Hulston Cancer Center celebrates survivors

Hulston Cancer Center at CoxHealth invites cancer survivors, their families and caregivers to a special event celebrating cancer survivorship.

Survivors’ Sundae will be held 2-4 p.m., Sunday, June 7, at Hulston Cancer Center, 3850 S. National. This is a free event but registration is requested by June 3.

This is the fifth year Hulston Cancer Center has honored cancer survivors and those who care for them during their treatment at the center. Autum Bragg, community oncology educator, says the first year about 13 people attended, but the event has steadily grown so that last year more than 100 people came.

“We started holding these events so that our patients could truly celebrate being survivors,” says Autumn Bragg, community oncology educator at Hulston Cancer Center. “Since most of the time the patient’s caregivers are with them through the treatments, appointments and the emotions, we want to celebrate with the families as well,” says Bragg.

Guests will enjoy ice cream sundaes donated by Andy’s Frozen Custard, coffee and tea from Starbucks and iced tea from Chick-Fil-A. Participants will enjoy games, activities and door prizes, plus entertainment provided by Hulston Cancer Center’s volunteer piano players.

Participants can register by June 3 for Survivors’ Sundae by calling 269-INFO.

Open house planned to unveil new ambulance in Republic

CoxHealth has added an additional ambulance to the Republic ambulance station.

“This additional ambulance will provide advanced life support service for the communities of Republic, Billings and Clever for an additional 12 hours a day, seven days a week,” says Mike Dawson, CoxHealth EMS operations manager.

The existing ambulance will continue to provide 24/7 coverage for the area. In addition, the station maintains a back-up ambulance to provide uninterrupted coverage should a frontline ambulance need maintenance or repairs.

Stop by the open house on Saturday, May 16, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., to see the new ambulance, meet the crew and enjoy burgers, hot dogs and all the trimmings. The Republic ambulance station is on Illinois Ave, behind Burger King.

ED groundbreaking begins new era in emergency medicine

Today, CoxHealth broke ground for the health system’s new 78,000 square-foot Emergency Department, and announced a major donor gift that’s helping to make the expansion possible.

The donation, generously given by Mr. and Mrs. Larry and Tracy Lipscomb and Mr. and Mrs. Jack and Cathryn Cox Lipscomb (above), creates the Lipscomb Family Wing of Cox South, which will be built south of the existing outpatient center and will house the new ED.
The new ED will have 62 beds – a significant improvement over the 23 that are available in the existing facility – and is designed in five “pods” that can be opened or closed throughout the day as needed.

“We are excited to usher in this new era in emergency medicine for Southwest Missouri,” said Robert Bezanson, CoxHealth president and CEO. “This Emergency Department was designed with staff input to create a better work environment for them, and to enhance our patients’ experiences. It truly is a great thing for Cox, and for our community.”

Not only will the new ED provide for a better patient and family experience, it includes a number of “green” initiatives designed to help the environment. Among these are a construction site waste management and recycling program, the use of regionally produced renewable building materials, abundant use of natural light, water use reduction appliances, and more.

The total project cost is $52.5 million, financed by a Sept. 2008 bond issuance. Construction is expected to be complete in August 2010.

CoxHealth also announced a new fundraising campaign, designed to drive resources to patient needs to compliment the new facility. Donor options are available at a variety of levels, and correspond with name recognition on a room within the center. People interested in giving to the campaign should contact the CoxHealth Foundation at 269-7150.

Class offers answers on surgical weight loss

Have you ever considered surgical weight loss? Are you curious about the different surgical techniques? Would you like to know if surgical weight loss is right for you?

If so, attend CoxHealth’s Surgical Weight Loss Program Thursday, , May 14, from 5:30-7 p.m., in Foster Auditorium at Cox South, 3801 S. National. Attendees can learn about the Lap-Band System for surgical weight loss, the physical and mental requirements that make you a good candidate for weight loss surgery, and more.

For more information, call 875-3593.

Learn the basics of breastfeeding at CoxHealth

New moms and moms-to-be can learn the nutritional and emotional advantages of breastfeeding during the class “Breastfeeding Basics.”

The class offers practical information on breastfeeding, from preparation to the all-important “how to” breastfeed, and is presented by a certified lactation consultant. Breastfeeding Basics will be twice in May:

• 7-9 p.m., Wednesday, May 13
• 4:30-6:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 27

Class is held in Suite 130 of the Turner Center, 1000 E. Pimrose. There is a $25 fee and registration is required. Call 269-LADY for more information.

