Improving Health Care Access in Rural Utah

(Salt Lake City, UT) – For many Utahns, getting medical care means much more than just hopping in the car and driving 15 minutes to the nearest health facility.  Many residents who live in rural areas must drive an hour or more to get care. 

Utah isn’t the only state with residents facing that dilemma.  For that reason, on November 15, 2012, state and national leaders will spotlight the importance of rural health by observing National Rural Health Day.  In Utah, Governor Gary Herbert has named November 11-17 as Utah Rural Health Week.  The designation is meant to reinforce the commitment from all sectors to improve access to and quality of health service in rural communities.

Utah statistics underscore the need to focus on small communities. One in every four Utahns lives in a rural (more than six but fewer than 100 people per square mile) or frontier (six or fewer people per square mile) county. Of Utah’s 29 counties, only four are urban, while 12 are rural and 13 are frontier.

As part of Rural Health Week, the Utah Office of Primary Care and Rural Health is holding a photo contest.  Entries should “communicate the concept of rural,” and will be judged on creativity, originality, photo quality, and the picture’s overall appeal.  Submissions must be original and taken during 2012.  Prizes will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.  Winners will be selected on Friday, November 16, 2012.  Entries may be e-mailed to Owen Quinonez at oquinone@utah.gov.

All 50 states maintain a State Office of Rural Health (SORH) to foster relationships, disseminate information, and provide technical assistance that improves access to, and quality of, health care for its rural citizens.

As Utah’s SORH, the Utah Office of Primary Care and Rural Health (OPCRH) contributes $540,000 in grants to rural health organizations to help residents access primary care and mental health and dental services. Additionally, OPCRH provides more than $160,000 in grants to rural hospitals to support projects to improve health care in their communities.

For more information about National Rural Health Day, visit www.celebratepowerofrural.org. To learn more about NOSORH, visit www.nosorh.org. And for more information about the Utah Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, visit http://health.utah.gov/primarycare/ or contact Owen Quinonez, Community Health Specialist, at oquinone@utah.gov  or by phone at 801-273-6620.

Media Contact:

Owen Quinonez 

Program Manager

(801) 273-6620

 

UDOH and Subway® Partner for Great American Smokeout

What:   In an effort to give smokers a head start on quitting for the Great American Smokeout on Nov. 15, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) and Subway are offering every Utahn who pledges to give up tobacco a free quit kit and a 6-inch Subway sandwich.

Additionally, anyone who calls the Utah Tobacco Quit Line between November 14 and 25 will receive a smoking cessation kit that includes a card good for a free 6-inch sub at any Subway in Utah.

Why:     Each year, more than 1,100 Utah adults die as a result of their own smoking.

When:   Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Where:  Salt Lake County Government Center

               2001 So. State Street, Salt Lake City

Additional locations giving free quit kits and cards good for a free six-inch sub for the first 40 people are:

·   Magna Recreation Center (3270 South 8400 West, Magna)

·   Pride Center (361 North 300 West, Salt Lake City)

·   Salt Lake County Archives (4535 S. 5600 W., West Valley City)

For information on quitting, call the Utah Tobacco Quit Line at 1.800.QUIT.NOW or visit Utah QuitNet at www.UtahQuitNet.com.

For a Subway location near you, visit www.subway.com.

For more information, contact:

Amy Oliver

Tobacco Prevention and Control Program

(o) 801-538-6917  (c) 801-783-9067

Statewide Push for Mammograms Underway

(SALT LAKE CITY) – Utah has the 2nd lowest screening rates for breast cancer in the nation. The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Cancer Control Program (UCCP) hosted the first-ever Utah Mammography Action Summit to directly address why women are not getting screened.

The gathering brought stakeholders and advocates together to map out a plan to increase the numbers of Utah women who get regular mammograms.  The invitation-only event was held Thursday, November 8, at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center. One of the goals of the conference was to join efforts to overcome some of the barriers that keep women from getting screened.  These include time limitations, the cost of the screening, and not understanding the importance of mammograms.

“Breast cancer will affect 1 in every 8 women in this country,” said Lynne Nilson, UCCP Breast and Cervical Cancer Program Manager.  “By getting mammograms, breast cancer can be found early.  This summit has brought together a stronger, united team of professionals to uncover why women don’t get screened, and make a plan for changing their thinking about mammography,” Nilson added.

