Showing posts with label health and wellness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health and wellness. Show all posts

Sexual Health Educational Forum Wednesday June 26, 2024

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Sexual Health Educational Forum
Wednesday, June 26, 6-7:30pm

For adults.

STIs are common, but there are many ways to protect yourself and your partner(s).Learn how to get screened for HIV and STIs.

Explore the benefits of PrEP as a form of HIV prevention.

Discover other ways to be a healthy adult with International Community Health Services (ICHS).

Registration not required.


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Puget Sound Kidney Center facility open house on Thursday June 20, 2024 in Shoreline


Please join us on June 20 from 12pm to 2pm for an open house celebrating the opening of our new kidney center in Shoreline at 355 Richmond Beach Rd across from QFC

A short program will begin at 12:30pm with a ribbon cutting immediately after. We are delighted to open the doors of this facility that will allow us to better serve the people of Shoreline and surrounding areas. We completed the final construction phase of the new dialysis center this spring and our first patient was treated on April 1.

When operating at full capacity, this 8,400-square-foot center will be able to serve up to 132 patients. This beautiful, modern dialysis center offers patients a welcoming, safe and comfortable environment for their care, and is very much in line with our mission to enhance the quality of life of those with kidney disease through outstanding dialysis care, education and community support.

This will be Puget Sound Kidney Centers 12th dialysis center in the PNW and the first in King County.

To learn more about our open house please click this link to our website.


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UW Med: Black men should start prostate cancer screening earlier

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Yaw Nyame, MD, UW Med
A study published in the journal NEJM Evidence recommends that Black men start talking with their doctors about prostate cancer screening as early as age 40, rather than 55, the currently recommended age.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation screening recommendation comes from a group of 19 panelists: primary-care physicians, oncologists and patients, including two Black prostate cancer survivors. Dr. Yaw Nyame, a UW Medicine urologist and affiliate investigator with the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, was on the panel and co-led the group writing the recommendations.

Nyame hopes the report will provide impetus for other evidence-based screening guidelines by organizations such as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and American Academy of Family Physicians. Black men have a 120% higher rate of death from prostate cancer, compared to the general U.S. population.

“We cannot ignore the burden of prostate cancer among Black communities any longer,” he said. “This guideline, rooted in the best available evidence, gives us an opportunity to be action- oriented in reducing that burden.”

Find out more about the recommendations in this UW Medicine Newsroom post.


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HearMeWA statewide reporting system focuses on the safety and well-being of young people

Saturday, June 15, 2024

No problem is too small to report to
HearMeWA
Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced the launch of HearMeWA, a first-of-its-kind statewide reporting system exclusively focused on the safety and well-being of young people.

HearMeWA removes barriers to help young Washingtonians get the help they need to deal with their most pressing challenges: bullying, social pressures, suicidal thoughts, threats of violence, or anything that makes life hard. 

No problem is too small to report to HearMeWA, which was created with direct input from the young people it serves.

HearMeWA makes it easy to connect youth to a wide range of existing support services, by offering a direct line to a national crisis center 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

Reports can be made by phone, text, online or in the HearMeWA mobile apps available in the Apple or Google stores. Once a report is filed, highly trained crisis counselors triage them and connect the person with service providers who can help.

Youth mental health is in crisis. Data show that eating disorders in adolescents more than doubled from 2018 to 2022. The rate of young people dealing with depression doubled from 2009 to 2019, to nearly 16%. According to Forbes, 57.7% of Washington youth with depression do not receive mental health services.

HearMeWA can help youth with a variety of challenges, such as:
  • Bullying;
  • Mental health struggles, such as depression or anxiety;
  • Suicidal thoughts;
  • Domestic violence;
  • Housing or food insecurity;
  • Gender identity;
  • Threats of violence or rumors of a school shooting;
  • Anything that makes life hard.

From the start, young Washingtonians from across the state have been directly involved in the creation and outreach for HearMeWA.

Members of the HearMeWA Youth Advisory Group meet quarterly to offer feedback on how to build trust and get the word out about the program. The Youth Advisory Group also consulted on branding for the program, including the name. Other youth have participated in surveys and focus groups to offer feedback on the program.

How to file a report to HearMeWA

Anyone with information about risks or potential risks to the safety or well-being of youth can call the toll-free, statewide number at 888-537-1634 or make a report online by visiting HearMeWA.org and clicking the “send a tip” button. Youth can also text HearMeWA to 738477, or file a report on the app available in the app store on their mobile device.

Youth up to age 25 and any concerned adults can file a report with HearMeWA. Identifying information such as name, age or address are optional, meaning youth can file anonymously if they choose.

Unlike other crisis hotlines, HearMeWA allows anyone filing or responding to a report to track it and provide updates. That means help is not cut off once the first call or communication ends. Every individual who files a report is given a tip ID and password to review the report later, either online, on the app or by phone.

