MORRIS COUNTY — At the their meeting on Wednesday, January 25, the Morris County Freeholders proclaimed January 2017 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The objective of Human Trafficking Awareness Month is to educate county residents about human trafficking, and to ask them to be cognizant of the same to assist law enforcement rescue victims of this crime.

Human trafficking typically targets vulnerable women and non-English speaking people. There are two types of trafficking, Sex Trafficking and Labor Trafficking. Sex Trafficking results in adult and child victims being subject to commercial sex against their will, while Labor Trafficking occurs when the victim is compelled to work or provide services against their will. Force, coercion or fraud are the common methods used by traffickers to control their victims.

In recognition of this public awareness campaign, Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, as well as Human Trafficking Coordinators, Assistant Prosecutor Laura Magnone and Detective Supervisor Marshall Wang of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes / Child Endangerment Unit, were present during the issuance of the proclamation by the Freeholders.

“The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office has aggressively investigated and prosecuted several human trafficking cases under my tenure and will continue to do so,” said Prosecutor Knapp. “Working with the Coalition against Human Trafficking we have sought to educate the public to report any suspected trafficking. By doing so, we can hopefully help those victimized by this scourge. ”

If anyone observes suspicious activity that may be Human Trafficking, please immediately report the situation to your local police department or to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at (973) 285-6200.

MORRISTOWN — Morristown Medical Center and Overlook Medical Center in Summit, both part of Atlantic Health System, have been recognized with the 2017 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence from Healthgrades, a consumer resource for health information. The distinction places each medical center in the top five percent for clinical excellence among more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide.

This is Morristown Medical Center’s seventh consecutive time and Overlook Medical Center’s fourth consecutive time receiving the award.

“Choosing a hospital is one of the most important decisions a family can make, and the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence recognition from Healthgrades is additional confirmation that Atlantic Health System is committed to excellence in quality and safety,” said Trish O’Keefe, president, Morristown Medical Center.

“We are honored to be recognized among this elite group of health care providers,” said Alan Lieber, president of Overlook Medical Center. “Clinical excellence, combined with patient-centered care, is key to the positive experience that Atlantic Health System provides to patients and caregivers.”

“Consumers are doing their research when it comes to selecting the hospital where they receive their care, and high-marks in quality are a valuable differentiator that can set organizations apart,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Healthgrades. “We commend hospitals that have achieved Healthgrades 2017 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence for demonstrating an unwavering commitment to high quality care for their patients.”

From 2013 through 2015, patients treated in hospitals receiving Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence had a lower risk of dying (across 19 procedures and conditions where mortality is the clinical outcome), than if they were treated in hospitals that did not achieve this distinction.

During this same period, if all other hospitals performed at the level of Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence across these 19 procedures and conditions, 160,322 lives could potentially have been saved.

The 258 recipients of the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ stand out among the rest for overall clinical excellence across a broad spectrum of care. During the 2017 study period covering the years 2013 to 2015, these hospitals showed superior performance in clinical outcomes for patients in the Medicare population across at least 21 of 32 of the most common inpatient conditions and procedures as measured by objective clinical outcomes performance data.

To learn more about how Healthgrades determines Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence recipients, click here.

MOUNTAIN LAKES — If you would like the individual attention of one-on-one private swimming instruction with one of the Y’s top instructors, sign up for 30-minute Private Swim Lessons that will take place during the week of February 20-24 on Monday through Friday only at 4:00, 4:30, and 5:00 p.m.

Lessons are available for ages three (and potty trained) through age 13. Y membership is not required. Lessons are $20.00 per half-hour for members; non-members pay $35.00.

In person registration begins Monday, February 6 at 8:00 a.m. Limited spots available so sign up early. (Same instructors are not guaranteed.) Diving board lessons are not available. For more information, contact Aquatic Director, Ed Soder at (973) 334-2820, or email at eds@lhymca.com Parents of children with Special Needs should contact Ed prior to registering.