Robert Karlsson retained a share of the lead after two rounds of the Sanford International, posting a 4-under 68 to put him in a tie with Jeff Maggert, who followed a first-round 64 with a 66 at Minnehaha Country Club on Saturday.

The pair are one stroke ahead of former Sanford International champion Rocco Mediate, who is at 9-under.

The conditions were more difficult for many of the PGA Tour Champions competitors but that wasn’t the case for everyone. Players like Steve Stricker, Paul Stankowski and Thongchai Jaidee also made impressive moves up the leaderboard.

It sets up what promises to be a very competitive final round with 13 golfers within three strokes of the lead.

“It was a good back nine and a good position to start tomorrow,” said Maggert, who has won six times on the Champions Tour. “I’ve been watching my son play a lot of golf and we’ve been feeding off each other. The last tournament he played, he played well and won. The discussion was we have to stay patient. The putts will go. Just be patient. I’ve been thinking about that myself. I’m kinda learning from him right now.”

Stricker, the Sanford International’s first-ever winner in 2018, followed Friday’s 2-under 68 with a 6-under 64. The difference included a few long putts and conditions that played more to his strengths.

“I made a few bombs – two putts that totaled about a hundred feet on No. 5 and then on No. 7,” said Stricker, a resident of Madison, Wisconsin, who has won more than $1.8 million this year on the Champions Tour. “That really kept the round going and provided that boost. They were holes I was just trying to make par on and get out of there and ended up making birdies.”

Ernie Els is one of five golfers at 8-under and Padraig Harrington, the second-leading money-winner on the Champions Tour this season, is one of five players at 7-under.

“Early in the day the wind was kicking up pretty good – 15 to 20 (mph),” Maggert said. “It was definitely harder to make birdies today that it was yesterday.”

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The current trend of polypharmacy – the simultaneous use of multiple drugs by a single patient for one or more conditions – reflects racism and discrimination in the treatment of Black, Indigenous, and people of color children and teens, according to Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross, an intergenerational trauma expert and eating disorder treatment specialist.

“It has been documented in adults that Black patients with mental illness are more likely to receive substance care and more likely to be diagnosed with psychotic disorders than with depression and anxiety,” Dr. Ross stated.

“The lack of access and availability of therapeutic options to treat mental illness and the lack of understanding and acknowledgment that mental illness in teens and children may have their roots in trauma.

“Medication will not fix the brain changes caused by childhood trauma experiences and may not even fix the symptoms. Beyond this, medication use in children and teens is risky at best and dangerous at its worst.”

Dr. Ross’ comments are in response to a new report revealing that anxious and depressed teens are using multiple, powerful psychiatric drugs, many of which are untested in adolescents or for use in tandem.

In 2020, the journal Pediatrics reported that 40.7 percent of people ages 2 to 24 who were prescribed a drug for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder also were prescribed at least one other medication for depression, anxiety, or another mood or behavioral disorder.

Further, researchers found more than 50 psychotropic medicines prescribed in such combinations.

“These patterns should spark further inquiry about the appropriateness, efficacy, and safety of psychotherapeutic polypharmacy in children and young adults, particularly within subgroups where the use is high,” the authors concluded.

While the use of multiple psychotropic medications counts as concerning in such a young population, it is also not surprising given the lack of other treatment options, Dr. Ross told the Washington Informer.

“Beyond this, however, is a lack of understanding about the root cause of many of the psychiatric conditions being diagnosed and treated with medications,” Dr. Ross asserted.

She continued:

“Both during and before the pandemic, BIPOC children and teenagers are exposed to more trauma and adverse events than any white children and teens.”

Given that depression and anxiety have increased in recent years among youth, and young ones who have experienced trauma or childhood adversity (or ACEs – adverse childhood experiences) are more likely to experience depression and anxiety and other health and learning challenges, this is a significant health and social justice conversation, added Sarah Marikos, the executive director of the ACE Resource Network (ARN).

“The issues on prescribing psychotropic medications for children, adolescents, and young people, and lack of access to behavioral health supports for youth who have an increasing need for mental health support is one of the biggest health challenges our country is facing right now,” Marikos wrote in an email.

“This is partly why the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory on youth mental health at the end of 2021. When diagnosing and treating depression, anxiety, and ADHD, as well as many more common health conditions, particularly among young people, it is important to have a trauma-informed approach.”

