tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44275826995061568152024-03-13T02:43:21.673-07:00The Wilder Side of HealthUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-54688429829598968832011-11-21T16:35:00.001-08:002011-11-21T16:39:41.714-08:00I've moved!<div>The Wilder Side of Health is leaving Blogger for the new VMC Foundation website. </div><div><br /></div><div>Please set your browsers to <a href="http://vmcfoundation.org/vmc/wilder-side-of-health-blog/"><b>http://vmcfoundation.org/vmc/wilder-side-of-health-blog/</b></a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can find a complete archive of old posts on the new site. All future posts will only be visible on the new site.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for reading.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-58400227019255281502011-11-19T10:22:00.000-08:002011-11-19T10:29:39.373-08:00Health Care: The View from France...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JX1F6y_fPgTUj4rBWI4HgIPLmuoVRhcVAf-9WYJW1WNrEEmypaJOYOQvfl5YYi6QfM-ptFoAEAYnKzDN9TQdo8fb4MO1u5aqlnFtdvXW4yQvt_lJigRwr84Ri0fb-2faP6Wo3X3wIb0/s1600/Chris+in+St+Emilion.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JX1F6y_fPgTUj4rBWI4HgIPLmuoVRhcVAf-9WYJW1WNrEEmypaJOYOQvfl5YYi6QfM-ptFoAEAYnKzDN9TQdo8fb4MO1u5aqlnFtdvXW4yQvt_lJigRwr84Ri0fb-2faP6Wo3X3wIb0/s320/Chris+in+St+Emilion.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676774607754344418" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">The British author Terry Pratchett, in one of his early books, has a character describe the concept of “insurance” thusly: “It’s like a bet. You’re betting that something bad will happen to you, and the insurance company is betting that it won’t.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With that in mind, I spoke with a few folks last week while travelling around rural France. It comes to this: They think we’re just bonkers. The average French citizen keeps well-versed with world news, and they are mystified that so much of Obama’s health care reforms are being challenged, skewered and hostilely vilified. “It seems like if you can afford it”, one wine maker told me, “you get good health care. If not, you have a problem.” </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That simplistic assessment is about right, and his next guess was too: “If someone who doesn’t have insurance gets really sick or hurt, don’t you basically have to pay for them anyway?” Well, yes, I told him. We have laws that ensure that if you are having a heart attack and get yourself to a hospital, they will stabilize you. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Yes, but then what?” My wine maker friend asked.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Well, depending on where you live, and whether you can qualify for a government program, you either get follow up care, or you don’t.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“And if you don’t, won’t you wind up back in the hospital with maybe another heart attack, and then everyone pays all over again?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Simplistic, and again, true. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“I have travelled a lot,” said the wine maker, “and have been called a Communist in some places for supporting the French social medicine. I am surely not a Communist, but ours is a good system. The government pays, we are taxed, and that's that. Everyone should have good care, and it’s just our way.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We talked further, and what was clear to him was that our system is more expensive (true) and not as humanistic. Ouch. The truth can hurt, but it helps remembering why I’m so proud to work in Santa Clara County, which has a great public health and hospital system…thanks to our local political leadership and a supportive community. The dedicated team at VMC is even working to solve the problem described above – to offer all needed preventative and follow-up care to the insured and uninsured alike, which is better for them and cheaper for all of us.<a name="_GoBack"></a> For much more on this topic, check out the brilliant blog post by Ezekiel Emanuel called <a href="http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/16/saving-by-the-bundle/">“Saving by the Bundle”.</a> It truly reads like what Valley Medical Center is doing – and speaks to the human element of what we’re on about. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Or, to remember Terry Pratchett’s assessment, the French have decided a better wager is for EVERYONE to bet that something bad will happen to SOMEONE, and that since any of us could be that someone, we should all look after our own. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Anyway, it's good to be home with a head full of memories...and perspective. </p> <!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-74082030015723903122011-11-03T08:34:00.000-07:002011-11-03T08:40:10.544-07:00Forget swimming...how about BOWLING with The Sharks?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnubxyDmo_Qjxf98eny4xGmwp8tMqpjTmSZn9RKPpMfOuiUfHbCNPsJwagRI0MB0JN1-lHjFIW54JC2eZGJB7Jku4PInCTnyp5uxr4AuTCVH8hVy_1KXLmAvgk13CoY_C8evPM1FnIpU/s1600/HPIM1361_0010.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnubxyDmo_Qjxf98eny4xGmwp8tMqpjTmSZn9RKPpMfOuiUfHbCNPsJwagRI0MB0JN1-lHjFIW54JC2eZGJB7Jku4PInCTnyp5uxr4AuTCVH8hVy_1KXLmAvgk13CoY_C8evPM1FnIpU/s320/HPIM1361_0010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670794494970996594" /></a><h6 style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left: 0in;background:white"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Garamond; font-weight: normal; ">I was delighted to announce last month a new partnership with the Sharks Foundation that will transform a VMC pediatric clinic into a Sharks-themed center of health, fun and overall awesomeness. </span></h6><h6 style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left: 0in;background:white"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Garamond; font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></h6> <h6 style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left: 0in;background:white"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Garamond; font-weight: normal; "> </span></h6> <h6 style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left: 0in;background:white"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Garamond; font-weight: normal; ">Well it gets even better.</span></h6><h6 style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left: 0in;background:white"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Garamond; font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></h6> <h6 style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left: 0in;background:white"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Garamond; font-weight: normal; "> </span></h6> <h6 style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left: 0in;background:white"><span class="messagebodytranslationeligibleusermessage"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Garamond; font-weight: normal; ">To help raise funds for the project, the Sharks Foundation is hosting the inaugural “Sharks & Strikes” charity bowling tournament on November 14<sup>th</sup>, and you are invited. Join the Sharks Foundation, Sharks players, coaches and broadcasters for a night of bowling and raise money for a great cause. Prices start at only $100 for youth and $150 for adults with proceeds benefiting the “Sharks Pediatric Clinic at Valley Health Center Tully.” </span></span></h6><h6 style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left: 0in;background:white"><span class="messagebodytranslationeligibleusermessage"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Garamond; font-weight: normal; "><br /></span></span></h6> <h6 style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left: 0in;background:white"><span class="messagebodytranslationeligibleusermessage"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Garamond; font-weight: normal; "> </span></span></h6> <h6 style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left: 0in;background:white"><span class="messagebodytranslationeligibleusermessage"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Garamond; font-weight: normal; ">The event will take place at 300 San Jose, near the Oakridge Mall. Tickets are limited, so act fast. For more information or to register, visit <span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color:#3B5998">www.SharksFoundation.org</span></span></span></span><span class="messagebodytranslationeligibleusermessage"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Garamond; ">.