Marisa Crotty honored with DAISY Award

Lynne Yaggy, CNO and vice president of clinical services, from left, Marisa Crotty, RN, and Adene Smith, BSN, CNRN, director of medical and surgical units, pose for a photo together after Crotty was presented a DAISY Award.



Marisa Crotty is a nurse on the surgical unit at Cox Medical Center Branson.  She was nominated for a DAISY Award by the daughter of a patient.

“I had many questions regarding my mom’s fractured hip,” the patient’s daughter explained. “When I approached Marisa, she gave me quality time, addressed my concerns and was very informative. This was comforting to me. My main concern was to get my mom’s pain to a tolerable level. Marisa told me how she would address this and then followed through. This young lady quickly earned my respect.”

“Marisa is a great fit for the DAISY Award,” explained Adene Smith, BSN, CNRN, director of medical and surgical units. “Marisa consistently goes above and beyond for her patients to ensure they are as comfortable as possible. She also understands that communication is key when it comes to emotional comfort and Marisa does an outstanding job communicating with both her patients and their family.”

Cox Branson hosting free Healthcare Decisions Day event Saturday

Cox Medical Center Branson, along with other national, state and community organizations, will highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making as part of National Healthcare Decisions Day 2016.

On Saturday, April 16, Cox Medical Center Branson is hosting a free event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Outpatient Center lobby, 525 Branson Landing Boulevard, with information about advance care planning and advance directive forms. Notaries will also be available free of charge to assist in completing the necessary paper work to assign a Designated Power of Attorney.

“It is important for any adult to have a Designated Power of Attorney because, unfortunately, we never know when something might happen and we are unable to make decisions about our own healthcare,” explained Allison Robertson, manager of case management. “In my line of work, I’ve seen many people who have been injured or become too ill to make decisions about their own care. When these documents are already in place, it eliminates one more thing for the family to deal with during an already stressful time. For the patient, this ensures you have a voice about your care, even when you can’t make that decision on your own.”

The service will be provided on a first come, first served basis and the process takes about 15 minutes to complete. A valid photo ID is required. Once completed, you will receive a notarized copy to distribute to healthcare providers and family members.

For more information about this event, call 335-7103.

CoxHealth’s Baby Affair this weekend

The excitement of a new bundle of joy means lots of planning and education. To help in those efforts, and have some fun, join CoxHealth for its annual Baby Affair on Saturday, April 16 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Valet parking will be offered at the West Tower entrance, and the event can be accessed from entrances on the west side of the Cox South campus.  

 This free come-and-go event, designed with all things baby and parenting in mind, is perfect for anyone planning a pregnancy, expecting a baby or is a new parent. Friends and grandparents are welcome, too!  

Participants can enjoy a variety of vendor displays, demonstrations, door prizes, and a raffle benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at CoxHealth. Scheduled classes feature topics such as grandparenting, breastfeeding and back-to-work issues, as well as “Baby and Me” exercise.    

Those planning to attend are welcome to bring cloth or disposable diapers – of any brand or size – for the CoxHealth Diaper Drive. All donations collected during the Baby Affair benefit Diaper Bank of the Ozarks.

For further details about the event, contact The Women’s Center at 417-269-LADY.

 

New infertility services coming to CoxHealth

The drive for infertility services is about to get a lot shorter for some Ozarks residents: On April 8, CoxHealth will begin offering infertility appointments with Washington University fertility specialists via telemedicine.

 The new offering is the result of a partnership with CoxHealth and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Women will meet virtually with the university’s medical team of reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialists through a special telemedicine clinic that will be housed in The Turner Center.

“We’re seeing babies born to women at increasingly later ages, which makes infertility rates increase as well,” says Dr. Staci Niemoth, medical director of Women’s Services at CoxHealth. “That factor makes this type of service more crucial than it’s ever been before.” 

In addition to having local access to these nationally recognized fertility specialists, if a woman decides to pursue infertility treatment the required labs, ultrasounds and medications associated with many treatments can be coordinated in Springfield. Procedures associated with the treatment of infertility, however, would still be done in St. Louis. Having the access to Washington University specialists via telemedicine, and the ability to undergo treatment monitoring from Springfield, should reduce expenses associated with travel and time away from work over the course of treatment.

