Get to the h e art of the matte r.
Our 3-year, direct-entry nursing program is a partnership with Boone Health, offering individual attention and early access to clinical experience s.
MANAGING
Erin Wegner
COPY
Jessica Park
CONTRIBUTING
Madison Loethen
ADDITIONAL
Jason Anderson; Holly Bondurant, MD; Hayden Legg; Rev. Dr. Kim Leon; Jenny Workman
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Lana Eklund; Madi Green
Board of Directors
CHAIR
Jerry Kennett, MD
VICE CHAIR
William “Barry” Orscheln
SECRETARY
Dianne M. Lynch, Ph.D.
TREASURER
Randy Morrow
Mary Beck, DNP, RN, NE-BC, FAONL
Jan Beckett
Charles P. Bondurant, MD, FABNS, FACS
Jeffery Lashley, Ph.D.
Stacye Smith
Judy Starr
Gary W. Thompson, MBA
Meeting the People We Serve Where They Live
When you hear the name Boone Health, you might picture our hospital campus in Columbia, but high standards of care go beyond the main entrance.
We serve people in 26 mid-Missouri counties. Our patients come from Newtown to Stoutland, from Blackbury to Bellflower, and all points in-between. But we also need and want to meet our patients where they’re at for whatever level of care they require.
In an emergency, every second counts. An ambulance provides much more than a ride to the hospital; paramedics and EMTs begin administering care at the scene.
In a month, Boone Health Emergency Medical Services responds to anywhere between 700 to 900 emergency calls a month. Our EMS teams provide immediate and life-saving care to people in and outside of Columbia including Centralia and surrounding areas like west Audrain county.
Boone Health EMS collaborates with other first responders including local fire protection, law enforcement, ambulance district, and state and local agencies. We work together to help citizens in need and connect them to the appropriate level of care.
Preventive care is also key to improving the health of the people and communities we serve. And that’s where the Boone Health Community Wellness team comes in. This small but active department typically starts their day, including Saturdays, on the road to bring
free health screenings and education to communities throughout mid-Missouri.
Community Wellness has kept busy this year, providing free skin cancer screenings to citizens across mid-Missouri, including Macon, Keytesville, and California, and blood pressure and A1C screenings in Paris, Fayette, and Versailles.
The Boone Mobile Health Unit has made appearances in community festivals, including the Mexico Soybean Festival and the Missouri State Fair, where our team partnered with Bothwell Regional Health Center in Sedalia to provide screenings, education, and referrals for follow-up care.
Boone Health and mid-Missouri are fortunate to have two committed teams who work outside the hospital to save and improve lives.
“When someone who gets a screening with us has an out-of-range blood pressure or A1C, our goal is to help them understand their results, learn about lifestyle changes that may improve their numbers, and follow up with a primary care provider,” says Jenny L. Workman, Community Wellness Manager.
They also train community members on hands-only CPR, which can make a crucial difference in an emergency. Demand for this training rose after Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during a game in 2023, and people saw how immediate administration of CPR saved his life until he could be transported to a medical facility.
Boone Health Emergency Medical Services and Community Wellness receive support from the Boone Hospital Foundation, which is funded by the generosity of our community members.
If you’d like to learn more or make a gift, please visit www.boone.health/ foundation
Brady Dubois CEO, Boone Health
Boone Health Nationally Recognized for High-Quality Stroke and Heart Care
Boone Hospital Center has received multiple quality achievement awards from the American Heart Association (AHA) recognizing its commitment to high standards of patient care for stroke and NSTEMI heart attacks.
The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke GoldPlus quality achievement award recognizes our commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, researchbased guidelines, leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.
Program participants qualify annually for the award by demonstrating how their organization provides quality care for stroke patients, follows treatment guidelines, and educates patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.
Boone Hospital Center also received the AHA’s Target: Stroke SM Elite Honor Roll award for meeting specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy, and the Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award for ensuring that patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.
Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability, and accelerating recovery times.
Boone Hospital Center received the AHA’s Get With The Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease NSTEMI Gold recognition for its commitment to offering rapid, research-based care to people experiencing a specific type of heart attack known as a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, or NSTEMI. Each year, more than 546,000 people in the U.S. experience this type of dangerous heart attack, caused by a partial blockage of blood flow to the heart. Like all heart attacks, this requires timely treatment to restore blood flow as quickly as possible.
Similar to the stroke award, this designation is given to hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to treating patients following the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines for NSTEMI care as outlined by the American Heart Association.
The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines programs help hospitals across the nation ensure their standards for patient care are consistently aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines for better patient outcomes.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Award Boone Hospital Center 5-Star Rating
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) designated Boone Hospital Center as a 5-star hospital, a distinction awarded to just 8.2% of hospitals nationwide. Boone Hospital Center is the only hospital in the mid-Missouri area to receive 5 stars.
“Organizations like CMS don’t rate hospitals by their size or reputation, but by what matters most to patients – their health,” said Brady Dubois, Boone Health CEO. “What really makes the difference for our patients’ care – and the reason we achieved this designation – is our dedicated medical staff and caregivers. Together we take care of our patients and their families with a singular focus toward improving lives.”
The 2024 Overall Star Rating encompasses 46 hospital quality measures publicly reported on Medicare.gov. The measures are divided into five key groups:
1. Mortality 2. Safety of Care 3. Readmission
4. Patient Experience 5. Timely & Effective Care
“To obtain this rating demonstrates, once again, the critical resource that Boone Hospital Center is for the mid-Missouri region,” said Jerry Kennett, MD, chair of the Boone Health Board of Directors. “This rating places Boone Hospital Center in an elite group of care providers, and it is available each and every day for the benefit of mid-Missourians.”