</span></span></h6> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-76615990774374709302011-10-20T15:07:00.001-07:002011-10-27T09:42:10.638-07:00When is a Shark Bite a Healthy Thing?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWk5p0S_8YEcOYCQmigu5lkYjE3GFLn9A112SuPrOSz3lHU-2ewB4KSr1cH0gSkc_AXdIisiatHuxd10bBrvFmBGsayCoLF0quk0w6vlq_dHyGmAN6uDx_I5o9zKa_f619nnbEMRag22k/s1600/HPIM1334_0034.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWk5p0S_8YEcOYCQmigu5lkYjE3GFLn9A112SuPrOSz3lHU-2ewB4KSr1cH0gSkc_AXdIisiatHuxd10bBrvFmBGsayCoLF0quk0w6vlq_dHyGmAN6uDx_I5o9zKa_f619nnbEMRag22k/s320/HPIM1334_0034.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665699672784788626" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">The San Jose Sharks are a team of tough, big, scrappy and talented hockey players…but they are also deeply committed to their community. No wonder, then, that their entire organization and Foundation are too. Here's a picture of them visiting Valley Medical Center a while back...and our work together continued...</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That’s why we’re thrilled to announce a new partnership between the Sharks Foundation and the VMC Foundation: <b>The San Jose Sharks Pediatric Clinic at VHC Tully</b>!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The clinic is already there at Valley Health Center Tully in San Jose, and serves more than 6,000 children each month! And while it’s long on quality care for kids, it’s short on décor and inspiration.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Enter the Sharks, who are investing up to $100,000 to “re-imagine” the Clinic. We’ll have Sharks images of players, team colors throughout and of course “Sharkie”, the team mascot everywhere. More than just looking good, the clinic will be full of healthy tips for kids and parents: Take a BITE out of your veggies, drink water not soda, get your exercise and immunizations…all positive messages to match the positive look and feel.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Parents will love it too, and of course this “Legacy Project” will help the Sharks show off their involvement in our community. They already do a lot, but this is a very big deal. Huge thanks to Jeff Cafuir, the Sharks Foundation Manager, for spearheading the project along with our team here at the VMC Foundation and throughout the Sharks organization.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So yes, the Sharks are caring, humble, community-minded idealists…unless of course you meet them on the ice. Wearing an Anaheim Ducks uniform. </p> <!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-65755329271678520382011-10-14T09:01:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:41:50.436-07:00Reducing soda intake...and all that jazz.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrTth1WqKrUQdqeRXZK69sYH8QmREC5_A9VwAey675T7Tn-p_Gn77p285qeeBEzjC6yNZnWl2WzEZhUDzBzDl1x7T8FWfjzSs2vifiZESk54rsjLFNmDOBxs0mhNOZjNXWaQGIgHz2A0/s1600/education_walterwagner.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 104px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrTth1WqKrUQdqeRXZK69sYH8QmREC5_A9VwAey675T7Tn-p_Gn77p285qeeBEzjC6yNZnWl2WzEZhUDzBzDl1x7T8FWfjzSs2vifiZESk54rsjLFNmDOBxs0mhNOZjNXWaQGIgHz2A0/s320/education_walterwagner.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663380887971447314" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">Music is more important to me than most things, and for years I’ve served on the Board of Directors of <a href="http://www.sanjosejazz.org/">San Jose Jazz</a>. Our Summerfest is the biggest deal in town every August, bringing 100,000 music lovers together for a weekend of celebration and performance. This year’s was maybe the best festival yet…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>…and yet, when going over the books at our last board meeting we noticed something odd as compared to last year. <b>Soda sales were off</b>. WAY off. Like <b>50% down!</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Fifty percent. </b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ticket sales, beer, food, weekend weather…all similar to 2010. <span> </span>Could our efforts to promote a “Soda-Free Summer” be working? Well, let’s look at some facts:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal">The Bay Area Nutrition and Physical Activity Collaborative (<a href="http://www.banpac.org/">BANPAC</a>, part of the VMC Foundation) has data that shows parents and kids are starting to get the message and reduce soda consumption.</li> <li class="MsoNormal">There’s been a sharp rise in local media about the dangers of sweetened drinks this year.</li> <li class="MsoNormal">The American Beverage Association (representing soda makers) recently called Santa Clara County’s anti-soda messages “misleading”. They’re not, and we have reams of data to prove it…but they’re worried, and that’s good. </li> <li class="MsoNormal">Kaiser Permanente, the biggest supporter of our “Re-Think Your Drink” efforts in Silicon Valley, became a major sponsor of San Jose Jazz’s Summerfest this year!</li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Yes – this is a big deal. For the first time, KP was a major player in our Jazz Festival, setting up wellness stations around the Salsa Stage (the most physically active of the Summerfest, with non-stop dancing all weekend). They gave away water with fresh lemon to all revelers, promoting a healthier alternative to soda. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">My friend, colleague and VMC Foundation Board Member Kathleen King takes all the credit: “My giving up diet soda this year is personally responsible for the decline”, she joked with me yesterday. But she’s on to something: The fight to reduce unhealthy drink intake is going to ultimately be fought one person, one family at a time. And with obesity and diabetes rates still climbing, a fight is exactly what this is. Please, join us—it starting to work! </p> <!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-74783768070679396792011-09-20T07:37:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:41:34.253-07:00What WOULDN'T I do to raise $10,000?<div class="separator" style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="CLEAR: right; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZE64MYm6WwAxchdb5LujVrc9rkbjV8IsyZWvlnAUfuxv1qVt46eyC0eVUAW3edFPwqNi9wKwog6Jq1lZu-qjNt_MOV_2Fs_rNkRq2_Vp0O5P_2iz9hAVyyTtyFdqwjbnjKBTQ3cDtyk/s1600/300185_10150323297164642_113236479641_7810514_2058828983_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZE64MYm6WwAxchdb5LujVrc9rkbjV8IsyZWvlnAUfuxv1qVt46eyC0eVUAW3edFPwqNi9wKwog6Jq1lZu-qjNt_MOV_2Fs_rNkRq2_Vp0O5P_2iz9hAVyyTtyFdqwjbnjKBTQ3cDtyk/s320/300185_10150323297164642_113236479641_7810514_2058828983_n.jpg" width="214" border="0" /></a></div>Let me start by answering the most common questions I've gotten about this caper over the last 48 hours:<br /><br />1. Yes, I was sober. Mostly.<br /><br />2. No, it wasn't pre-planned, other than the thought crossed my mind a couple hours earlier. David DuMont's amazing band provided unplanned appropriate music though, which made it seemed rehearsed. It wasn't.<br /><br />3. Yes, I left my good shoes on, but remembered to take my blackberry out of my pocket.