September 2022 Freeman In a Flash!

Employer authorization is required before services can be provided at Freeman OccuMed (with the exception of emergencies falling under EMTALA guidelines). Employers can provide authorization by email, phone, fax, or an authorization form carried in by the patient.

Freeman OccuMed provides an editable PDF authorization form, which is free to download. Freeman OccuMed also provides an after hours authorization form for Freeman Urgent Care and Emergency Rooms. Employer authorization is required to obtain after hours drug and alcohol testing. You can submit an authorization form for each patient, or put a pre-approved protocol on file.

Access the Freeman OccuMed Authorization Form here, and the after hours form here. Register your company’s after hours protocol here.

New Internal Medicine Physician in Neosho

Freeman Neosho Physician Group is pleased to welcome Dr. Shelby Tinney-Edge, an internal medicine physician, to its staff. A native of the Joplin area, Dr. Tinney-Edge considers Freeman home.

“I always knew I was going to come back home and help the people in my community,” Dr. Tinney-Edge said. “I felt like the physicians at Freeman Neosho Physician Group were very close knit. I liked the small town feel of Neosho, and there is a great need for primary care.”

Dr. Tinney-Edge is accepting new patients at Freeman Neosho Physician Group, 336 S. Jefferson St., Neosho. To schedule an appointment call 417.455.4200.

Interventional Cardiologist Added to the Freeman Team

Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute is pleased to welcome Dr. Vigyan Bang, a board-certified interventional cardiologist, to its staff. Interventional cardiologists perform many interventional procedures, including cardiac catheterization to diagnose and treat heart disease, stenting, angiogram, angioplasty and intravascular ultrasound. They also provide general and preventive cardiology care.

Dr. Bang, the son of two physicians, said he is looking forward to working with Freeman and the community.

“This health system is very intertwined in the community,” Dr. Bang said. “The cardiology group are well-trained physicians who work well together to take care of complex patients. Freeman gives me the opportunity to hone my sub-specialty training, which is structural cardiology.”

Dr. Bang’s clinic is located at Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute, 1102 W. 32nd St., Suite 300. To schedule an appointment, call 417.347.5000.

Be a Flu Fighter with Worksite Clinics

Maintaining your annual flu vaccination is important because flu viruses evolve quickly and immunity can decline over time.

Freeman offers employers the option to be billed directly or to file insurance, if this is a covered benefit of your plan. On-site flu clinics offer:

•  Convenience – clinics visit your work site
• Flexible scheduling – appointments available for all shifts, including nights and weekends
• Efficiency – ability to vaccinate about 45 people per hour

To schedule an on-site flu clinic, please contact Raenna Diaz, Freeman OccuMed On-Site Coordinator, at 417.347.6934.

For more information on billing your group health insurance, please contact Shelby Allen, Freeman Prevention & Wellness Supervisor, at 417.347.5646.

September 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 of interest. Here are just a few resources for September:

• Healthy Aging Month – Protect Your Health as You Grow Older online survey and resources to help focus on the health and well-being of older adults.
• Food Safety Month – You can encourage people to practice food safety by using The Healthy Lunch and The Safe Recipe Cookbook.
• Childhood Obesity Awareness Month – Tips to help kids maintain a healthy weight can be found on the CDC Website.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Line Network is Now Active

Crisis staff at Ozark Center, an entity of Freeman Health System, will answer the new 988 dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

“Ozark Center is one of 200 crisis centers nationwide to join this new 988 network,” said Paula F. Baker, Freeman Health System President and Chief Executive Officer. “Staffed by specialists with extensive training in supportive counseling and self-harm risk reduction, the Ozark Center 988 line will receive calls from Barton, Jasper, Newton and McDonald counties. Suicide is the most preventable, leading cause of death in the country, and we encourage anyone having an emotional or mental crisis to call 988 for help, day or night.”

Ozark Center will also continue to operate other crisis lines for those in distress, including a local number for Joplin 417.347.7720 or toll free at 800.247.0661.

Read more here.

Free Trauma-Informed Workplaces Workshop

Trauma-informed care is helpful in everyday life. Incorporating trauma-informed care principles and practices can help with how you do business, engage employees and interact with family.

Trauma-informed care promotes a culture of safety, empowerment and healing. During the presentation, you will hear from Kaley Routledge, Trauma Informed Care Specialist at Ozark Center, an entity of Freeman Health System. She will guide us through:

• Defining trauma-informed care
• Discussing major principles
• Examining best practices

Most importantly, you’ll take away ideas and resources for workplace implementation.

Learn more and register to attend virtually or in-person here.