This year’s ratings highlight significant changes from 2023. Only 381 hospitals out of more than 4,650 hospitals were designated with the highest 5-star rating. Simultaneously, CMS awarded 102 fewer hospitals a 5-star rating and 29 more hospitals a 1-star rating this year compared to 2023.
CMS updated its Hospital Quality Star Ratings, which can be viewed at medicare.gov/care-compare.
Boone County Commission Awards $475,390 in ARPA Funds to Boone Health for Progressive Care Unit Expansion
The Boone County Commission awarded $475,390 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to Boone Health for the expansion of its Progressive Care Unit (PCU). This significant investment will enhance Boone Hospital’s capacity to provide advanced care for high-acuity patients throughout the region.
During the Boone Health Board of Directors meeting on July 22, the Boone County Commissioners presented a letter of intent to award the funds, marking a crucial step towards the expansion project.
The planned expansion of the PCU includes the following key enhancements:
• Increase in Capacity: The expansion will double the unit’s ability to accommodate patients.
• Improved Patient Flow: The expansion will enable the hospital to better manage the flow of acuity-appropriate patients to the Progressive Care Unit.
• Cardiology Overflow: The expanded unit will serve as an overflow for cardiology patients, ensuring that specialized care is always available.
• Updated Monitoring System: The PCU will be equipped with an updated central cardiac monitoring system, enhancing patient safety and care.
This funding and expansion underscore Boone Health’s commitment to providing top-tier medical care and meeting the growing healthcare needs of the community. The enhanced Progressive Care Unit will ensure that Boone Health remains a leader in delivering high-quality, specialized medical services.
On July 18, Charles P. Bondurant, MD, FABNS, FACS celebrated 30 years of practicing at Boone Hospital. In addition to his decades of service as a neurosurgeon, Dr. Bondurant also serves on the Boone Health Board of Directors. Thank you, Dr. Bondurant, for all you’ve done for Boone and the people and communities of mid-Missouri.
Boone Health Lab Services Opens New Draw Site
On July 18, Boone Health Lab Services cut the ribbon on their 11th lab draw site at the Boone Clinic building in Columbia. This new location will offer a convenient option for patients at Boone Health Medical Group Occupational Medicine and other partnering clinics who need labs drawn. Boone Health Lab Services also serves patients at multiple locations in Columbia as well as Centralia, Mexico, Moberly, and Osage Beach.
(L to R) Back row: Brady Dubois, Chris Jones, Janna Schremmer, Michael Bush, Shirley Duff; Front row: Jessica Jenkins, Wendy Crader, Holly Schuster
Reclaiming Mobility
After multiple joint replacements, physical therapy gets Deidre Hirner back to having full movement and being active.
Deidre “DK” Hirner loves being active. She walks her dog several miles a day and enjoys working out on her recumbent exercise bike. She’s able to keep up her active lifestyle after having several joints replaced; she’s had 3 shoulder replacements - one shoulder was done twice - and a hip replacement. DK spent a lot of her early adult years mountain biking. “I just loved it. I would go up to Utah or Colorado and spend days on the bike. It did take a toll on my body though, particularly my shoulders.”
While she was living in Springfield, Mo, DK had shoulder replacement surgery on each of her shoulders.
Shoulder replacement surgery, also known as shoulder arthroplasty, involves replacing the damaged parts of the shoulder joint with artificial components. This procedure is typically recommended for individuals suffering from severe shoulder pain and dysfunction due to arthritis, rotator cuff injuries, or traumatic damage that has not responded to conservative treatments.
During the procedure, the surgeon removes the damaged bone and cartilage from the shoulder joint and replaces them with a metal ball attached to a stem and a plastic socket.
The goal is to alleviate pain, restore mobility, and improve the overall function of the shoulder, allowing patients to return to their daily activities with reduced discomfort.
These surgeries allowed DK to continue her active lifestyle for several years. By the time she moved to mid-Missouri, she was suffering from intense pain in one of her shoulders that led her to needing to get that shoulder replaced again.
She went to Columbia Orthopaedic Group and saw Kurt Bormann, MD. “Dr. Bormann was just wonderful and very knowledgeable,” DK shares. “We did the surgery at Boone Hospital and everything went great. It’s a wonderful hospital.”
DK had physical therapy at Boone Therapy and was assigned Wesley Glenn as her physical therapist.
“A joint replacement is often a routine procedure, but it is life changing. For a few months, there are a lot of unknowns as a person recovers, plus a lot of hard work. Physical therapists help patients apply their energy and attention to the exercises and activities that need to be done and teach them what to avoid,” says Wesley.
“Physical Therapy is really a partnership between the patient and the physical therapist. They provide the knowledge and teach the patient what to do, but it is up to the patient to do the homework. If they don’t do the work, they won’t get the results they want,”
Over time, DK was able to make huge improvements with physical therapy and she credits it all to the hard work that she put in each day. She has full range of motion in her shoulder.
About a year after her shoulder replacement surgery, she faced the possibility of surgery again when she began having fluid leak from her hip socket.
“After visiting with several doctors, it was ultimately decided that hip replacement surgery was the way to go,” says DK.
Hip replacement surgery, or hip arthroplasty, can be utilized to address complications such as fluid leaking into the leg muscle, something often caused by conditions like hip joint infection, severe inflammation, or a failed previous hip surgery.
