May is Mental Health Month from Rene Santiago

 Message from René G. Santiago 

May is Mental Health Matters Month. Our Behavioral Health Services Department has been leading efforts to help reduce the stigma around mental health. Stigma is when someone views a person in a negative way just because they have a mental health condition. Some people describe stigma as a feeling of shame or being judged by someone else. Fighting stigma is key to getting people the care they need and preventing suicides. 

Last year the department conducted a successful campaign geared towards middle aged men, the group with the highest suicide rate in Santa Clara County. The Suicide Prevention communication work group used research to learn what messages and images would work best. This was important to reducing the stigma around seeking help for mental health issues. During the campaign the percentage of calls from these men to the Suicide and Crisis Hotline doubled. Because it was so successful, the campaign is set to run again. 

The department is also working on a number of initiatives to encourage youth in our community to seek help. Since young people text more than make phone calls, a text crisis line will be added to Crisis and Suicide Hotline services. A social media campaign to young people will also be launched this summer. It’s a bit of a myth that more people attempt suicide in the winter and over the holidays. Unfortunately, suicides are attempted by all groups all year long. 

Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. 1 in 5 Americans will be affected by a mental health condition in their lifetime and every American is affected or impacted through their friends and family. To help anyone in our community access services for themselves, family or friends, the department will be implementing a one phone number point of entry. This will go a long way in helping people get to the services they need. 

Suicide is the second leading cause of death of youth ages 15-24 and the 10th leading cause of death for all Americans. These numbers demonstrate why these activities and so many other initiatives taken on by our Behavioral Health Services Department and their partners are so important to the health and well-being of our community. 

You can help to reduce stigma and raise awareness about the importance of mental health. When you are posting or tweeting, spread the word by showing #MillionsLikeMe. You can also learn more about collaborative efforts at http://www.eachmindmatters.org/ 

Santa Clara County: Universal Coverage for Children

Renee Santiago is the directory at Valley Medical.  He presented this to everyone about initiatives in Santa Clara County to make sure all children have insurance.  He reports that as access to medical services has improved for children, so too has the health of children.  

 Message from René G. Santiago 

In 2001, the Board of Supervisors made Santa Clara County the first county in America to insure all low-to moderate-income children. Last week, our Board reviewed and accepted a report documenting how children are doing currently and since 2001. The good news is that children and youth of Santa Clara County have nearly gained 100% universal coverage since 2001. Additionally, they are reporting improved access to care and prevention, and overwhelmingly their self-reported health status levels are in the positive of ‘good’ to ‘excellent’ health. This is sound policy and decision-making at its best. 

In Washington, D.C., there is much public debate about repeal, replace, and/or repair of national health reform. We certainly need to continue to be active and informed about these discussions because of their likely impacts. Nonetheless, we also need to keep in mind that our core values, decisions, and behaviors are ultimately critical to our success of “Better Health for All.” 

Children and youth are our future. In Santa Clara County, they represent one quarter of the County’s total population. They are Latino (36%), Caucasian (about 1/3) Asian (another 1/3), and African-American (2%). Some of the good news from the report: teen birth rates are declining; fewer youth are involved in the juvenile justice system; and, kids are getting the immunizations they need before they go to kindergarten. 

However, the assessment by our public health department also revealed persistent gaps and disparities. These include: 9% of the children in our community live below the federal poverty line with 17% of African American and 16% of Latino children living below the line. Although the high school graduation rate for all children stands at 84%, the rate for Latino students is lower at 71%. Also, many communities still experience difficulty navigating an often complex system of health and other services. 

Access, affordability, and reliable care and treatment will continue to be a primary focus for all of us regardless of what happens at the federal level. For those reasons, our public health team, community leaders, and other stakeholders identified key strategies to improve the health and well-being of every child and youth in our County. These include: 

● Supporting efforts to stop bullying and violence among children. 

● Supporting expand quality, affordable childcare and quality universal preschool. 

● Expanding and improving access to high-quality medical and dental services. 

● Expanding healthy food nutrition programs. 

● Increasing high-quality, affordable housing. 

● Addressing structural racism that contributes to inequitable outcomes. 

● Adopting universal developmental screenings for all children. 

Our challenge going forward will be to continue making progress at the same time we manage the risks of ‘repeal and replace’ of the Affordable Care Act. It is vital that we continue to improve access, be a cost effective and efficient health system, and ultimately maintain our “eyes on the prize” of Better Health for All. Achieving these goals will be more important than ever before. 