To schedule an appointment, individuals should call 314-286-2400.

 

CoxHealth to launch fourth annual Diaper Drive

Diapers are a resource that every baby needs, yet they’re something not every family can afford. That’s one reason CoxHealth is launching its fourth annual Diaper Drive on April 1 – and is inviting the community to help make a difference.

 “Providing basic necessities when raising a family can be a challenge,” says Donyta Upton, manager of The Women’s Center at CoxHealth. “For families facing difficult circumstances, having an adequate number of diapers is a big concern. Families often have to prioritize basic living needs, and often diapers fall pretty far down on the list.”   

To help with the need, disposable and cloth diapers can be donated to this drive, which goes until April 30. Diapers will be given to Diaper Bank of the Ozarks in Springfield, Crosslines in Monett, and Jesus Was Homeless in Branson, and in turn will be distributed to local families in need.

Collection boxes will be placed at CoxHeath facilities as well as several area businesses. The drop-off locations include:

• Cox Medical Center South (North Entrance, the West Pavilion and West Tower)
• Cox North Hospital (Outpatient Entrance)
• Hulston Cancer Center
• The Meyer Center
• Cox Medical Center Branson (Cafeteria and the Skaggs Foundation office)
• Cox Monett Hospital
• KOLR-10
• Children’s Orchard
• Hy-Vee
• Great Southern Bank
• University Heights Baptist Church
• Steelman Transportation
• European Wax Center

For additional drop-off locations or further information, please contact The Women’s Center at 417-269-LADY.

 

Join us for MSU's Public Affairs Conference

CoxHealth is proud to be the presenting sponsor of this year’s Public Affairs Conference at Missouri State University. This year’s theme is “Building Healthy Communities: Body, Mind, Spirit.”
Plenary speakers include;

- Jillian Michaels -- Keynote Speaker, Health and wellness expert - Mark Umbreit -- Restorative Justice - Paul Thomlinson -- Why People Die by Suicide - Robert Putnam -- Our Kids: American Dream in Crisis - Zack Exley -- Information, Tech & Class Gap - Peter Gray -- Emotional Resilience in College

For more information and details, please visit the conference website at this link. We look forward to seeing you there.

Here's a quick guide to the CoxHealth presentations:

Getting real, getting started: Owning your own wellness: 
Tuesday, April 5, 3:00 – 4:15 p.m., CoxHealth Meyer Center. Never have our lives been more dominated by the distractions of constant technology, overloaded schedules and competing priorities. How can we possibly manage it all and achieve a state of genuine well-being? A mindful approach makes it possible, keeping us open and attentive to the opportunities present in every moment. A single conscious decision made daily can have limitless influence on our physical, mental and spiritual condition. Panel discussion presenters: Jason Bauer, Mary Braun, Danielle Dingman, Marie Pearl.

Be Well Rally and Walk: 
We’re holding a Be Well Rally and Walk, Tuesday, April 5, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Jordan Valley Park, 635 E. Trafficway, Springfield. Celebrate health, get some tips you can use and take a step in the right direction! Join CoxHealth for a fun, free wellness rally at Jordan Valley Park including high-energy group fitness demonstrations, fun prizes, health stations and more. You'll even have the chance to meet some of the dogs and handlers from Pet Therapy of the Ozarks. After the rally, we'll walk as a group to the JQH Arena for Jillian Michaels' kick-off of the MSU Public Affairs Conference "Building Healthy Communities: Body, Mind, Spirit." Bring your family and friends!


· Be Well Rally participants who sign up to receive HealthSense Update (CoxHealth’s monthly e-Newsletter) will be entered in a drawing for a free Fitbit – thanks to the generosity of our CoxHealth Wellness team!
· Take advantage of the great walking path around Jordan Valley Park as well as the one-mile group trek at 6:30! You’ll earn one wellness point for entering 30 minutes in your cardio log.
· Free t-shirts are available for the first 500 people!

