Diverging diamond interchange now open

The National Avenue and James River Freeway Bridge re-opened this morning in the diverging diamond pattern which takes drivers on the left side of the road. You are still able to make a left turn from northbound National onto the Cox South campus until July 26 when the new CoxHealth tunnel opens.

The bridge will remain closed to pedestrian traffic until July 17.

The new Cox access tunnel under National Avenue opens at 4 a.m. Monday, July 26. No left turns onto the Cox South campus or onto Bradford Parkway from National will be permitted. Remember, to get to the opposite side of National from either direction, you’ll go “right and under.”

Please remember to plan extra time for your trip and be prepared for lane slowdowns as drivers adjust to the new driving pattern and work is completed. Look for signs and pavement markings which will guide you safely through these changes.

Changes at National Avenue and James River Freeway

The new diverging diamond intersection at National Avenue and James River Freeway is almost complete. Here's what you need to know to get to Cox South during the final construction phases, which begin with the temporary closing of the National Avenue bridge on Friday, July 9.

Phase one: National Avenue bridge closed
9 p.m., Friday, July 9 - 4 a.m., Monday, July 12
Reopens on Monday in the new diverging diamond traffic pattern

To access Cox South during the bridge closure:

* From westbound James River Freeway: no changes

* From southbound National Avenue: no changes

* From eastbound James River Freeway: Take the Glenstone Avenue exit, turn left at the light and cross over the freeway. Take James River Freeway westbound. Take National exit and go north.

* From northbound National: Go eastbound on James River Freeway. Take the Glenstone exit, turn left at the light and cross over the freeway. Take James River Freeway westbound. Take National exit and go north.

Access to Primrose Street on the north side of the Cox South campus remains unchanged. Drivers can access Primrose from Campbell, Glenstone or Fremont Avenues as usual.

Phase two: New access tunnel opens
4 a.m., Monday, July 26

Two weeks after the bridge reopens, a new access tunnel under National Avenue will open, allowing access to Cox South from northbound National.

To get to Cox South:

* From northbound National: Turn right onto Bradford Parkway, then right again into the Cox tunnel under National. The new traffic pattern eliminates left turns into the Cox South campus from northbound National.

* From southbound National: no changes

To get to Hulston Cancer Center and Wheeler Heart and Vascular Center:

* From southbound National: Turn right onto the Cox South campus. Turn left at the stop sign to go through the Cox tunnel to Bradford. Drivers may also use Primrose.

No left turns onto the Cox South campus or onto Bradford Parkway from National will be permitted. Remember, to get to the opposite side of National from either direction, you'll go "right and under."

Women's 5K to benefit Fitness Centers Scholarship Fund

Join in the fun at the annual “Girls Just Wanna Run 5K Run/Walk” and help raise money for The CoxHealth Fitness Centers Scholarship Fund. This fund helps provide rehabilitation services and supports programs, education, services, equipment purchases and faculty improvements at The Meyer Center for Wellness and Rehabilitation.

Women and girls of all ages are encouraged to participate. This year’s event will begin at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, July 17, at Phelps Grove Park. Packet pick-up will be held 2-7 p.m., Friday, July 16, at the CoxHealth Fitness Center Meyer Center location, 3545 S. National. Packet-pick up will include a mini-expo with fun, interactive booths geared toward women and refreshments courtesy of Qdoba Mexican Grill and Panera Bread Company.

Registration is available at any CoxHealth Fitness Centers location, online at www.coxhealthfoundation.com, or from 6:30-7 a.m. on race day. Goodie bags and T-shirts will be given to participants, but there is a limited supply so be among the first to register.

Entry fees are $20 for pre-registration, $25 on race day, and $45 for families (Restrictions apply on the family rate. Call for details.) This year’s event is presented by Fitness Showcase. For more information about the race, call 269-3282.

Today's blood drives build on recent success

CoxHealth has won the "Racin to Save Lives" blood drive contest with St. John's. We beat the competition by 77 donors and can now take back the trophy. Thanks to everyone who donated in the May and June blood drives.

Our next blood drive is Thursday, July 1, at Cox South in Foster Auditorium and Cox North in Fountain Plaza. Hours will be from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Cox South and 7 a.m.-5 p.m. at Cox North.

This is our Salute a Veteran blood drive. Kathy Rigger, blood drive captain for CoxHealth's executive offices, says the gift is a Cox mug and a patriotic T-shirt.

Rigger says participants will be able to "give the shirt off your back" to feed hungry families in the Ozarks. Donors will have the option of declining the T-shirt and the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will make a cash donation to Ozarks Food Harvest that will provide twelve complete meals for area residents who need the help.