Marikos continued:

“Giving children and young people, or anyone really, a psychiatric diagnosis with medication has serious, potentially helpful, and potentially harmful consequences. Diagnosis informs treatment. Therefore, if the diagnosis is not right, the treatment may not work, or worse, it could be hurtful.”

“Diagnoses can also impact how young people think and feel about themselves and perhaps define themselves. Doctors and behavioral health providers who understand trauma and seek to understand their patients’ history and experiences, may mean a shift in diagnosis and treatment.”

The New York Times noted a nationwide study published in 2006 examined records of visits to doctors’ offices by people younger than 20 and found a sharp rise in office visits involving the prescription of antipsychotic drugs — to 1.2 million in 2002 from 200,000 in 1993. In addition, the drugs were increasingly prescribed in combinations, particularly among low-income children.

The newspaper added that between 2004 and 2008, a national study of children enrolled in Medicaid found that 85 percent of patients on an antipsychotic drug were also prescribed a second medication, with the highest rates among disabled youngsters and those in foster care.

“It’s a fact that our youth are experiencing more mental health concerns today than ever before,” offered Laura Tietz, a pediatric pharmacist.

She once worked at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital in Ohio.

“While I believe physicians and psychiatrists are probably overprescribing these medications, I don’t believe they do so intentionally,” Tietz stated.

“Unfortunately, they are often left with little choice. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other forms of counseling have been shown to be an essential part of managing mental health conditions,” Tietz continued.

“However, there are few professionals in the medical field today who practice adolescent psychiatry and can provide this benefit to our youth.

“This leaves prescribers with the task of trying to manage mental health concerns strictly with medication.

“I believe any physician would tell you that they want to help the patient to the best of their ability. Unfortunately, right now, physicians have few tools besides medication to do this.”

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FRIDAY, Sept. 16, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Antihypertensive medication effectiveness for protecting against heart attack, stroke, and vascular death is not affected by whether the medication is taken in the morning or evening, according to a late-breaking study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2022, held from Aug. 26 to 29 in Barcelona, Spain.

Thomas MacDonald, from the University of Dundee in the United Kingdom, and colleagues randomly assigned 21,104 patients with high blood pressure (1:1) to take their usual antihypertensive medication in the morning or the evening. Median follow-up was 5.2 years.

The researchers found that the composite primary end point of hospitalization for nonfatal myocardial infarction or nonfatal stroke or vascular death occurred in 3.4 percent of participants in the evening dosing group (0.69 events per 100 patient-years) and 3.7 percent of patients in the morning dosing group (0.72 events per 100 patient-years), yielding an unadjusted hazard ratio of 0.95 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.83 to 1.10; P = 0.53). Results were similar in prespecified subgroup analyses.

“People with high blood pressure should take their regular antihypertensive medications at a time of day that is convenient for them and minimizes any undesirable effects,” MacDonald said in a statement.

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Contact:

Jon Berg
Sanford Health Media Relations
605-366-2432 / Jon.Berg@SanfordHealth.org

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Sanford USD Medical Center and clinics attained Magnet recognition for the fifth straight time, a testament to its continued dedication to high-quality nursing practice. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes health care organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. This credential is the highest national honor for professional nursing practice.

Receiving Magnet recognition for the fifth time is a great achievement for Sanford USD Medical Center and clinics as it continues to proudly belong to the global community of Magnet recognized organizations.

“We are one of less than 40 hospitals to be honored for the fifth-straight time,” said Paul Hanson, president and CEO for Sanford USD Medical Center. “Congratulations and thank you to our nurses, nursing leadership and all other team members who made our Magnet designation possible. They’ve truly made Sanford Health a destination for care and employment.”

Research demonstrates that Magnet recognition provides specific benefits to health care organizations and the patients we serve, such as:

• Higher patient satisfaction
• Better patient outcomes
• Improved safety and quality
• Highly educated and skilled nurses
• Higher job satisfaction among nurses

“Our nurses are the core of patient care and we are incredibly grateful to have such gifted and dedicated nurses at Sanford USD Medical Center,” said Kelly Hefti, vice president of nursing and clinical services at Sanford USD Medical Center.

Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing excellence and is a factor when the public judges health care organizations. U.S. News & World Report’s annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals” includes Magnet recognition in its ranking criteria for quality of inpatient care.

The Magnet Model provides a framework for nursing practice, research, and measurement of outcomes. Through this framework, ANCC evaluates applicants across a number of components and dimensions to gauge an organization’s nursing excellence. The foundation of this model comprises various elements deemed essential to delivering superior patient care. These include the quality of nursing leadership and coordination and collaboration across specialties, as well as processes for measuring and improving the quality and delivery of care. To achieve initial Magnet recognition, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that demands widespread participation from leadership and staff. This process includes an electronic application, written patient care documentation, an on-site visit, and a review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition.

Health care organizations must reapply for Magnet recognition every four years based on adherence to Magnet concepts and demonstrated improvements in patient care and quality. An organization reapplying for Magnet recognition must provide documented evidence to demonstrate how staff members sustained and improved Magnet concepts, performance and quality over the four-year period since the organization received its most recent recognition.

About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization serves more than one million patients and 220,000 health plan members across 250,000 square miles. The integrated health system has 47 medical centers, 2,800 Sanford physicians and advanced practice providers, 170 clinical investigators and research scientists, more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations and world clinics in 8 countries around the globe. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.

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• The CDC has issued an alert for healthcare providers over the rise of respiratory illnesses in children.
• One of these viruses called enterovirus-D68 has been associated with acute flaccid myelitis or AFM.
• AFM can cause paralysis symptoms in children.

​The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently issued a health alert for clinicians regarding a common respiratory illnesses including one that can cause an uncommon type of paralysis in children called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM.)

In July and August, there was an increase in cases of rhinovirus and enterovirus – two viruses that cause common upper respiratory infections in children. This increase in cases comes after the last wave of these viruses in the summer and fall of 2018, before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rhinovirus is typically associated with upper respiratory infections and although this virus tends to spread year-round, there are usually peaks in the spring and the fall of each year. Enterovirus can very similar symptoms to rhinovirus but can also lead to fever, rash, and neurologic illness. A type of enterovirus called enterovirus D-68 has in rare cases led to AFM.

Dr. Lydia Marcus, assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurology at the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine and Children’s of Alabama, explained that enterovirus-D68 is one of many non-polio enteroviruses and typically causes respiratory and occasional gastrointestinal symptoms.

“Symptoms are often mild but sometimes can be more severe, and can include difficulty breathing, coughing, congestion, body aches, fever, diarrhea, or vomiting,” explained Marcus.

Although enterovirus is found year-round, it peaks during the late summer and early fall.

Most children with these viruses will only have symptoms of the common cold such as a runny nose, body and muscle aches, sneezing, and some a fever. However, with recent hospitalizations increasing with these viruses, clinicians are starting to see an increase in cases of acute flaccid myelitis [AFM] which can result in paralysis.

“The symptoms of acute flaccid myelitis can include neck, back, arm or leg pain, weakness in the neck, arms or legs, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, facial weakness or double vision,” Marcus told Healthline.

These symptoms come after the traditional upper respiratory symptoms that children experience with enteroviruses.

“On rare occasions, the EV-D68 virus can cause a paralytic illness that resembles polio,” says Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee.

“The paralysis occurs an average of 5 days after the onset of the respiratory illness and is of rapid onset – hours to days – and frequently is asymmetrical and may involve any combination of limbs, commonly including the arms,” Schaffner explained to Healthline.

As many of the symptoms between rhinovirus and enterovirus are similar, it’s sometimes difficult to determine which virus a patient has without doing specialized testing. Because of the similarities, traditional testing makes these two viruses indistinguishable, however, through specialized PCR analysis, clinicians were able to determine that enterovirus-D68 is the likely culprit for acute flaccid myelitis.

Many children overcome enterovirus with over-the-counter medications and not requiring hospitalization or invasive treatment, however, a small percentage of children may develop paralysis from this virus.

It was estimated of the over 1,100 cases of enterovirus D-68 in the U.S. and Canada in 2014 approximately 10.4% of people developed AFM.

Marcus says that “infants, children, and young adults are more likely to get enterovirus infections and become ill compared to adults as children’s immune systems are still developing immunity to these very common viruses.”

