Baxter Regional
FALL 2021 VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 4
THE
HEART MATTER OF THE
FREE!
Please tak you and hee with stop the s lp us pr of COVID-1 ead 9.
TAVR SURGERY, TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT, IS NOW BEING OFFERED BY BAXTER REGIONAL CARDIOLOGISTS
CUTTING-EDGE
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY INFUSIONS
GROUNDBREAKING FOR
NEW HIGHLAND ONCOLOGY CENTER
THE SPOTLIGHT IS ON
RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS
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Table of Contents
32 22
50
FEATURES
32 | Community Support
Community extends appreciation to Baxter Regional staff on the COVID-19 front line.
35 | Buyer Beware
Read the fine print or talk to a local agent when you are purchasing a Medicare Advantage health insurance plan.
40 | The Heart of the Matter
Baxter Regional is offering yet another new category of care: transcatheter aortic valve replacement.
44 | Just Breathe
Respiratory therapists have gained more attention during the pandemic than any time before.
48 | Highland Oncology Groundbreaking
The forthcoming oncology center will feature 33,000 square feet of space and broaden the ability to provide excellent care to every patient, every time.
50 | Infused with Life
Cutting-edge monoclonal antibody infusions are the latest treatment for COVID-19 patients.
On the cover: (From left) Dr. Patrick Tobbia, Interventional
Cardiologist and Dr. Akihiro Kobayashi, Structural Cardiologist. Photography by Jason Masters.
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DEPARTMENTS 10 Letter from the President & CEO 14 Newcomers 18 Community Houses 22 Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation 26 Baxter Regional Clinics 30 Baxter Regional Board Member 56 Wellness 61 Nutrition 64 Chaplain’s Corner
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Baxter Regional
A PUBLICATION OF BAXTER REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
624 Hospital Drive, Mtn. Home, AR 72653 870-508-1000 baxterregional.org
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VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 4 BAXTER REGIONAL SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM President/Chief Executive Officer Ron Peterson VP/Business Development and Executive Director, Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation Barney Larry VP/Chief Operating Officer David Fox VP/Chief Financial Officer Debbie Henry VP/Chief Nursing Officer Shannon Nachtigal, MSN, RN, NEA-BC VP/Human Resources Karen Adams VP/General Counsel Nicole Vaccarella VP/Physician Enterprise Bill Baldwin
PULSE EDITORIAL Executive Editor Tobias Pugsley Associate Editors Chase Baker and Adrienne Koehn Contributing Writers Faith Anaya, Dwain Hebda and Deborah Stanuch Contributing Copy Editor Melinda Lanigan Contributing Photographer Jason Masters, James Moore and James Stefiuk Contributing Designer Ashlee Nobel
PUBLISHED BY
WHEELHOUSE PUBLISHING
501-766-0859 WheelhousePublishing.com
The Baxter Regional Pulse magazine is distributed quarterly to Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation donors with the remaining copies distributed in the hospital’s 19 clinics, community support houses and locations within our twostate, 11-county service area. To advertise call 501-766-0859 or email sarah@wheelhousepublishing.com. Baxter Regional complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-870-508-7770.
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CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-1-870-508-7770.
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BUILT TO SUIT BUILT TO LAST CONTACT US TODAY! 870-232-0140 CROWNOVERCOMPANY.COM
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Letter from the President & CEO
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE MEANS MORE POSITIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES. Of the 325 million people in the U.S. today, only 25 percent see a primary care doctor. Our primary care doctors can detect and treat many conditions early, keeping us healthier and greatly reducing the need for emergency room visits. At Baxter Regional, we saw this need and have responded by opening 12 primary care and 13 specialty centers throughout our region staffed with 75 doctors and nurse practitioners. Access to quality care goes hand in hand with our mission statement: “To provide excellent care for every patient, every time.” Further advancing our commitment to patient care, Baxter Regional has also broken ground on a new cancer center. In partnership with Highlands Oncology Group of Rogers, patients can now benefit from “… excellent research, excellent trial medicine and a fantastic care model … right here in Mountain Home,” says David Fox, Baxter Regional Vice President/ Chief Operating Officer. You can read about this exciting new facility slated to open in 2022 on page 48. In addition, we now offer the transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure, or TAVR, which you can read about on page 40. Having this procedure available in a hospital the size of Baxter Regional is a game-changer for many people who would otherwise have to seek treatment in St. Louis or Little Rock. We can thank many of the visionaries who have helped bring these advancements in patient offerings about, one being Paul Wade who sits on our board of directors. Read about his decidedly different viewpoints and background on page 30, as he offers a perspective that helps make Baxter Regional’s leadership thoughtful and effective. As the nation faces staffing shortages and COVID-19 challenges, he and the board remain focused on retaining and recruiting staff and growing our medical services. We also share a story about the community support shown to us, which inspires our healthcare heroes in so many ways. When COVID-19 came to Mountain Home in 2020 and personal protective equipment was scarce, the community responded overwhelmingly with homemade masks, caps and gowns, meals, snacks and prayers. When 2021’s COVID-19 surge came again, the first thing people asked us was, “How can we help?” Having that support has meant so much to our Baxter Regional family, and we sincerely thank the residents of our community. In our fight against COVID-19, we have an ally in Tosha Applegate. This nurse practitioner volunteered to support the New York hospitals last spring, and she’s putting her hard-won experience to use right here at Baxter Regional where we’re now offering the cutting-edge monoclonal antibody infusion treatments, one of the latest weapons in fighting the virus. Read about this effective treatment and our facility’s creative ways to make this available to as many qualifying patients as possible. Also read about our respiratory therapists who are trained in many treatment strategies and are so essential in the daily battle against COVID-19. Many folks previously unaware of what a respiratory therapist does are now so thankful for their hard work and dedication. This issue also focuses on home health tips and workouts from Jonny Harvey as well as information from our Community Houses that center on health and wellness education for our community. Lastly, we bring you a story of thankfulness and perspective witnessed by one of our staff. He reminds us that sometimes what is a small, trivial thing to one may mean the world to another. Kindness is the greatest blessing to bestow, so take a moment and look around. Enjoy your family, friends and neighbors. Experience life to the fullest, and be grateful for your blessings. Be well,
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” ~Aesop
RON PETERSON President/Chief Executive Officer Baxter Regional Medical Center
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PHOTO: COURTESY OF BAXTER REGIONAL
ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE
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Contributors Deborah Stanuch WRITER
Debby and her husband, Don, retired to Mountain Home 14 years ago from Chicago. For 12 years she worked for KTLO in the news room, and as host of “Talk of the Town” before retiring in 2017. A freelance writer, she has been published locally in the Baxter Bulletin and Marvelous Magazine. She served on the boards of the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas; Serenity; and Twin Lakes Playhouse, where she has appeared on stage. A member of Sweet Adelines, she and her husband sing in the First United Methodist Church choir.
Dwain Hebda
WRITER Dwain Hebda is a writer, editor and journalist whose work annually appears in more than 35 publications. A Nebraska native, he has an extensive resume spanning nearly 40 years in print. Hebda is also founder and President of YA!Mule Wordsmiths, an editorial services company in Little Rock, Arkansas. An empty-nest father of four, he and his wife, Darlene, enjoy travel and pampering their three lovely dogs.
Jason Masters
PHOTOGRAPHER Jason Masters is a photographer from Austin, Texas, who has now taken Arkansas as his home. He currently has a commercial photography studio in Little Rock and primarily shoots fashion, advertising and editorial portraiture for magazines within the U.S. and internationally. His photography can be found in such publications as Teen Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, Texas Monthly, The Knot and The Wall Street Journal, among many others.
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BAXTER REGIONAL
NEWCOMERS SINCE JUNE, BAXTER REGIONAL HAS WELCOMED 11 NEW PHYSICIANS TO OUR MEDICAL STAFF
DR. AUSTIN BARBER
DR. MARY DEPPER
DR. KOLTON FRASER
UROLOGY
FAMILY MEDICINE
EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Austin N. Barber, M.D., a boardcertified urologist, has joined the staff of Baxter Regional Urology Clinic. Dr. Barber earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Georgia in Athens before attending Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia. He completed a general surgery internship and urology residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. Dr. Barber served as a captain in the United States Air Force Reserve during his medical training and as Chief Urologist and major for the United States Air Force in Biloxi, Mississippi, before relocating to Mountain Home. Dr. Barber and his wife, Cara, have three sons and enjoy spending time outdoors, camping, hiking, kayaking, biking and boating. For more information or an appointment, call (870) 508-6020.
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Mary Depper, M.D., is a board-certified family medicine physician at Baxter Regional Family Clinic. Dr. Depper earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and a Master of Science in interdisciplinary biomedical sciences from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. She also attended medical school at UAMS and completed a family medicine residency at their South Regional Program in Magnolia, where she served as chief resident. Dr. Depper enjoys horseback and trail riding, endeavoring to master horsemanship, rehabilitating rescued animals and fishing. She and her husband are excited to spend time on the area’s lakes and rivers. For more information or an appointment, call (870) 425-6212.
Kolton Fraser, D.O., is an emergency medicine physician who has joined Baxter Emergency Group practicing in the Cline Emergency Center. Dr. Fraser earned a Bachelor of Science in cell biology and neuroscience and a Master of Health Sciences at Montana State University in Bozeman before attending Pacific Northwest University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Yakima, Washington. Dr. Fraser recently completed an emergency medicine residency at Kingman Regional Medical Center in Kingman, Arizona. He enjoys sports and various outdoor activities, including skiing, wakeboarding, fly fishing, hunting, hiking, camping and more.
DR. HEATHER HAMMONDS FAMILY MEDICINE/ SPORTS MEDICINE Dr. Heather Hammonds, boardcertified in sports medicine and family medicine, recently began practicing in Mountain Home after living in our area since 2015 with her husband, Dr. Mark Hammonds, dermatologist, and their children. She attended Texas A&M University in College Station before going to the University of Texas Medical School in Houston. She completed her residency at St. Vincent’s Family Medicine Program in Jacksonville, Florida, and a fellowship at Baylor Sports Medicine in Waco, Texas. Dr. Hammonds has served as team physician of the University of Texas Athletics Department since 2015. For more information and an appointment, call Restore Sports Medicine at (870) 425-5464.
