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Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. advisor stopped at Erie event. What he said about vaccines, processed foods, more
America's health-care system needs to be overhauled because it has done a poor job of controlling chronic illnesses such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, a senior advisor to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said during a May 12 speech in Erie. Instead of educating families about the importance of eating a healthier diet with fewer ultra-processed foods, Calley Means said the federal government has focused on treating the symptoms with expensive drugs like the new injectable GLP-1 medications. "We are paying three times more than any country in the world for health care and living seven years less than many of them," Means said during the speech at the Bayfront Convention Center. The average United States lifespan is 79.6 years, which is 48th out of 201 world countries. Means, the brother of current surgeon general nominee Dr. Casey Means, spoke to about 350 people at LECOM Health's annual Culture of Caring education conference for long-term care professionals. An author and former lobbyist, Means addressed many of the sometimes controversial health-care issues associated with Kennedy during a nearly 90-minute discussion with Dr. James Lin, president of the LECOM Institute for Successful Living. One of those issues is opposition to his sister's nomination to become the nation's chief medical doctor and health educator. Dr. Means left her surgical residency because she was disillusioned with traditional medicine and currently has an inactive Oregon medical license. "Health care doesn't just happen in the doctor's office," said Means, who cofounded TrueMed, which helps people use tax-free health savings accounts for healthy lifestyle expenses like food, exercise, and wellness coaching. "There are people who are not ready to leave the system, but they need people pushing from within the system." Another issue was Kennedy's track record on vaccines. He has been a champion of personal choice for vaccines, even the required childhood ones. Kennedy also questioned the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's childhood vaccination schedule, asking during his first address to HHS staff whether it plays a role in Americans' poor health. "Bobby Kennedy has made very clear that people should follow the CDC schedule and take the MMR vaccine, so I have nothing to say on that," Means said after the speech. "Additionally, he has brought a very important point to the forefront that we have to see science as an ongoing process. That we have to continue to keep asking questions. We have to look at vaccine injury and ask questions about why children are getting sick." Vaccine safety: Medical experts explain how vaccines work Means repeatedly blamed the food industry for America's health problems, pointing to the rise in ultra-processed food. These foods are made from many manufactured ingredients and often are high in sugar, calories, fat and sodium, and low in nutrients. He pointed out that many ultra-processed foods can be purchased by low-income people through the federal government's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. "About $70 billion a year from our food stamp program goes to ultra-processed food," Means said. "No other country in the world allows their low-income nutrition program to go to that type of food. Ten percent of the program goes toward soda." Means said things are already starting to change since Kennedy became head of HHS. He pointed to the federal government's new plan to phase out artificial dyes from the nation's food supply, though the food industry is expected to fight that change. "A key goal, a foundational goal, is to restore trust in science," Means said. "This administration wants in four years to have increased trust in science." Contact David Bruce at dbruce@ Follow him on X @ETNBruce. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: RFK Jr. advisor: America's health-care system needs overhaul
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Erie doctor recalls COVID-19 pandemic on fifth anniversary of Erie's first case
A 35-year-old individual was the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Erie County, Tuesday marks five years since that case was announced. Dr. Courtney Sampson from Saint Vincent said everything has completely changed since that day. On March 18th, 2020, former Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper addressed the area with news many people never thought would reach the region. 'This morning we received confirmation of our first COVID-19 case in Erie County,' said Kathy Dahlkemper, former county executive. LECOM Health offers Erie's first treatment for Alzheimer's, dementia After this announcement, Dahlkemper and the health department would address the county with daily updates, breaking the region into zones and reopening phases classifying it by green, yellow and red. 'On the fifth anniversary of Erie County's first case of COVID-19, the Erie County Department of Health would like to recognize the resilience of all our healthcare providers, businesses, community partners, and community members.' 'We've learned a great deal over the last five years, and we're putting these lessons to good use through improved data capacity and preparedness strategies at the Health Department', said Erin Mrenak, Director of Public Health. The Erie County Department of Health remains committed to protecting the health of the public through disease surveillance, preparedness, and quick responses to emergent needs. When the first case reached Saint Vincent Hospital, one doctor recalled it being something that she was genuinely scared of. Erie Community Foundation donates $15,000 for LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention 'I had a colleague that was this very stoic Russian doctor who never really showed emotions and he got handed out the submissions for our first positive COVID patient and he was in tears and really sad,' said Dr. Courtney Sampson, hospitalist physician program director for saint vincent hospital. 'I remember seeing the patient and thinking okay he looks okay everything is going to be alright and then within an hour the patient was doing not as I expected.' Dr. Sampson remembers it being isolating as her team worked six feet apart from one another, wearing full face masks. And if dealing with an unfamiliar illness wasn't challenging enough, she says keeping up with the evolving variants was not something she was prepared for. 'I remember training and preparing for theoretical pandemics and ebola and things like that,' she recalled. 'Going to the most updated information that I could find from trusted resources like that doctor from NIH and not getting clouded by things in the news.' Erie man recognized for saving the life of injured Erie man Dr. Sampson said the one thing that helped her team navigate through the pandemic was their on-site COVID task force. 'We had plan upon backup plan,' she said. 'It never got to the point where we had to turn away patients and think goodness my biggest worry was if we had to decide who could get a ventilator and who couldn't and thankfully it never hit so bad that we weren't ready for the surges.' According to the CDC, everyone ages six months and older should get the 2024-2025 vaccine. Including those who have already received a previous vaccine, people who have had COVID and people with long COVID. 'This isn't just my career but my life's passion,' Dr. Sampson said. 'So grateful for the team we have here at St. Vincent.' Dr. Sampson said that some people have decided to find other work after the pandemic but again like she said, you truly have to be passionate about your work. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now UPMC Hamot also released a statement reading in part: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a massive amount of information, research and resource sharing across the UPMC system. Other hospitals across the communities we serve and throughout the United States, were looking to UPMC for guidance. Our contributions were critical to rapidly developing the best practices for caring for patients with COVID-19 worldwide, preventing people with immunocompromising conditions from contracting the disease and continuing the provision of high-quality health care to all of our patients. This presented an advantage for our hospitals and our patients, which continues today. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Downtown official reflects on successful St. Patrick's Day weekend