<br /><br />Here's how it reads in today's Mercury News:<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:white;"></span><br /><br /><h1 class="articleTitle" id="articleTitle" style="FONT: bold 22px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; COLOR: #043a5e">Pizarro: VMC Foundation Executive Director Chris Wilder takes a giant leap for charity</h1><br /><div class="articleByline" id="articleByline" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px; COLOR: #555555; PADDING-TOP: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana, arial, sans-serif"><a class="articleByline" style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10px; COLOR: #003399; FONT-FAMILY: verdana, arial, sans-serif; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="mailto:spizarro@mercurynews.com?subject=San%20Jose%20Mercury%20News:%20Pizarro:%20VMC%20Foundation%20Executive%20Director%20Chris%20Wilder%20takes%20a%20giant%20leap%20for%20charity"></a><br /><br /><div class="bylinejb" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><a class="articleByline" style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10px; COLOR: #003399; FONT-FAMILY: verdana, arial, sans-serif; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="mailto:spizarro@mercurynews.com?subject=San%20Jose%20Mercury%20News:%20Pizarro:%20VMC%20Foundation%20Executive%20Director%20Chris%20Wilder%20takes%20a%20giant%20leap%20for%20charity">By Sal Pizarro</a></div><a class="articleByline" style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10px; COLOR: #003399; FONT-FAMILY: verdana, arial, sans-serif; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="mailto:spizarro@mercurynews.com?subject=San%20Jose%20Mercury%20News:%20Pizarro:%20VMC%20Foundation%20Executive%20Director%20Chris%20Wilder%20takes%20a%20giant%20leap%20for%20charity"></a><br /><br /><div class="bylineaffiliation" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><a class="articleByline" style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10px; COLOR: #003399; FONT-FAMILY: verdana, arial, sans-serif; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="mailto:spizarro@mercurynews.com?subject=San%20Jose%20Mercury%20News:%20Pizarro:%20VMC%20Foundation%20Executive%20Director%20Chris%20Wilder%20takes%20a%20giant%20leap%20for%20charity"></a><a style="COLOR: #003399; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="mailto:spizarro@mercurynews.com">spizarro@mercurynews.com</a></div></div><br /><div class="articleDate" id="articleDate" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 10px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; COLOR: #848080; PADDING-TOP: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana, arial, sans-serif">Posted: 09/19/2011 03:51:42 PM PDT</div><br /><div class="articleSecondaryDate" id="articleDate" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 10px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; COLOR: #000088; PADDING-TOP: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana, arial, sans-serif">Updated: 09/19/2011 09:29:04 PM PDT</div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="default" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" type="start"></span></span><br /><br /><div class="articlePositionHeader" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: center"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="default" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" type="end"></span></span><br /><br /><div class="articleBody" id="articleBody" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><br /><div class="articleViewerGroup" id="articleViewerGroup" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: right; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: right; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0pxfont-family:verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:10px;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="articleEmbeddedViewerBox" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></span><span id="default" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" type="start"></span><span id="default" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" type="end"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:small;color:black;"><span id="default" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" type="start"></span></span><br /><br /><div class="bodytextragright" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 15px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Chris Wilder will do anything for a good cause.</span></div><br /><div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 15px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0pxfont-family:verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The executive director of the Valley Medical Center Foundation raised $10,000 for the foundation in a single bound Saturday, leaping into a swimming pool while wearing a tuxedo.</span></div><br /><div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 15px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0pxfont-family:verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The momentous jump took place during the VMC Foundation's Soiree Under the Stars at Greg Pinn's Saratoga estate. Wilder has built quite a reputation for going to great lengths to get people to bid during auctions, whether it's for the VMC Foundation, San Jose Jazz or the Healthy Kids program.</span></div><br /><div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 15px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0pxfont-family:verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So it shouldn't be surprising that during the live auction Saturday, he volunteered to take the plunge from a deck about eight feet above the pool for 10 grand. Several people quickly pledged money toward the total, and in he went.</span></div><br /><div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 15px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0pxfont-family:verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">On Sunday, with his tux still drying out on the deck of his house, Wilder conceded he was a little nervous. "It was eight feet, plus another six feet up to my eyes," said the towering Wilder.</span></div><br /><div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 15px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0pxcolor:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:small;">Towering??? Please, Sal! </span></div><br /><div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 15px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0pxcolor:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:small;">Anyway, thanks to all who pledged big bucks for me to do this, and for Greg's daughter who brought me a towel...which I didn't use. I just danced instead, which seemed to work! </span></div><br /><div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 15px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:small;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q_vkFq3sirY" frameborder="0" width="560" height="315" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></div><br /><div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 15px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:small;">If you can't see this video at work, email it to your private account...it's pretty fun. </span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-25564610025189484962011-08-29T13:52:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:40:57.345-07:00A New Direction in Homelessness...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQXEUYi1BulJp0icty5asFErf2UgjTr-cxh-Ofnav28H7mnZpRUxVpLJTXIlQqrUDixZxoVL8brHzR66HmMWTR119rUQMVw6v26J76jvM1FkY_e9UNhvJEFbh7UEJ7o8XHRdRjt7xUi8/s1600/share_stories.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646384303120732866" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 291px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 203px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQXEUYi1BulJp0icty5asFErf2UgjTr-cxh-Ofnav28H7mnZpRUxVpLJTXIlQqrUDixZxoVL8brHzR66HmMWTR119rUQMVw6v26J76jvM1FkY_e9UNhvJEFbh7UEJ7o8XHRdRjt7xUi8/s320/share_stories.png" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><p>I met recently with Jennifer Loving, the CEO of <em>Destination: Home</em>. They are a great Silicon Valley agency working to end chronic homelessness, and I’m inspired by their effort.<br /><br />I’ll admit something to you: There are times when I’ve turned away at seeing a homeless person or family, as it’s just too painful. But let’s take the emotion out of the issue for a minute: Our community spends tens of millions annually (yes, right here in Silicon Valley) without addressing the core issue that <strong>people need a home</strong>.<br /><br />Because if they had one, we ALL would benefit. Several studies show that a person that is chronically homeless costs $60,000 a year…in shelters, food assistance, law enforcement – but mostly, medical care. In our community, that means Valley Medical Center.<br /><br />You may know that Jennifer Loving’s team surveyed some of our county’s homeless a couple of months ago. Here’s some of what they learned from the 943 people they met:<br /><br />- 100 were 60 years old or more<br />- More than half visited the emergency department in the last 3 months, resulting in<br />- 644 hospitalizations in a year.