Health briefs 11/13/03

Doctors' conference on psychatrophic drugs set

New Vision Training Institute will host a doctors' conference Nov. 22 at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center. The event begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m.

The program "Interventions for treating psychological/behavioral disorders in medical practice" includes speakers Dr. Paul Caruso, Sarah Froemsdorf, Dr. Brad Robison and Dr. Georgette Johnson.

Topics to be addressed include whether psychatrophic drugs are safe for children and teenagers, diabetes and depression, behavior problems and psychological treatment in medical practice.

Fee for the conference is $50 and six contact hours for continuing education are available to physicians and nurse practitioners. To register, call 334-3486.

Liver foundation to sponsor program

An education seminar for people with hepatitis or other liver diseases will be held in Cape Girardeau Nov. 20. The meeting is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Franciscan Conference Room at St. Francis Medical Center.

The Missouri chapter of the American Liver Foundation is sponsoring the program. Topics include how to manage the side effects of hepatitis treatment and living with the disease.

Advance registration is preferred. Call (866) 455-4837 to register.

Health-care facility offers treatment for diabetics

Life Care Center of Cape Girardeau will begin offering a new treatment for diabetic neuropathy and pain and wound care.

The Anodyne Therapy System, which uses near-infrared photo energy applied to the body using flexible pads, can reduce pain and restore sensation for people with diabetic neuropathy, which is a condition in which diabetics lose feeling in parts of their body.

For information about the new treatment options, contact Gina Bennett, rehab services manager of Life Care Center at 335-2086.

Medical group to hold education day on costs

The Medical Group Management Association for the Southeast region will holds its fourth annual education day Nov. 20 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Harrison Room at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

The theme is "Team: The $ and Sense of Healthcare." Speaker is Sara M. Larch, chief operating officer of University Physicians Inc., which is the faculty practice plan at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

The seminar is appropriate for health-care providers, physicians, nurses, administrators and business managers. The program has been approved for 6.6 contact hours of education.

Registration is $80 for the full day, including lunch, or $45 for a half-day session and meal.

-- From staff reports