New Test May Help Patients, Doctors In The Battle Against Valley Fever
Valley fever is often asymptomatic, so patients don't know if they've had it before. But a new test could change that, allowing those who have not had it to better prepare themselves against the sickness.
The Bakersfield Californian:
New Valley Fever Skin Test Shows Promise, But Obstacles Remain
A new skin test called Spherusol can detect whether a person has developed natural immunity, meaning they’ve overcome valley fever before. Because most valley fever cases are asymptomatic, many people whose immune systems have battled the disease may never know it. Advocates are excited about the test. So are doctors — like Dr. John Galgiani, director of the University of Arizona’s Valley Fever Center for Excellence. He dreams of seeing Spherusol being used as a tool to screen for past infections. “I think that Spherusol's best use will be in primary care doctors' offices, to test their patients on a routine basis to find out if they've indeed previously had valley fever,” Galgiani said. If patients knew they had never conquered valley fever, they could better prepare themselves against it; and doctors might be more likely to diagnose the disease if patients showed unusual symptoms. (Klein, 11/19)
In other news from across the state —
Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Kaiser Permanente Breaks Ground On New Medical Office In Southwest Santa Rosa
Kaiser Permanente broke ground Friday on an 87,300-square-foot medical office building in southwest Santa Rosa that will expand the health care provider’s ability to serve the region’s Latino population and residents of west Sonoma County. The three-story building on Mercury Way near Sebastopol Road will offer a range of primary and specialty care, including family medical services, dermatology, pharmacy, lab and imaging services. The facility should open in early 2018 and the construction cost will total around $50 million, Kaiser officials said. (Morris, 11/18)
Ventura County Star:
Home Health Agency Gains Recognition
Simi Valley Hospital announced that Adventist Health/Home Care Services has been named a top agency of the 2016 HomeCare Elite, a recognition of the top-performing U.S. home health agencies. "We are very proud of our team and the exceptional care they provide. This award is well-deserved and represents the level of quality our home health patients experience with Adventist Health/Home Care Services — Simi Valley," said Caroline Esparza, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer at Simi Valley Hospital. Eileen Tondreau, RN, BSN, director of Adventist Health/Home Care Services — Simi Valley, credits the expertise of the home health nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists,aides and social workers for the success of this achievement. (11/18)