What happens when you file a report to HearMeWA

When youth or a concerned adult files a report to HearMeWA, it is immediately received by a highly trained crisis counselor with the Sandy Hook Promise National Crisis Center. The counselor makes contact with the individual, talks through the details of the incident and triages it based on the level of urgency. 

The most urgent reports that threaten someone’s life or safety are routed to 911 or emergency responders. If a school is identified in an incident, such as an active shooter threat, the school is simultaneously notified.

Less urgent incidents are triaged to a wide range of other types of responders. Responders include:
  • Schools, where youth could be connected with counselors, social workers, nurses or other trusted adults in their community;
  • Regional crisis lines or 988, the national suicide prevention line;
  • Local law enforcement and emergency responders;
  • Child protective services;
  • Other community-based resources.This range of responders makes HearMeWA the first of its kind in the country. 
About the Sandy Hook Promise National Crisis Center

HearMeWA triages all its reports through the Sandy Hook Promise National Crisis Center. This crisis center runs similar programs in other states, and is the only crisis center dedicated solely to school-based, anonymous reporting.

The Sandy Hook Promise National Crisis Center already serves 3.5 million youth across the country. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

“Every minute of every day, the crisis counselors in the National Crisis Center are here to connect young people to live-saving and life-changing resources whenever they’re in need, no matter what issues they’re facing,” said Crystal Garrant, chief program officer at Sandy Hook Promise. 
“All young Washingtonians have the right to physical and emotional safety. HearMeWA will provide a lifeline, ensuring that young people have a trusted adult to turn for help 24/7/365.”


Sandy Hook Promise, the nonprofit that operates the crisis center, educates and empowers youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes and communities. It is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012.

All of Washington’s 39 counties were represented in the Youth Program Team’s outreach. It affirmed that communities, especially in rural areas, lack sufficient trusted resources for dealing with the broad range of challenges youth face. Often underserved communities do not have an alternative to calling 911 when they need help. Additionally, some youth say they know there are resources out there for them, but they are located somewhere other than where they live.

HearMeWA helps fill those gaps, and also addresses a range of issues that are not suitable for a 911 call, such as housing insecurity or bullying.

To file a report or learn more about HearMeWA, visit HearMeWA.org.


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Saturday Stretch at Lake Forest Park Library June 1, 2024

Wednesday, May 22, 2024


Saturday Stretch at the Lake Forest Park Library
Saturday, June 1, 2024, 11:30am-12:30pm


Calm your mind, stretch and strengthen your body and improve your balance with a Gentle Yoga class, regardless of your age or physical activity level, you will:
  • Explore the reasons so many people of all ages practice Yoga.
  • Discover if Yoga is right for you.
  • Learn breathing techniques.
  • Learn basic poses and their names.
  • Learn safe ways to move from one pose to the next.
  • Practice mindfulness to calm your mind and reduce stress.
Please register. Walk-ins welcome as space allows.

The library entrance is from the lower lobby of Town Center, intersection Bothell & Ballinger Way, Lake Forest Park WA 98155.


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UW Medicine: Report outlines illicit drug-use patterns across Washington

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

A staffer, right, at a Seattle syringe services program site talks with a client about harm reduction.
Photo by Susan Kingston

Across Washington state, heroin use has dropped considerably, fentanyl use has climbed, and methamphetamine continues to be highly prevalent — all according to a new survey of syringe-services program participants.

These and other findings emerged from the Syringe Services Program Health Survey in a report published by researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine. The report’s collaborators included Public Health-Seattle & King County and the Washington State Department of Health.

Nearly 40 syringe services programs operate in 25 of Washington’s 39 counties. The last such survey occurred in late fall 2021 and involved 955 respondents. This time, 24 syringe-services programs took part, with staff and volunteers administering the in-person questionnaire to 1,667 voluntary participants between October 2023 and January 2024.

Other primary findings in the report: 
  • Most (89%) respondents said they had smoked a drug in the previous week, in contrast with other means of ingestion; 36% had both smoked and injected drugs, and only 10% had injected drugs exclusively. (In 2021, by contrast, 93%, of respondents reported injecting drugs.)
  • 55% of respondents were unhoused and an additional 25% had only temporary or unstable housing. Among these respondents, two-thirds said they would reduce or quit using their main drug if they had stable housing.
  • Participants said they would take advantage of additional services at their syringe-services program: 75% said they would see a healthcare provider and 68% would see a mental health counselor at the site where they took the survey.

“What struck me most about the survey results is the huge and continued need for the basics: housing, healthcare and support,” said Alison Newman, a report coauthor from the Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute. “We can learn so much from talking to people directly about their health and what services might help them.”

Among survey respondents this time, 80% had no housing or temporary housing. This percentage was substantially higher than the 66% of respondents who reported living in those conditions in 2021, said Caleb Banta-Green, a report coauthor and a regional expert on addiction.

“Some people are using opioids to numb the trauma of insecure housing, and some are using meth because they feel it helps them function. Being housed would give them a lot more stability in their lives and allow them to fully engage in treatment, whereas on the street they can’t really do that,” he said.