DR. DAVID KELLEY ANESTHESIOLOGY David Kelley, D.O., board-certified anesthesiologist, has joined the anesthesiology group practicing at Baxter Regional Outpatient Surgery Center. Dr. Kelley earned an Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Care from UAMS and a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience from the University of Texas at Dallas before attending Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. He completed a general surgery internship, anesthesiology residency and critical care medicine fellowship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Dr. Kelley has 17 years of clinical experience, most recently at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock as Medical Director of the Anesthesia Perioperative Evaluation Center, assistant professor of anesthesiology and staff anesthesiologist and as a locum tenens critical care physician at Kuakini Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. FALL 2021 |
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BAXTER REGIONAL NEWCOMERS DR. AKIHIRO KOBAYASHI
DR. LEONARD DALE MORGAN
DR. JAMES MUNNS
STRUCTURAL AND INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY
ANESTHESIOLOGY
CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY
Akihiro Kobayashi, M.D., a boardcertified interventional cardiologist, is practicing at Cardiovascular Associates of North Central Arkansas. Dr. Kobayashi attended Mie University School of Medicine in Mie, Japan, and completed an internal medicine residency at Kainan Hospital in Aichi, Japan, and Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City. He completed a cardiology fellowship at the University of Arizona, Phoenix, and an interventional cardiology and structural heart fellowship at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. His previous professional experience includes practicing at Tokyo Bay Medical Center in Chiba, Japan, and the U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka in Kanagawa, Japan. Dr. Kobayashi recently relocated to the Twin Lakes area with his wife and three young children. For more information or an appointment, call (870) 425-8288.
DR. EJ SCOTT HOSPITALIST Warren Edward “EJ” Scott, Jr., D.O., is an internist in practice with the First In Service Hospitalists group serving at Baxter Regional. Dr. Scott earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington, before attending medical school at the Pacific Northwest University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Yakima, Washington. Dr. Scott completed an internal medicine residency at St. Bernards Healthcare in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Dr. Scott and his wife, McKenna, recently relocated to the Mountain Home area and are new parents to a baby girl born in September.
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Leonard Dale Morgan, D.O., a board-certified anesthesiologist, has joined the surgery team at Baxter Regional. Dr. Morgan attended the Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine (formerly University of Health Sciences) in Kansas City, Missouri. He completed an anesthesiology and pain management residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and an interventional pain management fellowship at Louisiana State University Health in Shreveport. Dr. Morgan has more than 20 years of experience and most recently practiced in Fort Worth, Texas, before relocating to Mountain Home. Dr. Morgan is married and has two adult children.
James Munns, M.D., a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon, has joined Baxter Regional Heart Clinic. Dr. Munns attended the University of Iowa College of Medicine in Iowa City. He completed a general surgery residency at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics and a cardiovascular and thoracic surgery residency at Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Dr. Munns has more than 35 years of cardiac surgery experience in several locations in Illinois before joining the Baxter Regional staff. For more information or an appointment, call (870) 508-3200.
DR. ADAM SMITHERMAN
DR. SHAYNA WOOD
NEUROSURGERY
PEDIATRICS
Adam Smitherman, M.D., neurosurgeon, has joined the medical staff at Baxter Regional Neurosurgery and Spine Clinic. Dr. Smitherman graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens before attending the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. He completed a neurological surgery residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center in Oklahoma City and a neurosurgery spine fellowship at Rush University in Chicago. His areas of interest include open and minimally invasive spine surgery, adult spinal deformity and spinal oncology. He enjoys hiking, fly fishing, cooking, tennis, volunteer mission work, traveling and spending time with his wife Ashton, a nurse practitioner also joining the Baxter Regional Neurosurgery and Spine Clinic staff, and their daughter.
Shayna Wood, M.D., a board-certified pediatrician, has joined Baxter Regional Med-Peds Clinic located at #10 Medical Plaza in Mountain Home. A graduate of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Dr. Wood attended medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. She completed a pediatrics residency and neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship at UAMS, and her previous professional experience includes practicing as a neonatologist and general pediatrician in central Arkansas. Dr. Wood and her husband, Landon, have a daughter and twin boys, and they love being outside and traveling. She enjoys reading, loves music and plays the piano and cello.
For more information, call (870) 508-7080.
For more information or an appointment, call (870) 424-3824.
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BAXTER REGIONAL COMMUNITY HOUSES ARE OPEN HOURS: Weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Masks and social distancing required per Baxter Regional COVID-19 protocols, including checking temperatures and screening at the door. For additional information, visit www.baxterregional.org or call the individual house.
PEITZ CANCER SUPPORT HOUSE
– Tuesdays 2nd, 9th, 15th , 23rd and Thursdays 4th, 18th.
870-508-2273
Requires a physician’s referral. Call 870508-1765 for times and registration.
CALENDAR:
Healthy Nutrition – No meeting
Personalized Information and Support – Available anytime
Knock Out Cancer Boxing – Every
Tuesday & Friday at 3:30 p.m. Held at the Wellness Education Center located at 2545 Hwy. 5 North, Mountain Home. Registration is required. Call 870-508-2273.
Threads of Hope: Creating Gifts for Cancer Patients – Every Monday at 1 p.m.
T2 Diabetes Support Meeting – No meeting
World Diabetes Day Program –
Thursday, 11th, drop in 10 a.m.–5 p.m., at the Wellness Education Center at 2545 Hwy 5. N, Mountain Home. Social distancing and masks required. Call (870) 508-1765 to register.
Intermediate Yoga – Every Tuesday
& Thursday at 8 a.m. at the Wellness Education Center located at 2545 Hwy. 5 North, Mountain Home. NOVEMBER:
Grief Support with Rev. Randy Ludwig, M.DIV – Thursday, 4th at 3 p.m. Ostomy Information & Support –
Friday, 5th at 11 a.m.
Recently Diagnosed Information & Support – Tuesday, 9th & 23rd at 10 a.m. Men Discussing Their Cancer Journey
– Thursday, 11th at 9 a.m.
Living Beyond Cancer – Thursday, 11th
at 3 p.m.
Caregivers Information and Support – Friday, 19th at 10 a.m.
MRUK FAMILY EDUCATION CENTER ON AGING 870-508-3881 All sessions are at the Mruk Family Education Center on Aging unless otherwise noted. Due to COVID-19, class capacity is limited. Masks are required to attend all our programs. Pre-registration is required for all programs. Call 870-508-3881. INCLEMENT WEATHER NOTICE: For information regarding closing for Mruk Family Education Center on Aging Programs: KTLO 97.9 FM, www.KTLO.com, follow us on Facebook: Mruk Family Education Center on Aging CALENDAR:
Better Breather’s Support – 2nd Friday at 2 p.m. (Please call to verify.)
REPPELL DIABETES LEARNING CENTER
870-508-1765 After hours, appointment only. Free diabetes testing kits and insulin supplies for anyone in need, no prescription needed. CALENDAR:
NOVEMBER:
Diabetes Self Management Classes
Parkinson’s Family Caregiver Support – 2nd Thursday at 10:30 a.m. (Location changes. Please call for more information.)
Dementia Family Caregiver Support Group – 4th Thursday at 2 p.m. Dementia Workshops & Support – Every Thursday. Check schedule for topics and times. Rock Steady Exercises for Men and Women – Monday, Wednesday, Friday
– Times vary, registration & assessment
required. Call 870-508-3881. Classes held at the Wellness Education Center at 2545 Hwy. 5 North, Mountain Home. Social distancing at 12 feet so masks can be removed just during exercise.
Men & Women Strengthening Exercise Classes – Men: Monday,
Wednesday & Friday at 9:15 a.m.; Women: Tuesday & Thursday – 9:15 a.m. or 10:15 a.m. Registration Required. No charge, but monthly or one-time donations appreciated. Call 870-508-3881. Classes held at the Wellness Education Center at 2545 Hwy. 5 North, Mountain Home.
AARP Driver Safety – AARP has
announced the Driver Safety continues to be suspended until further notice. We are currently adding names to our call list for when we are able to meet in person again. To be added to the list, call 870-508-3880. NOVEMBER:
Women’s Health Forum – Lunch
provided at Schliemann Center for Women’s Health Education, Thursday, 4th 8:30 a.m.–Noon. For more information or to register, call 870-508-2345.
Men’s Health Forum – Lunch provided at Mruk Family Education Center on Aging, Thursday, 4th Noon–3:30 p.m. For more information or to register, call 870-508-2345. Dementia 101: An introduction to brain changes related to dementia with Christy Pennington, RN, PAC Certified Dementia Trainer – Thursday, 11th 1–2 p.m.
Dementia 101: Seeing It from the Other Side: Dementia empathy virtual tour – This tour simulates the obstacles dementia patients face every day, with Christy Pennington, RN, PAC Certified Dementia Trainer – Thursday, 11th 2–3 p.m.
Stroke Recovery Seminar: Regain strength, courage and independence. Hosted by Baxter Regional Acute Rehab team. 45-minute sessions addressing rehab, emotions after a stroke, speech and caregiver tips. Care partners are encouraged to attend! – Tuesday, 16th 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Lunch provided.
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COMMUNITY HOUSES CONTINUED
Dishing Up Senior Nutrition Club: Health Goals for the New Year with Jodi Bodenhamer RN, CDCES – Reppell Diabetes Center, Friday, 19th & Wednesday, 23rd 1:30–2:30 p.m.
SCHLIEMANN CENTER FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH EDUCATION
870-508-2345 Limited seating, reservations required. CALENDAR:
PRENATAL CLASSES: Childbirth Class – 2nd Saturday of every month, 9 a.m.
Breastfeeding Class – 3rd Tuesday of
every month, 5:30 p.m.
SUPPORT GROUPS:
Infant Loss & Support – 1st Thursday of
every month, 5:30 p.m.
Heart Healthy Women – 2nd Thursday
of every month, 1 p.m.
Breast Feeding: Support & Tips for Successful Nursing – Every Tuesday.
Call for appointment.
