Spirit of Teamwork Takes Wheeling Hospital to Next Level By DEREK REDD Staff Writer In medicine, just as it is in so many other aspects of life, there’s nothing like teamwork. The staff at Wheeling Hospital feels that way. Executives there believe that teamwork, between doctors and between hospitals, will help take the hospital to the next level and keep executing the game plan — to give people in the Ohio Valley a stay-at-home option for high-level care. Wheeling Hospital CEO Douglass Harrison is a firm believer in the institute model of hospitals. That’s the strategy WVU Medicine is using, and that’s the road Wheeling Hospital is taking as part of the WVU Medicine network. The relationship is a “hub and spoke model,” Harrison said. WVU Medicine’s epicenter, Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, is the hub. Wheeling Hospital is one of the spokes. Yet, Harrison said, Wheeling’s role as a spoke doesn’t mean it’s an afterthought. The WVU Heart and Vascular Institute has a home at Wheeling Hospital. So does the Rockefeller Neurosci-
Medical Care n Wheeling Hospital is embracing the “institute model” of medicine, which turns the hospital from a standalone operation to one partnering with WVU Medicine. n With that model, Ohio Valley residents will be able to access the high-level health care in fields such as cardiovascular medicine and neuroscience that they used to have to visit different states to get. n In a team-based approach, physicians and clinicians come together daily to devise the appropriate plan for care for each patient. ence Institute. The hospital’s NICU is managed by WVU’s Women and Children’s Hospital. And starting July 1, the WVU Cancer Institute will manage and oversee Wheeling Hospital’s Schiffler Cancer Center. “So you should be able to, in an institute model of care, get the same level of care, of medical treatment, from a local facility, coordinating that care through the institute model,” Harrison said. “So if you need advanced care, then we take care of
that and align with our partners in Morgantown and get you to Morgantown for that advanced care.” What makes the institute model work, Harrison said, is that the same physicians in Morgantown are also coming to Wheeling to provide the same service. All those physicians, be it in Wheeling or Morgantown or both, are working together to provide the best care for patients. There is no competition between the doctors to be
File Photo
Wheeling Hospital is now home to several institutes of medicine and is taking full advantage of its relationship with WVU Medicine.
the one who gets to have the “aha!” moment. They collaborate to have that moment together. Dr. Vinay Badhwar, executive chair of the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, said that belief is shared between all his institute’s doctors from the top down. For instance he does not view himself above Dr. Chris Allen, a
member of the WVU HVI and chief of cardiology at Wheeling Hospital. “Dr. Allen is my partner, not an employee, nothing like that,” Badhwar said. “Our job is to provide the best for our patients, like they’re our family members. Because the model allows it.” Harrison offered the example of a 97-year-old
woman dealing with congestive heart failure and some other comorbidities. In the past, one physician may walk in, look at her and say she needed a heart catheter and open heart surgery. Then she’s headed in for a procedure with a slim chance at survival.
(Please see LEVEL, Page 3)
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Outdoor Wellness Shifting to the Individual By ALAN OLSON Staff Writer It goes without saying that 2020 wasn’t a great year for social activities, but even many groups focused on outdoor activities, such as cycling and hiking, went on hiatus for the year. Instead, people started to form their own pods of individuals they could more easily ensure made healthy decisions and limited their exposure to outsiders. The move to these pods saw outdoor activities continue in much smaller groups, rath-
er than the larger social clubs of years past. Jim Adams, a spokesman for Bike Wheeling, said the 2020 season was a desolate one for the bike club. Many of the members, he said, were age 50 and
Outdoor Wellness n The COVID-19 pandemic took the wind out of the sails of many outdoor wellness clubs. n The impetus to go out and get active has shifted back to the individual, as individual people or a small group of friends is the new workout unit. n Trails were more utilized than ever last year, with individuals taking to trails with only a few friends, rather than with larger groups.
