Madera Community Hospital & CalViva Health Awarded American Cancer Society Grant
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- Written By: Sherrie Bakke
February 2019: Madera, California: Madera Community Hospital in collaboration with CalViva Health are recipients of an American Cancer Society Grant to bolster Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccinations.
In October of 2018, the American Cancer Society announced Madera leads the state in HPV Vaccination rates. Topping out with 43% of the targeted youth population having received the vaccination. The data was collected by health plan reports. San Francisco followed with 39%. Other Counties in our region fell to 31% in Tulare, 27% in Fresno and 19% in Kings County.
The human papillomavirus, HPV, is a serious problem causing several cancers. The HPV vaccination protects against this virus and the cancers it can cause. The virus is so common it will infect most people at some point in their lives. Most infected people do not know it. The best way to help prevent HPV infection is to get vaccinated. The HPV Vaccination is expected to prevent 90% of HPV related cancers when given before children are exposed to the virus.
Building on efforts stated in 2017, with the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the California Dialogue on Cancer, administered by the California Department of Public Health, convened stake holders from across the state to discuss HPV Vaccination. A California HPV Vaccination Roundtable was established to accelerate HPV Vaccine uptake in the state. Karen Paolinelli, Chief Executive Officer, Madera Community Hospital, attended the inaugural meeting and serves on the California HPV Vaccination Roundtable.
“I was honored to be included in the statewide discussion and my passion for disease prevention motivated me to make time to attend the inaugural HPV Vaccination Roundtable,” said Karen Paolinelli, CEO Madera Community Hospital. “I learned of Madera’s vaccination rates for the first time during the Roundtable presentations. I thought, if we can accomplish this success without doing anything special, we certainly can focus our providers’ efforts and reach the target goal before any other area in the state,” Paolinelli concluded.
The American Cancer Society recommends the HPV Vaccine for boys and girls. The vaccination works best at ages 11 or 12, before HPV exposure but can be started as early as age 9. The vaccination series must be completed by the 13th birthday. The vaccine is given in two shots, with 6 to 12 months between shots.
Madera Community Hospital and Family Health Services Clinics are working with CalViva to develop strategies to attain 80% vaccination compliance in youth under the age of 13. The HPV Vaccination is a covered health expense and can be administered during the well visit when also receiving the Tdap Vaccination, required prior to entering middle school.
Visit www.cancer.org to learn more about the HPV Vaccination. Call Family Health Services, (559) 675-5530, or your child’s primary care provider, to schedule the vaccination appointment.
About Madera Community Hospital
Our 106 bed General Acute Care hospital was founded in 1971 by a group of citizens committed to providing quality emergency and hospital services to Madera County residents. Today Madera Community Hospital is the County’s premier health system providing integrated care through access to primary medical service with Rural Health Clinics in Chowchilla and Madera including 22 medical specialties. Madera Community Hospital has received numerous awards for Labor and Delivery Care, Orthopedic Surgery and is nationally recognized for excellent patient satisfaction and low hospital acquired infection rates. Madera Community Hospital is accredited by the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program. Visit MaderaHospital.org for more information about Madera Community Hospital’s safety and quality scores.
About CalViva Health
CalViva Health is dedicated to improving access to care and providing quality healthcare to families in the Fresno, Kings, and Madera County area. We provide the right care at the right place and the right time. Our efforts are focused on providing Medi-Cal beneficiaries quality care by helping beneficiaries find doctors, pharmacies and health education programs within the managed care network. CalViva Health also offers pregnancy and well-baby care, interpreters to assist non-English speakers, 24-hour nurse advice line, health education programs and services, prescription drugs, hospital care, alcohol/drug abuse services, vision care, mental health services, emergency room care, shots (immunizations) and more. These services all contribute to improving personal and community-wide health outcomes and reduce disparities.