EXERCISE: Held at the Wellness Education Center at 2545 Hwy. 5 North, Mountain Home.
Heart Healthy Line Dancing – Every Tuesday, 11:15 a.m. & 12:15 p.m.
Heart to Heart: Brazilian Dance! –
Every Monday & Wednesday, 4:15 p.m.
Cardio Kickboxing & Strength Training with Angie Bertel – Every
Monday & Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. NOVEMBER:
Women’s Health Forum – Thursday, 4th 8:30 a.m.–Noon. Lunch will be provided.
LUNCH & LEARN: We Just Can’t Wait! with Katie Hutchens, Baxter Regional Urology Clinic – Thursday, 11th Noon LEARNING SESSION: Holiday Decorating on a Budget with Heather Duggins – Monday, 15th 10 a.m n
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Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation
SIM CENTER PREPARES MEDICAL TEAMS
FOR TRAUMA SITUATIONS BY DEBORAH STANUCH A YEAR AGO, BAXTER REGIONAL INAUGURATED THE ED AND GAYLE GOODMAN SIMULATION CENTER, A STATE-OF-THE-ART SIMULATION LABORATORY WHERE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS CAN PREPARE FOR REAL-LIFE SCENARIOS IN A CLINICAL SETTING.
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Baxter Regional and Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock are the only hospitals in the state not affiliated with a medical school having a simulation lab, according to Sarah Brozynski, Director of Education. Located on the third floor, the Sim Center resembles a hospital unit with four rooms, donated by Drs. Rebecca Martin and PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON MASTERS
(Above) From left: Cline Emergency Center staff members Robyn Pyle, RN, Clinical Educator; Jessica Robertson, RN, RN Resident; Kaleigh Deskins, RN, RN Resident; and Vera Griffin, RN, RN Resident in the Ed and Gayle Goodman Simulation Center at Baxter Regional.
Grant Mathews, Jim and Jackie Neff, Rick and Pam Fairlamb and Barbara Wright. Settings from emergency room trauma, critical care, surgical services, labor and delivery, to EMT response in a home are recreated using four medical manikins. The manikins are all named: a high-fidelity adult male and adult female, Apollo and Lucinda; a mid-fidelity, Aries; and a low fidelity called Grandpa.
Manikins can be adapted for all adult ages and health conditions. Participants are able to monitor manikin responses to treatment and medications as in real-life situations. The center has full audio and visual recording capabilities allowing participants and clinical educators to review the simulations. According to Brozynski, “These learning experiences are treated like real-life traumas, allowing suspension of reality, with the trauma team responding with clinical interventions and patient interactions. As our staff progresses through each simulation, they improve their use of closed-loop communication, share knowledge with each other, and exercise critical thinking skills needed to build the confidence and competence of each team member.” The center has been vital to the hospital during COVID-19 where front line medical personnel have been able to share knowledge and clinical experiences to develop skills needed to treat COVID-19 patients. “COVID-19 has taught us so much in terms of resiliency and the need to be able to up-skill our clinical teams quickly as the need arises,” said Brozynski. “The Sim Center and the technologically advanced manikins have enabled us to simulate COVID-19 patients and the necessary COVID-19 working environments.” The addition of a high-fidelity pediatric manikin and the HillRom wireless call system at the Sim Center would provide advanced training and preparation for emergency situations. “Caring for pediatric patients is not the same as caring for adult patients. Currently, we do not have a pediatric manikin, and the four manikins we have cannot be adapted to pediatric conditions. While the hospital is involved in pediatric emergencies, such as drownings, falls, and head injuries, many of our health professionals have indicated the need for additional education. A pediatric manikin will allow us to create realistic scenarios to provide our medical providers and nurses with the training and experience needed to treat children,” says Brozynski. “The Hill-Rom wireless call system identifies the location of nurses. In a simulation such as active shooter or patient falls, team members would simulate responses to situations when and where they are needed. In an active shooter drill, the incident commander could locate and protect staff members. In a simulation created where a patient attempts to get out of bed, a nurse could alert other nurses for assistance. “As healthcare technology advances, the Sim Center enables Baxter Regional to be proactive, training clinical staff and healthcare providers in a safe learning environment to continue providing the quality healthcare to our community.” Barney Larry, Baxter Regional Vice President/Business Development and Executive Director, Baxter Regional Hospital Development said, “We would not be able to have the Sim Center without the Goodmans, Drs. Martin and Mathews, the Neffs, Fairlambs and Ms. Wright, the lead donors who made this happen. We are so thankful to them and our community for stepping up to support our hospital. The generosity of our donors enables us to provide our patients with quality healthcare. Anyone interested in making a donation or learning about donor opportunities may call Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation at 870-508-1770. n FALL 2021 |
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Baxter Regional Clinics
BAXTER REGIONAL CLINICS PROVIDE HEALTHCARE
To Rural Areas of Region BY DEBORAH STANUCH
“BIG CITY HEALTHCARE WITH A HOMETOWN TOUCH,” IS HOW MEMBERS OF THE BAXTER REGIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM OFTEN DESCRIBE THE HOSPITAL. When Baxter Regional Medical Center opened in 1963 as Baxter General Hospital, an acutecare medical center, it had four physicians and 39 beds. Today, the 268-bed hospital, which recently achieved Magnet recognition, has more than 180 primary care, specialty physicians and mid-level providers. The hospital’s mission “to provide excellent care for every patient every time” remains unchanged as
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the hospital strives for persistent excellence in caring for patients and the community. As the hospital has grown, so has the population in the 11 counties in two states it serves. To meet those growing medical services required, Baxter Regional has opened 12 primary care clinics and 13 specialty clinics staffed with 70 physicians and nurse practitioners. Three primary care clinics are located in Mountain Home, along with one in Yellville and one in Harrison. The seven other clinics, called Baxter Regional Health System Hometown Clinics, are located in Calico Rock, Melbourne,
(Above) From left: Karman Nesbitt, Director of Primary Care Clinics; Bill Baldwin, Vice President/Physician Enterprise; Dallas Weber, Director of Specialty Clinics.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES MOORE
PRIMARY CARE CLINIC PROVIDERS BAXTER REGIONAL AHRENS CLINIC 414 Old Main Street Yellville, AR 72687 (870) 449-4221 Shawn Bogle, MD Michel Villiger, APRN BAXTER REGIONAL CROSSROADS MEDICAL CLINIC, HARRISON 1420, 65 North US-62 Harrison, AR 72601 (870) 741-3600 Kevin T. Jackson, MD; Victor S. Chu, MD Amanda Winford, APRN Jason Froeschle, APRN Kim Cudworth, APRN BAXTER REGIONAL FAMILY CLINIC 899 Burnett Drive Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 425-6212 Kam Lie, MD; Lori Cheney, MD Mary Candace Depper, MD Phillipa Arnold, APRN BAXTER REGIONAL FAMILY CLINIC ON MARKET 675 Hwy 62 East Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 508-7600 Benjamin Stevens, MD Brittney W. Frisby, MD Angela Obermire, APRN Shannon Castle, APRN BAXTER REGIONAL MED-PEDS CLINIC 10 Medical Plaza Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 424-3824 Michael Adkins, MD Samantha Shipman, MD Shayna Wood, MD BRHS HOMETOWN CLINIC AT CALICO ROCK 2161 AR-56, Calico Rock, AR 72519 (870) 916-2000 Donald Wright, MD; Bethany Knight, MD Kari Lindsey, APRN Kristie Branscum, LPRN BRHS HOMETOWN CLINIC AT MAMMOTH SPRING 277 Main Street Mammoth Spring, AR 72554 (870) 625-1709 Leslie Batterton, APRN
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“OUR GOAL IS TO BRING ALL OF THE RESOURCES OF BAXTER REGIONAL TO OUTLYING AREAS. RESOURCES LIKE THE MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY UNIT AND ACTIVITIES OF ALL THE HOSPITAL’S COMMUNITY HOUSES.” Mammoth Spring, Harrison, West Plains and two in Mountain View. The BRHS Hometown Clinics are a partnership with local physicians to bring healthcare to underserved areas of the region served by Baxter Regional. In addition to medical examinations, the primary care clinic providers can prescribe medication, and most clinics provide laboratory and X-ray services. “Our goal is to bring all of the resources of Baxter Regional to outlying areas. Resources like the mobile mammography
PRIMARY CARE CLINIC PROVIDERS Continued
BRHS HOMETOWN CLINIC AT MELBOURNE 1019 E Main Street Melbourne, AR 72556 (870) 916-2150 Adam Gray, MD Ashley Walker, APRN Fern Sherrell, APRN BRHS HOMETOWN CLINIC AT MOUNTAIN VIEW 103 Mountain Pl Drive Mountain View, AR 72560 (870) 269-3447 Eric Spann, MD Charles Grinder, APRN Candace Caldwell, APRN BRHS HOMETOWN CLINIC AT WEST PLAINS 1402 Kentucky Ave. West Plains, MO 65775 (417) 256-3717 James Thompson, MD Lesa Kerley, APRN BRHS HOMETOWN CLINIC FAMILY PRACTICE ON MAIN 803 W. Main Street Mountain View, AR 72560 (870) 269-7414 John D. Irvin, MD Beverly Clark, APRN
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unit and activities of all the hospital’s community houses,” said Karman Nesbitt, Director of Primary Care Clinics. “We have a mission to serve the population of North Central Arkansas and South Central Missouri, and to do so, we felt the need to expand and be out in the surrounding counties and secondary market we serve. It has enhanced our market share in those surrounding areas,” said Bill Baldwin, Vice President Physician Enterprise. A physician’s referral is not required to be seen at any of the primary care clinics,
BRHS WILLOW STREET HOMETOWN CLINIC 406 N Willow Street Harrison, AR 72601 (870) 741-3252 Geoffrey Dunaway, MD Michelle Henderson, APRN
SPECIALTY CLINICS & PROVIDERS BAXTER REGIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC 230 Highway 5 North, Suite 20 Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 508-7610 Veronica Zak, MD Michelle Marcak, APRN
BAXTER REGIONAL BONE & JOINT CLINIC
639 Broadmoor Circle Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 424-4710 Dr. Win Moore Cheyenne Morgan, PA-C
BAXTER REGIONAL CARDIOLOGY CLINIC AT HARRISON
1420 Highway 62-65 N, Suite 1 Harrison, AR 72601 Ron Revard, MD
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but a referral is preferred at the specialty clinics, according to Baldwin. The specialty clinics are centered around the hospital. The 13 specialty clinics include: orthopaedics, behavioral health, gastroenterology, cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, internal medicine and infectious disease, oncology, nephrology, urology, pulmonology, women’s health and neurosurgery. Dallas Weber, Director of Specialty Clinics, is new to Baxter Regional. Weber, whose first day was Aug. 30, said he is
