Seniors Group at La Mesa Healthcare LibraryTalking to Healthcare Providers Jan. 23

The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host a free seniors discussion group on “How To Talk To Your Healthcare Provider” from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23. The public is invited to attend, and RSVP is not required. The speaker will be Andrea Holmberg, program coordinator of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Senior Resource Center.

Holmberg will present information about the tools needed to be successful when talking with your doctors or other healthcare providers. Attendees will learn strategies for choosing a provider, good communication skills during office visits and the importance of pre-planning, including advance directives. Free Vial of LIFE containers also will be available (LIFE is an acronym for “Lifesaving Information for Emergencies”). The vinyl sleeve containers, often referred to as Vials of LIFE, typically hold pertinent medical information such as health conditions, allergies to medications, physician’s and next of kin’s name and insurance information. People with heart, seizure or respiratory conditions often affix the containers to a refrigerator door for quick retrieval by emergency medical personnel.

The Herrick Library, which opened in 2002, is a consumer health public library specializing in health research information, accessible both on-site and via the Internet. The library is operated by the Grossmont Healthcare District, a public agency that supports health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County.  For more information, phone the library at (619) 825‑5010 or visit www.herricklibrary.org.