Since August 2014, the CDC reports that there have been 693 confirmed cases of acute flaccid myelitis in the United States with outbreaks occurring in 2014, 2016, and 2018.

Schaffner explains the every-other-year pattern “was interrupted by the social distancing and virtual schooling during the COVID pandemic and now that relatively normal behavior has been restored, this could have permitted a resurgence of D68 transmission once again.”

As of mid-September, there are only 14 confirmed cases of acute flaccid myelitis, but experts warn that as enterovirus cases increase, the number of myelitis cases will increase as well.

Although the neurologic complications of this virus have been documented since 1962, enterovirus-D68 started to be surveyed closely by the CDC in 2014 after hospitals in Missouri and Illinois notified health officials of an increase in admissions of children with severe respiratory illnesses. Resultingly, with the increase in rhinovirus and enterovirus cases in the United States this year, the CDC Health Alert Network issued a warning for clinicians to be vigilant for this virus.

Health experts say that parents should not be overly concerned about the rare outcomes of enterovirus-D68.

Marcus reminds parents that “AFM is a very rare neurologic disorder whereas enterovirus and other viral infections are quite common, so being aware of and not brushing off any concerning symptoms is the most important thing.”

Like any other illness, it’s important to keep a watchful eye on your children and their illnesses, including the common cold, but with the rarity of acute flaccid myelitis, over-the-counter medications and a watchful eye are important for treatment success in most children.

Experts stress that prevention is key. They advise that washing hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching eyes, noses, and mouth with unwashed hands, avoiding close contact with others who are sick, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently are all steps that people can take to help prevent the spread of not only this virus.

If your child starts to experience symptoms that appear more severe than an average upper respiratory infection, early diagnosis and detection are important. You can follow up with a primary care or pediatric physician, your local health department, or an emergency room physician can make for an early diagnosis.

Dr. Rajiv Bahl, is an emergency medicine physician, board member of the Florida College of Emergency Physicians, and health writer. You can find him at RajivBahlMD.com.

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The Joint Commission will assess all of its accreditation requirements, similar to how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have been doing for requirements waived during the covid pandemic. Other industry news comes from Cleveland, Houston, and Atlanta.

Becker’s Hospital Review:
Joint Commission To Conduct Review Of Requirements

The Joint Commission plans to review all of its accreditation requirements that go “above-and-beyond” CMS requirements. In a Sept. 13 statement, the organization said it will “address the necessity” of its requirements, similar to how CMS has been reviewing requirements that were waived during the nation’s COVID-19 public health emergency. (Carbajal, 9/15)

Modern Healthcare:
Joint Commission Standards Under Review

The Joint Commission plans to name the first major set of standards to be retired in January, President and CEO Dr. Jonathan Perlin said. (Devereaux, 9/14)

In hospital news —

The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer:
St. Vincent To Close To Inpatient Care Nov. 15 At Cleveland Hospital; Will Keep Some Outpatient, Primary Care

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, which has been caring for Cleveland’s sick since the Civil War era, announced Wednesday that in mid-November it will stop offering inpatient, surgical and emergency room care. (Washington, 9/14)

Houston Chronicle:
Areas Of Ben Taub Hospital Closed Amid Heightened Legionella Bacteria Levels

Parts of Ben Taub Hospital have been closed after tests revealed heightened levels of Legionella bacteria in water samples, Harris Health System confirmed on Wednesday night. (Wayne Ferguson, 9/14)

KHN:
Impending Hospital Closure Rattles Atlanta Health Care Landscape And Political Races

Like many neighborhoods in cities across the country, Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward is changing. Condo buildings and modern minimalist homes punctuate city blocks of low-income housing. Many longtime residents of the historic neighborhood where Martin Luther King Jr. was born have been priced out and pushed to other parts of town. Atlanta Medical Center, a 460-bed Level 1 trauma center, will be the next fixture to change. (Whitehead and Miller, 9/14)

On the high cost of medical care —

Bloomberg:
Sexual-Assault Survivors Pay Average $3,551 For Emergency Care, Study Says

Sexual assault and rape victims seeking care in US emergency rooms face costly medical bills, in spite of a federal law meant to defray these types of expenses. (Taylor, 9/14)

