January 22, 2018 - ChaddsFordLive.com

UHS fair queen wins state Miss Congeniality

Varshika Mandalapua a Unionville High School senior, won Miss Congeniality at the 106th annual Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs Convention on Saturday night in Hershey. This is the first time a Unionville Fair Queen has attained this honor. This selection comes from the votes of all the contestants. In 2011, the UCF Queen, Claire Werkiser, obtained the highest honor when she was crowned State Fair Queen.

Varshika Mandalapua, right, with Fair Queen Coordinator Debbie Pritchard.

Present at the coronation banquet were Varshika’s parents, Ravi and Kavitha, her sister Anushka and her brother Dhanush, Unionville Fair treasurer Jeff Lewis and his wife Debbie, Fair Queen Coordinator Debbie Pritchard and her husband David, Board members and Past Presidents, Bonnie Musser and Danielle Chamberlain and Lauren Chamberlain, who is the reigning Fair Princess.

Debbie Pritchard, fair queen coordinator for Unionville, has supported Varshika every step of the journey. During the banquet, Pritchard said “Our community should be extremely proud of this amazing young lady.” Bonnie Musser agreed and added “Varshika is lovely young woman with an engaging personality! We have all just fallen in love with her this week.”

Varshika is heavily involved in her school’s drama program and is the president of the UHS political society. In school, she is part of Model UN, Reading Olympics, Club Wave, and Girl up Feminist Club, Club Impact and UHS Rugby. She volunteers at local hospitals, the fair and school events in order to support her community.

The competition consisted of 58 county fair queens representing about half of the county fairs across the state. Each contestant introduced themselves in the evening gown ceremony, completed an interview with a panel of state judges, and presented a persuasive speech.

The state Fair Queen Program mission is to provide educational opportunities for young women in Pennsylvania through scholarships and to provide a representative who can promote greater public understanding, awareness and interest in PA’s top industries of agriculture and tourism.

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Crozer launches center for mothers with substance abuse

Health

In collaboration with Keystone First, Crozer-Keystone Health System has established the PEARL (Prevention, Education, Addiction, Recovery and Linkage) program, which is dedicated to assisting Keystone First expectant mothers who have substance abuse disorders as well as their unborn babies who may be at risk for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. The new program launched last year and is based at Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland.

Keystone First is a Blue Cross Medical Assistance (Medicaid) product and the largest Medicaid managed care product in southeastern Pennsylvania.

The PEARL program offers comprehensive intensive case management and nurse navigation services to assist Keystone First’s expectant mothers who may be struggling with substance abuse on their journey to developing a healthy lifestyle and ultimately a healthy baby. The PEARL team connects with mothers through outreach with physicians, community agencies and healthcare facilities (both Crozer-Keystone and non-Crozer-Keystone) throughout Delaware County. The PEARL team aims to begin working with mothers during the perinatal stage and provide ongoing support and ancillary services postnatal until the baby reaches 2 years of age.

Often manifested by intense fit-like seizures and inconsolable high-pitched wailing, NAS causes babies to suffer from a range of painful symptoms, including muscle convulsions and limb contractions, difficulty breathing, incessant vomiting, sweating, and diarrhea. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among 28 states with publicly available data between 1999 and 2013, the overall incidence of NAS increased 300 percent, from 1.5 per 1,000 hospital births in 1999, to 6.0 per 1,000 hospital births in 2013.

“Managing substance abuse and pregnancies at risk of NAS using an integrative, holistic approach, the PEARL program allows Keystone First members earlier provision of effective treatment, leading to improved patient quality of life for both the mothers and their babies,” said Dr. Kevin Caputo, chair of Psychiatry and vice president of Behavioral Health for Crozer-Keystone.

Creating the PEARL program is a natural progression for Crozer-Keystone, a regional leader in behavioral health, substance abuse, and addiction care. The health system’s psychiatrists, counselors, social workers and staff have been caring for men and women with substance abuse disorders for decades.

In recent years, Crozer-Keystone has delivered and cared for nearly 100 NAS babies annually.

