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Awareness, proactive screening has an impact on cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer among women. The American Cancer Society estimates about 13,960 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed and about 4,310 women will die from cervical cancer in 2024. Cervical cancer was once one of the most common causes of cancer death for American women. Fortunately, according to the American Cancer Society, screenings, such as the HPV test and Pap test, have greatly improved cancer detection and treatment, and are playing a major role in lowering the death rate. Screening Saves Lives Cervical cancer is caused ...

Is your hearing loss temporary or permanent?

There are a number of reasons I refer a hearing test patient out to an ear, nose and throat doctor. During our initial office interview if a patient tells me they have pain in their ears, I am to refer. If a patient has struggles with vertigo I am to refer. If a patient tells me their hearing loss is early onset, meaning it just recently started, I am to refer. With my video-otoscope if I see tumors, polyps or other blockage growths, I am to refer. Also, I do not diagnose. The patient sees the pictures on my screen, but I explain it is necessary for them to see an ENT to get answers ...

Geisinger working to make all emergency rooms ready for kids

DANVILLE — When emergency rooms are equipped to care for children, outcomes are significantly better for young patients — which is why Geisinger is preparing every ER in the system to specifically treat children. The effort is led by Sarah Alander, MD, Geisinger director of pediatric emergency medicine, who has made readying Geisinger ERs for the 45,000 kids seen each year, systemwide, a priority. “A 2019 landmark study found that if an emergency room is trained and equipped to care for children, they are four times less likely to have a child die in their care,” Dr. ...

UPMC Williamsport nurse recognized with DAISY Award

WILLIAMSPORT — Teresa Watts, RN, The Birthplace, a UPMC Magee-Womens facility at UPMC Williamsport, was recently recognized as a recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Watts was nominated by two patients who shared: “Teresa went above and beyond to make sure that I was ...

Can cold weather make you sick?

You may associate the cold weather with being sick or catching a cold. Contrary to the old saying, the weather is not directly responsible for making you sick, but it can affect your body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of people in the U.S. ...

Are you located in a pharmacy desert?

Across the country, several major drugstores have announced pharmacy closures, leading to longer trips for many to pick up prescriptions. If you find yourself in one of these so-called “pharmacy deserts,” don’t worry. There are several ways to make managing your prescriptions easier. What are pharmacy deserts? A “pharmacy desert” is a community without convenient, easy access to a local pharmacy. Rural counties are often classified as pharmacy deserts. If you live in a rural area, getting to the drugstore to pick up prescriptions could be quite a drive. But even urban ...