Antibiotic Safety Through Education and Awareness

Denver Health is joining with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to advise patients and their families to use antibiotics only when necessary to further reduce antibiotic resistance, the spread of superbugs and protect from side effects from antibiotics. During U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week and beyond, the CDC promotes "Be Antibiotics Aware," an educational effort to raise awareness about the importance of safe antibiotic use. In 2021, U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week is November 18 – 24.
 

The past year was a year of profound loss. Taken from so many of us were lives and livelihoods, loves and loved ones. Even facts and universal truths seemed stripped away by a roller coaster pandemic and repeated cycles of social action and reaction. Among the overlooked statistics from this lost year was the terrible toll wrought by drug overdose deaths, which increased by 64 percent in Denver in just one year, adding to our personal and local misery, echoed in similar trends across Colorado and the nation.

For weeks now, a big topic of conversation surrounding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been the variants of the original virus that causes COVID-19 – specifically:

• What are variants?
• What do variants mean if we've been fully vaccinated?
• What do variants mean for wearing masks?

Here is everything that is important to know right now about variants.

August 8-14 is National Health Center Week 2021, an annual celebration to raise awareness about the mission of Community Health Centers across America.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month and a good time to talk about vaccines and why they are so important not just now but throughout history. Vaccines are something most of us don't think about regularly and often take for granted. Since Edward Jenner created the first vaccine in 1796 they have become of vital importance to our health care system. Widespread use of the smallpox vaccine helped wipe out the disease in 1980.  Other diseases, such as polio and diphtheria, have been eliminated in many parts of the world because of vaccinations.
 

Denver Health Kangaroo-a-Thon Still Going Strong

For the second straight year during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Denver Health's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is proud to continue taking part in the annual Kangaroo-a-Thon, to encourage skin to skin care between parents and their newborn babies.

When it comes to getting care when you suddenly get sick or injured, it's important to know the difference between urgent vs. emergency care and what type of care you should seek out. 

COVID -19 has changed much of what the care team and families do in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) on a day-to-day basis. We strive to provide the best medical care for our tiny, fragile patients while acknowledging  the importance of parental and family involvement.

(Updated) Vaccinations are available to everyone age 5 and over. Denver Health will continue to vaccinate patients according to the latest state guidelines. Learn how to make an appointment for a vaccine at Denver Health.