Health and Wellness

The state has hired a new director for the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital. Jill Krause will take over managing the facility next month. The appointment comes following allegations of misconduct at the hospital that caused the former Director, James Coleman, to resign earlier this year. Twenty-eight other workers were suspended in a separate investigation but nearly half of them have since returned …

The flu season is well underway in Michigan, and State Department of Community Health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated, before the end of the year. Jennifer Smith, of the Michigan Department of Community Health, says influenza activity normally peaks between January and April in Michigan, which is why those six-months-of age and older need to be vaccinated now since …

A 29-year-old Cassopolis woman was injured after she was involved in a three-vehicle accident Wednesday morning in Cass County. Sheriff’s department officials said Ryan Rosalee Deckard, failed to slow down as she approached two vehicles that had stopped for a school bus shortly before 7:30 a.m. on M-60 in Newberg Township. Deckard drove into the back of a vehicle driven …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has agreed to provide additional funding to support a proposed trail project designed to run between Three Rivers and Fabius Township. At the request of Lindsay Oswald, a member of the River Country Recreational Authority, the commission committed $23,400. Coupled with $5,000 offered by the city of Three Rivers Tuesday, the proposed trail …

The state of Michigan is hiring a mental health agency to conduct an independent review of the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital, which is under scrutiny over patient safety. The state Community Health Department said Monday that Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services will do an evaluation focusing on inpatient care and the hospital’s organizational structure and staff. The review is expected …

A 10-year-old boy was struck and killed early Sunday near the intersection of U.S. 131 and West Michigan Avenue in Three Rivers. The boy, Trenton Holtslander, a 15-year-old sibling and their father were walking across U.S. 131 in the 100 block. The victim dropped something and as he went back to retrieve it, he was struck by a northbound van …

Three people were injured following an accident Friday night at the intersection of M-60 and U.S. 131 in Three Rivers. State police said a semi heading south on U.S. 131 struck an eastbound vehicle on M-60 that drove onto U.S. 131 and into the path of the truck around 11 p.m. The driver of the car, 57-year-old Mark Thompson of …

Three Rivers Health has issued an update on its 2014 Lights of Love campaign. Event organizers said the campaign is doing well even though the $10,000 goal has not quite been reached. Lights of Love organizers are optimistic, however, that the goal will be realized. This year’s donations will used to purchase four Ambulatory Infusion Pumps – commonly known as …

Three Rivers Health announces it has two patient navigators assisting with the second open enrollment period, which runs through Feb. 15. Federal officials anticipate HealthCare.gov — the site used by Michigan residents — will be better than last year’s version. Sixteen insurers are selling policies through the Michigan exchange for 2015 coverage, up from 12 in 2014. All insurers that …

The St. Joseph County Health Center has hired a new nurse practitioner, a move that allows it to begin stepping up its outreach efforts. Center director Lynn Dobberteen said Jay Guikema started seeing patients Wednesday at the Centreville-based agency. With Guikema on board, nurse practitioner Tami Millard will now have a chance to lead outside events, such as health fairs, …