The Puget Sound Blood Center will be holding a “walk-in” Blood Drive this Monday, Aug. 30th from 1pm – 7pm at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, located at 19030 8th Ave South in Des Moines.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Walk-In Blood Drive.

WHEN: Monday, Aug. 30th, from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm (lunch break from 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm).

WHERE: Prince of Peace Lutheran Church’s Fellowship Hall, located at 19030 8th Ave. South.

INFO: This is a walk-in blood drive.

From an email:

Greetings,

We need your help! Many groups have canceled their blood drives due to vacations and low turnouts. The Puget Sound Blood Center is an independent, community based blood center internationally recognized for its research, medical and blood and tissue services. For more than sixty years, the Blood Center has been conducting research to improve the quality of life for all those it touches. The Blood Center currently provides blood to 70 hospitals and clinics throughout Western Washington (e.g. Valley Medical Center, Auburn Regional Medical Center, Highline Community Hospital, Virginia Mason Clinics, Group Health Cooperative, Veterans Healthcare, etc.)

48 hours ago, a 34 year old female, who is pregnant, had a heart attack and received 25 red blood cell units, 3 platelet units and 24 plasma units. Your gift can save a life! Each day, nearly 900 people must register to give blood through the Blood Center in order to meet this ongoing demand. Imaging saving a life…our generous blood donors help save lives every day. Please help us make a difference at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church!

WLB Advertiser Highline Medical Center is hosting a Blood Drive with Puget Sound Blood Center this Thursday, Aug. 26th, at Highline’s main campus in Burien.

The drive will be held in Somers Auditorium, on Highline’s Main Campus, from 9:30am – 3:30pm, with a break from 11:30am – 12:30pm.

Donors are required to be at least 18 years of age, and weigh at least 110 lbs or more.

Appointments last approximately one hour, and involve a health questionnaire, brief examination and about 10-minutes of blood collection.

After the donation, cookies, water and juice will be provided during the rest period.

To donate blood, please schedule your appointment by call (206) 901-5034 or email: chervin@highlinemedical.org.

Every two minutes someone in Western Washington needs a blood transfusion. Help keep this resource plentiful and donate blood today!

Welcome new Waterland Blog advertister Des Moines Dental Center. Doctor Steven M. Reeves has been in the community for over 15 years and in his present location above Marine View Espresso for the last 12.

Not only does Dr. Reeves treat children and adults for cleanings and routine care, but due to his passion for learning, he has expanded his treatments to include root canals, braces, laser gum therapy and other procedures. Along with his well trained staff, Des Moines Dental Center offers the highest quality dental care in a warm and caring environment.

Dr. Reeves says, “We always welcome new patients and offer prompt care for those with dental emergencies.”

Dr. Reeves also sponsors many teams and facilities in the area. Among them are the water fountain at the new baseball park, several kids’ basketball teams, and this fall he will be a sponsor at the Mt Rainier High School gymnasium.

This September 30th from 8-4, Des Moines Dental Center will be offering a FREE Oral Cancer Screening. A complete oral soft tissue exam will be performed as well as using the latest technology to look for abnormal changes. Also, an optional FREE Computer Smile Analysis is offered.

You’ll find Des Moines Dental Center at 21904 Marine View Drive S. You can contact them at 206-824-2804 or visit their website at www.desmoinesdentalcenter.com. If you are interested in orthodontic treatment you can find additional information at www.orthodonticcenterofdesmoines.com.

The Waterland Blog would like to welcome its latest Advertiser: Drs. Ashley and Mark Rusnak of the Northwest Clinic of Chiropractic!

One thing our Readers should know is that the Drs. Rusnak are offering a “New Patient Special” coupon (see below) that gives a discounted Consultation, exam, and one set of x-rays for just $100.00 ($230-$350 value).

As we do with all our Advertisers, here’s what they’d like our Readers to know about their business:

Meet Doctors Rusnak

Dr. Ashley Rusnak was born in Moorhead, MN and has the same accent as the people in the movie Fargo. She became interested in chiropractic after being injured as a nursing aid and ended up with severe neck problems and carpal tunnel syndrome. After many sleepless and painful nights, she visited her local chiropractor. To her surprise, she received long term relief with chiropractic care. Following this experience she continued her undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota and graduated with honors with a degree in Human Biology.

Dr. Mark Rusnak is from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Yikes that’s even further north then Fargo eh? I bet you he plays hockey! He comes from a large family of many medical doctors and always knew he wanted to help people in a unique and effective way. He attended the University of Manitoba and graduated with honors with a degree in Microbiology.

Drs. Ashley and Mark Rusnak later met at Northwestern Health Sciences University in the chiropractic program. Although they didn’t start dating until half way through the program Dr. Mark jokes he had his eye on her from day one. After four years of intensive studies, both doctors graduated at the top of their class with magna cum laude honors.

Having spent enough time in the frigid Arctic air both doctors decided to finish there internships in San Diego, California. After graduating from chiropractic school they worked in separate clinics for almost two years. It wasn’t long and to their surprise, they missed having 4 seasons and even a little snow. They married in September 2006 and decided to relocate to the “Emerald City” to be closer to friends and family, for their love of the outdoors, and a better quality of life to raise their family. The small peaceful town of Normandy Park seemed like an excellent location to start their new clinic and the City of Des Moines soon became their home.

Drs. Mark and Ashley Rusnak

Drs. Rusnak know that the success of there practice ultimately depends on the success of the surrounding communities. They are very excited to see the new development taking place in Normandy Park and the new restaurants and businesses opening up in downtown Des Moines. Both doctors are active members of the community. Dr. Mark is a member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines and currently is the International Service chair. He also sits on the community service committee. Dr. Ashley is an instructor at Normandy Park Athletic, teaching both cycling (spin) and turbo kick classes. They are also members of the North Hill Community club and both have given lectures on health related topics at various places around the Seattle area.

Dr. Mark enjoys treating patients that have been involved in automobile accidents, work injuries, and sports related injuries. More info can be found on these injuries at: www.seattlecaraccidentrelief.com. Dr. Ashley has a special interest in helping people with Fibromyalgia, treating children and pregnant women, and providing nutritional counseling for different degenerative diseases (heart, arthritis, diabetes) and weight loss. More info can be found on fibromyalgia treatments at www.fibromyalgiaseattle.com.

Treatment programs integrate different adjustments for the back and extremities, muscle therapies, massage therapies, stretches, exercise rehab, hot and cold packs, and nutrition. For more extensive muscle work they offer one hour massages by their licensed massage therapist. More info on the whole clinic can be located at www.my2chiros.com.

The Northwest Clinic of Chiropractic, twice per year has Patient Appreciation Day. On this day patients of the clinic can come in for a complimentary treatment if they make a donation of either food or money to the Des Moines Food Bank. That same week friends and family members can be examined from head to toe if they make the same contribution to the food bank. It’s a fun event that involves food, music and door prizes, and best yet helps feed a bunch of families!

But the best reviews come from some of their patients:

Patient Review:

“I first came to Northwest Clinic with a problem of not being able to turn my neck without pain. I spend lots of time in front of the computer, and it has taken its toll. It took me about six months, but I got to where I could turn my neck without pain. I would not have gotten their without Dr. Rusnak’s treatment. Since then I have focused on getting stronger, and improving my range of motion. I also appreciate learning exercises and stretches that I can do to improve my fitness.”