CBCO is on a Code Yellow alert for A Positive and O Positive. If you are either of these blood types your donation is greatly needed. Our blood drives at Cox South and Cox North tomorrow are the only CBCO drives before the 4th of July weekend. They are depending on us to carry them through the long 4th of July weekend.

Kathy reminds us that those who give at three CoxHealth Blood Drives during 2010 you will have your name entered in a drawing for a big screen TV valued at $1500. The drawing will be held in January 2011.

Bringing spice to a summer menu

It’s not easy keeping things interesting when you’re serving thousands of meals daily, but Food and Nutrition Services is adding some extra variety with a summer full of special theme days.

In June, the cafeteria at Cox South began a rotation of events, ranging from “Meatless Mondays” to “Action Station Fridays.”

“We want to be healthy and offer healthy foods,” says Jason Bauer, assistant director of retail and production in Food and Nutrition Services. “And we want to have fun.”

The “Summer Promo” also includes outdoor grilling on Wednesdays and a partnership with local restaurants for lunch menus on Tuesdays.

Bauer had chosen a few restaurants with healthy menu items and then approached them to see if they’d share their recipes. Valentine’s, Ocean Zen, The Balanced Palate, Social Suppers, Tuscan Grill and The Argentina Steakhouse are among the restaurants that offered to share recipes. Over the last few months, Cox’s head chef visited the restaurants and learned the secrets to each of the dishes that will be served in the cafeteria.

“We always want to offer people healthy options and the restaurant partnership will show people the healthy alternatives that are available in the community,” Bauer says.
“It gives people the chance to try a restaurant maybe they haven’t sampled in the past.”

For this summer, the promo event will be only in the Cox South cafeteria, but Bauer says the department is working to standardize all three cafeterias. Healthier options, such as the regular “best bite” meals and Bauer’s own trail bars will be available at Cox North and Cox Walnut Lawn and during overnight shifts.

After the popularity of the summer specials, Bauer says he’s working on a fall promotion as well.

“People always like a tasty healthy option and they like the change and the variety.”


Dijon Pork Chops
5 servings

Ingredients:
1/3 cup Honey
2 1⁄2 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
1 Tablespoon Orange Juice
1 teaspoon Fresh tarragon
1 teaspoon Cider vinegar
1⁄2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1⁄2 teaspoon Onion powder
5 Center cut pork chops


Directions:
1. Mix together honey, Dijon mustard, orange juice, fresh tarragon, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and onion powder.
2. Heat up grill.
3. Grill chops until 145 degrees for 15 seconds.
4. Brush occasionally with sauce.

TIP: Goes great with baby red potatoes and steamed California-style vegetables.


Creamy Piccata Chicken
4 servings
Ingredients:
4 5-oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup flour
1⁄2 cup egg substitute
2 tablespoons diced shallots
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 cup heavy cream
1⁄4 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1⁄2 cup penne pasta, cooked
1⁄2 cup broccoli

Directions:
1. Dip chicken in flour, egg, then flour, coating well.
2. Spray 12-inch nonstick skillet with cooking oil. Heat over medium heat and sear chicken, turning once. Remove chicken from skillet and keep warm.
3. In the same skillet, cook shallots and thyme, stirring occasionally, until shallots are tender.
4. Stir in lemon juice and cook 1 minute. Stir in heavy cream and parmesan cheese.
5. Garnish with parsley and lemon peel.
6. Spoon sauce to cover chicken.
7. Serve with pasta.

Children’s Miracle Network Telethon raises $1.37 million for area children

The 25th annual Children’s Miracle Network Telethon raised $1,374,521 to benefit local sick and injured children thanks to the outpouring of generosity from people in the community, despite difficult financial times.

“We could not have asked for a better event,” says Heather Zoromski, director of Children’s Miracle Network. “We could not continue to help families across the Ozarks without the donors, sponsors, volunteers and help from CoxHealth,” says Zoromski.

Zoromski acknowledged the generosity of a few sponsors including the following: Sensory Integrations, Downhome Productions, Re/Max, Great Southern, Credit Unions for Kids, Price Cutter Charity Championship, CoxHealth, MSU Dance Bear-A-Thon, Mason’s, Dairy Queen, Kum & Go, 92.9 Bass Country, STAR 105.1 and Walmart.

KY3 televised the event live beginning June 5 and ending at 5 p.m. June 6, making it possible for CMN to share “Miracle Kid” stories with the communities served by CMN and CoxHealth. This year the telethon also featured adults whom CMN helped when they were children.

Cafeteria's summer of variety ranges from the grill to restaurant dishes and veggie fare

Food and Nutrition Services kicked off a summer of culinary delights on Wednesday by firing up the grill in front of Cox South. Lunchtime diners were treated to grilled chicken, pulled pork hamburgers and hot dogs with all the trimmings.

