Vital Signs: How Maine hospitals prepare for a snowstorm

Doctors, nurses and other hospital workers don’t get snow days. With one blizzard behind us and another foot of snow in the forecast for today and tomorrow, the state’s medical centers continue to stay open around the clock. 

Joel Farley, head of emergency preparedness for Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, spoke for many Mainers in summing up the hospital’s response to the blizzard.

“It’s Maine,” he said. “We don’t take this thing lightly, obviously, but we’re prepared.”

Joshua Frances, director of emergency preparedness at Maine Medical Center in Portland, said emergency room patients tend to show up with back problems from shoveling and injuries from slips and falls during a big storm.

Shovels, stat! How Maine hospitals prepare for a snowstorm

Other top health stories this week:

Gallup: Happy employees live healthier lives, have lower health care costs

Many companies jumping on the wellness bandwagon slap a fruit bowl on the conference table and call it good. But helping employees feel engaged in their jobs can lead to a healthier, happier workforce that costs employers less, according to the report.

Maine medical marijuana dispensary group promotes study that says THC slows Alzheimer’s disease

Few people know about a recent preclinical study by the Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute in Florida that states THC, the component in marijuana that gets users high, may slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease.

 

From our bloggers

Pattie Reaves, After the Couch

An update on my first two weeks of half-marathon training

After I did that 8-mile run on New Year’s Day, I signed up for that half marathon in April. And then the universe reached out and said, “girl, oh no you better don’t,” and threw up a few hurdles.

Jim LaPierre, Recovery Rocks

Becoming More Comfortable with Self

I’ve spent the past several months watching people be weirded out by the empty space where the rest of my right leg should be.

From the source

Archaeologists excavating Queen Anne’s revenge, a pirate ship once helmed by the notorious Blackbeard, have discovered an array of slightly horrifying medical instruments. Avast! Here arrrrrrre photos.

Compiled by BDN Health Editor Jackie Farwell

Jackie Farwell

About Jackie Farwell

I'm the health editor for the Bangor Daily News, a Bangor native, a UMaine grad, and a weekend crossword warrior. I never get sick of writing about Maine people, geeking out over health care data, and finding new ways to help you stay well. I live in Gorham with my husband Nick and our hound dog Riley.