<br />- Half reported a serious medical condition like heart disease, hepatitis or liver disease.<br />- 144 were veterans (this, IMHO, is a national disgrace).<br />- Almost all reported a behavioral health issue or mental illness.<br /><br />There is a ton more data at <a href="http://www.housing1000sv.org/">http://www.housing1000sv.org/</a> but you get my point: Even if I didn’t care about the homeless (I do), I’d sure care about the money they cost us all. And I won’t live in a society that just lets them die. I’ll leave. Goodbye.<br /><br />While Destination Home works on longer-term solutions, Valley Medical Center meets short-term needs with an award-winning program called New Directions. VMC staff see frequent users of our county’s Emergency Department and provide housing, transportation and specialized assistance…the goal being to keep them healthier and out of the hospital.<br /><br />The VMC Foundation raises money to support New Directions, but funds have run dry. If you would like to help, <a href="https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=O7zzlXdlav4tgho0qjWqD3GLHs4A3dzLEN1y5MasmQKIagRB81rxNownD1m&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d35d0e363192f28ea2a5d17702da0dbf0">please click here</a> and give as generously as you can.<br /><br />There are more than 7,000 homeless people in Santa Clara County on any given night. Help us help them, with my thanks. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-64888065559858982232011-07-21T09:55:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:40:11.922-07:00Introducing Buck for a Bike!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdB003TBWwAa8lIcR9XIHjoh1Xynj1tgc1dp6-Cl-Rq44p-jfkdz1mnynS7WnaL_fxRTs3LS2wWh6fSqHci7sVi0wBjAgyxvS81VNdCPnCRWnax-PnWzvhEr8rWvyLLLXRJu75hYiYlk/s1600/b4blogo.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631852257735953778" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 110px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdB003TBWwAa8lIcR9XIHjoh1Xynj1tgc1dp6-Cl-Rq44p-jfkdz1mnynS7WnaL_fxRTs3LS2wWh6fSqHci7sVi0wBjAgyxvS81VNdCPnCRWnax-PnWzvhEr8rWvyLLLXRJu75hYiYlk/s320/b4blogo.png" border="0" /></a><br />I'm proud to help announce the newest, coolest campaign by Turning Wheels, the VMC Foundation program that provides brand-new bikes to underprivileged kids. The benefits are so many: The sense of independence and responsibility, the freedom of movement, and the health aspects of riding a bike vs. sitting inside. What's not to love?<br /><br />Now, it's even easier with Buck for a Bike! The idea is so simple: If everyone in Santa Clara County gave just a dollar, we could buy a bike for pretty much any child that needs one. And if you gave $10, or maybe $100...now we're talking program expansion, bike build clinics - the sky is the limit.<br /><br />Visit <a href="http://www.buckforabike.org/">www.buckforabike.org</a> to see some really fun videos, and make your own! The website also makes it easy to share with friends, and to donate what you can.<br /><br />Oh yeah...when I say I'm proud to HELP announce, that's because local media beat me to it. <a href="http://www.baycitizen.org/blogs/quality-of-life/fighting-childhood-obesity-2-wheels/">Take a look here</a>, and support Buck for a Bike!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-49166111451822782912011-07-15T10:57:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:40:00.588-07:00Giving up your DIET soda...can it make you thinner?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeM21BBsTaxZjU7v1bfwBQJKB2hlCbqflpFv-jwCtoNyi7eu-w5DpPkW-M2Bkl-ccq5Yh6bEOZJaOUZqrABewwcjrufE8mN6dOwkqWV7C-cW03-UajUP8Px3OWB0QXHQ7KkmD4Wn7fKc/s1600/diet+soda.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629641968127438946" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeM21BBsTaxZjU7v1bfwBQJKB2hlCbqflpFv-jwCtoNyi7eu-w5DpPkW-M2Bkl-ccq5Yh6bEOZJaOUZqrABewwcjrufE8mN6dOwkqWV7C-cW03-UajUP8Px3OWB0QXHQ7KkmD4Wn7fKc/s320/diet+soda.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The avid reader of this blog remembers that I gave up my beloved diet sodas a year ago. Today I learned my dear friend Kathleen King has joined me...and she loved her Diet Coke more than I did!<br /><br />But I hear you: "Sure diet soda isn't GOOD for me, but c'mon...it's not BAD for me, is it?" Well, maybe.<br /><br />A recent study highlighted in the San Jose Mercury News confirms that diet soda drinkers have much larger waistlines than those that say no to diet (and all) soda.<br /><br />Reasons given: <em>Some people splurge on calories in their food because they're saving on calories in their drinks. Think Big Mac and super-sized fries with a Diet Coke.<br /><br />Another factor [the researcher] says plays a role in expanding waistlines is "taste dysfunction." Because artificial sweeteners taste hundreds to thousands of times sweeter than regular sugar, our bodies come to expect sugary foods to be extremely sweet. So we start to seek out more sugar-laden options.<br /><br />A third explanation is that our bodies are smarter than we think. When we suck down sweet things, our bodies register the sugary taste and wait for the accompanying calories, said Lillian Castillo, a public health dietitian with the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. </em><a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18463902?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com"><br /><br />Click here to read the full article</a>, which I think misses another key point: Maybe - just maybe - people who drink diet sodas (which clearly aren't good for you) are not as averse to eating other things that - whaddaya know - aren't good for you? Seems logical to me, and I know I am 100% guilty.<br /><br />But I'm working on it. How about you? Join me in making it a truly <a href="http://www.sodafreesummer.org/">soda-free summer!</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-30155762617754631302011-06-23T08:32:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:39:50.467-07:00We will always remember Richard Patterson<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEL33rk1PvvnWzsd8MnnNOJ1_bx8uAkKKouztiT6flKrQLydIFMDLdnkCYwHxEqlnGWkstCmSCyZVrHofJyfbk8u8XDuSRk_98CGINl4ItK44vayWSUxHyYhFI5rTQaSHl0cXFwAruMmk/s1600/IMG_7157.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621473909690968274" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEL33rk1PvvnWzsd8MnnNOJ1_bx8uAkKKouztiT6flKrQLydIFMDLdnkCYwHxEqlnGWkstCmSCyZVrHofJyfbk8u8XDuSRk_98CGINl4ItK44vayWSUxHyYhFI5rTQaSHl0cXFwAruMmk/s320/IMG_7157.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The VMC family has lost a true hero.<br /><br />Richard Patterson passed away last night peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends, to a personal rendition of his favorite song.<br /><br />In the words of Dr. Stephanie Kolakowsky-Hayner, who leads VMC's Rehabilitation Research Center: <em>Richard was an amazing man who influenced so many diverse circles and will be missed terribly. He led the peer-support counseling program at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center for the past 15 years. He was a tireless advocate for individuals with disabilities, peer support coordinator, committee member for the Public Authority for In-Home-Supportive-Services, a co-chair of the Disability Advisory Commission for the City of San Jose, brother, son, fiancé, colleague, and friend. His loss will impact the thousands of lives he has touched. </em><br /><br />One life was mine. I met Rich eight years ago, and there's no end to what he taught me. Rich was the first to explain to me that "you never really 'accept' your spinal cord injury, rather you learn to live and work with it, the best you can, which is why peer support is so critical." As much as someone not living with a disability can understand, Richard Patterson helped me understand.<br /><br />Our work together saw Richard leading adventurists (like him) with disabilities on glider rides, whale-watching and SCUBA trips, and other excursions that proved what was possible. Great men like Steve Lyon and Marv Tuttle worked with Richard for years to demonstrate to thousands that life after a spinal cord injury can be full and exciting. The VMC Foundation will be forever proud to be part of his legacy.<br /><br />We have, therefore, established a fund in his name, to ensure that his peer support and community work will grow. His family requests that gifts be sent to the VMC Foundation, 2400 Moorpark Ave. #207, San Jose CA 95128. Be sure to write "Richard Patterson" in the memo of your check, or to give by ccard, call us at 408-885-5299 or <a href="http://www.vmcfoundation.org/donate.html">visit us on line</a>.