During the procedure, the surgeon removes the damaged or infected hip joint components, along with any accumulated fluid and surrounding inflamed tissue. The
hip joint is then replaced with a prosthetic implant, typically made of metal, ceramic, or plastic components, which restores the hip’s function and stability.
This surgery aims to alleviate pain, prevent further fluid leakage, and improve mobility, allowing patients to regain a more normal and active lifestyle while preventing further complications related to fluid buildup and muscle damage.
After surgery, DK knew she would be going back to physical therapy and specifically asked for Wesley to be her physical therapist. Together they came up with a plan to get DK back to doing what she loves.
“A good PT will be able to customize a program for the patient and adapt it over
time, to match the needs of the patient. The ability to modify what a patient is working on so that they can improve their quality of life is integral,” says Wesley.
DK is back to walking her dog several miles a day and she now bikes on a sitting recumbent bike at Wesley’s suggestion to avoid injury.
“Even though I’m done with physical therapy now, I still do the maintenance exercise Wesley taught me every day. I am back to being active and have full movement. I owe so much of that to Boone Health Therapy Services. I’m grateful to Boone Hospital and Boone Therapy for helping me get my movement and quality of life back,” says DK. By Madison Loethen
Spiritual WELLNESS
Spiritual wellness is an important aspect of overall wellbeing, but what do we mean by spiritual wellness?
Sometimes we use the words spirituality and religion interchangeably, but they are different. Spirituality refers to the ways in which we seek meaning, hope, purpose in life, and connection with something bigger than ourselves. Religion is an organized set of practices and beliefs that address these spiritual issues.
As humans, we all have spiritual needs, whether or not we practice an organized religion. Spiritual wellness affects and is affected by our physical and mental wellness. Cultivating spiritual wellness in our everyday lives enhances our overall well-being and can help us be more resilient in times of stress.
As a chaplain, my professional practice involves assessing people’s spiritual wellness vs. distress and assisting them in moving toward wellness. I use an assessment tool developed
by Dr. Annette Gildemann which focuses on five areas of spiritual wellness:
1. Hope includes people’s connection to awe, mystery, the sacred, and expectation of good.
2. Autonomy refers to one’s sense of purpose, identity, and ability to carry out one’s purpose in life.
3. Relationships include interconnectedness with other people, the divine, nature, and sense of belonging.
4. Peace refers to a sense of calm and inner contentment whatever one’s circumstances may be.
5. Meaning involves understanding one’s life experiences in relation to one’s own values and belief systems.
Spiritual practices help us cultivate spiritual wellness in these five areas. For people who belong to a particular faith group or religion, practices such as prayer, reading sacred texts, devotions, and attending communal worship services can be important for maintaining spiritual wellness. There are also many non-religious spiritual practices available to people of all backgrounds, traditions, and experience levels.
Some practices that can boost spiritual wellbeing include:
Gratitude
A simple practice of writing down one thing you are grateful for each day can improve mood and lead to a greater sense of peace and hope. You can keep a gratitude journal on paper, but for the more digitally inclined, gratitude apps are available. I keep a “Good Things” jar in my kitchen with sticky notes and a pen nearby, so each member of my family can write down good things that have happened and place them in the jar. We periodically review them, reminding us of all the things that have happened for which we are grateful. It doesn’t matter what format you use; the practice of noticing and recording things you are grateful for helps develop a more positive outlook on life.
Meditation
Mindfulness meditation has been found to enhance physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. There are many great resources online for getting started with mindfulness meditation. One of my favorite meditative practices is walking a labyrinth. At Boone Health, we have a labyrinth located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Williams and
Walnut streets that is open to the public. Learn more about the labyrinth with instructions for doing a labyrinth walk at www.boone.health/labyrinth.
Nature
Spending time in nature, even for just a few minutes, is a great way to feel more peaceful, happier, and more focused. Connection with nature enhances our overall sense of connectedness and belonging, creating greater spiritual well-being. You don’t have to travel to somewhere with an awe-inspiring, Instagram-worthy view to experience the benefits of nature. Try taking a short walk in your neighborhood with the intention of noticing things in the natural environment. Snap a photo of anything that catches your eye – a colorful flower, a squirrel, an interesting rock, etc. There’s no need to do anything with the photos. It is the practice of noticing that helps increase our attentiveness to the beauty and mystery all around us.
Engaging with the Arts Art is for everyone, whether you consider yourself artistic or not! Doing creative
activities, such as drawing, painting, collage, playing music, or dancing, and appreciating the arts by going to a museum, concert, or play both increase wellbeing. Creative activities increase dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain and can contribute to a feeling of connection with the sacred and finding meaning in one’s experiences. The purpose of art activities for wellness is not to create something “good,” but to simply engage in the act of creating. You can find many ideas online for simple art activities that enhance wellness and use materials you probably already have.
Just as we need to devote time and energy to maintaining our physical wellness, we also need to tend to our spiritual wellness for the best possible health outcomes. As with physical exercises, spiritual practices get easier the more we do them and doing them with others increases their benefits. Take a few minutes today to try out a new spiritual practice or revisit one you haven’t done in a while and enjoy your journey on the path of spiritual wellness. By Rev. Dr. Kim Leon, Boone Health Chaplain
Boone Health's labyrinth is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Williams and Walnut streets.
From RSV to Recovery
Darla Taylor’s battle with severe illness and the care that saved her life.
Darla Taylor considered herself healthy. She watched what she ate, walked two miles a day and never thought she would be admitted to the hospital with a serious lung infection. But that’s where she found herself in January 2024.
