Entries Tagged as Healthcare News
Hospice Tree of Memories Event
All are invited to join NorthBay Hospice and Bereavement for the annual Hospice Tree of Memories event at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 8.
It’s a holiday-themed ceremony where family, friends, and community members come together to remember their loved ones. The ceremony includes music and reading of names, followed by light refreshment.
The tree will be decorated with special ornaments labeled with the names of those remembered, and will be on display in the NorthBay Medical Center lobby throughout the holiday season.
A suggested donation of $20 can be made, according to Veronica Wertz, bereavement and volunteer coordinator. As a thank you for your donation you will be sent a holiday keepsake ornament. All proceeds from the donations are used to fund the Hospice and Bereavement program. We also invite you to e-mail a photograph of you and your loved one for a display at the service.
To have your loved one’s name or a photo included, please submit your request by Dec. 1 to Shirley Jacks at sjacks@northbay.org.
For more information regarding NorthBay Hospice Tree of Memories, please contact Veronica Wertz or Shirley Jacks at (707) 646-3597 or e-mail sjacks@northbay.org.
For information about making a donation or adding your loved one’s name, contact Tim Johnson, NorthBay Healthcare Foundation, at 646-3132 or send an e-mail to txjohnson@northbay.org.
Rotary Club Donation Will Help NICU Moms
Holding four of the five new breast pumps purchased for the NICU are Cordelia Rotary Past President Nancy Garver, current President Colleen Knight, neonatologist Dr. Walter Berkheimer and lactation consultant Cindy Stade, R.N.
New mothers with premature or critically ill infants being cared for in NorthBay Medical Center’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) have one less thing to worry about, thanks to a generous donation by the Rotary Club of Cordelia.
The Rotary Club of Cordelia donated five Medela brand breast pumps, which will allow the new moms to continue feeding their babies even though the moms have been discharged.
"The long-term health benefits of having a mother be able to feed her baby breast milk are tremendous."
NorthBay Medical Center’s NICU cares for as many as 250 premature and critically ill infants each year, according to Deb Thorson, director of Women’s and Children’s Services for NorthBay Healthcare. “The long-term health benefits of having a mother be able to feed her baby breast milk are tremendous,” she notes.
“These types of hospital-grade pumps are the ideal ones to ensure a mother will be able to maintain her milk supply so that the baby can receive the most optimal feeding,” notes Cindy Stade, R.N., lactation consultant. “Having a baby in the NICU can be very stressful and this is one less stress she will have to worry about.”
The Rotary Club of Cordelia has been a long-time supporter of NorthBay’s Pediatric programs, according to Colleen Knight, executive assistant with NorthBay Healthcare Foundation and president of the club. During the past 20 years, the local group has donated more than $200,000, and this year’s $8,500 donation toward the purchase of these breast pumps “is important because it helps the new moms give their babies a good start.
“The ability to help create healthy families is a universal cause and one that Rotary supports,” says Nancy Garver, Rotary Club of Cordelia past president. A portion of the funds for the pumps was raised during the Rotary Club of Cordelia’s annual Spring Extravaganza event.
The remaining funds were obtained through a Rotary International District grant, which was pursued by Candy Pierce, past District 5160 Rotary Governor and member of the NorthBay Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors.
Because Medela offered special pricing on the pumps, the group was able to purchase five instead of four.
Oretta’s Garden Gift
Sandy Perez, manager of the NorthBay Adult Day Center (left) and regular Day Center visitor Misako Woolsey show off the recent renovations made to the center’s outside activity area.
The NorthBay Adult Day Center in Vacaville is enjoying a renovated outdoor activity area, thanks to a bequeath to the center made by Oretta Cortland, a long-time NorthBay Guild member who passed away in 2009. The renovations include an enclosed patio area and a sunscreen. Cortland had taken out a $20,000 life insurance policy and named NorthBay Healthcare Foundation and the NorthBay Alzheimer’s Program as beneficiaries. The NorthBay Healthcare Foundation then established a permanent endowment fund with $10,000.
"The Oretta Cortland Endowment will provide funds to help NorthBay Alzheimer’s services in perpetuity," says Brett Johnson, Foundation president.
The balance of the donation was then allocated to the NorthBay Adult Day Center. Part of the funds was used to renovate the patio area, and the renovations have been very well received by program participants, Perez says.
“It’s like an old-fashioned porch now, and it has really changed the entire environment of our day center,” she adds. “We’re protected from all elements and it’s so comfortable out there now, whether it’s hot or cold.”
The Oretta Cortland Endowment will provide funds to help NorthBay Alzheimer’s services in perpetuity.
Perez has also reserved some funds from Oretta’s bequeath to provide scholarships for her financially strapped families, which means clients and their families will continue to reap the benefits of Oretta’s generosity for many years to come.
The NorthBay Adult Day Center, which is open five days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., is the only program of its kind in northern Solano County. For more information about the NorthBay Adult Day Center, call (707) 624-7970. For more information about how you can leave a legacy of your own through charitable planned giving, contact Brett Johnson, president of the NorthBay Healthcare Foundation at (707) 646-3130.
