The Sanatoga Post

POTTSTOWN PA – Pottstown Family Care, the group of primary care physicians’ offices operated in Sanatoga, Limerick, Boyertown, Douglassville, and North Coventry PA by Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, 1600 E. High St., Pottstown, has replaced its voluminous archive of patients’ cumbersome paper records with a more efficient electronic medical record system, the hospital announced Feb. 4 (2011).

Electronic medical records have arrived at the offices of Pottstown Family Practice in Sanatoga and other locations

After a 12-week preparation and training period, Pottstown Family Care began using the electronic system last fall. With electronic records, health care providers can access complete, current patient information in an instant, according to Elizabeth Gilroy, PMMC director of outpatient family practices.

When nurses first evaluate a patient, they take laptop computers into the exam room and use them to record the patient’s vital signs, Gilroy said. When a doctor treats the patient, they also use a laptop to access those vital signs and quickly get a complete picture of the patient’s situation.

Computer screens seen by the medical staff are formatted for many different situations; some for ill or older patients, others for a child’s annual check-up, and still others for patients with specific illnesses. A complete list of a patient medications also is displayed onscreen.

Besides enhanced efficiency, a chief advantage of electronic records is that caregivers can view patient records any time, even remotely. Physicians with the practice can gain access to patient records in the system via the Internet. “That isn’t possible with paper records stored in a doctor’s office,” Gilroy noted.

The system tracks all information generated about a patient, from phone calls from outside physicians to requests for prescription refills.

Photo from DucknetWeb

Karmel and Romano introduce themselves onstage.

POTTSTOWN PA – A Pottsgrove High School videographer was armed with his favorite equipment as juniors Heather Romano and Brittany Karmel led a Feb. 18 fashion show to benefit “To Write Love on Her Arms,” a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.

• Watch the video, above, or see it at the YouTube user account of 999Hellkid.

Related:

• Video Lens Captures Pottsgrove Fashion Show’s Beauty

Photo from YouTube

BIRDSBORO PA – Historic Daniel Boone Homestead will offer an open house and living history program March 13 (2011; Sunday) from noon to 4 p.m. on its grounds, 400 Daniel Boone Rd., Birdsboro PA, as part of the annual observance of Charter Day, the day on which Pennsylvania was founded as a colony.

The Boone House

Charter Day recognizes the day in 1681 when William Penn received his land grant for Pennsylvania from King Charles II of England. At the homestead and other historic sites across the state, admission for the day-long, rain-or-shine event is free because regular fees are waived. This year’s theme, “Frivolity and Necessity in 18th-Century Pennsylvania,” explores aspects of play and work during the 1700s.

At Boone, volunteers will interpret life during the 18th century. Visitors will see to various activities and demonstrations hat illustrate labor and necessity, such as hearth cooking in the Boone House kitchen. All historic buildings will be open, and blacksmithing and gun-smithing demonstrations will continue throughout the day.

Visitors also can learn about log hewing and timber framing through volunteer demonstrations, and Rich Pawling of “History Alive!” will engage visitors with his interactive interpretation throughout the historic area.  The site’s water-powered Bertolet sawmill will be operated several times during the day, and the First Pennsylvania Regiment will hold a flintlock shoot in the Rifle Range.  Near the sawmill, local Native American Darius Puff will share stories about Native American heritage, life, and culture.

Robert Mouland will treat visitors to parlor music, and in the wayside lodge, visitors can join the Amity Colonial Dancers as they illustrate different 18th-century dances.  Activities for children will also be available throughout the day, including 18th-century toys and games.

Photo from the Daniel Boone Homestead

The American Legion Building at 57 N. Franklin St., Pottstown, is being transformed into the new home of the Cluster of Religious Communities.

POTTSTOWN PA – Three-quarters of the way there: that’s how the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities describes its progress in raising $1 million for the building campaign it launched last October (2010) to renovate and move into a new facility at the corner of Franklin and King streets in the borough of Pottstown.

“Like a freight train rushing down a railroad track, the capital campaign … is chugging right along,” according to George Bell, president of the cluster’s board of directors. He said the non-profit organization that serves families and individuals in need across the greater Pottstown area was, as of earlier this month, more than 75 percent toward its goal.

“Generous contributions of individuals, business, groups and the religious community” was propelling the cluster’s “Raising Hopes, Building Dreams” campaign, Bell added. They include a $100,000 contribution from First Niagara Bank, and an additional $100,000 contribution from First Presbyterian Church in Pottstown as a tithe received from the Martha Porter Trust Fund.

In recognition of church donation, Bell said, the cluster will name the new building’s food pantry serving area to honor Hazel and Harold Nettles, long-time volunteers in the Cluster Outreach Center. The client waiting area will be named for Martha Porter.

Wegman’s Supermarket in Collegeville PA donated $20,858 from cash register collections received from their customers during the holiday season.  Also, New Hanover United Methodist Church donated $35,645 – its entire Christmas Eve offering – to the project. Church members provide volunteer support to several cluster programs,said Executive Director Barbara Wilhelmy.

Not all of the help given to the cluster project has been financial. The New Hanover church men’s Bible study groups provided two evenings of manpower to frame interior walls and ceiling work in preparation for heating, electrical and plumbing contractors. Interior studs for all walls in the new building have been erected, and contractors have been busy, Wilhelmy added.

In addition, during the Christmas holiday, about 100 families participated in the cluster’s toy program. More than 220 children received toys, and 133 adults were given a variety of winter outerwear (hat, gloves, scarves) and personal care items as gifts. Also, 177 families received holiday food boxes, including a full turkey dinner.

“We are so appreciative of the community’s generosity over the past year,” Wilhelmy said.