A few weeks earlier, Darla’s fatherin-law passed away from Stage 4 Liver Cancer. Having spent weeks in the hospital before his passing, Darla’s motherin-law contracted a common respiratory virus, RSV, that gave her a cough.
Unfortunately, RSV was passed to everyone in Darla’s immediate family, which was a difficult time to not be feeling well while dealing with planning a funeral.
When Darla returned to work, she too now had a lingering cough that wouldn’t go away, but she didn’t think anything about it. Darla didn’t know she had RSV, but assumed she did. She knew her mother-in-law had RSV from a confirmed positive RSV test.
After having her cough for about a month, one day in January, Darla was sitting at work and suddenly got really cold. She had body aches, chills and couldn’t get warm. It was later in the afternoon, and she called her husband Scott and said she didn’t think she could make it home. Her teeth were chattering, but she went home, went straight to bed and called in sick the next day, Friday.
By Saturday, Darla’s entire body was starting to shake, and she just felt awful.
She went to the emergency room at Boone Hospital Center. A chest x-ray was done which didn’t show anything concerning, so Darla was sent home with instructions to take Tylenol and Ibuprofen.
On Sunday, Darla was feeling even worse. She was having sharp chest pains and was having a hard time breathing. She went back to the Emergency Room and had a CT scan done that showed she had RSV, which had turned into pneumonia. She also had septic fluid in her lungs and an infection in her right lung that was causing the chills and other symptoms.
She was admitted into the hospital. The pneumonia had caused Darla to have pleural effusion, which is an accumulation of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura – thin membranes that line the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity.
Symptoms for pleural effusion can vary, depending on the severity of the excess fluid in the lungs, but Darla remembers every time she would take a breath, it would feel like knives stabbing her in the chest.
With the RSV, pneumonia (the infection in her right lung), and the
pleural effusion, Darla’s blood pressure was very high, and her heart was functioning at only 30%.
Darla met with Richard Mellitt, MD of Boone Health Heart Surgery who told her she needed a chest tube to drain the fluid. She was taken into surgery where they put in a chest tube – a flexible plastic tube that is inserted through the chest wall and into the pleural space to remove fluid to help the lungs expand properly. From her infection, Darla had puss pockets in her lungs that Dr. Mellitt was able to scrape out as well.
Over the course of 5 days, they drained almost 2 liters of septic fluid out of Darla’s right lung.
“All of the employees I encountered at the hospital were so kind and went out of their way for me,” Darla said. “The nurses and physical therapists were fantastic”.
Darla had two physical therapists who would come and help walk her, and they would even come up on their lunch breaks just to check on her. “One of them knew I hadn’t washed my hair in 5 days and she asked if she could help me wash my
hair – which just brought me to tears. When you’re going through so much, just something so simple means so much,” Darla said. “I really appreciated their kindness.”
After 7 days in the hospital, Darla was released to go home. She was home for two weeks before she could return to work, being gone 3 weeks total.
Darla still had fluid in her right lung, and it took her body a couple of months to absorb the remaining fluid.
Once she got home, Darla looked forward to feeling well enough to exercise and eat again. While she was at the hospital, Darla didn’t eat and lost close to 10 pounds. But when she was finally well enough to eat again, she put her weight back on and is happy to be back walking her two miles every day.
“Dr. Mellitt saved my life by catching the infection,” Darla said. “I’m healthy, I do all the right things. I just couldn’t believe out of everyone in my family that I’m the only one that became so ill. I’m still baffled at how sick I actually was.”
By Erin Wegner
VACCINES PROTECTING HEALTH
AND SOCIETY
Vaccines are one of the most significant public health innovations in human history, revolutionizing our approach to disease prevention and control. They have played a crucial role in reducing the prevalence of infectious diseases, preventing outbreaks, and saving millions of lives worldwide. Understanding why it is essential to get necessary vaccines can reinforce public commitment to immunization and contribute to a healthier society.
Individual Protection
Vaccines are designed to protect individuals from specific diseases by stimulating the immune system to recognize and combat pathogens. When you get vaccinated, your body develops immunity to a disease without experiencing the illness itself. This shields you from potentially severe health complications, hospitalizations, or even death that could result from these diseases.
Vaccines like MMR – measles, mumps, and rubella – and influenza significantly reduce the risk of contracting these illnesses. The protection provided by vaccines ensures that if you come into contact with these viruses, your immune system is prepared to respond swiftly and effectively.
Herd Immunity
Vaccinations contribute to herd immunity, which occurs when a significant portion of a population is immunized against a contagious disease. Herd immunity helps protect people who can’t be vaccinated due to medical reasons, such as individuals with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, or very young children. When a high percentage of the community is vaccinated, the spread of the disease is reduced, decreasing the likelihood of an outbreak. This collective protection is crucial in safeguarding vulnerable populations and maintaining public health.
Prevention of Outbreaks
Vaccines play a vital role in controlling and preventing outbreaks of infectious diseases. High vaccination rates can prevent epidemics and pandemics by minimizing the circulation of pathogens. The eradication of smallpox is a historic example of how effective vaccines can be in eliminating a disease. Similarly, vaccines have significantly reduced the incidence of diseases like polio and diphtheria.
Maintaining high vaccination coverage is essential for preventing the resurgence of diseases that have been under control. Decreases in vaccination rates can lead to outbreaks and put communities at risk, as seen in recent years with the re-emergence of diseases like measles in areas with declining vaccination rates.
