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The arrival of October also signals that it’s time to get a flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, recommend getting a flu vaccine before flu season begins spreading in the community. Because it takes an estimated two weeks after a shot for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body, it’s important to get the shot as early as possible.

Dr. Kali Freeman knew she’d found her professional calling while going through rotations in medical school.

She’d always loved chemistry, and initially thought she’d become a pharmacist. She opted instead for medical school at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and enjoyed all of the rotations in the various specialties.

Dr. Srinivas Vuthoori, LVMC Co-Chair of Internal Medicine and CEO of V2Health, wasn’t expecting much excitement on his American Airlines flight from Miami to Las Vegas this week. But luckily, Dr. Vuthoori was in the proverbial “right place at the right time” when a fellow passenger went into medical distress.

According to the Sepsis Alliance, nearly 3 million people in the U.S. are affected each year by sepsis. During Sepsis Awareness Month, Lompoc Valley Medical Center wants to make sure our community understands this very serious condition. 

When Norm Grimnes retired from his long-time employment with Southern Pacific Railroad, he found himself with “plenty of time” on his hands.

September 23-29 is Nursing Professional Development Week.  This provides an ideal opportunity to recognize the education accomplishments of Lompoc Valley Medical Center’s (LVMC’s) nursing staff. Nurses are expected to function at a high level, in ever-changing conditions, to provide the best possible care for their patients.

Angela Fichtner was always interested in nursing, but after graduating Lompoc High School in 1995, she wasn’t ready to pursue higher education.

Pain can leave you feeling helpless, with no control and at the mercy of medications prescribed by your physician. Although your prescriptions may be effective, you might struggle with medication side effects and associated risks. 

Eufemia “Femia” Diaz still smiles with the memories of a job she had as a baker’s helper at Birkholm’s Bakery in Buellton.

“Everything tasted so good; we ate everything,” she smiles.

With a new school year officially underway, the daily task of having to come up with novel and appealing meals for your child can be challenging, especially when trying to decide what foods are a healthy option. According to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, kids who eat better and move more are likely to have better attendance, improved concentration and steadier behavior, which can ultimately lead to improved overall test scores.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 115 people die every day in the U.S. after overdosing on opioids.

When Medical Assistant Erika Tamayo goes to work at LVMC:Physician Services, she always tries to have a smile on her face.

While Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, or EMDR, might be a new concept for some, it’s a process that has been around for more than 30 years. Its creator, psychologist Francine Shapiro, discovered that shifting her eyes from side-to-side helped reduce painful thoughts and memories. She also noted that this eye movement is exactly what happens with people when they are dreaming.

With school in session and parents struggling to find interesting, healthy lunchbox choices, we have some ideas to pass along. The United States Department of Agriculture created an informative and fascinating program called MyPlate. The concept is to offer people a reminder about a healthy eating style and encourage building upon those choices from childhood to adulthood.

Lompoc Valley Medical Center and Sansum Clinic announced Friday that they are in the early stages of discussions to transition ownership of Sansum’s Lompoc facility at 1225 N H St.