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Quick Start to Keeping Kurrent

Our lives are busy. Keeping Kurrent is the place where you can listen to short, reasonably in depth interviews and presentations about a variety of ideas, issues and trends are helpful to you. You are invited to take a quick look some of the broad issueswe cover by clicking on the items listed below. Or, you can also examine the details for each category by checking the statements on the right hand side of this page.

Portland

Time in Portland, Oregon.

Your health matters

You, your family, friends, your boss, and all the community members who value your contribution to society as well as the sharing of your talents. Health issues need to be examined carefully. Medical services and the United States cost United States citizens more money each year than many other countries while some 37 million people are without health care. You need to examine this aspect of our lives. You'll have an opportunity to meet some of America's health care proponents. It's all here on the Keeping Kurrent Show.

 

The Many Faces of Lupus

There are a lot of faces of Lupus. There are the symptoms wlhich you see below. Then, there is the positive face of individuals working to establish cures for Lupus. Further, there are organizations that want more research and better training for doctors. There has not been any new treatments for Lupus in the last forty years. You can find out more about Lupus by turning to the Lupus Foundation. You can also see what Molly's Fund, an Oregon nonprofit organization is doing to increase Lupus research and medical training.

Red Ribbon Week - Oct 23-31

Ribbon Week from October 23-31, 2009. Red Ribbon Week raises awareness of drug use and the problems it causes in communities across the state. This is also a time to encourage parents, educators, business owners and other community organizations to promote drug-free lifestyles. "In the spirit of Red Ribbon Week, we would like to thank schools and county prevention coordinators for all their hard work in reducing alcohol and drug use among Oregon's middle school youth," said Rick Cady, AMH Prevention Manager. The recently released 2008 Oregon Healthy Teens Survey shows three consecutive years of reductions in the use of drugs and alcohol among Oregon's 8th graders. In 81 schools surveyed throughout the state, 70 percent or more of the students were free from alcohol and drug use in the previous 30 days. "While recent trends are going in the right direction there is still a serious need for more prevention in our communities. Substance abuse costs Oregon nearly $6 billion a year or about $1,600 per person," said Cady. "We can do better." Red Ribbon Week was inspired by the death of one man. In 1985, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Enrique S. "Kiki" Camarena was killed by drug traffickers. Shortly after Camarena's death neighbors from his hometown began wearing red ribbons to remember him and commemorate his sacrifice. Congress established Red Ribbon Week in 1988 in honor of Camarena's sacrifice

 

 

Molly's Fund Logo

Molly's Fund

The 2008 annual Lupus Walk in Portland, Oregon sported a new group (some 18 months old) that has a commitment to raise funds for Lupus research and doctor training. You can find out more about them on their web site, www.mollysfund.org. You'll find out more about Molly McCabe, a young woman who had a bright future as an opera silnger. However, because she was diagnosed with Lupus and faced severe health problems she was unable to continue to continue as a silnger.

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The Lupus Foundation of America, Pacific NW Chapter raised funds for operations at the Mad Hatter Rock and Roll 2008. It took polace on Septermber 27, 2008. Find out more about this Chapter from their web site.

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AARP Endorses Affordable Health Care for America Act

After carefully monitoring developments in Washington and studying the various legislative proposals, AARP’s all-volunteer Board of Directors — made up of working and retired doctors, nurses, business people, and teachers — has decided to endorse the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962/H.R. 3961) because it delivers on key priorities we’ve been fighting for.

What Health Reform Will Mean for You and Your Family

H.R.3962 and H.R. 3961, which will be voted on in the coming days, contain critical components AARP has been fighting for on your behalf — proposals that would improve health care for older Americans and their families.

They include:

* Protecting and strengthening Medicare for today’s seniors and future generations of retirees.

* Ensuring seniors can see the doctor of their choice or find a doctor if they need one by improving Medicare’s payments to doctors.

* Lowering drug costs for seniors by closing the Medicare Part D "doughnut hole."

* Taking steps to reduce waste, fraud, abuse and inefficiency in the Medicare program.

* Requiring Medicare and insurance companies to provide for important preventive services like screenings for diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis free of charge for those who don’t have coverage.

* Preventing insurers from denying affordable coverage to anyone because of their age or health.

* Limiting how much your insurance company can make you pay out-of-pocket.

* Providing affordable health insurance options for those who don’t have insurance or can’t afford it.

* Providing benefits to help seniors and people with disabilities live in their own homes and communities.

On Your Side

While AARP is pleased to see that H.R. 3962/H.R. 3961 include many of the proposals that are most critical to protecting Medicare and ensuring Americans age 50+ have access to stable, affordable health care, we know the fight isn’t over.

That’s why we’re going to keep working with members of the House and Senate to ensure our priorities are included in any final health care reform bill.

And, as the legislative process moves forward, we've let Congress and the Administration know that we will fight with the strength of our nearly 40 million members against any proposal that would hurt rather than help Medicare and older Americans’ access to affordable, quality health care.

If you'd like to discuss Health Care Reform in AARP's Online Community, please join the group Health Action Now Mythbusters.

 

Page last revised on November 11, 2009.

Health Issues and Trends

Your health matters

You, your family, friends, your boss, and all the community members who value your contribution to society as well as the sharing of your talents. Health issues need to be examined carefully. Medical services and the United States cost United States citizens more money each year than many other countries while some 37 million people are without health care. You need to examine this aspect of our lives.

