Akron General’s weekly radio program is getting a new home after New Year’s Day.
The hourlong show hosted by Dr. Debbie Plate is moving from WAKR (1590-AM) to WTAM (1100-AM) out of Cleveland starting Jan. 4.
The Akron General Health Connection radio show will air at 7 every Saturday morning.
Plate has been the host of a weekly show known as the Akron General Good Health Hour on WAKR since 2008.
“I am thrilled to be able to reach out and help a wider audience understand the complexities of health care, and help even more people improve their overall health,” Plate said in a news release. “For the last five years, I have been privileged to be welcomed into peoples’ homes over the radio. I look forward to continuing our current audience relationships and reaching out to many new listeners throughout Northeastern Ohio.”
Akron General pays for the airtime for the show. Terms of the deal with WTAM weren’t disclosed.
Plate is a family physician practicing at Akron General’s Center for Family Medicine. She also is the clinical associate director of the family medicine residency program at Akron General and a professor of family medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University.
Summa program honored
Summa Health System recently was recognized by the Joint Commission for its palliative care program.
The voluntary national accrediting agency for health-care facilities awarded Summa its Advanced Certification in Palliative Care. According to the Joint Commission, the achievement “recognizes hospital inpatient programs that demonstrate exceptional patient and family-centered care and optimize the quality of life for patients with serious illness.”
In a news release, Summa said its program is the only one in Ohio and one of 47 nationwide to earn the recognition.
Palliative care provides supportive services for patients with serious medical illnesses that are curable, chronic or life-threatening.
A team of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains and other providers work together to provide palliative care services at Summa. The program includes 12 beds at Summa Akron City Hospital and eight beds at Summa Barberton Hospital, as well as services in homes, nursing homes and other locations.
Grief support offered
The holidays can be a hard time for people coping with the loss of a loved one.
To help, Akron General Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service is offering a free support group, “After the Holiday ... Now What” from 2-3:30 p.m.; or 6-7:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 at the Hospice of VNS Care Center, 3358 Ridgewood Road, Copley Twp.
A free eight-week Growing Through Grief series also will be available every Thursday from 2-4 p.m. or 6-8 p.m. beginning Jan. 9 at the Hospice of VNS Care Center.
For more information or to register, call 330-668-4662 or 800-335-1455, ext. 4662.
Cheryl Powell can be reached at 330-996-3902 or cpowell@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow Powell on Twitter at twitter.com/abjcherylpowell.