September 30, 2005
		Orthopedist to Give Talks on Chronic Hip and Knee Pain Dr. Joel Malin of Orthopaedic Specialty Group of Fairfield, CT, will present two educational sessions designed to inform attendees about the latest techniques in knee and hip replacement surgery.  As an orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Malin specializes in arthroscopic surgery and endoscopic carpal tunnel release with a particular interest in joint replacement surgery.  Malin has advanced training in he latest hip and knee replacement techniques.  Interested persons may register online for “Bothered by Chronic Hip Pain?” to be presented on Tuesday, October 25 or “Is Chronic Knee Pain Slowing You Down?”, offered on Tuesday, November 8, or by calling Griffin Hospital InfoSource at 203-732-7211.  Both sessions will take place, at 2 p.m. in the  Cafeteria Meeting Rooms at Griffin Hospital.  Dr. Malin, on the Griffin Medical Staff, is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a member in good standing of the Connecticut Orthopaedic Society and the Fairfield Country Medical Association.
		Fibromyalgia Study Participants Wanted If you suffer from fibromyalgia, you may be interested in participating in a study which involves the use of a vitamin-mineral IV injection.  For more information, please contact Katie Campochiaro at 203-732-1372.  All  study related services are provided free of charge.
		Public Invited to Planetree Day at Griffin Hospital October 28th has been designated Planetree Day at Griffin Hospital.  Interested members of the community are encouraged to join with Griffin Hospital employees to learn more about Planetree and its impact on the healing process.  Therapeutic Touch, Acupuncture, Reiki and Aromatherapy are among the Planetree modalities that will  be showcased.  Griffin''''''''s therapy dogs also will be there and the Griffin Hospital Community Health Resource Center will be open to the public throughout the day to explain its array of services and issue free library cards.  Since opening the North Wing in 1994, Griffin Hospital has received national recognition for its Planetree model of care which demystifies and humanizes the patient hospital experience.  Planetree, Inc., a national organization based at Griffin Hospital, has enjoyed phenomenal growth in its membership, growing from 18 to 99 healthcare facilities members world-wide since Griffin Health Services assumed stewardship of Planetree in 1998.
		Hurricane Relief Efforts Griffin Director of Community Outreach and the Valley Parish Nurse Program, Daun Barrett, left earlier this month for Montgomery, AL, as an American Red Cross volunteer to assist hurricane survivors and relief workers.  Barrett, who will be gone for three weeks, is currently coordinating Red Cross medical services in Alabama and Florida.  A task force of the leaders of eleven Valley organizations including Griffin Hospital has undertaken an initiative to identify people that have relocated from the hurricane ravaged area to the Valley and to ensure they are connected to needed resources and services.  If you are aware of other evacuees, please have them call Bonnie Bodak, case work coordinator at TEAM at 203-736-5420, ext. 1206.  TEAM, the community’s anti-poverty agency, has offered to assign case workers to the people and serve as an intake source for other families or individuals that have relocated to the Valley.  The case worker will meet with each of the families and individuals and ensure that they are connected with FEMA.  The task force has also contacted the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.  The foundation has amassed over $80,000 in private contributions including household items donated by IKEA.
		Van Maintains Busy Schedule  The Griffin Hospital Mobil Resource Van continues to make its impact, providing health services throughout the Valley and beyond.  In addition to about 20 regular monthly stops which include local supermarkets, senior centers and housing, and WalMart stores in Derby, Shelton and Naugatuck, the van will be at the following locations during October:  Oct. 1 - Ansonia Harvest Fair; Oct. 2 - Shelton Day; Oct. 5 - Walk to School Safely Day at Irving Elementary School in Derby; Oct. 20 - Sen. Crisco’s Senior Health Fair, Warsaw Park, Ansonia (flu shots available); Oct. 21 & 22 - Waterbury UCC Kennedy High School and Oct. 26 - Health Heart Program, Dr. Anthony D’Souza, St. Teresa’s Church, Southbury.  On Nov. 5, the van travels to the Ansonia Armory for a Health Fair jointly sonsored by Griffin Hospital and the local NAACP and on Nov. 14, it’s a flu vaccine clinic at St. Teresa’s Church.  Services are available to all interested persons.
		130 Division St. Derby, CT 06418 (203) 735-7421 Toll-free in CT (800) 354-3094 Contact us: griffin@griffinhealth.org Copyright © 2005 Griffin Health Services Corporation