Economic Benefits
The economic impact of vaccines is substantial. By preventing disease, vaccines reduce healthcare costs related to medical treatments, hospitalizations, and long-term care for chronic conditions that can result from infectious diseases. Vaccines also contribute to increased productivity by reducing absences from work or school due to illness. Investing in vaccines can lead to long-term economic benefits, lowering healthcare expenditures and enhancing overall quality of life. The cost-effectiveness of vaccines makes them a valuable investment in personal and public health.
Global Health Impact
Vaccines have a profound impact on global health, particularly in lowand middle-income countries where infectious diseases are more prevalent. Immunization programs have helped reduce child mortality rates and improve health outcomes globally. Initiatives such as the Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) work to ensure that vaccines reach populations
in need and to combat diseases on a global scale. By supporting vaccination efforts worldwide, we contribute to more equitable distribution of health resources and the elimination of disparities in disease prevention and treatment.
Scientific and Public Health Advances
Vaccines are products of extensive scientific research and public health efforts. Vaccine development and approval processes require rigorous testing to ensure their safety and efficacy. Advances in vaccine technology improve our ability to combat emerging and re-emerging diseases, such as COVID-19. Embracing vaccines and supporting ongoing research and development in immunization helps to advance public health and prepare for future challenges. It reflects a commitment to leveraging scientific progress for the benefit of all.
Getting necessary vaccines is crucial for protecting one’s health, preventing disease outbreaks, supporting vulnerable populations, and contributing to global health progress. Vaccinations not only shield individuals from potentially severe diseases but also strengthens community immunity and promotes economic stability. By staying informed and proactive about vaccinations, we can continue to safeguard our health and build a healthier, more resilient society. By Jenny L. Workman, Community Wellness Manager
Boone Health’s Community Wellness team can come on-site to your organization and provide flu vaccines for you and your employees. Contact Jenny at Jenny.Workman@boone.health for more information.
If you need a COVID vaccine/ booster, please visit your local pharmacy or healthcare provider.
normal weight, overweight or obese. BMI is widely used in healthcare because it is easy to calculate and provides a quick overview of potential weight-related health risks.
After eight months, Allison lost 100 pounds. “I’ve been able to go from a 3X to an XL and it’s been really, really nice. I’m steadily losing weight. I don’t know what my goal weight is yet, but I’m excited about already losing 100 pounds!” Allison said.
Armed with new recipes from the dietitians, Allison likes to cook now and try new recipes. She also makes better decisions throughout the day. “My whole diet has changed,” Allison said. “With the shot, I’m not as hungry, but I know I’m going to get 2 good meals in during the day, and I want them to be meals I like.”
After she started losing weight, Allison noticed how much more energy she has. She exercises more, loves to go shopping and enjoys getting out and doing things. “I literally went swimming at a water park not too long ago,” Allison shares. Before her weight loss, she admits that she was more self-conscious to do those things.
Back in November, Allison had also been referred to physical therapy because she was having hip pain. After several visits at Boone Health Therapy Services, Allison’s hip pain was gone. “They did an awesome job,” Allison said. “They gave me things to work out with, pamphlets to do at home and were just very nice people.”
Due to inherited heart conditions, Allison has also been a patient of Elliott James, MD, a cardiologist at MO Heart Associates for several years. “Dr. Elliott is my best friend. I absolutely love him,” Allison gushes. “He is happy I’m losing weight. I didn’t realize how much I weighed until I saw him awhile ago after losing weight. I thought, ‘My Goodness! I was that heavy?’”
Having a great support system has also helped Allison along this journey. Both of her parents live in town along with her brother, nieces and nephews. They are a close nit family. Her father is a pastor at a local church, and Allison has a huge support system from her church family.
Now, Allison is not afraid to take on new adventures. “I can do more now,” she says. “I want to try it all.” She’s planning trips and looking forward to traveling without all this extra weight. “If I would have known this was an option,” Allison says, “I would have done this years ago. Boone Hospital has literally saved my life.”
By Erin Wegner
“I’ve been able to go from a 3X to an XL and it’s been really, really nice. I’m steadily losing weight. I don’t know what my goal weight is yet, but I’m excited about already losing 100 pounds!”
Aquablation THERAPY
Aiding men
with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), one prostate at a time.
What is BPH?
• Simply put, BPH means an enlarged prostate.
• The prostate is a little gland that lives under the bladder and plays an important role in male sexual function. Every prostate is unique in size and shape, and in some cases, will grow slowly as a man ages.
• BPH is the #1 reason men visit a urologist.
• 99% of men with BPH say symptoms impact quality of life.
What’s wrong with an enlarged prostate?
As the prostate enlarges, it cuts off the urethra, which lets urine leave the bladder. This can lead to problems being able to hold urine and also problems being able to empty the bladder.
Clay Mechlin, MD, FACS and Philip Fish, MD were the first two providers to offer Aquablation Therapy at Boone Hospital Center.
“Innovations and advancements in male infertility and reconstructive surgery have allowed me the opportunity to perform a variety of procedures which greatly improve the lives of my patients and their families.”
– DR. MECHLIN
“We are excited to bring this technology to the patients of Missouri. They no longer have to decide between improving urinary symptoms and maintaining normal sexual function.”
– DR. FISH
How does Aquablation Therapy work?
• Aquablation therapy is the only BPH surgical procedure that integrates ultrasound imaging with a camera. With the help of ultrasound imaging, doctors can create a detailed guide to plan the procedure, outlining the specific areas of the prostate that need to be removed.
