While many individuals have little if any idea what a Health Unit Coordinator is, August 23rd is known as Health Unit Coordinators Day on the National Observances calendar.  A health coordinator is a person who is responsible for performing the following tasks and duties in a healthcare or medical environment: communicating with fellow staff members communicating with patients and guests maintaining electronic health records other duties of a clerical nature patient admission, transfer, and discharge Health Unit Coordinators Day originated as a reminder of the important teamwork that takes place in healthcare and medical facilities and why health unit coordinators...

Most people do not realize that August is Gastroparesis Month.  What is Gastroparesis, you ask? The movement of food into the small intestine from the stomach is triggered by the Vagus nerve which causes the stomach muscles to contract and push the food on its way.  When the Vagus nerve is damaged, Gastroparesis or a partial paralysis occurs and the movement of food is slowed down considerably.  In the more severe cases, food movement stops altogether. How Does the Disease Develop? A healthy person’s stomach muscles can use strong contractions to pass food through the intestines.  However, when someone suffers...

The month of August is National Immunization Awareness Month or NIAM and was established as such in 2013 by the National Public Health Information Coalition.  Later on, it would be coordinated with the CDC to promote the importance of vaccinating people in all age groups, especially the elderly and infants.  The goal of Immunization Awareness Month is to increase awareness of the importance of vaccines and the role they play in preventing serious and deadly diseases. The Importance of Vaccines So, who needs vaccines? Some would say the answer to that is everyone!  As was mentioned above, the key to...

When it comes to observing national days of awareness, you may or may not be familiar with National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month which takes place every July.  However, understanding the importance of NCCAPM is something that many parents can relate to.  After all, 1 out of every 600 babies (roughly 7,000 total) is born with cleft lips or cleft palates.  These are two of the more common birth defects that occur in the U.S. every year. What is a Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate? When the lip doesn’t form completely and remains open, this is referred to...

Eye Injury Prevention Month is a time dedicated to raising awareness of better eye health.  During this time, ophthalmologists, opticians, and optometrists will be encouraging you to protect your eyes from accidental injuries.  Over a million individuals are impacted by eye injuries every year, 90% of which could have been avoided by wearing protective eyewear or safety goggles. Pertinent Facts and Statistics One of the primary causes of visual impairment among Americans is an accidental eye injury.  However, eye injuries aren’t always caused by chemical burns, cuts, dust, or foreign bodies lodged in the eye.  They can also be damaged...

The month of July typically means barbeques, beaches, and fun in the sun.  However, it also means more exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays which can potentially   turn skin cells into skin cancer.  It’s important to take extra precautions when enjoying the outdoors, especially since skin cancer rates have dramatically increased over the past decade.  According to the American Cancer Society, the most common form of cancer in the US is skin cancer.  Furthermore, there are more diagnoses of skin cancer than all the other types of cancer combined. What is UV (Ultraviolet) Radiation? UV radiation is composed...

World Sickle Cell Day was established by the UN General Assembly in 2008 for the purpose of increasing public awareness, knowledge, and understanding of the disease.  It’s celebrated every year on June 19th to make others aware of the challenges that sickle cell patients, their families, and caregivers experience. What is Sickle Cell Disease? As an inherited blood disorder, sickle cell disease affects the red blood cells and is characterized by a high content of hemoglobin S, an abnormal hemoglobin type.  The red blood cells become crescent or sickle-shaped and often have difficulties passing through the smaller blood vessels of the body.  Sickle...

The week of June 14th through the 20th is designated as National Men’s Health Week.  It was chaired in Congress by Senator Bob Dole and established in 1994 by a Senate Joint Resolution and is celebrated annually during the week preceding Father’s Day.  After all, what better way is there to celebrate your father than by encouraging him to take better care of himself? National Men’s Health Week is all about exercise, good diet habits, healthy bodies, and regular doctor check-ups. The Goal The primary purpose of National Men’s Health Week is to encourage the early detection and treatment of diseases common to men and boys...

For over 20 years, the chapters of the Scleroderma Foundation and its many support groups have recognized the month of June as National Scleroderma Awareness Month.  Scleroderma refers to a group of rare medical conditions that are characterized by the tightening and hardening of your skin and its connective tissues. The disease affects women more than men.  Although it’s incurable, there are treatments available that can ease the patient’s symptoms and improve their quality of life. Are there different Types of Scleroderma? Yes.  There are a number of different types that affect different areas of the body.  In some individuals,...