UK HealthCare hosts 'Women, It's About You' conference June 1

On June 1 UK HealthCare will present its fifth annual "Women, It’s About You" conference, which is designed to educate women with the most up-to-date information about health topics ranging from mammograms to nutrition to financial abuse.

This year's conference will feature 15 presentations on the following women's health topics:

Menopause, presented by Dr. Kathy Dillon 

Memory and aging, presented by Dr. Gregory Jicha 

Women's heart health, presented by Dr. Susan Smyth 

Eye health, presented by Dr. Eric Higgins 

Physical fitness, presented by Richard Watson 

Gynecologic cancer, presented by Dr. Lauren Baldwin 

Financial abuse of women, presented by Susan Lawrence 

Weight loss, presented by Dr. Stephanie Rose 

Skin care and cosmetic procedures, presented by Dr. Amit Patel 

Stroke, presented by Lisa Bellamy 

Diabetes, presented by Sheri Legg and Beth Holden 

Nutrition, presented by Rachel Miller 

Mammography, presented by Dr. Margaret Szabunio

Pelvic Prolapse, presented by Drs. Rudy Tovar and Mark Hoffman.

Participants will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of health screenings, including blood pressure and stroke-risk assessment, says a UK HealthCare press release. The event, which will take place at the Embassy Suites hotel on Newtown Pike in north Lexington, costs $10 and also includes a continental breakfast, a luncheon with entertainment, giveaways and an exhibitor fair. Click here for more information or to register by the Friday, May 17 deadline.

On June 1 UK HealthCare will present its fifth annual "Women, It’s About You" conference, which is designed to educate women with the most up-to-date information about health topics ranging from mammograms to nutrition to financial abuse.

This year's conference will feature 15 presentations on the following women's health topics:

Menopause, presented by Dr. Kathy Dillon 

Memory and aging, presented by Dr. Gregory Jicha 

Women's heart health, presented by Dr. Susan Smyth 

Eye health, presented by Dr. Eric Higgins 

Physical fitness, presented by Richard Watson 

Gynecologic cancer, presented by Dr. Lauren Baldwin 

Financial abuse of women, presented by Susan Lawrence 

Weight loss, presented by Dr. Stephanie Rose 

Skin care and cosmetic procedures, presented by Dr. Amit Patel 

Stroke, presented by Lisa Bellamy 

Diabetes, presented by Sheri Legg and Beth Holden 

Nutrition, presented by Rachel Miller 

Mammography, presented by Dr. Margaret Szabunio

Pelvic Prolapse, presented by Drs. Rudy Tovar and Mark Hoffman.

Participants will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of health screenings, including blood pressure and stroke-risk assessment, says a UK HealthCare press release. The event, which will take place at the Embassy Suites hotel on Newtown Pike in north Lexington, costs $10 and also includes a continental breakfast, a luncheon with entertainment, giveaways and an exhibitor fair. Click here for more information or to register by the Friday, May 17 deadline.

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CaldWELL County group campaigns for smoking ban

A committee dedicated to the wellness of Caldwell County, which makes the most of the county's name, is pushing for a smoking ban. The CaldWELL Committee's internal acronym stands for Wellness Education through Local Leadership, and members did some of that Tuesday when the group asked the county Fiscal Court for an ordinance banning cigarette smoking indoors in public buildings. The group was joined by representatives from the local health department, housing authority, Extension office, law enforcement, education, emergency services, mental health, senior services and other public and private agencies, reports Jared Nelson of The Times Leader.

The committee has been collecting survey data from residents about their health perceptions and needs. Their request to the fiscal court is a direct result of that data, said Allison Beshear, health educator and public information officer with the Pennyrile District Health Department. In Caldwell County, about 27 percent of adults are identified as smokers. That number is down from 34 percent reported in the results of a 2008-10 survey. The Times-Leader is behind a paywall. To credit an account, go here.

A committee dedicated to the wellness of Caldwell County, which makes the most of the county's name, is pushing for a smoking ban. The CaldWELL Committee's internal acronym stands for Wellness Education through Local Leadership, and members did some of that Tuesday when the group asked the county Fiscal Court for an ordinance banning cigarette smoking indoors in public buildings. The group was joined by representatives from the local health department, housing authority, Extension office, law enforcement, education, emergency services, mental health, senior services and other public and private agencies, reports Jared Nelson of The Times Leader.