If you need to have a “light” moment about why this is important, check out SCVMC’s new marketing plan featuring little ones born at the hospital cheering us on 

https://www.scvmc.org/about/go-public/Pages/tv-spot.aspx 

The new ad campaign for VMC

Fellow Employees:

As many of us know from the direct experience of our family, friends, and loved ones, the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center plays a pivotal role in the health and wellbeing of the entire county community.  Over 8000 of our fellow county employees are delivering outstanding patient care day in and day out, in addition to leading-edge research and medical innovation, with centers of excellence in burn treatment, diabetes, trauma, rehabilitation, children’s and women’s health.  It’s one of the many shining examples of what makes those who live and work in Santa Clara County proud.

For the first time in its 140-year history, the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center is launching an advertising campaign to raise awareness of the fact that our public healthcare system is providing the highest levels of medical care to all segments of our county community.  Our campaign messages will be promoted in commercials, radio, transit shelters, billboards, cinemas, the San Jose Airport, on VTA buses, print ads, and the Internet (you can view the TV ad here).  As you’ll see, the campaign features a provocative "go public" theme, which conveys our public foundation while illuminating themes familiar to many who live here in the Silicon Valley. 

In a very real sense, “Go Public” applies to us all in whatever capacity we serve on the County of Santa Clara team.   We will be doing more to promote all that we do as we move forward, proudly conveying, as the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center has just done, the value we provide to our community.  

Jeffrey V. Smith M.D., J.D.

County Executive

50 Years of Medicare, MediCal

A letter from the medical director from Santa Clara valley Medical Center where I work.  He is talking about the 50 year anniversaries of medicare and MediCal in California.  The theme is "Better Health  for All."

Medications for Mental Health

Medications are such an integral part of treatment for mental illness.  This brochure gives a brief overview.  Of course information is given about specific medication when is is prescribed.

Each category includes specific medications.  Of course each medication comes with benefits.  Medications are taken to reduce symptoms, prevent relapse and improve quality of life.  Successful medication treatment requires taking them as prescribed, take them at the same time each day, do not change you dose, follow instructions with regards to take with food or not, do not stop taking or reduce the dose without talking to your doctor.  Report to your doctor and allergies you may have, if you are taking other drugs , including street drugs, are pregnant or breast-feeding, have diabetes, kidney liver or heart disease, are on a special diet, drink alcohol or smoke, experience side effects.

Burn Safety and Burn Center Nurse Manager

Please be mindful of the season and take care.

On Monday, June 27^th, SCVMC teamed up with officials from the Santa Clara Fire and Sheriff's Department and the San Jose Fire and Police Departments to improve public awareness about the danger of illegal fireworks.  Our own Jill Sproul , RN, Nurse Manger of our Burn Center joined other County leaders at this Community event held at Vasona Park in Los Gatos. Jill provided the following advice to members of the Santa Clara Community:

• "The staff at the Burn Center at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center have been treating pediatric and adult burn patients for the past 46 years.  Every 4^th of July season we treat several patients with burn and blast injuries as the result of illegal fireworks.
• Despite our prevention efforts few people understand the associated risks, lifelong effects and devastating disability that occurs after a burn injury.
• In addition to life threatening injuries, years of rehabilitation, burn injuries can cause disfigurement and loss of function.
• After working in Burn care for 26 years I can tell you people do not think it will happen to them.
• As a burn survivor myself from a gasoline explosion I sustained as a child- I am here to tell you burns do not discriminate and it can happen to you.
• According to the National Fire Protection Agency, Emergency rooms across the country will treat thousands of people over the next few weeks due to fireworks related injuries.
• This time of year we also see an increase in camp fire related injuries, BBQ accidents and burns sustained from covering hot coals at the beach.
• Our goal this year at the Burn Center is to have no fireworks related burn injuries, as EVEN ONE is too many.
• We ask that you help us in preventing burn injuries by not participating in the use of illegal fireworks. Our hope is that you and your families have a safe and injury free Fourth of July Holiday!
• 

Tobacco and your Body

 ON the left you see healthy lungs, and on the right smoker's lungs.  The good thing is the lungs start to clean themselves when you stop smoking. Tobacco contains more than 1000 chemicals.  This include nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide carcinogens and poisons.  Some of the poisons are highlighted in this picture.