<br /><br />Rich, I'll miss you buddy. We all will.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-74958950943814081862011-06-13T15:07:00.001-07:002011-10-27T09:39:33.567-07:00Soda-Free Summer...but let's not stop there!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7G2DyptzH-EjbawjT3-hZlF-SzjbekUWR2ZsRDXvh17n03uL7zZHWTatcctcFvYsc9sQraObQRLEEDyX6OgH-eDmCP3QaYlpmhSxjnN6TZkzKEncVF6tIkaiyA2MrsluYKJlyFJ9xdo/s1600/YahooColdStoneShake.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617830899554169234" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7G2DyptzH-EjbawjT3-hZlF-SzjbekUWR2ZsRDXvh17n03uL7zZHWTatcctcFvYsc9sQraObQRLEEDyX6OgH-eDmCP3QaYlpmhSxjnN6TZkzKEncVF6tIkaiyA2MrsluYKJlyFJ9xdo/s320/YahooColdStoneShake.gif" border="0" /></a><br />It's a pretty rare thing that I reference <em><strong>Men's Health</strong></em>, a publication that spends a lot of time trying to improve one's sex life. But, on occasion, they actually focus on - yes - men's health...which oddly is often the same thing as women's health, and kids' health!<br /><br />Who would have thought?<br /><br />Anyway, as the VMC Foundation launches another year of our Public Health Department's Soda-Free Summer campaign, it's important to remember that you can ingest a lot of unhealthy drinks without guzzling Dr. Pepper or Jack Daniels - often without thinking about it, or worse, thinking you're doing the right thing.<br /><br />Here, then, is a <a href="http://health.yahoo.net/experts/eatthis/7-worst-summer-drinks">great article from Men's Health </a>that should raise your eyebrows...and hopefully, your water glass. Cheers.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-4598642088806982662011-05-31T14:17:00.000-07:002011-10-26T14:45:18.910-07:00Another amazing story from a VMC family...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUbSb7sNlbFTVmJt7j8PPTbWmx_x_MQq5NojkPirIh65GFXwdHuLnEt39YrOqWQLnpiByxMQD0dOpNC0deYotdFxGjnwFEyru4eivTR9JZ4N0sJarV8Wl90wHIyclmZH8nziq_aczM4M/s1600/Diagnostic+Imaging+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612994990266473794" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 136px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUbSb7sNlbFTVmJt7j8PPTbWmx_x_MQq5NojkPirIh65GFXwdHuLnEt39YrOqWQLnpiByxMQD0dOpNC0deYotdFxGjnwFEyru4eivTR9JZ4N0sJarV8Wl90wHIyclmZH8nziq_aczM4M/s200/Diagnostic+Imaging+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />After receiving permission from the family, I am excited to share this story with you. As difficult as it is to imagine feeling "locked in" your own body, imagine being given a chance to start communicating again. That's what VMC's team did for Laure, and part of what the VMC Foundation proudly supports.<br /><br />When I asked Mr. Chow if I could share this with you, in fact, he responded right away, saying <em>You can certainly share. We credit the staff at SCVMC, especially Dr Duong and your PT/OT/ST staff for challenging while respecting Laure. Laure always faces her challenges head on.<br /><br />You should also know the nursing staff has always been fantastic. Laure was very particular about her care and Laure felt both safe and genuinely cared for by your nursing staff.<br /><br />Laure has a long way to go, but your staff has been a source of compassion, support and encouragement towards her recovery. </em><br /><br />This, then, from Mr. Chow:<br /><br />To Laure’s extended family:<br /><br />It has been a long and difficult year for Laure and her family. She is still paralyzed and mute, and everyday life has been extremely challenging. Today however, I share some good news.<br /><br />Since Laure has been working diligently with physical/occupational therapy every day, she has managed to gain enough head control to hold her head steady. This allows her to use a machine called Dynavox.<br /><br />The machine tracks her eyes along a keyboard and when Laure blinks, it accepts this as if she were pressing a key. Once she completes a sentence, she uses her eyes to “click” on the “speak” button and the machine speaks what Laure has just typed with her eyes.<br /><br />At first Laure spelled, “I am tired”, then “thank you Larry”, and “Annie (her caregiver) you are special”. Then Laure was on a roll, spelling:<br /><br />I want Internet.<br /><br />I want email.<br /><br />I want email.<br /><br />I want email.<br /><br />She was then able to spell / speak, “I love Ton Ton” and “I love Caillou”.<br /><br />Finally, she spelled, “ I am happy” and “I have a voice”. We all cried.<br /><br />All this took well over an hour; the device is not 100% accurate, and Laure gets exhausted just trying to hold her head steady, but we will keep practicing and hopefully send a few emails soon.<br /><br />I know you share in our joy, and thank you for your thoughts, prayers, love and support of Laure.<br /><br /><br /><br />Larry ChowUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-9717519904043070812011-05-19T10:10:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:39:10.589-07:00A new troubling study on our health...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7T0OButP1XW51zTasy_KK8PTRM8cdeAmJTtILwAupFhQ2LfByVATHK_kZyGNS_UHeSMerzbKr6I4pHy5ADMLizFw5Qn5ayTD6Wbqg1cLtQuf9z3hfFX1eLQSYKsATjSuw2BY1yPWTZCU/s1600/Doctor+Mom+Kid+Stethoscope.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608479037786414898" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7T0OButP1XW51zTasy_KK8PTRM8cdeAmJTtILwAupFhQ2LfByVATHK_kZyGNS_UHeSMerzbKr6I4pHy5ADMLizFw5Qn5ayTD6Wbqg1cLtQuf9z3hfFX1eLQSYKsATjSuw2BY1yPWTZCU/s320/Doctor+Mom+Kid+Stethoscope.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />What do you suppose makes the biggest difference to your health? Genes? Kicking the cigarette habit?<br /><br />These things are important, sure, but according to a groundbreaking new study done by our own Public Health Department, racism you experience and where you live are MORE important.<br /><br />Troubling? You bet it is. I've been fighting racism and injustice where I see it for a long time, and if this study (done in partnership with The Health Trust) doesn't get make you as mad as it does me, then I'm sorry for you.<br /><br />The way people treat you based on the color of your skin, and the amount of money you make, and the neighborhood you live in have a dramatic effect on your health. This is unfair, and as a society we need to figure out what to do about it...at least that's how I feel.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sccgov.org/sites/sccphd/en-us/Media/Pages/Social%20and%20Health%20Inequity.aspx">Check out the study here</a>, and let me know your reaction to it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-74259240010017081912011-05-04T07:23:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:38:54.513-07:00VMC Foundation and Silicon Valley lose a dear friend<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_PKxZgunYlhkAVLViX4_MRsHpenZXwO9nYpqjLN76Kjmf-Rd9ALD0wRVLCYeempJYoHEpo1SDO3pShN7gcmVNGSP3F8mQaWhUtVnGonL0Lg6m899HZbS7MUm-jhEPmWsBKcqrUUsU1s/s1600/Ely.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602867982170735378" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_PKxZgunYlhkAVLViX4_MRsHpenZXwO9nYpqjLN76Kjmf-Rd9ALD0wRVLCYeempJYoHEpo1SDO3pShN7gcmVNGSP3F8mQaWhUtVnGonL0Lg6m899HZbS7MUm-jhEPmWsBKcqrUUsU1s/s320/Ely.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I met Leonard Ely in 2007, and by 2008 he had become such a strong supporter of our "Measure A" campaign to rebuild Valley Medical Center that I'm not sure we'd have won without him.<br /><br />"VMC saved my life", he often said of his time with us, which was told and retold by news sources around Silicon Valley.<br /><br />Now Leonard Ely has passed away at 87, and will be greatly missed and remembered. A generous man, he was also a shrewd business leader - and woe unto anyone who misjudged that!<br /><br />Mr. Ely, thank you for all you have done for our community...your gifts will keep giving for generations to come. <a href="http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=20942">The full obituary can be read here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-53024371091129531552011-04-29T10:06:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:38:30.542-07:00Social media and fund raising...we're getting there!