FORT WALTON BEACH — Four Okaloosa County parks may have potentially hazardous bathing water, the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County stated this week.

Advisories have been issued for Liza Jackson Park, Fort Walton Beach; Poquito Park, Shalimar; Lincoln Park, Valparaiso; and Rocky Bayou State Park, Niceville. These areas present potential health risks to the bathing public.

The department tests weekly for enterococci, which indicates fecal pollution and comes from stormwater runoff, pets, wildlife and human sewage. Ratings are based on EPA standards.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Four parks receive advisories for hazardous water

FORT WALTON BEACH — Eight parks may have potentially hazardous bathing water, The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County stated this week.

Advisories have been issued for Liza Jackson Park and Garniers Park of Fort Walton Beach; Marler Park, East Pass and Wayside Park of Okaloosa Island; Henderson Beach, James Lee Park and Clement E. Taylor Park of Destin; and Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park of Niceville, based on EPA standards.

Enterococci level indicates fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets, wildlife and human sewage.

Current water quality ratings are as follows.

Site, Name, City, Enterococci level, Water Quality

Liza Jackson Park, Fort Walton Beach, Fail, Poor

Garniers Park, Fort Walton Beach, Fail, Poor

Marler Park, Okaloosa Island, Fail, Poor

Wayside Park, Okaloosa Island, Fail, Poor

Poquito Park, Shalimar, Pass, Moderate

Gulf Islands National Seashore, Okaloosa Island, Pass, Moderate

East Pass, Okaloosa Island, Fail, Poor

Lincoln Park, Valparaiso, Pass, Moderate

Henderson Beach, Destin, Fail, Poor

Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, Niceville, Fail, Poor

James Lee Park, Destin, Fail, Poor

Emerald Promenade, Okaloosa Island, Pass, Moderate

Clement E. Taylor Park, Destin, Fail, Poor

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Eight Okaloosa parks receive advisories for hazardous water

CRESTVIEW — “Making the Most of Me,” North Okaloosa Medical Center’s Healthy Woman panel discussion series, on Tuesday will focus on skin and body care.

"This time we will be going a layer deeper," said Alicia Booker, event organizer and Healthy Woman coordinator. "We will talk about the importance of strengthening your inner core."

This month’s discussion will cover proper skin care and exercise techniques. The panel will feature guest speakers Dr. Janet Hamby, an NOMC women's health specialist; Melissa Clark, an Andrews Institute physical therapist; and Ashley Wagner, of Emerald Coast Dermatology.

Attendees can openly ask the experts questions or submit questions anonymously.

The event will include hors d'oeuvres and the chance to enter a drawing for a gift basket including skin care products and other prizes.  

An April panel discussion focused on the importance of maintaining the outer layer of a woman's body with cosmetics and fashion.

A third panel on June 24 will focus on emotional health. No guest speakers had been scheduled, as of press time.  

Want to go?

"Making the Most of Me: Part II, Inner Layer" starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Christopher's Uncorked Bistro on Main Street. Tickets cost $7 at the door, or $5 at http://conta.cc/1925oqS.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Women's skin care takes focus Tuesday during NOMC panel

CRESTVIEW — Silvercrest Manor Nursing Home faces a fine and a state-mandated probation for failing to report allegations of abuse and to implement procedures to prevent abuse.

The Agency for Health Care Administration has determined that three of 60 clients at the nursing home at 910 Brookmeade Drive were not “free of verbal or physical abuse,” according to a proposed settlement agreement filed May 10.

Read the agreement. >>

Multiple staff members were made aware of “intentional rudeness, refusal of care and services, and rough physical treatment of residents,” but failed to take appropriate action, according to the document.

Silvercrest Manor faces a fine of $13,500.

The nursing home has 30 days to appeal the findings, according to Health Care Administration official Richard Saliba, who could not comment specifically on the findings.

State officials found one Class 1 violation and one Class 2 violation during an inspection conducted in late 2012.

The Class 1 finding is considered the more serious violation, according to Carol Gormley, a senior policy adviser for state Senate President Don Gaetz.

“A Class 1 violation is certainly cause for an immediate fine or consequence of some sort,” Gormley said.

The state order places Silvercrest Manor on a “watch list,” and a conditional license issued subjects the facility to inspections every six months.

Al Hudson, a spokesman for Silvercrest Manor issued a statement denying the state’s allegations.

“Silvercrest Manor disputes the cited deficiencies and denies any wrongdoing,” he said. “Silvercrest Manor, through its dedicated associates, continues its mission of providing high quality and compassionate care to its residents.”

Hudson said no staff members have been reprimanded as a result of the state’s findings.

