A blog about Health & Wellness, News, and Kern County.
Real Name: Emily Hagedorn Member Since: April 08, 2006 Last Signed In: July 22, 2008 Profile Views: 9441 Blog Views: 44453 Pinpointing health alerts on global map Bakersfield native chronicles eating disorder struggle Medical school in Bakersfield? Trespassing or protecting public health? Tax hikes vs. funds for health care, education Protect yourself against 'seasonal amnesia' Is there anything good about mosquitoes? West Nile problems all over the country First Californian diagnosed with West Nile in 2008 'Access to vital health care is at stake for all Californians' 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 Here's some sites I find useful and interesting: Some fun blogs I like, some health and some random: Got a blog or link to add to this list? Please let me know at ehagedorn@bakersfield.com. 
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The Californian is undertaking a large project on childhood obesity in Kern County — a serious issue that's impacting our schools, our health system and, most importantly, our children's lives.
And we're looking for some help.
Wanting to go beyond the basic exercise-and-don't-watch-TV story, Lisa Schencker, the education reporter, and I are looking to profile several overweight children and teens and explore the roadblocks to taking off the weight, what these kids face on a daily...
What role should medical professionals have in executions? Some states require a doctor to be present, but many physicians say this is unethical.
Stateline.org, a journalist-staffed Web site focused on policy issues, came out with an interesting story today on the dilemma.
As the story says:
The American Medical Association is adamant that it is a violation of medical ethics for doctors to participate in, or even be present at, executions. But recent court rulings have called for...
(More notes from the Association of Health Care Journalists national conference near Los Angeles.)
If it can be done in California, it can be done anywhere.
When it comes to guaranteeing health coverage for all residents, that’s the stance being taken by the federal government on down to local agencies, said Kim Belshe, the governor’s health secretary.
The state’s size, diversity of residents and number of uninsured — an issue that Kern County particularly...
I had heard about City of Hope from some of the cancer patients I've talked to. The revolutionary research and treatment center had always sounded like a refuge, a place some patients are thankful they've gone to or hopeful that they'll one day get the chance.
Now I had an opportunity to see it for myself.
I didn't know what to expect. A monolithic, intimidating campus of tall buildings that makes you wonder about the wonderful things going on inside the walls? Something a little...
A mom took her toddler to a local pediatrician for an ear infection. She says they were turned away because she had visible tattoos.
Was this discrimination? No, says the state medical board. (Read "Furor leaves mark on doctor" in Wednesday's Californian.)
But first, here's a rundown of what happened.
On Feb. 7, Tasha Childress and her husband took their toddler to Dr. Gary Alexander Merrill's F Street office with an ear infection.
Merrill and Childress agree she was...
Fever? Headache? Stiff neck?
Get to the hospital. Don't wait.
The county Public Health department wants parents to be on the lookout for these symptoms of meningitis, a potentially fatal infection especially prevalent in children. (Read "County warns to be aware of symptoms" in Sunday's Californian.)
While the eight cases of bacterial meningitis this year in the county aren't an extraordinary amount, some parents aren't recognizing...
The number of vendors selling cigarettes to teens is on its way down.
The county Department of Public Health sent 24 underage high school students to 114 tobacco vendors across the county and found that 26 percent of the vendors sold them cigarettes. (Read "More teens smoking" in today's Californian.)
The worst culprit was liquor stores with 67 percent selling tobacco inappropriately — but then again, they only went to three liquor stores total.
Next was convenience...
Location:
2615 Eye Street,
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Two Bakersfield gay women are accusing San Joaquin Community Hospital of discrimination. (Read "Couple: Hospital's refusal of visit was discrimination" in Thursday's Californian.) Sharolyn Takata and Donna Jones, who are registered domestic partners, took their daughter to San Joaquin Community Hospital with a 104-degree fever Sunday night. A triage nurse told the couple one person could go back, asking for 9-year-old Desiree’s mother, Jones said. Meanwhile, Jones, who...
Patients have one more way to check up on local hospitals before the hospitals are doing a check-up on them.
CalHospitalCompare.org launches today. The Web report card, which was developed by a group of health industry members, evaluated more than 200 hospitals in the state on overall patient satisfaction, treatment for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and maternity care.
Depending on where the hospitals fell in comparison with the others, the facilities were given a score...
Location:
1830 Flower St.,
Bakersfield, CA 93305
The OB/GYN physicians in Kern Women's Health Group have had their share of troubles with county supervisors. Accused of being paid too much, bilking the county out of money, taking advantage of a convoluted contract — the physicians have had to go to bat against the board more than once. "They make good political whipping boys," said attorney Daniel Rodriguez, who is representing some of the physicians. On Tuesday, six physicians affiliated with the group received... |
