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Nearly 1,000 dogs sick from jerky treats nowDeath rate drops among Americans with diabetesNo routine PSA tests for men, panel rulesBagged lettuce recall expands across nationScientists turn skin cells into beating heart muscleExec's Lyme infection shows need for quick treatment 
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11 ways to be healthier in '11
As another year rolls around, many of us stand determined to tackle another New Year's resolution related to our health and well-being.
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Mary Bridge fructose intolerance study gets national TV attention
Dr. Daniel Lustig and Dr. Bisher Abdullah, pediatric gastroenterologists with Mary Bridge Children's Hospital & Health Center, presented a study last year on fructose intolerance and abdominal p...
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MultiCare to seek "meaningful use" of health records
MultiCare Health System is ready to demonstrate that the system's electronic health record meets the requirements of a federal incentive program. The system has implemented secure electronic h...
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Seattle Mariners, Moose visit Mary Bridge Children's Hospital
The News Tribune photo: Mariner Moose on the loose at Mary Bridge A group of special visitors delivered smiles to kids and their families at MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital &am...
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Chamber recognizes Good Samaritan as Large Business of the Year
For the third consecutive year, the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce has recognized MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital with the award for "Large Business of the Year.&rdquo...
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MultiCare No. 8 in country for efficiency, integration
MultiCare Health System is the top-ranked health care system in Washington in a list of the most efficient and integrated networks, coming in at No. 8 on the national list. The 2011 Top 100 IHN lis...
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Shaun White impresses at MultiCare 'Do Something Healthy'
Shaun White, the gold-medal winning snowboarder, captivated a sold-out audience of more than 1,000 people at MultiCare Health System's 11th annual "Do Something Healthy" celebration and fitness fair.
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3,500 tour new tower at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital
A week of grand opening celebrations culminated Sunday with a public open house at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital's new tower in Puyallup. More than 3,500 people got a sneak peek at the spacious ...
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We're Open: First patient treated in new tower at Good Samaritan
Arriving at 3:05 a.m., a baby with ear pain was the first patient to be treated in the new Emergency Department at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup. "It's g...
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Editorial: MultiCare encourages good health in children, adults
From The Herald newspaper: In Pierce County, the fight to stem the tide of rising obesity among children and adults is on. As part of the Pierce County Gets Fit initiative, the MultiCare Center fo...
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Health advice: Quick guide makes it easy to eat right with color
Want to eat better? Add a bit of color. That doesn’t mean reaching for a bag of Skittles or adding a lime to your beer. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables are a key component of a healthful diet, but too often our meals are monochromatic.
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New car seat guidelines could save childrens lives
By Cynde Rivers, RNEmergency Medical Services Coordinator Parents and even grandparents of children who ride in car seats should take note of new safety recommendations from the American Acade...
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MultiCare Family Medicine Center to move to Tacoma General campus
MultiCare Family Medicine Center is excited to announce that we will be moving to a new location as of Monday, April 4. As of April 4, the clinic will move from our Union Avenue location to the Bake...
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Q&A with John Long, retiring president of Good Samaritan Hospital
By C.R. RobertsThe News Tribune Long after John Long settles into a new life as an Arizona park docent, amateur astronomer and warm-weather golfer, the gift of his vision will remain at Puyallup&...
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3 MultiCare nurses honored with awards at NWONE spring banquet
MultiCare Health System's nursing staff was well represented at the Northwest Organization of Nurse Executives (NWONE) Spring Medley banquet. Three MultiCare nurses received awards at the even...
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Program educates all new parents to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome
In an effort to reduce the increasing incidence of abuse and Shaken Baby Syndrome in Pierce County, MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital and Mary Bridge Children's Hospital & Health Center have...
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7 tips for parents who aim to stay fit while raising kids
After spending so much time and energy on their kids, many parents feel there is little time leftover to take care of themselves. Here are seven tips for eating right and staying active.
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US News & World Report ranks Tacoma General among best hospitals
MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital ranks No. 5 on U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals" list for the Seattle metropolitan area. Tacoma General is the only hospital in Pierce County and one o...
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Celebration of Our Stars: A stage to let their skills shine
The fifth annual Celebration of Our Stars, held Saturday at Emerald Ridge High School on South Hill, featured the talents of more than 70 special-needs children, including clients at the Children's Therapy Unit at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital.
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Tacoma General's Kathy Scheffer is ARIN Nurse of the Year
Kathy Scheffer, MN, RN, CRN, nurse manger in Imaging at MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, was awarded the Association for Radiologic and Imaging Nursing (ARIN) 2011 Radiology Nurse of the Year Award.
