Health and Medicine
The director of the emergency department says LewisGale Medical Center’s 12 million dollar investment in the Cave Spring E-R has been a winner. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
Beth Macy’s first two non-fiction books were widely acclaimed and both have been optioned for movies – “Factory Man” by Tom Hanks and “Truevine” by Leonardo DeCaprio. Macy’s latest release about the opioid crisis in southwestern Virginia – “Dopesick” – might work better as a miniseries due to the complexity of the issue. On WFIR live in-studio this morning the former Roanoke Times reporter says the problem dates back more than 20 years. The complete conversation follows below:
Acupuncture, herbal therapies and spinal manipulations: holistic care not for you, but your pet: from all indications, it is a growing area of veterinarian care. The Veterinarian Wellness Center in Roanoke is one of several area pet health care businesses offering such services, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports.
Beth Macy’s detailed and often critical look at the opioid crisis that may have started right here in southwest Virginia – “Dopesick” – also includes images from another former Roanoke Times colleague. They team up again for a special event at the Taubman Museum on Sunday as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:
Ralph Northam
WISE, Va. (AP) – Gov. Ralph Northam is set to visit a health clinic in Southwest Virginia that’s expected to draw thousands of people seeking free care. Northam’s office announced that he will attend the Remote Area Medical clinic at the Wise County Fairgrounds on Saturday. Northam is a pediatric neurologist who has treated patients at the clinic in the past. This is 19th year the event will be held at the fairgrounds. Patients will receive provide dental, medical and vision care. All care is offered free of charge. Registration begins at 6 a.m. daily from July 20 through July 22. Services are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
A private-public partnership that developed equipment to make blood flow away from the brain – to a filter – is a less invasive method to combat stroke. WFIR’s Gene Marrano follows up on a surgical breakthrough we touched on earlier:
The heat isn’t going away any time soon so a LewisGale Regional Health System ER physician has a few more warnings as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:
Carilion Clinic’s Aortic Center is the first in the region to offer a new, non-invasive procedure that can help prevent strokes by reversing the flow of blood to the brain and filtering out any plaque before restoring it to the body’s blood supply. Dr Joshua Adams is Medical Director for aortic and vascular surgery: To date he has performed the procedure twice. Adams says its a preferred alternative to invasive carotid artery surgery. Physicians worked with a private firm – Silk Road – to develop the equipment that filters out the stroke-inducing plaque.
Ida McMillan-Zapf
She recently won a regional bodybuilding competition in two categories and now a very determined young woman is seeking support in an online voting faceoff with other fitness buffs. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
A talk-back entitled “Depression, Suicide and Sex Ed.” follows a teen-focused musical at Mill Mountain Theatre that highlights the same issues. More on the second week for “Spring Awakening” from WFIR’s Gene Marrano: