Health news

BANGOR – More than $429,000 was raised this past week during the 14th annual telethon for the Children’s Miracle Network of Eastern Maine Healthcare. Hundreds of volunteers and CMN families from central, eastern and northern Maine joined together at the Bangor Mall for the 12-hour telecast aired over WABI-TV 5.

CMN director Nancy Dysart said she attributed this year’s success to the thousands of volunteers who work tirelessly throughout the year on behalf of the children. “It is their efforts that guarantee access to the highest quality health care close to home for 200,000 children,” she said.

Andrea Philbrick Cooper, director of Aspenlodge, was recognized during the telecast for her service to CMN. She received the CMN 2002 Volunteer of the Year Award.

Carol Lackedy was honored as the CMN 2002 Wal-Mart-Sam’s Club Volunteer of the Year. She received the award for her fund-raising efforts for the garden tractor marathon ride from Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle to Eastern Maine Medical Center planned for Aug. 11.

Contributions received this year will support newborn, pediatric and adolescent health care services of Eastern Maine Healthcare. Recipient hospitals include Eastern Maine Medical Center, The Acadia Hospital, The Aroostook Medical Center, Inland Hospital and Sebasticook Valley Hospital. CMN funds also will aid the Pathfinders grief counseling program of Hospice of Eastern Maine and the injury prevention programs of the Maine Coalition for Safe Kids.

BANGOR – Eastern Maine Medical Center’s Diabetes, Endocrine and Nutrition Center is researching new treatments for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. In a study recently conducted by Eastern Maine Healthcare, obesity and diabetes were found to be serious health problems for Mainers.

“Being overweight leads to a host of other health problems and is a leading cause of diabetes,” said clinical research coordinator Gail Baillargeon. “Our program offers access to the latest advances in treatment.”

Patients participating in the clinical studies have the chance to help medical science and refine new treatment approaches. They are provided free medication and lab testing.

BANGOR – Monday, May 6, proved to be a day to remember for Shannon Cook, adult services nurse at The Acadia Hospital, when she was named nurse of the year.

Dottie Hill, registered nurse and chief executive officer at The Acadia Hospital, made the announcement at the Nurses Day celebration.

“Shannon is receiving this award today because she represents what is important to Acadia Hospital – she not only is an excellent staff nurse, but she has served as an active leader on important Acadia initiatives like our shared nurse leadership committee,” Hill said.

Cook, a 1999 University of Maine graduate, began working for Acadia as a pool nurse in June 1999 and worked her way into a full-time nursing position with Acadia’s adult services. In her nearly three years working for Acadia, she has earned a psychiatric nursing certificate and has become an active leader participating on committees and supervising nursing interns.

“What I enjoy most about being a nurse at The Acadia Hospital,” Cook said, “is the people I work with. I feel supported and I’ve been encouraged by my supervisor, Lisa Grindle, to be active and develop my leadership skills.”

BANGOR – Acadia Hospital employees were recognized for their years of service at the Eastern Maine Healthcare Employee Service Recognition Dinner held May 22. They were:

30 years: Marie Lindsey

20 years: Colleen Dahl, Kathy Fortier, Peggy George, Terry Mosher.

15 years: Donna Avery, Mike Bradstreet, Beverly Madore, Virginia Merrill, Lynn Madden.

10 years: Valencia Cobb, Lois Dvorak, April Giard, Dottie Hill. Donald Logan.

5 years: Stephen Allen, Mike Ballesteros, Mike Baude, Priscilla Bisher, Angela Butler, Sherry Butterfield, Karen Collins, Scott Farnum, Lynn Gitlow, Louine Gordon, Anna Green, William Gutherie, Rebecca Halloran, Mary Lee, Joseph Lemay, Elizabeth Lingenfelter, Shirley Lund, Sally Mahoney, Sean Marean, Jaqcuelyn Sandone, Brent Scobie, Heather Simpson, Holly Simpson, Yvette Stewart, Marcia Thompson, Jeanne Wypyski and Sharon Young.

ORONO – If wild blueberries can literally be a sight for sore eyes, some of the first solid clues may come from a continuing University of Maine study. Food scientists are looking for people between the ages of 30 and 50 who are willing to participate in a 21-week test to determine whether eating blueberries can improve vision.

The project is led by Mary Ellen Camire, professor in the UMaine department of food science and human nutrition, who is working with ophthalmologists at VisionCare of Bangor. The Wild Blueberry Association of North America and the U.S. Department of Agriculture support the study.

Participants can earn $50 and free eye exams throughout the course of the study. In order to qualify, they cannot wear contact lenses on a regular basis. Although they can wear glasses for special purposes, their eyesight needs to be adequate for driving without glasses.

The study includes some dietary restrictions and a willingness to drink about two-thirds of a cup of blueberry concentrate per day for 12 weeks.

For information, call Michael Dougherty at UMaine, 581-3581, or visit the Web at www.ume.maine.edu/nfa/fsn/vision.htm.