Chronic disease self-management program to begin Oct. 20

Lee Health’s Lee Health Solutions, in partnership with many local community agencies and supported in part initially by a grant from the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, is offering “It’s All About You” — a research based chronic disease self-management program originally developed at Stanford University Patient Education Research Center.

The program is designed for people 18 years of age or older with chronic health conditions to help them learn ways to better manage their chronic conditions and the symptoms that often accompany chronic health conditions. 

The virtual workshop is 2.5 hours once a week for 6 weeks and it is free. 

Virtual workshops will be offered on: Tuesdays beginning Oct. 20 from 1-3:30 p.m.

For more information or to register, please call 239-343-9264.

Since the opening of the first hospital in 1916, Lee Health has been a health care leader in Southwest Florida, constantly evolving to meet the needs of the community. A non-profit, integrated health care services organization, Lee Health is committed to the well-being of every individual served, focused on healthy living and maintaining good health. Services are conveniently located throughout the community in four acute care hospitals, two specialty hospitals, outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers, primary care and specialty physician practices and other services across the continuum of care. Learn more at www.LeeHealth.org.

Dairy Queen’s national ‘Round-Up for the Kids’ campaign kicks off

Get your treat on! Throughout the month of October, you can Round-Up your purchase (the average donation was $0.47) at a participating Dairy Queen or DQ Grill & Chill in Bonita Springs, Estero, Sanibel, Punta Gorda, Naples, Port Charlotte, Fort Myers and Cape Coral to help local patients and their families at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.

DQ and DQ Grill & Chill have been partners of CMN Hospitals since 1984 and supporting  local children in need. The funds that a participating DQ partner raises will help ensure that Golisano Children’s Hospital has the tools and resources necessary to provide the best care available throughout Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry counties.

The public’s help is needed to add much needed services to the community, including:

* More PPE equipment — Healthcare professionals have a continual need for personal protection equipment to provide care for kids.

* Ophthalmology care — Expand services in the area to improve access to care and reduce wait times.

Golisano currently provides ophthalmology services; having only one provider in the community has created an access issue, with the first available appointment wait time exceeding six months.

* Little Red Wagon Fund —  This unrestricted fund plays a key role in advancing innovative programs, technologies and necessary services to strengthen the future of our hospital and meet the region’s expanding health care needs. Contributes to programs and services like:

* Burn Care & Deep Wound Specialty Service

* In-patient Dialysis

* Urology Specialty Program

* AED’s in all local schools

* Chest Malformation Program-General Surgery

* Pediatric Wellness

* Post Stabilization Trauma

Golisano Children’s Hospital publishes special COVID-19 issue of Kids First magazine

Golisano Children’s Hospital has published the latest issue of Kids First magazine, a free resource for Southwest Florida’s families and the region’s only publication solely dedicated to sharing expert-sourced pediatric health and wellness information. The special COVID-19 issue is complete with seasonal advice and tips from local physicians and health care providers with a focus on the timely challenges that families are facing during the pandemic and current events.

Articles include:

* Health Care Can’t Wait: Don’t let fear of COVID-19 keep you from getting emergency care

* Telemedicine is Here to Stay: How to make it work for you and your child

* Presence of Mind: Help your kids deal with the psychological impacts of the pandemic

* Raising Strong, Informed Kids: How to talk with your children about challenging topics and teach them resiliency

* Staying Safe While Learning: Protect your kids whether in the classroom or virtually

Additional topics include healthy habits, mental health, technology, innovations in treatment, advances in local services and nutritious, kid-approved recipes.

The purpose of the magazine is to help ensure children are the healthiest they can be, thus keeping hospital admissions down and experiencing better outcomes if hospitalization is ever necessary. Kids First is made possible in partnership with TOTI Media, longtime leader in award-winning high-quality magazines in Southwest Florida, and the incredible support of area businesses and advertisers who believe in and enable the mission and vision of Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Parents can also download the Kids First app from the app store for the latest issue. Kids First magazine current and past issue are available digitally at KidsFirstMagazine.org.

Hodges University unveils ambulance

Hodges University has added an ambulance to its resources. The vehicle will be used to provide hands-on training for emergency medical technicians and paramedics.

“This ambulance is the first, four-wheeled addition to the Hodges family,” said Dr. John Meyer, president of Hodges University. “It creates even more training opportunities for all of our healthcare professions students, and we thank Collier County EMS for donating the vehicle, and, NCH and Lee Health for their support.”

Due to COVID-19, a limited number of attendees were on the university’s Fort Myers campus to see the ambulance in action for the first time, including Collier EMS Chief Tabatha Butcher, NCH President & CEO Paul Hiltz, and President and CEO Dr. Larry Antonucci of Lee Health. The ambulance arrived, sirens blaring and lights flashing. It stopped by the Health Sciences building, where three Hodges University EMT graduates jumped out the back and transported a “patient”, who happened to be Dr. Meyer.

The design of the ambulance has plenty of symbolism and meaning. The colors, coral red and navy blue, are the Hodges University colors, and the Hawk is the university’s mascot.

The ambulance also has the seals for the Hodges’ EMT and paramedic programs on each side, along with a normal sinus rhythm as you’d see on an EKG trace. The ambulance is numbered 1990, the year the university was established.

Hodges University, a regionally accredited, private nonprofit institution founded in 1990, prepares students to leverage higher learning in their personal, professional, and civic endeavors. With over 10,000 graduates having a 93 percent rate of continued success in careers, Hodges is recognized for developing programs designed to serve a diverse adult learner population. With campuses in Naples and Fort Myers, Florida, Hodges provides flexible day, evening and online classes taught for undergraduate and graduate degrees. Hodges is also designated as a Hispanic serving institution, and is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.

Assitional information about Hodges University is available at Pathways.Hodges.edu.