Health

When George Bernardino needed something in the U.S. Navy clinics he ran over the years, all he had to do was sign a requisition. Bernardino is not in the Navy anymore. Two weeks ago, chosen from a slate of 56 applicants, he took over as public health administrator for the Jefferson County Health Department. Now when he wants something that exceeds his budget, he'll fill out grant applications. “Finding the funds to improve things will be my biggest challenge,” he said. Bernardino, 39, retired in August, ending a 20-year Navy hitch, almost all as a hospital corpsman.

Ray John "Little Ray" Leavelle, 62, of Hagerstown, Md., passed suddenly on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, at Meritus Medical Center following a long illness. Born Sept. 21, 1950, in Big Pool, Md., he was the son of the late John G. and Marguerite A. Leavelle. He is survived by his wife, Susan; son, Bryan J. Erickson and his fiancee, April Schleigh, of Hagerstown; daughter, Luvie A. Leavelle; brother, Charles Gehr of Lakeland, Fla.; sister, Dolly Reed and brother-in-law, Raymond Reed, of Falling Waters, W.Va.; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Shirley and Robert Weirich; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Julie and John Weirich; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Kathleen and Paul Trinkle; and several nieces and nephews.

Figuring out how to improve access, maintain quality and keep down the cost of health care are challenges facing hospitals as more provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act go into effect, Meritus Health System President Joseph P. Ross told those attending a Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce breakfast Wednesday. “Not all Americans enjoy access to health care and that drives long-term costs,” said Ross, who was named to head Meritus in 2011.

What do you do when it's "time to eat"? a. Stop at a restaurant on your way to wherever you need to be next. b. Pick up food at the grocery store or deli on your way home. c. Pull an "emergency" meal from your freezer and reheat it. d. Serve a meal from your slow cooker. e. Whip up something from your well-stocked pantry. f. Any of the above, depending on how much planning you've done. Fast foods, frozen pizza, carry-out meals, all are popular quick meals; some even have healthful options.

Two school-based health centers, now run by Meritus Health, re-opened Tuesday at South Hagerstown High School and Western Heights Middle School. Jesus Cepero, the vice president of nursing at Meritus Health and Melissa Nearchos, the senior grant manager for the county's Office of Community Grant Management, told the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday that the centers, which were closed at the end of the 2011-12 school year, had re-opened that...

Valentine's chocolates might not seem the obvious way to promote dental health. But a little bit of chocolate, some rosebuds and an all-out Valentine's celebration have proven to be a lucrative fundraiser for the Walnut Street Community Health Center. The center celebrated its fourth annual Sweetheart Gala on Saturday night at Fountain Head Country Club, with proceeds to benefit the child and adult patients of the center's dental practice. Kim Murdaugh, executive director of the center, said roughly 7,800 patients receive care though its family, mental health and dental practices.

The 30th annual Waynesboro Hospital Health Fair will take place Saturday, March 9, 2013, at the Waynesboro Area Senior High School from 7:30 to 11 a.m. The health fair, presented by Waynesboro Hospital, an affiliate of Summit Health, is free and open to the public. According to Melissa Dubrow, chief operating officer of Waynesboro Hospital, the health fair is offering free health screenings and health information to people of all ages. “In 2012, we celebrated Waynesboro Hospital's 90th anniversary, and only a few months later we are able to celebrate the community health fair's 30th anniversary,” Dubrow said.

Cervical cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide, yet it is almost always preventable with the Pap test. Cervical cancer grows slowly, as abnormal cells begin to change into a pre-cancerous state. For some women, pre-cancerous changes go away without treatment. For others, the condition needs to be treated so cancer doesn't develop. Women should start getting regular Pap tests at age 21. It is important for you to continue getting a Pap test regularly.

U.S. Rep. John Delaney, D-Md., told state legislators that he favors common-sense limitations when it comes to guns at a meeting of the Western Maryland delegation Thursday. Delaney, the newly elected Democrat who represents the 6th Congressional District, also said at the meeting that he favored restrictions on accessibility to violent video games, better monitoring of those with mental health issues and their access to guns. Delaney also said he supports drilling for natural gas, a process sometimes referred to as fracking.

Drastic health care changes are happening federally, spurring three major regional health care providers in Washington, Frederick and Allegany counties to take a proactive approach to mitigate potential repercussions at the local level, a Meritus Health executive said Thursday. “Our world is going to change dramatically on the way we are held accountable for care, and none of the infrastructure to manage that exists today,” said Joseph P. Ross, president and CEO of Meritus Health, which operates Meritus Medical Center east of Hagerstown.