Patient Review:

“I am 73 years old and I suffered from back pain for at least 3 years. The pain was bad enough that I couldn’t stand or walk very well and always needed something to hold on to. I had seen my medical doctor and received multiple shots every 3 or 4 weeks, but it didn’t seem to work. When I came to the Northwest Clinic of Chiropractic I felt I was treated very well. I definitely have noticed I have less pain and I also sleep much better at night now. Even though I had to drive pretty far, I made all my appointments because I was feeling better. If I was asked to recommend the doctors at this office I would say they are very good.”

Patient Review

“I came to Dr. Rusnak with back pain and hip pain. I also have MS (multiple sclerosis) and walk with a kind of uneven gait. I am so pleased with the pain relief and exercises. My hip no longer hurts and a bonus is I walk better!”

If you or your family would like to know more about the clinic, feel free to check out our websites listed above.

Or if you have questions regarding your own health and wonder if Drs. Rusnak can help, feel free to call their office and set up a free consultation:

Northwest Clinic of Chiropractic
Fibromyalgia Seattle
19655 1st Ave S. Suite 205
Normandy Park, WA 98148
206-429-2922
www.my2chiros.com

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by thousands of interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

by Brenda Anders

Have you ever needed information regarding safety or emergency preparedness and just weren’t sure where to look? Maybe you aren’t even sure what you need.

Well your search is over!

We are very lucky to have a website here in the South King Fire & Rescue District called www.publicsafe.org. This independent website which launched in 2007 has everything and all information is relevant to people who live in the South King County area.

Wayne Corey, Community Activist and Volunteer Extraordinaire, is responsible for creating, maintaining and paying for this valuable resource.  Public safety has been his passion for several years.

“There is a world of information out there,” Wayne explained. “After serving as chairperson of the City of Des Moines Enhanced Public Safety Committee, it became obvious we needed to have a place where people could easily find it in one place.”

So that is what he set out to accomplish.

You can find links to information regarding:

• Elder Watch Advocacy Program
  

  Wayne Corey (left) and Don Harper (right) run publicsafe.org.

• Elder Safety Programs
• Public health issues, including up to date Flu information
• Flood preparation
• Fire Safety and crime prevention
• Emergency planning for families and businesses
• Contact information for local governmental agencies
• Community links and calendar of events
• Safety tips and videos
• NOAA weather reports and air quality alerts
• Traffic and pass reports and cameras
• Downloadable phone book with area informational numbers

One program in particular is near and dear to Wayne’s heart, the Elder Watch Advocacy Program. Elder Watch is a joint effort of the Des Moines Senior Advisory Committee, South King Fire & Rescue, The Enhanced Public Safety Committee, www.publicsafe.org and other Safety Response Personnel to provide advocacy for elderly victims of crime and neglect. This is the brain child of Wayne and Don Harper and is such a great resource that other communities are looking to start their own programs using their model.

Check out www.publicsafe.org – I promise you will find information that you didn’t even know you needed!

And thanks Wayne, for helping to keep our community safe and our neighbors informed.

Story & Photos by Gina Bourdage

Community members and local business owners stepped up to raise $1,675 for the completion of Highline Medical Center’s new ER at the “Red Wine & Decadent Dessert” event Wednesday night, Feb. 10th.

This event was the brainchild of local business owners from Mark Restaurant, WLB Advertiser E.B Foote Winery and OptiMark Eye Care. This event allowed attendees to sample some of the great things our community has to offer as well as enjoy an evening among friends.

“We are glad to see such a great turn out, especially in this economy.” said Renee Klein, Executive Director, Highline Medical Center Foundation. “There is really something to be said about the energy in this room and seeing people enjoying themselves. This event speaks to the character and uniqueness of our community to see people come together, showing that this community is truly unlike any other.”

Amongst the warm candlelit setting of the Mark Restaurant, the evening highlighted a raffle drawing for a table full of generous community items including everything from baskets of gardening supplies, a romantic valentine inspired package and art work and more. Guests also were treated to a number of wines from the E.B. Foote Winery and a plate of indulgent sweet treats brought by Mark Restaurant and OptiMark Eye Care.

Originally built to serve 12,000 patients per year, Highline’s Main Campus ER now serves nearly 47,000 –– making it one of the busiest in the state. According to their website:

When a health emergency strikes, you need advanced care. And you need it fast, which is why a new ER is so critical. While we have made significant investments in expert staff and advanced technology over the years, there are simply too few treatment rooms for the number of patients. Ambulances are sometimes diverted to other hospitals farther away, because we simply don’t have enough capacity, according to www. lifedependsonit.org.

“…Highline Medical Center receives no tax support, i.e., we are not publicly funded. Yet, we are a not-for-profit hospital. The new Emergency Room and Patient Care Unit is a $60 million project, most of which is funded through bonds and reserves. But a $10 million capital campaign is needed to help complete the funding. The community has responded, and to date we have raised $5.4 million. But we still need more to reach our goal, and are so thankful for those individuals and businesses who have stepped up!” – Renee Klein

“We are truly grateful for the Mark Restaurant, OptiMark and EB Foote Winery. This was truly all their idea,” added Klein.

In addition to the three businesses that planned the event, many others donated time, products and/or gift certificates, and those businesses include:

• Market Place Salon
• Levich Agency
• Archery Bistro
• Bison Creek Pizza
• La Costa
• Purple Café’ & Wine Bar
• Artist Warren Knapp

Here are some photos shot at the event by Gina:

Click to View Gina Bourdage’s Photo Slideshow

by Ralph Nichols

A few years ago, when I worked as a volunteer in the Emergency Department at Highline Medical Center, the waiting area usually was filled with patients and family members well into the evening.

Patients waited, as they still do, for their turn to be screened in a single triage room, then waited longer for a treatment room to become available. That’s not surprising since the crowded Highline Emergency Department, designed to handle 12,000 patients a year 50 years ago, now provides care for nearly 50,000 patients annually.

But all this will change soon. Construction of a new state-of-the-art Emergency Department that will triple the size of the current facility is nearing completion – on time and on budget. When its doors open to patients on April 13, waiting times for triage and treatment will decrease dramatically.

The new patient-friendly facility also will improve exponentially the convenience and efficiency of the working environment for physicians, nurses, radiology and lab technicians, and everyone else who contributes to the care of Highline’s emergency patients.

B-Town Blog photographer Michael Brunk and I joined a tour of the new Emergency Department on Jan. 19 – shortly after the end of major construction activity as the finishing process got underway. No equipment or furnishings had yet been installed.

Even at this incomplete stage, however, one thing was immediately apparent – the new Emergency Department is a magnificently awesome improvement over the current emergency facility.

Highline Medical Center CEO Mark Benedum described it well: “a facility that’s up to the care the staff’s been providing.”

Benedum said planning for the new Emergency Department began in 2005, with the start of construction on the $60 million project (which includes a new 31 bed Patient Care Unit) getting underway in 2008.

Highline Medical Center’s service area extends from West Seattle to Federal Way and from Tukwila to Vashon Island, and most of its emergency patients come from this region – as well as persons driving along Interstate 5 and both passengers and employees at Sea-Tac International Airport.

Combine the size of this service area with its population growth in the last two decades and it’s easy to see why the aging emergency facility is overcrowded, noted Renée Klein, Executive Director of the Highline Medical Center Foundation.

The differences between the current facility and the new Emergency Department are strikingly apparent the moment one walks into its main entrance, which is on the west side of the medical center not far from the current emergency entrance.

The interior is bright and airy, with large windows that provide ample natural light, as well as spacious – 27,000 square feet compared with the current 9,000 square feet. In fact, the main nurses station area, well inside the Emergency Department, looks as if it could hold the entire existing facility.