BAXTER REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE WOMEN'S CLINIC
BAXTER REGIONAL MEDICAL SPECIALISTS
628 Hospital Drive, Suite E Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 508-3260 Dr. Corey Smith Dr. Maureen Flowers Marcella Bramblett, APRN
628 Hospital Drive, Suite A Medical Arts Building Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 425-4402 R. Bruce White, MD Dmitriy Zak, MD Cintia Downing, APRN
BAXTER REGIONAL GASTROENTEROLOGY CLINIC
BAXTER REGIONAL NEPHROLOGY CLINIC
228 Bucher Drive Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 425-4416 Dr. Bodunrin S. Badejo Dr. William S. Dyer Sr. Carmel Kruse, APRN Dawn Henry, APRN
BAXTER REGIONAL HEART CLINIC
628 Hospital Drive, Suite 1A Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 508-3200 Louis Elkins, MD James Munns, MD Kathleen Prinner, APRN Emily Brown, APRN
BAXTER REGIONAL INTERNAL MEDICINE & INFECTIOUS DISEASE CLINIC
628 Hospital Drive, Suite 3E Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 508-7450 Dr. Raymond Bandy Jr. Kylee Claypool, APRN
230 Highway 5 North, Suite 20 Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 425-1787 Dr. Grant Mathews Tracie Gilliand, APRN
BAXTER REGIONAL NEUROSURGERY & SPINE CLINIC
310 Buttercup Drive, Suite A Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 508-7080 Dr. Lucas Bradley Dr. Allan Gocio Dr. Adam Smitherman Brandi Anderson, APRN William Keller, APRN Ashton Smitherman, APRN
impressed with the hospital and the services offered to the community. “I’m impressed with how the hospital has grown and the services it has available, like these clinics. It’s exciting to be part of the teams at the specialty clinics and this strong team of specialists. I envision great opportunities for continued growth with these clinics and Baxter Regional.” TAVR surgery is now being offered by the hospital’s cardiologists. TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure where a catheter is inserted into an artery and up into the heart to repair or replace a diseased heart valve. “It is quite unusual for a hospital the size of Baxter Regional to offer the primary and specialty services we have. Most hospitals the size of Baxter Regional don’t offer the range of specialties like cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, open heart and neurosurgeries.” n
BAXTER REGIONAL PULMONOLOGY CLINIC
628 Hospital Drive, Suite 3A Medical Arts Building Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 425-1787 Dr. S. Rebecca Martin Dr. Brian Malte
BAXTER REGIONAL UROLOGY CLINIC 505 Hospital Drive Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 508-6020 Dr. Austin Barber Dr. Daniel Decker Dr. Daniel Zapata Katie Hutchens, APRN Daniel Pevril, APRN
FAIRLAMB SENIOR HEALTH CLINIC 614 Broadmoor Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 508-3870 Jessica Johnson, APRN
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Baxter Regional Board Member
A DIFFERENT
Perspective BY DWAIN HEBDA PAUL WADE BRINGS A DECIDEDLY DIFFERENT VIEW- numbers were down but they were not disastrous, and we continue POINT TO HIS ROLE ON THE BAXTER REGIONAL to find things that will allow us to continue to serve our patients. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Not only does the five-year board “In early 2021, we opened the outpatient surgery center. We’ve member live in Missouri, but his expertise is in accounting having just broken ground on a cancer facility. Those are facilities people run his own firm for nearly 40 years. expect a progressive hospital to have, and it means our local paBut where some might see that as an odd combination of skills tient base doesn’t have to go to Springfield or Little Rock or other to apply to the medical center, Wade said diversity of background medical centers. They’ve got an option to stay at home, and that and perspective are things that make Baxter Regional’s governing allows us to grow and remain independent.” body and leadership effective. Wade said while COVID-19 continues to be front and center in “I think the reason Baxter Regional continues to thrive as an in- most board discussions, a balance has to be struck between dealing dependent hospital where a lot of other hospitals are going under with the pandemic and turning attention to other matters that move or consolidating is due to the senior Baxter Regional’s agenda forward. leadership team being diverse, quali“It’s hard to reduce COVID-19 to an fied, experienced visionaries,” he said. agenda item in my mind because it’s “As a board, we use a “As a board, we use a matrix, for been so game-changing,” he said. “It’s lack of a better word, to determine hard to say that’s just something that matrix, for lack of a better what kind of backgrounds we need we go over in a board meeting like any word, to determine what to put together a diversified group other single item, but at the same time, of people with different experiences business does go on. Other things have kind of backgrounds we and education. Through this matrix, happened. Again, I think it comes need to put together a the board can see what areas may be back to having a staff that’s been pretty diversified group of people underrepresented on the board, and on top of what’s going on and analyzwe actively try to find somebody with ing needs and opportunities.” with different experiences that area of expertise.” Personnel is one big challenge for the and education.” Wade said his location outside future, but Wade notes, it’s not a situMountain Home also provides valuation that’s entirely COVID-19-driven. able insight to board deliberations. “Baxter is challenged all the time “As the medical center continues to put clinics in surrounding with staffing,” he said. “We’ve always been challenged by market communities, they need somebody who brings a perspective from forces and our ability to either attract or home-grow nurses and a secondary market in the surrounding area,” he said. other personnel who are willing to bond with our hospital and be So far, the formula has worked, even in the era of COVID-19. long-term employees. Wade said despite dealing with the new challenges of the pan“Having said that, COVID-19 has put all of that on steroids. demic and the staffing and reimbursement issues faced by all You could go to New York and make astronomical money. Every healthcare systems, Baxter Regional has managed to move for- healthcare system has a marketing campaign now to recruit nursward on several ambitious projects. es — same way with doctors. We have to match that by promot“In the period of time I’ve been on the board, we have been very ing the natural amenities here and the ability to practice using progressive in our budgeting to continue to grow services while cutting-edge medicine and technology. That’s a challenge from sustaining our independence,” he said. “Even with COVID-19, our nearly every aspect.” n
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON MASTERS
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Board member Paul Wade at his old
| 31 in Gainesville, Missouri. BAXTERoffice REGIONAL PULSE
COMMUNITY BAXTER REGIONAL RECEIVES OUTPOURING OF COMMUNIT Y SUPPORT DURING COVID-19 CRISIS BY DEBORAH STANUCH
WHEN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CAME TO MOUNTAIN HOME IN THE SPRING OF 2020, THE COMMUNITY RESPONDED WITH OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF THE HOSPITAL PROVIDING HOMEMADE MASKS, CAPS AND GOWNS WHEN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WAS SCARCE; FINANCIAL DONATIONS; MEALS AND SNACKS FOR THE STAFF; AND PRAYERS. This summer, when the hospital was faced with the COVID-19 surge, local residents asked, “What can we do to help?” “Everyone wants to help,” said Shannon Nachtigal, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer. “It’s nice to know people think about you and want to do whatever they can to help.”
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Sonyia Gower, Nachtigal’s Administrative Assistant, coordinates the gifts and donations of all types for the staff on the COVID-19 front line and other hospital departments. She spends much of her day meeting donors, distributing the meals, snacks and gifts to the hospital departments, including evening shifts. The outpouring of generosity and support is truly appreciated, according to Nachtigal. “It honestly gives the nurses something to look forward to.” Hospital staff members volunteer to help the COVID-19 nursing staff comfort patients. Hospital Chaplain Randy Ludwig, Gower and others put on protective garments, including shoe covers, gowns, hair caps, masks, helmets, face shields and gloves before entering the room where they hold a patient’s hand while talking and comforting them. Photos courtesy of Baxter Regional.
SUPPORT “It’s heartbreaking to know their loved ones can’t be with them,” said Ludwig. “We do everything we can and spend as much time as we can with the patients. We have made a commitment that no one is going to die alone.” Local churches and their parishioners provide spiritual support with prayers and prayer vigils. The vigils began last year when members of Christ Community Church gathered for 12 weeks in front of the hospital at 6:30 a.m. in their cars with emergency lights flashing. David Johnson, pastor at C3 Church said, “We stood outside our cars as the shift changed expressing our appreciation to staff members and prayed together in our cars. I’m so proud of our church members for doing this.” Prayer vigils continue now through Christmas week with 20 local churches participating, according to Rev. Ludwig. At a recent hospital meeting with local clergy, each church committed to a week when members of their congregation will meet in the parking lot on Hospital Drive weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. Participants will stay in their cars, with emergency flashers on, praying for patients, hospital staff and leadership. “Each day, hospital health workers tell me how much they appreciate the support, knowing they are covered with a blanket of prayer and someone they don’t even know is praying for them,” said Ludwig. n FALL 2021 |
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BUYER
BEWARE
OVER THE AGE OF 65? WATCH THE FINE PRINT ON MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS BY DWAIN HEBDA
Last December, Patsy Moody was diagnosed with cancer and told by her doctor she needed to start chemotherapy. It was a heavy message for her entire family to hear, but what lay ahead was even more upsetting.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON MASTERS
“They called from the doctor’s office and told us that her insurance wasn’t going to cover her treatment,” said Moody’s son James Hurst. “That was going to cost us $43,000 just for one treatment.”
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“Usually when they select an HMO product, you have to go to a provider that is in-network, and that network may be very small. It may be limited to their county, or it may be limited to their state. There may only be a handful of doctors or maybe one or two hospitals that would be innetwork or accept their insurance.”
(Above) Kattie Laney, Patient Financial Services Director for Baxter Regional.