The Affordable Care Act: Perspectives from the medical community
Friday, April 8, 10:30 – 11:45 a.m., Plaster Student Union, Room 313, MSU campus

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) brings a new reality to the medical profession. How is the ACA supposed to work for the medical field? How are doctors and medical personnel expected to manage care of patients under the ACA? To what extent does the new law restrict or enhance medical professionals in doing their job? Some doctors do not support or want the ACA and have left the practice, retired or discouraged others from going into the profession. How will the ACA affect the medical profession in the short- and long-term? Panelists: Steve Edwards, Steven Fowler, Marisela Gonzalez, Aiden Hill.

Bob Simmons honored for his commitment to Cox Medical Center Branson

 

Bob Simmons, center, was honored March 31 during a dedication ceremony at Cox Medical Center Branson. Simmons is joined by Board Chairman Phillip Loyd, left, and President William Mahoney, right.

For 27 years, local business owner Bob Simmons donated his time and talents to help Cox Medical Center Branson become a leading health care provider in southwest Missouri.

On March 31, Cox Medical Center Branson dedicated its Critical Care Waiting Area to Simmons in appreciation for his many years of unyielding service to the medical center.

Simmons joined the Skaggs Community Hospital (now Cox Medical Center Branson) Board of Directors in 1988 and has served as chairman, vice chairman, treasurer and member-at-large over the years. Simmons also served as interim CEO in 2009. He retired from the Cox Medical Center Branson Board of Directors in 2015.

“Words cannot express how grateful we are to have had Bob’s leadership and wisdom throughout the years,” said Cox Medical Center Branson President William Mahoney. “Bob has an unwavering dedication to the health of our community. Before my arrival in 2010, Bob unselfishly served as interim CEO for 10 months. Then, in 2012, he was an integral part of the team that worked diligently to bring Skaggs and CoxHealth together. He’s a strong leader because he is a strong listener. We will forever be grateful for his contributions to our medical center and our community.”

In 2005, Simmons was honored with the Excellence in Governance Award from the Missouri Hospital Association.

In addition to serving on the hospital board of directors, Simmons also serves the community as a Branson alderman, a position he has held since 2009. Simmons is co-owner of Table Rock Asphalt Construction Company, in Branson, and Southwest Materials Inc., in Ozark.

Healthy Living: Change is possible

Mary Braun, Danielle Dingman and Jason Bauer will join moderator Teresa Coyan and spinning instructor Marie Pearl for panel discussions on taking charge of your wellness

Here are a few secrets about the wellness experts you see sweating at the gym, eating right in the cafeteria, running 5Ks and doing triathlons: They all started somewhere. Many of them weren’t always healthy. They don’t have more time than we do. They don’t have it all figured out. The fittest among us are working on wellness every day, just like the rest of us.

As individuals and as a community, we all have the opportunity to make improvements, building on wherever we are in our current wellness. That’s the message four of our CoxHealth experts will deliver at Missouri State University’s Public Affairs conference in April. The conference theme is “Building Healthy Communities: Body, Mind and Spirit” and our team will lead a discussion about how we can all make moves to be healthier and improve the health of our community in the process.

The panel includes Danielle Dingman, community wellness coordinator; Jason Bauer, system director of Food Services; Mary Braun, Ferrell-Duncan Clinic director of nursing; and Marie Pearl, spinning instructor at CoxHealth Fitness Centers and a contestant on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”

Between them, the four have decades of experience in improving health. Their passion for wellness has transformed each of their lives – both professionally and personally. 

Here’s what our experts had to say about what we can all do to make a difference:

Take charge

There’s no one fix that works for everyone. Finding what we can control and making small improvements can give us a sense of power that can drive greater accomplishments.

Jason: Start by looking at your strengths – what are you good at and what are you likely to fail at? Some people are morning people, some are evening people; you have to fit your wellness plan into what works best for you. We all have to make time – set time aside for yourself and communicate that to your family.