Axios:
Mental Health Spending Rises

Average annual spending on mental health services by individuals enrolled in employer-sponsored health plans covered reached $2,380 per enrollee in 2020, up 20% since 2013, according to a report from the Employer Benefit Research Institute. (Reed, 9/14)

Modern Healthcare:
HHS Requests Info On Explanation Of Benefits Policy Changes

The government wants feedback on how to regulate the advanced explanation of benefits and cost estimate provisions of the surprise billing ban, several departments announced in a request for information issued Wednesday. (Goldman, 9/14)

KHN:
Court Ruling May Spur Competitive Health Plans To Bring Back Copays For Preventive Services 

Tom and Mary Jo York are a health-conscious couple, going in for annual physicals and periodic colorectal cancer screening tests. Mary Jo, whose mother and aunts had breast cancer, also gets regular mammography tests. The Yorks, who live in New Berlin, Wisconsin, are enrolled in Chorus Community Health Plans, which, like most of the nation’s health plans, is required by the Affordable Care Act to pay for those preventive services, and more than 100 others, without charging deductibles or copays. (Meyer, 9/15)

This is part of the KHN Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.

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WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14, 2022 (HealthDay News) — A history of psychosocial stressors is associated with worse menopausal symptoms and poorer well-being in midlife, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in Menopause.

Sabrina Faleschini, Ph.D., from Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute in Boston, and colleagues examined the longitudinal associations of psychosocial stressors with menopausal symptoms and well-being of women in midlife in a study based on 682 women, who were enrolled during pregnancy in 1999 to 2002 and followed for about two decades. Women self-reported psychosocial stressors from childhood to the current pregnancy. In 2017 to 2021, they reported their menopausal symptoms and well-being at a median age of 51.6 years.

The researchers found that history of physical abuse was associated with worse menopausal symptoms in the somatovegetative and psychological domains (0.46 and 0.52 points, respectively) and with worse general health and depressive symptoms (odds ratios, 1.73 and 1.74, respectively). Worse menopausal symptoms and worse general health were seen in association with a history of sexual abuse (2.81 points and odds ratio of 2.04, respectively), but no association was seen with depressive symptoms. Associations were seen for history of financial instability with worse menopausal symptoms (1.92 points) and worse general health and depressive symptoms (odds ratios, 2.16 and 2.68, respectively).

“These results highlight the long-lasting influence of adverse experiences on women’s physical and mental health and emphasize the importance of past history of psychosocial stressors when considering the health of women in midlife,” the authors write.

One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

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WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14, 2022 (HealthDay News) — For adolescents, exposure to fine particulate matter (fine particles with aerodynamic diameters ≤2.5 µm [PM2.5]) is associated with an acute increase in the number of ventricular arrhythmias, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Fan He, Ph.D., from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey, and colleagues examined the association and time course between PM2.5 exposure with cardiac arrhythmias in a study involving 322 adolescents. Individual-level 24-hour PM2.5 concentrations were obtained with a nephelometer, and concurrent 24-hour electrocardiogram data were obtained using a Holter monitor.

The researchers found that PM2.5­ exposure was associated with an acute increase in the number of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs); specifically, there was a 2 percent increase in PVC counts 0.5 to 1.0, 1.0 to 1.5, and 1.5 to 2.0 hours after exposure to a 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentration. Cumulatively, an increment of 10 µg/m3 in PM2.5 was associated with a 5 percent increase in PVC counts within two hours. There was no association observed for PM2.5 concentration with premature atrial contraction.

“Such an adverse health effect of PM2.5 on cardiac arrhythmia was observed in this low-risk population in an environment with PM2.5 concentrations well below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-mandated, health-based air quality standards,” the authors write.

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Hartford HealthCare hospitals were recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for the equitable treatment and inclusion of LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and colleagues.

The group designated Backus Hospital, The Hospital of Central Connecticut, Windham Hospital, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, MidState Medical Center, Natchaug Hospital and the Behavioral Health Network as Healthcare Equality Leaders. They are among 496 hospitals nationwide to earn a perfect score of 100 for this achievement. In addition, St. Vincent’s Medical Center was among 251 hospitals nationwide to earn Top Performer status.

“Patients want to see themselves represented in these spaces to know they will get high-quality, affirming and safe care,” said Derek Fenwick, PsyD, clinical coordinator of the LGBTQ+ Right Track at the Institute of Living, part of the Behavioral Health Network, who helped spearhead the lengthy application process. “The designation gives a sense of community.”