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Around the first of the year, Moody had purchased a United Healthcare Medicare Advantage plan after a salesperson called her on the phone. At the time, she was assured the policy was accepted by her doctor and the local hospital. Hurst, in trying to get to the bottom of the situation, was informed similarly. “I called the insurance company and spent a couple of hours on the phone with them,” he said. “The person I spoke to on the phone told me flat-out that she should be covered. They said whatever the mixup was, it was above their pay grade to fix it.” The family worked with a local insurance agent and was able to switch insurance companies, and Moody received her treatment, which has been effective in arresting her cancer. Meanwhile, the experience with the insurance company has left an impression on Hurst, and he had the following advice for families. “I think talking to a local agent, someone who actually deals with this stuff every day, is the only
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thing that people should do, unless they have time to dedicate to reading hundreds of different policies,” he said. “Make sure you’re talking to someone who specializes in this stuff.” According to Kattie Laney, Patient Financial Services Director for Baxter Regional, the above scenario is becoming increasingly common as people buy insurance products they don’t fully understand. The most common scenario tends to involve Medicare Advantage plans, which are particularly problematic because there are various kinds of policies, each with its own restrictions and limitations. This can easily lead to buying a product that won’t fit the patient’s needs. “So many people are coerced into changing their coverage because the prescription drug coverage that might go along with a Medicare Advantage plan could save them dollars, in the long run, each month,” she said. “But they’re not looking at what a hospital stay could cost or if they had to go get wound care or pain management or go to a specialist or have chemo. Any of those things, in our hospital, are treated as outpatient hospital visits. “People in this situation are having to pay copays as determined by the insurance plan each time, and that is several hundred dollars applied to each visit. So, if they come three times a week, they’re having to pay the hospital outpatient copay and a physician copay each visit. They might save a few dollars on prescription drugs, but when they actually need to use their medical insurance, that’s when they’re getting hurt the worst.” Laney said it is imperative that any individual do some homework before switching plans to make sure they understand what they are buying. This is particularly important when it comes to
restrictions over what doctors and healthcare systems will accept and network coverage. “One of the newer things that seems to be creeping into our area are HMO products,” she said. “Usually when they select an HMO product, you have to go to a provider that is in-network, and that network may be very small. It may be limited to their county, or it may be limited to their state. There may only be a handful of doctors or maybe one or two hospitals that would be in-network or accept their insurance. “If they go outside that network, most of those HMO products do not have any out-of-network benefits. In that instance, the patient is responsible for 100 percent of the cost of care, which defeats the purpose of having insurance in the first place.” Individuals have to be more on their guard than ever because insurance companies are getting aggressive in their attempt to woo customers away from plans they already have. “There is nothing wrong with these plans if you understand them,” said longtime insurance professional Tommy Knight. “But what people are hearing is you’re going to get money back for Part B, you’re going to get free dental, you’re going to get free vision, you’re going to get free hearing aids. Free is a big word. And free can get you in trouble.” Knight also said the average policyholder would be shocked at how easily a routine telemarketing call can turn into a binding sale. “The big thing most people don’t know is that you don’t have to sign anything. They do it over the phone, electronically, by voice. It’s legal,” he said. “And the person on the other end of the phone will ask suggestive questions just to get someone to say ‘yes,’ and there you go. I’ve had people come in here and say, ‘I had no idea I signed up for it.’ ” Knight said the best way to avoid getting into such a situation is twofold. “Number one, hang up the phone. Don’t even talk to them because if you talk to them, you might say
“ ... the person on the other end of the phone will ask suggestive questions just to get someone to say ‘yes,’ and there you go. I’ve had people come in here and say, ‘I had no idea I signed up for it.’”
(Above) Tommy Knight, a local insurance professional in Mountain Home.
yes to something, and they’ll run with that,” he said. “Second, go find a local agent, someone who knows the local market and can explain plans to your satisfaction and make sure you’re getting a plan that will do what you need it to do. “Local agents live in the community, and therefore, we’re more invested and are going to provide a higher level of service and expertise. I’ve not had a single person come in here that said, ‘I bought my insurance from you, and now it doesn’t even work.’ Even if you don’t get it from me, get it from someone live and local.” n
Baxter Regional accepts traditional Medicare and is in-network with Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage Plans, Humana Medicare Advantage Plans and Wellcare by Allwell from Arkansas Health and Wellness. Baxter Regional is NOT in-network with United Healthcare Medicare Advantage Plans, AARP Medicare Advantage from United Healthcare (HMO) Plans, or Wellcare Medicare Advantage HMO Plans. If you have questions about plans that Baxter Regional is in-network with, please call 870-508-1078 to speak to a member of the Patient Financial Services team.
Baxter Regional is not aligned, in partnership with nor maintains a business/sales agreement with any outside insurance provider.
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CONTINUING OUR 38TH YEAR OF PROVIDING ORTHOPAEDIC CARE Sport Injuries Arthroscopy Hand Surgery Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Carpal Tunnel Release Fracture Care Jason P. McConnell MD
Don B. Franklin MD
Thomas E. Knox MD
Russ B. Rauls MD
Joint Replacement
OFFERING SURGICAL SERVICES AT Mountain Home Surgery Center and Baxter Regional Medical Center Phone: (870) 424-3400
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3 Medical Plaza, Mountain Home, AR
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KnoxOrthopaedics.com
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Dr. Patrick Tobbia (left) and | BAXTER REGIONAL PULSE | FALL 2021 Dr. Akihiro 40 Kobayashi
The of the
MATTER BY DWAIN HEBDA
AS A LONGTIME HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL, KIMBERLY FOXWORTHY HAS SEEN AND EXPERIENCED QUITE A BIT, MAKING HER SOMEONE NOT EASILY IMPRESSED. But when she landed in Mountain Home from Illinois six years ago, she couldn’t believe the quality of healthcare that was there for the asking in the small Arkansas community. “Just speaking frankly, I am from the Chicago area and when I came here, I didn’t even realize that there were still independent hospitals that were individual entities,” she said. “I thought if you don’t combine into a system, you can’t survive economically. So, when they told me that this was just the hospital, that they weren’t part of a larger system, I was like wait a minute. This doesn’t even make sense. How are you doing this?” Foxworthy, now Structural Heart Coordinator for Baxter Regional, quickly got over her shock and today is leading the hospital into yet another new category of care: transcatheter aortic valve replacement, a heart procedure that most smalltown health systems can only dream of. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON MASTERS
“This was something where we knew if we didn’t offer it, patients would have to travel as far as St. Louis or Little Rock to have the procedure,” she said. “We had some patients telling us if you can’t do this, I’m just not going to have it done. “TAVR is not something you typically find in a hospital the size of Baxter Regional, but we knew we wanted to pursue it anyway. It’s not just quality of life surgery, it’s often a life-saving surgery.” The procedure helps repair faulty aortic valves in a manner that is far less invasive than traditional means. Prior to TAVR, patients endured having their chest cracked open to perform open-heart surgery, something many procedure-eligible patients are too sick and weak to survive. By contrast, the new process is done through a small incision in the patient’s groin area and generally completed with twilight anesthesia, which blocks pain and reduces anxiety without knocking the patient out completely. Most patients enjoy a remarkably fast and smooth recovery from TAVR surgery. “The patient will rest for at least six hours after the procedure and then stay with us overnight,” said Dr. Akihiro Kobayashi, FALL 2021 |
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Dr. Akihiro Kobayashi
STRUCTURAL CARDIOLOGIST
Dr. Patrick Tobbia
INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGIST
Dr. Louis Elkins
CARDIOTHORACIC AND VASCULAR SURGEON
Structural Cardiologist. “The very next day, they are expected to go home with very minimal restrictions — very minimal. “So, compared to a traditional open-heart operation where you’re going to stay in the hospital for up to about a week, our patients only stay one day if everything goes well. And long term, the patient doesn’t have any recovery. There is a very small incision in the groin, so restrictions are very minimal compared to open-heart where it’s going to take two weeks to let the sternum heal.” Kobayashi, who came to Baxter Regional from Cleveland, said it’s very unusual to find the procedure offered in small hospitals. Physicians with the requisite credentials are equally rare; counting him, there are only three fellowship trained structural cardiologists in Arkansas. “I think it’s very exciting to be able to offer this,” he said. “Most cardiology patients come to us in very sick conditions. We already provide a lot of life-saving procedures, and TAVR is one of them. People come to us very sick, but after the procedure, they get better. I find that very rewarding.” Dr. Patrick Tobbia, Interventional Cardiologist, said surprising or not, Baxter Regional is the ideal location to offer this type of procedure, given the patient population in the area. “A lot of our patients are elderly. We have a retirement community here,” he said. “That pushes us to provide more services than other hospitals our size because otherwise a lot of these people would be unable to drive for three to four hours to get to St. Louis or to Little Rock. There really isn’t anything close to us.” Tobbia also said advancements in the procedure have made TAVR a suitable treatment for a wider swath of patients, further justifying offering it. “This procedure has been around for a while now, and it’s been slowly getting more and more refined over the years,” he said. “Initially, it was only for people who were at the highest risk that you wouldn’t want to touch with surgery or you wouldn’t want to operate on. But now, there’s more and more data that it’s actually more suitable for anybody. “At this point of time, it’s becoming where stents were when they took over as the primary mode of revascularization. This is still going to be the same thing, in that sense, for people who have a bad valve in their heart. Eventually, we’re going to be able to replace pretty much most of the heart valves with a minimally invasive catheter-based procedure, making bypass surgery, really, only a very last option.” Dr. James Munns has been practicing medicine for 50 years, 40 of them as a cardiac surgeon. He said patients today have done their homework
“THE PATIENT WILL REST FOR AT LEAST SIX HOURS AFTER THE PROCEDURE AND THEN STAY WITH US OVERNIGHT. THE VERY NEXT DAY, THEY ARE EXPECTED TO GO HOME WITH VERY MINIMAL RESTRICTIONS — VERY MINIMAL.” Dr. James Munns
CARDIOTHORACIC AND VASCULAR SURGEON
Dr. Akihiro Kobayashi
“EVENTUALLY, WE’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE PRETTY MUCH MOST OF THE HEART VALVES WITH A MINIMALLY INVASIVE CATHETERBASED PROCEDURE, MAKING BYPASS SURGERY, REALLY, ONLY A VERY LAST OPTION.”
