Health & Safety

Information to assist with healthy living and lifestyle choices; patient, child and elder care.

Stahl picked to head Anthem plan in Georgia

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced Wednesday that Pam Stahl has been named president of the Georgia health plan. She replaces Jeff Fusile, who...

Save My Spot: NGPG launches virtual scheduling to reduce patient wait times

Northeast Georgia Health System is using technology to help reduce patient wait times at its Urgent Care facilities. NGHS unveiled an online tool that allows...

Essential oils popular, but can pose risk to kids

The Georgia Poison Center gets a lot of urgent phone calls every day. Two of these calls, on average, involve a category of products that...

Georgia getting slightly better on senior health, report card says

Georgia improved two spots, moving up to No. 41 among states in United Health Foundation’s report card on seniors’ health.   States in the Southeast continue...

Prevention of bites best protection against illnesses caused by mosquitoes

Prevent mosquito breeding and the spread of mosquito illnesses in Georgia GAINESVILLE – It is that time of year when we gear up for outdoor...

Too much iron? It’s a real genetic disease

Tresa Haywood, 50, has had a complicated medical history in recent years. She was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disorder, in 2000. Two years...

Social media cracking down on vaccine skeptics

For the past three years, Amy Haney has administered a private Facebook group for parents in Georgia who seek more information about vaccines. Haney, a...

Alzheimer’s creates huge burden for African-American community

Camilla White’s days as a part-time caregiver for her mother began at 4 a.m. They ended at 10 or 11 at night. “It just depended...

Hepatitis A and E. coli outbreaks continue to beset Georgia

Hepatitis A cases continue to surge in Georgia, with 31 more cases reported since about a week ago, Public Health officials said Wednesday. Since June...

Habersham ranked 36th healthiest county in Georgia

Habersham County ranks in the top 50 healthiest counties in Georgia and the top 5 healthiest in northeast Georgia.  The annual County Health Rankings report...

Senate panel backs waiver bill to insure more Georgians

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee passed legislation Tuesday to allow Gov. Brian Kemp to pursue health care waivers from the federal government. The...

A few devices — some very simple — can help seniors’ quality of life

A lift chair has made a big difference for Henry Cato, 78, of Franklin, who has neuropathy in his legs. The chair is a kind...