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Video: PLU students go bald for Mary Bridge
Thank you to Pacific Lutheran University students who shaved their heads to raise money for MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. The "Save it or Shave it?" fundraiser raised more than $4,200.
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The News Tribune: MultiCare CEO Cecchettini thrives on challenge
By John GillieThe News Tribune MultiCare Health System Chief Executive Diane Cecchettini thrives on challenge. Her appetite for problem-solving, for dealing with complexity and for improvi...
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Space shuttle will carry artwork by MultiCare nurse
When space shuttle Endeavor lifts off on its final mission, the payload will include precious cargo: a space-themed glass bead created by Lara Lutrick, RN, who works at the MultiCare Covington Clinic.
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Preparing parents for months of baby's tears
Little Rose Bonnicksen wasn't hungry. She wasn't too hot. She wasn't too cold. And she didn't have a dirty diaper. But she was crying. And her mother, 21-year-old Jamie Bonnicksen, didn't know what else to do for her 1-day-old daughter.
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Tacoma General honored for stroke care
MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines Stroke Silver Plus Performance Achievement Award.
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At Family Birth Center, mother and baby come first
The approximately 40,000-square-foot Family Birth Center at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital has provided patient-centered care to the greater East Pierce County region since 2001.
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Magazine features Healthy Reflections Medical & Day Spa
"Local spas affiliated with medical centers and clinics find the sweet spot between pampering and providing hospital-level care," says Seattle Magazine's story that features MultiCare's Healthy Reflections Medical & Day Spa.
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Doctor invents device to help stroke patients walk again
A medical device invented right here in Western Washington could dramatically improve the quality of life for stroke patients.
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MultiCare expands Research Institute, adds trials
MultiCare leaders decided they wanted the health system to play an increasing role in advancing medicine. In 2010, they opened the MultiCare Research Institute in Tacoma. Program Director Richard Shine recently discussed the new program.
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7 tips to prevent children from falling out windows
In Pierce County, falls are the most common unintentional injury that requires a hospital stay for a child.
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MultiCare hospitals receive cardiac, stroke designations
As part of a statewide program to create an emergency cardiac and stroke system, MultiCare's adult hospitals received their categories this week.
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“I sounded drunk”: Fast stroke care at Tacoma General saves woman
Karen Hill sat in her bathroom getting ready to go to bed just after 1 a.m. in early January, when her fingers stopped working. She reached for her pajamas to put them on but couldn't grasp th...
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I sounded drunk. Tacoma General stroke care saves woman
Karen Hill sat in her bathroom getting ready to go to bed just after 1 a.m. in early January, when her fingers stopped working. She reached for her pajamas to put them on but couldn't grasp them.
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Run, walk or crawl the Roman Meal Sound to Narrows race
Join your friends and neighbors for a Pierce County tradition. Register now online for the 39th annual Roman Meal Sound to Narrows race June 11 for runners ...
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Camp Erin provides support, fun for grieving kids
For Maggie Newhouse, 11, Camp Erin was more than a place where she learned to canoe and earned the nickname "Miss Determined" for not giving up until she climbed to the top o...
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Student-crafted rocking horses bring joy to cancer patients
Surrounded by wooden rocking horses at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital & Health Center, 5-year-old Emilye Flick strutted in her pink cowboy boots to select the one she felt was just right for her.
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Must-read tips to ensure a safe summer for kids
Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for children 14 and younger. These tragic accidents may appear to be random and outside our control, yet they tend to follow predictable patterns and often are preventable.
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MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital unveils Dally Tower
A celebration to honor Ray and Deanna Dally's generous support of MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital culminated Tuesday with the unveiling of the name ...
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At Good Samaritan, artist installs garden's 1-ton centerpiece
Artist Ulrich Pakker was on site Thursday as his 1-ton steel-and-bronze sculpture was installed outside MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup. Titled "Ringer, Interconnected," the ...
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MultiCare providers named Top Docs by Seattle magazine
Thirteen physicians who work at MultiCare Health System hospitals were recognized last week as Seattle magazine's 2011 Top Doctors. These doctors were nominated by their peers for this an...
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Mentally ill offered a healing hand
One solution to the state's struggle to care for its physically sick and mentally ill sits on six wheels in a Puyallup parking lot. The mobile unit is a joint effort between MultiCare Health System and OptumHealth Pierce Regional Support Network
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Patriot Award honors Allenmore's support for military service
Just in time for Independence Day, staff members (pictured above) in the Inpatient Pharmacy at MultiCare Allenmore Hospital in Tacoma received the Patriot Award in recognition of their support.