Just beyond the reception desk are three private triage rooms, which will speed evaluation of patients, reducing their time in the general waiting area. Patients then will be taken to any of the 32 large, private treatment rooms, where admitting can be done at bedside.

Every room is universally equipped – “hardwired” – to handle any emergency. Two of the rooms are dedicated for pediatric care. The current facility has 19 beds, only eight of which are hardwired.

The ambulance entrance – with an ambulance bay that can accommodate about a dozen emergency vehicles including police cars – is on the north side of the Emergency Department. Two trauma bays for serious emergencies such as heart attacks are immediately inside. Each is designed to handle two patients if necessary.

Two diagnostic imaging rooms – one x-ray, the other CT, both dedicated for emergency patients – and a separate diagnostic imaging waiting room are located just beyond the triage rooms.

In addition, there are two seclusion rooms for psychiatric and other patients who require additional security, an isolation room for highly contagious patients, a decontamination room with an outside entrance for disasters and contact with hazardous materials, a separate area for first responders – emergency medical and law enforcement personnel – to write their reports, and a private family consultation room.

Designed byNAC Architecture, the Emergency Department was planned “from the physicians’ and nurses’ point of view” to provide “rapid treatment,” Klein said. The general contractor is GLY Construction .

One floor above the new Emergency Department is a 31-bed Patient Care Unit for medical and cancer patients. (Look for a report on this unit on the B-Town Blog soon.) Beneath it is a parking garage for those going to the Emergency Department.

The grand opening of the Emergency Department is set for April 9-10, and will include an open house for the public.

Klein noted that while most of the cost of the new facility was paid through bonds and capital reserves, only $5.4 million of a $10 million capital campaign has come in or been pledged. “I’m optimistic that the community will help us with that last amount,” she said.

Highline Medical Center receives no tax dollars for capital expenses and general operations, and relies largely on grants and pledges. If you would like to learn more about how to support Highline’s Campaign for a New ER, log on to www.LifeDependsOnIt.org or call the Foundation office at 206.901.8500.

Here’s Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow of the facility:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

King County Councilmember Julia Patterson donated a “retired” eight-passenger van to Sea Mar Community Health Centers Wednesday (Jan. 20th), in an effort to help South King County’s growing Latino community.

There are 50 non-profit, community Sea Mar locations in King County, with a recovery center in Des Moines and two in both Burien and White Center.

Patterson was greeted by a crowd of grateful volunteers and staff who were eager to take a look inside the shiny, blue, van and welcome her to Sea Mar (see pic below).

“I am very touched by the work of Sea Mar Community Health Centers and their commitment to providing quality, comprehensive care to individuals and families across King County,” said Councilmember Patterson. “Their Des Moines location serves an incredibly diverse, low-income population, which will benefit greatly from having this new mode of transportation to and from much-needed medical and dental appointments.”

Sea Mar Community Health Centers was established in 1978 with a single medical clinic serving Seattle’s South Park neighborhood. Today, Sea Mar, a private, non-profit community health center, operates nearly 50 medical, dental and behavioral health clinics and centers in 10 western Washington counties. Sea Mar is committed to providing high-quality, comprehensive health and human services to diverse communities, including low income, underserved and uninsured populations. Sea Mar specializes in services to Latinos and is an innovative leader in the delivery of bilingual and culturally appropriate healthcare and social services. For more information, visit Sea Mar’s website here.

”We are pleased that the County has selected our inpatient, long-term treatment program as a beneficiary of its van distribution program,” said Rogelio Riojas, Sea Mar’s Chief Executive Officer. “We intend to make the van available to any resident or person who comes to the treatment center for care and services. It will be a great resource for our program.”

Since 1995, the King County Council has donated vans to nonprofit groups to help meet the transportation needs of low-income, elderly, youth, or people with disabilities in King County. The vans are part of a fleet of county vehicles that have been ‘retired’ after accruing a certain number of miles. This is the eighth year that each member of the council has been able to donate vans.

The vans were donated through an annual application process.

For more information about applying for a van, contact Councilmember Patterson’s Office at (206) 296-1005.

Stress. We all deal with it. We seem to manufacture it at times. And we’d all be happy if it could magically just go away. Stress can also lead to other health problems.

Well, we’ve got a new advertiser and reflexology practitioner right here in the Highline area that specializes in stess reduction among other things. That’s Lorri Angus, reflexologist extraordinaire and owner of Inner Balance Holistic. I had the opportunity to receive one of her special reflexology sessions recently and it was wonderful.

I’ve had reflexology some years ago so I knew what to expect, but I wasn’t expecting the treatment I got from Lorri. She ‘warmed me up’ by working on my ears, which sent energy flowing throughout my body. Then the feet. Ahhh, it was magical. I knew enough about the reflexology session to know it’s not a simple foot rub or foot massage.I knew that she would be working to stimulate the reflex points and zones within my entire body. When Lorri was done, my longtime shoulder ache had disappeared. Also I was sneezing and coughing as those pesky little toxins were moving about my body.

Lorri tells us that although working on the feet, “reflexology works on the whole individual–physical, mental, emotional–balancing out the whole body and allowing it to heal.”

Lorri’s available for sessions in her Normandy Park studio afternoons and evenings by appointment. You’ll find her at 19655 1st Ave. S. #209 (right above Companion Animal Medical), at 206-219-6411 or Lorri@innerbalanceholistic.com.

According to Lorri, Reflexology has been shown to be effective for:

• Back Pain
• Migraines
• Infertility
• Arthritis
• Sleep disorders
• Hormonal imbalance
• Sports injuries
• Digestive disorders
• Stress related conditions

If your 2010 resolutions include feeling better naturally, you should give Lorri a call. She’d be glad to share the benefits of reflexology with you. Prices start as low as $35 ((1/2 hour session), and long-term packages are available.

According to www.innerbalanceholistic.com, here’s a brief overview of reflexology:

The art of reflexology dates back to Ancient Egypt, India and China. It was introduced to the West as ‘zone therapy’ in 1913 by Dr. William Fitzgerald who noted that reflex areas on the feet and hands are linked to other areas of the body within the same zone. In the 30′s Eunice Ingham further developed this zone theory into what is now known as reflexology. She observed that congestion or tension in any part of the foot is mirrored in the corresponding part of the body.

Reflexology is a complementary therapy which works on the feet to help to heal the whole person, not just the prevailing symptoms. It can be used to help restore and maintain the body’s natural equilibrium, this gentle therapy helps the body to work naturally to restore its own healthy balance.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, event listing and/or Ad like this on a popular, fast-growing website with thousands of interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

The American Cancer Society (ACS) will be holding its kick-off for the 5th Annual Relay For Life celebration Wednesday, Jan. 12th, from 6:30pm – 8pm, at Somers Auditorium in Highline Medical Center.

Last year, The Waterland Blog staff participated, and this year will be no different, as several members of our staff have been personally touched by cancer, and we’re committed to doing whatever we can to help defeat it.

This year’s event will be held June 12th & 13th at Highline Stadium.

Relay For Life was founded 26 years ago by Tacoma physician Dr. Gordy Klatt, and has grown to be the most recognized fundraising event for cancer nationwide, held in more than 5,000 communities and raising more than $3 billion toward cancer research, advocacy, education and patient services.

Over the past four years, the Relay For Life of Highline has brought over 600 people together from the cities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park and SeaTac participating on 86 teams, and raising over $272,000 total for the fight against cancer.

