Health & Wellness

Virginia Mason launches academy to increase access to health care field

Dec 09, 2024 | By:

The Allied Healthcare Academy is an attempt to fill employee vacancies by training people who have struggled to access the field, including people who are neurodivergent.

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Parks projects off the ground but long way to go

Dec 04, 2024 | By:

PenMet Parks’ DeMolay Sandspit and Peninsula Gardens projects face months if not years of design and permitting before construction can begin.

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Department of Health suspends license of treatment provider with Gig Harbor office

Nov 27, 2024 | By:

DOH alleges counselors there lacked sufficient education; the CEO of Rainier Recovery says the charges are unfounded.

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Pierce County, Gig Harbor pressure state to strengthen laws around exposing children to opioids

Nov 26, 2024 | By:

Currently, state accidental or reckless drug poisoning laws only apply to methamphetamine, not fentanyl and other opioids.

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Few options exist for area youth with substance use issues

Nov 21, 2024 | By:

A partnership between Crossroads Treatment Center and the Peninsula School District makes outpatient treatment available to students. Otherwise, it’s hard to find treatment options for young people — services that do provide it say demand isn’t high here.

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Public health officials monitoring increase in whooping cough — and decrease in vaccination rates

Nov 19, 2024 | By:

In the Peninsula School District, vaccination rates were at 91% last year. That was down 1.4% from the 2019-20 school year.

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Port Orchard clinic helping bring healthy food to some patients’ doors under pilot program

Nov 13, 2024 | By:

Just up the road in Port Orchard, a clinic is working with South Kitsap Helpline to deliver nutritious foods directly to patients with diabetes who also face food insecurity and mobility issues. Here’s how it works.

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Wellness Wednesday | No-shave November and men’s health

Nov 13, 2024 | By: Scot Fleshman

The American Cancer Society’s estimates for prostate cancer in America this year are approximately 299,010 new cases and about 35,250 deaths. Their estimates for testicular cancer are lower, yet no less important, with about 9,760 new cases and approximately 500 deaths. Only 41.6% of men are seeking mental health treatment compared to 56.9% of women.

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Colorectal cancer increasingly being diagnosed in younger adults

Nov 07, 2024 | By:

Natalie Phelps and her team, the “Posterior Posee,” were among the nearly 1,000 people who spent the morning of Oct. 5 strolling three miles down the Burke Gilman Trail in Seattle, as part of the city’s annual Walk to End Colon Cancer. Phelps, a Bainbridge Island resident and advocate for colorectal cancer awareness, has cochaired

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Kaiser Permanente closing Gig Harbor location

Nov 04, 2024 | By:

Kaiser Permanente plans to close its medical clinic in Gig Harbor next month.  The health care company confirmed plans to permanently shutter the Gig Harbor clinic on Dec. 13. Clinics in Poulsbo and Ballard also will close. Kaiser cited a competitive market was behind the closures. “As the health care market changes rapidly, with increased

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