Altoona Regional Health System's Healthy Living Club has scheduled the following educational programs and screenings for March.
Call 889-2630 or 888-313-4665 to make an appointment or to register unless otherwise indicated. The Altoona Hospital Campus is at 620 Howard Ave.; the Seventh Avenue Campus is at 2500 Seventh Ave.; the Education Center is at 2621 Eighth Ave., and Station Medical Center is at 17th Street and Ninth Avenue.
n A free child safety seat checkup station will be held by appointment only from 9:30 to 11 a.m. March 9 on the blue level of the parking garage at ARHS, Altoona Hospital Campus. Look for the Safe Kids van. To make an appointment, call Safe Kids Blair County at 889-7802. n Free osteoporosis screenings (heel scans) will be held by appointment only from 12:30 to 3 p.m. March 9 at the Station Medical Center, Imaging Services department. This painless screening takes just a few minutes and assesses bone density in the heel (an indicator of bone health and fracture risk) by using ultrasound. Be prepared to remove shoes and socks.
n A Seniors for Safe Driving four-hour refresher course for anyone who has taken the eight-hour course will be offered from 5 to 9 p.m. March 6 in the rotunda on the sixth floor of the Outpatient Center at ARHS, Altoona Hospital Campus. The fee is $16. Registration is required by calling 800-559-4880 or log on to www.sfsd-pa.com.
This classroom course covers age-related physical changes, perceptual skills, rules of the road and more. All automobile insurance companies in Pennsylvania provide a premium discount to graduates 55 and older. Most require both spouses insured under the same policy to take the class to receive a discount.
n A screening for peripheral artery disease will be held by appointment only from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 14 at the Vascular Institute on the third floor of the Outpatient Center at ARHS, Altoona Hospital Campus. There is no fee. Call 889-2005 or 877-855-8152 to schedule an appointment.
Peripheral artery disease occurs when plaque clogs leg arteries or vessels and restricts blood flow. Untreated PAD not only can make walking difficult but may increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.
Kay Adams, nurse practitioner and manager of Central Pennsylvania Cardiovascular Associates, will check for PAD with an ankle-brachial index screen, a painless process in which blood pressure is measured in legs and arms to determine blood flow. Be prepared to remove shoes and socks. n A six-week beginners series of Hatha yoga will be offered from 5:30 to 6:40 p.m. Tuesdays from March 13 through April 17 in the Allegheny Room on the sixth floor of the Outpatient Center at ARHS, Altoona Hospital Campus. The fee is $30. Class is limited to 30 participants.?To register, call 889-2630 or 888-313-4665. A yoga mat is needed for all classes.
Gail Murphy, registered instructor in Hatha yoga, leads this program, which offers mind/body exercise, breath control, stretching and strengthening to promote mental, physical and spiritual well-being.
n Join representatives of Altoona Regional's Imaging Services department as they explain and discuss the diagnostic and interventional technology, procedures and expertise available through their department on March 16.
The program "Imaging Services: Diagnostic and Interventional Procedures," includes MRI, CT and PET/CT, ultrasound, digital mammography and more.
Learn why these tests are ordered and how they assist your physician with your diagnosis and course of treatment. Ample time will be allotted for questions.
Lunch begins at 11 a.m., and the program starts at 11:30 a.m. and concludes at 1 p.m. It is at the Seventh Avenue Campus Education Center, Trzeciak Conference Suite. There is no fee, but registration is required by calling 889-2630 or 888-313-4665.
n Join the Rev. David Hammerle, a member of Altoona Regional's Pastoral Care team, for "Beyond Coping: Finding Healing from Abuse," from 7 to 9 p.m. March 19 in the Cafeteria Dining Room A on the fourth floor of the Tower at ARHS, Altoona Hospital Campus.
While this program is not a cure for abuse victims, it is designed to help victims find recovery. An emphasis will be placed on building self-esteem, finding ways to break free from intimidation of their abuser, overcoming co-dependency, discovering forgiveness with accountability, learning to dump the guilt, developing a positive and negative journal and more.
A donation of $10 is requested to help cover cost of handouts, but is not required. Registration is required by calling 889-2630 or 888-313-4665.
Rev. Hammerle is a counselor and has taught developmental psychology. The program offers 0.2 continuing education units.
n Pastor Robert Smith of the Altoona Regional Pastoral Care team will teach a six-week beginners course in conversational sign language from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays from March 21 through April 25 in the Allegheny Room, on the sixth floor of the Outpatient Center at ARHS, Altoona Hospital Campus. The fee is $30. Class is limited to 30 participants. Registration is required by calling 889-2630 or 888-313-4665.
There will be assignments with the lessons, and a certificate will be given upon completion of the course. A three-ring binder is needed.
