ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 26, 1995 TAG: 9512270034
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: health notes
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY
If you think Santa's job is tough because he has to get in and out of all those chimneys, you need to know that he also has one of the world's most hazardous occupations from a back pain perspective.
When Santa isn't lifting those heavy toys, he's sitting for long periods of time in his sleigh, explains the American Physical Therapy Association.
So that you don't mess up the back during the holidays, or at any other time, the physical therapists have this advice:
Work on your posture. Don't slouch; maintain the natural arch in your back when standing or sitting. Sitting for a long time in one position is a back hazard. Lumbar support and breaks can help.
Lift with your legs, not your back. Don't bend over an object to lift it. Instead, stand close to the object, bend your knees, keep your back aligned, and then lift.
Test an object's weight before lifting. Before attempting to lift an object, try to push it with your foot. If you can't push it, it's too heavy to lift.
Health care proposals
The Joint Commission on Health Care is going to finalize its 1996 legislative package Jan. 8 and needs any public comment on the proposals by Jan. 3. Condensed here are some of the proposed bills and resolutions that will be discussed by the commission at its Jan. 8 meeting:
#0607 Expands the size of small groups, from 49 to 99 employees, which are subject to small-group insurance reforms including guaranteed renewability of coverage and reduced waiting periods;
#0852 Eliminates the Virginia Health Services Cost Review council and merges the efficiency and productivity methodology for health care institutions into the activities of Virginia Health Information Inc. and transfers responsibility for contracting with VHI to the Department of Health;
#2003 Consolidates all licensure functions for health dare and adult care facilities in the Department of Health;
#2023 Requests Virginia's academic health centers to evaluate their programs for obstetrical training for family medicine residents;
#2025 Requests the Office of Emergency Medical Services to develop a draft of a statewide pre-hospital and inter-hospital trauma triage plan;
#2026 Requests the Secretaries of the Administration and Health and Human Resources to develop a policy for considering reimbursement for telemedicine services by state health programs;
#5726 Requests the Virginia Academy of Family Practice, the Virginia Obstetrical and Gynecological Society and the Virginia Department of Health to form a joint task force for the purpose of establishing standards and protocols for obstetrical care.
If you want to know more about these proposals, call the commission at (804) 786-5445. The address is Suite 115, Old City Hall, 1001 East Broad Street, Richmond 23219. Don't forget, deadline is Jan. 3.
Red Cross office
The American Red Cross has opened a satellite office in Troutville on the second floor of the Troutville Town Hall on U.S. 11. Standard First Aid, CPR and classes for disaster volunteers will be taught there. Also, disaster services and armed-forces emergency services for Botetourt County residents will be handled at the office.
Rusty Erskine will serve as volunteer specialist for the new office, which will be open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and can be reached at 966-4921.
Botetourt had its own Red Cross chapter from 1917 to 1964, when it merged with the Roanoke Valley Chapter.
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