Mary: Take control – you can’t make progress if you feel defeated. Wellness is individualized. No one plan or strategy works for all people. You have to own your choices. Eating, for example, is something you have control over. I don’t always do it perfectly, but I have control over it. Try planning out your grocery shopping and what you’ll eat. Remember that there are decision points every day where you can make choices – simple things like, ‘Will I drive to the next building or walk?’

Danielle: Don’t let your circumstances determine your health. We’re all busy and it’s easy to rely on convenient options, like the drive-through. You can take control by planning – pack a lunch, pack healthy snacks. Set aside 30 minutes in your day for exercise. And forgive yourself – there will be times you don’t get done what you wanted, but you have the present and you can move forward from there.

Marie: Write a list of your ultimate goals, whether that’s a number on a scale, a fitness goal or a better cholesterol level. Then, research methods to accomplish that. Equip yourself with knowledge and invest in learning about wellness, nutrition and exercise. Find things you love and will enjoy for a long time – both exercise activities and foods you can tweak to be healthy.

Environment matters

There’s power in community – we should surround ourselves with people who have similar goals and who can support us.

Danielle: Wellness is on a continuum: social, mental, emotional – you have to address all of those components to be fully well. Pay attention to your social network. Surround yourself with people who have similar goals. You really need to think about what you want and then put yourself in an environment that will help you achieve your personal goals.

Jason: You have to figure out how much time you are willing to commit to wellness. What will you sacrifice for it? I wouldn’t say sacrifice time with your family, but I do have to ask, ‘Do I need to watch what’s on TV or can I record it for later?’ It’s a question of what you are willing to adapt to.
Danielle is right about influences – negative people bring everybody down. I don’t have time for that, so we all seek out positive influences.

Mary: I’m inspired by the people around me. I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of family and close friends. If you have a supportive family, that’s a real gift.

Marie: Wellness is an area where the group mentality of “everybody else is doing it” can be a real positive! Have a support system, your co-workers, friends, family – people who will enjoy the ride with you. Having people I’m committed to keeps me accountable. If I don’t have someone to be there for, sometimes I won’t be there for myself.

Find your ‘why’

Ultimately, wellness requires a series of daily, personal decisions. Those are easier to make if we are clear on what’s driving us. For our experts, wellness has become a part of their identity.

Danielle: Faith and a sense of purpose are huge motivators for me. I’m very passionate about helping other people be healthy. I see how important it is in my life. Everyone has a purpose and to achieve that purpose, they need to be the healthiest version of themselves that they can be. I want to be able to help people achieve their purpose through health and wellness.

Mary: I try to focus on things that feed my soul. My goal is simple: Be healthy, retire healthy and enjoy my grandchildren. I love to play with my grandkids and that keeps me healthy. Your health changes over time – what may have worked for me 10 years ago is not the same as what works today. I’m working to adjust what I do to how my body has changed.

Jason: I’m driven to be healthy by my family first, then work. I love my job. We’re in a spot where people look to us – I’ve had people come up to me in the cafeteria to ask what I’m eating! I put myself in a career that’s driven my wellness. It keeps me on track, and it motivates the motivator!

Marie: I’m motivated by not going back to the way I used to feel. I was winded from a walk from the car to the office. Every day, I’m motivated by making sure I can live the happy, healthy life I’ve set out for.

Celebrate successes

Every step forward counts, even small ones. Don’t forget to acknowledge your progress. Do whatever it takes to provide your own motivation.

Danielle: Sometimes, life-changing, motivating ‘lightbulb moments’ happen, but most of the time they don’t. Sometimes you just have to say, ‘Everything isn’t positive right now, but I have to do something.’ Create a plan and take it a day at a time, or a half-day at a time, and commit yourself to making small changes. Eventually a shift in mindset will come. Just start where you are and take those first steps.

Mary: You have to acknowledge those small steps. Even if that means creating a daily ‘gratitude list’ to acknowledge the steps you’re making.

Jason: Everyone has stress and we all have to manage that. Ask yourself, ‘Is it a bad day or just one bad thing that I’ve made into a bad day? It’s all how you react to things. Stress management is huge. Everybody does it differently – cycle, run, hit the weights, take a walk or just spend some time organizing. Every time you accomplish a goal, celebrate those successes. That success will start to build on itself until you’re accomplishing the big goals.