The Kickoff Celebration will provide information about Relay For Life and how volunteers can get involved in the fight against cancer. Attendees will enjoy food from Sal’s Deli, music, and coffee provided by Starbucks as they visit with volunteers, sharing stories of hope.

Relay For Life is a family-oriented event in which teams will walk or run in shifts around the track for 19 hours. Participants traditionally camp out on the field, and, when they are not taking their turn walking, enjoy a variety of entertainment activities.

The Relay For Life of Highline will be held on June 12th & 13th at Highline Stadium in Burien. For more information, please call Kelly Cochran at 206-674-4103, or visit www.relayforlife.org/highlinewa.

Here’s a slideshow by Photographer Michael Brunk of last summer’s event:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

On Thursday, Jan. 21st, several local restaurants will be hosting “Dine For Highline,” where a percentage of proceeds will be donated to Highline Medical Center’s “Campaign for a New ER.”

Originally built to serve 12,000 patients each year, Highline’s current ER now serves nearly 45,000, making it one of the busiest in the state; obviously, a new, state-of-the-art ER is required.

Here’s info from their press release:

Mark your calendar for January 21st!

On Thursday, January 21, several local restaurants are hosting Dine for Highline, whereby they will donate a percentage of their proceeds to the hospital’s Campaign for a New ER.

These generous businesses know that having a great community means having a great hospital, too, and that’s why they are supporting the campaign.

Now let’s show our support for them, while enjoying a fabulous meal!

Currently participating restaurants include:

• Archery Bistro
• Emerald City Smoothie
• Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub
• Sal’s Deli
• 909 Coffee and Wine
• Mark Restaurant and Bar
• Yo’s Bistro
• Sidestreet Kitchen and Bar
• Angelo’s of Burien
• Australian Pie Co.
• Tin Room Bar
• La Costa Restaurant
• Bison Creek Pizza
• Vino Bello Wine Bar

Here’s info on the campaign from Highline’s website:

A State-of-the-Art Facility
With support from the community, Highline Medical Center is building a 27,000 square feet, state-of-the-art ER housed in a new three-story building on its Main Campus. It will be equipped with the very latest advances in medical technology and staffed by an expert team of board-certified physicians. It is designed to make ER visits faster, to reduce stress and to enhance comfort for patients and their families at every stage of care:

• Three private triage rooms
• Bedside registration
• Sophisticated electronic patient tracking system
• Family consult room
• 32 private treatment rooms, with room for family members
• Dedicated decontamination room for disasters
• Diagnostic imaging within the ER
• Electronic medical records
• Separate family waiting area
• Private and confidential admitting areas
• Convenient free parking and easy drop-off

A Life Giving Opportunity: How You Can Help
Highline Medical Center Foundation has launched a $10 million community campaign to help fund construction of the new ER. Highline is not tax-supported. We are an independent, nonprofit organization created by the community and supported by the generosity of individuals like you. We need your help. Your gift is an investment in the future health and wellbeing of everyone in our community. It will assure that fast, convenient, state-of-the-art emergency care will be right here –– whenever life depends on it.

To support The Campaign for a New ER at Highline, be sure to “Dine For Highline” on Thursday, Jan. 21st, or click here or call (206) 901-8500.

King County Public Health on Wednesday (Dec. 9th) announced that starting this Saturday, Dec. 12th, the H1N1 influenza vaccine will be provided to everybody six months of age and older in King County, with the nearest available at SeaTac HealthPoint, which is located at 4040 South 188th Street.

However, depending on the demand, supplies may be limited for a time at some locations.

The county is taking this next step in widening H1N1 vaccine eligibility because many health care providers in King County are now reporting that they are able to meet the demand for their highest risk patients and vaccine supplies are increasing and expected to continue to rise steadily.

“We’re pleased that many of our highest risk residents have been vaccinated and that we have enough vaccine now to open eligibility to anyone who wants it,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Even though flu has peaked, at least temporarily, H1N1 illness continues in our community. Getting vaccinated is still a very good idea.”

As of Dec. 4, an estimated 380,000 people in King County who are at high-risk for complications have been vaccinated for H1N1 influenza, and an additional 58,000 doses of vaccine are on the ground or in the process of being shipped to vaccine providers in the county.

Vaccination continues to be particularly important for people at highest risk for H1N1, including pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, people between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, people between 25 through 64 years of age with chronic health conditions or weakened immune systems, and healthcare and emergency workers.

New clinics and vaccine availability 
H1N1 vaccine is available from local health care providers and pharmacies; see availability at pharmacies. 
Additionally, some health centers are offering free H1N1 vaccination to people who cannot afford to pay.

Clinics will be held from 9am – 3pm on:

• Saturday, Dec. 12th
• Wednesday, Dec. 16th
• Saturday, Dec. 19th

At these HealthPoint clinics:

• SeaTac HealthPoint: 4040 S. 188th Street, Suite 201;Phone: (206) 277-7200
• Kent HealthPoint: 403 E. Meeker
• Auburn HealthPoint: 126 Auburn Avenue, Suite 400
• Redmond HealthPoint: 16315 NE 87th Street, Suite B6

Public Health will also hold five free H1N1 clinics this Saturday and next Saturday, Dec. 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. These same sites, except for Eastgate Public Health Center, will also have clinics on Wednesday, December 16 from noon to 7 p.m. at:

• Federal Way Public Health Center, 33431 13th Place South
• Renton Public Health Center, 3001 NE 4th Street
• Seattle: Columbia Public Health Center, 4400 37th Ave South
• Seattle: North Public Health Center, 10501 Meridian Ave North
• Bellevue: Eastgate Public Health Center, 14350 SE Eastgate Way

Vaccinations are first come, first served, and no reservations will be taken. If demand is high, people will be given a designated time later that day to return and receive their vaccination. Once supply is exhausted, people will be informed as soon as they arrive.

For more information on future clinics and other H1N1 updates, visit: www.kingcounty.gov/health/H1N1.

You can also call the Flu Hotline at 1-877-903-KING (5464), which is staffed with operators to answer questions about H1N1 influenza from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, with a special 24-hour nurse line service extended over the weekend for people with flu seeking medical care advice. Recorded information is available 24 hours a day.

King County Public Health announced Friday (Nov. 6th) that it is now offering a limited supply (15,000 for now) of H1N1 vaccines to qualified people at area pharmacies, including one in Des Moines, one in Kent and another in Federal Way (see interactive map below).

To get vaccinated, you have to make an appointment by telephone, and meet the criteria listed below:

• Pregnant women
• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
• People between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old
• People between 25 through 64 years of age with chronic health conditions or weakened immune systems
• Healthcare and emergency workers with direct patient contact

The only Des Moines pharmacy with the new batch is:

• Bartell Drugs
  27055 Pacific Hwy S
  Des Moines, WA 98198-9250
  (253) 839-1693

Here are two others nearby:

• Fred Meyer Pharmacy
  25250 Pacific Hwy S
  Kent, WA 98032-6539
  (253) 946-7433
• Albertsons-Sav-on – 312th & Pacific
  31009 Pacific Hwy South
  Federal Way, WA 98003
  (253) 946-4002

Many of the 44 participating pharmacies are taking appointments by phone starting today (Fri. Nov. 6th); some will be holding walk-up clinics without appointment starting next week. The full list of participating pharmacies, including hours, types of vaccine available, vaccination age ranges and administrative fee, is posted at www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/pandemicflu/swineflu/locations.aspx. This site will be updated Monday through Friday by noon; people should contact pharmacies directly for the most up-to-date information.

