A blog about News, Health & Wellness, and Family & Home.
Real Name: The Pulse Member Since: April 08, 2006 Last Signed In: April 23, 2009 Profile Views: 9813 Blog Views: 54046 When a trip to urgent care brings a visit from CPS New ratings released for health plans, providers My last B.com blog post: Thanks for everything! Ombudsman: Budget cuts hurt long-term care Kern's longstanding battle with the mosquito Read the complaint filed against Dr. Freesemann, others Tips to avoid hospital, school infections BPD: Drug cache found in Dr. Freesemann's home, motor home The budget dust settles: How did health programs fare? Prominent doctor arrested in drug investigation August 06 September 06 October 06 November 06 December 06 January 07 February 07 March 07 April 07 May 07 June 07 July 07 August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 January 09 February 09 March 09 April 09 May 09 June 09 July 09 August 09 September 09 October 09 November 09
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This weekend's paper featured a story about a local family who received a visit from CPS after taking their newborn to urgent care and then declining treatment.
The couple wanted to consult their own pediatrician before agreeing to a spinal tap and intravenous antibiotics for their newborn.
I'm pasting a fully copy of a letter we received Monday in response to that story from Dr. Sze Ho, the child's pediatrician. Dr. Ho, who also specializes in care for critically ill newborns, refutes the...
The state's annual Health Care Quality Report Card, which rates health care plans and individual groups and providers, is now available online.
The report is intended to help families and individuals make more informed decisions about health care.
In addition to providing overall ratings for HMOs, PPOs and other health plans, the report offers a breakdown of how well each insurer performs when it comes to particular services and conditions, such as asthma, back pain and cancer screening....
Today is my last day at The Californian, making this my last Bakersfield.com blog post (unless something crazy happens in the next three hours).
I'm going home to Kentucky and will soon be writing for The Louisville Courier-Journal.
Thanks to everyone who has commented on this blog, everyone who has made the discussions interesting to read and to be a part of.
I hope you got something from it. I definitely have learned a lot.
And thanks to my fellow Californian staffers for all their...
Several state agencies are lamenting their cuts in funding.
Nona Tolentino, director of long-term care services at Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance and program director of Kern's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, wrote via e-mail about the unfunded mandates she is left with in wake of the cuts.
According to the state budget, funding for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and Supportive Services programs was reduced by $5,978,000. The program was cut by 49 percent, the California Association...
Mosquitoes, while small, have caused big problems in Kern. Recently it was West Nile virus, and 70 years ago, it was malaria.
Local history buff George Gilbert Lynch sent me this history on malaria in the county. Interesting reading.
The last epidemic of mosquito-born malaria in Bakersfield occurred as recently as August 1939.
In Thomas Baker's writings, (Colonel Baker's son, who suffered from chronic malaria for years), he stated, "Malaria was epidemic in early Bakersfield from the...
The complaint filed against Dr. Jeff Freesemann and the others charged in the investigation of drugs at local nightclubs was sparse but offered a few clues.
From Aug. 24 through Aug. 26, Tessa Galvan, Stephen Galvan, Phil Nunez, Dr. Freesemann and Shelly Freesemann conspired together to transport/sell controlled substances and possess a controlled substance for sale, according to the complaint.
On Aug. 24, Mr. Galvan tells his sister, Ms. Galvan, he needs to buy meth.
On Aug. 25, Mrs....
In a tearful press conference last week, a few people affected by hospital infections thanked the governor for signing bills that will, hopefully, limit the infections' spread.
(Read "Widow thanks governor for bill to curb health care infections" on Bakersfield.com)
Senate Bill 158, which was sponsored by Sen. Dean Florez, requires health facilities to develop a patient safety plan and train staff on infection control measures. The bill requires the state Department of Public...
The district attorney's office expects files to be charged Friday against Dr. Jeff Freesemann and his wife Shelly.
The couple, along with five other people, were arrested Sept. 17 after a nearly yearlong investigation by the police into the sale of Ecstasy, meth and cocaine at local nightclubs.
(Read "Doctor and wife to be charged Friday in drug case" on Bakersfield.com and in tomorrow's Californian.)
Documents related to the case are attached to this post.
The warrant filings...
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the tardiest state budget ever today.
The $144.5 billion spending plan did see some line-item vetoes from the governor, including cuts to a program that lowered prescription drug prices for low-income residents.
(Read "Schwarzenegger signs Calif. budget 85 days late" on Bakersfield.com.)
The Department of Health and Human Services was hit hard by the governor's vetoes, reducing the department's budget by $153 million. It was the third hardest...