• Aquablation therapy uses an ultrasound-guided, roboticassisted, heat-free waterjet. This is a minimally invasive treatment that allows the waterjet to only remove the prostate tissue that is causing symptoms.
• There are two key steps to the Aquablation therapy process:
• Step 1: Surgical Planning
• Step 2: Prostate Tissue Removal
Step 1: Surgical Planning
Aquablation therapy enables our surgeons to customize your procedure to your specific anatomy. With the help of ultrasound imaging, doctors can create a detailed guide to plan the procedure, outlining the specific areas of the prostate that need to be removed. The tissue within the
marked area of the prostate may be removed, while the tissue outside of it may remain untouched. This realtime visualization allows our surgeons to map which parts of your prostate to remove and which parts to avoid.
Step 2: Prostate Tissue Removal
Once our surgeons have created a surgical map, a robotic-assisted system follows the surgical plan and removes the targeted prostate tissue using a heat-free waterjet. This advanced technology helps ensure precise, consistent and predictable removal of the tissue.
Why is this something I should consider?
• This is an advanced technology that allows our urologists to treat a common male condition without the use of cautery, while simultaneously avoiding traditional side effects.
• This is minimally invasive and requires the patient to be under anesthesia for a shorter period of time.
• This procedure will help retain male sexual function. By Erin Wegner
BOONE BABIES GROWING UP
MIGRAINE HEADACHES
in Children and Adolescents
BY HOLLY BONDURANT, MD
The bad news: Headaches are one of the most common complaints brought to a pediatric office.
The good news: 95% of headaches are safe and can be treated.
Tension type headaches are the most common headaches in children; however, migraines are the most common type of headache that brings a patient to see their physician because they are painful and can be frequent.
Migraines are thought to be caused by a dysfunction in the neurons of the brain that makes them increasingly sensitive to a wide range of stimuli. There can be genetic and environmental causes of migraines.
Physicians can diagnose migraines by a physical exam and a thorough history. At times, other tests such as blood work or an MRI are ordered to make sure the headache is safe and there is no other underlying medical problem. Migraines occur in up to 15% of children. There are standard criteria when making a migraine diagnosis:
1. Severity of headache
2. Location of pain on the head
3. What the pain feels like
4. Other symptoms associated with the headache such as nausea and vomiting, light sensitivity, or noise sensitivity
If a diagnosis of migraine is made then a treatment plan can be addressed.
How can we prevent migraines?
Some ways to prevent migraines include drinking enough water, getting enough sleep and exercise, eating well, and having periods of relaxation daily.
• Water: Your brain cells are made up mostly of water. They get nutrients and eliminate waste through water and remain healthy through good water intake. The amount of water
a child needs daily is based on their gender, activity level, and weight. Your pediatrician can help tell you how much water your child should be taking in a day. Hydrating appropriately helps prevent migraines.
• Sleep: Getting enough sleep keeps your nerve cells healthy and allows them to repair themselves. Staying up late, not sleeping enough, or staying on a computer or phone into late nighttime hours can set up conditions favorable for a migraine storm. Depending on your child’s age, they may need 8 to 12 hours of sleep.
• Exercise: Exercising at least 60 minutes a day is recommended for children, adolescents, and adults. Exercising regularly helps promote production of new blood vessels that bring nutrients to your brain, keep the nerve cells healthy, and allow nerve cells to work better in stressful situations. Exercising also produces natural endorphins which are a natural pain reliever.
• Healthy diet: Eating well is a powerful tool to prevent migraines. Keeping your glucose level consistent by eating regularly spaced-out meals can help prevent headaches. Eating breakfast is important – a good, protein-rich breakfast can especially help with headache prevention. Eating a healthy variety of foods also prevents obesity, which is a risk factor for increased headaches.
• Relaxation: Migraines can become more severe with stress. Finding time for deep breathing or relaxation throughout your day can aid in preventing migraine storms. Deep breathing and muscle relaxation techniques can be learned to help reduce stress and prevent headaches.
If migraines cannot be prevented by non-medical measures, then a physician can talk to you and your child about medicines to help with the symptoms of these headaches. Keeping a headache diary to record the frequency, location, and severity of headaches will help your pediatrician make decisions for treatment.
How do we treat migraines?
Therapy for migraines includes common over the counter medications. Ibuprofen or Naprosyn can be used up to 8 to 10 times a month on average, but are not recommended to be used more than that.
Prescription medication such as Sumatriptan can be used if the overthe-counter medications aren’t relieving the headaches. Triptans are safe and can be very effective in relieving a migraine headache. If a child has a history of migraines, they should take medicine as soon as the headache is noted to try to keep it from becoming severe. If a headache occurs more than 4 times a month, if headaches do not respond to preventive treatments, or if headaches occur with neurological symptoms such as vision loss, visual changes or partial paralysis, it is recommended to start a preventative medication.
Common preventative medications for children and adolescents include Amitriptyline, Propranolol, Topamax and Magnesium oxide or Magnesium gluconate. If preventative medication is needed, your pediatrician can help you determine which ones are right for your child.
Meeting with your pediatrician allows your child to receive a full physical and an opportunity to explain their headache symptoms to their doctor. A migraine action plan can then be developed to give your child the opportunity to live a healthy, headache-free — or at least headache-infrequent — and happy life!
Dr. Bondurant is a pediatrician at Tiger Pediatrics. She is accepting new patients.