Girls’ Night Out: Mardi Gras Fun
Mardi Gras will be the theme of the night when women throughout Solano County gather for the second annual Spirit of Women “Girls Night Out” on Friday, Oct. 7, at the Vacaville Performing Arts Theater (VPAT).
Sponsored by the NorthBay Center for Women’s Health, this year’s event features nationally known comedian Kat Simmons and a guest appearance by comedian Donna Cherry.
Kat Simmons brings to the stage a taste of Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett rolled into one hilarious show. Her unique talent combines physical comedy with real life situations, laced with things most of women would dare not talk about. She makes it look normal.
You may have seen her on The Comedy Channel, The Jenny Jones Show or Candid Camera. She has appeared with such notables as Tim Allen, Kenny Rogers and Kevin Nealon. When not on the road, the Nevada resident hosts and produces her own comedy show at The Carson Valley Inn, located in Minden, Nevada. “Comedy is not what I do, it’s who I am,” says Simmons of her talent. Her dad adds, “There goes four years of college.”
You may have seen comedian Donna Cherry on “Desperate Housewives” (ABC), in “The Ultimate Gift” (FoxFaith Release with Abigail Breslin and James Garner) or on Disney’s “The Suite Life of Zach and Cody,” in which she had a recurring role. A regular at The Comedy Store, she has toured with Barry Manilow and Sherman Hemsley, and performed in such prestigious venues as Madison Square Garden, Universal Amphitheatre and London’s Wembley Arena.
A former “Miss California,” Cherry has made appearances on The Tonight Show and Comedy Central. She brings her hilarious spot-on impressions, voice and stand-up comedy to Vacaville especially for this Spirit of Women event.
"Girls Night Out" made its debut in Vacaville last year with a sell-out performance. This year’s event has expanded into the next-door Ulatis Community Center and promises even more fun and excitement with boutique shopping, a photo booth, health information booths, hors d’oeuvres and wine tasting. The evening will include enticing gift basket raffles and a few surprises, with everyone invited to wear Mardi Gras costumes.
Tickets are $35 for Spirit members and $40 for the general public. Tickets are available from the VPAT box office in Vacaville, the Women’s Resource Center in Fairfield, and at NorthBayWomen.org.
For further information, call the NorthBay Women’s Resource Center at (707) 646-4267 or e-mail womenshealth@northbay.org.
Genentech, River Cats Team Up to Benefit NorthBay Cancer Center
NorthBay Cancer Center patients (left to right) Amy Rodoni, Jeff Grossen and Donna Quintero were feted as part of Genentech’s Strike Out Cancer event, hosted by the Sacramento River Cats.
Baseball fans love it when pitchers throw strikes, and now NorthBay Cancer Center patients appreciate strikes even more, especially when those “Ks” were thrown at Sacramento River Cats home games. The River Cats teamed up with Genentech-Vacaville, a member of the Roche family, to create a fund-raising event to benefit NorthBay Cancer Center and its patients.
As part of its Strike Out Cancer campaign, Genentech agreed to donate $100 to the Cancer Center for every strike out thrown at a River Cats home game. By season’s end in early September, the team—the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s—had thrown enough strike outs to raise the donation past the $50,000 mark.
Genentech employees also raised additional funds for the Cancer Center when they held two separate raffles that collected more than $4,000. The Vacaville employees also accumulated several bins of clothing and donated them to the NorthBay Guild Thrift Shop.
NorthBay Healthcare Foundation Board Member Stanley Davis vowed to join in the K-parade, when he promised to match every strike out thrown at the Strike Out Cancer kick-off event, which was held June 11. The ’Cats threw nine strike outs that day, and so Davis added $900 to the pot.
Funds raised through the Genentech-River Cats venture will go toward patient care, and will include the purchase of a blanket warmer, says Janet Black, clinical manager. “The blanket warmer greatly improves the comfort of our patients while they are receiving treatments. Clinically, the cool fluids being infused lowers the patient’s temperature, so the warm blankets will help offset that. But, more importantly, there is nothing more soothing emotionally than being wrapped in a warm blanket.”
A Perennially Classic Event
The 28th Annual Golf & Tennis Classic, held July 11 at Green Valley Country Club raised close to $45,000 for NorthBay programs. A full field of golfers and tennis players competed for prizes and glory during the popular fundraiser sponsored by the NorthBay Guild.
New Bereavement Support Group Offered
NorthBay Hospice and Bereavement will offer an additional Adult Support Group, starting in September. “Our program has increasingly grown as we continue to respond to the needs in the community,” according to Veronica Wertz, bereavement and volunteer coordinator. Adults will have the option to attend a support group meeting on either a Tuesday or Thursday night.
Tuesday’s group meets from 6 to 7 p.m. and the Thursday group meets from 6 to 7:30 p.m. All meetings are held at the NorthBay Center for Primary Care at 2458 Hilborn Road in Fairfield. (Group times may change.) For more information about other bereavement services, please call (707) 646-3597.