Brian Lee, executive director with the advocacy group Families for Better Care, said Silvercrest Manor will, pending approval of the sanctions, join the one in five Florida nursing homes on the state’s watch list.

He said the findings at Silvercrest Manor struck him for the “failure of the nursing home to take action when made aware of abuse.”

He said he was grateful for the state’s quick work.

“I hope this nursing home will turn around and keep its residents safe,” he said.

Daily News Assignment Editor Wendy Victora contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Nursing home faces sanctions for clients’ treatment (DOCUMENT)

CRESTVIEW — Lime balloons and homemade signs on Saturday complemented green T-shirts on attendees’ backs to educate people about Lyme disease.

Key Lyme Time at Old Spanish Trail Park last weekend raised funds for lymedisease.org, with a portion benefiting the Nikki Murray Lyme Disease Fund, a medical expense account for its namesake, a Crestview native.   

Zumba demonstrations, children's activities and food vendors provided plenty to do and eat. The event also featured door prizes.

Divine intervention

Connie Murray, Nikki’s mother, organized the occasion.

"The reason we did this was because Nikki had a dream when she was in treatment. God told her that she needed to have an awareness event in Crestview to let people in our hometown know about Lyme disease," Connie Murray said. "I had to do this for her and to help prevent this from happening to other people."

Nikki Murray, 26, contracted the disease following a tick bite in 2008. Ticks are the disease’s main carrier.

"It literally took over all of the parts of my body," Nikki Murray, who lives and works in Tallahassee, said. "I have chronic arthritis, which will never go away."

Other ailments include fatigue, muscle soreness and migraines strong enough to cause temporary blindness.

The most frustrating thing about the disease is the lack of awareness, she said.

"I was placed on a plethora of medications that had terrible side effects and never made me any better," Nikki Murray stated in a handout at the event. "No one ever looked at the big picture to see if there was possibly a single underlying cause."

Nikki Murray plans to file an appeal with her health insurance company, which declined coverage for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Each HBOT session costs $150, and Nikki Murray said she needs at least 40 sessions for it to be effective.  

Teachable moment

Key Lyme Time underscored the importance of awareness, some attendees said.

"I think we all need to know more about this … because it's a shame that (Nikki Murray) didn't get diagnosed earlier," said Wanda Austin of Niceville. "If this event could help someone get diagnosed early, then that is good thing."

Bidi Wilks said awareness efforts like Saturday’s could promote preventive efforts.

"I don't think everybody who takes children into the woods knows to check them (for ticks) when they come back," she said. "I know I do."

Wilks said she admires Nikki Murray’s resilience.

"I admire her courage and her spirit," Wilks said. "None of this has seemed get her down."

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Key Lyme Time raises awareness, funds (GALLERY)

CRESTVIEW — Britainy Pate maintains a positive outlook after finally receiving answers about her mysterious paralysis. 

Last June, Pate awoke from her sleep unable to move her legs. After months of questions, the 27-year-old married mother of two has learned that she has conversion disorder.

It’s "a (stress-related) mental health condition in which a person suffers paralysis, blindness or neurological symptoms which cannot be explained by medical evaluation,” the U.S. National Library of Medicine website states.

See top-left "Related Articles" link for more on this subject.

Some people react to stress outwardly by yelling or physical activity. Others keep the stress within, causing symptoms like numbness or momentary paralysis.

 Pate remembers experiencing similar symptoms earlier in life.

As a child, she “locked up” and temporarily couldn’t move, she said.

She recently had more lengthy loss of feeling in her right arm and endured a brief stint at North Okaloosa Medical Center’s intensive care unit after having trouble breathing.

She has visited several medical specialists, including physical therapists and chiropractors. The recovery process has been slow, but there have been strides. In March, she regained use of her right arm.

"I was reaching for something in my sleep, and it jarred me," Pate said. "O-M-G was all I could say."

Pate and her husband, Bryant, believe their Christian faith will allow her to walk soon.   

"I am confident that something will happen soon," she said.

For now, she hopes to walk for a daughter’s upcoming birthday party and an upcoming wedding anniversary.

"We are just praying; that is our goal," Bryant said. "I don't know how deep (everyone's) faith is, but that is how deep our faith is."

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Stress causes Crestview woman’s mysterious paralysis

Look Good Feel Better's next session is 1-3 p.m. April 14 at North Okaloosa Medical Center's Senior Circle classroom, 127 E. Redstone Ave., Crestview.

Advance registration is required to provide cosmetics that match your skin tone.

This group program is open to all women with cancer who receive chemotherapy, radiation or other treatments.

Call the American Cancer Society, 1-800-227-2345, for details. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Look Good, Feel Better program planned April 14

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Florida Department of Health, or DOH, in Okaloosa County has received the fourth annual County Health Rankings and Roadmaps’ data.