Cox College hosts open house for prospective students

Cox College wants people to know that the need for nursing and health sciences professionals is still strong – even in this struggling economy.

“While the health care industry isn’t ‘recession-proof,’ it does tend to be ‘recession-resistant,’” says Lindy Biglieni, Cox College director of admissions. “As people loose their jobs or simply look for more stable careers, we want them to know Cox College can help.”

This Saturday from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., the college will hold an open house for prospective students. Refreshments and tours of the campus will be provided, faculty will be on-hand to answer questions, and information about scholarships and courses of study will be available. “This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in nursing or a health sciences career to learn about the steps they need to take and what the college has to offer,” she says.

The college will waive the $45 application fee for anyone who applies during the event. Cox College offers Associate and Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing, an Associate of Science degree in medical assisting, and certificates in medical transcription and medical billing/coding.

The college is located at Cox North, 1423 N. Jefferson, in Springfield. For more information, visit www.coxcollege.edu

CMN to give away 'fantasy' outdoor children’s play set

Children’s Miracle Network of CoxHealth will give a “fantasy” outdoor play set, valued at $1300, to one lucky winner during the 2009 Children’s Miracle Network Telethon Sunday, May 31. The drawing will be held live at approximately 4:15 p.m. on KY3.

A $10 ticket is all you need for your chance to win. Tickets can be purchased:

•in the CMN office, 3525 S. National, Suite 203
•at The CoxHealth Meyer Center, 3545 S. National
•online at www.coxhealth.com – just scroll down and follow the link.

The play set, donated by Wal-Mart, is on display at the corner of National and Walnut Lawn in Springfield. For more information, call CMN at 269-6853.

Security department gives back with CoxHealth Honor Guard

The tragic death of CoxHealth Security officer Monte Ruby last year prompted an outpouring of support for the department and Ruby’s family. The same thing happened when former Cox Security officer, Greene County Deputy Sheriff Gary McCormack was killed in a traffic accident in 2007.

Now, the Cox Security department wants to give back.

Staff members have formed the CoxHealth Honor Guard which made its debut at the April department head meeting.

“Our goal is to make employees proud and to thank them for donating their time and financial support to help the families of our employees who lost their lives,” says Security director Joe Rushing. “We had to figure out somehow to pay them back.”

Rushing says the Security officers volunteered their time to learn how to perform the precision movements and to how to properly wear the elaborate uniforms required of an honor guard regiment.

The guard will be available to represent CoxHealth as casket guards and casket bearers at the funeral of any board member or administrator who should pass away. To request the guard’s services, families should contact the Security department or Human Resources department.

The honor guard will serve as casket bearers for any CoxHealth employee who passes away as well. Rushing says the honor guard will also represent CoxHealth at the funeral or memorial service for any state dignitary.

The CoxHealth unit is one of only a few fully-dressed honor guards in Springfield. The group will be available to provide a full military funeral service with a flag folding ceremony and 21-gun salute for any law enforcement agency that loses an officer. The honor guard of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department served as casket guard at Officer Ruby’s funeral.

“Now we are able to help other law enforcement agencies who don’t have an honor guard,” says Rushing. “It’s all about giving back.”

The CoxHealth Honor Guard’s first official duty will be participating in the nationwide observance May 8 to honor of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2008. A special memorial service will be held in Springfield at the Grace Assembly Church at 9:30 a.m. The names of fallen officers, including Officer Ruby’s, will be read aloud.

Retail clinic opens new path to care

When Adrian Juncos of Springfield needed to get a rash on his arms checked out, he found himself weighing his options. Urgent care? A walk-in clinic? Then he remembered his dad mentioning a new clinic in the South Campbell Walmart.

On the clinic’s opening day, Juncos was among the first of dozens of area residents to seek care at Walmart’s first in-store clinic in Missouri.

“I had checked out a few other places, but this clinic was only 50 dollars for a visit,” Juncos says. “I just came and checked it out – I didn’t even know it was the first day.”

Nurse practitioner Kim McGinn-Perryman saw Juncos and wrote him a prescription, which he promptly filled at Walmart’s pharmacy.

“In 30 minutes, I was taken care of,” he says. “It was smooth and professional – it was a good experience.”

