Author Archive

Gainesville Sun
By Christopher Curry

While still faring better than most of the state, Alachua County dropped several spots in the latest annual county-by-county ranking of residents’ health.

Neighboring rural counties – including Union, Putnam and Bradford – again ranked toward the bottom of the state’s 67 counties, a situation health care providers serving those areas attributed to limited access to medical care, grocery stores with fresh foods and exercise opportunities.

Released on Wednesday, the 2016 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute County […]

Special to the Gainesville Sun

What are the characteristics of a healthy community? Your answer to this question may depend on how you feel about your own personal health, such as how often you eat healthy foods or exercise.
To others, it may mean living in a safe neighborhood, or having access to the doctors and medical services they need. Definitions of a healthy community can vary, but are all important when working together to uncover the core health issues in our area.

Thankfully, residents of Alachua […]

January 14, 2016
By Lori Tobias

Technology, grants and innovative programs allow smaller, remote doctors and clinics to offer a higher level of service

Patricia Mull was working in her garden when she felt the sensation of pins and needles in her left leg. Moments later, her leg went numb and then her left arm.

“I went inside to my partner and I said, ‘I am stroking,’” she recalls. “My partner, who is a retired radiologist, took the carving knife and touched my side. He said, ‘Can you […]

North Florida School Days
By Lauren Vagelakos

Though Open Enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace ended on January 2016, consumers can still get help getting insurance through Special Enrollment Periods or through Florida KidCare. Navigators in North Central Florida are available year round to help consumers explore insurance options and enroll in a plan that meets their needs and budget.

What is a Special Enrollment Period (SEP)?
SEPs allow individuals and families to enroll in a health plan on Healthcare.gov outside of Open Enrollment. Types of SEPs […]

Gainesville Guardian

The WellFlorida Council will conduct a survey to gauge the health of Alachua County.

Community members, health care providers and business leaders are invited to share their views on health and health care in the county by taking the 10-minute survey, available at www.WellFlorida.org(select “Survey”). Community members participating will get the opportunity to win a $50 VISA gift card.

Survey results, along with research and health-related data, will be made available in June.

To receive a printed survey and for more information, call 352-313-6500, ext. 110 or […]