Help Is On Hand During the Holidays
With the holiday season approaching, the holidays can bring joy and excitement, but for those dealing with the loss of a loved one the holidays can also become a time of sadness. “Many grievers might even isolate themselves and not partake in the festivities the holidays bring,” says Veronica Wertz, bereavement and volunteer coordinator.
To help people cope, NorthBay Hospice and Bereavement will offer a special workshop that focuses on grief during the holidays. The workshop will be held at 6 p.m. on Nov. 16 at the NorthBay Healthcare Administration Building, 4500 Business Center Drive in Fairfield. To attend, please contact NorthBay Hospice and Bereavement at (707) 646-3597 before Nov. 13, or send an e-mail to Shirley Jacks at sjacks@northbay.org.
Advanced Medicine Lecture Series
NorthBay Healthcare’s Advanced Medicine Lecture Series fall schedule features local physicians.
Dr. Ginsberg will offer his insights on ADHD, a disorder that affects nearly 5 percent of children worldwide.Thursday, Oct. 27
Art + Knowledge = Courage
Art Show & Reception 4 to 6 p.m.
Lecture Presentation 6 to 8 p.m
Featuring James Long, M.D.; J.D. Lopez, M.D.; & Brian Vikstrom, M.D., Oncologists, NorthBay Cancer Center.
Experience the courage and dignity of survivors in a special art show that precedes a lecture on the latest updates and information on the treatment of breast cancer.
Thursday, Nov. 10
Coping with ADHD
Hors d’oeuvres at 5:30
Lecture Presentation 6 to 7 p.m.
Featuring Pediatrician Michael Ginsberg, MD, NorthBay Center for Primary Care.
There are a number of strategies you can employ to help both you and your child, from diet and exercise to therapy and medication.
Lectures are free and held at the NorthBay Healthcare Administration Building, 4500 Business Center Drive in Fairfield. Please RSVP by calling (707) 646-3280.
Adventure Continues for Nurse Camp Students
Mary Hempen, R.N. (left) and Maureen Allain, R.N., have enjoyed using Nightingale to keep the Nurse Camp alumni playing along.Where in the world is Nightingale Bear? That’s the ongoing question in the minds of NorthBay Healthcare’s 32 Nurse Camp graduates who completed a four-day session in June that spanned everything from surgery and emergency medicine to obstetrics, gynecology, labor and delivery.
Nightingale Bear, you see, belongs to Mary Hempen, R.N., one of the camp’s cofounders. She decided to bring her little stuffed friend to camp this year, and games ensued. The winner got to baby-sit Nightingale during camp, and a select few got to take her home for a night.
“She became a trophy, and then a mascot,” explains Donna Dabeck, manager of nursing recruitment and retention. “Now that camp is over, the game continues, thanks to social media.”
Once a month, Nightingale is photographed at some location inside NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield or NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville and the image is posted on Facebook, on a special page created for the alumni of Nurse Camp. The first student to respond with the correct location wins that round. Nida Baig was the first winner for July; she took home some NorthBay “swag,” a notebook cover with the NorthBay Logo.
“It’s a way to keep the kids engaged, and have some fun,” says Donna.
The camp, in its eighth year, was again a tremendous success. More than 80 students from around the county and beyond applied. “We only have a limited amount of resources, so we could only take 32 this year,” explained Maureen Allain, R.N., and camp cofounder.
During the four-day course, students get a chance to meet nurses, experience a mock drill in the emergency department, experiment with some of the equipment and see a simulated patient (a mannequin) deliver twins.
“It’s wild, it’s fun, and it really helps kids who think they’re interested decide whether this is the career for them.
Not only that, but it’s a lot of fun for us, too. It reminds us how important nursing really is and how passionate we are about it,” says Maureen.
Surgery for Maggy
Maggy and her mom, Leah.
NorthBay Guild volunteer Shahane Everett is happy to report that the little girl she befriended during a trip to Kenya in 2010 has had a successful surgery on both of her legs and is recovering nicely.
Shahane, 20, met Maggy, then 5, and her mother Leah during a three-week volunteer stint in Kenya, where Shahane worked at a school for special needs children, and later at an orphanage.
Maggy really captured her heart, says Shahane. Despite all her maladies, Maggy always had a smile on her face.
When she was only 8 months old, Maggy became ill with meningitis. Although she survived, it left her with permanent nerve damage on her left side. Her foot was curved around and her leg could not bear weight.
When Shahane returned home, she decided she wanted to do something to make a difference in Maggy’s life, so she embarked on a fund-raising campaign to help pay for the cost of the surgery.
Doctors in Kenya determined that the surgery on her leg would cost about $550. Shahane shared Maggy’s story in local newspapers and in Wellspring, and the outpouring from residents was tremendous. The college student—who hopes some day to become a doctor— raised enough money to pay for the surgery, and help Maggy with some of her other needs.