Erica Salinas, MD
Boone Health Vascular Surgery
Iwas born and raised in South Texas. When I say South Texas, I mean 20 minutes north of the border – not Houston, which is about a 7-plus-hour drive from my hometown of McAllen. I am from a very non-medical family and was the first in my family to go to and graduate from college and a professional school. I went to the University of Texas-Pan American for college and the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio School of Medicine for medical school. I then started my general surgery residency at the University of Arizona in Tucson and completed my vascular surgical fellowship at the University of Missouri in Columbia. While I was in residency, I met my husband, Ryan, and he followed me here to Missouri. We fell in love with Columbia and decided to make it our forever home. Ryan is a law professor at the University of Missouri School of Law. We have two children: Eleanor, 8, and CJ, 18 months.
Why did you get into the health care field? Quite honestly, I grew up rather poor and blue-collar. I was always trying to find something that would enable me to have a career that was very stable with a good income so my kids would never have to worry about a paycheck-to-paycheck existence. Growing up, doctors and lawyers were always portrayed as respectable and well off. I had a passion for science and have never been too argumentative, so medicine felt like the better fit for me. As I learned more about healthcare, becoming a doctor just felt right to me.
What interested you in your particular specialty? I started in a general surgery residence, then did rotations in vascular surgery. I enjoyed the long-term relationships that developed in a vascular surgery clinic, as we follow our patients for years after a vascular diagnosis is made. They get to know us and our families, and we become a community. I also enjoy that vascular surgery is an ever-changing field with new advancements to improve how I care for my patients.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? When a patient thanks me for helping them.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job? Knowing that there are things that we cannot fix. Certain vascular diagnoses are progressive, and there comes a moment when we run out of options and have to start talking about things like amputations.
What advice would you give someone looking to become a doctor? Make sure that you have a passion for it and then don’t give up. There are going to be some very hard days
out there. You will have a bad patient outcome. You will miss an important family event because you had to work. Someone’s family will blame you for something that is not your fault, but you will take it, because they are grieving. The thing to remember is to not let the hard days win. Surround yourself with people who love and support you in what you are trying to accomplish.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work? I love spending time with my husband and children. In gentler weather, we love to get outside and take walks as a family or go to a park or the zoo. I also enjoy reading, listening to music and podcasts. Our office has a fantasy book club that we all enjoy being a part of.
What advice would you give to someone who is going to be a patient in a hospital for a period of time? Always make sure to have your phone charger because the phones in the rooms don’t always work great. Bring something with you to make you feel more comfortable – a better pillow, a blanket, toiletries that you enjoy, or anything else to make you feel more at ease.
Brad Davis, BS, RVT, RCS
Vascular Sonography
I’m a local guy – I graduated from Rock Bridge High School, then continued my education at the University of Missouri where I graduated from the Ultrasound Program in 2005. I am blessed to be married to my beautiful wife, Katie. We share our home with our 3 teenage sons – Zeke, 19, Luke, 17, and 15-yearold Jake – plus several pets.
Why did you get into the health care field? I have always enjoyed helping others. I knew early on in life that I could accomplish this in a healthcare setting.
What interested you in your particular specialty? Ultrasound is unique in that it is extremely operatordependent – this means that radiologists who interpret the results rely on the images I take. I enjoy the challenge of figuring out where the different pathologies lie and to what severity they exist.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? I had a patient smile and tell me the other day that it was a true joy to come to our clinic. This would not be accomplished without the hard work of our dedicated team. The most rewarding part of my job is being able to work with such a great team to improve the health and happiness of the people within our community.
machines we used when I started in the field 20 years ago. Oh, and the paper charts have disappeared.
What do you see changing in the next 5 to 10 years? We are starting to see this a little bit even now, but I envision that AI will play a bigger role in the image acquisition process.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job? There is definitely a routine and many redundancies within the job. The challenge is to always remain engaged and present with whoever you come in contact with. Even the simplest of exchanges can have a big impact on someone’s day.
What has changed in your field since you started practicing? The user friendliness and overall image quality of the machines we use now are superior compared to the
What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Watching my boys participate on their respective sports teams. Coaching basketball, playing basketball, pickleball, golf, hunting, fishing, traveling, and gardening also make the list.
What advice would you give someone looking to become a sonographer? Lean into your strength. Put whatever makes you great on display. A strong liking for physics wouldn’t hurt, either!
Chicken & Pumpkin Waffles
INGREDIENTS
• 6 frozen chicken tenders
• ½ cup green onion for garnish
Waffle
• 1/3 cup pancake or waffle mix
• 1 egg
• 1/8 cup vegetable oil
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• ½ Tbsp cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger
Syrup
• 1 cup honey
• 1 cup maple syrup
• 1 tsp granulated garlic
• 1 tsp paprika
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
Cinnamon Crunch
Praline Pecans
• 1 egg white
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 lb pecans
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Candied Bacon
• 4 pieces of bacon
• A sprinkle of brown sugar
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
Cream Cheese
• 8 oz cream cheese
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp cinnamon
DIRECTIONS
1. Prepare the batter: Add the pancake mix, egg, oil, pumpkin puree and spices to a bowl with water and mix until smooth, then sit to the side.
2. Make the syrup: Add the honey, maple syrup, granulated garlic, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and apple cider vinegar to a sauce pot then bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and pour into a container and place in the fridge to cool.
3. Make the pecans: Add the egg white and vanilla to a bowl and whip until light and frothy. Add the pecans, brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, cloves and salt to the bowl and mix together. Then place on a lined baking sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 20 minutes. Set aside to cool.