“It is important for us to evolve with changing member needs,” said Joanne McFall, market president for Keystone First. “The services provided at Crozer-Keystone’s new center of excellence will greatly help us to ensure the health and well-being of our mothers in need of additional support, and their babies.”

PEARL services are available to mothers with Keystone First coverage. If you are a Keystone First member or know a Keystone First member who is interested in learning more about the PEARL Program, call 610-619-8461.

Crozer-Keystone Health System is the leading employer and health care provider in Delaware County. The system comprises five hospitals, several outpatient centers, a network of primary care and specialty physicians and the Healthplex® Sports Club. For more information or to find a physician who’s right for you, call 1-800-CK-HEALTH (1-800-254-3258) or visit www.crozerkeystone.org for more information.

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Home care or urgent care?

Health

Urgent-Care-Hand — Home care or urgent care?

Ouch! Cuts and scrapes are a painful fact of life. Whether you’re chopping vegetables for dinner, helping your child with an art project, or have the type of job that requires you to use tools and machinery, you’re likely to suffer minor skin injuries every now and then. Some of them can be treated at home, while others may require stitches, cleaning, and treatment that only your doctor can provide.

Many of the medications and supplies you already have in your medicine cabinet are effective in treating the majority of minor injuries you sustain around the house. “However, It’s always better to be overly cautious and visit an urgent care facility if you have any doubt about treating a wound yourself,” says Kristine Ruch-Harvey, D.O., an urgent care physician at Crozer-Keystone Health.

When You Should Go to Urgent Care

Sometimes, it’s obvious that a wound requires immediate attention. In these cases, you should never try to treat the wound yourself—call 911 immediately. In other cases, you may not be sure. Here are some general guidelines to help you tell the difference between a wound you can treat at home and one that requires a visit to urgent care.

It Won’t Stop Bleeding: If your wound doesn’t stop bleeding after you apply pressure for five minutes, you’ll likely need stitches to close it.

Wounds that gush or squirt blood are very dangerous and require immediate medical attention. This kind of profuse bleeding may indicate that you have severed an artery, which requires treatment in the Emergency Room. Call 911 right away.

It Doesn’t Pass the “Pinch Test”: If the wound is gaping and looks more like normal skin when you pinch it closed, it’s another good sign that you need stitches

It’s Located in a Dangerous Spot: If you get a serious cut on your face, neck or genital area, go to urgent care right away.

Something is Stuck in the Wound: After you clean the wound, there should not be any dirt, glass, or other foreign objects visible. If there are, or if you’ve suffered a puncture wound and the object is still stuck in your body, seek medical attention.

You Haven’t Had a Tetanus Shot Recently: You can be exposed to the tetanus bacteria when you sustain a wound, especially wounds caused by a knife or puncture. You should go to urgent care if you haven’t had a tetanus booster in the last 10 years, or if you can’t remember when you had your last shot.

How to Treat a Wound at Home

If your wound is minor and able to be treated at home, the first step is the stop the bleeding. Apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth, which should significantly slow or stop bleeding of it in less than five minutes.

Once the bleeding has stopped, clean the wound with cool water to remove dirt and debris that could cause an infection.

Don’t use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, which can slow wound healing. Instead, use an over-the-counter antibiotic cream to keep the wound moist and clean.

If it’s a very minor wound, that may be enough. In some cases, you should apply a clean, sterile bandage to the wound. Make sure you change the dressing at least once a day, or when it’s obviously dirty or wet, to avoid infection.

Following these simple rules can help you treat minor wounds at home. Remember, it’s always fine to be cautious if you’re unsure and visit urgent care.

About Crozer Keystone Staff

Crozer-Keystone Health System’s physicians, specialists and advanced practitioners are committed to improving the health of our community through patient-centered, quality care across a full continuum of health services. Crozer Brinton Lake is Crozer-Keystone’s comprehensive outpatient care facility in western Delaware County, offering primary care, specialty services, outpatient surgery and advanced cancer treatment. Contact us: 300 Evergreen Drive, Glen Mills, PA 19342 http://www.crozerkeystone.org/Brinton-Lake 1-855-254-7425

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