healthcare industry, you can try looking for a job in various clinics, hospitals, adult day centers, emergency clinics etc. Healthcare jobs are no longer limited to traditional roles as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, but have expanded to offer a variety of profiles due to the ever increasing demand of specialized services. These jobs in the healthcare sector often come with healthcare benefits and a good pay structure.

Contact Us to know more about healthcare schools and programs.

Want to find out more about localhealth care providers, then visit Scott Black's site on how to choose the best medical providers for your needs.

View this post on my blog: http://travelnursesuccess.com/health-care-education-choose-your-own-path-in-healthcare-industry