4. Make the bacon: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place your bacon down. Sprinkle bacon with brown sugar and red pepper flakes. Cook at 325 degrees for 20 minutes or until bacon is cooked to your liking. When cooled, chop bacon and set aside for assembling.
5. Make the cream cheese: Place cream cheese in a kitchen aid mixer with powdered sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon. Whip till light and fluffy, then set aside for assembling.
6. Make the chicken: You can bake or air fry the chicken tenders. Cook according to the package or 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes, ensuring the internal temperature is 165 degrees.
7. Time to assemble! Preheat the waffle iron to 350 degrees. Cook until the timer goes off and the waffle is nice and crispy. Cut the waffle in half and place in the following order: waffle, chicken tenders, candied bacon, candied pecans, syrup, cream cheese and finish with green onions. By Jason Anderson, Boone Health Chef
THIS FALL, Break Through!
Autumn is an ideal time to overcome common obstacles to regular exercise.
As days get shorter and the relentless heat subsides, fall provides the perfect opportunity to begin an exercise regimen or nd new hobbies to enjoy! If you enjoy admiring fall foliage, Columbia is the perfect place to take a nature walk. We have an incredible trail system in Columbia with trails spanning over 250 miles. ere are also a number of run/walk competitions that occur in the fall, such as a turkey trot. Now is the perfect time to start training! If you nd maintaining a regular exercise routine to be di cult, you’re not alone. e American Heart Association recognizes several common barriers to exercise and provides tips to overcome them. Fall is an exceptional time to break through these barriers and create sustainable lifestyle changes that will help you enjoy a happy and healthy lifestyle all year round!
Lack of Time: Many Americans nd it di cult to balance working, caring for family, attending social events, and exercising. Try monitoring your activities for a week, then identify three or four 30-minute slots that you could use for physical activity. If needed, you can break up your day’s exercise into 10- or 15-minute sessions that better t your schedule. Since the weather is generally more pleasant in the fall, you can exercise almost any time of the day.
Friends and Family Don’t Share Your Interest in Physical Activities: Ask your friends and family about physical activities they enjoy that you can do with them – remember, exercise is more than going to the gym! Ask a friend to go on a weekly bike ride to enjoy the fall colors, play a game of touch football with your family, or attend a group exercise class you’ve wanted to try. Not only will this make exercise more enjoyable, exercising with friends provides a sense of support and accountability.
Lack of Motivation: A busy lifestyle can be exhausting. In autumn, as the amount of daylight lessens, it may be tempting to turn on your favorite sitcom instead of participating in physical activity. Try scheduling your exercise for a time of day when you feel most energetic. Create a daily checklist and cross o your exercise when it is completed. And recognize that exercise can help reduce stress and make you feel better overall.
Why go through all this trouble to exercise? Because the bene ts are endless!
You may know that exercise can help with weight management or building a better physique, but the bene ts of exercise extend far beyond appearance. Regular physical activity can help decrease risk factors for heart disease. Engaging in aerobic exercise helps lower blood pressure, decrease LDL – the “bad” cholesterol – in your blood and improve blood sugar levels. Improving these risk factors could help you live a longer and healthier life. Regular physical activity can also improve the quality of your sleep and help you manage or reduce stress.
Exercise is generally safe and e ective for most people of all ages, but if you have any concerns about exercising safely, ask your primary care physician before beginning a new program or activity.
150 minutes of moderate level activity each week is recommended for healthy adults. Moderate activity can include taking a brisk walk with your dog, riding a bicycle, or preparing your garden for winter.
If you’re just beginning an exercise program or haven’t been active for a few years, start light and work your way up to 150 minutes per week. If you’re already an avid exerciser, maximize your health bene ts by gradually increasing your exercise time – up to 300 minutes per week –or intensity.
Whether you prefer scurrying through a corn maze, raking leaves, or completing your rst 5K, take advantage of the beautiful fall weather and make exercise an enjoyable and bene cial part of your life! By Hayden Legg, ACSM-CEP
Are you over 70?
Are you aware that the limit for qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) has increased? In 2024, individuals 70 ½ and older may make distributions up to $105,000 to organizations like the Boone Hospital Foundation. These distributions – or gifts, as we call them –may count toward your required minimum distribution for the year and are excluded from taxable income.
Also, this year, up to $53,000 can be given as a one-time gift using your charitable gift annuity or remainder trusts. Gifts can be designated to the fund of your choosing.
Please consider giving in this way to the Boone Hospital Foundation! For more information, contact Monica Collins at 573.815.2801 or monica.collins@boone.health
Boone Hospital Foundation Helps Support the Community Wellness Mobile Health Unit
The Boone Hospital Foundation supports patient healing, staff development, and community health. The Boone Health Community Wellness Mobile Health Unit was purchased by the Foundation in 2013 and travels throughout our 26-county service area providing health screens. Through 2024, the Community Wellness team anticipates performing over 250 skin cancer screenings, 351 A1c tests, and 350 blood pressure checks. Boone Community
Wellness also provides education and information at public and contracted events. This year, 15,000 people will be seen by the nursing staff at various locations in the community.
Your gifts to the Foundation have helped offset some costs for Boone Health’s Community Wellness Initiatives. In addition to providing testing kits, the Foundation helps this effort by sending our Mobile Health Unit nurses to advanced training specific to community health.
With your support, we can grow this program and reach many more central Missouri residents who might not otherwise receive these health screenings or education. Thank you for helping us keep our community healthy!
To make a gift to support
Boone Hospital Foundation, scan the QR code:
