(Beaver County, Pa.) Today at 5 p.m. is the deadline to apply for a mail ballot for the May 18 primary. More than 743,700 registered Pennsylvania voters already have applied for a mail-in ballot and more than 63,200 voters have applied for an absentee ballot.

Pennsylvanians voting by mail-in or absentee ballot should return their voted ballot as soon as possible, delivering it in person to their county election board. Check votespa.com/county to find ballot drop-off locations and hours for your county. The deadline for county election boards to receive voted mail ballots is 8 p.m. on May 18, Election Day. Postmarks do not count.

Today also is the last day to vote early in person by mail ballot. Voters can visit their county election office before 5 p.m. and apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot. County election officials will check their eligibility while they wait and, once verified, will provide them with the ballot. Voters can then complete their ballot and cast it all in one visit.

Before making the trip to vote in person by mail ballot, voters should check the hours of their county’s election office.

Voters who have not voted by mail ballot can vote in person at their polling place on Election Day. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 18.

(Moon Twp., Pa.) Heritage Valley Beaver announced that it has been recognized as a Healthgrades 2021 Patient Safety Excellence Award TM recipient. This distinction places Heritage Valley Beaver among the top 10% of all short-term acute care hospitals reporting patient safety data as evaluated by Healthgrades, the leading marketplace
connecting patients and providers.

From 2017 through 2019, there were 190,273 potentially preventable patient safety events among Medicare patients in U.S. hospitals.* And, if all hospitals, as a group, performed similarly to hospitals performing better than expected on each of 13 Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) evaluated by Healthgrades, on average, 106,052 patient safety events could have been avoided.* “Enhancing and ensuring patient safety is a priority of all our physicians, nurses and other clinical staff,” said Amy McBrien, MSN, RN, vice president and chief quality/safety officer, Heritage Valley Health System. “The achievement of Heritage Valley Beaver reaching the top 10% in the nation for patient safety is the result of commitment and dedication by our employees to deliver the highest quality care to the communities we serve.”

During the 2017 to 2019 time frame, four patient safety indicators accounted for 72% of all patient safety events (collapsed lung, hip fracture due to an in-hospital fall, pressure or bed sores and catheter-related bloodstream infections). Healthgrades found that patients treated in hospitals receiving the Healthgrades 2021 Patient Safety Excellence Award were, on average*:

• 50.3% less likely to experience a collapsed lung due to a procedure or surgery in or
around the chest, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals.*
• 60.3% less likely to experience an in-hospital fall resulting in hip fracture, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals.*
• 66.5% less likely to experience pressure sores or bedsores acquired in the hospital, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals.*
• 65.4% less likely to experience catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in the hospital, than patients treated at non- recipient hospitals.*
“The importance of hospital quality is now at the forefront of consumer’s minds, especially as we continue to navigate COVID-19. We congratulate the recipients of the Healthgrades 2021 Patient Safety Excellence Award for their ongoing commitment to upholding the highest quality standards for their patients and communities,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Healthgrades.

During the study period (2017 through 2019), Healthgrades 2021 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient hospitals demonstrated excellent performance in patient safety within the Medicare population, as measured by objective outcomes—risk-adjusted patient safety indicator (PSI) rates—for 13 PSIs defined by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). A 14th PSI is included in the evaluation – Foreign Objects Left in Body During a Surgery or Procedure – which is a “never” event and does not have an expected rate. View Healthgrades hospital quality methodologies.

*Statistics are calculated from Healthgrades Patient Safety Ratings and Excellence Award methodology which is based primarily on AHRQ technical specifications (Version 2020.0.1) to MedPAR data for years 2017 through 2019 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only.

By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Sean Parnell announced his candidacy Tuesday for the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat. Parnell is a decorated Army veteran and regular guest on Fox News programs who became a favorite of former President Donald Trump. Parnell unsuccessfully challenged Democratic U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb here in the 17th District last year. The Senate seat is being left open after two-term Republican Sen. Pat Toomey announced in October that he wouldn’t run again. Both the Democratic and Republican fields are getting crowded, with next year’s primary election still a year away.

(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

(Beaver Falls, PA) The Beaver Falls City Council held a meeting tonight where they touched on a variety of topics.  The Council agreed to enter into first readings of a service agreement for a design company to improve the city website, as well as a service agreement with the Beaver County Regional Council of Governments.  The fire department submitted a letter of intent to explore options for a regionalization of fire/rescue services in the area to provide better overall service.  The fire department also stated that they received 121 calls last month.  Also at the meeting, organizers of the wave pool restoration project requested that they be allowed to do a feasibility study with members of the council, to which the council agreed.  The police department reported that they received 1,361 calls last month and also asked for the approval to apply for a grant for a side by side vehicle, which will enable the department to respond to off-road areas more efficiently.  The council also stated that they will begin permitting small gatherings within the city once again.  A member of the community also spoke at the meeting, regarding concerns over bee swarms in the 6th Avenue area.  She stated that there is a home that has multiple bee boxes which is causing bees to swarm nearby residences, and she would like the city to get involved.

(Brighton Twp., Pa.) Tuesday May 11, 2021 is a special day for Beaver County  Dentist Dr. Henry J. Windle, DMD, FAGD. Dr. Windle is celebrating his 40th Anniversary of his practice on Tuscarawas Rd in Beaver.

Beaver County Radio spoke with Dr. Windle and asked him if he grew up here in Beaver County?

We asked Dr. Windle how he got involved in Dentistry?

Dr. Windle told the listeners about his first experience as a dentist:

We asked Dr. Windle when did he open his first practice? and what has been the driving force that has kept him a dentist for the last 40 years?

Dr. Windle shared some of his fondest memories of being a dentist with the listeners:

Recently Dr. Windle has partnered with St. Barnabas and I asked how has the partnership been:

Beaver County Radio congratulates Dr. Windle on his 40th Anniversary.

 

 

Pennsylvania: 750k kids expected to become eligible for shot
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania health officials say about 750,000 children across the state are expected to become eligible for Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot. Health providers in Pennsylvania could begin vaccinating people between the ages of 12 and 15 later this week after a federal vaccine advisory committee signs off as expected. That announcement is expected Wednesday. The state Health Department said Tuesday that vaccine providers should follow their existing policies for vaccinating minors, which requires parental consent in Pennsylvania.