January is cervical health month

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, and women are encouraged to talk with their health-care providers about scheduling a pap test.

A pap test is the first line of defense against cervical cancer. Under health-care reform, insurance plans are required to cover women's preventive health services, such as pap tests, without charging co-pays.

The Women's Wellness Connection offers free cervical cancer screenings and any necessary follow-up treatments to Colorado women between the ages of 40 and 64 who have little or no health insurance and meet income requirements.

For more information, call (970) 356-5059 or visit www.womenswellnessconnection.org.

Mercy website receives award

Mercy Regional Medical Center has received the Hospital Website Transparency Award from URAC and The Leapfrog Group.

The award identifies outstanding hospital websites that promote transparency of safety and quality measures in a manner that is useful and user-friendly.

The winners were announced at the annual meeting of The Leapfrog Group in Arlington, Va. This is the second year Mercy has received the award.

For more information, visit www.urac.org/education-and-events/conferences-and-awards/hospital-web-site-transparency-awards/.

Nominations sought for Nightingale awards

The Southwestern Colorado Area Health Education Center is accepting nominations for the Nightingale Luminary Awards.

The award recognizes outstanding nurses in the Four Corners. Nominations can be made for registered nurses in two categories: clinical practice or non-traditional roles (such as administration, education or research).

In each category, nominees will be judged in the areas of: advocacy (advancing a cause or proposal); leadership (motivating others to work toward a common goal); and innovation (demonstrating creativity in the nursing field).

Six regional "Nightingale Luminaries" will be selected with the possibility of advancement to a statewide award contest.

For more information and applications, visit www.swcahec.org or call 375-3250. Nominations are due no later than Jan. 15.

Acupuncture clinic available to veterans

A Durango Veterans Acupuncture Clinic will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays and from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays at 635 East Fifth Ave.

This is a free, community-style acupuncture clinic for veterans and their families. The clinic is sponsored by The Durango Acupuncture Alliance.

For more information, call Vanessa Morgan at 403-4150.

Mercy Regional receives accreditation

Mercy Regional Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety in hospitals.

The accreditation award recognizes Mercy's dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission's state-of-the-art standards. Mercy underwent a rigorous unannounced onsite survey last October. A team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated Mercy for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management. The Joint Commission's hospital standards address important functions relating to the care of patients and the management of hospitals. The standards are developed in consultation with health care experts, providers, measurement experts and patients.

For more information, visit www.jointcommission.org.

Herald Staff