With limited national vaccine supplies, Public Health – Seattle & King County has had to delay its plan to make vaccine widely available through community venues. As more vaccine becomes available, there will be additional sites for getting vaccinated, including community clinics.

“Making vaccine available through pharmacies is an important next step in protecting our community, but supplies at both pharmacies and health care providers will continue to be limited for at least several weeks,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Eventually there will be enough vaccine for everyone who wants to get vaccinated, but we are still dealing with limited vaccine supplies.”

With the latest deliveries this week, King County has received approximately 142,000 doses of vaccine. A new allocation of approximately 71,000 doses is being ordered for delivery to the county. Most of the vaccine is being made available through health care providers.

The amount of H1N1 vaccine at pharmacies will be limited, with each pharmacy receiving a few hundred doses each. Vaccine will be re-supplied to pharmacies as more becomes available over the coming weeks, so people should regularly check Public Health’s website for updates.

Many pharmacies are unable to vaccinate babies and young children because their staff is not licensed and/or trained for these age groups. Residents trying to vaccinate children should check with pharmacies directly and with their health care providers since vaccine is continuing to arrive.

Pharmacies may charge a fee for administering the vaccine, typically between $12 and $22 (not to exceed $22). This fee is covered by most health insurance. People should bring their health insurance information to the pharmacy, and they may need to submit a receipt to their insurance company for reimbursement.

Visit the Public Health H1N1 influenza website at www.kingcounty.gov/health/H1N1 for updates on vaccine availability in the community or call the Flu Hotline at 1-877-903-KING (5464), which is staffed with operators from 9am to 5pm weekdays to answer questions from residents about H1N1 influenza. There is also a special 24-hour nurse line service extended over this weekend for people with flu seeking medical care advice. Recorded information will be available 24 hours a day.

View King County pharmacies with H1N1 vaccine in a larger map

As you may know, October is “Breast Cancer Awareness” month, and Burien’s own Highline Medical Center is partnering with local businesses to help encourage women to get their mammogram. Early detection is still the best protection and they want to do all they can to help women in the fight against breast cancer.

So if you’re a local/area business, here’s a chance to get some good, local exposure.

Here’s a blurb from HMC:

To help encourage local women to get their mammograms we are partenering with local businesses to help the women in our community to have an enjoyable experience during their visit. All women who come into Highline Medical Center for their mammogram during the month of October will receive free mini-spa sessions donated by local salons and schools. In addition every woman who comes in will receive a raffle ticket to win great prizes donated by local businesses and artists.

Highline Medical Center would like to invite you to partner with us to help encourage the women in our community to get their mammograms. We would encourage you to consider donating a gift card, certificate, or basket to raffle off during the month of October, or to donated services to participate in our mini-spa session event. All businesses or individuals who donate will receive a free 8.5 X 11 ad space in our local businesses book which is viewed by 30-40 local women a day while they wait for their appointments.

Highline Medical Center is proud to be a partner in health with our community and we encourage you to join us.

Please contact Janinne Walker, 206-293-6784 or email jwalker@highlinemedical.org, if you would like more information or if you are interested in donating.

by Mark Neuman

A top of the line mobile dental clinic continues to serve people in the Des Moines area courtesy of the members and volunteers of Grace Lutheran Church and the Des Moines Legacy Foundation.

Medical Teams International, formerly known as Northwest Medical Teams, began providing mobile dental services at Grace Lutheran Church a little over three years ago for local school children with no dental insurance and no ability to pay for dental services.

In April 2008, the mobile dental program at Grace was extended to offer free dental services to adults and seniors with no dental insurance or ability to pay.

The services utilizes a brand new, state-of-the-art van, which is made possible in part by a grant from Franciscan Health System.

The van sets up in the parking lot area of the church, which is located at 22975 24th Avenue South, in Des Moines (see map below).

The van arrives with a licensed dentist, hygienist, and a dental assistant.

The credo of the folks at Grace Lutheran is posted on a church wall:

“Our mission is to demonstrate the love of Christ to people affected by disaster, conflict and poverty.”

Donations from Waterland readers and neighbors, in support of the mobile dental van, are most welcome. Please make checks to Grace Lutheran Church, with a notation “Dental van program,” and mail it to:

Grace Lutheran Church
c/o Sandra Bollinger, Dental Van Site Coordinator
22975 24th Avenue South
Des Moines, WA 98198

Thanks to professional dental volunteers and donated supplies, every one dollar you give provides more than five dollars of dental care for a person in need.

Prospective patients must fill out a client application in advance and be given a specific appointment date and time.

For additional information or a client application, please call the site coordinator at 206-817-3698.

Here is the schedule for the remainder of the 2009 calendar year:

• September 11
• September 17
• October 16
• October 22
• November 20
• December 18

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Welcome our latest Advertiser to The Waterland Blog: Companion Animal Medical Center in Normandy Park!

There’s a new vet and clinic in town, Dr. Leslie Kasper and her Companion Animal Medical Center with a new philosophy on the care and treatment.

Dr. Kasper told us here The WLB, “We believe every pet is a member of a family, so why should your animal’s doctor visits be any different?”

At Companion Animal pet-parents will always feel comfortable and confident in their companion’s care. Dr. Kasper and her staff simply love animals. You can see it in the way they treat them. They’re all pet-parents too!

“Whether it is a simple vaccine or a major procedure, we will strive to educate you on your patient’s current condition, overall health, and any prevention or future care that may be warranted,” stated Dr. Kasper.

Area resident Dr. Leslie Kasper can’t remember a time she didn’t want to be a veterinarian. She gained experience working in the field as an assistant and technician through high school and undergraduate school.

As a 2005 graduate from Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, she initially worked in Cheney, WA at a mixed animal practice. Although she enjoyed working with the livestock and farmers, she missed her family in Western Washington.

Dr. Kasper (then Strelow) spent the next two-and-a-half years practicing in both Bellevue and Renton, where she developed the clinical medicine, professional and business skills she utilizes today.

Dr. Kasper and her hubby Mike share their Burien house with their pet-family that includes two miniature dachshunds, Piglet and Molly, as well as a DSH lilac torti named PufDuster and two adopted kittens – TuTu and Evalyn.

Services for your pet-family:
What can we say about services in 20 words or less? Dr. Kasper’s clinic is state of the art with the most advance medical equipment in the area. Some of her services are:

• Routine Examinations with Specialized Preventive Care
• Nutrition and Weight Management
• Soft Tissue Surgery
• Dental Prophylaxis and Oral Surgery
• In-House Laboratory Testing
• Digital Radiography (X-Rays)
• Geriatric and Hospice Care
• Housing and Boarding Facilities
• Behavioral Consultation

Top: Dr Kasper with Piglet and Molly, Lisa with Bella, Teghan with Boxer.
Bottom: Rose with Chance, Audrey with Lil’Girl.

Meet the staff:

• Audrey—Licensed Veterinarian Assistant (LVT) Hospital Manager, 11 years experience
• Lisa—final stages of schooling to become a LVT.
• Rose — Certified Veterinary Assistant, 4 years experience
• Teghan — Veterinary Assistant: New to veterinary field; studying for masters in Animal Behavior
• Melanie—LVT, and has been with Dr. Kasper through then entire rehabbing process

Also on the staff are:

• Lil’Girl (greeter)
• Chance (sniffer)
• Piglet and Molly (worry-warts)

If you drive on First Ave South through Normandy Park halfway between Burien and Des Moines, you’ve probably witnessed Companion Animal Medical Center come to life at 19655 First Ave. South in Normandy Park (map below).

Now you can stop by and welcome them to the neighborhood and check out their state of the art clinic.