Among respondents, more had used methamphetamine (89%) in the preceding week than fentanyl (61%). Among users of either of those drugs, more than half reported ingesting them at least five days per week.

“There’s still a lot of meth out there,” Banta-Green said, adding that mortality data for the drugs suggests that “if fentanyl didn’t exist, we’d be ringing the alarm bells over methamphetamine.” 
Nevertheless, use of fentanyl has “completed dwarfed heroin,” he said, a change that has, in parallel, spurred a huge shift away from drug injection and toward drug smoking.

In response to that shift, several syringe services sites are providing or planning to offer smoking supplies in addition to sterile syringes “to reduce the spread of infectious disease and to provide an alternative to higher-risk drug injection,” the report stated. Washington’s State Legislature enacted a law in 2023 allowing these programs to legally provide smoking equipment.

While sharing a pipe is much less likely to transmit infectious disease than sharing a needle, many drug users carry the misperception that it’s harder to overdose when smoking a drug, Banta-Green said.

“Fentanyl and meth are both so powerful that smoking is not protective against overdose. We want to make sure folks understand that,” he said.

Given that survey respondents expressed a strong interest in receiving healthcare and mental care onsite, and considering Washington’s new health-engagement hub model, Banta-Green said he sees “great potential to create much more access to lifesaving care.”

The Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute is part of the UW School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.

Related: Newman and Banta-Green will discuss the findings at a webinar at 1pm Thursday, May 2, 2024. The online event is open to the public. Register here.


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Sen. Salomon funds First-in-the-Nation Ibogaine Study

Friday, April 12, 2024


Ibogaine is a naturally occurring plant medicine derived from the iboga shrub. It is the only substance in the world known to allow a person to substantially reduce most of the withdrawal symptoms from opioids. Not many people have heard of ibogaine treatment, which is available in Mexico and Brazil, but initial studies have shown it to be a cheap and startlingly effective treatment option for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).

If this is the first time you’re hearing about ibogaine, I recommend this Ted Talk as an excellent way to learn more about its potential. Current treatment options are mostly relegated to long-term rehabilitation centers and medication-assisted therapy, where a person struggling with heroin or fentanyl dependence is prescribed a safer alternative opioid, such as methadone or buprenorphine. 

Studies have shown ibogaine to be 30% more effective than buprenorphine while exhibiting fewer side effects. In research undertaken at UC San Diego, 30% of participants maintained their sobriety a year after their ibogaine treatment. (While this may sound like a low number, the sad truth is this is a very high success rate for a treatment approach for this type of addiction).

As exciting as these numbers are, the direct lived experience of those who overcame OUD using ibogaine treatment is what motivated me to work on directing state funds toward ibogaine research. When the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Commission considered using addiction relief dollars for ibogaine research, many came forward to speak in support.

“I consider my life pre-ibogaine and post-ibogaine,” said Paria Zandi, a family therapist from Los Angeles. “The best way I can explain it is that Ibogaine gave me a fresh pair of eyes with which to see the world and myself; this year I’ll be ten years sober.”

“I tried every traditional treatment that was out there,” said Jessica Blackburn, who described multiple unsuccessful attempts at sobriety through rehabilitation centers using buprenorphine and methadone treatment before successfully achieving sobriety with ibogaine. “My first treatment gave me years of freedom. I no longer felt powerless, and I’ve never felt powerless since.”

This medicine shows real promise as another tool for treating opioid addiction, but since this does not require taking pharmaceuticals on a long-term basis, there has not been much interest from pharmaceutical companies to invest in the research that would bring a drug to market through traditional means. 

The responsibility falls to us, and this year’s budget directs $250,000 to establish the nation’s first state-funded study into the use of ibogaine therapy for those suffering from opioid addiction.


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UW Med: Look up! But do it safely during April 8 eclipse

Friday, April 5, 2024

2017 was the last eclipse
Ron Sachs/CNP/ABACAPRESS.COM
Don't stare at the sun.

It seems like a simple warning that everyone surely got from a responsible adult in childhood. 

But each time the moon passes in front of the sun, creating an irresistible spectacle for millions around the world, UW ophthalmologist Dr. Russ Van Gelder treats patients with sometimes serious damage caused by witnessing the event without proper protective eyewear. 

He saw at least six such patients after the 2017 eclipse.

“You can get damage even in just a few seconds of direct sun gazing, and if you're over 20 to 30 seconds, there's a high likelihood that you're going to end up with some damage,” said Van Gelder, professor and chair of ophthalmology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. 
“Shorter durations can be reversible. Longer durations can be permanent, and you can end up with a blind spot right in the middle of your vision.”

Though the sun is 93 million miles away, its light particles, called photons, still pack quite a bit of energy following their eight-minute journey to the surface of our retinas.


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UW to receive $3.5 million from Federal budget to upgrade Biosafety Level-3 facility

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Biosafety Level-3 lab at the University of
Washington. Photo courtesy UW.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that five health care facilities and one pathogen research lab in the State of Washington will receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to improve services for patients, make care easier to access, or boost the research capability of staff.