The event was the first in the cafeteria’s “summer promo,” which features new themes and dishes four days a week. Jason Bauer, Assistant Director of Retail and Production in Food and Nutrition Services, details the promotion:

Meatless Mondays
On Mondays there will be no meat served in the entrée section of the cafeteria. This is to help decrease our carbon footprint, help with cutting calories due to high fat meat products and help promote meatless dishes.

Restaurant Tuesdays
We are teaming up with local restaurants in our cafeteria, on Tuesdays this summer.
The restaurants are going to give CoxHealth three healthy recipes that they serve in their establishment that we will serve in the cafeteria.
Some of the restaurants participating include: Valentine’s, Ocean Zen, The Balanced Palate, Social Suppers and Tuscan Grill.

Grill Out Wednesday
On this day we will be grilling out by the water fountain. We will feature a leaner burger and chicken every week but will have a new dish on the grill weekly, such as a chipotle burger.

Action Station Thursday
We have an action station daily, however, through the summer months we will be bringing back salads at the action station and/or will be serving new dishes every week on this day.

Friday Wraps
On Fridays we will continue serving wraps at the action station.

The “Summer Promo” will run through August.

Check out handcrafted gift items at special sale to benefit Children’s Miracle Network

Unique, affordable, handcrafted gift items, candles and more will be sold at the Children’s Miracle Network Summer Craft Sale 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., Friday, June 18, in the main lobby of Cox South, 3801 S. National Ave.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale benefit the Children’s Miracle Network of CoxHealth. CMN is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance for sick and injured children living in southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas. Proceeds benefit CMN projects such as the C.A.R.E. Mobile (a children’s clinic on wheels) medical equipment, financial assistance and educational programs.

For more information, call Children’s Miracle Network at 417/269-KIDS.

CoxHealth, CPR instructor honored by Safe Community Coalition

The Springfield Safe Community Coalition recently honored CoxHealth for contributing to the greater well being of the community by providing basic and advanced life-support training to thousands of people each year. The CoxHealth Educational Services Training Center earned an honorable mention for the 2010 Springfield Safe Community and Injury Prevention Awards. The awards recognize individuals, businesses, or organizations that promote or carry out valuable community safety and injury prevention programs in Springfield.

Springfield is one of only eight designated Safe Communities in the United States. Safe Communities and the awards are a project of the World Health Organization and the winners are selected by a an international panel of judges including representatives from the USA, Australia, Sweden and New Zealand.

Since 1997, the Training Center has provided American Heart Association programming and support to instructors and community members in basic and advanced adult and pediatric life support training courses. In 2009, the CoxHealth Training Center instructors trained 10,821 members of the community as a way to reduce adult, child and infant death and disability from cardiac arrest, stroke and choking. The center has consistently trained 7000-8000 people each year for the past 13 years.

Amos Hale (center, above), a CPR instructor with the center and son of Educational Services clinical educator Cheryl Blevins, was honored as a winner in the Outstanding Youth category of the awards. Hale, now 19, has been an instructor with the center since he was 16 years old.

Medical Mile run set for Saturday

Join in the fun of the 19th annual CoxHealth Medical Mile and 5K Run/Walk scheduled to begin 7 a.m., Saturday, June 5, rain or shine. While you’re there stop by the Wellness Expo from 7 a.m. – noon at The Meyer Center, 3545 S. National, for health screenings, children’s activities and more.

The Medical Mile has something for everyone – from children to senior adults, from serious runners to casual walkers – and it all benefits the Children's Miracle Network C.A.R.E. Mobile – a mobile health clinic for kids that specializes in immunizations, check-ups, sports physicals, treatment of common childhood illnesses and other primary care.

The morning’s activities will include an awards ceremony with KY3’s Ned Reynolds as the emcee. In addition to the races, there will be a Kids Carnival area with inflatables, bubbles, carnival rides, refreshments and more. Other activities include C.A.R.E. Mobile tours, visits with Pet Therapy of the Ozarks and fun with Louie,
The Springfield Cardinals mascot.

Pre-registration is available now at any CoxHealth Fitness Centers location or you can download the registration form at coxhealth.com. participants pick up their packets in Conference Room A at The Meyer Center, from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., Friday, June 4.

Race day registration and packet pick up is available for limited times. Please see coxhealth.com for details. Entry fees before the day of the race are $50 for families, $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 14 and under. On race day, entry fees are $60 for families, $25 for adults and $12 for children.

A complete list of Wellness Expo activities and screenings, and more information about Medical Mile race divisions is available at www.coxhealth.com.