Learn about what’s new in local healthcare with Freeman Health System’s newsletter, Freeman in a Flash. Read about the new specialty clinic in Pittsburg, workplace wellness training, and much more below.
Freeman Celebrates 100th Robotic Bronchoscopy
Last summer, Freeman brought the MONARCH® robotic bronchoscopy procedure to Joplin, giving our community access to a transformative robotic technology that enables physicians to find lung cancer in its earliest stages. Less than one year later, Freeman has performed 100 procedures with MONARCH and changed dozens of local lives along the way.
Finding lung cancer early dramatically increases survival rates. Freeman patient John Turley and his wife Loretta praise MONARCH and Freeman pulmonologist Dr. Grant Pierson for finding Turley’s lung cancer at stage one.
“He’s had all five radiation treatments required to get rid of the cancer and had no side effects,” said Loretta Turley. “It was wonderful that they found it at stage one because he didn’t have any symptoms. We feel very fortunate that they found it that soon. Now, he will have more time to live.”
Read more about the Turleys’ story here.
OccuMed Medical Director Named to AOCOPM Board of Directors
Join us as we congratulate Freeman OccuMed Medical Director Dr. Dennis Estep for being named as a trustee to the board of directors for the American Osteopathic College of Occupational and Preventive Medicine (AOCOPM). The organization aims to improve public health through the practice of preventive medicine.
In this role, Dr. Estep will assist the organization with building strong residency relationships for graduating physicians and shape continuing education programs for current providers.
Familiar Faces in New Roles at Freeman OccuMed
Freeman OccuMed is pleased to share the following staffing updates:
- Raenna Diaz, LPN, assumed the role of onsite coordinator. She has seven years of experience at Freeman Health System and most recently worked as a technician in Neosho and Joplin OccuMed. Contact Raenna to schedule services onsite at your company.
- Linda Sitton, FNP-BC, returned to Freeman OccuMed as a staff nurse practitioner. Sitton most recently served in Freeman COVID-19 drive-through testing and is the former operations director at Freeman OccuMed. She has more than 25 years of combined experience at Freeman Health System.
Freeman Expands Specialty Services in Pittsburg
Freeman is proud to open Freeman Specialty Clinic of Pittsburg, offering a growing number of health services to enable patients to get care closer to home.
“We understand that traveling to Joplin for medical appointments can sometimes be difficult or burdensome—that’s why we continue to extend our range of services in this community,” said Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Baker. “Our caregivers always put patients first, providing the compassionate, expert care you’ve come to expect from Freeman.”
Freeman Specialty Clinic of Pittsburg offers nephrology, pulmonology and endocrinology services at one convenient location. Even better, pain management services will be added in June and more services will be coming soon. Referrals are required.
Learn more here.
Award Applications Open for Worksites Promoting Wellness
Applications are now being taken through June 1 for the 2022 Missouri Worksite Wellness Award. These awards recognize employers that invest in creating an environment that supports healthy behaviors.
Organizations that receive the award will be recognized during the quarterly MOCAN conference on Thursday, July 21.
Read more here.
Wellness for Business Series: Part Two, Building Your Employee Wellness Program
During this FREE session, attendees will be guided through a “crash course” in workplace wellness guided by the WorkWell Missouri Toolkit. Developed to assist businesses in starting, adding to or maintaining a wellness program, this is a step-by-step guide for employers to use in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating a workplace wellness program.
There are options to attend the event in person and virtually.
Work@Health Training for Missouri Employers
Developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Work@Health training enhances employer knowledge of tools for the planning, implementation and evaluation of workplace health interventions. The curriculum provides employers with the skills to create a worksite wellness program using strategies to address chronic health conditions.
Cost is $25 per participant. Learn more and register here.
#WalkJoplin
Healthy Joplin, a combined effort of One Joplin and the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, is working on a group walking initiative in the community. If you or your organization is interested in hosting a walking group (it’s easy, we promise), you’ll find information about how to participate on the Walking Leaders Facebook group.
The pinned post is a video PSA about the health benefits of walking in groups. Check it out — you might recognize someone it in!
Caregiver Support Group
The Freeman Caregiver Support Group will meet on Thursday, January 20 at 10:30 am in the Freeman East Conference Rooms.
Join fellow caregivers for this support group meeting to gain advice on what lies ahead, make new friends and learn how to better take care of family members. Door prizes will be given out.
RSVP to Kathy Mason at 417.347.8463 or kdmason@freemanhealth.com. To see the full list of upcoming events offered by Freeman, click here.
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