Since the clinic opened at the beginning of March, nurse practitioners have seen an average of 24 patients each day, more than the 17-18 organizers had expected. The clinic is drawing in a mix of patients, mainly for coughs, colds and respiratory and other minor infections.

Many of the patients seen at the clinic may be sick enough to need care, but not ill enough that they would pursue an urgent care or emergency department visit. A $50 stop at Walmart, though, is serving as an affordable entry point to health care – care many might otherwise postpone or avoid altogether.

“So far, the clinic has exceeded our expectations,” says Tom Luthy, administrative director of Regional Services. He says the patients he’s talked to are grateful for the retail clinic option, due in large part to the simplicity of the pricing.

“People know what they will be charged and they can plan for the cost of the visit.”
About 60 percent of patients are paying cash for their visits, while the remaining 40 percent are billing insurance. Luthy says plenty of the cash payers may be insured as well, but they may have high deductibles or other reasons for seeking care at the clinic.

“This is really the right time for this – it’s meeting a need we didn’t know was as big as it is,” says Luthy, who points out that more clinic locations will be announced soon, beginning with a location in Republic. “We’re seeing husbands and wives who have been laid off as well as those who might have no insurance or who can’t afford other options.

“It’s not the convenience, it’s the access and affordability that people really need.”
Danny Morris of Fordland came to the clinic on opening day after being referred by his primary care physician. He had caught a chest cold a month earlier and had been unable to shake it. Like Juncos, he was in and out of the clinic in a few minutes.

“It went really well, and this means a lot with me not having insurance,” Morris says. “Sometimes, I can’t go to the doctor any other way.”

Nurse practitioner Lorri Julian-Trotter says in her first day at the clinic, at least a third of the patients she treated were uninsured.

“A few were college students or young people who are working at jobs where they don’t provide insurance,” she says. “I think we’ll see a lot of younger people.”
Nurse practitioners say the clinic is a chance to work in a unique setting with quite a bit of autonomy.

“A retail clinic has some diversity to it,” McGinn-Perryman says. “It’s a good thing for the community and it’s a positive thing for the nurse practitioners – it’s a different sort of experience and I think they’ll enjoy that. It’ll change the way Cox utilizes nurse practitioners.”

Luthy says that in addition to expanding opportunities for nurse practitioners, the new retail clinics will become an established path of care that works alongside all the services offered by CoxHealth.

“The clinics aren’t competing with anything or replacing anything,” Luthy says. “We see these as offering a complementary service.”

Elise Jones, who manages the clinic and frequently works at the front desk, says she sees daily how the clinic is serving the community.

“We’ve had so many patients who might not have actually sought care because of insurance reasons,” she says. “Some people who might not have gone to a doctor to be seen are actually being seen and that’s exciting.

“We really are being there for those who need it, and that’s right there with the Cox mission.”

Transporter to donate kidney for brother’s transplant

Sarah Shelburn has known for most of her life that her younger brother, Nathan, would one day need a kidney transplant. Since she was 16, she’s known she wanted to be the donor.

Nathan was born with chronic renal failure and now as he is preparing to graduate from high school, it is time for the transplant. On May 27, Sarah, who is a transporter in Radiology, will travel to Kansas City with Nathan for an operation that could save his life.

It’s a life-changing event, but Sarah says it’s just part of being a big sister.
“Everybody goes on about ‘you’re a hero, blah, blah, blah,’ but I don’t look at it like that,” she says. “He’s my little brother and I just didn’t hesitate.”

The Shelburn family will travel to Kansas City to be near Nathan and Sarah as they undergo the transplant at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Sarah will be hospitalized for 4-5 days, while Nathan will be in for 10-14. His total recovery time will be 8-12 weeks, but he should start feeling better right away.

Most of the procedure itself is covered by insurance, but the Radiology department has held fundraisers to help cover the costs of the family’s lodging and time away from work. So far, they have raised more than $5,000, with a goal of $10,000.

“My coworkers have helped out and supported us, it’s amazing,” Sarah says. “I’ve been in tears quite a few times over fundraisers and seeing how giving people are. We’re very, very grateful.”

A fund has been established for the family’s expenses at the Bank of Billings (744-2567) and donations can be made to:

The Kidney Fund for Nathan Shelburn
P.O. Box 70
Billings, MO 65610