older and took the necessary precautions for their health seriously, avoiding gathering in groups even at a distance. “We basically put Bike Wheeling on a shelf,” Adams said. “A lot of our members didn’t feel like it was a good idea to continue to meet and ride, and so for that reason, we have no activities planned, nor have we met in a year. Our last activity was last February; if we weren’t in a pandemic, we’ve got lots of stuff going on and planned in the spring. But there’s nothing on the calendar, and honestly I’d be shocked if we had anything planned before summertime.” However, many members continued riding on their own, outside the group, he said. “What I see in the running and cycling is that people are still doing it on their own, individually — there’s nothing organized,” Adams said. “There’s trail runners who meet at Grand Vue Park and Barkcamp, and they basically run the same trails that we ride mountain bikes on, and they’re doing their own thing. What you’re finding is that maybe
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two or three people will go out. It’s been a long year, and we’re weary. We’d like to get back out.” Adams said that, nationally, individual cycling has become increasingly common among those forced to look elsewhere for their exercise — according to a study by the Aspen Institute, time spent on a bicycle did not fall as other exercise and sporting trends did during the pandemic, rising from the 19th most popular activity pre-pandemic to the third most popular, as of September. The Northern WV Composite Mountain Bike Team, for sixth through 12th grade students, has continued riding outdoors in smaller groups. Adams, the team director, said the team draws around 25 people. Other teams throughout the state in Morgantown and Charleston have around 100. “God willing, in April, we will start doing stuff again … ,” he said. “It’s become quite a thing. Because of the pandemic, Photo provided there is a rise in cycling.” The Northern WV Composite MTB Team rides Her(Please see OUTDOOR, Page 7)
itage Trail in Wheeling, one of few to do so over the last year, as many outdoor wellness clubs have deteriorated.
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here are times when you shouldn’t ignore what your body is telling you and you need to seek medical care. At Wheeling Hospital, we want you to know that we are taking every precaution to make your visit as safe as possible. This is true throughout our campus - in our ER/Trauma Center, our physician offices, our Surgical Center and on our patient floors. The pandemic isn’t over, but be assured that we are ready when you need us.
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East Ohio Regional Hospital to Make an Impact in 2021 By ROBERT A. DEFRANK Staff Writer With the long-awaited reopening of East Ohio Regional Hospital earlier this month, an excited community is overjoyed to have a major medical facility along the Ohio River in Belmont County again. Area residents and employees got the bad news in 2019 that the hospital was closing its doors in September, following the closure of the Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling, both then owned by Alecto Healthcare Services of California. Local clergy and their congregations prayed for more than 500 days for the hospital to be revived, and they blessed the hospital in January as the reopening approached. Dr. John Johnson, a psychiatrist from Dayton, Ohio, purchased the site in May with the intention of restoring EORH. EORH Chief Operating Officer Bernie Albertini, a past administrator at the hospital, is at the helm of daily activities. He said the sense of community spirit that was so much a part of EORH’s former incarnation will continue into 2021. "Historically, EORH has been a true community-based hospital and that is probably the most important thing that it will bring back to the area upon its reopening. Not only will the reopened EORH have an immediate impact upon the health and well-being of the citizens of Belmont County and the greater Ohio Valley, but it will also have a great economic impact. We