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Reimbursement cuts, more charity care prompt layoffs at MultiCare
These are very challenging times in health care. MultiCare Health System is facing major cuts in reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid, as are all health systems across the country. We als...
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2,000th robotic-assisted surgery at MultiCare
MultiCare Health System surgeons reached a South Sound medical milestone when they performed their 2,000th robotic-assisted surgery.
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Tacoma General honored for Cardiac care
MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital has received the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines Gold Performance Achievement Award for its commitment to a higher standard of cardiac care.
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MultiCare cyclists bond over bikes with Mary Bridge patient
A repaired heart valve and an equally high-tech bicycle have put a Tacoma teen on the road to recovery.
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Dr. Krilich honored among Business Examiner's 40 Under 40
Dr. Chad Krilich, a Regional Medical Director for MultiCare Medical Associates, was honored this week as one of the Business Examiner newspaper's "40 Under Forty."
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MultiCare among nation's 'Most Wired'
MultiCare Health System is honored for the third year in a row for its complete electronic health record that connects all hospitals and clinics..
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Free vaccines offered for children, caregivers of infants
Whooping cough (pertussis) is on the rise in Pierce County, so it's a good time to take advantage of free vaccinations for children and teens, and for anyone caring for infants younger than 1.
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MultiCare mobile unit vaccinates area youths
It's summer time and of course, school is just around the corner. Families are likely out shopping for back-to-school clothes but what they may be putting off are those all important vaccination shots.
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Flu shots now available at MultiCare clinics
Flu vaccines are now available for patients at MultiCare clinics in King and Pierce counties. Patients who would like the flu vaccine should make an appointment.
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Nominate MultiCare's 'Amazing Nurses'
MultiCare's more than 2,000 nurses provide exceptional care for patients everyday. Here's a way to highlight their hard work on a national level.
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East Pierce Family Medicine opens, gains accreditation
MultiCare Health System's newest clinic is now accepting patients, and will soon be recruiting physicians who have recently completed their degrees for a new Family Medicine residency training program.
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Boy's mother: 'He was dead, and now he's not'
Dale Ostrander, 12, of Spanaway, who nearly drowned in the ocean near Long Beach, is going through rehabilitation at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup.
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New services, technology improve cancer patient experience
MultiCare Regional Cancer Center has been recognized by the Association of Community Cancer Centers with the 2011 Innovation Award for improving the patient experience.
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Two MultiCare physicians named 'Best Doctor' by KOMO
What do Pacific Grill, Top of Tacoma, The Grand Cinema and MultiCare's Dr. Daniel Ginsberg have in common? In addition to being stylish and smart, they're also among the "Best of Tacoma." Additionally, MultiCare's Dr. Daryl Austin was named "Best Doctor" in Auburn. -
NASCAR driver Kurt Busch visits Mary Bridge Children's Hospital
NASCAR driver Kurt Busch was generous enough to take time out of his busy schedule to spend Wednesday afternoon visiting with young patients at MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma, Wash.
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Good Morning America films boy's rehabilitation at Good Samaritan
A "Good Morning America" crew visited MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital this week to follow the rehabilitation of 12-year-old Dale Ostrander, who was rescued after spending more than 15 minutes underwater. The segment will air Tuesday morning.
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Dale Ostrander update: 'Good Morning America' at Good Samaritan
Dale Ostrander's rehabilitation at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Wash., was the topic of a "Good Morning America" segment broadcast Tuesday. Dale's parents say their son's survival is nothing short of a miracle. Watch the video here, or read the full story at ABC News.
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Garden opens at Good Samaritan to honor community's support
A new Community Garden opened on the MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital campus in Puyallup. This garden is dedicated to our community who has supported the mission and vision of MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital for many decades.
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After World Cup, U.S. soccer player visits Mary Bridge patients
Fresh off the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Final and followed by an ESPN TV crew, U.S. national soccer team member Stephanie Cox visited young patients Thursday at MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital & Health Center.
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State award honors lifesaving newborn heart screening program
For their pioneering work in screening newborns for heart defects, MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital's Family Birth Center and the MultiCare Mary Bridge Pediatric Heart Center have been chosen to receive the 2011 Warren Featherstone Reid Award for Excellence in Health Care
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MultiCare Allenmore Hospital welcomes public to open house
Get a free seasonal flu shot, bone density screenings and other health checks during the annual MultiCare Allenmore Hospital Open House and Health Fair on Sunday, Oct. 2, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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Under-the-sea mural brightens MultiCare Westgate Clinic
An undersea mural makes patients feel like they are on a tropical snorkeling vacation at the MultiCare Westgate Clinic in Tacoma. A volunteer painter spent 27 days this summer transforming the white wall into a vibrant seascape.
