2013 Local Health Archive Stories

The volunteers who serve at Yuma Regional Medical Center look out for more than the patients and employees. They're helping out possible future hospital workers.The YRMC's Volunteer Services Department has raised $11,000 through its fundraising efforts, enough to offer six scholarships to Yuma County residents who want careers in the

Gather your girlfriends together for a fun evening of manicures, massages, food and mammograms. Yuma Regional Medical Center and Bridget's Gift are treating women to “Mammos and ManiCURES,” a special event Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Yuma Regional Medical Plaza, 1501 W. 24th St.The focus will be on prevent

Dr. Kruthi Kelur established her obstetrics and gynecology practice in Yuma after she and her family fell in love with the area and chose to make their home here. She is the featured physician in 10 Minutes With, in this month's edition of Healthy Yuma magazine.What is your medical specialization or discipline, and how did you com

Caring for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease can be overwhelming. It is not a normal part of aging and there is no cure for the progressive disease of the brain, which could get in the way of everyday living. Recognizing that family members caring for a loved one with dementia need information and assistance, the Alzhe

PHOENIX — State lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to legislation designed to let Arizonans shop around for the least expensive CAT scan, hip replacement or even routine physical.The measure would require hospitals and health care facilities to post online the costs of the 50 most often-performed procedures as well as the 5

The heavy smoke greeting Yuma-area residents as they awoke Tuesday morning originated from a controlled burn of agricultural fields.The burn, located near the Arizona-California border north of Yuma Palms Regional Center, was conducted under the supervision of Rural/Metro.“This is what's called a prescribed burn,&rd

Forever seared in the mind and heart of Clay Lawson is the memory of a 20-month-old girl killed in a vehicular rollover accident near Quartzsite in 2006 in which the child was ejected from the vehicle. He was with her when she died while being airlifted to a hospital in Phoenix. What Lawson doesn’t understand — and fo

Yuma Community Based Outpatient Clinic, 3111 S. 4th Ave., which began seeing patients in August, had its official ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday afternoon. The clinic is located in the former Miller's Outpost store in the Big Curve Shopping Center. The project was completed by Eckard Commercial Construction.

Effective Tuesday, the American Cancer Society's Cancer Resource Center will be located at the Yuma Regional Medical Center's Corporate Center at 32nd Street and 4th Avenue extension. Previously located at YRMC, the Cancer Resource Center moved due to renovations at the hospital.The volunteers at Cancer Resource Center can help with

As the saying goes, it's important to be comfortable in your own skin — sound advice that perhaps should be taken more literally.Skin is the largest organ in the body, yet not often thought of as such. But just like other vital parts of our being, our skin can get sick, too.A number of conditions cause skin to becom

In a show of support, the Yuma City Council has gone on record in favor of federal funding for a new Fort Yuma Health Center to better provide health care for the Cocopah and Quechan tribes.When it met this week, the council approved a resolution stating the need for a new health care facility to serve the people of the two tribes.

Sandi Gordon recalls the days when she and other members of her high school swim team in San Diego wore striped swimsuits.But later, after a competition or practice that had taken place outdoors, they might discover they had striped tan marks where the suits made of spandex material had covered them.That discovery serves

Some people spend a lot of time and money on topical products for skin care, but proper diet and exercise are part of a holistic approach to caring for skin from the inside, say local experts.Skin is the body's largest organ and is influenced by many things such as one's age, genetics, environment and lifestyle, says Suzanne Cooper,

Some of the best medicines can be peeled and chopped.That's the message behind Food for Life, a series of free classes aimed at reminding people that nature provides the best prescription for health — fruits and vegetables. The classes, sponsored by The Cancer Project, focus on live cooking demonstrations that introduce student

The flu season is in full swing, leading Yuma Regional Medical Center to restrict patient visitation to prevent unnecessary exposure to the virus.People younger than 18 are now not allowed in the hospital's patient care or waiting areas. Exceptions will be made for parents younger than 18 who are visiting or accompanying their childr

Bryan Howard, president of Planned Parenthood Arizona, will be in Yuma Thursday to speak about a reduction in health care options available to local residents.“Yuma-area women will have fewer care options in 2013 than even eight months ago thanks to the successful efforts to restrict access to women's health care in the Arizona

I don't have time. I'm too tired. I'll end up quitting anyway. It's boring. I'm afraid of failing or being judged. I don't know what to do. I'm already thin so I don't need to exercise.It seems there's no shortage of excuses when it comes to exercising. For Eric Coleman, director of Southwest Rehabilitation at Yuma Regional Medical C

HIV and AIDS haven't gone away. In Yuma County, an average of 14 people are diagnosed with one or the other every year.But as testing and treatments have progressed, the immune system-attacking disease that once incited deep fear and stigma doesn't have to mean death is near.Flor Castañon, the HIV/AIDS medical case

Flu-season visitation restrictions at Yuma Regional Medical Center have been lifted.That means children under 18 are allowed back into the hospital's patient care and waiting areas. Health experts say kids tend to be more likely than adults to be carriers of the flu virus without showing symptoms, and for longer periods of time. Chil

Tanning is a guilty pleasure for Yuman Karina Jones. She knows there's a risk associated with it, but it's relaxing and it makes her feel better about herself.“It sounds funny, but everyone says everything looks better when you're tanned,” she noted.For Jones, tanning in a stand-up tanning booth helps her unwi

Expired pills not only lose their punch against sickness, but pose a risk for those who take them for the high.On Saturday, area law enforcement agencies will accept expired or unused prescription medicine from the public as part of a nationwide campaign to clean out medicine cabinets of drugs that might otherwise fall into the hands

The osteoarthritis in Jonnie Thomas' left knee was so bad that she even found it difficult to walk down the hallway in her home.As the 2011-2012 president of the Yuma Sunrise Rotary Club, leading the meetings was a struggle.“Standing up for 45 minutes to an hour in front of the group was painful,” Thomas said.

Probably the most common skin ailments in children and teens are things that most of us recognize, such as acne, eczema and the common wart. Many skin conditions in children are treatable by over-the-counter-medications, but some do require prescriptions.It is important for parents to know exactly what they are treating so the approp

While thought by some to be something to splurge on here and there, for many people massage therapy is increasingly becoming part of their normal health routine. “In some circles, massage therapy is considered ... something that's nice to do but not necessary, but the reality is that massage therapy is a regular part of a healt

When folks plan a vacation or business trip, one stop they hope not to make is at the local emergency room or hospital.But being on the list of “places to miss” for Yuma visitors doesn't keep Yuma Regional Medical Center from being a big supporter of tourism — and especially events like the annual Lettuce Days festi