A trade publication called Dairy Herd Management published a story yesterday summarizing research by WSU professors and a Monsanto scientist who found dairies are much more environmentally friendly today than they were in 1944. Those who would romanticize the ‘40s are just plain wrong, the authors say. 

But Jean Mendoza, a nurse from White Swan, has asked the National Academy of Science to repudiate the claims of the authors, first published earlier this year in the Journal of Animal Scien

YAKIMA, Wash. -- The Yakima County chapter of the NAACP will hold a health-care forum on Nov. 16 at the Southeast Community Center, 1211 S. 7th St., from 6:30-8 p.m.

Panelists include Dennis Klukhan, administrator of the Yakima Health District, and Dr. Sawraj Singh, who will address health-care disparities, flu vaccination, health insurance and the economic effects on health-care services.

The forum is part of the “880” campaign by the national NAACP, which is to draw attention to health dispar

The rhetoric is heating up over health-care reform. Read the latest GOP attack from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers here.

— Leah Beth Ward

Another hospital has come out against Initiative 1033. Earlier this week, the board of commissioners of Kittitas Valley Community Hospital (KVCH) passed a resolution in opposition to Tim Eyman’s I-1033, saying it would threaten the hospital’s financial viability and hurt its ability to provide quality health services.

The Washington State Hospital Association projects that the Kittitas hospital would see a reduction in Medicaid payment of more than $1.3 million over the next six years.
 
“We c

YAKIMA, Wash. -- It was salt in the wound today for Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital.

The state Department of Health announced that nine new hospitals have been approved to add elective angioplasty to their cardiac services. Not on the list is Memorial, which is suing the state in federal court over the rules that let hospitals add the procedure.

The state’s decision is the result of legislation passed in 2007. The law directed the Health Department to develop rules to determine where there wa

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Baby Wild Films of Seattle produced last March “Dairyman Blues” about large dairy operations in the Lower Yakima Valley. Why its just making the rounds here now I’m not sure.

In any case, view it at
http://www.youtube.com/user/BabyWildFIlms#p/a/2/LHK5WTYOGig

Despite the title, the film is about the blues facing local residents who live near the dairies. It features some interesting confrontations between dairy owners and the cameraman. Local activist Jan Whitefoot of Harrah a

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Seattle-based Group Health will be offering two new Medicare Advantage plans in Yakima County, seeking to capitalize on the region’s growing senior population.

Consumers can sign up for the plans beginning Nov. 15 through the end of the year. Coverage will start Jan. 1, 2010.

The preferred provider organization (PPO) plans are called Clear Care PPO. Clear Care Elite PPO will cost $78 a month. A scaled down policy is Clear Care Prestige PPO at $37 a month. Both include prescript

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Yakima nurse Dionetta Hudzinski has a story in a new book titled “To The Rescue: Stories from Healthcare Workers at the Scenes of Disasters.”

Hudzinski’s tale is “Clowns to the Rescue” and tells of her trip to New York City on the anniversary of 9/11 with a troupe of clowns. Her mission was to bring “a welcomed respite to the sadness that surrounded the area that was once the Twin Towers,” said the book’s co-editor, Nancy Harless.
 
Hudzinski will be hosting a book signing Oct.

YAKIMA, Wash. -- “Journey to wholeness” is the attraction on Oct. 17 at a day long retreat sponsored by Wellness House and Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Yakima Convention Center, various wellness topics will be showcased, including acupuncture, aura photography, healing arts, yoga, nutrition and jewelry. Admission is $3.

There will also be a 36-foot labyrinth.

— Leah Beth Ward

YAKIMA, Wash. -- All employees — even those in the billing department — at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital will be required to get vaccinated against the H1N1 virus when the vaccine becomes available later this month, Valerie Hennessy, assistant vice president of nursing services, said this afternoon.

Employees can decline based on religious, medical or personal reasons but they will have to wear a mask if they don’t get the shot.

Memorial is not alone in its policy. The Washington State Hospit