Dr. Patrick Tobbia and are looking for the least-invasive medical treatment available. TAVR meets those criteria. “The salient facts of the situation are that all of our patients are aware of what’s going on in medicine,” he said. “Before they show up to see the doctor they have, to some degree, educated themselves about what the treatment alternatives are, given what’s going on with them. “Most people are going to prefer the least invasive way to treat the problem they have, which is only logical. For aortic stenosis patients, that is the TAVR valve, which can be done very safely by people who have been trained to do it and who have gained some experience.” Munns certainly fits that description, having performed between 600 and 700 of the procedures over his career. He joined Baxter Regional earlier this month from OSF St. Francis in Peoria, Illinois. He said having this capability in the local healthcare market is a big step forward for any healthcare system. “People prefer to deal with their health problems, especially serious health problems, near their family and that, believe it or not, is very conducive to them having a good recovery,” he said. “The big benefit of the TAVR procedure is those who are still working can return to work very quickly, and therefore, it benefits not only them but the rest of the community.” Dr. Louis Elkins, a cardiovascular surgeon, has been with Baxter Regional for nearly 20 years. He said seeing the hospital venture into such medical frontiers is entirely in step with the health system’s can-do commitment to provide the best care to be had anywhere in the state. “Baxter Regional has always, for the time I’ve been here, been a small community hospital that’s been on the cutting edge of technology,” he said. “I call us a community hospital, but we’re really almost on the verge of being a tertiary care center in terms of what we offer.” Elkins said he’s been around long enough in his career to see many advancements in medical technology come to fruition, and he’s eager to help implement TAVR as the latest in that line. “Years and years ago, when I came out of training in general surgery, the only way we did gallbladders was through a big incision in your abdomen,” he said. “Now that’s a relic; all gallbladders are done with laparoscopic surgery. Heart surgery is going the same way. This is not only much less invasive, it provides an excellent outcome for our patient population that is, on average, about 15 years older than other hospitals in the state. “TAVR is just one more example of how fortunate we are to have that technology and how fortunate our patients are that we offer the things we do. They can stay local and still get excellent care.” n
ALSO SERVING AT BAXTER REGIONAL ARE BOARD CERTIFIED CARDIOLOGISTS DR. MICHAEL CAMP, DR. JAMON PRUITT AND DR. OTIS WARR IV, WHO HAVE MORE THAN 75 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE TREATING CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.
Dr. Michael Camp CARDIOLOGIST
Dr. Jamon Pruitt CARDIOLOGIST
Dr. Otis Warr IV CARDIOLOGIST
Photos courtesy of Baxter Regional
Respiratory therapist Laurie DePriest in a patient’s room in ICU at Baxter Regional.
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J US T
B R E AT H E R E S P I R ATO RY TH ER API STS TH RUST I N TO S P OT LIGH T D URI NG COVI D -19 BY DWAIN HEBDA AS A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES AND ALL OF THEM AT BAXTER REGIONAL, LAURIE DEPRIEST HAS SEEN A LOT. But the past 18 months have revealed almost daily just how remarkable the times are in which she’s living and working on the front lines of. “In my 32 years, honestly, I have never seen or experienced anything like this,” she said. “On the one hand, respiratory therapists are getting acknowledgment I feel like we have deserved for years. Nobody really knew what a respiratory therapist did,
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON MASTERS
but people have actually seen what we do and that we do save lives. That’s been a good thing. “On the other hand, we’re in a pandemic, and … that’s what got us to this point to be acknowledged.” The COVID-19 situation has thrust front line workers into the spotlight as never before. And arguably, no medical specialty has gained more attention during the pandemic than respiratory therapists. As patients became gravely ill, people who had never even heard of a respirator saw their loved ones treated with one in the skillful hands of a respiratory therapist.
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(This spread) Respiratory therapists Laurie DePriest (left), Diana Cremen (right) and Shelby Chatman (bottom, right) have seen a lot in the past 18 months. Arguably, no medical specialty has gained more attention during the pandemic than respiratory therapists. As patients became gravely ill, people who had never even heard of a respirator saw their loved ones treated with one in the skillful hands of a respiratory therapist.
“It is emotionally very rough because these people could be your sister, your brother, your mother and you relate to it that way. This latest wave, they’re younger and they’re so sick. I’ve seen so many die who could have been one of my family members.” 46
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Being at last identified for their expertise is gratifying, but it is bittersweet given the grave condition many patients are in by the time a respiratory therapist enters the picture. “For family members, this specialty is kind of scary,” DePriest said. “They see a family member, and it’s just so heartbreaking to them; like they’re seeing something they just can’t handle. I’ve had people say, ‘I couldn’t do what you do. I couldn’t do that.’ “But then there’s a few that said that we inspire them, and seeing us makes them want to get into the field.” Experiencing family members with breathing issues is exactly what led Shelby Chatman into the field in 2012, landing at Baxter Regional in 2016. She also appreciates her specialty being recognized, although she’d like to be associated with something more than just the pandemic. “Before COVID-19, we dealt primarily with chronic COPDers, asthmatics, flu patients that come in with pneumonia, and they’re needing treatment for respiratory issues,” she said. “Normally we deal with just chronic patients that have respiratory issues. “We’re mainly in the hospital setting. For me to see a patient, they come in through an ER with an exacerbation, or they’re hospitalized and we’re giving them floor treatments. By the time we see them, they’re usually pretty sick.” Chatman would also like the public to understand that despite what they have read, intubating a patient — putting a tube down their throat to allow a machine to breathe for them — is not a first-line treatment. She said respiratory therapists are trained in several other treatment strategies before getting to that point, at least outside of COVID-19 cases. “Intubation, we try to avoid,” she said. “There are other tools in our toolbox such as BiPAP and high-flow nasal cannulas. We’ve got lots of other machinery and equipment that we try to use first. “If it’s an asthma patient, they may be given bronchodilators and other medication that can help relax the smooth muscles in the bronchioles to open the airways back up. A BiPAP is used if the patient is in fluid overload. It can help push some of the fluid off the lung with pressure and help pop those little air sacs back open in your lungs.” But, of course, COVID-19 is another animal entirely, and the pace and volume of work take their toll. “Tiring and stressful,” is how Chatman describes it. “Longer hours because we had sicker people, and we needed more therapists than what we had. We picked up extra hours and are still doing the same thing now. It’s crazy because these people, some of them, were not even sick before, and then they came in with this latest surge, and they are critically ill.” Diana Cremen joined Baxter Regional in January after moving to the area from Buffalo, New York, where she saw the first wave of the pandemic up close and personal. She said the experience brought out her fighting streak when it came to protecting her patients.
“Number one is my faith in Christ. Without that, I couldn’t do this. Second is the support of my husband ... That’s also been a critical source of strength for me.”
“One of the things my old hospital used to do was play, ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey over the loudspeaker every time a patient was released,” she said. “We really didn’t know what we were up against, but we knew we were in a fight. Every time they played that song, it really lifted us up because it meant we’d saved someone.” Asked why she decided to get back into the fray once relocating, she credits two sources of strength and comfort that allowed her continue to her work then and day after day since. “Number one is my faith in Christ. Without that, I couldn’t do this,” she said. “Second is the support of my husband, a strong Christian man who supports me in what I feel I have to do. That’s also been a critical source of strength for me.” But even the committed and faithful have their breaking points. All three admitted to having to vent the emotion and sadness that comes with a hard day which, in the era of COVID-19, is codespeak for losing the battle of life and death.
“I go out to my car, and I sob,” DePriest said. “My husband picked me up one night, and I got out there and I just cried. I said, ‘It’s been a horrible day,’ and I literally cried in the car. The next day at work, I talked to the other therapist that was helping me out and I said, ‘Brittany, I went to my car and my husband thought I was crazy. I just cried and cried and cried.’ She said, ‘Laurie, I didn’t even make it to my car and I started crying.’ “It is emotionally very rough because these people could be your sister, your brother, your mother and you relate to it that way. This latest wave, they’re younger and they’re so sick. I’ve seen so many die who could have been one of my family members. You go home and think, what could I have done differently, but there’s nothing, you know? “It’s been an emotional challenge for me, but I am a provider. It’s all I know. So I try and hope the good days outweigh some of this horrible stuff that we’re seeing. I love my job, no matter what, because I love my patients.” n
“We picked up extra hours and are still doing the same thing now. It’s crazy because these people, some of them, were not even sick before, and then they came in with this latest surge, and they are critically ill.” Photos courtesy of Baxter Regional.
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WA L K I N G
THE WALK NEW ONCOLOGY CENTER BREAKS GROUND BY DWAIN HEBDA OFFICIALS WERE ALL SMILES IN MOUNTAIN HOME ON AUG. 28, TOSSING SHOVELFULS OF DIRT IN GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONIES FOR A NEW ONCOLOGY CENTER. The moment, more than two years in the making, was cause for celebration said David Fox, Baxter Regional’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Baxter Regional is committed to the community and being an independent, comprehensive healthcare system that’s highly focused on high-quality care,” he said. “We don’t just talk it, we walk it.
