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Health briefs: YVMC announces new OB/GYN practice

Yampa Valley Medical Center announces new OB/GYN practice

Mary Bowman, M.D., Diane Petersen, M.D., and David Schaller, M.D., will join Yampa Valley Medical Center to create a new women’s health practice. YampaCare For Women will open May 5. These three well-known OB/GYNs will continue to service the Steamboat Springs, Craig and Granby communities. Their Steamboat Springs practice will be located at 940 Central Park Drive, Suite 209, in Steamboat Springs.

This physician-hospital collaboration represents the alignment (hospital and physician) developing from health care reform.



“We are working with many of the physicians on our medical staff to create new access to care, and increase patient convenience and satisfaction”, said Frank May, CEO of Yampa Valley Medical Center.

YampaCare For Women will provide health care for every stage of a woman’s life: adolescence, to mid-life, to menopause. Services include obstetrics and gynecology, hormone therapy, menopause and pelvic health. To make an appointment with any of the physicians, call 970-879-3738.



Free colonoscopies available for eligible adults

The Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association has information about free colonoscopies for low-income, eligible adults. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths, but it is one of the most preventable cancers. Screening is the best way to reduce colon cancer risk. The American Cancer Society recommends regular screenings beginning at age 50. Individuals who have a family history of the disease may need to start earlier. A variety of low-cost tests are available. Individuals should talk to their medical provider about their colon cancer risk and the best screening option. For more information about free colonoscopies through the Colorado Colorectal Screening Program, call 970-871-7658.

Take precautions with live poultry

Individuals should take precautions when handling chicks, ducklings, goslings and baby turkeys due to possibility of Salmonella infection. Salmonella can result from handling live poultry, poultry cages and bedding. Children are more susceptible to the illness; children five and younger should not handle young birds. Individuals who have touched live poultry or areas where the birds live and roam should thoroughly wash hands with soap and water and clean any equipment or materials involved in raising or caring for poultry, such as feed and water containers. Never bring live poultry inside the house. For more information, call the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association at 970-879-1632.

Hepatitis A vaccination recommended for travel

The Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association recommends people planning travel to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America receive a Hepatitis A vaccination. Hepatitis A can be spread by eating or drinking food or water contaminated with the virus. Hepatitis A and other routine vaccinations are available during drop in immunization clinics, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays at the VNA in Steamboat Springs, 940 Central Park Drive, Suite 101. Other vaccinations may be recommended depending on the international destination. These are available by appointment with the VNA’s travel clinic: 970-879-1632.

VNA holds divorce support groups

The Northwest Colorado VNA is hosting a support group for adults coping with divorce. Meetings will focus on handling strong emotions and life transition, restoring one’s identity and self-esteem, effective communication and successful single parenting. The meetings will be offered twice on Tuesdays: Noon to 1 p.m. The meetings will be at the Rollingstone Respite House, 1500 Pine Grove Road.

The VNA also will host a support group for middle school-age students coping with divorce. Dates and times to be determined. For more information, call Katy Thiel at 970-871-7628.

Measles vaccination recommendations

The United States is experiencing a multi-state measles outbreak that started in California in December 2014. Measles is a highly contagious, viral illness. The CDC recommends the following individuals receive the vaccine:

• All children should get two doses of MMR vaccine, the first dose at 12 to 15 months old and the second dose at 4 to 6 years old. Special vaccination recommendations may apply to infants and children travelling internationally.

• Adults born after 1957 who do not have evidence of immunity (documentation of adequate vaccination or having had the illness) should have one or two doses of the MMR vaccine, depending on their risk. Teens and adults who are in a post-secondary school, work in a health care facility or are planning international travel have a higher risk of exposure and should have two doses. Children and adults can receive the second dose 28 days or more after the first dose.

For more information about measles vaccination, go to http://www.cdc.gov/measles/vaccination. The MMR vaccine is available at the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, 940 Central Park Dr., Suite 101. For more information, call 970-879-1632.

Planned Parenthood can help with annual exam costs

Planned Parenthood can cover the cost of an annual exam for women who are uninsured or underinsured, according to a news release. Call 970-879-2212 for information or to make an appointment or stop by the health center on 11th Street between Lincoln Avenue and Oak Street.

VNA immunization clinics

The Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association provides low-cost immunizations to adults and children. These include vaccines for flu, measles, mumps and rubella, chicken pox, shingles, pneumonia, HPV, meningitis, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and hepatitis A and B. Individuals also can receive TB testing at the VNA. Immunizations or TB tests are available by appointment or during drop in clinic hours, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Steamboat Springs VNA, 940 Central Park Dr., Suite 101. For more information, call 970-879-1632.


VNA offers options to help you quit tobacco

The Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association has multiple options available to help smokers and smokeless tobacco users address complex factors of nicotine addiction that make quitting very difficult.

Smoking cigarettes or using chew, snuff and other types of smokeless tobacco can have serious, potentially fatal, heath consequences. Tobacco cessation support can significantly improve a person’s chances of quitting for good. All services are free and available in English and Spanish.

• The VNA offers one-on-one counseling with a Tobacco Cessation Counselor and a Tobacco Free support group. Call 970-871-7338.

• The Colorado QuitLine provides cessation phone or online support. Free nicotine patches and gum are available. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or go to http://www.coquitline.org.

• CO Quit Mobile provides personalized text message support. Sign up at http://www.coquitmobile.org.

Support groups:

• A bereavement support group meets from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at Rollingstone Respite House. The group is open to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one. Call 970-871-7628 prior to attending your first meeting.

• A Parkinson’s support group meets at 4 p.m. Monday at the United Methodist Church of Steamboat Springs, 736 Oak St. For more information, call 970-875-1088.

• A domestic violence support group for women is from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesdays at Advocates Building Peaceful Communities. Call Diane at 970-879-2034 before attending.

• The Steamboat Meditation Recovery Group meets Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. at the Buddhist Center of Steamboat Springs, 2250 Copper Frontage Road, No. 202. The group also has a recovery-based yoga beforehand at 4:30 p.m. The group will explore recovery through meditation, book study and all open discussion. Meetings are open to all faiths and addictions. For more information, call 720-670-8642.

• A cancer support group meets from noon to 1 p.m. Friday at Yampa Valley Medical Center’s Integrated Health, 3001 S. Lincoln Ave. The group is for those with cancer to learn techniques to manage stress and create a holiday plan. For more information, call Sara Ross at 970-875-2731.


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