St. Jude Medical Center

Compassion. Dignity. Justice. Providence is dedicated to advancing equity in healthcare, which is why we're investing $50 million across our system to bridge health disparities and develop a comprehensive pandemic response for minority communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Learn more about Providence's commitment towards racial equity at http://provhealth.org/6182HBpzC #ProvidenceOC

Our dedication to whole person care reaches every corner of our community. This is why Providence created a three-year plan to address housing insecurity in Orange County, which includes developing 400 units of affordable housing. Orange County is better when we work together towards health for a better world. #ProvidenceOC

Battling back pain: an American pastime Eight out of 10 Americans will endure it at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, successful treatment is far less common. Those with back pain often end up seeing multiple doctors, waiting for imaging that offers little or no useful information and pursuing solutions with no proven benefitall of which delays recovery, explains Natalia Covarrubias, MD, a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at St. Jude. ...A newer, more innovative approach is offered by the St. Jude Back Pain Program. Utilizing research and best practices, we’ve developed highly effective protocols that avoid the wrong-turns and delays that often characterize treatment, she explains. The result is better outcomes. The first step for patients is an evaluation by a physical therapist that specializes in neck and back pain. Treatment begins during the patient’s first appointment. The vast majority of back pain patients can be successfully treated with noninvasive therapies, from therapeutic exercise and body mechanic correction, to myofascial release, biofeedback and acupuncture. For more information on the St. Jude Back Pain Program, please call (714) 578-8720. A physician referral is required and services are covered by most insurance plans.

Increased access to care. Award-winning service. $205 million invested in community benefit. This is what Providence has accomplished in Orange County through our affiliated network of hospitals and physician groups. Learn more about our commitment to protecting the safety and well-being of Orange County at www.ProvidenceOC.org/Community-Benefit. #ProvidenceOC

Our Mission of providing care for all means that our charity care programs and services extend beyond the walls of our hospital and directly into neighborhoods that have the greatest needs. Learn more about Providence's community benefit investments in Orange County at www.ProvicenceOC.org #ProvidenceOC

As the largest care network in Orange County, Providence is specially tuned to the needs of our community, whether it's better management of chronic illness, addressing mental health concerns, expanding access to care or providing the expertise and resources needed during an unprecedented health crisis.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is more common than one might expect. Join this live discussion to hear a doctor and patient's story about treatment for the condition and how it has improved his quality of life.

Community comes first. That's why Providence provided our partner, Jamboree Housing Corporation, with a $9 million bridge loan to tackle homelessness in Orange County. We're proud to play a role in the creation of more supportive housing in Orange County and beyond! #ProvidenceOC http://provhealth.org/6186H69AQ

And the winner is . . . Thank you to all who offered suggestions for naming the robot that is transforming spine surgery at St. Jude. While its formal name is ExcelsiusGPS Robotic Navigation Platform, a technology capable of turning common back surgeries into minimally invasive procedures needs a name with fewer than 16-syllables. The competition was fierce and our Surgical Services team struggled to narrow down the creative entries before eventually agreeing on a winner. We...'re pleased to welcome "Skeletor" to our state-of-the-art surgical services, a name submitted by Cynthia Zezulka (who will be receiving a $250 Target gift card). But there were so many clever entries, we decided to recognize some of our favorites with a $25 gift card: Robojude: Perpetua Sevillano Disco: Kerri Keating Optimus Spine: Jane Manabat Tajonera & Ashlie Rodgers Spinederella: Anne-Margaret Tovar-Smith Sir Fix-A-Lot: Wendy Timberlake Spinobot: Ofelia Morales Allison & Jean Villagonzalo Back with a Future: Luna Wong Thor: Maria Salazar Vertibot: Janet Servoss

No lines, no waiting. . . St. Jude Medical Center is supporting the OC Registrar of Voters efforts to provide new and accessible ways to cast a ballot. The pop-up voting center is open at: St. Jude Medical Center, Valencia Mesa Parking Lot... Today, November 2, 8 a.m. 5 p.m. This convenient voting centers provide the following services: voter registration, in-person voting, secure vote-by-mail ballot drop off, replacement ballots, accessible voting, and voter assistance.

For those recovering from COVID-19, symptoms like shortness of breath, brain fog, and fatigue can linger for months. An innovative new program is helping individuals recover faster, more completely, and more successfully. One of the few programs of its kind in the nation, the Post-COVID Rehabilitation Program at St. Jude brings together the expertise of numerous specialtiesfrom physical therapists to occupational therapists with specialized experience in cognitive recovery. The result is individuals like Amy Behen, a mom of three, returning to the life they love. Ask your physician for a referral and call us at (714) 578-8720 to schedule an assessment.

The biggest health threat from the fires is from the ash and soot. While the hairs in our nose generally filter the larger particles, the smaller ones can get inside our lungs. These particles can also irritate our eyes, so you may find your eyes feel gritty with a burning sensation. Those with respiratory problems will be more likely to notice symptoms first, although poor air quality can affect anyone. Who is at risk for escalated health problems? For those with nasal probl...ems such as sinusitis, allergies or respiratory diseases like asthma or COPD poor air quality can take its toll. People with heart disease may be affected because the heart and lungs are closely connected, and the smallest change in the oxygen level in the blood can affect how hard the heart must work. Young children and seniors are also particularly vulnerable. For someone feeling the effects of bad air quality, when should they seek medical attention? For anyone experiencing fever, wheezing, difficulty breathing, heart palpitations or chest pain, seek help immediately. Also, seek help if you experience sinus symptoms that do not resolve after a week. The tricky thing about breathing polluted air is that it’s hard to know if your symptoms are related to air quality or to something else. A high air quality index will often cause a recurring pattern of nasal congestion, burning eyes or breathing difficulties. What are the health concerns associated with a drop in air quality during the COVID-19 pandemic? The biggest concern is how we react to these things. With high indexes, more people are staying indoors, which, in theory, is ideal in a time when we are committed to stopping the spread of COVID-19. However, this could inspire people to move bigger gatherings from outside in, creating a potentially dangerous environment for passing on the virus. The masks we wear to stop the spread of COVID-19 are also creating a false sense of security in terms of protection from poor air quality. Many of the particles caused by wildfires are so small that most masks are not designed to handle them. Masks may offer some protection if made of tightly woven fabric, preferably in multiple layers. A good test is to hold your mask up to the light. The less light you can see through it, the more effective it is.

Providence's nationally recognized hospitals ensure that patients have access to the quality care they deserve. With 1,200 physicians and 90 Heritage Healthcare offices in Orange County, we're stronger together. #ProvidenceOC ProvidenceOC.org

So what’s your perfect birth experience? A pumpkin spice latte delivered to your room or a celebratory dinner from a favorite restaurant? Maybe a mani-pedi after your 8-lbs of happiness arrives? Just a few of the services our maternity concierge routinely arranges. This free new service helps create better moments and shortens your to-do list before, during and after birth helping you with everything from renting a breast pump and retrieving forgotten items from home, to p...urchasing gifts for siblings and picking up prescriptions. We’re the first hospital in the western United States to bring concierge-style services to maternity care, allowing us to create a completely unique experience for new moms and dads. Learn more at [email protected].