Mills-Peninsula, Sutter Health Give $33,500 to Local Food Banks

November 14, 2011

Just in time for the holiday season, Mills-Peninsula Health Services and Sutter Health have given a $33,500 donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

The funds are a portion of a quarter-million-dollar donation by the Sutter Health network to 29 food banks throughout Northern California, which will help provide more than a million healthy meals to families in need.

Food banks say that monetary donations help maximize the amount of food available for the hungry – in many instances, a $1 donation can translate to over $5 worth of distributed food.

On average, every dollar donated translates to 4.5 meals provided by regional food banks. This year’s donation – made on behalf of our network’s 48,000 employees, physicians, staff and volunteers – will help provide more than 1 million meals.

“Many of our patients and neighbors are still struggling to afford healthy, regular meals,” says Pat Fry, president and CEO of Sutter Health. “We recognize that health care extends beyond the walls of our care centers. Wellness begins in our communities with a healthy meal on the kitchen table. We hope that by supporting our local food banks we can provide some comfort this holiday season.”

The Sutter Health network of care has donated $762,500 over the past three years to food banks in local communities. The donations are provided on behalf of the health care network’s 48,000 employees, physicians, staff and volunteers as an extension of Sutter’s not-for-profit mission.

Complete list of food banks which received donations from Sutter Health. 

Would you like to help? Volunteer, donate online or drop off food donations at your local food bank:

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Mills-Peninsula Helps Community with Diabetes Prevention Information and Education

November 7, 2011

Burlingame, CA — November 14 is World Diabetes Day, an international event started by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness and education on diabetes. Today, WHO estimates that more than 220 million people worldwide have diabetes. Without intervention, this number is expected to more than double by 2030.

Every ten seconds, two people in the world develop diabetes and one person dies of it. In the United States, California has more new cases of diabetes each year than any other state in the nation, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

On California’s San Francisco Peninsula, Mills-Peninsula Health Services educates patients and the community year-round about diabetes risk factors and what people can do to prevent or reduce their risk of this growing trend.

On November 9, 2011, Mills-Peninsula is holding a free workshop about diabetes prevention in San Mateo. “An Ounce of Prevention: Pre-diabetes Workshop” is open to the community, and participants will learn tips for healthier eating and establishing an easy-to-follow exercise program.

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

“Often people think they can’t make any changes, but small steps can produce big rewards in preventing type 2 diabetes,” said Donna deKay, R.D., certified diabetes educator and outpatient nutritionist at Mills-Peninsula Health Services.

Recently, a landmark three-year study of 3,234 people, called the Diabetes Prevention Program, found as little as 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day, coupled with a weight loss of five to 10 percent of body weight, produces a 58 percent reduction in risk of developing diabetes. This diet and exercise approach was as or more effective than medication in slowing and preventing diabetes.

“A diagnosis of pre-diabetes is a great time to take action. We can turn back the clock,” deKay said.

Pre-diabetes

Pre-diabetes means blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. Unless they take action, people with pre-diabetes are likely to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. According to the ADA, 79 million people in the United States have pre-diabetes and most don’t know it. People with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a family history of diabetes are at a higher risk for diabetes.

Online Diabetes Risk Test

The ADA website offers a short Online Diabetes Risk Test to help people determine whether they are at low, moderate or high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The test asks simple questions about weight, age, family history and other potential risks for pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes. If an individual is at high risk, he or she is encouraged to talk with their health care provider.

Mills-Peninsula Honored for Diabetes Services

In October 2011, Mills-Peninsula was honored with the California Department of Managed Care’s Right Care Initiative’s gold level of achievement for meeting or exceeding standards for controlling patients’ diabetes and cardiovascular conditions to ensure their best possible health.

Also in 2011, for the ninth consecutive year, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) awarded Mills-Peninsula Health Services’ outpatient diabetes and nutrition services with the ADA Education Recognition Certificate, recognizing quality diabetes self-management.

Learn more:

Diabetes education, prevention information on Mills-Peninsula Website

American Diabetes Association Website

International Diabetes Federation Website

Details, registration info on November 9 “An Ounce of Prevention: Pre-diabetes Workshop,” offered by Mills-Peninsula Health Services

 

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Old Hospital Serves as Valuable Safety Training Site for Bay Area Fire Companies

November 2, 2011

20 Fire Departments from Seven Cities Practice High-rise Rescues

Burlingame, CA — Since the new Mills-Peninsula Health Services Medical Center opened in May 2011, the old hospital has remained largely quiet while preparations for demolition have been underway.

 On Friday, October 28, the old eight-story medical center, located on Trousdale Avenue beside the new Burlingame hospital, was anything but quiet and empty.  The Central San Mateo County Training Division & San Mateo County South Zone Training, in cooperation with Mills-Peninsula Health Services, hosted more than 20 fire companies from seven cities, each with multiple engines and trucks.

Dozens of firefighters – from cadets to senior commanders – dressed in full safety gear and practiced rescue protocols in the unlit halls of the empty hospital. They worked in simulated water-based smoke, some using infrared goggles to detect “victims” in need of rescue and evacuation. There was rapid decision making and constant communication as the teams performed the drills with efficiency and spirit.

 

Incident Commander Kevin McWhirter,  Division Chief of Training for the Millbrae/San Bruno Fire Departments, oversaw the 20 companies from fire departments from Menlo Park to South San Francisco. Carl Levon Kustin was deputy and Jake Pelk was the safety officer.

