Blank Screen

to try to improve their health and wellness.

This month is all about putting down your cell phone. It’s time for some real communication. We are challenging you to stop scrolling, to power down and to hide the chargers—unplug!

The Issue

Professor Paul Dolan of the London School of Economics believes that the popularity of smartphones has distracted many from their nearest and dearest. He sincerely believes that the key to happiness is concentrating on your family and friends, rather than seeking enjoyment from behind a screen. One recent study shows that an average of 69,000 texts are sent every second in the United States. That’s a lot of texts.

The Challenge

Do you think you could go without using your phone but twice a day? Once to set an alarm for the next morning and once more to turn it off ? You’ll never know until you try. Who knows, you may want to make a habit out of it, so here are some tricks for keeping your mind off your phone.

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT. Ironically, this may be the first step to staying off your phone. Once you are aware of the amount of time you waste daily, you may be more likely to keep it at bay. Dr. David Greensfield, Ph.D., an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, confides that most people are “flabbergasted when they see they have checked their phones 300 times in one day.” Download Checky in the app store to see your number.

NO NOTIFICATIONS. If you can’t see advertisements that your apps are sending you, requests on social media sites or texts lighting up your phone, you are far less likely to check on your own initiative. Turn off push notifications for apps that you can get away with ignoring.

TALK IT OUT. Try making plans, car arrangements and anything else you may have to send a text about in person. Not only will you experience reallife communication, but you also may notice fewer mix-ups and misunderstandings.

CARRY A BOOK WITH YOU. If you think you will be bored without a phone to gaze into, think again. Did you know that reading a good book can reduce your stress levels by as much as 68 percent? Phone shmone.

GET A HOBBY. Flower arranging, writing, cooking, sewing? There are so many activities that you could devote what little free time you have to. Use the hours you won’t be wasting anymore wisely. Learn an instrument. Work as a volunteer.

DELETE SOCIAL MEDIA. Here’s the true test. Once your detox is done, will you go all the way? If this is too extreme for you, sign out of each app after you’ve used it. This will require you to sign in each time you try and use them again, meaning you will not be able to mindlessly open them every spare second.

An Innovative Purchase

Computed tomography (CT) has become an indispensable imaging procedure for a variety of conditions, which makes it even more important for patients to be aware of radiation dose over time. That’s why Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center recently installed two new CT scanners that offer advanced imaging capabilities and feature high-quality, low-dose diagnostic exams. CT uses special X-ray equipment to create detailed pictures, or scans, of areas inside the body.

“Installing low-dose CT scanners is part of a larger initiative to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure from medical imaging,” says Kay Burke, director of imaging services at Seven Rivers Regional.

A Fond Farewell

After nearly six years with Ocala Health, five of those as CEO and one as CFO, Randy McVay has announced his retirement effective June 3. McVay has been at the helm of Ocala Health during the organization’s most significant period of growth, overseeing capital investments by parent company HCA of nearly $120 million.

“I am very proud of what we have accomplished at Ocala Health over the last several years and confident that the key initiatives currently in place will continue to contribute to our leadership position in the market,” says McVay. “I have especially enjoyed working with such a dedicated leadership team and staff, medical staff and Board of Trustees, who have supported our efforts to transform Ocala Health into a high quality, comprehensive health care system. It is because of their commitment to quality care that we’ve been able to make such a positive impact in our community.”

The Gift Of Education

The College of Central Florida Foundation received $150,000 from former Ocala postmaster Norton B. McNeal to establish the Norton B. McNeal and Norma R. McNeal Scholarship in Nursing

A longtime resident of Ocala, Norton served as postmaster for 13 years before his retirement in 1977. He passed away in June 2015; he was preceded in death by Norma, who passed in 2010.

“Norton’s gift to the college is an expression of his love for Norma and his heart for individuals and families struggling with mental illness,” says Norton’s nephew, Judge Ray McNeal.

“This is a wonderful legacy and wonderful gift that the McNeals have provided,” says Dr. Jim Henningsen, CF president. “It will support nurses long into the future and enhance the quality of care in the region.”

Commitment To Quality

Rx To Go, the in-house specialty pharmacy of Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), has received accreditation from URAC, the leading organization in the United States for promoting health care quality through its accreditation, education and measurement programs. As a URAC accredited organization, Rx To Go is part of a select group nationwide that has worked to meet rigorous standards for quality and accountability. Located in Fort Myers at the corporate offices of Florida Cancer Specialists, Rx To Go specializes in delivering newer oral cancer medications to patients throughout Florida, where the pharmacy is licensed. This year, approximately 35 percent of all cancer drugs will be available in pill form.

“Rx To Go should be commended for meeting these strict national quality standards,” says Brad Prechtl, CEO of FCS. “We want all of our patients to know that we have a longstanding commitment to patient safety and providing the highest quality services.”

Chalk It Up To Biology

For years, women have insisted that men were playing the “man flu” card whenever they got a case of the sniffles, but a new study in the American Journal of Physiology suggests that men may actually suffer more severely from illness than women due to their lack of estrogen. Source:

Researchers have said that estrogen-based compounds can make it harder for the flu virus to infect cells and that the female hormone may actually protect women from more severe symptoms. So the next time your guy comes down with the flu, maybe cut him a little slack—he’s probably not faking it.