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Outdoorsman back on the trail after innovative heart procedure
Five months after undergoing an innovative heart procedure at MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, a Puyallup man has regained the active lifestyle he thought he had lost forever. Now he hopes to build enough strength to someday summit Mount Rainier - a lifelong dream for the 61-year-old who grew up in the mountain's shadow.
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MultiCare Health System successfully demonstrates health record
MultiCare Health System is among the first in Washington to show that its electronic health record, called MultiCare Connect, meets the requirements of a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Service incentive program, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
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Mary Bridge rolls out initiative to support healthy lifestyles
Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in partnership with ACHIEVE introduces a new community-based initiative to promote healthy lifestyle choices for families.
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Get answers to some common questions about diabetes
The number of Americans diagnosed with diabetes continues to increase. In the United States, the disease has become an epidemic with nearly 26 million children and adults afflicted. Dr. Ronald Graf, an endocrinologist with MultiCare Health System, answers some questions about the disease.
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Bonney Lake Medical Building celebrates grand opening
Community members celebrated the grand opening of the Bonney Lake Medical Building with a community open house Oct. 1.
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MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital wins Consumer Choice Award
Consumers in Pierce County have once again chosen MultiCare Tacoma General as a top destination for receiving health care, according to the largest and most comprehensive consumer study of U.S. health care.
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Mary Bridge, Good Samaritan win WSHA 'Best Hands on Care Award'
Two MultiCare hospitals have earned the 2011 "Best Hands on Care Award" from the Washington State Hospital Association. Above, Olympic snowboarder Shaun White demonstrates the "gel in, gel out" hand-sanitizing technique while visiting patients in February at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital & Health Center in Tacoma.
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Award honors CEO's vision, leadership, dedication
The Washington State Hospital Association presented this year's Joe Hopkins Memorial Award to MultiCare Health System President and CEO Diane Cecchettini, RN.
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Dispose of unused medicine at prescription drug take-back day
To prevent prescription drug abuse, take advantage of this opportunity to clean out your medicine cabinet and disposed of expired or unused medication. In the past 12 months in Pierce County, MultiCare Health System hospitals have treated 1,278 poisonings due to drugs, medicinal agents and biological agents.
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NFL Hall-of-Famer raises awareness about prostate cancer
An NFL Hall-of-Famer and a MultiCare doctor teamed up to encourage men to "Know Your Stats about Prostate Cancer," the second-leading cause of cancer death for American men.
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October construction update for Covington Emergency Department
In Covington, construction continues on MultiCare's freestanding, 24,000-square-foot Emergency Department, which is expected to open in early 2012.
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For Gig Harbor mom, cancer care close to home 'saved my life'
Cancer survivor Jennifer Taylor stayed near her young kids for treatment, while her doctors stayed connected to the latest and best medicine. "They saved my life," she said. "They made it possible for me to be here for my kids."
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At 11 A.M. on 11-11-11, lucky newborn arrives at Tacoma General
At exactly 11 a.m. on 11-11-11, a lucky baby girl was born in the Family Birth Center at MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital.
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Puyallup Tribe of Indians delivers generous $1 million donation
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians Tribal Council delivered a $1 million donation to the Emergency Departments of MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital and Mary Bridge Children's Hospital.
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Stroke survivor who walked across America talks at Good Samaritan
Four-time stroke survivor Mycle Brandy walked across America last year. On Monday, he walked into MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, a quick stop on this year's stroll from San Diego to Seattle to raise stroke awareness.
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Help fulfill 4-year-old's wish to bring Christmas to Mary Bridge
Some special friends have teamed up to help 4-year-old Iley Puloka fulfill her wish to bring Christmas to children at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma, where Iley spent last Christmas.
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'The girl who lived is the girl who gives'
"Blitzed by glitz at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital Festival of Trees Designer Day, you might not have noticed Cameron Wyman. Tall, slim and quiet, the 12-year-old Gig Harbor girl was on task Tuesday as a member of her mom's tree-design team. ... Cameron was the artists' apprentice, and their inspiration. She is the girl who lived."-- By Kathleen Merryman in The News Tribune
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AMR gives ambulance to Good Samaritan Medical Explorers Post 905
MultiCare Good Samaritan Medical Explorers Post 905 received a donated ambulance from American Medical Response air medical division CEO Randy Strozyck, who himself was a medical explorer with Post 905 from 1972 until 1975.