These rankings — submitted from University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation — serve as a snapshot of the health of individuals across each state’s counties.

In Okaloosa County, there are areas of progress. For example, the rate of births to teen mothers ages 15-19 has decreased over the past three years due in part to outreach of the department’s family planning program, a health department spokesperson said.

However, challenges remain, as the number of obese adults has risen 6 percent over the past four years. The department has collaborated with many stakeholders to implement the Community Health Improvement Plan, which has a focused effort to address physical activity and nutrition resources in our community.

The DOH works to improve Floridians’ health. Data used include information related to physical environment, social and economic factors, health behaviors, education, crime rate, law enforcement and clinical care.

The rankings include a snapshot of each Florida county, with a color-coded map comparing each county’s overall health ranking.

"Health knows no boundaries,” Dr. Karen Chapman, director of the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County, said. “While … (the) report presents county level rankings, we realize that promoting optimal health involves a broad spectrum of partners in government, education, business and civic organizations that are not necessarily limited geographically."

See more county and state health rankings and statistics at www.floridacharts.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Health rankings report: teen mom rate down, obesity up

CRESTVIEW — North Okaloosa Medical Center will raise heart health awareness with a walking event at the hospital on Wednesday.

The event is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the hospital's walking track on the corner of East Redstone Avenue and Brookmeade Drive, behind the hospital.

"We are not raising any funds, we are just raising awareness to encourage people to walk for at least 30 minutes a day," said Alicia Booker, NOMC’s community programs coordinator.

"We are having it around lunch time to encourage people to (regularly) spend a portion of their lunch walking," Booker said.

 Participants are encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and support the American Heart Association’s event.

One in two men and one in three women reportedly are at risk for heart disease, which is the No. 1 medical cause of death. Exercising at least 30 minutes a day can help prevent cardiovascular disease.

In addition to eating healthily and exercising, the hospital promotes creating walking plans and forming walking groups for encouragement.

The hospital’s track is open for public use, Booker said.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa Medical Center hosts walking event on April 3

FORT WALTON BEACH — North Okaloosa Medical Center CEO and 2013 American Heart Association Heart Walk chairman David Fuller met with Okaloosa and Walton county executives March 12 at Northwest Florida State College to show numerous ways that partnership with the American Heart Association, or AHA, can benefit their businesses and employees.

Attendees received information that they can use to get their AHA partnership started. Highlights included National Walking Day, the annual Okaloosa Walton Heart Walk and the importance of workplace wellness initiatives. Companies taking part in workplace wellness efforts can apply to be a Fit Friendly Company and receive this designation.

"The message presented during the 2013 Okaloosa Walton Health Walk Executive Breakfast was on point and well-articulated,” Inger Alderfer, AHA Greater Southwest Affiliate regional director, said. “The message of wellness and heart health was clear and area employers were challenged to embrace their role as a partner in heart and health care for their employees and staff."

A personal look

A highlight was the testimony of heart patient Anne Spies, who was 41 years old when she had the first of two heart attacks.

"I knew it couldn’t be my heart because I didn’t smoke, didn’t drink, exercised regularly and had no family history of heart disease," she said.

Women who consider themselves healthy often misdiagnose or ignore heart attack symptoms because they don’t think it can happen to them, according to the AHA.

"Don’t ignore your symptoms because you think you are 'healthy.' Consult your physician; the nurses and physicians at North Okaloosa Medical Center and Fort Walton Beach Medical Center saved my life. Words cannot express my gratitude,” Spies said.

UPCOMING

American Heart Association events are as follows:

•National Walking Day: 11:30 a.m. April 3, North Okaloosa Medical Center hospital track at the corner of east Redstone Avenue and Brookmeade Drive, Crestview.

NOMC employees invite the public to join them as they walk around the hospital’s track.

•Heart Ball: 6:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. May 4, Magnolia Ballroom, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Destin. The Kentucky Derby-themed ball will feature southern fare, derby-inspired wear, silent and live auctions and music by The Mulligans.

•AHA Okaloosa Walton Heart Walk: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sept. 28, Northwest Florida State College, Niceville. Participants will embark on a noncompetitive 3-mile walk to help raise funds for heart disease and stroke research.

TIP

Americans are encouraged to spend at least 30 minutes of their day briskly walking. Physical activity is critical to being healthy, but less than 50 percent of adults get enough daily exercise, according to North Okaloosa Medical Center.

Adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly to see the health benefits of physical activity such as lower blood pressure, improved bone health, weight maintenance after weight loss, better sleep and more energy. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: AHA and NOMC champion workplace wellness