Lake Health | Press Releases

It's that time of the year when high school football players hit the fields for preseason workouts. While coaches run them through plays and strength and conditioning drills, Lake Health Sport Medicine experts will once again be on the sidelines keeping athletes in top form and keeping serious injuries, like concussions, top of mind.

Concussions-disturbances in brain function that occur following a blow to the head-are common in contact sports. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, concussions account for almost one in 10 sports injuries, with an estimated 40,000 high school football players suffering concussions every year. Nationwide, deaths of high school football players have sparked growing concern about the long-term, and often fatal, effects of frequent head trauma.

Educating coaches and players about concussion recognition and prevention has been a central focus of Lake Health's sports medicine program. Now, the health system is offering specialized software that provides a computerized neurocognitive assessment designed to help prevent the cumulative effects of concussion. The software, called ImPACT (http://impacttest.com/), has been used by professional sports organizations for the last decade to assist physicians and athletic trainers in determining an athlete's ability to return to play after suffering a concussion.

Read more: Innovative Software Helps Lake Health Sports Medicine Experts Protect Athletes From Repeat Concussion Injury

Lake Health Now Has Something No Other Hospital In The Country Has -- Max-Wellness

CLEVELAND, OH-Max-Wellness®, the first of its kind dedicated wellness retailer which began operations in 2010 with four prototype stores in Northeast Ohio and South Florida, will open its new hospital retail concept within Lake Health's West Medical Center Monday, July 25. Max-Wellness at West Medical Center will provide health and wellness products needed to further a patient's recovery after leaving the hospital as well as serve hospital visitors and staff.  West Medical Center, a state-of-the-art acute care hospital located at 36000 Euclid Avenue in Willoughby, Ohio, is the first in the country to incorporate a Max-Wellness store into its hospital facility.

Located in the main lobby of West Medical Center, next to the gift shop, Max-Wellness will feature products to enhance quality of life, help prevent illness and treat medical issues for every age and every stage of life. Max-Wellness collaborated with the health care professionals at Lake Health to provide a relevant product assortment tailored to the needs of its patients. The flagship store will also feature wellness items that appeal to the hospital's employees and visitors, including vitamins and supplements, health and beauty products, sleep essentials, exercise devices and a broad selection of healthy snacks and drinks, to name a few.

Knowledgeable store personnel called "Max-Wellness Advocates" will staff the West Medical Center store daily and provide one-on-one assistance to the patient, caregiver or family member in selecting items the patient needs for continuing care and improving general wellness. Max-Wellness will work closely with Lake Health caregivers, including doctors, nurses and therapists, to be sure the store is stocking the appropriate products and will also have a "special order" capability for more unique products that are prescribed for patients' recovery.

Read more: Max-Wellness at Lake Health's West Medical Center Opens July 25

CONCORD TOWNSHIP, Ohio, June 27, 2011- Lake Health today announced that it is one of only seventeen hospital systems in the United States to be awarded the American Heart Association's (AHA) prestigious Worksite Innovation award. This unique award is only given to organizations that lead the development and implementation of innovative and effective programs to motivate employees toward a healthier lifestyle.

Lake Health was recognized for creating an innovative Peer Wellness Coaching Program. Launched in the 2008, the program utilizes specially trained Lake Health employees-namely dieticians, exercise physiologists and nurses-who provide one-on-one coaching to help fellow team members cope with the stress and emotions associated with working in a hospital setting.

To date, more than 250 employees have participated in the program. Surveys indicate that participants have benefited greatly from the program, noting "support and encouragement" from the coaches as the aspect that has been most impactful.

"This honor from the American Heart Association is especially meaningful to us at Lake Health as we strive to set an example for the community by building a culture of wellness among our team members," said Cynthia Moore-Hardy, FACHE, president and CEO of Lake Health. "A healthy workplace leads to better health, longer lives and lower health-care costs for everyone. We'll continue to seek out new and innovative ways to further support the health and wellness of our team members."

Read more: Lake Health Receives American Heart Association Worksite Innovation Award

The Fourth of July is a time to relax and celebrate with family and friends. Unfortunately, the fun festivities often turn tragic due to fireworks-related injuries. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in 2009 there were two deaths and nearly 9,000 emergency room visits for injuries resulting from fireworks-related incidents. Most fireworks injuries occurred to consumers younger than 20 and resulted in the loss of a limb in many cases.

Surprisingly, even sparklers-which are mistakenly considered safe by consumers-can reach temperatures of 1,8000 degrees Fahrenheit and were associated with 1,000 injuries according to the CPSC, accounting for one-third of the injuries to children less than 5 years of age.

Lake Health offers the following tips to ensure the health and safety of your family this Fourth of July:

• The best way to protect your family is not to use any fireworks at home. Attend public fireworks displays, and leave the lighting to the professionals.
• View public fireworks displays from at least 500 feet away.
• Respect the safety barriers set up by pyrotechnicians.
• Children should never play with fireworks, even with parental supervision.
• Never try to re-ignite fireworks that malfunction.
• Observe local laws regarding the use of fireworks.
• If an injury occurs, seek medical attention immediately.

Read more: Lake Health Encourages Fireworks Safety This Summer