East Ohio Regional Hospital n EORH’s reopening returns a community-based hospital to Belmont County after almost two years’ absence following its previous closure. n The hospital is expected to offer an extensive amount of services, including surgery, radiology and therapy. n More than 400 employees already have been hired, and the hospital continues its search to fill its ranks with more skilled workers from the Ohio Valley. have hired over 400 employees, invested several million dollars in improvements and have plans for significant future growth. In terms of what differentiates EORH from other providers is our personal touch and concern for the community. We certainly plan to work with other providers, but we also see our role as the only true community-based hospital in the Ohio Valley as crucial to keeping folks healthy and happy for years to come." Hospital officials had been looking to open near the end of 2020 but, like everything else, the COVID-19 pandemic stymied and delayed those plans. The chief obstacle had been in contacting vendors and arranging for hospital equipment. Services at the hospital are expected to be extensive. Since the announcement, the hospital has been on the lookout for employees in: n Nursing services including nurse practi-
tioners, physician assistants, CRNAs, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, state tested nursing assistants, medical
assistants who can work in the emergency room, intensive care unit, medical surgery and telemetry, skilled nursing and rehab, pre-admission testing and surgery; n Radiology services including nuclear medicine, ultrasound specialists and radiology techs; n Laboratory services including phlebotomists, laboratory techs and medical technicians; n Therapy services including physical therapy, occupation therapy, speech therapy, who can work in acute, skilled nursing and rehab and outpatient; n Respiratory/cardiopulmonary therapy; n Pharmacy services, including pharmacists and pharmacy techs; n Food service employ-
ees, including dietitians and chefs, housekeeping, laundry, maintenance; and n Registration clerks, billing, coding, clerical and switchboard operators. Johnson, who also purchased the former Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel building in downtown Wheeling, has said he sees great potential in the Ohio Valley, with the energy industry offering hope of revival. For EORH, Johnson agreed with Albertini’s assessment that the hospital has been and will continue to be a center of the community. He has commented that the area was medically underserved, particularly since 2019, and area residents were often forced to wait
in emergency rooms for several hours. Johnson himself is no stranger to assessing an area’s health care needs and restoring health care organizations. EORH will join several other facilities Johnson owns, including Access Ohio, one of the state’s largest independent behavioral health centers with locations in Central Ohio including in Dayton, Kenton and Heath. As a longtime psychiatrist, he said he also brings an expertise in analyzing a community’s needs and how they might be filled, as well as an area’s capabilities and how they might be expressed. The hospital is located at 90 N. Fourth St. The phone number is 740633-1100.
Photo provided
Staff members at East Ohio Regional Hospital are ready and eager to serve the public after reopening.
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“Now we sit back and say, ‘OK, let’s talk about quality of life,’” Harrison said. “Can we manage this patient medically, and what is the quality of life for this 97-year-old person? Is it life threatening? Do we need to put this patient through this or not put the patient through this? So we’re having those types of discussions about medical care which are ultimately in the best interests of the patient. “That’s the beauty of the team-based approach,” he continued, “that you get multiple physicians and clinicians looking at every single patient every single day and determining the best care plan.” It’s not just the doctors at Wheeling Hospital that can enter the conversation. Harrison said those doctors can call colleagues in Morgantown as well. Harrison said the institute model is working at Wheeling. Top doctors are looking at Wheeling Hospital as a destination when, in years past, they’d chuckle at the idea of moving to West Virginia. Harrison said the HVI has an opening for a cardiac surgeon and there are 12 top cardiac surgeons vying for the job. He also can see it in how the doctors’ practices at Wheeling Hospital are developing. “The proof is in watching their practices grow and their patient panels grow,” Harrison said. “More and more people are beginning to come and trust these physicians and follow them. We’re watching their practices grow significantly. That, to me, is feedback that says this is starting to work.”