Marie: I used to reward myself with food, now I focus on experiences and making memories – small getaways and trying new things like horseback riding and ziplining.
You have to know it’s possible. The ability to change – to build the life you want – is within your control. When you’ve never been fit, thin or active, in your head it seems impossible, but I know it can be done. You have to work for it, but it is possible to change your life.

Child Life celebrates 25 years of helping kids at CoxHealth

Being in the hospital is difficult at any age, but it’s especially trying for kids. However, youngsters at CoxHealth – 11,500 in 2015 alone -- have some special people who help make the experience better. Those people are Child Life Specialists, and this month they’re celebrating their 25th year of serving kids at CoxHealth.

“By assisting children and their families in understanding hospitalization, diagnoses and procedures, Child Life helps to empower children in the healthcare environment,” says Rana Post, Child Life Coordinator at CoxHealth. “As we look towards the future and the ever-evolving needs of Pediatric patients and their families, Child Life will continue to be an essential part of the health care experience by helping provide for children’s psychosocial needs and facilitating play during hospitalization.”

In everyday terms, some of those efforts translate to preparing children for produces by explaining them step-by-step in kid-friendly terms, allowing children to touch and manipulate medical equipment prior to procedures to decrease anxiety, organizing special visitors and events, and distracting patients during procedures. 

In 1991, CoxHealth began with one Child Life Specialist who served kids in the Pediatric Unit and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Today, the program has expanded to three full-time employees who aid kids in locations such as Same Day Surgery at Cox South, the CoxHealth Surgery Center, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Emergency Department, Pediatric Urgent Care, Pre-Admissions, Radiology and Pediatric Sedation. The specialists also serve any adult patients in the hospital who are developmentally delayed.

Photo: From left to right are CoxHealth Child Life Specialists Amanda Eddington, Morgan Conrad and Rana Post.

 

Eat local this National Nutrition Month -- and all year long!

Access to fresh, local food products not only improves health, but provides the opportunity to talk to producers about the food is grown. We can all support the revival of real, healthy, clean, and fair food by supporting local agriculture!

Over the last 20 years or so, convenient, cheap, processed food has dominated the food arena. A shift in agricultural politics and economics throughout the 1970s and '80s jump-started this trend by making commodity products like meat, corn and soy very cheap while creating food deserts lacking affordable, fresh, healthy food.

Up until the past 5 to 10 years, family-owned farms were disappearing while waistlines and rates of chronic disease like diabetes and heart disease were increasing.

In Springfield, however, a culture of local food is in fact alive and well: Local restaurants are selling local food and community gardens are growing it. There are locally-based food marts and farmer's markets that distribute local food products.

This area is also proud to have the Ozarks Food Policy Council with a mission of building community relationships and alliances around local food and farming. More information on their efforts is available at the Ozark's Regional Food Policy Council website.

Why Does This Matter?

Eating locally not only supports local farmers but it truly matters to people who want to promote better nutrition while spreading the joys of good food!

Local food is more than a business transaction.

• Local food is more flavorful, and contains more nutrients, as it is harvested at the peak of ripeness in-season. It's also tastes better because it's transported shorter distances and available to eat sooner.
• Buying locally supports the local economy by profiting the farmers who then are able to reinvest in businesses nearby.
• Purchasing close to home minimizes the impact on the environment by supporting the use of organic methods and keeping operations small while preserving open community spaces.
• It allows for the creation of a safety net and increases food security by reducing the steps between you and your food source. 

Most Importantly…

Local food us rediscover the food that nourishes us!  It allows us to be acquainted with the grower, allows us the opportunity to have important conversations about the realities of food production while gaining an appreciation for this three-times-a-day, life-sustaining necessity that we call food.

With these things in mind, whether you eat out frequently, or prefer a night in with friends or family over a homemade meal, there are plenty of ways to honor a long-lost but revived tradition here in Springfield, Missouri!