Nemours Children's Hospital joined the PCAN Board in February 2013. Opened in Lake Nona Medical City in October of 2012, Nemours has a team of internationally recognized pediatric specialists, who not only treat children but also search for new treatments and cures.  The hospital built by families for families, is now offering a broad spectrum of pediatric subspecialty care, some of which was previously unavailable in Central Florida. On the 60-acre pediatric health campus, Nemours Children's Hospital is offering family-centered specialty care, education, and state-of-the-art hospital services. Nemours is a fully integrated health campus that includes a new Nemours Children's Clinic and a full-service Emergency Department in addition to extensive research and educational facilities. The 630,000 square foot building is equipped with some of the latest and most advanced medical technology.

 Judy Wall, MD, (pictured left) Senior Director of Medical Affairs, will be representing Nemours on the PCAN Board. Dr. Wall is the physician liaison for community relations, physician on-boarding, KidsTRACK, satellite and Primary Care expansion. Dr. Wall has been a member of the Nemours team since May 1997 when she joined the Nemours Children's Clinic in Orlando in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics. She is a champion for Nemours KidsTRACK and the hospital's gardens - a true believer in the idea that incorporating nature into the care process speeds recovery. (Read more Nemours Children's Hospital)

For more information on Nemours, visit their website at www.Nemours.org

A Give Kids a Smile event took place at the private practice of Drs. Tim Lane, Charles Curley and Brett Zak on Friday, February 8, 2013. Together they partnered with the Dental Care Access Foundation to provide free exams, cleanings, fluoride, sealants, x-rays, fillings, extractions and oral hygiene education. A total of 14 children received donated services valued at $10,354! Children from this event come from Healthy Families, a program for the low-income and uninsured. Drs. Kelly Mansour, Marcy Keown and Lissette Bernal joined us to volunteer and help treat these children. Thank you for your participation and dedication to serving the community!

Kid's Smiles 2013 Valencia Dental Hygiene Program

In honor of National Dental Health Month, the Dental Care Access Foundation coordinated our 8th Annual Kid's Smiles event Saturday, February 9, 2013 in partnership with Valencia College Dental Hygiene Program and Orlando Vo Tech Dental Assisting Program. Volunteer hygiene and assisting students treated 84 uninsured children ages 4-18 with dental cleanings, oral hygiene education, sealants and fluoride. This event has reached over 1600 children in our community since 2005. We have split the annual event into 4 separate dates throughout the year.       

 (Read More Dental Health 2013)

NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK 2013

by Mirna Chamorro, Public Information Officer,
Florida Department of  Health in Orange & Seminole Counties

The Healthy Start Coalition of Orange County is a Partner of Show Your Love Campaign

by Linda Sutherland, Executive Director, HSCOC

Show Your Love is a national campaign designed to improve the health of women and babies by promoting preconception health and healthcare. The Healthy Start Coalition of Orange County (HSCOC) is just one of many partners that is participating in the campaign, which launched in February and goes through May. The HSCOC will be disseminating health information through our social media platforms to help encourage the health of women of childbearing age.

Good preconception health, the health of women during their childbearing years and between pregnancies, is important for every woman-not just those who are planning a pregnancy. In the U.S., nearly half of all pregnancies are unplanned. Furthermore, while most women are aware of the benefits of getting prenatal care during pregnancy, the campaign is trying to raise awareness of the importance of a woman's health before she gets pregnant to the same level of awareness and significance as prenatal health. Women who improve their health before pregnancy can be healthier mothers and have healthier babies. Healthier women have less chance of having pregnancy problems such as gestational diabetes, miscarriage, preterm birth, low or high birth weight, or stillbirth. (Read More Healthy Start Coalition)

A year of effort by a couple of the PCAN member agencies has paid off with the premier of a new independent living option for seniors.  Full Circle America uses a combination of video monitoring, motion sensors, and other technology along with daily contact and personal visits to enable individuals to age in place in their own homes.  Developed by a family physician in Maine, the program allows members to stay active in the community and connected to family and friends as they support one another.  "Affordability is one of the key elements of this program that makes it so attractive" said Ken Peach, Health Council of East Central Florida.  "Dr. Allan "Chip" Teel created this concept to enable his patients as old as 105 to remain independent.  When he met with us and with the Winter Park Health Foundation, we knew there must be some way to bring this program from Maine to Central Florida."  The Health Council identified First Light Homecare in Oviedo as a logical home.  The service is now available through their office for an annual investment of $5,000 compared to nursing home diversion at $18,000 or a nursing home bed at $60,000.