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“What this oncology center will do is broaden our ability to provide excellent care to every patient, every time, at a true high quality of care that they simply couldn’t receive in other markets.” The forthcoming center, a partnership with Highlands Oncology Group of Rogers, will provide medical and research services generally found only in much larger communities. The presence of the center will greatly benefit patients throughout North Arkansas by bringing such services within easy reach. Fox called Highlands Oncology the ideal partner in this effort.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES MOORE
“What this oncology center will do is broaden our ability to provide excellent care to every patient, every time, at a true high quality of care that they simply couldn’t receive in other markets.” “We had to find a willing partner and not just one that was willing to take some of the financial risk with us in building an oncology center of excellence,” he said. “Highlands Oncology is an organization that said we’re not only willing to be your partner in the physical building, but we’ll also bring excellent research, excellent trial medicine and a fantastic care model on how you care for your patients right here at home. “With this center, patients will no longer have to travel to outlying markets for their cancer care. They can get it right here in Mountain Home.” Jeff Hunnicutt, Chief Executive Officer with Highlands Oncology Group, was equally effusive in his praise of the partnership. “Baxter Regional is committed to the same experience for patients that we are,” he said. “Our goal at Highlands has been, for
a long time, to provide an environment where the patient experience is robust and they have a variety of different services and resources available to them in one building or close by.” Hunnicutt said the forthcoming center will feature 33,000 square feet of space and employ about 50 people, including a radiation oncologist and two medical oncologists. He said all of the services that can be found at the company’s established locations in Northwest Arkansas will be available in the Mountain Home facility, which is slated to open next year. “As we continue to improve the level of care, we see growing the number of physicians and support staff,” he said. “We’re like-minded with Baxter Regional’s commitment to allow patients to stay home and get the expert care they need. That makes for an effective partnership.” n
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INFUSED B A X T E R R E G I O N A L D E LIVE RS LAT E ST T R E AT M E N T FO R C OV I D -1 9 PAT IE N T S BY DWAIN HEBDA
IF THERE’S ANYONE WHO HAS EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE CALLED A COVID-19 SPECIALIST, IT MAY WELL BE TOSHA APPLEGATE. The nurse practitioner has been in the thick of the pandemic even before the virus reached Arkansas, having volunteered to help support New York hospitals last spring. It was hard-won subject matter expertise that she put to good use upon returning home to Arkansas. So, it should come as no surprise that today, 18 months later, she finds herself in the middle of Baxter Regional’s cutting-edge monoclonal antibody infusion treatment, the latest weapon in the battle against COVID-19 and its variant strains. It’s a medical treatment that’s grown fast, demanding much from the medical professionals administering the process. “I did 14 infusions today,” she said. “We have done up to 22, 24 a day now. The most I have done personally is somewhere between 16 and 18 a day. I’ve had people come from past Harrison; I’ve had people come from Mammoth Spring. We’re getting as many as 40 orders in a day for scheduling people for this type of treatment, whereas just in February it was pretty quiet.” Baxter Regional is not unique in the demand it has experienced for the experimental procedure. According to the Mayo Clinic, people at a higher risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19 are eligible to receive it under an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. From the look of press reports coast to coast, many are doing just that. Cindy Hawthorne, Baxter Regional’s Cardiopulmonary Director, said unlike the vaccines that are meant to provide protection against getting sick in the first place, infusion therapy is a treatment developed to help patients recover who have contracted COVID-19. “After COVID-19 hit, tons of research went into how to treat patients,” she said. “Within a few months of COVID-19 really hitting hard in the United States, monoclonal antibody infusion was developed for patients that helped them recover. This is a way to
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WITH
LIFE Tosha Applegate, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, prepares a monoclonal antibody infusion to treat COVID-19. Photography by Jason Masters.
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give patients additional antibodies not made within their own bodies to help patients fight the virus.” Dr. Brian Malte said one of the reasons why the treatment has accelerated is because the qualification procedure has been relaxed, making more people eligible to receive it. “Anyone with a high-risk feature for worsening COVID-19 or developing severe COVID-19 will be a candidate,” he said. “They have loosened the criteria to where now it’s pretty much anyone over 12 who has a BMI of 25 or greater or has a chronic disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, end-stage renal disease or are immunocompromised, like if you have cancer. “You must have a positive COVID-19 test before you get the order to get the infusion. The test doesn’t have to be done in a clinic or in a hospital. Even the Walgreens test kit is sufficient enough for someone to qualify for the infusion,” he said. “If your symptoms began more than 10 days prior, you will not qualify for the infusion. So, the earlier the order is placed for you, the better your chances.” Malte said once all eligibility hurdles have been cleared, the actual infusion process is pretty straightforward. Patients report to an infusion center where they have an initial screening. The infusion itself takes about an hour, and the patient is observed for another hour to detect any adverse reactions. Hightower said the physical process of medical infusion doesn’t require any special equipment. “We just start an IV on them,” she said. “We do have some patients who come in who have ports that we can sometimes access, just depending on what they were using it for. But mainly, we start IVs on all of them, wherever we get a good vein. Most get it in their arm.” As for what’s being infused, Malte explained, it’s a combination of two synthetic antibodies attached to a protein the virus uses to attach to the human body. The antibodies were developed in earnest starting last summer and began to be administered late in 2020. “We’ve had good luck with it because only a small number of patients receiving the treatment, if any, end up in the hospital,” he said. “Generally, those
(Right) Dr. Brian Malte is a pulmonologist at the Baxter Regional Pulmonology Clinic. Photography by James Moore.
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that did either already required oxygen on the day of their infusion or they got the infusion closer to the end of the 10-day window. That’s why I personally recommend patients get the infusion closer to five days after the onset of symptoms.” Hawthorne said the most difficult part of the process has been keeping up with demand. As word began to spread about the availability of this treatment and its effectiveness, combined with broader eligibility criteria released this summer, the number of infusions spiked dramatically. “For July, we only ended with 341 infusions for the whole month,” she said. “We hit that many the first two weeks in August. The number of requests from physicians kept growing to where we had to keep increasing our capacity. We needed a space, we need chairs, we need monitors, we need the IV pumps and we need nurses to do these. “Of course, that’s challenging in a time where you’ve got 40 inpatients with COVID-19 and your nurses are all tied up taking care of the patients. We had to get very creative with finding nurses and nurse practitioners such as Tosha, who we hired full time specifically for infusion therapy.” Similar creativity was exercised to beg or borrow equipment and for locating a suitable space for infusion patients. Since then, it’s been a marathon getting people scheduled for treatment. “Our boardroom was under renovation, and because of that, it had not been booked with meetings. We decided to set up some chairs in there, and now we probably have the most beautiful infusion center anywhere,” Hawthorne said with a laugh. “We have the capacity to do eight or nine patients at a time in there now. We have the tables pushed up against the wall. We’ve got supplies sitting everywhere. And we’ve got a monitor and a pump for all of those chairs, recliners, that we were able to get our hands on. “Every day, we try to do two rounds: a morning round and an afternoon round. And then sometimes, we do an evening round as well as almost every Saturday — and sometimes Sundays. That’s what it takes to meet the demand of new orders, and that’s what we’re committed to doing.” n
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Neurosurgery, close to home.
ADAM SMITHERMAN, MD | ALLAN GOCIO, MD | LUCAS BRADLEY, MD | WILLIAM KELLER, APRN | BRANDI ANDERSON, APRN | ASHTON SMITHERMAN, APRN
(870) 508-7080 baxterregional.org
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FACTS ABOUT BECOMING AN RN
• You do NOT have to be an LPN first • High school graduates are eligible for the program • Must be 18 years old • Possible to become an RN two years after high school • Some employers only hire RNs who are graduates of accredited nursing programs
All undergraduate programs are fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) Benefits of ACEN Accreditation: • National mark of excellence • Some RN to BSN and graduate (MSN) programs only accept applicants from graduates of accredited registered nursing programs • Graduates of ACEN accredited programs are more likely to pass NCLEX (acenursing.org) Options in Mountain Home: • RN (traditional) Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AASN) • LPN to AASN • LPN to AASN Online Option* • RN to BSN *only available to LPNs who are Arkansas residents 100% of full-time faculty are MSN or doctorally prepared
Learn More: AState.edu/RN
Get started today in one of the top nursing programs in the state of Arkansas, located in the comfort of your own hometown. Finish in as few as 12-24 months Financial aid for those who qualify 2019 NCLEX pass rate for the AASN program: 91.4% Ranked #9 on the list of Best Nursing Schools in the Eastern Region of the U.S. (NurseJournal.org) FALL 2021 |
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Baxter Regional Wellness
HOME FITNESS PROGRAMS CAN BE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL BY DEBORAH STANUCH
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THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS CHANGED THE WAY AMERICANS LIVE IN NUMEROUS WAYS INCLUDING EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, SHOPPING, TRAVEL AND FITNESS. The trend of home fitness, personalized routines, DVDs, online videos and apps, was growing in popularity prior to 2020 in response to the inconvenience of commuting to crowded gyms, the expense of gym memberships and trainer fees. When the COVID-19 quarantine shuttered gyms and fitness centers, Americans who were working and studying from home, began to rethink their exercise routines. Jonny Harvey, Occupational Health Coordinator at Baxter Regional, believes at-home fitness programs do work, but it is up to the individual. “We hear of such high failure rates with home workouts, but you can be highly successful at home; you just need to find your interest, what works for you and what you will do consistently at home. “You can find any type of exercise you want for all levels online,” according to Harvey. Most online programs and videos are free, and many exercise videos, classes and DVDs are available for purchase. These programs like P90X, Peloton and Beachbody offer workouts for high-intensity, mid-range and beginner levels. There are also videos for Pilates, yoga and at-home walking, like Leslie Sansone. “With so many options and information available, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Home fitness does not have to be complex or intimidating. Most popular fitness routines rely solely on body weight and small free weights set to music. “Designing your own program with a simple list of body weight exercises can actually be fun! A sample circuit routine could be as simple as 20 reps of body weight squats, 12 reps of pushups, 16 reps of lunges, a 30-second plank, 12 reps of an overhead press with a dumbbell or homemade weight, 12 reps of dumbbell rows and 12 reps of a glutes bridge. Add some simple, popular exercises like calf raises, bicep curls, triceps extensions along with marching, jogging or jumping in place.
WORKOUT PROGRAMS, VIDEOS AND APPS Yoga Over 50 DVD
Workout video with 8 routines, including routines for seniors
“WE HEAR OF SUCH HIGH FAILURE RATES WITH HOME WORKOUTS, BUT YOU CAN BE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL AT HOME; YOU JUST NEED TO FIND YOUR INTEREST, WHAT WORKS FOR YOU AND WHAT YOU WILL DO CONSISTENTLY AT HOME.”