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Festival of Trees: Designer honors law enforcement
Theresa Wolland lost a neighbor and a friend - and the community lost a protector - two years ago when Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Kent Mundell was killed in the line of duty. In his honor and in honor of the thousands of other law enforcement workers in Washington, Wolland designed a Christmas tree called "A Thin Blue Line" for the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital Festival of Trees.
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All decked out for a good cause
KOMO 4 TV reported Wednesday that the 25th annual Mary Bridge Festival of Trees is under way at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center. More than 70 decorated trees are on display through Sunday.
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You still have time to get your flu shot
Have you gotten your flu shot this year? If not, you should. We know people have a lot of excuses. They all sound like feeble reasons when you are curled up in bed under five blankets unable to swallow, or when you or a loved one is in the hospital having trouble breathing.
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Wait times at MultiCare Urgent Care centers now available online
We know that reading lobby magazines isn't your top priority today. That's why the current wait times at MultiCare's eight Urgent Care centers are now available online and on our mobile site.
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Through video chat, Santa brings cheer to children at Mary Bridge
Thanks to video chat equipment normally used for telemedicine visits between doctors and patients, Santa Claus greeted young patients in their hospital beds Tuesday at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma.
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MultiCare.org honored with national website award
MultiCare Health System's website was honored among the best health care Internet sites in the nation at the 2011 eHealthcare Leadership Awards.
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Mary Bridge kids find gifts for parents, siblings at Holiday Shop
"I'm going to get a big hug for this!" said 6-year-old Cameron McKeever after he wrapped up a gift that he picked out for his mother. Cameron was one of 50 young patients at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital who picked out gifts for their parents, brothers and sisters Thursday at a special Holiday Shop inside the Tacoma hospital.
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Donated hats, gloves, socks decorate Good Samaritan Giving Trees
This winter will be a little warmer for those in need, thanks to the generosity of employees at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup. For the past month, employees decorated three Good Samaritan Giving Trees with new hats, scarves, gloves, mittens and socks.
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Smile Factory modifies toys, other devices to fit special needs
A modified rocking horse is just one example of the hundreds of modified toys and other everyday items produced by the Smile Factory each year, part of the Assistive Technology Program at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital's Children's Therapy Unit.
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Heart test that saved baby in Tacoma recommended for all newborns
A baby's heart defect was detected thanks to a painless test offered to newborns at MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital. "I feel very lucky that we decided to do the test. I feel very lucky that we were at Tacoma General," the boy's mother told KING 5 TV. "I think the stars aligned. Somebody was looking out for us, for him, and it essentially saved his life."
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$1 million donation to provide holistic care at cancer centers
A $1 million donation from Norman and Barbara Simon will improve access to holistic care as part of cancer treatment at MultiCare Regional Cancer Center locations throughout the South Sound.
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Beware of 'button' batteries, other choking hazards for children
"At this time of year, there's more opportunity and less supervision," said Dr. Ted Walkley, an Emergency Department physician at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. "If it can be put in the mouth, a child will ingest it."
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After heart procedure, Gig Harbor man regains active lifestyle
For the first time in years, 63-year-old Bill Stuenkel can walk nonstop from the Gig Harbor waterfront up to his house on Peacock Hill. In May, Stuenkel underwent a cardiac ablation procedure by Dr. Tariq Salam at MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital. The procedure corrected his heart rhythm problems, and Stuenkel has been pleased with the results.
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The holiday season is a time for helping others
Dr. Chad Krilich reflects on family, charity and his personal perspectives about Christmas as a husband, father and physician.
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8 Tips for Holiday Depression
Many people feel stressed or depressed during this season. You may be alone and lonely, you may have lost a loved one, or you may feel overwhelmed by stress and obligations during the holidays. The range of holiday emotions varies, but there are resources available to help you.
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How To Manage Diabetes During The Holidays
The holidays are a tough time of year for anyone to stick with a healthy diet. For the estimated 24 million Americans with diabetes, it can be an even greater challenge.
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4-year-old battling leukemia plays Santa for kids at Mary Bridge
VIDEO: Mary Bridge Children's Hospital was filled with Christmas spirit on Friday night, all thanks to one little girl, a four-year-old who is quite familiar with the hospital. Her only wish was to play Santa's helper and give gifts to children who won't make it home for the holidays.
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7 Healthy Resolutions For Busy Women
If you're like some women, you may put other people's needs ahead of your own. Yet taking time for your health is worth it. Make 2012 the year you take charge of your health—starting with these seven healthy resolutions.
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