Akron General Health System is receiving more national recognition for its leadership in the field of health and wellness.
The Medical Wellness Association has selected Akron General for its annual Best of Medical Wellness award in the hospital category.
The health system will receive the award during the nonprofit association’s annual meeting next week in San Diego.
“The designation is indicative of the national leadership role in medical wellness we have developed over the years at Akron General,” Doug Ribley, senior vice president of wellness services at Akron General Health System, said in a news release. “This award is a testament to our organization and to the hundreds of employees who are dedicated to the delivery of the highest quality medical wellness services.”
Akron General’s Health and Wellness centers in Bath Township, Green and Stow include LifeStyles, a medically supervised fitness center staffed by athletic trainers, personal trainers, exercise physiologists, nutritionists and wellness experts.
LifeStyles has been recognized by Club Industry magazine since 1999 as the No. 1 hospital-owned fitness center in the nation, according to Akron General.
Strollin’ through colon
Summa Health System is offering a free Strollin’ Colon informational event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday in the lobby of Summa Akron City Hospital’s Ann and David Brennan Critical Care Tower.
Participants can walk through a 12-foot long inflatable “colon” while getting tips on how to lower their risk of colorectal cancer.
A colorectal cancer nurse navigator will be available to answer questions at the event, which also includes refreshments, a raffle and giveaways.
Registration isn’t required. For more information, call Summa’s Oncology Resource Library at 330-375-7280.
Health insurance help
AxessPointe Community Health Center is hosting two enrollment fairs to help people review their options for health coverage.
The free events will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 22 at AxessPointe’s Barberton office, Suite E, 390 Robinson Ave.; and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 29 at its Kent office, 1993 State Route 59.
Certified application counselors will be available to help review insurance options, as well as to assist with Medicaid applications.
Open enrollment began Oct. 1 and continues through March 31 for the new Health Insurance Marketplace plans.
Under the Affordable Care Act, most Americans are required to get health insurance or face a potential financial penalty when they file their 2014 taxes next year.
The marketplace, also known as an exchange, is a computerized system available online at www.health care.gov. It allows consumers to compare plans and determine whether they qualify for financial help from the federal government in paying for coverage.
Medicaid eligibility for adults in Ohio also was boosted, starting Jan. 1, to 138 percent of the federal poverty standard, or $15,856 for an individual. Previously, Ohio adults without children were ineligible for Medicaid, except for low-income disabled residents. In some families, children qualify for coverage but their parents don’t.
Representatives from the five insurance companies offering Medicaid coverage in the region — Buckeye Community Health, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, CareSource, Molina Healthcare and Paramount — will be available at the enrollment event to answer questions.
Free family support
The Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County and NAMI Portage County are sponsoring a free program to help area residents who have a loved one with a mental illness.
The Portage County Family-to-Family Education Program will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon every Saturday for 12 weeks beginning March 15 at The Church in Aurora, 146 S. Chillicothe Road.
The program is open to anyone with a family member or friend with a brain disease, including schizophrenia, manic depression, clinical depression, an anxiety disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder.
The course is taught by local residents who have a family member living with mental illness. Topics covered include treatments, rehabilitation services, problem-solving, communication and advocacy.
Deadline to register is March 13.
To register, call the Mental Health & Recovery Board at www.health care.gov 330-673-1756, ext. 201, or send an email to laurab@mental-health-recovery.org. Include a name, phone, street address, city and ZIP code.
Cheryl Powell can be reached at 330-996-3902 or cpowell@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow Powell on Twitter at twitter.com/CherylPowellABJ.