Moorhead Police Collecting Unwanted Prescription Drugs on Saturday April 26th

Moorhead, MN – On Saturday April 26^th the Moorhead Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  Through a partnership with the Moorhead Walgreen Stores we will be accepting your medications for disposal on Saturday April 26^th.  The Downtown Walgreens located at 8^th Street and Main Avenue will participate form 10:00 a.m. to Noon.  The Walgreen’s located at 8^th Street and 30^th Avenue South will both participate from Noon to 2:00 p.m. 

The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Pills can be left in a bottle or put in a zip lock bag.  Liquids should be sealed in a bottle and secured in a zip lock bag.  We ask that no needles are put into the lock box. 

317 pounds of medication have been collected over the last three years in Moorhead through this initiative.  This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Dept of Human Services seeks Medicaid Citizens' Advisory Committee applicants

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is looking for up to 10 individuals to serve on the Medicaid Citizens’ Advisory Committee (MCAC). The committee’s purpose is to ensure that continued high-quality health and medical services are provided to low-income people.

The committee, which represents Medicaid clients, advises DHS and helps define what the Medicaid program should be in relationship to future health care and technological needs. Specifically, the committee explores designated problem areas, evaluates department programs, makes specific recommendations and resolutions, and contributes to the formulations of department policy and standards.

New members will be appointed for the years 2014 and 2015. Committee meetings are typically held quarterly at DHS' Elmer L. Andersen Human Services Building, 540 Cedar St., St. Paul, Minn.

Medicaid (Medical Assistance) clients will be given preference, but members of consumer groups, health care professionals and others interested in serving on the MCAC should submit a letter of interest to apply for committee membership. Letters of interest should be sent to:

Sean Barrett, Federal Relations, Health Care Administration
Minnesota Department of Human Services
P.O. Box 64983
St. Paul, MN 55164-0983

Applicants also may email letters of interest to sean.barrett@state.mn.us. Letters of interest will be accepted until the end of the business day Monday, Feb. 24, 2014.

Employees of the state of Minnesota (except for Department of Health employees) and private individuals or organizations under contract to DHS for administrative services will not be appointed to the committee.

Contact Sean Barrett at 651-431-2298 for more information. TTY users can call using their preferred relay service.

Essentia Heath - Ada welcomes husband/wife duo

Monday, February 20, 2012, Ada, MN – Essentia Health Ada is pleased to welcome Bantoo Sehgal, MD and Paulina Purnama, PA-C. Dr. Sehgal and Paulina Purnama are both part of the Essentia Health Orthopedic and Sports Medicine department at our 32nd Avenue Campus in Fargo. Beginning February 20th they will be available to see patients at Essentia Health Ada.

Dr. Sehgal received his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine and completed an orthopedic surgery residency at New York Medical College. He recently fulfilled a fellowship in sports medicine at Kaiser Permanente Orange County in Irvine, CA. Dr. Sehgal is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine.

As an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Sehgal specializes in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery of the knee, shoulder, hip and elbow. His clinical focus is in advanced cartilage restoration and meniscus procedures. He also performs joint replacement surgery including shoulder arthroplasty and general fracture care.

Paulina received her physician assistant degree from St. John’s University in New York and is certified by the National Board on the Certification of Physician Assistants. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. She also holds certification as a personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

As an orthopedic & sports medicine provider, Paulina focuses on general orthopedics and sports medicine including sports injuries, basic trauma, knee arthritis and injury prevention.

Dr. Sehgal and Paulina reside in Fargo. In their spare time, they enjoy hiking, traveling, biking and snowboarding, reading and cooking.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sehgal or Paulina Purnama, please contact Essentia Health Ada at 701-784-2727.

Essentia Health - Ada welcomes new Occupational Therapist

Friday, February 17, 2012, Ada, MN – Essentia Health Ada is happy to announce that Jennifer Hamre has accepted the position of Occupational Therapist at the Ada campus.

Hamre is originally from the Hillsboro, North Dakota area. She completed her Master’s of Occupational Therapy from the University of North Dakota Medical School in May of 2009 and has three years experience in the healthcare industry; most recently, as Lead Occupational Therapist at Sanford Medical Center Mayville. She is registered and licensed in both Minnesota and North Dakota and has been certified by the National Board of Occupational Therapy since June of 2009. Hamre is also a certified lymphedema therapist, educated in compression wrapping and manual lymph drainage techniques.

Jennifer’s areas of focus include orthopedics, neurological conditions, lymphedema treatment, home evaluations and adaptive equipment recommendations for increased independence. Her education and specialties will be a great asset to the Essentia Health Ada Therapy Department.

Jennifer resides near Caledonia, North Dakota with her husband, Brandon, and their two sons, Ross (23mo) and Emmett (4mo). Jennifer and her family enjoy traveling, do-it-yourself projects and home decorating.

For more information, please contact the Essentia Health Ada at 218-784-2727 or visit our blog at www.wereherewithyou.org.

EMT/First Responder Info Class to be held January 9th

Tuesday, December 20, 2011, Ada, MN – Norman County Emergency Medical Services will be holding an informational meeting for those interested in becoming either an EMT or a First Responder on Monday, January 9th, at 6:30 pm in the Conference Room at Essentia Health Ada. The informational meeting is free and open to the public.

Classes will commence with an American Heart Association CPR for Healthcare Providers class at 6:00 pm on Thursday, January 12, for both groups.

The EMT classes will be from 6:00 to 9:00 pm Mondays and Thursdays beginning January 16th.

The First Responder classes will be from 6:00 to 9:00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning January 17th.

Students for the EMT class must be 18 or older by the end of the class, tentatively scheduled for early March. The minimum age for the first responder class is 16 and parental permission is required for participation by minors.

For more information, please contact David Halls, Norman County EMS, at (218) 784-5239.