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8H-nvGevYWglvDeLp2otYI-Fa8dFInLHwAhdSWJ67iaCwH6Xc8wIIBSGILUc4u-a6MoaGoiGr-HpXFNYMf7NkFRaQiM7Iiz3411i9JAIzHYrVyI56p0Ptavir7w_RgYMY2CjRLRVx7J0/s1600/QR+for+customer+service+video.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601055703735324450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 280px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8H-nvGevYWglvDeLp2otYI-Fa8dFInLHwAhdSWJ67iaCwH6Xc8wIIBSGILUc4u-a6MoaGoiGr-HpXFNYMf7NkFRaQiM7Iiz3411i9JAIzHYrVyI56p0Ptavir7w_RgYMY2CjRLRVx7J0/s320/QR+for+customer+service+video.png" border="0" /></a><br />I'll be in San Diego for a couple of days this week, attending a national conference on behavioral health. My presentation is on social media and how we in the public benefit sector can use it to raise awareness - and money - for the work we do.<br /><br />One fun little tool I like is <a href="http://qrcode.kaywa.com/">QR codes</a>, which turn your web address or file into a Jackson Pollack painting...which you can then read with your smart phone, and have a video or website pop up. The one above right is a funny video we made for hospital staff demonstrating phone etiquette.<br /><br />I'll be wearing one at the conference as a name tag, which will be my electronic business card...anyone who scans it with their smart phone will land on this blog page, and have my contact info:<br /><br />E. Christopher Wilder<br />Executive Director<br />Valley Medical Center Foundation<br />2400 Moorpark Ave. #207<br />San Jose CA 95128<br />408.885.5299<br />echristopher.wilder@hhs.sccgov.org<br />www.vmcfoundation.org<br /><br />Fun! Think of ways you might use these neat little tools, and of course, follow me and the Valley Medical Center Foundation on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.<br /><br />Also, if you want to get an idea of what I'll be talking about this week in San Diego, here's the <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/Chriswilder/chris-wilder-national-council-2011">slide show</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-51731572183426419262011-04-07T13:08:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:38:14.738-07:00Summer starts here. June 4 - get ready to party!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNdyjrAayWZ6HRJ9Uu8j5md5-xWYjtcExVC-RPL3BvwMmM9VNHGPBKH4gcaYrBEkd3sfq_mQXWoVvltE_xQR4HVXp8XoGUNeEAEazu3FL4ZpUYCkZQzVTI1VB73vqkL_4thfEtz1G-UE/s1600/SIS+Logo.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592941245201821122" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNdyjrAayWZ6HRJ9Uu8j5md5-xWYjtcExVC-RPL3BvwMmM9VNHGPBKH4gcaYrBEkd3sfq_mQXWoVvltE_xQR4HVXp8XoGUNeEAEazu3FL4ZpUYCkZQzVTI1VB73vqkL_4thfEtz1G-UE/s320/SIS+Logo.png" border="0" /></a>For most of the northern hemisphere, summer starts on the twenty-first of June.<br /><br />However, this year, for a select few, summer will come early.<br /><br />This year, the season of barbecues and baseball, of suntans and lemonade, of long days and warm nights, will begin on June 4 on a rooftop in Silicon Valley...<br /><br />We invite you to "Swing Into Summer," a fundraiser for the VMC Foundation, presented by Lexus Stevens Creek and American Medical Response. It just may be our best party yet.<br /><br />Dance to the big band sounds of the 18-piece "Full Spectrum Jazz".<br /><br />Savor the delectable cuisine of Parsley Sage Rosemary &Thyme.<br /><br />Taste local artisan wines from 8 local winemakers.<br /><br />Enjoy gift bags and prizes that include music, gift cards to local restaurants and attractions...this is just about worth the price of admission by itself, seriously. Thanks to Armadillo Willy's for sponsoring these great gifts.<br /><br />And that's not all. <strong>One lucky couple will win airfare for two to Hawaii courtesy of Peak Travel Group</strong>, just for showing up! It might be you (I promise it won't be me, sadly).<br /><br />Saturday, June 4th 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.<br />Rooftop of Lexus Stevens Creek 3333 Stevens Creeks Blvd., San Jose<br /><br />Tickets are a bargain at $100.00. Click <a title="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=5hf4sxbab&et=1105073157801&s=2173&e=001uoFmtsmegh_NL-Ca7TBiumj_-NK1QMrhmrLxu879AtUbbemFUx0s5O4rd4yr5I7sBooJISvn_yqmo_04b9K4B_PCaa0U_UnaAPmpnEmHbNPhE267qjpKNtshAK1U2N3TcKYcxAUA6DU=" target="_blank" shape="rect" e="001uoFmtsmegh_NL-Ca7TBiumj_-NK1QMrhmrLxu879AtUbbemFUx0s5O4rd4yr5I7sBooJISvn_yqmo_04b9K4B_PCaa0U_UnaAPmpnEmHbNPhE267qjpKNtshAK1U2N3TcKYcxAUA6DU=" et="1105073157801&s=">here</a> to purchase or call 408-885-5299.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-86883491245475634752011-03-30T15:43:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:37:34.906-07:00VMC Among "America's Best Hospitals"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetHFbEdcWOGAgPKTug5-S-gNsza4ZjlHEJUtuiDNPbbDqq0Rrbwni5SHqOC1IdrVkmKJSA_i5YrVAfKsRvxA4bXwUboqMlI2phmrYbTvpHQad8GJ5YLe9HyMYgf7IofMGcqfSz6cv9F0/s1600/Helipad+Gurney.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590008515016860674" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetHFbEdcWOGAgPKTug5-S-gNsza4ZjlHEJUtuiDNPbbDqq0Rrbwni5SHqOC1IdrVkmKJSA_i5YrVAfKsRvxA4bXwUboqMlI2phmrYbTvpHQad8GJ5YLe9HyMYgf7IofMGcqfSz6cv9F0/s320/Helipad+Gurney.jpg" border="0" /></a> Silicon Valley is home to some of America’s best hospitals. So when the competition is this tough, there is no shame in taking the silver. In U.S. News and World Report just released “America’s Best Hospitals” annual report, VMC was ranked second only to Stanford for best hospitals in the San Jose Metro Area. VMC was specifically recognized for “high performing specialties” in Ear, Nose and Throat, Gynecology, kidney disorders and rehabilitation care. Rankings aren’t everything, of course. But the recognition is well deserved. VMC and Stanford, of course, share a long-established bond. Together, both hospitals operate Santa Clara County’s only top level trauma centers. VMC is an official teaching hospital of the Stanford University School of Medicine, and numerous VMC physicians also serve on the Stanford faculty. To see the report, check <a title="http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/san-jose-ca" href="http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/san-jose-ca">here.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-67095002176610829762011-03-22T10:38:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:37:05.287-07:00Why do we give to charities, anyway?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGiNQOz0XzZE7ANSjVECcLm3lBkalEaT4KrWwoX0073jq9hx55Jr5QWqnQMN8B111zZELtmVStFmI4FuX3GNOgloJe7EbLVAo_tBv8aPgS0Yx6cNwINBJ8W1K-kakTkpVYvG6V106J1s/s1600/DonationCK5702.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586964613300176370" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGiNQOz0XzZE7ANSjVECcLm3lBkalEaT4KrWwoX0073jq9hx55Jr5QWqnQMN8B111zZELtmVStFmI4FuX3GNOgloJe7EbLVAo_tBv8aPgS0Yx6cNwINBJ8W1K-kakTkpVYvG6V106J1s/s320/DonationCK5702.jpg" border="0" /></a> Is healthcare philanthropy in big trouble?<br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>I agree that #1 and #2 of the "triple threat" to healthcare giving are real, as reported by <a href="http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/LED-263906/Reductions-in-Tax-Incentives-Potentially-Devastating-to-US-Healthcare">Health Leaders Media</a>: Uncertanty of health care reform and local (county) budget crises nation-wide. </div><br /><br /><div>#3 I'd like your opinion about. Here's the situation:<br /></div><br /><div><em>President Obama's proposed 2012 budget caps charitable deductions at 28%, while a Bowles-Simpson Deficit Reduction Commission proposal would reduce the tax incentive for charitable giving to a 12% tax credit for donations that exceed 2% of a taxpayer's adjusted gross income.</em></div><br /><div><br /><em>Nine out of 10 AHP [Association of Healthcare Philanthropy] respondents surveyed in February said the Bowles-Simpson proposal would cause significant reductions in overall giving to their organization, with 64% saying the adverse impact on major gift-giving would be considerable. About 40% said giving would fall between 10% and 30% if significant changes are made to the current tax incentives for charitable donations—which conservatively could amount to more than a $1.07 billion drop in total annual giving to nonprofit hospitals, AHP said, based on its own FY2009 statistics.