SANATOGA PA – Lower Pottsgrove officials think they know a good deal when they hear one. So they have heeded the advice of bond counselors, and borrowed less money to upgrade the township sewer system and refinance existing debt in exchange for a better interest rate on the new loan.

Where those millions went

And they got unexpected kudos to boot.

The township Board of Commissioners voted unanimously and without comment Thursday (Feb. 17, 2011) to guarantee repayment of a $9.93 million bond sale conducted several weeks ago by the Sewer Authority. The money covers the $4.7 million cost of improving Lower Pottsgrove’s connection to the borough of Pottstown water treatment facility, as well as reducing the interest rate on $5.23 million the authority borrowed during 2005.

Board members Bruce Foltz and James Kaiser were absent and did not vote.

The authority talked with commissioners in October 2010 about selling bonds worth $13.76 million. Bond underwriters, however, reported the township would be charged less interest if it borrowed less than $10 million. No brainer, the authority agreed; it pared down its request, and enjoyed what was described as a “competitive sale” of its financial paper.

Better still, commissioners learned Thursday, bond and borrower rating service Standard and Poors told lenders that Lower Pottsgrove’s offering was an attractive deal. The township shows “consistent growth,” it said, with “stable reserves” and “conservative budget practices.” Ultimately, five different banks entered 32 bids to buy the bonds; the winner was UBS.

Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners’ Feb. 17 meeting):

• Township’s Reduced Bond Sale Rates High S&P Praise
• Lower Pottsgrove A Likely Co-Signer For Sewer Loans

WASHINGTON DC – The latest government paperwork requirement to weigh down small business owners, according to Rep. Jim Gerlach, earned his rebuke Thursday (Feb. 17, 2011).

Gerlach, who represents Limerick (PA) Township and the borough of Pottstown in Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, said he voted for a bill to eliminate an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) demand that “job creators” file a 1099 miscellaneous revenue tax form every time they pay $600 or more for outside goods or services.

Federal health care laws passed last year require what the IRS thinks of as job creators – mostly self-employed individuals and small business owners – to track via a 1099 money they spend for things like janitorial work, airline tickets, raw materials, and office supplies and merchandise. That way, the IRS reasons, it can be assured of collecting taxes from the sellers.

Gerlach and other members of the House Ways and Means Committee see it as just another business burden. They approved a proposed bill, called the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011 (H.R. 4), that the full House is expected to consider shortly. “It is critical that Congress provide relief from this requirement so that job creators can concentrate on ways to grow and create jobs,” Gerlach said.

The requirement is scheduled to go into effect in 2012. It is opposed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Farm Bureau, the American Medical Association, the National Federation of Independent Business and other groups.

Photo from Squidoo.com

POTTSTOWN PA – Bingo games featuring rare collectible Longaberger baskets and Silpada jewelry as prizes will be held next Friday (Feb. 25, 2011) beginning at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria at Pottsgrove High School, 1345 Kauffman Rd., Pottstown PA, as a fund-raiser to benefit the high school concert choir.

This event has been added to The Post calendar.

The doors will open at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $20 per person. They, as well as additional cards and the ability to enter raffles and door prize drawings, will be sold at the door. Dinner will be available for separate purchase. For more information, call Cindy Foust at 610-326-5105, Ext. 6501.

Photo from Google Images

POTTSTOWN PA – Set ‘em up; mow ‘em down! For youngsters attending the Pottsgrove School District‘s Lower Pottsgrove Elementary School, that may be a rallying cry next Friday and the following Monday, Feb. 26 and 28 (2011).

The school, at 1329 Buchert Rd., Pottstown PA, awards points for academic achievement. Students who earned 100 points in its just-completed second trimester will be able to trade them in for a couple of hours of free, supervised school-day bowling at local lanes, teacher Shari Costanzo happily reported Thursday (Feb. 17).

On the Friday, morning kindergarten and 3rd grade students will go bowling from 9:30-11:30 a.m., followed by 4th and 5th graders from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. On the Monday, full-day kindergarten and 1st graders will bowl from 9:30-11:30 a.m., followed by 2nd graders and the afternoon kindergarten class from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

In addition, Costanzo said, the school on March 2 (2011; Wednesday) will again conduct its annual observance of the birthday of Dr. Seuss – “Cat In The Hat” author Theodor Seuss Geisel – by participating in Read Across America program activities sponsored by the National Education Association.

The treat that day includes a visit from members of the Pottsgrove High School football team, who double as guest readers of much-loved Seuss works.

Photo from Blisstree.com

Available for purchase now

POTTSTOWN PA – Consumers across greater Pottstown can earn discounts on certain food, products and services purchased from 15 different businesses using a new fund-raising card being sold by the Parent-Teacher Organization of the Pottsgrove School District‘s Pottsgrove Middle School.

Cards are available for $15 each. The businesses represented have offered to grant card-holders a variety of savings. Proceeds benefit PTO programs for middle school students.

Cards are being sold during weeknight practice sessions of the Lower Pottsgrove Athletic League, as well as on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the middle school gym on North Hanover Street, Pottstown PA. The cards are valid through the end of 2011.

SANATOGA PA – Although the Lower Pottsgrove municipal building, 2199 Buchert Rd., and its administrative offices will be closed Monday (Feb. 21, 2011) to observe the Presidents’ Day federal holiday, the township is reminding its property owners that the regularly scheduled pick-up of garbage and recycled items remains unchanged.

Trash barrels, recycling bins, and properly packaged leaves for composting should be at curbside by Sunday night (Feb. 20) for pick up Monday morning by crews of Lower Pottsgrove’s waste collection contractor, J.P. Mascaro and Sons of Norristown PA.

The municipal building will reopen for business Tuesday (Feb. 22) at 8 a.m. For more information, call Jennifer Corley at 610-323-0436, Ext. 207.

Photo from Google Images