Thousands of people made their way to downtown Erie to view the St. Patrick's Day parade, and organizers said it was a huge success. Over 75 groups marched down State Street in every shade of green for about two hours. LECOM Health offers Erie's first treatment for Alzheimer's, dementia Spectators voted Luther Memorial Academy for crowd favorite and Sinnott and Steves Family was voted best float by the Knights and Ladies of St. Patrick. Organizers said everyone followed safety instructions properly and celebrated well into monday. Downtown Erie goes green for annual St. Patrick's Day parade 'A lot of the feedback that we got was that it felt like the old days everybody hopping from bar to bar,' said Dave Tamulonis, events and marketing manager for the Erie Downtown Partnership. 'It's about bringing folks downtown getting them to visit the businesses getting them to stick around and have a dinner at a restaurant maybe shop at some of the retail shops so the economic impact of an event like the parade is felt throughout the weekend.' Tamulonis thanked the community for their support and said they hope to continue making this a great event for Erie. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
LECOM Health offers Erie's first treatment for Alzheimer's, dementia
A local healthcare facility is the first in Erie to administer a treatment for early symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease. That treatment being given to an Erie man who said the diagnosis is not only a heavy burden for the patients, but families as well. Parts of Walnut Creek Marina closing for maintenance Amyloid-targeting therapies, also known as ATT, is being offered in Erie for the first time by LECOM Health. It's a new class of medicine that targets patients with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's dementia. 'There's significant side effects and there's a significant process to screen patients so we got to pick the right patient to be safe,' Dr. James Lin, president of LECOM Institute for Successful Living. Jay Estes is the first patient in the area to receive this treatment that will take place over a span of eighteen months. New cutting-edge tech helping Erie eye doctors revolutionize treatment 'I'd gone to several tests and they're all telling me that I'm fine and my wife and we both know that I'm not fine,' he said 'They've shown significant reduction in terms of the plaquing in the brain as well as improving function,' Dr. Lin said. Estes said the diagnosis is not only a heavy burden for the patient but also the family. 'I would forget things I would talk to my wife and I would forget what she told me be driving along go the wrong way and have to turn around and go back,' Estes 'We watched his father go through it and he was at the Soldiers and Sailors Home for probably four years and he didn't know any of us and it was very difficult to go see him. So at least we know that he's doing everything he can to prevent that happening,' said Diane Estes, Jay's wife. Dr. Lin said there's a protocol that medical staff follows for patient safety. One aspect of that protocol is a patient navigator who is every step of the way from the pre-screening process to the day of infusion. 'It's a new treatment option there's a lot of questions there are a lot of risks involved it's not a cure-all I think we're kind of looking for that cure so just explaining that,' said Jennifer Kline, patient navigator. Erie Land Bank changing policies to help drive development 'We've already seen some cognitive improvement that we test him pre-imposed an MRI shows that he's having improvement in terms of plaquing so we're very cautiously optimistic that this is really going to work,' Dr. Lin explained. With the treatments underway, Estes said he is back to enjoying activities that he loves. 'Yeah we went to Florida and I played golf three times and went fishing and I feel a lot more energetic,' Estes went on to say. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New name marks new era for LECOM Medical Center and Behavioral Health Pavilion
New name, new beginning. LECOM Health has rebranded their hospital on the cusp of opening their expansion. They are calling this the new generation of healthcare in Erie with a major focus on technology. State police accepting applications for Law and Leadership Academy After years of being known as Millcreek Community Hospital, the center is beginning its next chapter with a new name. Leaders, officials and physicians gathered Thursday at the Atrium at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine for the official unveiling of LECOM Medical Center and Behavioral Health Pavilion. The re-branding signifies the close connection between the hospital and school and the impact they've had on the community as well as the students they train. 'The school was actually started by the hospital but as time has gone on the hospital is the training ground for all of our students,' said Danielle Hansen, regional president of LECOM Health. UPMC Hamot hosting Wear Red Heart Health Expo this Friday Their new identity also comes on the tenth anniversary of LECOM Health. The program is the only osteopathic academic center in the nation and Hansen said they will put an emphasis on adapting to serve the community. 'We want to be responsive to our community's needs, we want to be responsive to the entire health care landscape and environment changes occur from the way we're reimbursed to the way we treat people and the technologies and innovation associated with that so trying to put all that together and make sure we provide the best services possible to our patients in the community,' Hansen said. Construction on the hospital's addition will be wrapping up soon and they will be ready to open in the next few weeks. Groundbreaking was in March of 2023 and two years later, the new multi-story emergency room is an additional 34,000 square feet that includes an intensive care unit, medical-surgical unit and a cardiac cath lab. 'We'll be offering some services that we haven't offered in the past so that's exciting for us and the services that we continue to offer, we'll be offering at a much more comfortable environment for our patients and a much more efficient workflow for our team,' Hansen went on to say. United Way of Erie teaching students importance of 211 line ahead of holiday Hansen said the program will continue to evolve during their 10-year anniversary. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