The committee has been collecting survey data from residents about their health perceptions and needs. Their request to the fiscal court is a direct result of that data, said Allison Beshear, health educator and public information officer with the Pennyrile District Health Department. In Caldwell County, about 27 percent of adults are identified as smokers. That number is down from 34 percent reported in the results of a 2008-10 survey. The Times-Leader is behind a paywall. To credit an account, go here.

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Kentucky Parent Survey: We could do a lot better on school meals, we're very much in favor of more health education

Fewer than 10 percent of Kentucky
parents report that their child has ever
walked or biked to school.

When asked, only about one in four Kentucky parents describe the meals served at their child's schools or day care centers as being nutritious. Fewer than 10 percent report that their child have ever walked or biked to school. And an overwhelming majority want information about sexually transmitted infections, human anatomy, abstinence education, birth control methods and condom use taught in Kentucky's high schools.

These are just a few of the surprising results from the first Kentucky Parent Survey conducted by the Foundation for a Health Kentucky, a random telephone survey of 1,006 parents of children under 18. The survey assessed the views of parents, step-parents, grandparents, foster parents and other legal guardians of children in Kentucky. The term "school" was used broadly in the survey as included (2 percent of total surveyed), as well those in pre-school and day care. The study took on nutrition, physical activity and health education.

Eighty-eight percent of parents reported that it was "very important" that meals at schools meet a minimum standard for nutritional value. Only about 1 in 4 parents currently thought their schools were meeting that standard. Only 11 percent are concerned that their younger children are getting too many "celebration-related" treats at their school.

While parents in the state reported that a little more than half (52 percent) of school-age children took physical education classes, that class was not a daily occurrence but met between one and four times a week. Only about 1 in 3 students took a daily course in P.E. That leaves 14 percent without a planned daily class during the school year.

On the topic of health education, parents reported that half of school-age children in the state took health classes, but again not daily. According to the FHK, "The Kentucky Parent Survey included a series of questions about dating relationships and sexual health to determine support for covering those topics...
At the middle school level, more than 8 in 10 parents would favor teaching communication skills (99 percent), human anatomy (91 percent), abstinence education (85 percent), and information about HIV and sexually transmitted infections (84 percent). At the high school level, more than 8 in 10 would favor teaching communication skills (99 percent), information about HIV and sexually transmitted infections (97 percent), human anatomy (97 percent), abstinence education (94 percent), birth control methods (87 percent), and condom use (84 percent)."

Future reports in the FHV series will address access to safe and effective health care for children, children's health behaviors and family routines and the places where parents turn for information on raising healthy kids.

Fewer than 10 percent of Kentucky
parents report that their child has ever
walked or biked to school.

When asked, only about one in four Kentucky parents describe the meals served at their child's schools or day care centers as being nutritious. Fewer than 10 percent report that their child have ever walked or biked to school. And an overwhelming majority want information about sexually transmitted infections, human anatomy, abstinence education, birth control methods and condom use taught in Kentucky's high schools.

These are just a few of the surprising results from the first Kentucky Parent Survey conducted by the Foundation for a Health Kentucky, a random telephone survey of 1,006 parents of children under 18. The survey assessed the views of parents, step-parents, grandparents, foster parents and other legal guardians of children in Kentucky. The term "school" was used broadly in the survey as included (2 percent of total surveyed), as well those in pre-school and day care. The study took on nutrition, physical activity and health education.

Eighty-eight percent of parents reported that it was "very important" that meals at schools meet a minimum standard for nutritional value. Only about 1 in 4 parents currently thought their schools were meeting that standard. Only 11 percent are concerned that their younger children are getting too many "celebration-related" treats at their school.

While parents in the state reported that a little more than half (52 percent) of school-age children took physical education classes, that class was not a daily occurrence but met between one and four times a week. Only about 1 in 3 students took a daily course in P.E. That leaves 14 percent without a planned daily class during the school year.