“By passing this budget, Congress is delivering $13.9 million in critical funding to six health institutions across the State of Washington to expand capacity and make healthcare more accessible – especially for our rural communities,” said Sen. Cantwell. 

"Among them, the University of Washington is receiving funding to support its essential viral diseases and pandemic response research.”

The funding for the projects was championed by Sen. Cantwell in the latest round of appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2024 passed by the Senate last week.

$3.5 million for the University of Washington in King County to upgrade the facilities and equipment at its aging Biosafety Level-3 facility, which studies viral diseases and pandemic response.

The facility received especially heavy use during the COVID-19 pandemic, and these investments will preserve and enhance UW’s research capacity for pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus, monkeypox virus, valley fever, tuberculosis, and other new pathogens as they emerge as threats.

This funding will upgrade infrastructure like HVAC and replace critical equipment.


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Scene Over the Sound: Royal Flying Doctor Service

Saturday, March 30, 2024

 
Photo by Jan Hansen

We have our own Royal Flying Doctor Service with UW Medicine. Real drama that saves lives.

--Jan Hansen


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International Community Health Services ranks first among community health centers in Medicaid cost

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

ICHS in Shoreline at 16549 Aurora Ave N

In a time when long-term funding is in question for community health centers, which are essential to providing healthcare to high-need communities, International Community Health Services (ICHS) was ranked the top performing federally-qualified community health center in all of Washington state in Medicaid Cost and Quality by the Washington Health Alliance. 

The ranking in the Where You Live Matters: Community Checkup 2024 report is based upon quality and cost measures compared across the state’s best performing health care providers.

“ICHS received the lowest in our Medicaid cost utilization,” said Wendy Kim, ICHS Quality and Accreditation Manager. 
“That meant that we really took care of our patients. They weren't going to hospitals for their care. They weren't overspending on costly, unnecessary medical treatments. [Their health needs] were all taken care of here at ICHS.”

ICHS provides health services to over 30,000 patients with care provided in more than 70 languages. 47% of ICHS patients were on Medicaid insurance plans — almost double the rate of Washington state’s share of population covered by Medicaid according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Community health centers nationwide provide essential care for nearly 10 percent of the population, including one-third of all people living in poverty. 

Washington state is home to 27 federally qualified community health centers (FQHC) that deliver health care to more than 1.1 million Washingtonians each year at more than 350 clinic sites. These non-profit health care providers provide high-quality, cost-effective health services to everyone who walks through their doors.

“Earning recognition in the Washington Health Alliance report isn't just an honor,” said Dr. Deepa Lakshimi Yerram, ICHS Chief Medical Officer. 

“It's a validation of our dedication to serving our community with the highest standards of care. Think of the Washington Health Alliance as a scorecard for healthcare in Washington. Their Common Measure Set, based on real data, identifies providers who excel in delivering quality care at a responsible cost. 
"We're proud to be recognized among the top performers, demonstrating our commitment to providing accessible, efficient healthcare for everyone.”
ICHS operates at ten locations in Seattle, Bellevue, and Shoreline.


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2024 Wake Up Narcolepsy National Summit in Redmond and online

Friday, March 22, 2024


2024 Wake Up Narcolepsy National Summit will be held April 27, 2024 at the Seattle Marriott Redmond,  7401 164th Ave NE, Redmond WA 98052

Free ticket registration here

This free, one-day hybrid conference in Redmond WA is for people with Narcolepsy, their families, educators, clinicians and researchers. 


Leading experts, such as Dr. Emmanuel Mignot, Dr. Michael Grandner & Dr. Anne Marie Morse, and community members will share about the latest research and treatment options, impact of Narcolepsy, managing mental health, advocating for yourself and how to live a full life with Narcolepsy. 

The conference format offers an interesting mix of individual speakers, panels and breakout sessions. Breakfast, lunch, and parking are included for no cost at this free event.


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Shorecrest Future Health Professionals (HOSA) competed at state leadership conference in Spokane

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Shorecrest HOSA team competed at state competition
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools

Last week, 21 Shorecrest High School HOSA Future Health Professionals members competed at the state leadership conference in Spokane with 2800 other students from around the state.

Nine HOSA members received awards at the state convention
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools

Nine students earned eleven placements in the top 5. Those in the top 3 in events qualified* for the International Leadership Conference that will be in Houston in June.

