Hawaii Tribune-Herald Sunday, October 28, 2018 7
COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPS
COPD SUPPORT GROUP
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung
disease that over time makes it hard to breathe.
Where: Hilo Medical Centerʼs Learning Center, second floor,
1190 Waianuenue Avenue
When: 4:30-5:30 pm, third Monday of the month
Why: To support people living with COPD
For more information, contact Director of Public Affairs,
Elena Cabatu ecabatu@hhsc.org or 932-3160.
DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP
Where: Hilo Medical Centerʼs Learning Center, second floor,
1190 Waianuenue Avenue
When: 4:00 pm, first Tuesday of the month
Why: To support people living with Diabetes
For more information, contact: Diabetes Educator,
Colleen Talich, ctalich@hhsc.org at 932-3034.
OSTOMY SUPPORT GROUP
Where: Hilo Medical Centerʼs Cafeteria, ground floor,
1190 Waianuenue Avenue
When: 11:30 am-12:30 pm, third Saturday of the month
Why: To support people living with ostomy
For more information, contact Sandy Wright at 339-7640.
RAT LUNGWORM SUPPORT GROUP
Where: Keaau Community Center at 16-186 Pili Mua Street
When: 4:00-6:00 pm, second Wednesday of the month
Why: To support survivors of Rat Lungworm
For more information, contact Director of Public Affairs,
Elena Cabatu ecabatu@hhsc.org or 932-3160.
STROKE SUPPORT GROUP
Where: Hilo Medical Centerʼs Learning Center, second floor,
1190 Waianuenue Avenue
When: 4:00 pm, second Tuesday of the month
Why: To support stroke survivors and their caregivers.
For more information, contact: Speech Language Pathologist,
Amy Shipley ashipley@hhsc.org at 932-3049.
Raising awareness about stroke
id you know that face drooping,
arm weakness and slurred
speech are all signs of stroke?
Time counts, and Hilo Medical
Center’s Stroke Activation Team is
activated when the first call comes in
to 911.
A complete team of doctors,
nurses and staff from Hilo Medical
Center’s Emergency Department,
Intensive Care Unit, Laboratory,
Imaging and Respiratory Therapy
is ready as soon as a stroke patient
arrives because patient information
is being transmitted from the
medics in the ambulance directly
to the Emergency Department.
“Posterior strokes that take place in
the back of the brain affecting vision
and balance are the most missed,
undiagnosed strokes because their
symptoms are so broad,” said Rebecca
Moore, Hilo Medical Center’s Heart
and Stroke Coordinator. “We’re
now teaching people to recognize
additional signs of stroke such as
sudden nausea, sudden imbalance
and sudden blurry/double vision that
seem to come out of nowhere.”
Hilo Medical Center treats an
average of 30-plus stroke patients
every month.
“One thing that’s the same
throughout is that stroke doesn’t only
happen to the person — the entire
family, loved ones and caregivers
also sort of have that stroke,” said
Amy Shipley, Speech Language
Pathologist and Stroke Support Group
Coordinator. “If you or a loved one
has had a stroke, please join us for
the Stroke Support Group meeting
every second Tuesday of the month
at 4 p.m. in the Learning Center.”
“One thing that’s the same throughout is that stroke
doesn’t only happen to the person — the entire family,
loved ones and caregivers also sort of have that stroke.”
AMY SHIPLEY,
speech language pathologist and Stroke Support Group coordinator
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