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.
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.
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 personal lives. Membership is open to anyone who earned an associate’s, bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
Info: Linda Styrwoll, 218-259-4437
Mountain Vista Medical Center gets Stroke Gold Plus award
Mountain Vista Medical Center has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines—Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.
The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most-appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.
Mountain Vista earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions
“As a primary stroke center, we are dedicated to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients by implementing the American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines—Stroke initiative,” says Kirsten McMillen, Mountain Vista Medical Center stroke program coordinator. “The tools and resources provided help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes.”
Mountain Vista additionally received the Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll award. To qualify for the stroke honor roll recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke.
The hospital also received the Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed with more than 90% of compliance for 12 consecutive months for the “Overall Diabetes Cardiovascular Initiative Composite Score.”
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
Connie Health launches
Medicare services
Connie Health—a personal Medicare advisory service combining Medicare expertise and local advisers with data-driven insights to help individuals make confident and informed decisions about their Medicare options—has launched its services in Maricopa, Pinal and Yavapai counties.
Connie Health was formed in 2019 by Valley resident David Luna and partners Michael Scopa and Oded Eran, all Medicare experts with decades of experience.
“Shopping for Medicare coverage can be complex and overwhelming for many individuals, because Medicare offers a multitude of plans by varied insurance companies,” Luna says. “By combining our health care expertise with technology-powered tools, personalized local guidance and support, Connie Health’s advisers will work with our communities’ Medicare beneficiaries to ensure they make confident, worry-free decisions around Medicare plans and coverage.”
In addition to providing individuals with guidance on finding the right Medicare coverage for their personal needs, the local advisers at Connie Health offer ongoing support in navigating a range of health care choices. These services help consumers get the most out of their plan, optimize prescription costs and find providers in their area.
The service is provided at no cost to consumers. As licensed advisers, they are compensated by the insurance companies when someone joins a plan. The maximum compensation an insurance company can provide is regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and is the same for all insurance companies. Therefore, Connie Health recommends plans solely based on an individual’s needs and not financial incentives.
Due to its choice to affiliate with all major Medicare insurance providers, Connie Health can use its technology to advise individuals—either in person from a safe distance, on a video call, via phone or otherwise—about the best options based on personal health care needs, lifestyle and budget. The team is also able to identify Medicare providers in the area, including those in Medicare Advantage HMO or PPO networks.
Medicare’s open enrollment period is October 15 to December 7.