  • Allied Health Statistics Exam - 1st place: Beza Mersa
  • Career Development Exam - 1st place: Betel Taddese
  • Healthcare Issues Exam - Top 5: Maggie Fisher
  • Leadership Exam - 4th place: Cadence Rotarius
  • Healthy Living - 3rd place*: Cadence Rotarius
  • Home Health Aide - 5th place: Nuhamin Tesfihuen
  • Medical Assisting - 2nd place*: Marta Tekie
  • Medical Terminology - 1st place*: Marta Tekie
  • Nutrition - 4th place: Millie Wang
  • Public Health - 2nd place*: Erin Baek, Marta Tekie, Nuhamin Tesfihuen, Ava Watson
  • Research Poster - 4th place: Ava Watson

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Aegis Living appoints renowned pulmonary and sleep expert Dr. Raj Dasgupta as Chief Medical Officer

Monday, March 18, 2024

Dr. Raj Dasgupta, Aegis
Chief Medical Officer
Aegis Living
, a national leader in senior assisted living and memory care, has appointed Raj “Dr. Raj” Dasgupta MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM, as Chief Medical Officer (CMO). 

Dr. Raj’s appointment strengthens Aegis’ healthcare expertise to further integrate wellness and longevity into the care of its residents, families and team members.

“Dr. Raj’s clinical and research background will influence a variety of scientific and evidence-based strategies that transform how we approach health and wellness in senior living,” said founder, chairman and CEO Dwayne Clark. 
“We are committed to elevating our care for residents; we are designing an approach to experience better overall health and well-being as they age.”

While one’s lifespan defines how long they will live, healthspan is the quality of life that Aegis Living aims to impact. 

This includes intervening lifestyle and behaviors to adjust and address a resident’s needs with a highly personalized approach. Initial programming will focus on sleep hygiene, cognitive behavioral therapy, heart health and more.

“As we enter into a new generation of senior living, how we age is changing. People are living longer and want to live better, longer. We believe we have an obligation to deliver innovative wellness and longevity initiatives that can positively influence the healthspan of our residents,” said Clark.

Dr. Raj will guide Aegis in crafting, refining and enriching its care and programming for residents, and these efforts will also extend to family members. Dr. Raj will lead health education initiatives featuring advice to residents and their families can quickly put into action on subjects like sleep, dementia, and diabetes. 

He will host regular open office hours for residents and families to ask questions and get more personalized advice.

While the primary beneficiaries will be Aegis Living residents and families, Aegis also aims to support and influence team members. To ensure staff are well-versed on important issues impacting older adults, Dr. Raj will conduct regular training sessions that empower team members to support residents day-to-day with practical advice, and also give them tools they can use to improve their own health.

Dr. Raj is an American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) quadruple board-certified physician specializing in internal medicine, pulmonology, critical care, and sleep medicine. 

“I am honored to join the leadership team at Aegis Living to advance the level of care and wellness not yet experienced in senior living,” said Dr. Raj. 
“From implementing healthy sleep strategies, breakthrough cognitive therapies and even stress management techniques, we can profoundly impact the health and well-being of residents, families and team members’ lives.”

With more than 26 years of industry experience, Aegis Living has built a reputation for being on the frontlines of innovation in senior living. 


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Hearing Examiner wants more information on Fircrest behavioral health facility

Sunday, March 17, 2024

A screen shot from the March 6 public hearing shows
Hearing Examiner Gary McLean asking for more information
from DSHS and Shoreline city staff. 
By Oliver Moffat

At a public hearing on March 6, 2024 Hearing Examiner Gary McLean told the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to release more details about the behavioral health facility planned for the Fircrest campus. 

He told DSHS to engage with the Shoreline School District on the plan and gave DSHS more time to solicit input before he makes a final decision. 

McLean said he could issue a ruling on the overall Fircrest Master Development Plan sooner if it were separated from the behavioral health facility plan.

As previously reported, DSHS is seeking permits to move forward with redevelopment plans on the Fircrest campus.

One plan - called the Master Development Plan - outlines redevelopment changes for the overall campus including a new skilled nursing facility to replace the dangerously outdated “Y” buildings.

At the same time, DSHS is seeking a permit to build a new 48 bed behavioral health facility on the campus that would provide mental health treatment in a secure environment for civilly committed individuals.

A map from the Fircrest Master Development Plan shows the proposed location of a behavioral health facility in the northeast quadrant of the Fircrest campus.

The facility will have large spaces for activities, exercise, and life skills instruction to help transition patients back into the community. According to the plan, “these facilities would give the state a unique opportunity to improve access to behavioral health services by providing more capacity and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness by creating a more effective treatment model.”

Hearing Examiner McClean heard public comments on both permit applications at the March 6th meeting, but his concerns focused on what he considered insufficient public engagement on the behavioral health facility.

In remarks about the proposed facility, Examiner McLean issued the finding “that I don’t think a lot of people had any idea what the individuals might be…” who could be involuntarily committed at the facility. “And I dare say the school district doesn’t have a clue either,” he said.

The Shorecrest campus is adjacent to the Fircrest property.
Kellogg Middle School is north of Shorecrest.
Photo from Google satellite view.

In an emailed response to questions, a spokesperson for the Shoreline school district said, “DSHS has reached out to the school district, and we are in contact and working with them to learn more about the project and move forward together.”

According to the plan, the project will be licensed as a residential treatment facility, will be secure and locked in compliance with state law, and will comply with nine other codes and guidelines for such facilities.

