The Joplin Health Department is now offering CPR training. This important skill can save thousands of lives annually, but only about half of Americans say they know how to do it.

Two CPR classes are being offered on Thursday, June 22. These classes are part of the American Heart Association’s training and are open to the public. They will be held in Conference Room 1 of the Joplin Public Library (1901 E. 20th Street).

Friends and Family CPR @ 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

This class is a great one for new parents, grandparents, babysitters, and others. The cost is $25 per person.

• Adult hands-only CPR with breaths
• Child and infant CPR
• Adult and child AED use
• Mild and severe airway block
• Hands-on practice of all techniques

AHA HeartCode @ 2:30 to 3:30 pm

The course is designed for those who have already completed the online portion of the HeartCode® BLS course. This is the hands-on skills session check-off to complete the certification for HeartCode® BLS. Cost is $20 per person.

Preregistration and pre-payment are required to attend either of these classes. Participants can complete these steps by going to the Joplin Parks registration website of their online catalog. Classes are listed under the Adult Programs division of the registration site.

Citizens can also call the Health Department at 417.623.6122, ext. 1258 for more information.

Reference:

Joplin Health Department
417.623.6122, ext. 1256

Learn about what’s new in local health care with Freeman Health System’s online newsletter, Freeman in a Flash. Read about new sleep apnea treatments, December’s health focus, the Joplin Christmas parade, and much more below.  

Freeman Reaches a Major Milestone with MONARCH Robot-Assisted Bronchoscopy

A year and a half ago, Freeman announced the acquisition of MONARCH® – a transformative new robotic technology that helps our doctors find lung cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages. Now, Freeman pulmonologist Dr. Grant Piersonhas performed his 200th MONARCH procedure in less than two years.

Freeman is the first and only health system in Missouri, Southeast Kansas, and Northeast Oklahoma to invest in MONARCH platform by Auris. MONARCH gives our physicians advanced maneuverability to navigate a patient’s airways to detect and biopsy potentially cancerous nodules.

“Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, in part because it has no symptoms in its early stages,” said Dr. Pierson. “Because the MONARCH platform provides improved reach, vision and control for bronchoscopic procedures, it holds potential to help us to make a diagnosis earlier. We are excited about the promise of this technology to offer a more hopeful future for our patients with lung cancer.”

Learn more about Dr. Pierson and MONARCH here. For more information about MONARCH, pulmonology services or to make an appointment, call 417.347.8315.

Freeman Offering New Mask-Less Sleep Apnea Treatment

Freeman Health System is now offering Inspire Therapy, an innovative method obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment option for those who cannot use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. Freeman is the first and only system within a 70-mile radius of Joplin to offer Inspire.

Inspire works inside the body with a patient’s natural breathing process to treat sleep apnea. Mild stimulation opens the airway during sleep, enabling oxygen to flow naturally.

The Inspire team at Freeman includes Dr. Grant Pierson (pulmonology specialist) and Dr. Jason Maxfield (sleep medicine specialist) referring patients to Dr. Kent McIntire (ear, nose and throat specialist).

“Freeman is fortunate to have three excellent physicians collaborating in a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to treat poor sleep for the best therapy outcomes,” said Paula Baker, Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer. “Good sleep improves cognition, concentration, productivity and performance. It can also maximize problem-solving skills and enhance memory. If you’ve ever missed a few of hours sleep, you know it can make you feel like you’re running on empty. This is why Freeman invested in this breakthrough sleep therapy called Inspire.”

Learn more here.

Ask Your Questions About the Impact of Recreational Marijuana in the Workplace

In November, Missouri voters passed Amendment 3, expanding marijuana use beyond medicinal purposes and legalizing it for recreation for those 21 years of age and older. Sale of recreational marijuana could begin as early as February 2023, though it is important to recognize marijuana use remains federally illegal. This change presents new challenges as employers consider changes to drug testing policies.

Share your questions with Freeman OccuMed about how this change impacts your business. Stay tuned for details about an information seminar on workplace substance abuse in January 2023.

Ask your question here.

Save My Spot

Save your spot — because feeling better shouldn’t be a waiting game.

Patients can use the Save My Spot feature on the Freeman Health System website to select a convenient time to come in.

Freeman Urgent Care – Joplin

• 1130 East 32nd Street
• Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Saturday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Freeman Urgent Care – Webb City

• 1636 South Madison Street
• Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Saturday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Note: Using Save My Spot is not required to be seen in our facilities. Walk-ins are always welcome! Please check with your insurance carrier to verify coverage before your arrival. If you or someone you know is experiencing a life-threatening illness or injury, call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency room.

National Health Observances

As you plan your Employee Wellness programs and communication, you can find resources at the Department of Health and Human Services Monthly Observances Calendar.

Each month focuses on approximately three to six topics. Here are two resources for December:

World AIDS Day

• December 1
• The National AIDS Trust recognizes World AIDS Day to raise awareness, show support for people living with HIV/AIDS, and united in the fight against the virus.
• Encourage others in your network to “Rock the Ribbon” and spread the word about HIV.