 You can imagine what effect these things have on your body.  Nicotine causes addiction.  The cardiovascular system is greatly effected.  This can include blood clots, pneumonia, heart attack stroke, chest pain, high blood pressure, etc  Also the addiction results in withdrawal symptoms.  Risk of cancer is increased, most often in the lungs but also in the esophagus pancreas and other organs.  The reproductive system is also effected.  However, as mentioned above, quitting tobacco can result in almost immediate benefits.

Hand Hygiene: A Big Deal Before Covid

There is more to know about hand hygiene than you would think.  First, poor hand hygiene is the number one cause of the spread of infectious disease in a hospital system.  When you wash your hand you should not skimp on the soap, nor the time.  To prevent chapping or side effects form lots of washing you should pat your hands dry over rubbing them dry.  Also after washing your hands you should turn the water off with a towel rather than touch the handle and get your hands dirty again.  Rings are not recommended while working.  They have sharp edges which can cause injury.  Germs seem to gather under a ring.  And finally those who wear a ring have a tendency to wash their hands less often.

E-Training: Hazardous Materials

The most important detail here is to be aware if you work with hazardous material you are entitled to see the Material Safety Data Sheets.  These sheets include identification of the material, identifies the manufacturer, safe handling, description and what to do for crisis situations.  I don't work directly with these materials but they are around at home and at work.  It is best to know what you are doing when using them

**E-Training: Fire Safety

This hits home in my life right now as I heal from a burn on my back after lighting myself on fire.  Fire is something you have to be carful with, and there are many sources of burns in our homes and at work.   Fire requires three things, heat, oxygen and fuel.  You fight fire by removing one of these things.  When you discover a fire in the hospital RACE--Rescue or remove those at risk, Initiate alert system, Contain the fire (such as closing door) and Extinguish.  As for using the extinguisher pull the pin, aim at the base, squeeze the handle and sweep from side to side.

**E-Training: Infectious Diseases

The things I took from this training is that the two most important methods to avoid spreading germs and disease is to wash you hands frequently and the second is to cough correctly; not into you hand but into the crook of your elbow.  Being aware of these two measure will go a long way to prevent the spread of disease.

**Diabetes and Sharps

A major problem for diabetes is what to do with you testing materials, and if you are using insulin what to do with the sharps  The trash is not the correct answer as they are considered biomedical hazards.

I have found I can get the container at a local pharmacy and they are inexpensive.  I could probably ask my pharmacy for one but that is a pain.  The Valley Medical pharmacy does have a sharps return bin such as seen here.  It is a pain to carry them from home, but I have a sharps container at home and one at work, which is at Valley MediCal Center.

**Santa Clara Valley Medical Center: Your Health: Diabetes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrGhAEwkv0o&list=UUEBqPBM4kLVhTH4Auzp3PSw
There are a series of informational videos produced by the hospital where I work, Valley Medical Center in San Jose, CA.  In this video Dr. Tyler Aguinaldo and Carrie Wickware RN explain how diabetes works, and some of the risks from diabetes.  They explain that in type I diabetes or juvenile diabetes our body doesn't produce insulin.  However in type II diabetes the body produces insulin, but does not use it correctly.  Common symptoms of diabetes are frequent thirst and urination.  Other symptoms may be tingling in the hands, blurred vision, fatigue and weight loss.  Slow-healing sores and frequent infections can also point to diabetes.  However most people with diabetes do not have symptoms, and are identified through blood tests. 
People with type I diabetes are insulin dependent.  However with type II diabetes, exercise, weight loss and diet viable treatment options.  Medications are also available.  However, sometimes insulin is also needed.
Education can be the best tool to handle diabetes.  How to check blood levels/  How your diet effects blood sugar?  How to use exercise to lower sugar levels?  Lifestyle changes can prevent and have a big impact on previously diagnosed diabetes.

**Doctor-Patient Relationship: Valley Medical Center: Health Shorts

http://www.scvmc.org/patients/health/Pages/yourhealth.aspx
This is a website dedicated to the doctor-patient relationship.  There are a couple of short videos featuring Dr. Jeff Arnold, Chief medical officer at Valley Medical Center.  Questions are an important part of the relationship.  The web page includes about thirty questions you might want to ask your doctor.  It also includes about fifteen questions to ask if surgery is being considered.  The more the patient is involved in care, the more positive will be the results.