Prominent physician Dr. Jeff Freesemann and his wife were among several people arrested after a nearly year-long drug investigation by Bakersfield Police.
He was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy, possession of drugs for sale and transportation of drugs.
(Read "Prominent doctor, six other arrested after long drug investigation" on Bakersfield.com and in tomorrow's Californian.)
Freesemann, an internal medicine physician, is chief of staff at San Joaquin Community Hospital,...
To curb heavy drinking, the Department of Health in England has identified nine types of heavy drinkers.
The hope is that by helping people understand their urges, they can learn to control them, according to the BBC.
"Heavy drinking" is defined as consuming 35 units a week for women, 50 for men. Alcoholism can cause brain degeneration, cancer, liver disease, heart damage, depression and memory loss, just to name a few.
The nine groups are below. Does this cover it?
Are...
Could the longest budget stalemate in California history almost be over?
Here are the key health components of the latest budget compromise.
The 10 percent cuts to Medi-Cal provider rates would remain until March 2009.
Healthy Families premiums would increase.
Supplemental Security Income cost-of-living increases to the elderly, blind and disabled would be eliminated.
Funding for construction of seven new prison medical facilities and renovations at existing facilities...
Location:
910 Grace St.,
Bakersfield, CA
Hoping to encourage residents to take part in the Bakersfield AIDS Project's AIDS Walk in October, the nonprofit released some of its costs to demonstrate the help that is needed. If 30 to 60 people pledge $500 to $1,000, the services will be paid for, said director Audrey Chavez, via e-mail. Housing up to six people at one time at Ricky's Retreat, which is also the organization's headquarters, annually costs: RENT: $800 per month = $9,600 UTILITIES: $100 per resident per month...
I spent an hour yesterday watching two groups debate Proposition 4, a measure on November’s ballot requiring parental notification for pregnant minors seeking abortions.
On one side: Camilla Chavez, executive director of the Dolores Huerta Foundation; Patsy Montgomery, public affairs director of Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, and Brenda DeMonge, a mental health therapist. They represented the Campaign for Teen Safety: Vote No on 4.
And on the other: Catherine Short, co-author of the...
Breasts can be very polarizing — even when it has to do with breastfeeding, a natural practice.
Remember the dust-up over the 2006 Babytalk magazine cover that showed a baby nursing?
"In this country, breasts are highly sexualized, and people sort of forget they’re there to feed our species," said Karen Farley, program manager of the Californian WIC Association.
A new study by Farley's organization and the University of California-Davis Human Lactation Center ranked...
First, a trailer was stolen from Houchin Blood Bank in May.
And now, the local chapter of the Red Cross is suffering after thieves took $1,300 worth of diapers, toiletry kits, flashlights, water, chairs and cots from two trailers Friday night. (Read "Low blow: Supplies stolen from Red Cross" in today's Californian.)
What's next? Swiping an elderly person's cane? Pilfering toys from Toys for Tots?
"Who knows why they took it?" Kern Red Cross CEO Lorraine Castro asked...
A new Web site aims to collect tales of health care troubles due to the Medi-Cal cuts and the budget impasse.
MyCAStory.org features videos, photos and stories from California residents.
According to the site, "Our purpose is to share the stories behind the numbers of everyday Californians struggling to raise families, survive, and succeed despite the looming threat of budget cuts to the state programs and services on which they rely. These are the stories behind those numbers."...
For the first time, Bakersfield Christian football coach Doug Barnett is speaking about the practice Patrick Allen participated in two days before he died.
The school and Patrick's parents believe he died from a heat-related illness. The coroner's report is pending toxicology tests.
The following is from reporter Maggie Creamer, who met with the school's officials today.
Since Bakersfield Christian High School varsity football player Patrick Allen died on Aug. 14, the school has been...
A heat-related illness seems to be the most likely cause of Patrick Allen's death.
Allen, who played on Bakersfield Christian High School's football team, died Aug. 16, two days after suffering leg cramps, vomiting and loss of consciousness following practice in 104-degree heat.
(Read "Death of young football player 'is going to open everyone's eyes'" in today's Californian. Scroll down the page for links to other related stories.)
While the coroner's report is pending toxicology...
Dr. Darshan Shah, one of the most well known plastic surgeons in Bakersfield, was quoted in a recent New York Times story on smoking and plastic surgery.
The story, "Want a Face-Lift? First, Better Stop Smoking," ran Thursday in the newspaper.
“Nicotine causes the tiny blood vessels in the skin to clamp down or constrict, which reduces blood supply to the skin,” Shah said in the story.
It goes on to say:
Margaret Pyles, 42, a human resources director for youth homes...
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