Partners included representatives from all major hospitals, local and state government, nonprofit organizations, and members of the media. The Summit will educate about plans of action through presentations from state and national experts and large and small group discussions.  The hope is that participants were empowered to take action steps to promote breast cancer screening in their own capacities. 

Outspoken cancer advocates, including KUTV2 news anchor Mary Nickles, were featured speakers. Nickels shared her experience of getting a mammogram for a feature story through KUTV2 News.  As a result, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and has shared her story publicly through KUTV and other venues. 

“We wanted community leaders to come together as one force to improve the number of women who receive this life saving screening.” Lynne said, “We want to see women in Utah like Mary Nickels taking steps to save their own lives,” she said.

Media Contact:

Sylinda Lee

Media Coordinator

(W) 801-538-6829 (C) 435-760-0685

Death of Georgia Newborn: It Doesn’t Have to Happen Here

 (Salt Lake City, UT) – An investigation in Georgia is revealing grim details of a 21-year-old woman who gave birth alone in her family home. It is suspected that the woman then stabbed her newborn to death.  She is now in a hospital recovering from blood loss due to the delivery and is under arrest for suspicion of murder.

“This horrific incident did not have to happen. There are alternatives and women need to be informed about safer options here in Utah,” says Utah Rep. Patrice Arent.

One alternative is adoption; another is the Utah Newborn Safe Haven law, sponsored by Rep. Arent more than 10 years ago.

November is National Adoption Month. Planning ahead to give a newborn to an adoptive family is the best alternative for a woman who isn’t ready to take care of a child. When adoption is not arranged prior to the birth of the newborn, Utah’s Newborn Safe Haven law allows anyone to turn over a newborn to any staff member at a 24-hour hospital ― no questions asked.

“The law protects newborns from injury or death by providing a safe place, but also protects the identity of the person giving up the newborn,” said Nan Streeter, R.N., Director, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Utah Department of Health.  “This identity protection may save lives. It is important for the public to be aware of this option so that tragic events like these don’t happen in Utah.”

Women who harm or abandon their infants come from all walks of life; however, research shows most are young, healthy, unmarried, of various races and incomes, and are probably not addicted to drugs or alcohol. These women have been silent about their pregnancies while living with a relative or friend, and have had no prenatal care.

They feel isolated and are in denial. 

A toll-free 24-hour information hotline is available at 1-866-458-0058. Women in a crisis pregnancy can also visit the Safe Haven website at www.utahsafehaven.org.  The site includes more information on Utah’s law, frequently asked questions, and contact information for Utah hospitals that take newborns.

Adoption centers can be found at http://www.myadoptionagencies.com.

Media Contacts:

Julia Robertson

UDOH Pregnancy Risk Line

801-538-9161

Rep. Patrice Arent

Utah Newborn Safe Haven Advisory Cmte.

(801) 930-0836

Smokeless Tobacco's Frightening Disguise

(Salt Lake City) - Halloween is coming, and while parents are closely watching their children’s sugar intake, they should be watching for something even more dangerous year-round: smokeless tobacco products masquerading as candy.

New product packaging designs and a host of candy-like flavors—like chocolate, grape, and peach—make it easy to mistake smokeless tobacco products for gum, mints, and candy.

“Attractive packaging and added flavors are marketing tactics used to gloss over tobacco’s harmful effects and make it more appealing,” said Amy Oliver, Marketing Manager for the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Tobacco Prevention and Control Program (TPCP). “These products are designed to recruit new users from our local youth.”

Preliminary results from a survey conducted at youth events indicate teens have a positive view of smokeless tobacco products based on how they’re packaged. Results show 73% of respondents aged 18 and younger did not believe the packages contained tobacco and 40 percent said they would consume them.

“Education is key to helping youth stay tobacco-free,” said Oliver. “The best way to protect your children is to help them make good choices by avoiding all tobacco products.”

Smokeless tobacco contains more nicotine than cigarettes and poses a serious risk for cancer and other health problems. Quitting tobacco products can bring both immediate and lifelong benefits, like a better sense of taste and smell, better lung function, and a lower risk of cancer.

For information on quitting, call the Utah Tobacco Quit Line at 1.800.QUIT.NOW  or visit Utah QuitNet at www.UtahQuitNet.com.

Media Contact:

Amy Oliver

Tobacco Prevention and Control Program

(o) 801-538-6917 (c) 801-783-9067