Granite State FitKids Announces Teaching Milestone
Nashua, NH – The Granite State FitKids program has recently reached a milestone announcing that the number of children taught in the program has surpassed the 20,000 mark. Since its inception in 1997, Granite State FitKids has taught an impressive 20,110 kids. The program has been implemented in 46 schools throughout southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts and has been instituted in a total of 909 classrooms in over 18 communities.
Granite State Fits Kids, or GSFK, is an interactive 7 week health awareness program for kids in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It targets the ages of 9-10 and is designed to teach children in the classroom about the importance of personal health, physical fitness and the benefits of good nutrition. GSFK involves an array of both aerobic and non-aerobic activities that promote wellness and in 2005 was honored as one of the top “150″ programs in the country dealing with the national epidemic of childhood obesity.
The curriculum of GSFK uses a variety of educational strategies including lecture, group discussions and interactive student activities such as games and projects. GSFK promotes the use of the 5 E’s including Excitement, Enthusiasm, Energy, Exercise and Education.
The program was founded by Charles T. Cappetta, MD. Dr. Cappetta is a pediatrician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Nashua and Adjunct Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Dartmouth Medical School. Dr. Cappetta has been chosen by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, as one of their “Outstanding Physicians of the Year”. GSFK is supported by MVP Healthcare, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Nashua, St. Joseph Hospital, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center ,and many local school PTO’s.
For more information contact Dr. Charles Cappetta at (603) 577-4400, or visit GSFK’s web site at granitestatefitkids.org.
Business after Hours at Interlakes Medical Center
MEREDITH, NH – On September 16th, LRGHealthcare’s new Interlakes Medical Center was the site of a Business after Hours event. Co-hosted by LRGHealthcare and the Meredith Chamber of Commerce, this event was free and open to the public.
All were welcome to attend the unveiling of this beautiful new facility. The community was invited to take a tour, meet the staff, and share good food and great networking with friends and neighbors from the Meredith business community and region.
This new facility, located right next to the previous location, is home to Belknap Family Health-Meredith, Interlakes Clinical Laboratory, Physical and Occupational Therapy, and Medical Imaging. Orthopedic Services are also available, and the new facility includes space for further expansion of specialty services.
FLU VACCINE IS COMING SOON
LACONIA, NH – Fall is just around the corner, and with the colder weather each year comes flu season.
“The flu vaccine is one of the best ways we can protect ourselves and our families from the flu,” says LRGHealthcare Medical Director of Infection Control Dr. Abigail Dacuycuy.
While in the past, certain groups have been encouraged more strongly than others, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is now recommending that everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine.
“We are pleased with this new recommendation,” says Dr. Dacuycuy. “For some people, the flu is truly a health risk; for others, it is just an inconvenience, but everyone benefits from limiting its spread in our community. Widespread vaccination, including vaccination of children, is the best way to protect everyone in our community.”
Beginning on October 4th, seasonal flu shots will be available through many local providers’ offices. Please call your provider’s office for more information.
Beginning on October 4th, vaccines will also be available to adults and children over the age of three:
- On a walk-in basis at the Lakes Region General Hospital Emergency Department-Fast Track between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon; and 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., 7 days per week;
- At Franklin Regional Hospital’s Infusion Therapy department by appointment only between the hours of 8:00 a.m – 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. To make an appointment at the FIT department, please call 934-2060, ext. 8850.
- For children younger than three years old, please call your pediatrician’s office;
- Patients of Laconia Clinic should call 527-2752 for a schedule of flu clinics starting in October;
- In addition, many local schools will be holding Flu Vaccine Clinics this fall. Please check with your child’s school for more information.
Flu shots cost $50 at LRGH, FRH, Laconia Clinic, and in LRGHealthcare’s local provider practices. Patients who choose to pay at the time of service can access a discount through our Patient Advantage Program. Please note that many insurance plans will cover a flu shot.
For more information in coming weeks, please visit http://www.lrgh.org/, or call the LRGHealthcare Flu Hotline at 527-7069.
RADIOLOGY RECEIVES NEW EQUIPMENT
Hospital’s New CT Scanner provides Faster, Safer, More Precise Images
Dr. Michael Sarson reviewing multiple scanned images
Keene, NH – Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene has installed a new 64 Slice CT scanner from Siemens Medical Solutions offering patients faster, safer scanning with greater accuracy.
The decision to upgrade from the current eight-year-old CT system to a 64 multi-slice scanner was prompted early last year following an increase in patient volume. In 2009, the radiology department produced 13, 251 scans, which was considerably greater than the year prior to with 11, 514 recorded scans. The increasing volume triggered increases in the amount of time patients needed to wait to schedule exams after their physicians ordered them. The new machine offers an increased capacity of up to forty-five procedures a day.
A 64 slice CT scanner is designed to take multiple images or slices at a time. This means faster scan time, fewer breath holds, less time for patients to spend on the table, and increased patient safety with lower amounts of radiation dosage. “One of our main concerns has been dose reduction” said radiologist, Michael Sarson, MD. “The new scanner with its increased dose protection capability offers an optimal combination of low radiation exposure and short examination times while maintaining excellent image quality. Keeping our patients safe is our number one priority.”
A Computed Tomography (CT) scanner is a form of medical imaging, used to generate 3-dimentional images of the body with the ability to diagnose certain medical conditions. This technology is used to detect tumors, bone injuries, and certain cancers or abdominal diseases. This latest development to the hospital will reduce the time patients spend during an exam with increased safety and faster image results. “Our new scanner will give us an increased level of flexibility for a wider variety of CT scans on any patient, with superior image quality,” said Sarson. “We are very fortunate and excited to receive such great advances in our technology.” Bariatric patients weighing up to 600 pounds can now be examined, comfortably. The CT machine has the ability to provide care to every patient regardless of their medical condition or size.
With a price tag of $1.2 million, this project is an example of the expenditures hospitals make each year to keep pace with evolving technology and funding medical equipment purchases can be tough in today’s economic climate. “CMC/DHK routinely evaluates opportunities to make investments in new equipment and replacement technologies to provide diagnostic and treatment services to patients,” said Jill Batty, CMC/DHK’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “Major capital expenditures, such as a CT scanner, require us to plan in advance and over several years how to manage our existing cash flow in order to support a purchase.”