On the topic of health education, parents reported that half of school-age children in the state took health classes, but again not daily. According to the FHK, "The Kentucky Parent Survey included a series of questions about dating relationships and sexual health to determine support for covering those topics...
At the middle school level, more than 8 in 10 parents would favor teaching communication skills (99 percent), human anatomy (91 percent), abstinence education (85 percent), and information about HIV and sexually transmitted infections (84 percent). At the high school level, more than 8 in 10 would favor teaching communication skills (99 percent), information about HIV and sexually transmitted infections (97 percent), human anatomy (97 percent), abstinence education (94 percent), birth control methods (87 percent), and condom use (84 percent)."

Future reports in the FHV series will address access to safe and effective health care for children, children's health behaviors and family routines and the places where parents turn for information on raising healthy kids.

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Eastern Kentucky native wants to alert Appalachian women about their high rate of cervical cancer and how to prevent it

University of Kentucky physician and Pike County native Baretta Casey, right, has spent most of her career providing health care and education throughout the state, with a focus on Appalachian Kentucky. The health disparities between Eastern Kentucky and the rest of the state, especially high rates of cancer, are of "special concern" to Casey, reports Ann Blackford of UKNow.

Cancer is prevalent in her Casey's own family, and this is why she "has taken on the challenge of helping reduce cancer rates in Kentucky, especially cervical cancer and other Human papillomavirus cancers," Blackford reports. Cervical cancer rates are highest in rural and Appalachian Kentucky. According to the Kentucky Cancer Registry from 2005 to 2009, the cervical cancer rate in the region was 9.85 per 100,000 people. The state rate was 8.6. The average of deaths per year in the region from cervical cancer was 258.

"We have the tools to change these high rates and make a real difference in people's lives," Casey said. "I feel the best thing I can do for the people of Eastern Kentucky is to educate about prevention and screening of cervical cancer." Casey became the director of the Cervical Cancer-free Kentucky Initiative at UK's College of Public Health's Rural Cancer Prevention Center in 2010. Through this position, she makes connections with county health departments, community organizations and health advocacy groups that provide education and funding for cervical cancer prevention projects.

"Casey is passionate about educating people on the importance of vaccinating their children against HPV," Blackford writes. She said she wants people to look past the controversy of vaccinating their children and realize the importance of the vaccine. "The vaccine given for the appropriate reason can save a life," Casey said. (Read more)

University of Kentucky physician and Pike County native Baretta Casey, right, has spent most of her career providing health care and education throughout the state, with a focus on Appalachian Kentucky. The health disparities between Eastern Kentucky and the rest of the state, especially high rates of cancer, are of "special concern" to Casey, reports Ann Blackford of UKNow.

Cancer is prevalent in her Casey's own family, and this is why she "has taken on the challenge of helping reduce cancer rates in Kentucky, especially cervical cancer and other Human papillomavirus cancers," Blackford reports. Cervical cancer rates are highest in rural and Appalachian Kentucky. According to the Kentucky Cancer Registry from 2005 to 2009, the cervical cancer rate in the region was 9.85 per 100,000 people. The state rate was 8.6. The average of deaths per year in the region from cervical cancer was 258.

"We have the tools to change these high rates and make a real difference in people's lives," Casey said. "I feel the best thing I can do for the people of Eastern Kentucky is to educate about prevention and screening of cervical cancer." Casey became the director of the Cervical Cancer-free Kentucky Initiative at UK's College of Public Health's Rural Cancer Prevention Center in 2010. Through this position, she makes connections with county health departments, community organizations and health advocacy groups that provide education and funding for cervical cancer prevention projects.

"Casey is passionate about educating people on the importance of vaccinating their children against HPV," Blackford writes. She said she wants people to look past the controversy of vaccinating their children and realize the importance of the vaccine. "The vaccine given for the appropriate reason can save a life," Casey said. (Read more)

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Free webinars and annual forum to be hosted by Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky will host several educational events in an effort to help communities improve their health.

On Wednesday, Aug. 8, the foundation will host a webinar about evidence-based policies and programs that improve health. The talk, called "Stop Reinventing the Wheel: A Useful Guide to Evidence-Based Health Programs," will be presented by Katherine Wilson, dissemination and implementation team leader with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To register, click here. The deadline to register is Tuesday, Aug. 7.

An Aug. 29 webinar will look at ways communities can keep programs going when funding ends. Dr. Stephen Orton, deputy director of the Office of Executive Education with the North Carolina Institute for Public Health, will lead the talk. To register, click here. The deadline is Aug. 28.

