Cheer A healthy dose of cheer goes out to Butler Health System, whose new Primary Care Resource Center represents a shift in focus to preventive care.The center, at Butler Memorial Hospital, will help patients in the transition from the hospital to their homes. A staff of five will work with patients to ensure they are fully aware of everything they need to do to continue their recovery.“The idea is the team will see patients when they arrive, through their stay, at discharge, and in their homes,” explains Dr. Keith Kanel, chief medical officer for the initiative.The center has two primary objectives: to maximize the recovery of hospital patients after their discharge; and to reduce readmissions.Under the pending Affordable Care Act — ObamaCare — a high readmission rate exposes hospitals to financial penalties in the denial of Medicare reimbursements. The idea is that it’s more cost-effective — and a healthier policy — to minimize complications rather than treat them.The strategy makes infinite sense, not only for the good of the patient, but also for the health care system. Healthier patients, better use of limited health care resources and money saved: What’s not to like?

Jeer On a baseball diamond, passions can run hot. But when the ballplayers are children and their coaches are adults, cooler heads must prevail.Everybody knows this, including the coaches who face a summary trial next month for fighting after a youth playoff game in July in Center Township.Gilbert D. Rickert, 50, of Connoquenessing and Thomas W. Fair Jr., 48, of Renfrew are charged with disorderly conduct and harassment. They managed Colt division, Pony League teams consisting of 15- and 16-year-olds.By virtue of their youth baseball affiliation, both men are normally responsible and civic-minded volunteers, and another coach confirmed they’re usually well behaved. They don’t need a lecture.But they do need to make the most of this unfortunate incident because young men are watching them — young men who stood by in fear and confusion, watching as their adult coaches tried to settle a dispute by hurting each other. There’s no measuring the emotional trauma or message sent by a brawl between coaches.Apologies to each other, to league officials and to the court are in order. It’s up to the courts and the league to mete out punishments. Punishments most certainly are called for.Most importantly, they owe a formal apology to their players. We suggest they make that apology jointly. And they shouldn’t have to wait for a judge or league official to demand it.

Cheer Cheers to the Cranberry Noon Rotary Club and its newest member, who also happens to be the youngest in the charter’s history. Jessica Howard, 17, a senior at Seneca Valley High School, joined the club after participating in the Rotary Youth Leadership Award program, a five-day seminar at Westminster College over the summer.Inducting a 17-year-old changes public perception of the Rotary, seen by many as a talking club for middle-aged businessmen. It doesn’t hurt to take the emphasis away from that stereotype and put it back on the international service organization’s goals, include eradication of polio, leadership training and community service — objectives that attracted Jessica in the first place.Welcoming Jessica as its newest member could signal the start of a trend toward younger, more energetic membeship for the Rotary, or a symbolic leap past the dominance of the baby boom generation. But that’s just speculation for now.Congratulations and best wishes to Jessica and to the Cranberry Noon Rotarians.