For more than a year, Mills-Peninsula Health Services has been planning with local fire departments to use the old hospital for this series of safety trainings prior to demolition of the old structure.

“This was a rare and valuable training opportunity for Peninsula fire departments which typically conduct training in one- to four-story buildings,” said McWhirter. “Because the old hospital is similar to a high rise that is comprised of several separate structures, it was a useful chance to simulate rescues and fire control for much taller structures.”

These exercises tested San Mateo County’s response plan and confirmed the importance of cooperation between first responders, facility staff and on-site contractors.

To date, there have been six full-day training sessions, each of which included:

  • Implementation of the new San Mateo County High-Rise Policy
  • Staging 8 to 10 engines and other rescue equipment
  • A full “wet” drill; pumping and directing water from ground level to top floors using existing standpipe systems.
  • Search and rescue operations including breaking through locked doors in the dark and/or simulated, water-based smoke.
  • Evacuating “victims” from the building.

Earlier this year, more than 60 fire and police companies toured the new hospital six weeks prior to the May opening so they would be familiar with the building’s layout and evacuation routes. They also shot video for future safety trainings.

“Now that the new hospital is open, the old hospital is slated for a multi-staged demolition,” said Larry Kollerer, project manager. After the demolition of the old hospital buildings is complete, the land will be converted to parking for approximately 300 vehicles.

Note to Media: Video link for use in your stories http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXJC5aip1DU

Contact:

Cynthia Greaves
Public Affairs
greavec@pamf.org
650-934-8614 office
650-444-3019 mobile

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Mills-Peninsula Division Wins Award for Diabetes, Cardiovascular Care Management

October 18, 2011

Burlingame, California — In  October 2011, Mills-Peninsula was honored with the California Department of Managed Care’s Right Care Initiative’s gold level of achievement for meeting or exceeding standards for controlling their patients’ diabetes and cardiovascular conditions to ensure their best possible health.

The Right Care Initiative (RCI) was launched in 2007 as a public-private collaborative effort to improve clinical quality in three key areas: cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hospital-acquired infections, and to rank among the best in the nation on critical metrics of how well care is being managed.

The Mills-Peninsula Division of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation is one of only 11 medical groups statewide that met the RCI’s gold level of achievement – reaching the national 90th percentile target for performance in cardiovascular and diabetes measures.

“It’s a true honor to receive this award,” said David Boyd, Ph.D., Mills-Peninsula’s Division’s director of quality. “It recognizes the dedicated and collaborative work between our doctors, patients, our quality improvement committee and staff over the last five years to improve the care and outreach to our patients with chronic health conditions.”

Since 2006, the Quality Improvement Department at Mills-Peninsula has provided doctors with regular reports of their patients who have poorly controlled diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. The reports detail what medications have been prescribed to the patients and whether they are filling their prescriptions. The doctors can then use these reports to remind patients either to fill their prescriptions or change their medication regimens, if the current medications are not controlling their health conditions adequately.

Cynthia Sevenants, a certified wellness coach at Mills-Peninsula, also reaches out to patients, helping them make the lifestyle changes necessary to improve their health. Sevenants provides ongoing coaching and support on dietary and exercise recommendations and helps patients understand the benefits of taking their medications.

“We know that patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease need long-term and ongoing support to help them successfully manage their health,” said Boyd. “This award validates our physicians’ and staff’s efforts and the positive impact of focusing on patients with chronic conditions to improve their health outcomes and prevent complications.”

 

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Safeway Donates $20K to Mills-Peninsula’s Community Breast Health Program

October 14, 2011

Pictured left to right: Gerry Schwinges, Burlingame Safeway store manager, Christy Duncan-Anderson, executive director of the Safeway Foundation, Harriet Borofsky, M.D., medical director of breast imaging at Mills-Peninsula Women’s Center, Larree Renda, chair of the Safeway Foundation, Gloria Brown, chair of the African-American Community Health Advisory Committee, Karl Schroeder, president of Safeway’s NorCal Division

Program provides free mammograms, diagnostic testing and educational services for underserved women in the area.

Burlingame, California — To mark the grand opening of their new Burlingame, Safeway donated $20,000 to Mills-Peninsula’s Community Breast Program, which provides free mammograms, diagnostic testing and educational services for underserved women in the area.

On Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, Harriet Borofsky, M.D., medical director of breast imaging at the Mills-Peninsula Women’s Center, was presented with a check at the store’s grand opening. Also present at the event were Terry Nagel, Mayor of Burlingame, and Karl Schroeder, president of Safeway’s NorCal division.

For the past three years, Safeway has partnered with the Women’s Center and the Community Breast Program, providing donations and support. As a result of this partnership, more than 500 women have received screening and diagnostic mammograms to date, and more than five cancers have been detected.

“Mills-Peninsula has set a goal to expand the Community Breast Program to reach and educate more medically underserved women in our community,” said Lisa Scoffield, regional director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Mills-Peninsula Health Services. “This new donation from Safeway, which is in addition to their continued support, will be used to grow the program and bolster outreach efforts.”

Specifically, the program’s growth goal is to increase the total number of screening and diagnostic mammograms from nearly 300 in 2011 to at least 500 in 2012.

The Community Breast Program is a partnership with the African American Community Health Advisory Committee.

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