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 — Page 3
Highlands Sports Complex Staff Dodging COVID Curveballs By CODY TOMER Staff Writer The Highlands Sports Complex opened in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had its benefits and downfalls. On one hand, the staff has a full understanding of what it takes to keep people safe during activities and how to handle sanitation around the facilities. On the other hand, instructional practices were all canceled or postponed until recently, leaving the brand new complex mostly empty over the past month. Lucy DeFruscio, marketing coordinator at The Highlands Sports Complex, provided details on what the future schedule looks like for new facilities and what those in search of exercise can do in the meantime. “We’re still pretty
much shut down from a sports perspective,” DeFruscio said. “We had to cancel all of our rentals — so no practices (were) allowed through Feb. 14. We have not been accommodating or booking any kind of rental, whether they are on the courts or the fields, no practice or instruction has gone on since the Jan. 12 executive order. “For a $5 or $10 sports fee — depending on the sport — you can come in and play on the courts, just you and your child or if you just want to shoot around and work on your game individually, but there is nothing instructional. That way we can still keep people active and utilize the sports facility in a safe way and still follow the guidelines.” The staff has been thrown every curveball
possible during the last 10 months and has now mastered just about everything needed to keep all visitors safe during their visit to The Highlands Sports Complex. “Opening a business during a pandemic — we’ve navigated all of our guidelines, which are in place,” DeFruscio said. “There is signage all over the building that talks about social distancing guidelines and what we expect. All bleachers are marked off so only the appropriate amount of people can sit there from a social distancing perspective. There is signage everywhere about wearing
masks. We have a great group of staff to make sure everyone is following the guidelines and are taking the measures as a staff to clean the building to make sure it is a clean and safe environment for people.” As long as there are no setbacks or further directions given from Gov. Jim Justice, the facilities will remain open to the public for instructional training and practice after Feb. 14. Calling ahead to schedule practice time would benefit everyone’s safety in terms of social distancing. “When we navigate back to a COVID nor-
mal, all rentals have to be booked ahead of time,” DeFruscio said. “That has to be booked through our service desk or Sports Director Ricky Moore directly. The recommendation for the public is to call ahead and make reservations if you’d like to use the courts or fields. … There still won’t be competition until March 3, it will just be practice but we are really looking forward to safely accommodating everyone when the time comes. We’re just hoping the day comes soon when we can be fully operational with a lot of competition.”
The Highlands Sports Complex n While Instructional practices were halted for indoor and outdoor facilities until Feb. 14, the complex did, and continues to welcome people to practice on their own, while following strict guidelines. n Complex staff has been vigilant not only in keeping the facility clean and safe, but in guiding guests to help in that regard by following the guidelines. n After initially opening the business during the pandemic, the staff is well trained in dealing with safety precautions and proper cleaning to prioritize the safety of all athletes.
Photo provided
The Highlands Sports Complex sits empty as all instructional practices and training had been halted until Feb. 14.
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Trinity Health System Satellite Offices Provide Needed Services By ERIC AYRES Staff Writer Accessibility to quality health care has never been a higher priority or of more importance to people in the Ohio Valley than today, and Trinity Health System has worked to provide continuity of care through challenging times. Based in Steubenville, Trinity Health System has served the residents of the greater Steubenville area for decades, with Trinity Medical Center East and Trinity Medical Center West offering a comprehensive slate of health care services at these hospital facilities. Trinity Health System also provides medical and health care services at a variety of offices throughout the Ohio Valley and beyond, including services at the Tony Teramana Cancer Center in Steubenville; the Trinity Twin City facility in Dennison, Ohio; Trinity ExpressClinics in Cadiz, Toronto and Calcutta; Trinity ExpressCare in Wintersville, and more. Most recently, Trinity Health System expanded its services in Belmont County, opening the Trinity Medical Plaza facility in St. Clairsville, located in the back of Plaza West behind Riesbeck’s. Trinity also opened a primary care clinic in Bellaire, located in the Kroger Plaza.
Trinity Health System’s Satellite Services n After East Ohio Regional Hospital and Ohio Valley Medical Center closed in 2019, Trinity responded by opening clinics in St. Clairsville and Bellaire to make up for their absence. n Trinity is providing both in-person and virtual visit options during the COVID-19 pandemic for all patients to maintain continuity of care. n The St. Clairsville site soon will offer preop COVID testing for patients required to have a COVID test prior to surgical or diagnostic testing. These satellite facilities play an important role in offering needed services to local patients, especially in light of the 2019 closures of three area hospitals — Belmont Community Hospital in Bellaire, Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling and East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry, which reopened earlier this month under new ownership. “We stood up the St. Clairsville and Bellaire locations in September of 2019, within 30 days of the closures of OVMC/ EORH,” said Laurie Labishak, marketing director for Trinity Health System. The St. Clairsville providers include Dr. Carol
Greco, Dr. Maria Setlak, Dr. Michael Blatt, Dr. Triston Smith and Dr. Gregory Suero. “We also have multiple nurse practitioners in this location, including Kari Sowers, Jeanne Huffner, Amanda Cummins, Gina Toth, Patricia Torbett, Staci Butkus, Danielle Rosen, Breanna Burkhart and Physician Assistants Brandon Bolduc and Caitlyn Williams,” she said. “Kathi Harris, NP, is our provider in the Bellaire location.” Trinity Health System offers full-service laboratory, radiology, physical therapy and occupation lung services in its St. Clairsville clinic location. The lab and radiology services are walk-in services
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Trinity Health System operates satellite offices throughout the Ohio Valley. In 2019, the health care services provider opened offices in Belmont County, including a primary care clinic in Bellaire in the Kroger Plaza and the Trinity Medical Plaza facilities in St. Clairsville, located at 106 and 109 Plaza Drive, behind Riesbeck’s food market.
