Free running course open to women prepping for 5K

Women interested in learning basic running techniques and building endurance are invited to participate in a free, six-week training course sponsored by CoxHealth Fitness Centers. The course will be led by certified run coach James Collins, is appropriate for all fitness levels and will take place outdoors.

 

The course is being held in preparation for the “Girls Just Wanna Run” 5K/10K on July 16, but is open to any woman who would like to improve her running abilities. Sessions will be held weekly from Wednesday, June 8 to July 13 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., and participants should meet at the Cox North Fitness Center. For questions, please call 417-269-5147.

Expanded fundraising benefits local children

An update from Tim Siebert, Executive Director, CMN Hospitals
of CoxHealth:

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is moving to an innovative fundraising and marketing approach that optimizes resources to better benefit our local kids with medical needs.

We’re excited to announce new telethon and radiothon formats for 2016 that will help take CMN Hospitals at CoxHealth to the next level.

Reimagined telethon moves to fall

We have developed a new telethon format called “Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Miracle Week” on KY3. This annual event will be broadcast from KY3 and include children’s stories, interviews, live cut-ins from the new Dee Ann White Women’s and Children’s Hospital, information about CMN Hospitals and pitches for viewers to contribute to CMN Hospitals through a phone bank provided by KY3.

The new format will also allow for year-round stewardship of major donors and increase media exposure throughout the year.

The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Miracle Week will take place the first week following Thanksgiving (Monday-Sunday). There will be no telethon in May/June of 2016. Instead, the first Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Miracle Week will take place Nov. 28 – Dec. 4, 2016. The telethon will be featured across KY3’s newscasts during the week. Be watching Connect Daily and the intranet this fall for the full schedule.
In addition to the telethon week on KY3, CMN Hospitals will receive 252 15-second television spots to run on KY3 throughout the year.

Radiothon enhancements
The annual radiothon took place on Feb. 18-19 on KSPW Power 96.5. This year, the new arrangement allowed CMN Hospitals to add talk radio KSGF 104.1 and The River KRVI 106.7 to the radiothon. KSGF broadcast the radiothon live each morning and KRVI aired the radiothon live during mid-day. Throughout the day, both of the additional stations promoted the radiothon.

In addition to the live events across all three stations, CMN Hospitals will receive 451 30-second radio spots to run on KTTS, KSGF or KRVI throughout the year.

An array of benefits
The new approach will benefit us in a number of ways, including:
Increasing projected average telethon viewers per hour by 203%.
Increasing projected average radiothon listeners per 15-minute segment by 158%.
Moving the telethon to the best week of the year for fundraising. The dates include “Giving Tuesday,” which is observed the Tuesday following Thanksgiving.
Opening up opportunities for local pitching from programs such as “Rachel Ray,” “Wheel of Fortune” and “The Doctors.”

Making all of the above enhancements will actually save budget dollars while helping to raise additional support for local children.

Children's Miracle Network Hospitals depends on year-round support from friends and supporters including CoxHealth employees. To make a gift today, call 417-269-5437 or go online at coxhealthcmn.com.

CoxHealth launches pregnancy app

Pregnancies can bring joy and anticipation – and a whole lot of questions. For expecting parents, however, there’s a new resource that is as close as their phones: CoxHealth’s BabyBeginnings smartphone app, a one-stop source for medically-founded information from conception to birth and beyond.

“Whether or not it’s their first time around, moms often have questions about the changes they’re experiencing,” says Dr. Staci Niemoth, medical director of Women’s Services at CoxHealth. “This app gives them vetted information that’s accessible at the touch of a button.”

The free app, which is available to all expecting parents, was made possible by a grant from Verizon. It includes information on pregnancy, labor and newborn care, as well as helpful animations and videos, an appointment tracker, a contraction timer and more.

All of the app’s offerings are prepared by medical professionals, and reflect the industry’s most recent standards and recommendations. The app also includes contact information for resources at CoxHealth’s hospitals in Springfield, Branson and Monett.

To access the app, click here or call 417-269-LADY for more information.

CoxHealth communications coordinator presents at national conference

Randy Berger, communications coordinator for CoxHealth, recently presented an overview of CoxHealth’s employee communication strategy at the Public Relations Society of America’s national Employee Communications Conference.

Berger’s presentation, “Thinking Outside the Inbox: Reaching Employees with Creative Communication,” focused on the multilayered approach CoxHealth uses to engage more than 10,000 employees across its hospitals and clinics.