Oregon Establishes Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission

One hears that many persons are sent to Oregon's prisons because of drug adiction and distribution.Establishing an Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission is a great step forward to ensuring more people get treatment instead of prison. Comment from Wayne Potter, Host of the Keeping Kurrent show.

Oregon Department of Human Services Director Dr. Bruce Goldberg, M.D., has selected Mary Ellen Glynn as the executive director of Oregon’s Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission.*

Glynn brings nearly 20 years of government relations experience to DHS. Most recently, she served as a senior project manager for a public relations firm dedicated to socially responsible causes, including public health. She also worked as Governor Ted Kulongoski’s communications director and higher education advisor. Before moving to Oregon, Glynn worked for the United Nations and the U.S. State Department as a spokesperson, strategist and policy advisor. Upon earning a masters degree, Glynn worked as the Deputy Press Secretary at the White House.

“Mary Ellen has the experience and talent to lead this team and produce a plan that will ultimately create a blueprint for a more effective and efficient alcohol and drug treatment system in Oregon,” said Goldberg.

House Bill 3353 created the commission that is charged with the unprecedented effort of reducing crime through the development of a statewide plan to improve and deliver substance abuse treatment and prevention services.

“Reforming the delivery of alcohol and drug treatment is crucial for both public health and public safety,” said Oregon Attorney General John Kroger, chairman of the commission. “If we do this correctly, it will reduce crime and save taxpayer dollars. Mary Ellen is a fantastic addition to our team.”

The commission is made up of 22 members and includes representatives from the drug and alcohol recovery community, business, law enforcement, health care and education.

“Every day, drug and alcohol abuse rob thousands of Oregon children of their most valuable educational resource: an engaged parent or family member,” said Commission Board member and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo. “By elevating our work to provide effective treatment options, we are not only giving thousands the opportunity to make a better life for themselves but also providing a better foundation for the support and education of future generations of Oregonians.”

The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. on November 2, 2009 at the Red Lion Hotel at 3301 Market St. NE in Salem. The meeting will be held in the Mt. Hood and Washington rooms.

*Information provided by Oregon's Department of Human Resources on October 30, 2009.

Hope for Oregon Families Healthcare Options

Another effort is afoot through through the joint effort through the bipartisan efforts of Senator Ben Westland (R), Senator Allen Bates (D), and Representative Mitch Greenlich (D). Hope for Oregon Families, an Oregon non-profit, is collecting signatures for Measure 40. The Measure would create a constitutional amendment which would ensure that all Oregonians would have health care. The legislature would be required to come up with a plan by 2009. For more information about their efforts click on Hope for Oregon Families.

H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)

Secretary of Health Mary Selecky talks about why healthy older adults (those over 50) should wait to get vaccinated for H1N1 until more vaccine is available in our state.*

Information provided by the Washington State Deptartment of Health.*

H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)

Oregon weekly H1N1 influenza update

Since Sept. 1, 2009, 1,105 people have been hospitalized in Oregon with influenza-like illness; 40 people have died. Based on data collected nationwide and in Oregon, while vaccine supplies are limited, public health officials are urging local heath departments and tribes to target vaccine outreach to the people who are at greatest risk for hospitalization and death:

· Pregnant women;

· Children 5 and under;

· And people aged 5-64 with underlying health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes and cardio-pulmonary disease.

“If you have an underlying health condition, please contact your health care provider. The numbers are telling us that these folks are at an increased risk for H1N1 complications,” says Mel Kohn, M.D., M.P.H., Oregon public health director. “We want vaccine providers to get to those people first.”

In addition, those who come in contact with the high-risk group — caretakers of infants under 6 months, health care workers and some emergency personnel — should seek out the H1N1 vaccine.

Private drug manufacturers continue to ship the H1N1 influenza vaccine into Oregon, with more arriving each week. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has allocated another 85,746 doses to Oregon expected by Friday, Nov. 20, bringing the cumulative total to 528,155.

Public health officials emphasize that even while they’re urging health care providers to focus vaccination efforts toward those at highest risk for H1N1, this is expected to be a short-term situation until more vaccine arrives.

“Right now, with limited vaccine, we encourage local health departments to focus on getting the vaccine to the members of the target group most at risk: young children, pregnant women and people aged 5 through 64 with underlying health conditions,” says Kohn.

The Public Health Division surveys the counties on a regular basis and keeps public clinic information current at www.flu.oregon.gov and the Oregon Public Health flu hotline at 1-800-978-3040. As more H1N1 vaccine arrives, the local health departments will continue vaccinating the priority group until enough doses arrive to reach out to the general public.

For more information on H1N1 flu and vaccines, call the Oregon Public Health Flu Hotline at 1-800-978-3040 or visit www.flu.oregon.gov ###

United Ostomy Associations of America

A wonderful person whose name is Ann Favreau and her husband, Ray, traveled with us during a trip to India during February and March 2007. Since that time Ann has been keeping in touch with us. Recently Pam, my wife, and I received an annoucement about a book she had written. It was entitled Window Eyes. The book is filled with her4 poems and comments on world travel. It brought back great memories of our trip to India.

I also learned that Ann is involved with UOAA. She has been extensively involved with this organization. The organization,United Ostomy Associations of America. "...is a national network for bowel and urinary diversion support groups in the United States." Her involvement has helped health researchers find answers to bowel and urinary health issues. During the Fall I will be recording some of her stories encompassing this issue and also her poems. Be sure that you chedck out UOAA.