</em></div><br /><div><br /><em>AHP Chair Mary Anne Chern said any reductions in the tax incentives for charitable giving could be "devastating for healthcare in the U.S."</em></div><br /><br /><div>The implied assumption here, of course, is that people donate to get a tax deduction. While that may be true, I cannot believe it's the driver. Especially here in data-driven, outcomes-based Silicon Valley, my strong sense is that we donate because we want to see a positive, measurable change in our community as a result of our help. We want to make Santa Clara County a better place for everyone.</div><br /><br /><div>Let me know: If your donation was only partially tax-deductable, would you give as much to the charities you support? Frankly, the future of the VMC Foundation may depend on how we collectively answer this question. I welcome your thoughts: <a href="mailto:vmcfoundation@gmail.com">vmcfoundation@gmail.com</a> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-91134668455561739182011-03-15T07:30:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:36:32.224-07:00Read all about it: VMC's Rehab Center Rebuilding Lives...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElKIL0dLRvtVh1UXpnQW5jZ7oNvDXIQbyT8qPx1XWh72pnACnhpfNOb_k3PMt271oYcx2zV-VpO9UxtfTfXYb6X1ASUWYLeQfGC4rvgtovGgK_DChyphenhyphenXILLyzTo7wvQt5rOfnNoGGSlrU/s1600/1176897412_b9Ngn-S.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584314626710786242" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElKIL0dLRvtVh1UXpnQW5jZ7oNvDXIQbyT8qPx1XWh72pnACnhpfNOb_k3PMt271oYcx2zV-VpO9UxtfTfXYb6X1ASUWYLeQfGC4rvgtovGgK_DChyphenhyphenXILLyzTo7wvQt5rOfnNoGGSlrU/s320/1176897412_b9Ngn-S.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>VMC’s Spinal Cord and Traumatic Brian Injury Rehabilitation Unit changed my life.<br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>And I was never even a patient - just on my first tour of VMC, considering an offer to become Executive Director of the VMC Foundation. Seeing VMC Rehab up close made that decision very easy.<br /><br />You probably know that our rehab center is one of the best in the country. This week, we’ve got news for you – it’s even better than you think.<br /><br />Check out “Rebuilding Lives,” the special 12-page section in the March 11, 2011 weekly edition of the San Jose/Silicon Valley Business Journal, for an up-close profile of VMC Rehab. Read remarkable stories from patients, and meet the amazing staff. Learn about our efforts to use technology; from stem cell research to bionic exoskeletons, to find the next great breakthrough in rehabilitation care.<br /><br />Buy your copy of the Business Journal on newsstands now, or download the special section <a title="http://www.vmcfoundation.org/" href="http://www.vmcfoundation.org/">here</a>.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-15420501273550723502011-03-08T15:44:00.000-08:002011-10-26T15:27:36.628-07:00Community Effort helpes Clothe Victims of Sexual Assault<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByMmkhJQA7PPqy9XEKSwufXfYWMFZ7krCun7kfoMozjkHn_AMbqB6JuUPWKwsD3MRIjvFI1rJfYTS6LgKPIGSighr0xCFkap2zx-Be4Yf2Rz4otBcRQtScMW40EqLJKOGCWjtdBXH7V0/s1600/In+Surgery.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581860048452865826" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByMmkhJQA7PPqy9XEKSwufXfYWMFZ7krCun7kfoMozjkHn_AMbqB6JuUPWKwsD3MRIjvFI1rJfYTS6LgKPIGSighr0xCFkap2zx-Be4Yf2Rz4otBcRQtScMW40EqLJKOGCWjtdBXH7V0/s200/In+Surgery.jpg" border="0" /></a>Need proof that only takes the power of one person to make a positive change in the lives of others?<br /><br /><br /><br />Look no further than Lisa Blanchard and the Grateful Garments Project she has just launched to benefit VMC’s Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). The idea for Grateful Garments began when Lisa was working on a school project. Tasked to develop a fundraising initiative, Lisa chose a cause that aligned with her volunteer work with SART. She knew that the clothes of the clients treated by SART were being collected for evidence, leaving the patients in need of comforting, warm clothing to wear home after their exam.<br /><br /><br /><br />The Grateful Garment Project's mission, then, is to ensure that every client that crosses the threshold of the SART facility is provided with whatever clean, new clothing, toiletry and food items they may require to reduce any additional impact on their being. Additionally, VMC’s SART Program can benefit from upgrades to equipment and supplies…sadly, this need is real, no matter how we wish it wasn’t.<br /><br />Lisa’s project has put her passion into action. Working with resources provided by the VMC Foundation and SART, Lisa has raised hundreds of dollars to support this act of compassion, and she is showing no signs of slowing down.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Grateful Garments Project is now a Facebook Cause: <a title="http://www.causes.com/causes/588638-the-grateful-garment-project" href="http://www.causes.com/causes/588638-the-grateful-garment-project">http://www.causes.com/causes/588638-the-grateful-garment-project</a> Join the cause and use your donation to say “thank you” to Lisa, for showing us that it only takes the power of one person to make a positive change in the lives of others.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-74915072753272523322011-02-14T11:32:00.000-08:002011-10-27T09:35:37.968-07:00Newsflash: This actually isn't funny...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2QypQbo66abDeqhtcm-hjf8qpVLH5ThNk1idtrQZIDzVnWRkxFZ9xGA7R3t0M9RBRwfAkrpO6X9NMDyRrrnhBA99gj1LYGMGc7pb9_-XzZfrNh1dW-j71bVciD4Nosn04w8c25Qm8Zk/s1600/Picture1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573702161211612754" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 294px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2QypQbo66abDeqhtcm-hjf8qpVLH5ThNk1idtrQZIDzVnWRkxFZ9xGA7R3t0M9RBRwfAkrpO6X9NMDyRrrnhBA99gj1LYGMGc7pb9_-XzZfrNh1dW-j71bVciD4Nosn04w8c25Qm8Zk/s320/Picture1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </style><br /><span style="font-family:';font-size:12;"></span><br /><div>I'm a little astounded by how far we need to go in educating people about signs of stroke. When I saw this video, I was very alarmed - but based on the comments and how it went viral, seems most folks thought this was funny.</div><br /><style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </style><br /><span style="font-family:';font-size:12;"></span><br /><div>I like funny. This isn't it.<br /><style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </style><br /><span style="font-family:';font-size:12;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhtd0NJ9X7ERcgT2s6C3rjSwiWlkOIeSLhReEwZwcvsZopWaPYkzUc3wbKB_9P4a7ngT4h9PlBjRL1EO2TNJzRB6YDjiyNAmwddpVTQ4-p-kKyzhmM8HTmygZHrObP-RKFjnTKRvhtlw/s1600/Picture1.png"><span style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"><span style="font-size:+0;"></span></span></a></span></div><br /><br /><div>As of this writing, I'm not sure anyone knows whether this reporter was suffering a stroke...but that's not really the point. The point is, she exhibited some tell-tale signs - and way too many otherwise intelligent people had a good laugh.</div><br /><br /><div>Am I out of line, here? <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8322966/Serene-Branson-hospitalised-after-Grammys-speech-problems.html">Watch the video</a> and tell me what you think. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-84123952811499524432011-02-02T07:46:00.001-08:002011-10-27T09:35:16.294-07:00Ow. Help?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8BFvhtsUynV1pXnJrxEIYdN3QFMPNDi_kKd2ZpCcm183oLFhQ55VZfzWTsAsH1IMBN3a9y3ZYw3-7ZmepnhXbWti6d3P0WT5EJiFFgE3edICeRXkhtEWBqOCwy7YjGc3clU92jhiqoU/s1600/my+finger.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569119306558769410" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 226px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8BFvhtsUynV1pXnJrxEIYdN3QFMPNDi_kKd2ZpCcm183oLFhQ55VZfzWTsAsH1IMBN3a9y3ZYw3-7ZmepnhXbWti6d3P0WT5EJiFFgE3edICeRXkhtEWBqOCwy7YjGc3clU92jhiqoU/s320/my+finger.jpg" border="0" /></a> Every few years I like to experience the emergency services at Valley Medical Center for myself, to make sure the excellent care I always tell people about is for real. Last weekend, Saturday 3am seemed like a super time…nothing much on TV, ya know.<br /><br />I’ll leave it a mystery how it exactly happened, but I’ll say this: If you gave me a hundred bungee cords and had me try to replicate the accident—on purpose—I’d never manage it again. It was in so tightly and deeply, there was no way I was getting it out without expert help.