The 198-page plan includes detailed descriptions of security measures from architectural floor plans that maximize safety for patients and staff to the kinds of locks used on the doors.

Executives from DSHS testified and answered McClean’s questions at the public hearing about the patients who might be treated at the facility and the security measures that will ensure the safety of staff, residents and the community.

McLean gave DSHS until March 20 to post additional information about the plan for the facility on the city’s website so that “parties of record” could provide written responses via email. “That’s not everybody. That’s the people that came and the people that spoke…” at the public hearing said McClean. He also named the school district a party of record.

In a concession, McClean will allow DSHS to “bifurcate” the two permit applications so that he could rule on the Fircrest plan separately from the behavioral health facility permit. If McClean approves the Fircrest plan, this would allow DSHS to start work on the skilled nursing facility without having to wait for the time consuming public engagement process he is requiring for the behavioral health facility.

Behavioral Health Facilities have faced controversy in King County.

The King County Department of Public Defense argues against the use of involuntary commitment, according to their website. “Our goal is to see resources diverted away from an expensive, court-based system that strips people of their liberty and dignity and to instead put resources into community-based programs that can provide housing, health care, and other supports to people living with chronic mental health disorders.”

As reported by The Seattle Times, one of the region’s largest behavioral health facilities unexpectedly stopped accepting new patients last summer. The move reduced the number of available beds for treatment of people suffering from acute psychiatric symptoms and followed allegations of safety lapses.


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Poison hemlock removal planned across Shoreline

Friday, March 15, 2024

A sign warns walkers of a patch of poison hemlock growing in a thicket of noxious weeds near the stairs at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park while stair climbers get in some steps before sunset. Photo by Oliver Moffat

Before sunset on Thursday evening, stair climbers huffed and puffed past a sign near the top of Richmond Beach Saltwater Park warning of the dangers of nearby poison hemlock growing amongst an uncontrolled patch of Himalayan blackberries. 

Across town at James Keough Park dogs and their owners enjoyed an evening stroll while young poison hemlock shoots grew in a patch of weed cherry trees.

Starting next week, the city will be using herbicide to remove the highly toxic weed from locations around the city including the Richmond Beach and Innis Arden neighborhoods and at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park and James Keough Park.


Young poison hemlock sprouts near a stand of noxious weed cherry at James Keough Park. Photo by Oliver Moffat

According to the King County Noxious Weed Control Program, poison hemlock is highly toxic and, if ingested, even small amounts can kill people and animals. It’s widespread across the region and thrives in open sunny areas like vacant lots and along roadsides where other noxious weeds flourish.

Because of its extreme toxicity and aggressiveness, the state has designated this plant a Class B Noxious Weed - meaning that governments are required to eradicate it by any means necessary. Including the use of herbicide.

Residents should be on the lookout for poison hemlock which can grow to 6-10 feet tall and produce tiny, white, 5-petaled flowers in late spring. The plants have a resemblance to carrot tops this time of year. 

Flowering poisonous hemlock may be confused wild carrot (aka Queen Anne's Lace) which is also a noxious weed but non-toxic.

Shoreline seeks to “reduce and/or eliminate use of pesticides in the city” under its pest management policy. For example, favoring “mechanical control” of pests including “hand pulling” of noxious weeds in public parks. 

This backbreaking work is primarily performed by volunteers with the Green Shoreline Partnership in parks across the city.

On city right-of-ways, the city uses a hot foam herbicide-free solution to address weeds which kills weeds along with beneficial fungi, flora and fauna in the soil.

The city attempted to remove the poison hemlock in recent years without herbicide, pulling the plants out by hand. But that technique failed.

But when it comes to a weed as aggressive and dangerous as poisonous hemlock, the city will use herbicides to eradicate it.

With more than 400 acres of park land and open spaces in Shoreline, the city’s Green Shoreline 20-Year Forest Management Plan identified 240 acres of forest in 23 parks in need of noxious weed removal and restoration by 2039 - a pace of roughly 9.6 acres per year. 

Yet in the six years since its founding in 2017, volunteers working with the Green Shoreline Partnership have only restored 15 acres in 13 parks - a pace of only 2.5 acres per year, according to Shoreline’s 2023 Urban Forest Strategic Plan.

The county’s website says, “if you suspect poisoning from this plant, call for help immediately because the toxins are fast-acting – for people, call 911 or poison-control at 1-800-222-1222 or for animals, call your veterinarian.”
--By Oliver Moffat


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Vaccination clinic at the Senior Activity Center Friday March 15, 2024

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Vaccination Clinic Friday March 15, 2024 from 9am to 12pm at the Senior Activity Center at 18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline WA 98155 - southernmost building on the Shoreline Center campus. Free parking in front of the building.

Protect Your Health at the Shoreline Vaccination Clinic; Safeguard your well-being with the latest RSV and COVID (Omicron, 2023-2024) vaccines, in partnership with Walgreens.

Cost: Free with insurance [Please bring your insurance card]. If uninsured, the COVID vaccine is still free through a Walgreens Program, but the RSV vaccine will not be covered.