Or call them at 206-878-0405.

Or visit their website here.

For hours of operation click here.

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by Janet Grella

As the sun sets on the last day of National Volunteer Month, The Waterland Blog wanted to highlight some of our local volunteer efforts in the community.

These unsung heroes deserve a pat on the back, as well as the ongoing praise and thank-you’s for their volunteer efforts that keep such entitities running as our own regional hospital Highline Medical Center, the Highline School District, Des Moines Senior Center and Des Moines Food Bank.

Highline Hospital recently celebrated their 300 volunteers at a luncheon at the Normandy Park Cove. One hundred were able to attend the party, which was catered by Emerald Cove Catering.

“One of our volunteers has supported us for 31 years….and has given more than 13,500 hours of service. Incredible!” noted Mara Burke, Director of Community Relations and Volunteer Services.

Mara called the hospital volunteers “a tremendous resource, and quite the gift. Over-all these volunteers contributed nearly 51,000 hours to the running of hosptial services in over 40 divisions at their Main Campus in Burien and their Speciality Campus at 16251 Military Road South in Tukwila. As a matter of fact, WLB was advised that over 16 percent of the hospital workforce is comprised of volunteers.

“As you can tell, we are extremely appreciative of all that our volunteers do to support our patients, staff and community, ”

If you are interested in joining the army of loyal volunteers at the medical center click here. There are positions for adults and teen volunteers, and they currently have 59 teen volunteers who work after school.

Highline Public Schools tells us that for the 2008-09 school year (through March ’09) they’ve had over 2,700 volunteers working over 30,000 hours.

Catherine Carbone Rogers, Director, Communitcation and Community Engagement told WLB “We have many volunteer activities available in schools. Suffice it to say that every school can use volunteer support.”

“We welcome community volunteers in all our schools. We have recently begun some work to bring more of a community focus to our schools in SeaTac and White Center, with funding from the Stuart Foundation. Fourteen of our schools in SeaTac and White Center now have “community schools” programs, which provide academic and enrichment opportunities for students outside the school day. We have partnered with Community Schools Collaboration, a local non-profit organization, to coordinate these programs, which are often created by and staffed by community volunteers and community-based organizations,” Catherine told WLB.

To volunteer at our local public schools stop by any school to fill out an application. You will have a Washington State Patrol background check to qualify for school volunteering.

“As funding becomes available, we want to expand community schools programs to all our schools district-wide. This will provide many more opportunities for community members to be involved in schools” she continued.

Des Moines Senior Activity center celebrated their 167 volunteers with a luncheon party at the Activity Center. Eighty volunteers were in attendance. Sue Padden of the Senior Activity Center told WLB that “My volunteer hours for 2008 from the senior activity center were 22,000. We have over 50 program areas where volunteers are involved, from coordinating, managing and planning the program, to helping out with driving residents to medical appointments, helping deliver a meal to a homebound senior.”

Sue went on to say “It’s not how many candles…it’s how BRIGHT the flame!!! I have the pleasure of working with the most dynamic, caring, active, joyful, committed older adults. Our senior activity center is ONLY as good as the people who support, plan and participate in our programs…SUPER volunteers!! To volunteer give the Senior Center a call 878-1642.

Our local food bank could use your help. Understaffed but working hard, the Des Moines Food Bank is serving more and more people. Generous donations, fundraisers and smart buying help them keep the food stocked. Volunteers help keep the merchandise flowing to people in need.

Barb Shimizu, DMFB Program Coordinator, explains that “Volunteers are the heart of the food bank. They are involved in everything we do–picking up food, sorting food, greeting clients, serving food, running our backpack program, helping with statistics, serving as board members and innumerable other special projects.”

Here’s a few facts about the DMFB:

• In 2008, the food bank was able to serve over 1.2 million lbs of food to almost 10,000 different individuals throughout the year with only 2 employees.
• This is possible because volunteers provide us with the equivalent of over 23 full-time workers.
• Thanks to volunteers, they are able to run a business worth over $2 million per year on less than $250,000.
• This is a true community effort and a safety net that works.
• To find out more about volunteering for DMFB click here or call 878-2660.

When you volunteer you give the gift of your time to those less fortunate than you. Be there for them. Volunteer!

Effective Friday, May 1st, Woodmont Elementary School in Des Moines is one of four schools in King County to close due to probable swine flu infections.

No classes will be held, and all students are asked to stay home.

King County Public Health, working with both the Federal Way and Seattle School Districts decided Thursday that the best course of action is to close all schools where probable cases may have attended for at least seven days.

The schools, which are all scheduled to re-open May 8th, include:

• Woodmont Elementary, located at 26454 16th Ave South in Des Moines will close starting Friday May 1st
• Madrona K-8, which was closed today and will open again on March 7.
• Seattle’s Aki Kurose Middle School
• Stevens Elementary K-8 in Seattle

Here’s a letter that was published on the school’s website (PDF) from Superintendent Tom Murphy:

April 30, 2009

Dear Federal Way Public Schools Students, Families and Staff:

We have received notification from the King County Health Department that a student at Woodmont Elementary has a probable case of H1N1 Influenza (“swine flu”). At the end of school today, the building will be closed for seven days. Parents have been asked to keep their students home. The school will re-open on Monday, May 11.

Obviously, the H1N1 Flu situation continues to change quickly. It’s not unlikely that we will see more cases of H1N1 Flu and school closures in our district. Federal Way Public Schools staff members are working closely with the local, state, and national health agencies to investigate any illnesses and/or infections.  While this is a time to prepare, it’s not time to panic. In 2005, when “bird flu” concerns emerged, the State Department of Health, OSPI, and other state and local agencies created a multi-step plan to deal with a possible pandemic. That plan is helping schools and government agencies decide a course of action as this flu outbreak runs its course.

Here’s what Federal Way Public Schools is doing. First, students or staff with a fever of 100 degrees or higher are asked to stay home. If these individuals are experiencing other symptoms – primarily headaches, body aches and coughing – they will be directed to go to a health care provider.  The health care provider is responsible for determining if the individual may be infected with the H1N1 Flu. When H1N1 Flu is a possibility, a sample will be sent to the King County Health Department, who will run a test. If H1N1 Flu is confirmed, the district will be notified by the Health Department and will take the measures they direct us to.

In Washington, the local Health Department is in charge of determining if and when a school will be closed. King County Health has already determined that in the event of even a single H1N1 Flu case among staff or students, a school will be closed for a period of seven days. While the school is closed, the district’s maintenance staff will take measures to thoroughly disinfect the building.

Keep in mind that it’s allergy season in Washington, meaning sniffles, sinus headaches and stuffy noses are common. In addition, the normal flu season is still winding down. Testing for the specific virus is the only way to know which flu these individuals have.  Staff and parents will be notified of a case of H1N1 flu, but not if a child or staff member is sent home with another illness. H1N1 flu is much more severe than colds or allergy symptoms.  Its symptoms are fever, sore throat, cough, body aches, headaches, chills, and fatigue. The illness may last up to seven days, but people are considered to be contagious as long as symptoms persist. If you or your child is showing mild flu-like symptoms, telephone your physician if necessary or your school’s nurse.

Here’s what you can do to prevent the spread of H1N1 Flu:

• Sneeze or cough into a tissue, elbow or sleeve. Throw the tissue in the trash after use.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Children may bring hand sanitizer to school; classrooms are stocked with it as well. However, soap and water are still the best germ-killers!
• Again – if you are sick, stay home.