“Our provider offices accommodate same-day appointments, so basically you can call in the morning to see a provider and see them that same day,” Labishak said. “We offer mammography and dexascan, as well, at that location.” This is a great convenience for patients living in Belmont County, Labishak noted. “We accept orders from all providers regardless of whether they are a Trinity Health System provider or they work for another hospital in the area,” she said. “Most recently we opened our cardiology services in the St. Clairsville clinic, offering interventional cardiology services with Dr. Gregory Suero and Dr. Triston Smith, who practice interventional and structural heart services.” Suero and Smith have
a full staff of qualified nurse practitioners and physician assistants who support the patients in their practice, Labishak said. As with all other health care providers, Trinity Health System has worked to provide the best possible services to its patients through the past year during the COVID-19 pandemic. Protocols and safety procedures may have changed, but the dedication to quality health care has remained the same. “During the pandemic, we were able to provide both in-person and virtual visit options for our patients and maintain continuity of care for all,” Labishak said. “We have implemented precautions in all of our locations for social distancing and cleaning protocols to protect our staff and patients.
“We will soon be offering pre-op COVID testing in our St. Clairsville location for any patients who are required to have a COVID test prior to surgical or diagnostic testing.” Since opening the Belmont County locations, the public feedback has been exceptionally positive and welcoming, she noted. “The response from the community has been overwhelming,” Labishak said. “It has far exceeded our expectations and we are honored to provide health care options for the individuals in the Belmont County area. “We are only just beginning, and we anticipate expanding services as needed.” For more information, visit Trinity Health System online at trinityhealth.com.
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Area Fitness Centers and Gymnasiums Continue to Adapt to Pandemic By SCOTT McCLOSKEY Staff Writer As area fitness centers and gymnasiums continue to work within a variety of safety guidelines and precautions in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wheeling Hospital’s Howard Long Wellness Center and the J.B. Chambers Memorial YMCA are two facilities where safety protocols and efforts have provided members the confidence they need to return to the establishments, according to each facility’s director. Howard Long Wellness Center Director Joe Slavik said the center has adapted to the pandemic in many ways since reopening last May. “Initially when we closed back on March 17, 2020, we immediately began a two-week deep cleaning of the entire facility from floor to ceiling. We used hospital grade disinfectant everywhere,“ Slavik said. “At the same time, we reached out to our loyal members and started providing group exercise classes on social media platforms to help them cope with the fact that the center was closed.” Slavik said to prepare the center for its return to operations, the staff moved all the exercise equipment on the second floor at least 8 feet apart. The safe standard for social distancing is 6 feet. “We added lane lines in the pool so we could provide more lines between those walking or swimming in the pool,” Slavik said. “We added several handwashing stations and equipment, disinfecting wipe stations throughout the center. Using different
Fitness Centers and Gyms n Facilities have ramped up their cleaning protocols, be it with extra disinfectant wipes or with new technology to kill viruses and bacteria in the air. n The Howard Long Wellness Center added lane lines in its pool to allow for more people to safely swim or walk through the water. n Facilities have added staff to areas to quickly disinfect idle exercise machines to make them workout-ready for other patrons. spaces in the center we provided 12 feet between those participating in our group exercise classes. We placed multiple information signs through the center to educate our members regarding the signs and symptoms COVID-19 and how to protect themselves and others.” When asked about how the center tailored its business model to accommodate how people may behave moving forward, Slavik said upon reopening on May 18, there were quite few changes. “Each person coming to the center has their body temperature checked and reviews the symptoms of COVID-19 before entering. We began a campaign to stop the spread of the virus by focusing on the four ‘W’s’ to combat COVID-19,” Slavik noted. The four W’s include: n Wear a mask. n Wash your hands frequently. n Wipe all contact points on equipment before and after each use. n Watch your physical