National Influenza Vaccination Week

• December 5 through 9
• The CDC provides excellent resources to help you communicate the importance of flu. Check them out here.

2022 Joplin Christmas Parade: Christmas in Candy Land

Tuesday, December 6 @ 6:00 pm | Main Street in Joplin from 15th to 2nd Street

Brought to you by Freeman Health System.

Freeman Health Systemis proud to continue our ongoing support and sponsorship of the Annual Joplin Christmas Parade. We consider this a gift to the community we are so blessed to have served for the past 97 years, and we are honored play a key role in bringing the parade to Joplin again this year.

If you would like to enter your organization or business in the Joplin Christmas Parade, be sure you get your entry form filled out as soon as possible to ensure your participation in this great community event.

Check out the parade details here.

Want to Stay in the Loop?

Subscribe to Freeman in a Flash and the newsletter will be shared with you each month via email. Sign up today!

Buckle Up Phone Down: A Safety Challenge That Can Make a Difference

The Joplin Health Department is challenging teens and all drivers to buckle up and put their phones down to reduce car crashes, as it is the number one cause of death among teenagers. This work is an initiative of the Health Dept. to help reduce motor vehicle-related injuries and fatalities under a contract with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The Buckle Up Phone Down campaign is tackling the two most impactful actions a driver can take to prevent crashes — or survive if one occurs. The Missouri Department of Transportation began “Buckle Up, Phone Down” in 2017 to begin reducing this statistic. This campaign has been adopted by many states and has received national attention.

As part of this effort, Friday, October 21, 2022 has designated as Missouri Buckle Up Phone Down Day. The State of Missouri is pushing for ZERO fatalities on roadways on Friday, October 21.  One way to do this is if everyone would buckle up every time they are in the car, put their phone down, or set it to “do not disturb” while driving. Distracted driving is on the rise. Distracted driving can also include “impaired” driving due to alcohol, drugs, excessive sleepiness, and other activities people do when driving.

The Health Department initiated an informational campaign on its Facebook page with individuals demonstrating the Buckle Up Phone Down symbol. To do this, a person gives a “thumbs up” with their right hand and a “thumbs down” with their left hand. They also encourage many people to participate in this photo opportunity and post it on their own Facebook page using the hashtag #buckleuphonedown

Read more about this initiative and take the pledge at: www.modot.org/bupd

Below are statistics related to this safety promotion that clearly demonstrates the need for all drivers to Buckle Up and put their Phone Down.

Buckle Up:

In 2020, more than 975 people lost their lives in Missouri traffic crashes, an increase of 10% from 2019. Missouri’s current safety belt usage rate is 86% with the unbuckled 14% accounting for 349 fatalities in 2019.

Phone Down:

Over the past five years, cell phone-related crashes in Missouri have increased by 30%, with nearly 2,500 crashes in 2019. Right now, Missouri has a “no texting” law for drivers aged 21 years and under. But distracted driving isn’t just a young driver’s problem. Approximately 70% of drivers using cell phones in Missouri traffic crashes were 22 years of age or older. We are challenging all drivers to honor that ban no matter what their age.

Reference: 

Lynn Iliff Onstot, Public Information Officer
City of Joplin
417.624.0820, ext. 204
LOnstot@joplinmo.org

Chi Chi MaMa’s Breastfeeding Support Group is holding a breastfeeding celebration to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week 2022 from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, August 6 at the Joplin Senior Center.

This event offers fun for the whole family with vendors, free lunch, door prizes, and games. The group will take a walk after the event, so make sure to bring strollers and/or carriers for the little ones.

This event is sponsored by the Breastfeeding Coalition of SWMO, Healthy Blue, Home State Health, and United Health Care.

For more information about this event, please call 417.623.1928, ext. 1763.

 

Join the Missouri SBDC hosted at Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) and Freeman Health System for Wellness for Business Part Three: Growing Your Employee Wellness Program on Tuesday, August 23, 2022.

During this session, participants will hear from Lori Scott Dreiling, Pittsburg State University’s HR Director and former HR Director for Modine Manufacturing who received the Missouri Worksite Wellness Gold Award in 2019. Lori will discuss her experience with worksite wellness and then join a panel of local businesses that have implemented wellness programs.

The Wellness Panel includes:

• Lori Scott Dreiling, Pittsburg State University’s HR Director and former HR Director for Modine Manufacturing. They received a Missouri Worksite Wellness Gold Award in 2019.
• Suzan Morang, City of Joplin Health Department’s Community Health Planner/Educator. They received a Missouri Worksite Wellness Silver Award in 2021.
• Chelsey Davenport, Neosho School District’s Wellness Liaison. They received a Missouri Worksite Wellness Platinum Award in 2021.
• Michael Sanders, Freeman Health System’s Controller and Healthy Joplin representative.

The panel will be begin at 8:00 am at the Freeman Health System Business Center Conference Room. Virtual attendance is available via Zoom. Attendance fees are covered by Freeman Health System.

Learn more here.

Reference:

Missouri SBDC
417.625.3128
sbdc@mssu.edu