Mills-Peninsula ranks in top 5 percent of US hospitals
Mills-Peninsula rates in the top 5 percent of hospitals in the country for overall clinical quality, according to a national study by HealthGrades, a leading health care ratings organization.

Mills-Peninsula is one of only 269 hospitals to receive HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence Award™. This distinction is based on an independent study of the nation’s 4,971 hospitals.

“Agencies such as HealthGrades are making clinical results more visible, and this is helping health care consumers chose wisely,” Bob Merwin, Mills-Peninsula CEO, said. “We work hard to make sure we’re the best choice in our community for quality health care.”

Free Web pages bring friends, family close
Patients at Mills-Peninsula can create their own personal CarePage – a free, private, personalized Web page that allows family and friends to keep in touch before, during and after hospitalization.

With CarePages, patients can share updates with family and friends, receive messages of encouragement and support, read stories and tips and meet others in similar situations.
Starting a CarePage is easy, takes just minutes and works for patients as long as they want it to – even after they go home.

CarePages are in compliance with all hospital privacy standards and completely controlled by the patient or family member who must approve every visitor. For more information visit www.mills-peninsula.org.

Building livable communities for seniors
San Mateo County will host a forum to explore the benefits to seniors of living in areas with easy access to shopping, transportation and recreation.

How can transit-oriented development (TOD) projects be designed to better meet the needs of the county’s aging population? And how can seniors support the development of housing that meets their transportation and other needs?

“Livable Communities for Successful Aging,” will be held Friday, May 30, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., at the San Mateo County Expo Center, 2495 South Delaware St., San Mateo

Register online at www.co.sanmateo.ca.us or call 650.363.4526.

Getting the whole community off the couch
The City of San Mateo and Mills-Peninsula aim to beat their own record for getting the community off the couch this summer.

Last year, more than 250 people tracked their fitness efforts in the three-month San Mateo On the Move community fitness drive racking up a total of 7, 648 moving miles, according to Sheila Canzian, director of Parks and Recreation, City of San Mateo.

“This year, we are teaming up again, with the goal of doubling the number of participants and miles,” she said.

The second annual, four-month drive will start with a kick-off event June 7, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., at Central Park in San Mateo, which is free to the public. Participants can take part in health assessments and screenings, sample healthy foods, talk to fitness vendors, watch fitness demonstrations and dance performances and visit the Family Fit Zone.

Register for this year’s campaign online at www.sanmateoonthemove.org, or pick up a registration form at any City of San Mateo Parks and Recreation Center. Participants track their progress of any fitness activity June 7 – Sept. 27. Prizes will be awarded throughout the campaign, including a night on the town in San Mateo for two.

2008 Heroes for Health announced
Rev. Thomas E. Fisher of Second Baptist Church in Redwood City, College of San Mateo nursing instructor Janis Ryan and the Union Bank of California were named 2008 Heroes for Health by Mills-Peninsula’s African American Community Health Advisory Committee (AACHAC).

Rev. Fisher was recognized for his support and advocacy of AACHAC programs, screenings and other health related events, and for encouraging people of the community to be concerned about their health and well being.

Janis Ryan has lead blood pressure and cholesterol screenings at more than 13 churches with college nursing students for the last eight years. Ryan made the community outreach experience part of the nursing curriculum. Union Bank has supported Soul Stroll for five years and is a lead sponsor for the September Men’s Conference.

The three winners were honored at an invitation-only banquet on May 16 as a part of the Soul Stroll for Health celebration.