distance from other members (at least 6 feet apart at all times). Slavik said every half hour the staff reminds center members about the four W’s with overhead public announcements. In addition, he said the staff, on the hour every hour, disinfects high-contact points such as rails, countertops, handles, etc. “Not long after we reopened, through the support of the hospital, we were able to implement a new disinfecting technology called AirPhx, which runs 24/7 killing viruses and bacteria in the air and on surfaces. This provides another layer of effort to help combat the virus for our members and staff,” Slavik added. Since reopening last year and moving forward, the Wellness Center continues to use social media platforms to promote what is going on in the cente. In addition, it also has been using the center’s member texting software to reach members about new services offered at the facility. “Our biggest promot-
Photo by Scott McCloskey
Shelley Dwyer, front desk supervisor at the J.B. Chambers YMCA, applies a disinfecting spray to fitness center equipment at the Elm Grove facility.
ers have been our active members speaking to their friends about how safe they feel working out here. I cannot tell you how grateful we are that our members have recognized our efforts to give them confidence to keep coming back,” Slavik said. J. B. Chambers YMCA Executive Director Adam Shinsky said when the Elm Grove facility reopened May 18 after being closed since March 17, the staff put a big emphasis on cleaning and disinfecting. “We got a big stockpile of disinfectant wipes. We wipe the machines down before and after use. We have extra staff on hand to wipe things down,” Shinsky noted. He said the Y has included additional staff in areas like its fitness
center to assist with cleaning. He said while some staff members are assigned to assisting patrons with fitness center equipment, other employees work to clean idle machines. He said they regularly apply dis-
infecting sprays to different areas inside the facility as well. “It seems probably in the last six weeks our crowd has kind of gotten back to pre-pandemic,” Shinsky said. “We’re getting there.”
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Staying Fit While Working From Home During Pandemic By CARRI GRAHAM Staff Writer With many local residents transitioning from working in an office to working at home due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials are suggesting ways they can maintain their physical and mental health. Making a few small lifestyle changes can help improve a person's home work environment. These include practicing good posture, incorporating movement into your work day, choosing healthy snacks, being well rested and keeping connected with family and friends. Joe Slavik, director of Howard Long Wellness Center, said making a few adjustments can positively impact your body and mental wellbeing. Slavik said practicing good posture and properly setting the computer screen can help improve a person's orthopedic health. The first thing people should consider is getting proper chair alignment, he said. “If you are sitting at a screen for hours at a time, then that chair needs to be positioned correctly to avoid putting added pressure on the shoulders and neck. The head is a very heavy object — if things aren't aligned correctly then you get that forward head tilt and that can create issues,” he said. Standard practices to ensure a person is sitting
correctly are to make sure both feet are flat on the ground, hips and knees are at a 90 degree angle in the chair, and that the lower back is pressed into the chair support. Another way to improve posture is to ensure the computer screen is elevated, he said. “If the screen is down below your head level then what happens is you're always tilting your head down. ... The top 25 percent of your screen should be above your eyes,” he said. A good option is to use a standing desk, which could also benefit a person's posture and allow for more movement in the work day, Slavik said. Sit-stand desks allow a person to alternate be-
tween the two positions, which can improve blood flow and help burn calories, he said. Also, designating a separate area for work is crucial in maintaining a healthy work and home environment. Slavik said including movement and taking short exercise breaks are important steps to improve health. He recommends stretching every 30 minutes — reaching out your arms, doing shoulder shrugs, or touching your knees to your chest. The best exercise is to do 10 squats every 30 minutes during the work day to reset your posture and improve blood flow. Additionally, Slavik recommends taking breaks
outdoors to get fresh air when possible. Slavik said those working from home need to be extra cautious with their eating habits and maintain a balanced diet. Instead of chips or crackers, he suggests eating fruits or vegetables as a snack substitute since they are much more nutritious, full of fiber, minerals, vitamins and are more easily metabolized. Replac-
ing soda and high-sugar drinks with black coffee, green tea, black tea or water are optimal choices. Getting plenty of sleep will also improve a person's mental and physical wellbeing. Ensuring the room is completely dark is an important factor in a good night's sleep, Slavik said. Eliminating the use of electronics, whether it is for work or leisure, at
least one hour prior to going to bed is optimal for a deeper sleep, he said. It is also important to build in some sort of interaction with family members or friends throughout the day that is not work-related, Slavik said. Face-to-face interaction is the best option to improve a person's mental health — this includes virtual interactions through online platforms.