Spaces are limited—call 206-365-1536 now to secure your spot! Remember to bring your insurance card. Availability is subject to state age and health restrictions.

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay healthy and resilient!


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Woodway teen works to raise awareness about the need for South Asian bone marrow donors

Soren Ghoral is a teenaged Woodway resident
with a passion to save lives by recruiting bone
marrow donors. Soren (right) with a donor he recruited.
By Soren Ghoral

When I was younger, I had gone to the hospital to see my aunt who had surgery. I asked what had happened to her, and my mom said she had surgery to save someone's life. 

A 1-year-old baby was diagnosed with leukemia, and they needed my aunt’s bone marrow to save her life because my aunt was a 10/10 tissue type match. 

I was in awe that the medicine some people need is within others and that individuals can help to cure cancer and save a life.

Every day, over 157 people in the United States die from blood cancer. 

But some of those deaths can be prevented by everyday people like us. By donating our healthy stem cells to a patient that matches our tissue type, we can cure over 70 types of blood cancers and diseases.

But patients need a donor that matches their tissue type, which is usually only found within the same ethnic group. 

For south Asian patients it's especially difficult to find a match, because South Asians make up only 3% of the donor registry.

Soren appears at community gatherings to explain SAMI and enroll donors

As a result, a South Asian patient has less than a 40% chance of finding a stem cell match. Compare that to other ethnic groups that have > 80% chance of finding a match. 

I started the South Asian Marrow Initiative (SAMI because I wanted to help people and improve the outcomes for cancer patients. I've found that when people learn they can save a life within their community, they are more than willing to join the registry. The goal of SAMI is to get the word out and to register people into the national donor registries.

When people learn they can save a life within their community,
they are more than willing to join the registry

We have partnered with the National Bone Marrow Program and DKMS, and we host events at community gatherings to educate and register people. Anyone can join the registry. 

We are hoping to get the word out that everyone's healthy stem cells can be a cure for someone in need. People should join the registry at one of our events through a cheek swab, or by having a kit mailed and they can join from home.


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A Day in the Life of a Dental X-Ray Station Volunteer at the Seattle/King County Clinic, February 16, 2024

Dental treatment area

Story and Photos by Doug Cerretti

Note: See links below for previous articles on the Seattle/King County Clinic

4:50 am: The alarm rings although my internal time clock already had my eyes open. I do not normally get up this early but I think about the patients at Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center who are in line for tickets as early as the night before waiting for them to be distributed at 5:30am. It was very cold last night so the doors were opened early so they could line up inside.

5:40 am: I depart Shoreline for the Mercer St garage where parking is free for volunteers. I am surprised how much traffic there is on I-5 this early.

Calling the next patients
6:05 am: I arrive at McCaw Hall for the volunteer check-in, volunteers checking in volunteers, and get my lunch ticket. I go upstairs to the volunteer breakroom for breakfast where they have coffee, tea, fruit, cereal and pastries. I met my good friend Carrie there. Carrie had been volunteering at SKCC for many years. I had “recruited” her last year and this year to the dental X-ray station. She found this job very interesting.

6:30 am: Dental triage orientation at Exhibition Hall. This is mostly for the dental professionals to go over the treatments available for the patients and to fill out the forms. As a General Support volunteer, basic computer skills are required for the dental x-ray station.

Panoramic x-ray machine
7:00 pm: Unexpectedly, both Carrie and I are assigned to the panoramic “pano” X-ray station where x-rays are taken that image all of your teeth. We enjoyed this time to catch up.

7:15 am: Patients arrive: 430 dental, 300 vision and 80 medical tickets were distributed at 5:30am. All were claimed by 7:00am.
Dr. Bob and Teri
10:00 am: It’s mid-morning and we have been going for four hours with the hustle and bustle of about 1000 volunteers and 750 patients this day. The controlled movement of people is amazing. Every patient is escorted to point A to B to C, etc. 

For dental, patients are escorted from ticket distribution to Expedition Hall, then to dental check-in, dental triage, triage checkout, dental treatment and finally dental checkout. If they need additional work, they repeat the process the next day.

Ten Dental Triage and Five X-ray Stations
11:30 am: Lunch at the Armory Loft where I get a chance to chat with other volunteers.

12:00 pm: I start substituting for other X-ray station volunteers as they go to lunch.

2:35 pm: Starting to feel tired but things are so busy you don’t think about it and time flies.

X-ray Station serving Triage 3 and 4.
3:00 pm: After substituting I settle into the dental X-ray station for triage 3 and 4.

4:30 pm: We see the last patient, #430, go through triage. Some of us hang around as the dentist performing treatment may need additional x-rays.

5:15 pm: Depart SKCC for home after 11 ½ hours. I repeated this process for two additional days. It wasn’t bad working that long each day. Next year I will volunteer all four days.

Epilogue 

You really have to be there to see the scale of the SKCC. A final accounting will be published in a couple of weeks but the four-day event will have seen over 3000 patients with the aid of about 4000 volunteers. 