The application addressed everything from policies to human resources documents and insurance coverage to the physical environment at each facility, such as artwork and signage, Dr. Fenwick added.

> Connect with the Center for Gender Health

The announcement of hospital designations came as part of the 15th anniversary of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey of healthcare facilities in this area. It highlights work done across HHC to address diversity, equity and inclusion.

“This puts the exclamation point on our mission to support our LGBTQ colleagues and patients we wish to serve,” said President and CEO Jeffrey A. Flaks. “This is such an important part of healthcare delivery, as we work together to make it more accessible, affordable and equitable.”

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HEI evaluates and scores healthcare facilities on detailed criteria under four central pillars:

• Foundational Policies and Training in LGBTQ+ Patient-Centered Care.
• LGBTQ+ Patient Services and Support.
• Employee Benefits and Policies.
• Patient and Community Engagement.

The remarkable progress reflected in the 2022 HEI includes:

• 93% of participants met the HEI’s training requirements, completing more than 200,000 hours of staff training in LGBTQ+ patient-centered care.
• 82% of participating facilities earned either the Leader or Top Performer.
• 99% of HEI participants documented that they include both “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” in their patient non-discrimination policy.
• 99% of HEI participants documented that they include both “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” in their employment nondiscrimination policy.
• 81% of HEI participants offer transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits to their employees, up from 75 percent in 2019, the first year this it was required in order to obtain Leader status.

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The world glows in all shades of pink each October to raise awareness of breast health and generate funds for research and outreach that brings life-saving screenings to women in underserved communities.

> Schedule an appointment with an expert

Starting in September and running throughout October, there are opportunities for you to get involved and support these efforts in a variety of ways. Play golf, run or walk? There are active options. Enjoy fashion? Pull up a seat. Want more information on breast health? We’ve scheduled classes with experts.

Consider attending and supporting these events:

• Celebrate Life! Cancer Survivor’s Day Webinar, September 17, 12 p.m. Join other cancer survivors to celebrate life. The guest speaker is Shayla Rivera, NASA engineer, comedian and cancer survivor, and there will be a discussion of wellness strategies for cancer survivors. The event is free but registration is required.
• Pinkaid and Pinkchella, a luncheon and fashion show, on September 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in Westport. Purchase tickets or bid on silent auction items here.
• Mammograms on the Hartford Hospital Take the Time mobile mammography coach. Stops in Hartford this month include: October 1, Parker Memorial, 2621 Main St.; October 15, Pentecostal Tabernacle Church, 249 Newfield Ave.; October 20, Charter Oak Health Center, 21 Grand St.; October 25, Hartford City Hall. All stops are from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments are suggested, although some walk-ins can be accepted. To schedule an appointment, call 860.972.1141.
• Laura Beth Seder Memorial Golf Tournament, October 3, at Great Neck Country Club, Waterford. The event is in support of the Backus Breast Health Initiative.
• Walk to Wellness, October 4, 9 a.m., at Westfarms Mall Rest and Relaxation Lounge. Dr. April Duckworth, a Hartford HealthCare breast surgeon, will be on hand to discuss “The Importance of Breast Health.” This is a free event.
• The Pink Party, October 5, Blue Back Square, West Hartford. Live music, food and drink tastings, fashion show and raffles to benefit Komen New England.
• Breast Cancer Alliance Luncheon and Fashion Show, October 20. Purchase tickets or bid on auction items here.
• Pink ‘n Powerful, October 20, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Inn at Longshore, Westport. This event features a presentation by nationally-recognized author and speaker Donna Palomba, a breast cancer survivor and founder of Jane Doe No More. Proceeds will benefit the Anthy Demestihas, MD Patient Assistance Fund at St. Vincent’s Medical Center.
• Pink Friday to celebrate National Mammography Day on October 21. Colleagues are encouraged to wear pink in a show of support and to encourage screening mammography.
• Komen Connecticut MORE THAN PINK Walk, October 22, at Bushnell Park, Hartford. Join or support the Hartford HealthCare team here.
• Tanger Fit 5K Run/Walk, October 23, 8 a.m., Foxwoods Resort Casino, to benefit the Backus Hospital Breast Health Program.

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