We Value The Health & Well-Being of our Patients & Staff During the pandemic, a healthy environment is critical, especially in a dental office. In order to provide safety for our patients and staff we utilize the Vanguard Purification System. This specialized system extracts the aerosol mist emitted during dental procedures using the HEPA filters, thus providing extra protection from the spread of contaminants.
Working From Home n What your work station looks like is important. Proper chair alignment leads to less neck and back pain, while sit-stand desks can keep blood flowing even during work. n Proper diet is a must. Don’t fish through the pantry for chips and cookies. Stick with fruits and vegetables to stay healthy. n Take breaks and have some face-to-face interaction with folks, even if it’s on a virtual platform. Avoiding isolation protects from depression and anxiety.
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A Supplement of The Intelligencer, Wheeling News-Register and The Times Leader
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 — Page 7
Outdoor (Continued from Page 1)
Keith Fulton, a bicyclist himself who was formerly associated with the trail running crowd, said that while organizations for group runs are similarly depleted due to the pandemic, the trails have become more crowded than ever as individuals have taken to running on
their own time. “There was kind of a group built around running at Barkcamp, and to other trails around the region; there was a Facebook page where people could all get together, and it’s fallen apart a little bit,” Fulton said. “We used to have Sunday
morning groups that would get together and run together there … “I’ve never seen the park as busy as this last year, though,” he added. “People are out there walking, running on the trails. They’re really showing a lot more people into it, for sure.”
For someone interested in starting on their own initiative, Fulton recommended searching out one of several informal groups on Facebook or other forms of social media to find like-minded runners, or any other outdoor activity with an online presence.
“There’s a lot of great groups out there where you can solicit advice, anything from shoes, to medical advice, to places to run,” he said. He also recommended checking out local outdoor stores, such as Runner’s Connection or Hole ‘n Run, for advice on equipping a novice.
Reimagining the Region Medical Professionals Quality Care Friendly Faces
Christopher Moore, DPM Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine
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P.O. BOX 118, 255 W. MAIN ST., ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OH 43950 (740) 695-9447 • FAX 695-8895 BANK ONE BLDG. SUITE 510 3201 BELMONT ST. BELLAIRE, OH 43906 (740) 676-5741
20 Homestead Avenue Wheeling, WV 26003 Phone: (304)234-0538 Fax: (304)234-0550
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A Supplement of The Intelligencer, Wheeling News-Register and The Times Leader
Page 8 — Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Subspecialty pediatric care right here in
THE OHIO VALLEY
WVU Medicine Children’s has expanded its outpatient pediatric subspecialty offerings in the Wheeling area. Our pediatric subspecialty and telemedicine clinics bring the expertise of WVU Medicine Children’s in Morgantown right here to the Ohio Valley.
We offer a wide range of pediatric subspecialty services including: — Adolescent Medicine — Allergy/Immunology — Cardiology — Endocrinology — Genetics — Gastroenterology — Hematology/ Oncology
— Neurosurgery — Neurology — Nephrology — Orthopaedics — Pulmonology — Rheumatology — Surgery — Urology
WVU Medicine Children’s Wheeling-based Advanced Practice Providers coordinate your child’s care while keeping you close to home.
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Holly Ochsenbein APP
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