Law Enforcement Finds List of East Bay Patients

Posted on Jun 18, 2013

The Alameda County Sheriff’s Department recently notified one of Sutter Health’s hospitals in the East Bay that during an unrelated investigation it recovered information pertaining to approximately 4,500 people.

We do not know what law enforcement was investigating when they obtained this information. The information may have originated from Sutter Health’s Alta Bates Summit, Sutter Delta or Eden medical centers, and may have included a patient’s name, Social Security number, date of birth, gender, address, zip code, home phone number, marital status, name of employer and work phone number.

While it is presently unclear where the information originated, we have notified the patients whose information was potentially involved and are offering them free credit monitoring services. We have also alerted the appropriate government agencies.

We are concerned about this matter and take protecting our patients’ privacy very seriously. At this time we do not know how the information was obtained. We continue to cooperate with law enforcement to investigate this incident.

If you are a patient and think you have been affected, please call 1-888-414-8020, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.  When prompted, enter the following ten digit reference number: 2789053113.

Peripheral Neuropathy Support Group

Posted on Jun 18, 2013

If you are experiencing numbness, tingling and/or pain in your hands or feet, you may have peripheral neuropathy.

Because this condition is a relatively common side effect of chemotherapy, the Alta Bates Summit group focuses on chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, but others are welcome.

Contact Kathy at 510-204-4330 to register or for more information.

Stress in the East Bay: Can Yoga Help?

Posted on Jun 17, 2013

Are you looking for a healthy way to cope with stress?

Yoga is one of many great ways to reduce stress because it keeps you focused on the present and helps you calm your breathing along with your body and mind.

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center offers “Yoga for Wellness,” a class that teaches healthy ways to cope with stress.

Call 510-204-1756 for more information.

10 more tips for stress reduction

1. Re-balance work and home life
2. Build regular exercise into your routine
3. Reach out to supportive friends and family
4. Take time for a hobby—gardening, reading, listening to music
5. Enroll in a class
6. Practice meditation
7. Get to bed earlier
8. Spend time with a loving pet
9. Take a vacation
10. See a counselor, coach or advisor

Talking with your doctor can also help. He or she can evaluate your situation and suggest ways to manage your stress. Visit the Doctorforyou.com.

Don’t Remember Driver’s Ed? Our Safe Driving Refresher Course Will Help You Remember!

Posted on Jun 17, 2013

Take a refresher course on safety techniques, defensive driving, vehicle handling, and more from Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland. Learn everything you need to know to  brush up on your skills in our Safe Driving Refresher Course.

• When: Saturday, July 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Where: Herrick Campus, 2001 Dwight Way, Berkeley , CA 94704; Maffly Auditorium

Call 510-869-6737 to register.

Alta Bates Summit, Eden and Sutter Delta Medical Centers Excel at Keeping Patients Healthy, State Report Finds

Posted on Jun 13, 2013

Alta Bates Summit, Eden and Sutter Delta were recognized among the top Bay Area hospitals for having significantly better rates for keeping patients alive and healthy, according to a recent study by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development published in the Mercury News.

The study found that more than half of Bay Area hospitals had worse-than-average death rates for at least one medical procedure or patient condition in 2010 or 2011.

Researchers examined mortality rates for 12 conditions and procedures at 331 California health care institutions, after taking into account risk factors such as age. From this examination, they identified which hospitals had death rates significantly better or worse than state averages.

According to the study, Alta Bates Summit, Eden and Sutter Delta medical centers had rates significantly better than the state average in the following areas for 2010 or 2011:

Alta Bates: Acute stroke and Intestinal Bleeding

Eden: Brain Surgery and Acute Stroke

Sutter Delta: Heart Failure

Read the full article “Death Rates at Bay Area Hospitals Vary Widely, New Report Reveals,” in the Mercury News.

Migraines More Common in Women

Posted on Jun 13, 2013

About 28 million Americans experience migraines, and nearly 4 out of 5 of them are women. Hormones are a trigger in many women; Declining estrogen levels may also cause migraines a few days before a woman’s period.

Two East Bay women, Barbara Kami and Anna Cross, experienced migraines so severe that they interrupted their daily activities. Watch how both freed their lives from migraine pain.

Freedom for Oakland and East Bay migraine sufferers

Free your life of migraine pain. Wherever you live in the East Bay—Oakland, Berkeley or beyond—visit the Doctorforyou.com to find an East Bay migraine specialist.

Trigeminal Neuralgia Support Group

Posted on Jun 12, 2013

If you suffer from this debilitating condition, come find support from others who know what you are going through. Join our  Trigeminal  Neuralgia Support Group at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland.

• When: Saturday, July 6, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
• Where: Elm Room, 350 Hawthorne Ave., Oakland

Call Joan at 510-531-3490 to register or for more information.