<br /><br />So off we went to VMC’s Emergency Department…my friend Lydia drove, thankfully. She was visiting from the Southland, and I think she was pretty surprised to see how efficient and, yes, cheerful everybody was in OUR “county hospital”. Many—okay, most—folks waiting were in worse shape than I was and had priority, but it couldn’t have been an hour before they were taking x-rays of my finger to see if I’d gone through the bone or something else important.<br /><br />By this time I was pretty freaked out. If you know me, you know that playing guitar is more important to me than pretty much anything else I use that finger for, so you can imagine my relief when the news came back that I’d missed serious damage by, oh, the width of an eyelash or two.<br /><br />I’m not used to being the least chipper person in the room, and it really helped that all the doctors and nurses and techies around me were so upbeat. Maybe they thought this case was pretty cool. I wasn’t looking (believe me!) when they finally got the bungee hook out, but in no time I was anesthetized, sterilized, trussed up and we were on our way.<br /><br />Yes, this wasn’t a life and death situation like so many others that come through the doors (or land on the roof via helicopter) at VMC every day, but I cannot thank the team enough for saving my finger.<br /><br />Maybe you have a VMC Emergency story more compelling than mine (most are, I recon). Feel free to share if you like at <a href="mailto:echristopher.wilder@hhs.sccgov.org">echristopher.wilder@hhs.sccgov.org</a> , as we at the VMC Foundation pass on the kudos when we can. Until next time, make sure your bungee cords have those rubber safety tips on each end. It could save your weekend.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-23885770033638766902011-01-26T08:27:00.000-08:002011-08-17T14:26:18.124-07:00"New VMC" is really taking shape!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_QzyKGdztPXt3c6Q_SNtW1_C2HgSJ1KkVNy3Fk4KZBm33GI0ZLOeiv-z5BFXtfZRFIDEYrv0_N7mkGh7QXBz2ebUYKIFHBUGZH89QUKqBcdaX9whNMP8eMPysZulME9E8u8q0KBA8RY/s1600/1692112.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566532991976120530" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_QzyKGdztPXt3c6Q_SNtW1_C2HgSJ1KkVNy3Fk4KZBm33GI0ZLOeiv-z5BFXtfZRFIDEYrv0_N7mkGh7QXBz2ebUYKIFHBUGZH89QUKqBcdaX9whNMP8eMPysZulME9E8u8q0KBA8RY/s400/1692112.jpg" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><div>Just a quick look at the framing of the New Valley Medical Center. The team from URS, Turner and all have been working very fast, with the benefit of great weather this month, to build our new, state-of-the-art hospital. We should see the last piece of steel in place by next week, giving us the complete "skeleton" of what will surely be the finest public hospital in the nation.</div>
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<br /><div>Okay, I'm a little biased, but it's going to be amazing. I'll write more about it soon, including the important part: What will go on inside when it's done, two years from now?</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-30220032949737233992011-01-19T09:37:00.000-08:002011-10-27T09:34:34.344-07:00Join me for a good laugh for a good cause...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI64mOvxJ1Mt4aw3mEQvkce0DQBRN3mEGnjxUGhmCKVXf6v0Q12rkaNcc10V_wtVU5pn-T2Acq7n42X05QRt5scv1bUuVzot3lNPPAzWyDhN9W0QtFjsu_fatIYunBOJpXIND3xMiK-_I/s1600/Dat+Phan+headshot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563955749460812482" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI64mOvxJ1Mt4aw3mEQvkce0DQBRN3mEGnjxUGhmCKVXf6v0Q12rkaNcc10V_wtVU5pn-T2Acq7n42X05QRt5scv1bUuVzot3lNPPAzWyDhN9W0QtFjsu_fatIYunBOJpXIND3xMiK-_I/s320/Dat+Phan+headshot.jpg" border="0" /></a> Nobody enjoys a good laugh more than I do...but sometimes when I attempt humor, friends tell me I should leave the comedy to the professionals.<br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Okay, fine.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>We've hired comedy star <strong>Dat Phan</strong>, who won NBC's "Last Comic Standing" competition, has appeared on Leno and "Family Guy", and who also cares about our community. That's why he's agreed to headline our fund-raising evening on Tuesday, February 1, at the San Jose Improv.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>The night will benefit the <strong>Ira Greene PACE Clinic</strong>, which is Valley Medical Center's HIV/AIDS treatment and education clinic. They provide state of the art and compassionate care, and deserve our support...and what better way to help than enjoying a fun evening out in downtown San Jose!</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Tickets are only $45, and can be <a href="http://www.vmcfoundation.org/calendar.html">found here</a>. I'll be there, and I hope you will be too. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4427582699506156815.post-18988885129012485042010-12-14T07:05:00.000-08:002011-10-27T09:33:57.144-07:00The Great Turning Wheels Bike Build!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4ag_tKycw7izcfl3aD-ANISwHo3So2zP8WFCn7xTa5GXj2w66WO7DXYxqY3MHB9QZrOJxYWDLSeuJOFLXcbDJgQ9kW02fRP1jFyVNdK8YZsRHtwV0VWqhKlzAalWCzZkxnajPzP6muo/s1600/Chris+at+the+Bike+Build+resized.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550559139082098978" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4ag_tKycw7izcfl3aD-ANISwHo3So2zP8WFCn7xTa5GXj2w66WO7DXYxqY3MHB9QZrOJxYWDLSeuJOFLXcbDJgQ9kW02fRP1jFyVNdK8YZsRHtwV0VWqhKlzAalWCzZkxnajPzP6muo/s320/Chris+at+the+Bike+Build+resized.bmp" border="0" /></a> Saturday saw the 6th Annual "Wow, I can't believe how BIG this is" event at the San Jose Convention Center...the Turning Wheels Bike Build!<br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>You, dear avid reader of this blog, know how amazing Turning Wheels is...from the money they raise through the Death Ride, to the dedicated volunteers who make it all happen - and it all comes together in mid-December where thousands of bikes are built for underprivileged kids who might not otherwise get anything for the holidays...let alone a new bike.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Watch the <a href="http://www.turningwheels.org/">Turning Wheels website </a>for the soon-to-come complete run-down on this year's build (2400 bikes, the first-ever Great Trike Race, tons of money raised on the spot, etc. etc. etc.) But I wanted to tell you of this year's best innovation while honoring Sue Runsvold.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Yes - Sue is the Founder and Fearless Leader of Turning Wheels, who first came to me five years ago in a conversation that led to their organization joining the VMC Foundation. Since then, she's led a growing army of inspiring idealists who all have the same question on Bike Build Day: "Where's Sue? Anybody seen Sue?"</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>She's in constant demand, what with Channel 2 needing her for a live interview, or City Team needing a signature on something, or a donor presenting a Giant Cardboard Check...and if you've never been in the SJ Convention Center's South Hall, just imagine a cigar shaped circus tent the size of a city block. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>So at any given time on Bike Build Day, there are a dozen people running around trying to find Sue Runsvold. And walkie-talkies don't work, because it's too loud and chaotic. Also, there are balloons and people and boxes and bikes everywhere. But this year, someone (I think it was Dave) got really smart. The ONLY yellow balloon in the whole place was tied to Sue's belt, on a 20-foot string!</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>To find Sue, just look up, and as far away as she could be, you could still see the bouncing yellow balloon. Parents, is this a great idea to keep tabs on your toddlers during the holiday shopping crunch or WHAT?</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Thanks to EVERYONE, especially the Board of Turning Wheels, who never fail to achieve the impossible. Thanks to the Celeb's who competed in the Great Trike Race, except for those who beat me. Okay, everybody beat me...but that big shark in the photo up above? He totally cheated - riding a TWO-wheeler. I'm calling the league. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0