The presentation was one of 14 selected for the PRSA Connect event, which was held in Dallas May 11-13. The event drew more than 200 professionals specializing in employee communication from across the United States and Canada. 

CoxHealth hosting networking event to fill specialized job openings

CoxHealth is looking to hire critical care nurses, surgery nurses and surgery techs – but instead of hosting a traditional job fair, the healthcare organization wants to find those people through a networking event. All interested parties are invited to attend the come-and-go event on Thursday, May 12 from 5:30 – 8 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn (4155 S. Nature Garden Way, Springfield).

 

Instead of lines and forms associated with traditional job fairs, attendees are invited to enjoy refreshments, chat with current staff and see and see if a career at CoxHealth is right for him or her. However, like job fairs, on-the-spot interviews and job offers will still be part of the evening.

 

For more information or to RSVP, call 417-269-JOBS.

Wellness for Warriors class to help veterans readjust to civilian life

Readjusting to civilian life after military service can be a challenge, but CoxHealth’s Wellness for Warriors class is a way to ease the transition. The class, comprised of eight weekly sessions that begin on May 14, introduces military veterans and first responders to a variety of mind and body techniques to help life enhancement and overall wellbeing – and it’s free.

Each session will cover different topics specifically for this population recovering from stress associated with civilian readjustment. These practices and exercises may be used to enhance the health of the body and mind, regardless of physical limitation or psychological distress. Subjects such as stress management, sleep disorders, loss of identity and relationships will be discussed and addressed through activities such as yoga, meditation, art therapy and other mind/body exercises.

Classes will be provided by certified fitness instructors and certified therapists, and are free for any active or retired military or first responders. Sessions will be held at The Meyer Center (3545 S National Ave., Springfield) from 10 – 11 a.m. Registration is requested. Call 417-269-3282 with questions or to register.

Asthma Awareness Month offers time to look at new ways of controlling the disease

About one in 10 Missourians have asthma, a chronic condition caused by inflammation of the lungs. In Missouri alone, an average of 75 people die each year from the disease. Many of these deaths, however, are preventable with awareness, knowledge and treatment.

“I think the most important message about asthma is to know the difference between coping with asthma and controlling asthma,” says Michelle Dickens, a nurse practitioner and Certified Asthma Educator at CoxHealth. “So many patients live with uncontrolled asthma, accepting that daily symptoms are just part of their disease. But it doesn’t have to be that way.”

With an individualized treatment plan, one that also includes management of asthma triggers and patient self-management education, most patients with asthma can gain control of their symptoms. There are also several new therapies on the market and in development for certain patients with asthma that is difficult to control. These medications target specific parts of the immune system to decrease the inflammation in the lung that causes asthma.

“People often think that because they have asthma, they cannot be active or lead a normal life,” says Dickens. “Up to 20 percent of the members of the U.S. Olympic team have asthma. So we know that with the right treatment plan, good asthma control is possible.”

For more information about asthma, contact the CoxHealth Asthma Center at 417-875-3742.

CoxHealth prosthetist/orthotist named fellow by the American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists

Adam Edmonds, certified prosthetist/orthotist for CoxHealth, has been awarded a fellowship from the American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists. There are only four professionals with such a designation in the state, and he is the only one in southwest Missouri.

The designation is a signature recognition of the academy: It is attained by those with a demonstrated commitment to mastering their profession through sustained educational pursuits and a proven track record of service to both their community and the profession.

One of the ways that service materialized for Edmonds was through a mission trip to Ukraine. While in Europe, he worked with disabled individuals and orphans: He used his expertise to set up orthotics and prosthetics trainings, as well as facility equipment.

In his daily work, Edmonds helps develop and design a prosthesis specific for each patient’s needs and function level. Patients have follow-up appointments with Edmonds, and go through tests to ensure proper fit and function of the prosthesis. Behind the scenes, he researches to find the proper componentry to meet the patient’s needs, works in the lab to oversee the fabrication of the prosthesis, and performs certain alignment and assembly functions. Later, he also helps patients learn how to best use their new prosthesis.

Free skin cancer screenings to be held on May 7

CoxHealth will offer free skin cancer screenings on Saturday, May 7 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. The screenings will be held at Hulston Cancer Center (3850 S. National Ave., Springfield) and will take approximately 10 minutes per appointment.

Skin cancer screenings are a way to identify potential skin cancers and precancers. It is estimated that over 3 million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancers each year.

Participants must be at least 18 years old and not be under the care of a dermatologist. Registration for an appointment is required by May 5. Space is limited. Call 417/269-INFO to register.