Power Yoga for Every Body
Over 20 workouts for all levels of students
Power Yoga
Total body workout
LuLulemon
YouTube and online videos
Walk at Home app Leslie Sansone
Walking videos and DVDs
Beachbody Workout videos and apps Peloton videos and apps Echelon videos and apps Fitness Blender videos P90X High-intensity workout videos Weight Watchers program and app My Fitness Pal app
“A simple internet search of ‘body weight exercises at home’ will give you plenty of ideas to design your own programs.” Some people have had success working with a “virtual personal trainer,” according to Harvey. He says there are several in the Twin Lakes Area who can help with fitness as well as nutrition. Motivation is also a major component of a successful fitness program. “Most people need something built into their lives to make them accountable,” says Harvey. Accountability can come from working out with others virtually or with an accountability friend or group. Accountability groups and friends check in with each other daily to discuss goals, progress, stumbling blocks and to celebrate successes. Accountability pals and groups often gather to walk together. “We’re fortunate living here as many local communities
LOCAL WALKING TRAILS CLYSTA WILLETT PARK
1831 Rossi Road, Mountain Home
COOPER PARK
1101 Spring Street, Mountain Home
KELLER PARK
1831 Rossi Road, Mountain Home
MCCABE PARK
Southwest corner of U.S. Highway 62/412 West, Mountain Home
MOUNTAIN HOME HIGH SCHOOL TRACK
500 Bomber Blvd., Mountain Home
DAVID’S TRAIL
Highway 101 Trailhead North, Gamaliel
and neighborhoods have sidewalks, and local parks have walking trails.” Walking trails can be found in Cooper Park, Clysta Willett Park, Keller Park, McCabe Park, David’s Trail and the track oval at Mountain Home High School. Harvey also suggests using apps like Weight Watchers and My Fitness Pal to track calories and activity levels to assist with accountability. “Staying fit also means maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” says Harvey. “Exercise is important, but so is healthy eating, limiting alcoholic beverages, refraining from smoking and using tobacco, drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of restful sleep. We also need to maintain our overall health, which includes annual physician examinations; dental exams and teeth cleanings; annual eye exams; and keeping current with tests like
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12 TIPS FOR A H E A LT H Y FA L L* 1. Get your screenings 2. Wash your hands 3. Wear a cloth face covering 4. Get your flu shot 5. Practice social distancing 6. Brush your teeth 7. Sleep at least 7 hours a night 8. Rethink your drink; water instead of sugary and alcoholic drinks 9. Be sun safe 10. Move more, sit less 11. Eat healthy 12. Don’t use tobacco *CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
mammograms and colonoscopies, which we may have neglected in the past year.” As we head indoors for fall and winter, Harvey reminds us that COVID-19 is still with us, and the flu season will be upon us. COVID-19 vaccines prevent the spread of the deadly virus and are free for anyone over 12 years of age. The COVID-19 vaccine is available at local pharmacies and Baxter Regional. The hospital and pharmacies are also preparing for the COVID-19 booster when it becomes available. The annual flu shot, which is available at local pharmacies, physician’s offices and clinics, is recommended for children and adults. To prevent catching or spreading COVID-19 and the flu, practice good hygiene, wash your hands regularly, social distance, wear a mask and again, get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines. n FALL 2021 |
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Baxter Regional Nutrition
New Traditions
for Fall
Sweet Potato with Winter Greens Stuffing There’s a lot of flexibility in this recipe, which is adapted from Tanya Holland at Brown Sugar Kitchen. Change the topping to suit either gluten-free or nut-free diets. Any type of greens will work also. Serves: 2
INGREDIENTS:
1 large sweet potato 1 bunch greens — mustard, kale, collards, turnips, any combination, to yield 4-5 large handfuls chopped 1 tablespoon diced shallot or onion 1 small garlic clove, diced 1 tablespoon olive oil ½ teaspoon dried herbs — oregano, thyme, basil or combination, to taste 1/8 teaspoon salt, more or less to taste 1 tablespoon panko or other coarse breadcrumbs, optional 1 tablespoon chopped nuts, optional 1 tablespoon sunflower or pumpkin seeds, optional
DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a skillet, sauté the shallots and garlic for 1 minute. Sprinkle over the dried herbs — oregano, basil and/or thyme — plus a pinch of salt. When the shallots have softened and are aromatic, add the chopped greens and sauté until the greens have softened and shrunk to about a half cup. 2. Wash the sweet potato, pierce several times with the tip of a knife and wrap in a damp paper towel. Microwave about 2-5 minutes or until soft depending on the size of the potato and your microwave. 3. Cool the potato until cool enough to handle. Slice off the top, and scrape off any potato from the slice. Add to the greens. Gently scoop out the sweet potato from the skin and combine with the cooked greens. Taste for salt and season to taste. Put the potato/greens stuffing back into the skin. Sprinkle panko or other coarse breadcrumbs over top. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes to rewarm the filling and crisp the crumbs. Serve warm.
HERE ARE SOME NEW IDEAS FOR TRADITIONAL INGREDIENTS: APPLES, SWEET POTATOES, GREENS, CARROTS AND BEETS. THESE RECIPES USE A VARIETY OF SEASONINGS TO CREATE SOME GREAT RIFFS ON FAMILIAR SALADS AND SIDES.
BY FAITH ANAYA PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES STEFIUK
Gluten-free alternative: Sprinkle over pumpkin or sunflower seeds or chopped nuts instead of the breadcrumbs. Nutrition information per serving: 230 calories; 7g total fat (.9 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 250 mg sodium; 38 g carbohydrate; 6 g fiber; 6 g sugar; 7 g protein.
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Apple and Ginger Salad You may have had apples combined with ginger in a dessert. Here is a salad using the same flavor profiles. Serves: 2
INGREDIENTS:
1 crisp apple, like a Gala or a Fuji 4-6 leaves of romaine or red leaf lettuce, washed and torn A few snips of cilantro to garnish, optional 1 tablespoon lightly toasted sunflower seeds
FOR THE DRESSING:
2 tablespoons olive oil Freshly squeezed juice of ½ lime 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger 1 teaspoon honey
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DIRECTIONS:
Core and chop the apple into bite-sized pieces. Combine with the lettuce in a salad bowl. Whisk together the dressing ingredients, taste for balance and adjust if necessary. Pour over the salad and toss to combine. Sprinkle the cilantro and sunflower seeds over the top. Taste and add salt and pepper if necessary. Chill briefly before serving. Nutrition information per serving: 232 calories; 156 calories from fat (67 percent of total calories); 18 g fat (2 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 7 mg sodium; 19 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 13 g sugar; 2 g protein.
Carrot and Beets with Ginger and Pine Nuts This recipe is for those of you who don’t ordinarily eat beets. The secret is grating or shredding the carrots and beets instead of chopping them. Changing the size and shape of the pieces also changes the texture and taste. The classic, strong, beet taste is muted. The earthy, warm spices combined with the sweetness of the dried cranberries results in an unexpected flavor profile. Pairs well with any meat but is especially nice with poultry or lamb. Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon olive oil ¼ teaspoon garlic powder ½ inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated or ½ teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon ground coriander ¼ teaspoon salt Black pepper, to taste ½ lb. carrots, grated 2 medium raw beets, peeled & grated 1/3 cup dried cranberries 1/3 cup pine nuts
DIRECTIONS:
Put the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium high heat. When it is hot, add the garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander and salt with a pinch of pepper and cook briefly for 1 minute. Stir in carrots, beets, cranberries and the pine nuts. Adjust the heat to a steady simmer, and cook until the vegetables soften, about 5-10 minutes. Nutrition information per serving: 200 calories; 3.5 g fat (.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 180 mg sodium; 21 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 18 g sugar; 3 g protein. n Faith Anaya runs nutrition-based cooking programs for kids in Central Arkansas. She can be reached at info@kidscookarkansas.com. FALL 2021 |
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Chaplain’s Corner
MY CUP RUNNETH OVER
BY REV. RANDALL D. LUDWIG, DMIN, BCC
I RECENTLY WAS WATCHING THE LITTLE LEAGUE You know, life is all about perspective. It’s so easy to take WORLD SERIES ON TELEVISION, AND IT BROUGHT things for granted. It’s not beyond our nature to overlook BACK A MEMORY FROM SEVERAL YEARS AGO. the blessings in our lives or to not give thanks for them. My son was on a local team that made it all the way to the Cal What is a small, trivial thing to one person may be the Ripken World Series (the team was actually coached by one of world to another. our physicians, Dr. Eric Arp). Along that journey, they played God richly blesses us every day of our lives, but too often a tournament in Branson, Missouri. One day, they had the we don’t slow down long enough to realize it or appreciate afternoon off, and it was spent at a water it. I pity the person who only sees the park. While the boys were playing catch glass half empty. Our lives are filled with “GOD RICHLY BLESSES US EVERY in the wave pool, a severely handicapped good things — filled to the brim. David DAY OF OUR LIVES, BUT TOO boy and his mother arrived. Somehow our says in Psalm 23, “My cup runneth over.” OFTEN WE DON’T SLOW DOWN boy’s ball ended up over by the boy as he Whenever I start to feel unblessed, I just was enjoying the waves as they splashed LONG ENOUGH TO REALIZE IT OR take a moment and look around, and very up over his wheelchair. When they went soon I begin to see the many things in my APPRECIATE IT. OUR LIVES ARE to retrieve the ball, they decided to gently life that I’ve taken for granted. Ironically, FILLED WITH GOOD THINGS — toss it to the boy. He couldn’t catch it, but it many of my blessings aren’t just things I FILLED TO THE BRIM.” would land in his lap and he would pick it have but are things I DON’T have. What up and attempt to throw it back. This went I witnessed at the water park that day on for the better part of an hour. As I looked over at the mother, made it very clear. I could tell that she had tears in her eyes. Let me challenge you that whenever you feel as though life Later, when the boys came over to the shaded cabana where is treating you unfairly, just stop, look and listen. I promise, we parents were sitting (probably wanting money for food), we there are people around you that would love to trade places commented to them how nice it was that they took the time with you. Life is only as bad as we make it. Being glad and to play with that boy. Collectively they turned to their coach joyful and grateful in all things will make us happy in life. And and said that they didn’t care if they ever won another baseball also we must remember: When it’s all said and done, only one game, they were just happy that they were able to play. thing really matters anyway. n
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