On Sept. 17, the foundation will host its annual Howard L. Bost Memorial Health Policy Forum at the Embassy Suites in Lexington, with the theme "No Wrong Door: Integrating Care for Better Health." It will feature several speakers working at state and federal levels. Breakout sessions include:
• Respect: Working Across Disciplines for Patient-Centered Care
• Good Medicine is Good Business
• Health Home Opportunities, Focus on Outcomes
• Advocating for What You Need in the System You Have
The forum is free. Civic leaders, medical health and behavioral health providers, public officials, public-health professionals, business owners, policymakers, faith-based leaders, researchers and academics, coalitions and advocates are encouraged to attend. The forum runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 17. To register, click here.

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky will host several educational events in an effort to help communities improve their health.

On Wednesday, Aug. 8, the foundation will host a webinar about evidence-based policies and programs that improve health. The talk, called "Stop Reinventing the Wheel: A Useful Guide to Evidence-Based Health Programs," will be presented by Katherine Wilson, dissemination and implementation team leader with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To register, click here. The deadline to register is Tuesday, Aug. 7.

An Aug. 29 webinar will look at ways communities can keep programs going when funding ends. Dr. Stephen Orton, deputy director of the Office of Executive Education with the North Carolina Institute for Public Health, will lead the talk. To register, click here. The deadline is Aug. 28.

On Sept. 17, the foundation will host its annual Howard L. Bost Memorial Health Policy Forum at the Embassy Suites in Lexington, with the theme "No Wrong Door: Integrating Care for Better Health." It will feature several speakers working at state and federal levels. Breakout sessions include:
• Respect: Working Across Disciplines for Patient-Centered Care
• Good Medicine is Good Business
• Health Home Opportunities, Focus on Outcomes
• Advocating for What You Need in the System You Have
The forum is free. Civic leaders, medical health and behavioral health providers, public officials, public-health professionals, business owners, policymakers, faith-based leaders, researchers and academics, coalitions and advocates are encouraged to attend. The forum runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 17. To register, click here.

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Kentucky students will get extra education in nutrition, exercise

Kentucky children will get extra nutrition education at school starting Oct. 1, thanks to a $6 million federal grant intended to instill better eating and physical-activity habits in families eligible for food stamps.

The education will be provided by local health departments. It will encourage students to:
• Fill half their plates with fruits and vegetables; drink fat-free or low-fat milk; and make sure they eat whole grains.
• Increase physical activity and cut down on sedentary behaviors.
• Consume the appropriate amount of calories for their age.

Kentucky students will get more nutrition education
aimed at getting those eligible for the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program to make healthy food
choices. (Photo from The Lane Report)

Details about how many children will benefit from the education and how many minutes of instruction they will receive per week have not yet been ironed out, said Beth Fisher, spokeswoman for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

"Sometimes children can be the best teachers, so our hope is that they will pass on to their parents some of what they have learned at school about the importance of nutrition and physical activity," said Teresa James, acting commissioner of the Department of Community Based Services. "If children ask their parents to serve more fruits and vegetables, or take a walk instead of watching TV and the parents comply, this effort can benefit the entire household — just look at the influence children have had on recycling." (Read more)

Kentucky children will get extra nutrition education at school starting Oct. 1, thanks to a $6 million federal grant intended to instill better eating and physical-activity habits in families eligible for food stamps.

The education will be provided by local health departments. It will encourage students to:
• Fill half their plates with fruits and vegetables; drink fat-free or low-fat milk; and make sure they eat whole grains.
• Increase physical activity and cut down on sedentary behaviors.
• Consume the appropriate amount of calories for their age.

Kentucky students will get more nutrition education
aimed at getting those eligible for the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program to make healthy food
choices. (Photo from The Lane Report)

Details about how many children will benefit from the education and how many minutes of instruction they will receive per week have not yet been ironed out, said Beth Fisher, spokeswoman for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

"Sometimes children can be the best teachers, so our hope is that they will pass on to their parents some of what they have learned at school about the importance of nutrition and physical activity," said Teresa James, acting commissioner of the Department of Community Based Services. "If children ask their parents to serve more fruits and vegetables, or take a walk instead of watching TV and the parents comply, this effort can benefit the entire household — just look at the influence children have had on recycling." (Read more)

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