Nov 1, 2015 9 min read

Through Canonsburg General Hospital’s Speaker Series, physicians and other health-care professionals can present free programs on a variety of health-related topics. For a copy of the Speaker Series brochure, call 724-873-5835.

Community health programs offered at the hospital can be found at www.wpahs.org.

Physician referral access line is 412-DOCTORS (362-8677) and is available between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Medivan service, operated by Canonsburg Ambulance, is available to residents who need transportation to Canonsburg General Hospital for testing or surgery. The service cannot accommodate patients in wheelchairs. Rides must be scheduled at least one day in advance. To schedule, call 724-745-6911.

Blood pressure screenings are provided from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Canonsburg Community Health Care Center, 36 E. Pike St. Call 724-873-5835.

Ask the Doctor shows are available online by accessing www.geocities.com/ptct7/Ask_The_Doctor.html.

Health-care professionals from the hospital and Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services Inc. are available to make free presentations to service clubs, church groups, senior citizens organizations and others who request programs. To schedule a speaker, contact Community Relations at 724-258-1234 or whurley@monvalleyhospital.com.

Physician Referral Service Guide is available on the hospital’s website, www.monvalleyhospital.com.

Breast Cancer Support Group will meet from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday at Monongahela Valley Hospital, 7-East family room. For more information, call 724-258-1704.

Smoking cessation program will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday in November at Mon-Vale HealthPLEX, Room 120. Classes are free for Primary Care Resource Center patients, MVH employees and anyone with a referral from an MVH-affiliated primary care physician. For all others, cost is $20. Space is limited and registration is required by calling 724-258-1932.

Healthy Eating Supermarket Tour will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Giant Eagle in Finleyville. Health care professionals from Monongahela Valley Hospital’s Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology will conduct the tours and discuss “Holiday Meal Planning.” The program is free, but space is limited. Registration is required by calling 724-258-1483.

Mental Wellness Resources and Support: A Community Perspective will be presented at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Education Conference Center at Monongahela Valley Hospital. Speakers will include Mark Freado of Reclaiming Youth International; Dr. Ravindranath Kolli of Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services Inc., Behavioral Health; Cheryld Emala, a licensed social worker with SPHS Behavioral Health. To register, call 724-258-1333.

AARP Driver Safety refresher course will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday in the Education Conference Center at Monongahela Valley Hospital. The classroom driver improvement course is designed for motorists age 50 and older. It is intended to help improve skills while teaching accident and traffic violation avoidance. Some insurance companies offer discounts for course completion. Cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonmembers. Registration is required by calling 724-258-1333.

Advanced Carbohydrate Counting will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 9 in the Education Conference Center at Monongahela Valley Hospital. Topics of the diabetes self-management class include how to track effects of carbohydrates and blood sugar, the glycemic index and how to read food nutrition labels. Registration is required at least one week in advance by calling 724-258-1483.

Suicide Bereavement Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. Nov. 9 and 23 in the Education Conference Center at Monongahela Valley Hospital. Registration is required by calling 724-268-1144.

Lung cancer screening educational program will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Education Conference Center at Monongahela Valley Hospital. Speakers will include Dr. Andrew Zahalsky, director of medical oncology; Dr. Surinder Aneja, internal/pulmonary medicine; and Dr. Adil Chaudry, director of radiology. Current and former smokers 55 and older are encouraged to attend. For more information and to register, call 724-258-1333.

RSDS Support Group will meet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Education Conference Center at Monongahela Valley Hospital. For more information, call 724-929-9492.

Better Breathers Club will meet from 2 to 3 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Education Conference Center at Monongahela Valley Hospital. Carrie Murt, a respiratory therapist of Advacare Home Services, will discuss “Living Safely with Oxygen.” For more information, call 724-258-1932.

Alzheimer’s Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Education Conference Center at Monongahela Valley Hospital. It is designed to help the family members, friends and caregivers of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Reservations are requested by calling 724-258-1333.

Prostate Cancer Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. Nov. 11 in the Education Conference Center at Monongahela Valley Hospital. For more information, call 724-292-9404.

Talk With a Doc: Common Foot and Ankle Ailments will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 11 at Mt. Lebanon Public Library, 16 Castle Shannon Blvd. Dr. William DeCarbo, orthopedic surgeon, will discuss the symptoms and causes of common ankle ailments, plus various treatments to calm or eliminate pain caused by these ailments. Light refreshments will be served. To register, call 724-258-1333.

Diabetes Support Group holiday dinner will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 12. Cost is $7.50 per person, and reservations are required. Those interested in attending must receive an invitation by calling the Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology at 724-258-1483.

Innovations in Medicine: New Approaches to Geriatric Medicine will be presented at 6 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Education Conference Center at Monongahela Valley Hospital. Dr. Lakshmi Madduru, family practitioner, will discuss the latest advances in geriatric medicine and strategies to prevent falls. Refreshments will be served, and parking is free. To register, call 724-258-1333.

Managing Your Diabetes will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 17-19 in the Education Conference Center at Monongahela Valley Hospital. Topics include the importance of controlling blood sugars, diabetes medications, lifestyle changes, meal planning and methods to reduce the risk of complications. Registration is required at least one week in advance by calling 724-258-1483.

Stroke Support Group will meet from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Education Conference Center at Monongahela Valley Hospital. For more information, call 724-258-1455.

Ostomy Support Group will meet from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Education Conference Center at Monongahela Valley Hospital. For more information, call 724-258-1773.

Public first-aid instruction will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Education Conference Center at Monongahela Valley Hospital. The adult first-aid classes are offered by the hospital in conjunction with Valley Health and Safety Training Center. Fee is $30, payable to VHSTC, and registration is required by calling 724-684-9536.

Adult CPR instruction will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 24 in the Education Conference Center at Monongahela Valley Hospital. Classes are offered by the hospital in conjunction with Valley Health and Safety Training Center. Fee is $40, payable to VHSTC, and registration is required by calling 724-684-9536.

Cancer-care specialists are available to evaluate needs, provide information, guidance and support, identify resources and navigate the health-care system. For more information, call St. Clair Hospital’s cancer-care specialist at 412-942-5082.

Diabetes Education Center offers group classes and one-on-one appointments, addressing a comprehensive range of topics. Diabetes management plans are developed with patients and their physicians, taking into account each individual’s lifestyle and needs. Insulin pump training is provided. For more information, call 412-942-2151.

A smoking cessation program offers classes and individual counseling. For more information, call 412-942-2008.

Breast-feeding Support Group meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. the last Monday of each month, except May and December, in the Community Room at Washington Hospital. To register, call 724-250-4476.

Stroke Support Group meets from 4:30 to 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month in the occupational therapy apartment, fourth floor, at Washington Hospital. To register, call 724-229-2449.

Free health and wellness information is available in the Ruth York Morgan Health Education Learning Place at Washington Hospital. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 724-223-3144.

Teen Outreach programs at Washington Hospital include:

• Echo – a home-based early intervention program for children in fourth through eighth grades.

• Parents and Daughters – for girls 9 to 12 years old.

• Parents and Sons – for boys 10 to 14 years old.

• Pregnant and Parenting Teens – supportive and educational services for teens.

• Teen Father Program – for fathers up to 22 years old.

Some programs include a fee. For more information, call 724-222-2311.

Prenatal classes are baby care, breast-feeding and prepared childbirth. There is a fee, but many insurance plans will offer some reimbursement. Call 724-223-3173 early in pregnancy.

Cardiac rehabilitation programs are available. For more information, call 724-250-6288.