If you have any questions feel free to call the Seattle King County Public Health Department at (206) 296-4949 or visit www.kingcounty.gov/health or visit the Centers for Disease Control website, www.cdc.gov.

You may also contact FWPS Health Services Coordinator Sue Overton at 253-945-4575.

Sincerely,
Tom Murphy, Superintendent

For more information, including updates on probable cases, please visit King County Public Health’s special swine flu website here.

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by Scott Schaefer

Just after 9pm Wednesday evening (4/29), King County Public Health Department announced that three probable cases of swine flu (H1N1) have been identified in the county.

All three were reported to be in Seattle, with none reported as being specific to the Des Moines area, but keep in mind that no associated zip codes of where the victims were from were released.

Laboratory samples have been sent to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Public Health – Seattle & King County is awaiting final confirmation.

Also today, the World Health Organization raised its pandemic swine flu alert level to Phase 5 – its second-highest level, and one that includes the language “a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent.”

The CDC has determined that the swine flu virus H1N1 is contagious and is spreading from human to human.

Symptoms of swine flu include:

• A fever of more than 100°F
• Coughing
• Joint aches
• Severe headache
• And, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea

“Now that swine flu is likely in King County, we expect to see more infections, but it’s too early to say how severe the illnesses will be. We are working to provide needed information and assistance to these people and their families. We are also working with health care providers and community partners to prepare in the event that the situation becomes more serious,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County.

“We’ve prepared for this day for the past four years, and now we must all do our part to reduce its spread,” said Ron Sims, King County Executive. “We encourage everyone to get prepared at home, find out about plans at your job, and take steps to protect yourself, your family and the community by staying home when you are sick, washing your hands often and covering your coughs and sneezes.”

“In the last few years, Seattle has prepared for pandemic flu. We will activate our Emergency Operations Center at the first level so our emergency operations personnel can coordinate procedures and communications,” said Greg Nickels, Seattle Mayor.

As of April 29, there are three probable cases of swine flu in King County, in addition to two cases in Snohomish County and one case in Spokane County.

The three King County residents with probable swine flu include:

• A male child of Seattle who was hospitalized and is improving
• A male in his 20s from Seattle, not hospitalized and improving
• A woman in her 30s from Seattle, not hospitalized and improving

Officials did not release any other information, such as whether the victims had traveled to Mexico recently.

When should you seek medical care?

Use the same judgment you would use during a typical flu season. Do not seek medical care if you are not ill or have mild symptoms for which you would not ordinarily seek medical care. If you have more severe symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, body aches or are feeling more seriously ill, call your health care provider to discuss your symptoms and if you need to be evaluated.

Public Health will continue to work with health care providers to test flu patients who develop severe illness or are associated with clusters, but does not currently recommend testing for all flu patients.

If the following flu-like symptoms are mild, medical attention is not typically required: runny nose or nasal stuffiness; low-grade fever for less than 3 days; mild headache; body aches and mild stomach upset.

What can I do now to get prepared?

This is an excellent time to get prepared at home and work for a possible influenza pandemic. See www.kingcounty.gov/health/pandemicflu

Everyday behaviors to stay healthy

• If you are sick, stay home from work or school.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• To further prevent the spread of germs, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Avoid close contact with sick people

What is swine flu?

“Swine flu” is an influenza A (H1N1) virus normally found in pigs. There are many such viruses and they rarely infect humans. The virus currently causing human illness is a new type of swine flu that has developed the ability to infect people and be transmitted from person to person.

Although this new virus is called “swine flu,” it is not transmitted from pigs to humans, or from eating pork products. Like other respiratory diseases, it is spread from person to person through coughs and sneezes. When people cough or sneeze, they spread germs through the air or onto surfaces that other people may touch.

Rest assured The Waterland Blog will be following this story closely, and we urge all readers to be vigilant in following the directions listed above, as well as seeking immediate help if you suffer from any associated flu-like symptoms.

For more information and frequent updates: www.kingcounty.gov/health/swineflu, or call the Public Health Hotline: 206-296-4949.

Here’s a link to a PDF called “Pandemic Flu Planning Guide” which is probably now worth a close read.

Monday afternoon (4/27), the King County Council held a special session on the swine flu with public health experts, who reassured councilmembers that despite heightened monitoring, the swine flu that recently originated in Mexico has not yet spread to the area.

No cases of swine flu have yet to be reported in Des Moines, let alone King County or the entire state of Washington, according to Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. He said the 40 cases confirmed in the U.S. have been mild, with no serious illnesses or deaths.

“At Public Health we are actively preparing with our partners for the real possibility of swine flu here in our region,” said Dr. Fleming. “Whether or not swine flu arrives in King County, now is the time to get prepared. The more we are all prepared at home, the better we’ll be able to respond and recover.”

He said Public Health has asked local health care providers to notify them of suspected swine flu cases and has made arrangements with the state Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for the submittal of suspect lab specimens.

Dr. Jeff Duchin, Disease Control Officer for Communicable Disease at Public Health – Seattle & King County, said the CDC has asked to receive all suspect lab specimens to ensure that cases that may appear as seasonal flu are not in fact the new strain of swine flu. He also said local providers are being advised on how to screen patients who present flu-like symptoms and that Public Health will investigate any cases of severe unexplained respiratory illness. Dr. Duchin said Public Health is recommending that the public not seek health care that they would not otherwise seek.

“Today I was pleased to hear that King County is as prepared as any jurisdiction in the event of a pandemic flu,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson, chair of the King County Board of Health. “However, I am concerned that given the cuts proposed in the state budget and impending cuts to the County budget, our health department will have reduced capacity to respond to emergencies in the future.”

“The Council’s work in recent years calling for a pandemic flu response plan and stockpiling of Tamiflu means we are mobilized and ready to respond if swine flu strikes King County,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, sponsor of legislation to create a Pandemic Flu Preparedness Plan for King County.

Dr. Fleming said the framework already laid out by the King County Council for the County’s comprehensive planning for pandemic flu will provide effective guidance and that the current response will provide useful lessons for updating the plan. The Council in 2007 adopted the Pandemic Flu Preparedness Plan that recognizes:

• the County’s role in regional public health and emergency management response.
• the County’s duty as both a regional service provider and a local service provider for continued provision of police and paramedics, bus service, wastewater treatment and other public services in the event of a pandemic flu, and
• the County’s duty as a large employer to ensure that its own workplaces help prevent the spread of pandemic flu.

At Sea-Tac Airport, there’s no unusual alert or extra screenings of passengers yet, according to Port of Seattle spokesman Perry Cooper.

However, the airport does have a quarantine zone at the south satellite that has room for several hundred people. Apparently it’s only been used once before during a screening for avian flu.

Alaska Airlines flies daily to and from Mexico, and the next plane from Mexico City is due to arrive Wednesday.

More information about emergency health preparedness can be found at www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/pandemicflu.aspx.

For more information on Swine Flu, visit this website.

Here’s a “Swine Flu” map that shows that the nearest cases were up in Vancouver, B.C. and involved two men who had recently traveled to Mexico:

View H1N1 Swine Flu in a larger map

A big Waterlandblog welcome goes out to our latest Advertiser: Char Schulz and her State Farm Insurance agency in Des Moines!

Char’s the Agent in the light grey house on the corner of 7th and 222nd. She’s been in this location since 1987, and will celebrate her 30th anniversary as a State Farm agent–all in the Des Moines area–on October 1st.