It’s fortunate that we have SKCC but it is also unfortunate that we need SKCC. I believe medical care is a right, not a privilege. Society needs to determine what is important, healthcare should be on top of that list.

Volunteers Carrie, Holly, and Molly - volunteering is a joy

Volunteering for SKCC is very rewarding and I recommend it for all. Some of the volunteers work all day as I did but many jobs only require half-day shifts. Medical professionals are greatly needed but I would hazard to guess that over half of the volunteers are General Support requiring basic computer skills such as the dental X-ray station, escorting patients, filing patient records, volunteers checking in volunteers or maintaining the break room for example. There is a job if you are willing to help.

One of great benefits of volunteering is meeting the other volunteers many of whom I have seen year after year and some who were there at the first SKCC in 2014. 

Mark your calendar, the next SKCC is April 24-27, 2025. Please consider volunteering, as it is a joy.

See previous articles on SKCC in Shoreline Area News.

https://www.shorelineareanews.com/2022/10/the-seattle-king-county-free-vision.html

https://www.shorelineareanews.com/2023/08/volunteering-at-huge-free-seattle-king.html


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Space available in popular movement classes at Senior Activity Center - register now

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

The Senior Activity Center, 18560 1st Ave NE (southernmost building, facing NE 185th) has a variety of movement classes, all enrolling now. 


Call the Center at 206-365-1536 to register. Classes begin in March.

Class: Chair Yoga

Instructor: Heidi Mair
Day: Friday
Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm
Cost: Members - $40/month Nonmembers: $60/month

NEW! Due to popular demand, we are now offering an additional series of Chair Yoga with Heidi Mair.

This is a new day and time for one of our most popular classes. Class begins and ends in a chair with a portion of class spent standing focused on balance and building strength.

For students with previous Yoga experience or upon completion of Introduction to Yoga.

Class: Walkabout

Instructor: Cindy House
Day: Monday
Time: 9:30am – 10:30am
Cost: Free but Registration is required.

NEW! Get your steps in with Cindy! Walk two miles in 45 minutes without even leaving the room! This is a class for getting your heart rate up and staying active with music, soft strength training and fun while cheering each other on. 

Thanks to a generous grant from the Live Long and Prosper Foundation, there is no charge for this class.

Class: Qi Gung [ Instruction in Spanish ]
Instructor: Anahi Povarchik
Day: Tuesday and Friday (9 sessions in March)
Time: 11:15am – 12:15pm
Cost: Members: $8/session Nonmembers: $12/session

NEW!

Spanish Description:

Qi Gung: En base a movimientos suaves, respiración y concentración la práctica propicia, desde el primer momento, el cultivo de bienestar; promueve la consecución de objetivos personales.
Conceptos básicos~Ejercicios preliminares de desbloqueo / estiramientos/ estructura
Enraizamiento y percepción de la energía.
Movimientos de Qi Gong Terapéutico, para incorporar a la rutina diaria
El Arbol –Zhang Zhuang Gong - postura esencial de
Qi Gong, de efectos poderosos. Desbloquea la circulación de la sangre y la energía, optimizando el equilibrio del cuerpo energético.
Goruda, expansión y fortaleza de la estructura corporal.

Instructor: Anahí Povarchik, artista, Instructora de Qi Gung, Maestra de Reiki Usui, Chef Vegetariana y Naturista

English Description:

Qi Gung: Based on gentle movements, breathing, and concentration, the practice promotes, from the first moment, the cultivation of well-being; and promotes the achievement of personal goals.

~ Basic concepts ~Preliminary unlocking/stretching/structure exercises
Rooting and perception of energy.
Therapeutic Qi Gong movements, to incorporate into your daily routine
The Tree –Zhang Zhuang Gong - essential posture of Qi Gong, with powerful effects. Unlocks blood circulation and energy. optimizing the balance of the energy body.
Goruda, expansion, and strength of the body structure.

Instructor: Anahí Povarchik, artist, Qi Gong Instructor, Usui Reiki Master, Vegetarian and Naturopathic Chef

Class: Beginner’s Tai Chi

Instructor: Mary Newbill
Day: The same class is offered on both Tuesdays and Thursdays
Tuesday Time: 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Thursday Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Cost: Members: $8/session Nonmembers: $12/session

Due to popular demand, we are now offering an additional series of Beginner’s Tai Chi. Join instructor Mary Newbill for Yang Style Tai Chi for health and fun! Tai Chi strengthens our Chi, or life force, building muscle, balance, and health.

Slow, relaxed movement coordinated with breath becomes meditation, improves posture and flexibility, and elevates mood while reducing falls for seniors. Medical research reports improvement in joint pain, arthritis, and many diseases.

In this beginners class, you will learn the first half of Cheng Man-Ching’s Short Form, with applications Qi Gong and chi meditation. Mary Newbill is a seasoned instructor, and personalizes her classes to the ability levels of her students.


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