Char’s been part of the Des Moines community for so long it’s hard to imagine life here without her. She grew up in the Bay Area, where she fondly remembers riding her bike or walking across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco to Sausalito as a kid, or hanging out in the Haight listing to Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead and other famous bands from the ‘60s–for free! Her mom has lived in the city of San Francisco all her life. Char returns often to visit her or attend reunions of her schools and Girl Scouts.

That’s right, Girl Scouts! One little known fact is that Char has been a Girl Scout for 55 years. Char refers to the Girl Scouts as the ‘sisterhood.’ She originally moved to the area to work professionally for the Girl Scouts in Tacoma. She organized volunteers and camps before she went into the insurance business. She continues to volunteer for the organization. She moved to the area so long ago that THERE WAS NO ESPRESSO COFFEE IN SEATTLE!

That was 1972, and we’ve come a long way since then.

It is her lifelong experience with the Girl Scouts that led to her community involvement and giving back. Years ago she was on the Des Moines Chamber of Commerce board where she had such honors as hosting the Waterland Festival’s 25th Anniversary luncheon and has marched in the Waterland parade as a clown. She had clown training that she still remembers. She was also a Waterland Commodore.

In the mid-80s when the Des Moines Rotary opened its doors to women members, she was recruited by Bob “Coach” Roach to be among the first women members. She continues as a long-time active member of Rotary (Char is the person who tipped WLB on the couple we reported on who met at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival last year who got married last week).

As a community activist, Char was a founding member and is Vice President of the Des Moines Legacy Foundation. The Foundation provides funding for Parks, Recreation and Senior Services. This year she will serve as Chairman for the Legacy Foundation’s 10th annual Bayside Brunch fundraiser at Anthony’s.

Char says of working in her State Farm Insurance Agency: “I love working with my customers. I enjoy doing reviews to help them manage their risks of everyday life.” Many of her customers started with Char when she began as an agent nearly 30 years ago. They now have kids and grandkids who have turned to Char to help with their insurance needs. Her State Farm agency handles all aspects of the insurance business, including:

• Auto
• Homeowners
• Life
• Business
• Health, which includes:
  • Temporary Health Insurance
  • Long-Term Care
  • Disability
  • Hospital Income

What’s next for Char Schulz besides helping people with their insurance needs? As an avid gardener, she’d like to take courses to become a master gardener and buy a motor home to travel with her black standard poodle Raven just for fun.

Char is “proud to be part of the Waterland Community serving insurance needs of the Des Moines area.”

You can find Char and her other agents Dawna Rhodes and Molly Gibson at 22206 7th Ave South, call her at 206-878-2520, or click on her Ad to check out her website.

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The Waterland Blog welcomes its latest Advertiser with a big bright smile formed by straight shiny teeth: Des Moines Orthodontics!

Dr. Douglas Peyton and his staff are specialists in providing orthodontic care for children, teens and adults. They provide a wide range of orthodontic services including high-tech self ligating braces, clear braces, Invisalign and Teen Invisalign.

Dr. Peyton and his long-time staff have been providing the highest quality orthodontic care to the Des Moines community for over 20 years. Their highly-trained staff works together as a team to deliver personalized care in a warm, inviting and fun atmosphere. They are dedicated to providing each patient with a life long gift-a beautiful healthy smile to improve your self confidence. They recognize that every patient is different and individualize treatment depending on their needs.

Dr. Peyton’s devoted staff includes Bobbie, the office administrator who’s been with him for over 20 years, but has been involved in all aspects or orthodontics for over 36 years. Orthodontic technicians include Kerri who has 23 years of orthodontic experience, 15 with Dr. Peyton. Then there is Gail, who has been a team member for 13 years with orthodontic experience dating back 30 years. The new kid on “Dr. Peyton’s block” is Analee, who joined the practice in 2008 with over 16 years of experience in the field. Kim, who makes the reception area a warm and inviting place, has been with Dr. Peyton since 2005 and brings eight years of general dentistry experience and knowledge to the practice as well. Kim was a previous orthodontic patient of Dr. Peyton’s and that puts a whole new spin on things as far as identifying with his patients. It’s these devoted gals that make everyone feel at home when they visit the practice.

Dr. Peyton is a native to the greater Seattle area. He graduated from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 1982. After a few years of general dentistry, he returned to school and received his orthodontic specialty education at the University of Southern California. Since his 1987, graduation Dr. Peyton has maintained a private practice in Des Moines limited to orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.

The philosophy at Des Moines Orthodontics is based on honesty and integrity, providing the right treatment at the right time for the right reasons. This office would love to welcome you to their orthodontic family and they look forward to exceeding your expectations. You can find Dr. Peyton and his expert orthodontic staff Tuesday-Friday from 7 am-5pm at 22221 7th Ave South (map below).

For a complimentary initial orthodontic evaluation, call them at 206-824-8288.

Des Moines Orthodontics’ new website is under construction, so you’ll have to check the practice out in person. He and his staff invite you to stop by!

WLB will let our readers know when the site is ready for viewing.

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On Tuesday, Burien’s Highline Medical Center laid off 85 management and staff positions.

CEO Mark Benedum said, “Today is an incredibly difficult and painful day for us. In order to assure our financial stability, we had to reduce 85 management and staff positions at both campuses through a lay-off. In many cases, these are individuals who have given years of service and significant contributions to our organization. This was not an easy decision and it was something I had hoped we would not have to do.”

Like most hospitals both locally and nationally, Highline Medical Center has been hit hard by the declining economy. Highline’s net revenue has been negatively impacted by both a decrease in outpatient volumes and an increase in uncompensated care. These factors led to significant financial losses in December and January and a projected loss in February.

Benedum continued, “We have taken actions to respond to the decline in the economy. While we initially believed that these measures would allow us to manage the economic fall-out, it was not enough. We cannot continue to spend more than we are earning. Continued losses of this magnitude are not an option. We have a responsibility to our patients and the community to reduce our costs and remain financially viable.”

The vast majority of positions that were eliminated were not involved in direct patient care.

Highline Medical Center first opened in 1958 as Burien General Hospital. It now includes two healthcare campuses and more than 20 clinics across Southwest King County. As the tenth-busiest emergency department in the Puget Sound region, Highline serves as the base station for the Burien area emergency medical unit. In 2008, Highline broke ground on a new ER & Patient Care unit, which is slated to open in early 2010.

More information is available at their website: www.highlinemedicalcenter.org.

Highline Community College will be doing what it can to resuscitate the local unemployment rate by holding a Health Care Job Fair on Wednesday, Mar. 4th in the student union building on its main campus.

It’s sponsored by HCC’s Workforce Development Services, and Employers from the Puget Sound area will be recruiting for jobs in many health care related fields, including:

• Nursing
• Respiratory care
• Medical assisting
• Medical transcriptionist
• Phlebotomy
• Polysomnographic technology
• Optician-licensed dispensing
• Chemical dependency

Here are the details:

WHAT: Health Care Job Fair

WHEN: Wednesday, March 4th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Highline Community College’s main campus, Highline Student Union (Building 8), 2nd floor;Highline’s main campus is located midway between Seattle and Tacoma at South 240th Street and Pacific Highway South (Highway 99); address: 2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines, WA 98198.

COST: FREE and open to the public

INFO: Employers scheduled to participate include Advanced Health Care, Cascade Regional Blood Services, Good Samaritan Hospital, Regency Pacific, Sea Mar Community Health Centers, Valley Medical Center and Virginia Mason Medical Center.

The job fair coincides with Highline’s Health Information Fair, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Highline Student Union, 1st floor. The information fair features student booths that explore health-related issues and booths that highlight Highline’s health care programs.

SPONSOR: HCC’s Workforce Development Services

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